The Firehouse Scene

Station Funny Station Gossip By Shery Drost

• Chaplain Everett Peterson notified me he will not be turning 60 this year as it is printed in the 2015 HRFD Calendar! So, I got to checking and yep, I am off a year on all of them. I do THE FIREHOUSE SCENE have the proper list now, so I will have them listed properly in the newsletter and I won’t miss any baby shots! My apologies is a publication of the to those I tried to age a year early! • The HRFD 75th history books that were ordered have been Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District delivered. The books are a limited edition and we did order some extras to sell. If you didn’t get in on the presale, you can still stop by Station One and pick up the standard version January 2015 Editor Sheryl Drost for $54.00. If you live out of town and want one, you can Chief Don Shoevlin send in a check with your mailing address, just add $6 for Holiday Family Reindeer Drive Photos by Everett Peterson & Sheryl Drost shipping for a total of $60.00. Email is [email protected] and mailing address is HRFD, PO Box 450, Roscoe, IL 61073. Harlem-Roscoe Firefighter Elves delivered presents for 69 children Any questions feel free to call 815-623-7867. along with a food basket consisting of a turkey and all the fixings • We will miss our latest retirees, Jim Daughenbaugh, Lt. Jerry to 23 families that needed a little help this holiday season during Disposal Truck Fire McCormick, and Lt. Ramona Baldoni. their HRFD Holiday Reindeer Family Drive on Dec. 18. Page 3 The families were located with the help of teachers in the fire district. Then with the help of donations from the community, enough food and presents were purchased for each family.

A recipient posted on the department’s Facebook: “Thank you for your special delivery today. Without your kindness I don’t know what we would do! My children will have gifts and a healthy meal thanks to you. My husband is unemployed and I have a low paying (yet grateful to have) job. I’m a CNA with a caring heart, and not being able to afford to give my family a good Christmas was heartbreaking. I barely make rent and food each month. This time of year is hard. Praying for you all to be blessed with health happiness and safety in your lives. Thank you so much. God bless you!”\

Photo by Everett Peterson

The Firehouse Scene - Page 12 www.harlemroscoefire.com From the Chief’s Desk Holiday Happenings Cold Weather Photography Tips Birthday! By Fire Chief Don Shoevlin By Tammy Shoevlin By HRFD Photographer Sheryl Drost I get asked all the time for photography tips, recently for shooting in the extreme cold. Cold This past holiday season around HRFD was an exceptional time of weather is extremely rough on our cameras. Our firefighters are pretty fast at putting out fires, support and giving. Welcome 2015 so our fire photographers can’t count on the fire itself to keep our cameras warm. January I wanted to take a moment to THANK everyone who took part It’s really all about the batteries and keeping the camera warm. Batteries go dead quickly in 5th Matt Bush What an exciting year for Harlem Roscoe Fire David Leslie as we celebrate our 75th Anniversary as a Fire in the many events that were part of our already busy days! The cold temperatures. I repeat, batteries go dead quickly in cold temperatures, you have to keep Protection District. The changes in growth VFW Hall in Roscoe gave way to our annual holiday gathering. them warm! What helps me is when I head out to a fire is I put my spare camera battery into my 17th John Presley and how we have progressed as a district over An EXTRA Thank You to Amber, DeAnn, Melanie and Al for pocket, and switch battery out often. Keeping your camera inside your coat or any where it’s 22nd Everett Peterson the past 75 years are astonishing. your time and donations which lead to a great party! Just over 45 warm when your not shooting is a must to protect the electronics. I learned that the hard way 25th Jerry Lund people came out for a good time with plenty of food and spirits. when I first started shooting for the fire department. A great way for you to experience this is with our newly published 26th Reety Radke history book. Yes, they have arrived and can be purchased by Deb, you and the “Alms Crew” always amaze me how our I still vividly remember my first big fire I photographed 31st Mark Soppe stopping by Station One on Main Street in Roscoe. I have to Children’s Breakfast with Santa goes off without a hitch every back on Feb. 20, 1991. It was way below zero and the say they turned out amazing. A book which is not only full of year. Plenty of food not only for the little ones but also for those fire department was dispatched to a garage fire on Prairie February Hill Rd. I was so excited, I had shot practice burns and a memories, but stories told by those who lived it. big boys too! Entertainment and wrapped presents for all, not to 10th Rob Gonia mention Santa Claus. My grandbabies assure me that he is the real couple smaller fires before, but this was my first big fire, I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season. I want to one! Thanks for your many years of dedication and love in doing and it was a fully involved garage fire. I parked down 13th Zach Tennyson thank all of you for a successful “Keep the Wreath Red” campaign. this. the road so I wouldn’t be in the way of the fire trucks 15th Scott Jensen We did not encounter any holiday related fires. and walked up to the fire. Didn’t worry about keeping my camera warm. I got five pictures 24th Sean Laurent The calendar year of 2014 finished with our personnel responding We not only had the traditional sleigh ride pulled by our reindeer taken and my camera froze and I had no extra batteries! I had to go back to my car and wait for my camera to warm up. And, like I said before, our firefighters are pretty fast at knocking to 2741 calls. That is the most we have had, and breaks down to fire fighters, but also a beautifully lighted fire truck for all of the over 7 calls a day. many parade events this season. For many years, Joe has lead the down fires, so the rest of my pictures are the guys overhauling. One of those first five shots is way with his time and talents. Always teaching our newbie’s what pictured above. Our HRFD Christmas Drive was very successful. We delivered else a fire fighter does besides fighting fires. An extra big hug and Today, we’re lucky to have newer cameras that are better weather sealed, but we still do what to 23 families this year. Thank you to everyone that helped thanks to the man behind the snowy white beard!! either by shopping, wrapping, delivering, or donating. It is truly we can to keep snow and rain off the cameras. If you don’t have the newer weather sealed cameras, a heavy snow or rain will surely play havoc on them. They do make a plastic bag type heartwarming to see the faces on the individuals and gratifying to The Officer party was a smash and EVERYONE fit around the help them enjoy the holiday. cover that you can purchase cheaply at a camera store. You can also invest in one of the newer island eating . . . getting ready for the 1/1/2015 diet that we all waterproof digital cameras that are out now. They even go underwater. Also carry a dry, lint- As we begin a new year I am certain it will be filled with exciting talked about! free cloth to clean your lenses often. new challenges and rewards. I look for the district to continue its growth and as that happens the need for our services will grow. We Holiday Reindeer Family Drive. . . Lastly, I can NOT express Cameras are cold to hold and big heavy gloves don’t work for pushing little buttons. A tip I do will continue our proactive approach and bring to the communities enough the joy on my face when I walked into the training room is that I carry heat packs with me in my gear. I grab a heat pack and put one in each hand as I our commitment of excellence, integrity and caring. I assure you that Monday after shopping to find the presents were WRAPPED! put on my lighter weight gloves. (Thank you shift crew!) There were 18 shoppers, 23 families and that you have the continued dedication and commitment from our When you head out to shoot in the cold, you won’t have to worry about moisture condensing approx 69 children to shop for with approx 345 gifts to wrap. Not trustees, officers, firefighters and support staff, to remain proactive from the cold air on to the warm camera lenses and electronics because cold air has low to mention the donated food to divide and separate, pack it up then and provide a superior service. Each year is more demanding on moisture content. When you bring a cold camera back into the warm building however, that’s deliver to all by fire fighters and fire trucks. Extra Thanks goes out our members and their families. I would like to thank all of them when you get condensation, which isn’t good for the electronics. Warm it slowly if possible. I to Jen and my dedicated shoppers! Total Calls for not only for staying on top of what is requested, but the delivery keep mine in a padded camera bag when I bring it inside or I have heard putting it in a plastic of professional caring service when called upon. As history has bag first before bringing it back inside. The Year 2014 shown, our performance of emergency fire, medical and rescue Our HRFD Family truly have hearts of gold and I feel very blessed 2741 services is second to none. We will keep it that way. to be part of it. Thank you to Everyone! So, don’t be afraid to go out and get the beautiful winter shots. And remember, to the tune of a current song: “It’s all about the batteries, bout the batteries, no kidding!” As we say goodbye to another year, we will miss those who have retired from HRFD. Lt. Jerry McCormick, Lt. Ron Klaman, Lt. Firehouse Scene Ramona Baldoni-Lake, Lt. Chris Scott, FF Jim Daughenbaugh, The Firehouse Scene is a monthly and FF Aaron Miller. All of them gave many years of dedication, newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe commitment and service to the department and community; they all 01/15/09 Fire Prot. Dist. Product Dr. have had a positive effect on all of us and helped us grow to where Editor-in-Chief - Don Shoevlin we are today. Also they have touched many in the community over 12/01/05 Editor & Layout - Sheryl Drost the years. It has been an honor for me to have had the privilege to Ralston Rd. work alongside all of them. A piece of them will always remain and The Firehouse Scene is available at Station they will always be a part of us. I wish all of them and their families One - 10544 Main Street in Roscoe and on the department’s website after the second good health and happiness in their future endeavors. Sunday each month: www.harlemroscoefire.com Don’t forget to bookmark our website www.harlemroscoefire.com and / or friend us on Facebook to keep up with the progress of your E-mail submissions to Sheryl: fire department. Don’t hesitate to contact me or stop by if I can be [email protected] of any assistance. We still have calendars.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 2 The Firehouse Scene - Page 11 www.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.com Then & Now By Sheryl Drost Disposal Truck Fire Photos by Everett Peterson We begin our 75th Year as Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District in 2015. For the next twelve months, I plan on having a little fun with then and now photos. This month I am using actual excerpts from the 75th History Book. In future months I will even be recreating some Firefighters extinguish a fire in a Disposal Truck on Dec. 19 on Hwy 251. older photos. Stay tuned. . .

“If a resident in the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District had a heart attack or was injured in an accident 2014 in the 1940s they had to wait for an ambulance to arrive from the nearby cities of Rockford or Beloit. The wait could be up to an hour. The 1970s saw major advancements in emergency medical care with the introduction of Emergency Medical Service (EMS). The 1980s saw the department’s first “trauma unit” ambulance. Advances in technology exploded over the next thirty-five years and today the department operates four Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances equipped with state-of-the art equipment. The department also staffs paramedics 24/7 at all three stations and they are backed up by the volunteers.”

Fire Alarm Photo by Sheryl Drost Mutual Aid

H-R -Firefighters responded mutual aid to North Park Fire for a house fire on Wayne Dr. on Jan. 1. Thank you to North Park Fire’s photographer Chris Anderson for sending us a couple of his shots of our firefighters at the scene. 1981 1981 & 1985 & 2015

“In March of 1981, another first for a volunteer fire district in Winnebago County occurred. The department purchased their first true ambulance for $38,000, and it carried $20,000 worth of equipment. Chief Oscar Presley recalled, “The Trustees made us put ‘Trauma Unit’ on the truck, not Ambulance, and didn’t want men responding to any calls unless it was our own personnel or it was heart attacks. Well, we got around that. Every call became a possible heart attack!” With the new unit, the paramedics were able to provide life- supporting services faster. The truck was capable of transporting up to three Firefighters responded to a fire alarm at the UMC on Dec. 11. Nothing found. victims from an accident or fire scene, if it was necessary.” Car Fire Photo by Sheryl Drost

Let it Snow! Snow forcaster, Dispatcher John Presley, has predicted there will be 26 snows.

As of Jan. 7 there are 22 left. .

Lt.Patrick Trollop and Lt. Josh Hoffland extinguish a fire in a car parked in the Target parking lot on Dec. 17. The Firehouse Scene - Page 10 The Firehouse Scene - Page 3 www.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.com movies are saved, the families are usually very grateful. Protection Overhaul of the “priceless” items has much more significant personal value. This is the systematic look at the fire scene to make sure there are no further traces of fire. This entails searching for hidden fires to The homeowners will remember us for taking the effort to save their ensure we leave the structure in as safe a condition as possible. memories more than if you save their newly remodeled kitchen. The overhaul process should be weighed against the need for a Salvage has more ability to increase your community equity and fire investigation to complete their tasks. All personnel performing positive opinions than almost any other service program. overhaul should be in SCBA. Recent evidence is showing that even when carbon monoxide levels are safe within a structure, if Initial tactical decisions made in the first five to 10 minutes will the area is still hot and products are off-gassing, hydrogen cyanide dictate the direction of the remainder of the call. Good tactical levels may be present at acute or fatal levels. Hidden fires should be decisions made to benefit the safety of ourselves and our customers extinguished to prevent growing larger, but if possible postpone as are the basis of our first decisions. These are learned by utilizing Heating much damage to the fire area as you can to allow your investigator the acronym opened with at the start of the article. In addition, we the best evidence possible when performing their job. Keep a hose can also discover the proper tactical options based on mistakes Safety line charged and in place when the investigation is on-going in made in the past. case the fire flares up. Find those learning tools out there that will assist you in making the There is something about the winter months and curling up Ventilation safest, most efficient decisions possible. Fireground scenarios go with a good book by the fireplace. But did you know that heating This specific item is not listed in order of implementation, but a long way in giving us the “unconscious competence” we should equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths? With can be considered when required to facilitate the completion of all be striving for. Frequently visit the numerous firefighting-based the items listed above. Ventilation is a great tool to assist with the Web sites that offer training. Performing effectively, safely and to a few simple safety tips and precautions you can prevent most following activities: the standard our customers expect, is one of the hallmarks of a heating fires from happening. 1. Reduces danger to trapped occupants and allows for an professional. Heating increased rescue profile. Equipment 2. Increases visibility for interior crews, which enhances their Smarts safety and efficiency. BUGLE ALARM 3. Assists with rapid search and hose line advancement. Monthly article submitted by a H-R Fire Officer. Install wood burning stoves following 4. Increases the speed at which the seat of the fire is located. manufacturer’s instructions 5. Reduces the time required to find fire spread. Firefighter Safety or have a professional do the 6. Reduces the chances of flashover and/or backdraft. installation. All fuel-burning Identifying Hypothermia 7. When properly performed, ventilation increases effectiveness equipment should be vented of most operations to the outside to avoid carbon By Capt. Ryan Alms monoxide (CO) poisoning. 8. Positive pressure ventilation has potential of moving fire and fire gases Install and maintain CO Hypothermia is a condition in which the body’s core temperature alarms to avoid the risk Positive pressure ventilation is only effective on structures falls below 95ºF (35ºC). Firefighting activities, particularly when of CO poisoning. If when doors and windows maintained. It’s vital to remember that firefighters get wet, presents opportunities for firefighters’ bodies you smell gas in ventilation be coordinated with interior attack teams and incident to cool to dangerous levels. Another scenario is when firefighters your gas heater, do command. While vertical ventilation has been receiving a bum must conduct emergency operations when low ambient air rap lately, there is still a strong proponent of this tactic when do not light the temperatures are combined with strong winds, creating dangerous dealing with “Black Fire” or when conditions are causing severe wind-chill conditions. appliance. Leave the FF beatings or impairing their ability to efficiently get their home immediately assignments completed. Remember, when selecting a method In most cases of firefighting-related hypothermia, exhaustion is a and call your local fire of ventilation, be aware of the consequences of that decision, department or gas company. predisposing factor. As exhaustion sets in and the intensity of a including when to initiate or terminate the process. firefighter’s efforts slow down, the firefighter’s core temperature starts to fall. Shivering will set in, which is one way the body tries Salvage to generate heat. FACT The second of the “sliding tactical assignments” is salvage. Half of home heating fires are While salvage is predominantly assigned when all other tactical As their temperatures start to fall, the skin will become cold and reported during the months processes have been completed, I am a strong proponent for pale, their respiration will be depressed and a slow irregular pulse performing salvage as soon as resources and other priorities allow. will be present. Continued exposure will cause the firefighter to of December, January, Chances exist that any significant fire in a residential structure will and February. show signs of irritability, incoordination, weakness, clumsiness cause a displacement of a family for some amount of time. The and difficulty speaking, this happens at temperatures below 90ºF. Your Source for SAFETY Information structure will probably be rebuilt in the near future and they will If temperature depression continues, the firefighter will collapse NFPA Public Education Division • 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169 www.nfpa.org/education be somewhat content with this. But when irreplaceable personal into a coma and failure of the respiratory and cardiovascular effects such as pictures, computers, personal papers or even home systems will ensue.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 4 The Firehouse Scene -Page 9 www.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.com Accidents Photos by Sheryl Drost & Everett Peterson Fireground Operations I believe that we all would agree that current building methods By Deputy Chief John Bergeron and manufacturing materials have significantly increased the severity of fires being fought today compared to the fires fought https://www.firerecruit.com/articles/426027-Fireground- Tactical-Priorities-RECEO-VS by our fathers. As Dave Dodson puts it, “We are facing explosive fires in disposable buildings.” With the amount of plastics and Not all tactics are required at every fire, but hydrocarbon-based items now found in homes and businesses, they should always be considered. Each of coupled with truss systems and laminated wood products, these tactics can be delivered singularly or consideration of our initial attack lines should force us to more at the same time as others based on resource frequently select a 2 ½” attack line when faced with a fire greater availability and priority of completion to than a single room and its contents. mitigate fireground impacts. Need for rescue It’s better to have more flow capability with you to rapidly The rescue of civilians is our main purpose. The decision to extinguish the fire. Remember that multiple rooms with ina 12/13/14 Love Rd. and Willowbrook Rd. prioritize the initial phases of fireground tactics to perform rescue structure have special hazards of their own. Fire attack on a is based on presenting evidence during size-up. We consistently basement fire or an attic requires slightly different tactics for teach new recruits this fireground decision foundation, but confinement. Consider use of all openings to gain an advantage sometimes forget to advise them that a rescue tactic without a over the extinguishment of a fire. Remember that coordination coordinated fire attack is an extremely risky venture and should during the confinement phase of a fire is critical. Opposing hand only be performed in extreme cases. lines and ventilation without consideration of fire growth or path of heat can cause heat and fire to flashover, causing significant Hose lines give us the ability to assist with rescues by placing impacts to interior crews and their safety. protection between victims and fire. They also give interior crews a priceless tool for self-preservation should interior fire dynamics Extinguishment 12/14/14 Hwy 251 12/19/14 Hwy 251 deteriorate quickly. These hose lines allow for keeping fire from This should be accomplished by applying fire stream operations victims, control interior stairwells and corridors for FF egress or in the most safe and effective manner. Set your nozzle pattern, hose line advancement, and protection for FFs operating on the bleed your line and flow water long enough for your engineer to floor above the fire floor. effectively set the line pressure at the panel prior to entering the structure. Stay low on entering the fire area to allow for heat and Protection of an exposure gasses to vent before moving in. Ensure all FFs are positioned Exposures consist of interior and exterior sources, and knowledge on the same side of the entrance before opening a door. If heat is of fire placement and movement will drive our need to get ahead encountered while advancing into a structure, open the hose line to of a fire. Exposure lines allow us to ensure we stay aheadof reduce the temperature at the ceiling in the area. rapid fire progress and contain fires to the smallest size container possible, i.e. room of origin, floor of origin, building of origin and Heat moving through smoke has the ability to ignite fuel vapors block of origin. Fire will extend in all directions by direct flame contained within the smoke. If you are waiting until you see contact, radiated heat, convection, embers and more regularly heat rollover, you are risking a flashover on your team. Use the water 12/16/14 Kinnikinnick Dr. 12/19/14 Willowbrook Rd. contained in smoke. for the reason we have always chosen it — to cool things down! If things are hot enough to be forcing your team to the floor, the 12/27/14 - A wrong way driver crashes with two cars in the northbound lane of Hwy 251 and a car breaking for the accident was rear-ended. Knowing where smoke originates and how soon it will cause a amount of damage you will cause to the structure is insignificant. flashover should dictate fireground tactics and keep us from placing If you are worried about steam burns, they hurt somewhat less than FFs in situations that are predictable in the near future. Exposure being caught in a flashover. If you state visibility will be reduced, it protection can be better projected if we understand where the fire will! But thermal cameras will still allow for visibility. is going, how fast it is going and then anticipating how much time hose line deployment takes. Well-calculated deployment times Don’t hesitate to use your hose stream to cool burning debris on will allow us to place exposure lines in the path of a fire instead of the floor or hot surfaces in front of your team when they may be getting behind it. advancing over them. Once the fire is located and knocked, shut down your hose line to allow for the area to vent. If you enter an Confinement of fire area that is very hot but find no fire, get out and check the area This is the next tactical decision in the standard evolution of below you. If large, intense fires are found, it may be necessary to fireground tactics. It requires a sufficient amount of knowledge have an exterior crew knock the fire using a solid stream nozzle regarding fuel load to anticipate what volume of water may be before making an interior attack. necessary to ensure the fire remains in the smallest box possible. This consists of residential or commercial, interior operations, Always have back-up lines in place when possible. These can be type of and quantity of fuel. Coupled with the amount of fire on used when initial attack lines are not able to quickly suppress the arrival, it should guide the initial company officer to select a hose fire. If it is quickly obvious that the initial attack line is insufficient line that will effectively deal with the amount of fire present on for the job, bring in the back-up line and then stretch another arrival and the estimate of fire spread in the time it takes to deploy back-up line, preferably a 2 ½” if there are already two 1 ¾” the initial attack line. My previous articles speak of the necessity lines interior. Back-up lines should be charged, ready for use and of selecting the proper hose line based on fire size and amount of positioned close to the initial attack lines. gallons the attack line can deliver. The Firehouse Scene -Page 8 The Firehouse Scene - Page 5 www.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.com Barn Fire Photos by Sheryl Drost Firefighters were rousted from the beds around 2:16 am for their first fire of the year on Jan. 2. An large abandoned barn was on fire off Hwy 173 west of Belvidere Rd. It was about half a mile up a old dirt and gravel driveway. Luckily water didn’t have to be shuttled in because there was a hydrant at the end of the driveway that fed a nearby industrial park. It would now feed water up to the trucks at the burning barn. First in firefighters protected exposures of another barn and a house. The fire was knocked down and no one was injured. The fire is under investigation.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene - Page 7 www.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.com Barn Fire Photos by Sheryl Drost Firefighters were rousted from the beds around 2:16 am for their first fire of the year on Jan. 2. An large abandoned barn was on fire off Hwy 173 west of Belvidere Rd. It was about half a mile up a old dirt and gravel driveway. Luckily water didn’t have to be shuttled in because there was a hydrant at the end of the driveway that fed a nearby industrial park. It would now feed water up to the trucks at the burning barn. First in firefighters protected exposures of another barn and a house. The fire was knocked down and no one was injured. The fire is under investigation.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 6 The Firehouse Scene - Page 7 www.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.com Accidents Photos by Sheryl Drost & Everett Peterson Fireground Operations I believe that we all would agree that current building methods By Deputy Chief John Bergeron and manufacturing materials have significantly increased the severity of fires being fought today compared to the fires fought https://www.firerecruit.com/articles/426027-Fireground- Tactical-Priorities-RECEO-VS by our fathers. As Dave Dodson puts it, “We are facing explosive fires in disposable buildings.” With the amount of plastics and Not all tactics are required at every fire, but hydrocarbon-based items now found in homes and businesses, they should always be considered. Each of coupled with truss systems and laminated wood products, these tactics can be delivered singularly or consideration of our initial attack lines should force us to more at the same time as others based on resource frequently select a 2 ½” attack line when faced with a fire greater availability and priority of completion to than a single room and its contents. mitigate fireground impacts. Need for rescue It’s better to have more flow capability with you to rapidly The rescue of civilians is our main purpose. The decision to extinguish the fire. Remember that multiple rooms with ina 12/13/14 Love Rd. and Willowbrook Rd. prioritize the initial phases of fireground tactics to perform rescue structure have special hazards of their own. Fire attack on a is based on presenting evidence during size-up. We consistently basement fire or an attic requires slightly different tactics for teach new recruits this fireground decision foundation, but confinement. Consider use of all openings to gain an advantage sometimes forget to advise them that a rescue tactic without a over the extinguishment of a fire. Remember that coordination coordinated fire attack is an extremely risky venture and should during the confinement phase of a fire is critical. Opposing hand only be performed in extreme cases. lines and ventilation without consideration of fire growth or path of heat can cause heat and fire to flashover, causing significant Hose lines give us the ability to assist with rescues by placing impacts to interior crews and their safety. protection between victims and fire. They also give interior crews a priceless tool for self-preservation should interior fire dynamics Extinguishment 12/14/14 Hwy 251 12/19/14 Hwy 251 deteriorate quickly. These hose lines allow for keeping fire from This should be accomplished by applying fire stream operations victims, control interior stairwells and corridors for FF egress or in the most safe and effective manner. Set your nozzle pattern, hose line advancement, and protection for FFs operating on the bleed your line and flow water long enough for your engineer to floor above the fire floor. effectively set the line pressure at the panel prior to entering the structure. Stay low on entering the fire area to allow for heat and Protection of an exposure gasses to vent before moving in. Ensure all FFs are positioned Exposures consist of interior and exterior sources, and knowledge on the same side of the entrance before opening a door. If heat is of fire placement and movement will drive our need to get ahead encountered while advancing into a structure, open the hose line to of a fire. Exposure lines allow us to ensure we stay aheadof reduce the temperature at the ceiling in the area. rapid fire progress and contain fires to the smallest size container possible, i.e. room of origin, floor of origin, building of origin and Heat moving through smoke has the ability to ignite fuel vapors block of origin. Fire will extend in all directions by direct flame contained within the smoke. If you are waiting until you see contact, radiated heat, convection, embers and more regularly heat rollover, you are risking a flashover on your team. Use the water 12/16/14 Kinnikinnick Dr. 12/19/14 Willowbrook Rd. contained in smoke. for the reason we have always chosen it — to cool things down! If things are hot enough to be forcing your team to the floor, the 12/27/14 - A wrong way driver crashes with two cars in the northbound lane of Hwy 251 and a car breaking for the accident was rear-ended. Knowing where smoke originates and how soon it will cause a amount of damage you will cause to the structure is insignificant. flashover should dictate fireground tactics and keep us from placing If you are worried about steam burns, they hurt somewhat less than FFs in situations that are predictable in the near future. Exposure being caught in a flashover. If you state visibility will be reduced, it protection can be better projected if we understand where the fire will! But thermal cameras will still allow for visibility. is going, how fast it is going and then anticipating how much time hose line deployment takes. Well-calculated deployment times Don’t hesitate to use your hose stream to cool burning debris on will allow us to place exposure lines in the path of a fire instead of the floor or hot surfaces in front of your team when they may be getting behind it. advancing over them. Once the fire is located and knocked, shut down your hose line to allow for the area to vent. If you enter an Confinement of fire area that is very hot but find no fire, get out and check the area This is the next tactical decision in the standard evolution of below you. If large, intense fires are found, it may be necessary to fireground tactics. It requires a sufficient amount of knowledge have an exterior crew knock the fire using a solid stream nozzle regarding fuel load to anticipate what volume of water may be before making an interior attack. necessary to ensure the fire remains in the smallest box possible. This consists of residential or commercial, interior operations, Always have back-up lines in place when possible. These can be type of and quantity of fuel. Coupled with the amount of fire on used when initial attack lines are not able to quickly suppress the arrival, it should guide the initial company officer to select a hose fire. If it is quickly obvious that the initial attack line is insufficient line that will effectively deal with the amount of fire present on for the job, bring in the back-up line and then stretch another arrival and the estimate of fire spread in the time it takes to deploy back-up line, preferably a 2 ½” if there are already two 1 ¾” the initial attack line. My previous articles speak of the necessity lines interior. Back-up lines should be charged, ready for use and of selecting the proper hose line based on fire size and amount of positioned close to the initial attack lines. gallons the attack line can deliver. The Firehouse Scene -Page 8 The Firehouse Scene - Page 5 www.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.com movies are saved, the families are usually very grateful. Protection Overhaul of the “priceless” items has much more significant personal value. This is the systematic look at the fire scene to make sure there are no further traces of fire. This entails searching for hidden fires to The homeowners will remember us for taking the effort to save their ensure we leave the structure in as safe a condition as possible. memories more than if you save their newly remodeled kitchen. The overhaul process should be weighed against the need for a Salvage has more ability to increase your community equity and fire investigation to complete their tasks. All personnel performing positive opinions than almost any other service program. overhaul should be in SCBA. Recent evidence is showing that even when carbon monoxide levels are safe within a structure, if Initial tactical decisions made in the first five to 10 minutes will the area is still hot and products are off-gassing, hydrogen cyanide dictate the direction of the remainder of the call. Good tactical levels may be present at acute or fatal levels. Hidden fires should be decisions made to benefit the safety of ourselves and our customers extinguished to prevent growing larger, but if possible postpone as are the basis of our first decisions. These are learned by utilizing Heating much damage to the fire area as you can to allow your investigator the acronym opened with at the start of the article. In addition, we the best evidence possible when performing their job. Keep a hose can also discover the proper tactical options based on mistakes Safety line charged and in place when the investigation is on-going in made in the past. case the fire flares up. Find those learning tools out there that will assist you in making the There is something about the winter months and curling up Ventilation safest, most efficient decisions possible. Fireground scenarios go with a good book by the fireplace. But did you know that heating This specific item is not listed in order of implementation, but a long way in giving us the “unconscious competence” we should equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths? With can be considered when required to facilitate the completion of all be striving for. Frequently visit the numerous firefighting-based the items listed above. Ventilation is a great tool to assist with the Web sites that offer training. Performing effectively, safely and to a few simple safety tips and precautions you can prevent most following activities: the standard our customers expect, is one of the hallmarks of a heating fires from happening. 1. Reduces danger to trapped occupants and allows for an professional. Heating increased rescue profile. Equipment 2. Increases visibility for interior crews, which enhances their Smarts safety and efficiency. BUGLE ALARM 3. Assists with rapid search and hose line advancement. Monthly article submitted by a H-R Fire Officer. Install wood burning stoves following 4. Increases the speed at which the seat of the fire is located. manufacturer’s instructions 5. Reduces the time required to find fire spread. Firefighter Safety or have a professional do the 6. Reduces the chances of flashover and/or backdraft. installation. All fuel-burning Identifying Hypothermia 7. When properly performed, ventilation increases effectiveness equipment should be vented of most operations to the outside to avoid carbon By Capt. Ryan Alms monoxide (CO) poisoning. 8. Positive pressure ventilation has potential of moving fire and fire gases Install and maintain CO Hypothermia is a condition in which the body’s core temperature alarms to avoid the risk Positive pressure ventilation is only effective on structures falls below 95ºF (35ºC). Firefighting activities, particularly when of CO poisoning. If when doors and windows maintained. It’s vital to remember that firefighters get wet, presents opportunities for firefighters’ bodies you smell gas in ventilation be coordinated with interior attack teams and incident to cool to dangerous levels. Another scenario is when firefighters your gas heater, do command. While vertical ventilation has been receiving a bum must conduct emergency operations when low ambient air rap lately, there is still a strong proponent of this tactic when do not light the temperatures are combined with strong winds, creating dangerous dealing with “Black Fire” or when conditions are causing severe wind-chill conditions. appliance. Leave the FF beatings or impairing their ability to efficiently get their home immediately assignments completed. Remember, when selecting a method In most cases of firefighting-related hypothermia, exhaustion is a and call your local fire of ventilation, be aware of the consequences of that decision, department or gas company. predisposing factor. As exhaustion sets in and the intensity of a including when to initiate or terminate the process. firefighter’s efforts slow down, the firefighter’s core temperature starts to fall. Shivering will set in, which is one way the body tries Salvage to generate heat. FACT The second of the “sliding tactical assignments” is salvage. Half of home heating fires are While salvage is predominantly assigned when all other tactical As their temperatures start to fall, the skin will become cold and reported during the months processes have been completed, I am a strong proponent for pale, their respiration will be depressed and a slow irregular pulse performing salvage as soon as resources and other priorities allow. will be present. Continued exposure will cause the firefighter to of December, January, Chances exist that any significant fire in a residential structure will and February. show signs of irritability, incoordination, weakness, clumsiness cause a displacement of a family for some amount of time. The and difficulty speaking, this happens at temperatures below 90ºF. Your Source for SAFETY Information structure will probably be rebuilt in the near future and they will If temperature depression continues, the firefighter will collapse NFPA Public Education Division • 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169 www.nfpa.org/education be somewhat content with this. But when irreplaceable personal into a coma and failure of the respiratory and cardiovascular effects such as pictures, computers, personal papers or even home systems will ensue.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 4 The Firehouse Scene -Page 9 www.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.com Then & Now By Sheryl Drost Disposal Truck Fire Photos by Everett Peterson We begin our 75th Year as Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District in 2015. For the next twelve months, I plan on having a little fun with then and now photos. This month I am using actual excerpts from the 75th History Book. In future months I will even be recreating some Firefighters extinguish a fire in a Disposal Truck on Dec. 19 on Hwy 251. older photos. Stay tuned. . .

Fire Alarm Photo by Sheryl Drost Mutual Aid

Let it Snow! Snow forcaster, Dispatcher John Presley, has predicted there will be 26 snows.

As of Jan. 7 there are 22 left. .

Lt.Patrick Trollop and Lt. Josh Hoffland extinguish a fire in a car parked in the Target parking lot on Dec. 17. The Firehouse Scene - Page 10 The Firehouse Scene - Page 3 www.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.com From the Chief’s Desk Holiday Happenings Cold Weather Photography Tips Birthday! By Fire Chief Don Shoevlin By Tammy Shoevlin By HRFD Photographer Sheryl Drost I get asked all the time for photography tips, recently for shooting in the extreme cold. Cold This past holiday season around HRFD was an exceptional time of weather is extremely rough on our cameras. Our firefighters are pretty fast at putting out fires, support and giving. Welcome 2015 so our fire photographers can’t count on the fire itself to keep our cameras warm. January I wanted to take a moment to THANK everyone who took part It’s really all about the batteries and keeping the camera warm. Batteries go dead quickly in 5th Matt Bush What an exciting year for Harlem Roscoe Fire David Leslie as we celebrate our 75th Anniversary as a Fire in the many events that were part of our already busy days! The cold temperatures. I repeat, batteries go dead quickly in cold temperatures, you have to keep Protection District. The changes in growth VFW Hall in Roscoe gave way to our annual holiday gathering. them warm! What helps me is when I head out to a fire is I put my spare camera battery into my 17th John Presley and how we have progressed as a district over An EXTRA Thank You to Amber, DeAnn, Melanie and Al for pocket, and switch battery out often. Keeping your camera inside your coat or any where it’s 22nd Everett Peterson the past 75 years are astonishing. your time and donations which lead to a great party! Just over 45 warm when your not shooting is a must to protect the electronics. I learned that the hard way 25th Jerry Lund people came out for a good time with plenty of food and spirits. when I first started shooting for the fire department. A great way for you to experience this is with our newly published 26th Reety Radke history book. Yes, they have arrived and can be purchased by Deb, you and the “Alms Crew” always amaze me how our I still vividly remember my first big fire I photographed 31st Mark Soppe stopping by Station One on Main Street in Roscoe. I have to Children’s Breakfast with Santa goes off without a hitch every back on Feb. 20, 1991. It was way below zero and the say they turned out amazing. A book which is not only full of year. Plenty of food not only for the little ones but also for those fire department was dispatched to a garage fire on Prairie February Hill Rd. I was so excited, I had shot practice burns and a memories, but stories told by those who lived it. big boys too! Entertainment and wrapped presents for all, not to 10th Rob Gonia mention Santa Claus. My grandbabies assure me that he is the real couple smaller fires before, but this was my first big fire, I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season. I want to one! Thanks for your many years of dedication and love in doing and it was a fully involved garage fire. I parked down 13th Zach Tennyson thank all of you for a successful “Keep the Wreath Red” campaign. this. the road so I wouldn’t be in the way of the fire trucks 15th Scott Jensen We did not encounter any holiday related fires. and walked up to the fire. Didn’t worry about keeping my camera warm. I got five pictures 24th Sean Laurent The calendar year of 2014 finished with our personnel responding We not only had the traditional sleigh ride pulled by our reindeer taken and my camera froze and I had no extra batteries! I had to go back to my car and wait for my camera to warm up. And, like I said before, our firefighters are pretty fast at knocking to 2741 calls. That is the most we have had, and breaks down to fire fighters, but also a beautifully lighted fire truck for all of the over 7 calls a day. many parade events this season. For many years, Joe has lead the down fires, so the rest of my pictures are the guys overhauling. One of those first five shots is way with his time and talents. Always teaching our newbie’s what pictured above. Our HRFD Christmas Drive was very successful. We delivered else a fire fighter does besides fighting fires. An extra big hug and Today, we’re lucky to have newer cameras that are better weather sealed, but we still do what to 23 families this year. Thank you to everyone that helped thanks to the man behind the snowy white beard!! either by shopping, wrapping, delivering, or donating. It is truly we can to keep snow and rain off the cameras. If you don’t have the newer weather sealed cameras, a heavy snow or rain will surely play havoc on them. They do make a plastic bag type heartwarming to see the faces on the individuals and gratifying to The Officer party was a smash and EVERYONE fit around the help them enjoy the holiday. cover that you can purchase cheaply at a camera store. You can also invest in one of the newer island eating . . . getting ready for the 1/1/2015 diet that we all waterproof digital cameras that are out now. They even go underwater. Also carry a dry, lint- As we begin a new year I am certain it will be filled with exciting talked about! free cloth to clean your lenses often. new challenges and rewards. I look for the district to continue its growth and as that happens the need for our services will grow. We Holiday Reindeer Family Drive. . . Lastly, I can NOT express Cameras are cold to hold and big heavy gloves don’t work for pushing little buttons. A tip I do will continue our proactive approach and bring to the communities enough the joy on my face when I walked into the training room is that I carry heat packs with me in my gear. I grab a heat pack and put one in each hand as I our commitment of excellence, integrity and caring. I assure you that Monday after shopping to find the presents were WRAPPED! put on my lighter weight gloves. (Thank you shift crew!) There were 18 shoppers, 23 families and that you have the continued dedication and commitment from our When you head out to shoot in the cold, you won’t have to worry about moisture condensing approx 69 children to shop for with approx 345 gifts to wrap. Not trustees, officers, firefighters and support staff, to remain proactive from the cold air on to the warm camera lenses and electronics because cold air has low to mention the donated food to divide and separate, pack it up then and provide a superior service. Each year is more demanding on moisture content. When you bring a cold camera back into the warm building however, that’s deliver to all by fire fighters and fire trucks. Extra Thanks goes out our members and their families. I would like to thank all of them when you get condensation, which isn’t good for the electronics. Warm it slowly if possible. I to Jen and my dedicated shoppers! Total Calls for not only for staying on top of what is requested, but the delivery keep mine in a padded camera bag when I bring it inside or I have heard putting it in a plastic of professional caring service when called upon. As history has bag first before bringing it back inside. The Year 2014 shown, our performance of emergency fire, medical and rescue Our HRFD Family truly have hearts of gold and I feel very blessed 2741 services is second to none. We will keep it that way. to be part of it. Thank you to Everyone! So, don’t be afraid to go out and get the beautiful winter shots. And remember, to the tune of a current song: “It’s all about the batteries, bout the batteries, no kidding!” As we say goodbye to another year, we will miss those who have retired from HRFD. Lt. Jerry McCormick, Lt. Ron Klaman, Lt. Firehouse Scene Ramona Baldoni-Lake, Lt. Chris Scott, FF Jim Daughenbaugh, The Firehouse Scene is a monthly and FF Aaron Miller. All of them gave many years of dedication, newsletter produced by the Harlem-Roscoe commitment and service to the department and community; they all 01/15/09 Fire Prot. Dist. Product Dr. have had a positive effect on all of us and helped us grow to where Editor-in-Chief - Don Shoevlin we are today. Also they have touched many in the community over 12/01/05 Editor & Layout - Sheryl Drost the years. It has been an honor for me to have had the privilege to Ralston Rd. work alongside all of them. A piece of them will always remain and The Firehouse Scene is available at Station they will always be a part of us. I wish all of them and their families One - 10544 Main Street in Roscoe and on the department’s website after the second good health and happiness in their future endeavors. Sunday each month: www.harlemroscoefire.com Don’t forget to bookmark our website www.harlemroscoefire.com and / or friend us on Facebook to keep up with the progress of your E-mail submissions to Sheryl: fire department. Don’t hesitate to contact me or stop by if I can be [email protected] of any assistance. We still have calendars.

The Firehouse Scene - Page 2 The Firehouse Scene - Page 11 www.harlemroscoefire.com www.harlemroscoefire.com Station Funny Station Gossip By Shery Drost

Photo by Everett Peterson

The Firehouse Scene - Page 12 www.harlemroscoefire.com