Tuesday, June 28, 2011

West Valley City Fire...Another Day at the Office

Check out this rollover on I 215



Remember, BE Smart... BE Safe... BE READY!
Fire Marshal Bob

Monday, June 27, 2011

West Valley City Fire HOT TOPICS...at it again

West Valley Fire Fighters had another busy weekend. Bshift fire fighters did a great job stopping this fire before it extended to an adjacent building.




            Remember        Be Smart.... Be Safe... BE READY!         FIRE MARSHAL BOB

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

New Fireworks rules go into effect

Fire works………there’s a new law for Utah.



Hello everybody, Fire Marshal Bob here. I want to take just a minute to inform you of a new law that effects the ways we can celebrate our Nations and heritage with fireworks. The legislature has not only increased the types of fireworks we can use but they have allowed us to shoot them from June 26th through July 26th.

First let me remind you that legal fireworks are still very dangerous and the effects of fireworks can cost all of us un-necessary dollars. Did you know that from 2002 and 2006 nearly half a million was the dollar amount in property loss due to fireworks. That doesn’t begin to account for the monies from our tax dollars that were spent to combat these fires, or the money spent on medical bills from burns, amputations and other mutilations caused by fireworks. OK enough of the gruesome stuff.

Here are some good tips to remember as we get ready for our celebrations.

• Purchase fireworks from reliable, licensed fireworks dealers. Read all instructions to reduce the chances of a destructive fire or debilitating injury. Follow all safety guidelines exactly.
• Children should not handle fireworks. You must be at least 16 years of age to handle or light fireworks. Adults are to supervise any activity that includes fireworks.
• Never let children handle, play with or light fireworks. Only knowing and clear-headed adults should handle fireworks.
• Adults should never use alcohol or drugs or be impaired while engaged in handling, using, placing or lighting fireworks.
• New aerial type fireworks are now lawful. Aerial devices, also known as “multiple tube”, “repeater”, or “cake” fireworks often look like miniature professional displays and can travel high into the air, as much as 150 feet.
• These Fireworks need sufficient space from trees, carports, structures, powerlines, or other high or low obstacles. Aerial or “cake” fireworks need at least a 30 foot clearance around on the ground and at least 150 foot clearance in the air.
• Things that are still not allowed are fire crackers, M-80’s, cherry bombs, bottle rockets, roman candles, single or reloadable mortars, and ground salutes. Remember that all State and Federal laws must be adhered to! Please use commonsense whenever you are around fireworks. Here are a few of Fire Marshal Bobs don’ts! Don’t change or alter the fireworks in any way! Don’t light them near or under a carport! Don’t light them indoors! Don’t carry fireworks in your pockets! Don’t Shoot fireworks in windy conditions!
• Keep a bucket of water or running hose nearby during the time of lighting and disposing of fireworks and in case of an emergency.
• Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks. Keep all unused fireworks 30 feet away from the shooting area.
• Make sure other people are out of range at a reasonable distance before lighting fireworks. Do not point or throw fireworks at people, animals or where they may not be under proper control. And remember, sparklers burn at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. They are extremely deceptive in nature and can be an extraordinarily dangerous device in the hands of children and can cause serious burns and injuries if not cared for properly.
• Light fireworks one at a time. Do not attempt to light multiple fireworks at any time. Do not relight a firework whose fuse has burned away. Do not attempt to repair broken fireworks. Soak fireworks that did not ignite in a bucket of water. Once the firework is lit, get away quickly to a safe distance.
• Keep clear of the firework. Never place a body part above or around a burning firework. Never pickup a burning firework. Never look into the tube or stay close to the burning end of the device. Never hold a lit firework in your hand.
• Use caution with animals. Excitement, noise and lights can cause fear and stress.

Alright, enough is enough. Now lets get ready to have a great summer season!

As always………Be Smart….. Be Safe….. BE READY!
Fire Marshal Bob

Monday, May 16, 2011

Hot Hot Hot

Join west valley Fire fighters as they train. This video captures "Flame over" a condition that is as dangerous as it looks. Even this controlled burn can be hazardous. Battalion chief Chris Biechner said " this type of training is designed to give firefighters the experience of a flameover... its important that they are able to recognize this hazardous condition before they commit themselves too far"

West Valley City Fire crews are committed to excellence and providing the best service along the Wasatch front...... Enjoy the Show!






Remember..... BE Smart....Be Safe....BE READY!
FIRE MARSHAL BOB

Monday, April 11, 2011

I.C.E. and The Vial Of Life

Join me, Fire Marshal Bob, As I discuss two simple yet important safety programs. first I.C.E. (In Case of Emergency) A simple program to help responders make important contact with people important to you. Then stay tuned for "the Vial Of life" An easy way to help emergency responders know your medical history better and easier that during a stressful emergency. I hope you enjoy the short video.




Thanks for watching I'd love to get some feedback!

Remember      Be Safe... BE READY!      Fire Marshal Bob

Thursday, March 31, 2011

West Valley Fire Fighters test for Engineer

12 West Valley Fire Fighters tested for the Engineers position in the Fire Department.
Candidates went through a rigorous testing process

Candidate Scott Byrne explains actions to evaluators
Candidate checking his calcualtions



















The Engineer is responsible to take care of the equipment, make sure the crew gets to and from calls safely, and of course they get to pump all the water at the fire scene. Generally the Engineer is second in command of the crew and when the captain is off the engineer runs the show.

Congratulations to those that participated.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

START SIMPLE....FINISH STRONG

I am often asked, where should I begin with emergency preparedness? That is a great question to ask. I love when I do get that question because it means that you are at least thinking about it.
The answer to the question is this. Just get started!
When the terrorist attacks on September 11 happend, we as a nation were overwhelmed at the daunting task that was before us. Where do we begin? How do we overcome this? It's too big to handle. But we as a nation did overcome it. How? We just got started! We took the whole picture and broke it into smaller pieces. This made it possible to do the work that needed to be done.
Members of Utah task force one were back at ground zero within a few short days. The rubble pile they faced was huge. Yet they took small areas and worked on them. It made a diffence. My group was there 60 days after September 11 and the rubble Pyle had been reduced to ground level. It was a completely different ball game from when Utah task force 1 was there, but there were still 60 floors below grade to work on. Bit by bit layer by layer, objective by objective the problems were overcome. The people of Japan are going through this same process.
It is not any different when we consider our own emergency preparedness. If we look at it, it can seem overwhelming. But if we will just take a moment to discuss things with our families or organizations. To prioritize and work on the simple things first, we will find that the more complex and costly things will fall into place. Talk with your friends and co workers, get ideas from them. Don't let the discussion die. Don't get caught up in the hype or doomsday mentality. You'll be surprised at what you can accomplish one thing at a time. If you start simple you truly can finish strong!

Don't be afraid........ Be prepared


Remember

BE Smart... BE Safe... BE READY

Fire Marshal Bob

Monday, March 21, 2011

Emergency Preparedness....What are you doing about it?

With all of the events going on in the world emergency preparedness seems to be a buzz word and topic. So with that said. WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT?

Statistics show that if you haven't acted by now in some way, you probably wont. Don't let that happen to you and your family. Resolve to act today! Its really quite simple. Start by talking with your family about what you would do if an emergency happened. Things such as how would you contact each other, what would you eat , drink and so on. when you do this talk about the solutions. Make a plan and then.........DO IT!

Remember

BE Smart...... BE Safe.... BE READY!

FIRE MARSHAL BOB

Thursday, March 17, 2011

14 year old hit by vehicle while walking to school

Wes Valley City - 6000 west Wending lane
A 14 year old boy was hit by a car while walking to school. Fire crews were called to the scene of the accident. Due to the nature and the mechanism of the Injuries the youth was flown to Primary childrens medical center. West Vally City Police department is investigating the incident.


Bob Fitzgerald
XXX

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Fatal accident on Redwood Road

Sunday March 13 2011 - West Valley City
Car Embedded into a UTA bus
Photo Courtesy West Valley City - Kevin Conde
 Fire crews from West Valley and South Salt lake responded to a report of car verses bus at about 3850 south redwood road Sunday morning.











When crews arrived they found that a car that was said to be traveling between 80 - 100 miles per hour had hit a UTA bus that was stopped at a bus stop. The two occupants of the car were dead at the scene and crews had to first extricate the vehicle from the bus and then extricate the victims from their vehicle. No one on the bus was injured.

After Crews Separated the Car from the bus, the grueling task of extricating the two victims from the car
Photo Courtesy West Valley City - Kevin Conde