Emergency Call Box for LMRFD Stations - Several Years Ago a Friends Home Burned Down, She Forgot Her Cell Phone Escaping

 Several years ago a friends trailer was on fire here in Dolan. She got herself and her son out but had forgot her cell phone. She only lived a couple blocks from the fire station so she just ran down to the station. 

It took a while for the firefighter answered the door, she told him her home was on fire. Rather than ask if she was ok, or was anyone still in the home, he yelled at her. Telling her she should have called 911 rather than come to the station. 

There are a number of reasons we need an emergency phone at the LMRFD fire stations. Like our friend who forgot her cell phone escaping her burning home, a car accident, domestic violence, or someone may have simply forgot where their phone was. 

An Emergency Phone like below are a one time expense around $300. 

It's simply a phone dialer that uses the stations current phone line and dials 911 when someone pushes the emergency button. It seems this would work if the firefighters were gone on a call or if they were at the station. 

If the crew is gone it would be paged alerting volunteers to the call, if the crew is at the station it's paged alerting volunteers and the crew is advised they have a still alarm (a call at the station) 

When someone shows up at the station, the crew needs to take time to advise dispatch. Then dispatch pages the call so the chief and volunteers are aware of the call. 

It seems the Emergency Button would provide a way for someone to call 911 for a fire, medical call, or other emergency. It streamlines the call advising all emergency services of the type of call and resources needed.

What incentive do the people have to join the LMRFD? Understanding the 144 Square Mile Fire District and the 2200 Square Mile Ambulance CON

A Fire Districts primary obligation is to the residents who support the fire district through property taxes. 

Chief David Strayer from Florence Arizona says the same thing I've been saying for years. We can’t abandon our community that is paying for our services” to respond to areas that have been repeatedly told they have no service and have actually rebuffed attempts to provide them fire coverage, Strayer said. “Our first duty is to our citizens.”

If you’re not in the fire district, your taxes provide no support. So why should they respond leaving those who do pay property tax unprotected?   

We have no contractual liability to respond to fires outside the fire district. White Hills isn't in a fire district so we can't have a mutual aid agreement because they have no aid to offer. 

Residents in White Hills and West of US-93 must understand they are NOT in the Lake Mojave Ranchos Fire District or any fire district. They may believe they’re paying property tax to the district when they see “Fire District Assistance Tax” on their property tax bills. But this money typically just goes to reimburse departments that respond for rescue operations on state highways.

The LMRFD covers 144 square miles in the communities of Dolan Springs and Meadview, but not the 38 miles between the two communities. SEE MAP

The LMRFD ambulance covers 2200 square miles but it's operated by the same two or sometimes three firefighters who drive the fire trucks... 

This is a map of the fire districts in our area. The big blue square is the area the LMRFD covers in Dolan Springs. The small blue dots above it is the Meadview coverage area. 

The red line is the 2200 square mile area the LMRFD ambulance is required to cover. As you can see the area covered by the LMRFD one ambulance is larger than the area covered by all other ambulances combined, and even runs up into Coconino County. 

How did the LMRFD get stuck providing ambulance service outside the fire district? 

No other fire district with such limited resources would respond outside their district if it left their district with nothing...

I say it again... The Taxpayers in the LMRFD Get NOTHING for their tax dollars. WHY do people outside the district get the same services?

In Montana many fire districts operate on a subscription service charging $60 to $100 a year. If you're not on the pain list, they don't respond.

What incentive do the people have to join the LMRFD?

Who would voluntarily choose to pay several hundred to several thousand dollars in property tax when they get the same services now? 

Local GMRS EMCOM NET for Las Vegas Dolan Springs and White Hills

We need a few people in Dolan Springs and White Hills interested in providing emergency communications for our area. The Las Vegas GMRS Net was moved to the 462.625 repeater on Mt Potosi at around 8000'. Easy access from lower Dolan with a handheld radio.

This will improve coverage and allow people in Dolan Springs and White Hills to participate in the weekly GMRS net.

Last week 50 people checked into the GMRS net. That's a lot of people for a local net and the most check in's the control operator has ever had. This shows the amount of interest in emergency communications in our area. 

You would need to obtain a GMRS license from the FCC for $70, and check into the NET each week. Unlike a ham license the GMRS license covers your entire family. Handheld radios cost $35 up and mobile/base radios are around $100. How to get your GMRS License

I’m getting a location for a GMRS repeater and working on getting communications in our designated shelter so we can communicate during an emergency.

If you're interested in the ability to communicate with family and friends during an emergency, come join us Mondays at 7PM Nevada Time 462.675 with a tone of 141.3. 

If you don't have your GMRS license but have a scanner listen in to the net..

What To Say When You Call 911

What you say when you call 911 can speed response by minutes, especially here.

We have a couple areas in Mohave County where when you dial 911 you get Nevada's Public Safety Answering Point their 911 rather than Arizona. 

I was aware of the problem from living in Mohave Valley where driving on US95 your phone switches back and forth from Arizona towers to Nevada towers. 

While driving to Vegas the other day we saw a miner accident about milepost 10 on US93. I dialed 911 and knowing we were close to the border, as soon as they answered I told them I was northbound on US93 at milepost 10 in Arizona. That way the 911 operator knew they had to transfer me to the Arizona Public Safety Answering Point and not waist time asking what type of emergency I have. 

The Mohave County Sheriff is the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for our area, so that's who answers when we call 911 from Dolan. 

Law enforcement in Dolan Springs, Meadview, and on Pierce Ferry Rd is provided by the Mohave County Sheriff's Department. On US-93 law enforcement is provided by the Department of Public Safety, DPS. 

Fire and ambulance service is provided by the Lake Mohave Ranchos Fire District for Dolan Springs, Meadview, Pierce Ferry Rd and US-93 up to milepost 50.

If you know where you are, what's going on, and what agency you need tell the 911 operator.

An example is "I need fire for an injury accident US-93 milepost 42 southbound. This tells the 911 operator at MCSO there's injuries and they need to transfer you to fire dispatch". 

MCSO answers our 911 so if it's a matter for the sheriff go ahead and tell the first 911 operator about the problem. If you know where you are, what's going on, and what agency you need tell them...

Power Outage a Wake Up Call?

We need to make some changes before we have a major weather event or earthquake in our area. The microburst in Dolan Springs that took out 22 power poles was a wake up call. 

This time we were one of only a few places with a power outage. What if power was out in Vegas and other more populated places served by Unisource. Pretty sure they would get service before remote places like Dolan Springs and Meadview. 

A severe weather event or earthquake would take out many more power poles as well as damaging roads repair crews and first responders use to get into or out of Dolan Springs and Meadview. 

When it rains it's common for Pierce Ferry and Stockton Hill Rd to be closed because washes are running high. Several times since I've lived here the ambulance was unable either unable to get to Meadview or transport a patient from Meadview because Pierce Ferry and Stockton Hill Rd were both closed. Severe weather events can close roads and leave medical helicopters unable to fly.

With two firefighters on most days and the chief living in Kingman and working an 8 hour shift, if roads were damaged there's a good chance we would have the two firefighters on duty. So we need local people trained in EMS and CERT or we're in trouble. 

So what do we need? 

Equipment/Supplies
1. Emergency Power preferably solar with battery backup at all three fire stations. the school in Dolan Springs and the designated shelter in Meadview. 

2. Communications, the ability to communicate locally with VHF or UHF radios. So we can gather information on who's injured and what roads are open or closed. We need an HF Ham radio with the ability to communicate with Kingman and Phoenix when other sources are down. 

Training

We need people to care for those who are sick or injured. People with care taking experience and people trained in basic EMS skills. It costs $250 to train EMR's, Emergency Medical Responder and $1500 to train an EMT.

People

We need to train everyone in CPR AED use and First Aid. Train several people to the EMR level and at least two in each community to the EMT level. The book work and test is just the beginning of any EMS training. It's just training, not experience, and it's experience we need when we're ass deep in alligators.

 

The Arizona Citizen Corps has five volunteer programs to help people help their community...

The Arizona Citizen Corps has five volunteer programs to help people help their community... 

Arizona Citizen Corps Program 

How to Volunteer

Welcome to Arizona Citizen Corps Program! This program was created to educate, train and provide volunteer opportunities to make communities safer, stronger and better prepared to respond to emergencies or disaster of any kind.

There are five partner programs of Citizen Corps. They are: Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Fire Corps, 

Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)

Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) 

and USA on Watch. 

Each program provides opportunities to expand the network of volunteers prepared to help communities respond to threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues, and disasters of all kinds.

How to Volunteer

For more information about Citizen Corps Councils or any of the partner programs CLICK HERE

CERT

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks. More Info Here

Fire Corps

Fire Corps® is a national grassroots effort to help fire/EMS departments enhance their services by engaging with community members to assist with non-emergency tasks. Whether they are conducting fire prevention and life safety education, installing smoke alarms, writing grants, managing a department’s social media, or a myriad of other activities, community volunteers can make a real difference. Utilizing community support helps departments increase their capacity and allows first responders to focus on operational duties, training, and emergencies. More Info HERE

Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)

The Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) Program works to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers. VIPS serves as a gateway to resources and information for and about law enforcement volunteer programs. Funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, VIPS is managed and implemented by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. More Info Here

Medical Reserve Corps

The Medical Reserve Corps is comprised of volunteers who donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies, promote healthy living throughout the year, and participate in initiatives that enhance public health such as vaccination and health education programs. Mohave County Department of Public Health seeks medical volunteers

USA on Watch 

Citizen Corps and National Neighborhood Watch:

Harnessing the Power of Every Individual

Building a resilient community involves multiple sectors and engagement from each corner of the community. As active members seeking to keep our neighborhoods safe and prepared, we know how instrumental volunteers can be. A great resource working with National Neighborhood Watch to strengthen volunteerism and community resilience is Citizen Corps.

Mission

The mission of Citizen Corps is to harness the power of every individual through education, training, and volunteer service to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues, and disasters of all kinds through:

• Preparing the public for local risks with targeted outreach
• Engaging voluntary organizations to help augment resources for public safety, preparedness and response capabilities
• Integrating the whole community and integrates nontraditional resources to ensure disaster preparedness

The Citizen Corps program includes a national network of over 1,200 state, local, and tribal Citizen Corps Councils bring together local government, business, and community leaders who work to prepare their communities for disaster and to make them more resilient. Councils harnesses the power of every individual through education, training, and volunteer service to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to the hazards and threats facing their community.

Citizen Corps asks you to embrace the personal responsibility to be prepared; to get training in first aid and emergency skills; and to volunteer to support local emergency responders, disaster relief, and community safety.

We love our technology, but when it comes to medical care and human relations I think sometimes less is more

Is technology always better? 

We love our technology today, cars even drive themselves, but when it comes to human relations I think sometimes less is more...

Today when a paramedic shows up the first thing they do is hook you up to a $20,000 heart monitor, an automatic blood pressure cuff and put one of those little things on your finger to take your pulse.

I kind of like the way we did things before all the technology where we actually touched you. I think touch is important to all of us and sometimes today with all the technology it becomes very impersonal.

By actually touching you and taking your pulse I can learn so much about your condition. Simply knowing you have a radial pulse tells me your systolic blood pressure is over 80 mmHg. Is your skin warm, pink and dry, or is something wrong?

Is your pulse regular or irregular, is it weak or bounding? Does it easily disappear with a little pressure or is it hard to make disappear? 

By simply taking your pulse I get your heart rate, but I also learn about your hearts rhythm, your body's temperature, your blood pressure.

Some information like an irregular, weak or very rapid pulse are important findings that need to be addresses. If you have chest pain or shortness of breath CALL 911... 

Simply by taking your pulse I can tell so many things about your medical condition without any technology. Back to Basics..

Understanding How to Monitor the LMRFD with a Scanner

The LMRFD radio system is somewhat confusing for scanner listeners. It's made up of repeaters licensed to several different fire districts. 

On most first responder radio systems like DPS all repeaters in a district are on the same frequency. This prevents first responders from changing to the wrong frequency and losing contact with dispatch. 

The LMRFD system requires scanner listeners to change frequencies as they travel from Dolan Springs to Kingman or Meadview. 

Driving from Dolan Springs to Kingman you would start on 154.160 the Dolan Springs. As you pass Chloride you would switch to the Kingman fire frequency 155.055. If you're in the Meadview area you would switch to 155.265 

The LMRFD Frequencies 

154.160 Dolan Springs

155.055 Kingman

155.265 Meadview

155.655 MCSO District 4 Dolan Springs and Meadview

Response to a Structure Fire Why Was Engine 411 the last to Roll? UPDATED Chief Bonnee corrected me.

UPDATE

Chief Bonnee corrected me. 

See his message below

The LMRFD was paged for a structure fire in the area of 3rd and Havasu the other day. I was at Hot Diggity Dog when the chief advised dispatch he was responding with R415 and he could see smoke from station 41. 

Then the LMRFD ambulance went by followed by the chief both running lights and siren. Let me say that again, the ambulance and the chief's pickup went by, but where's the fire truck? 

Finally several minutes later engine 411 went by on it way to the fire. 

There was one or two firefighters in the ambulance and the chief in his pickup. My question is why didn't one of them drive the engine, another drive a tender, and the chief follow in the ambulance?

There were no reports of injuries so why not bring all the equipment with NO ability to put water on the fire? The ambulance doesn't carry air packs and the chief's truck may have one, but they didn't have the equipment to enter a burning building to save anyone even if they did get there in time. 

I was always taught the chief should never show up to a fire without a fire truck because people will ask what I asked, why didn't you bring a fire truck?

UPDATE

I wanted to thank Chief Bonnee for correcting me, the LMRFD ambulance does carry air packs. 

He also confirmed that Engine 411the only piece of equipment carrying water was last to respond taking approximately 3 minutes longer to arrive.

My point was with a structure fire doubling in size every minute, why leave the only piece of equipment carrying water last to respond. Getting there wasn't the problem, getting water on the fire was...

With 3 people at the station why not have one drive Engine 411, one drive the tender, and the chief follow in the ambulance in case someone gets injured? 

Email from Chief Bonnee

10:07AM August 6th

Jay,

In regards to your post on your blog you don't know the details of the call and we do have air packs on the ambulance and the fire engine showed up on scene less than 3 minutes behind me you need to get the facts before you start saying things that are not true Thank You.

Timothy Bonnee
Fire Chief
Lake Mohave Ranchos Fire District

ARTICLE 5 Myths About House Fires You Probably Believe

Myth: You have about five minutes to escape a house fire
Reality: Once a fire starts, get out immediately. A small flame can turn into a major fire in less than 30 seconds. A home fire can double in size every minute. In three minutes, a fire can burn so hot that it ignites everything at once (a flashover).

Please anytime I publish incorrect information if you provide the correct information with references I will be happy to make a correction. The purpose of this blog is to provide accurate information and to educate and point out problems within the LMRFD

Regulation of Fire District Boards What's Your Opinion... Here's the AG's opinion.

 Regulation of Fire District Boards What's Your Opinion... Here's the AG's opinion.

Like other agencies in Arizona the AG's office picks and chooses what laws and opinions to enforce...

Attorney General Thomas C. Horne
Date Posted Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Opinion Number I14-003 (R14-011)
Regarding Regulation of Fire District Boards
I14-003.pdf

To: Honorable Andy Tobin
Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives
Questions Presented

You have asked for an opinion on the following questions:
If a fire district board member is related to an employee by affinity (marriage) or by blood relation (consanguinity within the third degree), may that board member serve out the term of his or her office or does Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) § 48-805.03 require the board member to resign? In the alternative, may the relative or spouse resign instead of the board member?
Does the requirement that board members and fire chiefs be trained in “other matters that are reasonably necessary for the effective administration of a fire district,” A.R.S. § 48-803(H), mandate a specific type of training, and does an association of Arizona fire districts have the discretion to determine what types of training satisfy this requirement?
Will board members or chiefs be entitled to “credit” for attending past training sessions sponsored by the Arizona Fire District Association toward their training requirement under A.R.S § 48-803(H)?

Summary Answers
If a board member and an employee are spouses, either the board member or the employee must resign immediately. If a board member and an employee are related, but are not spouses, then the board member need not resign.
The requirement to complete training on “other matters that are reasonably necessary for the effective administration of a fire district” does not mandate any particular type of training. Any training will satisfy this requirement so long as it is reasonably connected to the district’s administration. Associations of Arizona fire districts therefore have discretion, but not unlimited discretion, to create training programs to satisfy this section.
No. A board member or newly hired fire chief may not use past training sessions to satisfy the training requirement in A.R.S. § 48-803(H).
Background

Fire districts are political subdivisions of the State charged with providing fire services within specified areas. See generally A.R.S. § 48-805. Three-, five-, or seven member boards manage the districts. A.R.S. § 48-803(A). The board members are elected under the procedures outlined in A.R.S. § 48-802.

In 2013, the Legislature created a committee to study the performance of Arizona’s fire districts and to recommend ways in which the districts might be improved. See 2013 Ariz. Sess. Laws ch. 104, § 1. Based in part on these recommendations, the Legislature made a number of changes to the management of fire districts. See 2014 Ariz. Sess. Laws ch. 252 (S.B. 1387); see also Ariz. H.R., House Summary as Transmitted to the Governor for S.B. 1387, 51st Legis., 2d Reg. Sess. (4/23/14), at 1. These changes were deemed “emergency measure[s] . . . necessary to preserve the public peace, health or safety” and went into effect immediately, on April 30, 2014, upon signature by the Governor. See 2014 Ariz. Sess. Laws ch. 252, § 15 (S.B. 1387)

Your questions involve several of these statutory changes. In interpreting these changes, the chief goal is to fulfill the intent of the legislature that wrote them. Bilke v. State, 206 Ariz. 462, 464, ¶ 11, 80 P.3d 269, 271 (2003). Determining the legislature’s intent begins with examining the language of the statute itself. Id. “If the language is clear,” then it should be applied “without resorting to other methods of statutory interpretation, unless application of the plain meaning would lead to impossible or absurd results.” Id. (internal citation and quotation marks omitted).
Analysis

A. Family relationships between board members and fire district employees.

There are two sets of provisions bearing on family relationships between board members and district employees. The first set of provisions governs spouses; the second set of provisions governs all other relatives.

1. If a board member is married to a district employee, either the board member or the employee must immediately resign.

The first provision bearing on family relationships is A.R.S. § 48-805.03(B), which provides in relevant part that “the spouse of an employee of a fire district may not hold membership on the governing board of the fire district that employs that employee.” Violation of this provision is a class two misdemeanor. A.R.S. § 48-805.03(D). The terms of this provision are absolute: a person may not serve on a district board if he or she is married to a district employee. Accordingly, a board member who is married to an employee faces immediate criminal liability if he or she continues to serve on the board. The board member therefore may not serve out the remainder of his or her term and should resign immediately.

Alternatively, the employee-spouse may immediately resign instead of the board member. However, the statute makes the board member criminally liable, not the employee-spouse. Accordingly, the primary duty to resolve the conflict lies with the board member. If the employee-spouse immediately resigns, that will also resolve the conflict. But if the employee-spouse does not immediately resign, then the board member must immediately resign or face criminal liability.

2. A board member need not resign if the board member is related to a non-spouse employee.

The second set of relevant restrictions governs non-spouse employees. Under A.R.S. § 48-805.03(A),

[i]t is unlawful for an elected or appointed officer or employee of a fire district to do any of the following:

1. Appoint or vote for appointment of any person who is related to that officer or employee by affinity or consanguinity within the third degree to any clerkship, office, position, employment or duty in any department of that fire district when the salary, wages or compensation of that appointee is to be paid from public monies or fees.

2. Appoint, vote for or agree to appoint or to work for, suggest, arrange or be a party to the appointment of any person in consideration of the appointment of a person who is related to that officer or employee within the degree prescribed by this section.

Violating these provisions is also a class two misdemeanor. A.R.S. § 48-805.03(D).

These provisions are narrower than the employee-spouse provisions in subsection (B). Unlike subsection (B), subsection (A) does not criminalize mere service on the board when a family member is also an employee. Instead, it criminalizes only (1) directly appointing or voting for the appointment of family members at taxpayer expense; or (2) assisting in the appointment of someone else in exchange for the appointment of a family member. Because these provisions apply only to the initial “appoint[ment]” of non-spouse family members, they do not apply where the family-member employee has already been appointed. Accordingly, § 48-805.03(A) does not require board members who are related to non-spouse employees to resign their positions.

B. A Fire District’s Discretion to Determine What Training Programs Are “Reasonably Necessary for the Effective Administration of a Fire District.”

Under A.R.S. § 48-803(H), fire chiefs and board members must attend professional training provided by an association of Arizona fire districts. “The professional development training must include training on open meetings laws, finance and budget matters and laws relating to fire district governance and other matters that are reasonably necessary for the effective administration of a fire district.” Id. At the end of the year, the association that provided the training must submit a report “that describes the compliance with the training requirements to the county board of supervisors for every county in which the fire district operates.” A.R.S. § 48-803(I). Among other things, the report must include “[a] compilation of the professional development training delivered by the association.” Id.

Board members and fire chiefs who fail to meet their training requirements are “guilty of nonfeasance in office.” A.R.S. § 48-803(J). “Any person may make a formal complaint to the county board of supervisors regarding this failure to comply, and the county board of supervisors may submit the complaint to the county attorney for possible action.” Id. After receiving a complaint, “[t]he county attorney may take appropriate action to achieve compliance, including filing an action in superior court against a fire district governing board member or a fire chief for failure to comply with the professional development training requirements prescribed in this section.” Id. “If the court determines that a fire district governing board member or fire chief failed to comply with the professional development training requirements prescribed in this section, the court shall issue an order removing the fire district governing board member from office or the fire chief from employment or appointment with the district.” Id.

The training provided must include training on “open meetings laws, finance and budget matters and laws relating to fire district governance and other matters that are reasonably necessary for the effective administration of a fire district.” A.R.S. § 48-803(H). You have asked whether any particular type of training falls within the category of “other matters that are reasonably necessary for the effective administration of a fire district.” The answer is no. Neither the statute nor its legislative history defines “matters that are reasonably necessary for the effective administration of a fire district.” Accordingly, the guiding principle is reasonableness. If the subject of the training may reasonably be thought necessary for the administration of a fire district, then it satisfies the statute.

Given the breadth of the term “reasonably,” it follows that fire district associations have discretion to determine what training to provide. However, the oversight provisions in subsection (J) demonstrate that this discretion is not unlimited. Fire district associations must submit their training records to the board of supervisors in every county in which they operate. A.R.S. § 48-803(I). That accountability demonstrates a legislative intent to vest county boards with sufficient oversight powers to ensure that training covers “matters that are reasonably necessary for the effective administration of a fire district.”

Similarly, subsection (J) allows any person to report a failure to comply with the training requirements. A county attorney may seek to remove a noncompliant fire chief or board member by filing an action in superior court. In determining whether to remove a board member or fire chief for failure to complete the training, the superior court will consider the scope of the word “reasonably.” It will also likely consider the fire district association’s expertise in the management of fire districts. Ultimately though, the superior court must apply its own judgment to determine what is “reasonably necessary for the effective administration of a fire district.” Cf. Chaney Bldg. Co., Inc. v. Sunnyside Sch. Dist. No. 12, 147 Ariz. 270, 273, 709 P.2d 904, 907 (App. 1985) (“‘[C]ourts need not defer to administrative expertise unless they are convinced that the administrator is reasonably exercising this expertise.’”) (quoting New Pueblo Constr., Inc. v. State, 144 Ariz. 95, 103, 696 P.2d 185, 193 (1985)). In sum, the statute gives fire district associations discretion to develop sufficient training programs, subject to oversight by county boards, and, ultimately, to a superior court’s determination that the training covered matters reasonably necessary to efficiently administer fire districts, based on the facts and circumstances.

C. Use of Past Training Sessions to Satisfy the Training Requirement in A.R.S. § 48-803(H).

With exceptions not relevant here, A.R.S. § 48-803(H) provides as follows:

Beginning with the 2014 general election . . . all persons who are elected or appointed to a fire district board and the fire chief who is appointed or hired by the district board shall attend professional development training that is provided by an association of Arizona fire districts. District board members and the fire chief shall complete at least six hours of professional development training, with board members completing their training within one year after the date of the certification of their election and for the fire chief, within one year after the date of hiring.

You asked whether board members and fire chiefs may use past training sessions to satisfy this requirement.

1. Board Members May Not Use Past Training Sessions to Satisfy the Training Requirement.

The statute provides that board members must complete their training “within one year after the date of the certification of their election.” Id. (emphasis added). Because this provision specifically requires board members to complete their training “after” their election, board members cannot count prior training hours toward their training requirement.

2. Newly Hired Fire Chiefs May Not Use Past Training Sessions to Satisfy the Training Requirement.

The statute similarly provides that newly hired fire chiefs must complete “their training within one year after the date of hiring[.]” Id. (emphasis added). As with board members, this provision specifically requires newly appointed fire chiefs to complete their training “after” their appointment. Accordingly, newly appointed fire chiefs cannot count prior training hours toward their training requirement. Note, however, that this requirement applies only to appointed fire chiefs “[b]eginning with the 2014 general election.” Accordingly, the training requirement applies only to newly hired fire chiefs. Fire chiefs hired before the 2014 general election need not comply with the training requirement.
Conclusion

Board members may not continue to serve on a fire district board if the district employs their spouses. However, board members who have non-spouse relatives that are employed by their district may continue to serve. Fire district associations have discretion, but not unlimited discretion, to develop training programs “that are reasonably necessary for the effective administration of a fire district.” Board members and newly appointed fire chiefs may not use prior training sessions to satisfy the training requirement in A.R.S. § 48-803(H).

Thomas C. Horne
Attorney General

If you're interested in medicine or want to know what doctors and paramedics do, take an ACLS Course

I know one grumpy paramedic will cringe when he see's this since he wouldn't even teach first responders how to use a bag-valve mask so they could assist with cardiac or respiratory problems..

If you're interested in medicine or want to know what doctors and paramedics do during a cardiac arrest you can get a sample by taking an Advanced Cardiac Life Support course, ACLS. 

In an ACLS course you learn how to run a code. You learn how to treat a cardiac arrest from CPR to reading the heart monitor and what medications to give when. Everybody from doctors to paramedics take the same course and follow the same protocols when treating a cardiac arrest. 

Do Not Do This at Home.... To make the grumpy paramedic happy, please do not do this at home. This does not mean you can actually run a code, only that you have the same knowledge as doctors and paramedics when it comes to treating a cardiac arrest. 

You will need to study up to take an ACLS course. You will need to know how to read a heart monitor, a basic knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, as well as medical terminology and pharmaceutical interventions. 

It takes some study but it's worth it to have the knowledge. 

The new EMT oath talks about how to use social media in a responsible and professional manner and not embarrass EMS.

The EMT Oath I took many years ago said 'I shall also share my medical knowledge with those who may benefit from what I have learned. I will serve unselfishly and continuously in order to help make a better world for all mankind". 

This is a good article on why various people in various occupations should take an ACLS course. If you have an interest in emergency medicine or just medicine, learn the algorithms and protocols take an ACLS course and see how you do.

If ACLS come easy you really should look into a career in medicine as a doctor, PA, NP, paramedic, EMT, nurse, or respiratory therapist, because if running a code comes easy, you're a natural, go do good. 

How Knowing Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Could Help Save Someone’s Life

Bonnee Logic

Bonnee Logic 

I have a problem with people like Chief Bonnee who play word games leaving out important details in order to make others believe their point of view.

An example of Bonnee Logic

I suggested LMRFD firefighters and volunteers put the app Zello on their smartphones. Zello is free for first responders and would turn their smartphones into a walkie-talkie. This would allow the chief to talk to volunteers or other firefighters without tying up the dispatch channel. It's free has unlimited range and could cover some of our dead spots... Win Win...

But then there's Bonnee Logic... 

At a recent meeting Chief Bonnee told the technical committee that if the LMRFD asked volunteers to put Zello on their $1000 phones, the district would be responsible if they broke their phone on a call. So the LMRFD shouldn't use Zello because of liability?

What Chief Bonnee left out, and here's where I have a problem, is that LMRFD already put's the app Active911 on firefighters phones to receive fire calls. Active911 is NOT free...

I'm sure firefighters will be happy to hear the chief agrees the fire district should be responsible for firefighters personal $1000 phone if they get dropped on a call.

Bonnee Logic is passive deception, it's designed to deceive without actually lying. 

Passive deception is the withholding information. It's the suppression of truth rather than the expression of untruth. Both are designed to deceive, but withholding information makes a secret of the truth.

Another example is the wildland brush truck Chief Bonnee wants. It may be purchased with help from a grant, but he either didn't do his research, or left out that those big balloon tires on the brush truck cost $700 to $1000+ rather than $300-$400 for highway tires... 

When LMRFD blows tires on a regular basis, how much will we spend on balloon tires we don't need here?

    

Other Rural Fire Districts like Heber-Overgaard Fire District with Limited EMS Resources Use Emergency Medical Responders Why Can't We?

I don't understand the reluctance of Chief Bonnee to train and use EMR's Emergency Medical Responders in the LMRFD. Other fire districts like Yucca and the Heber-Overgaard Fire District in rural areas use EMR's, so why don't we?

I contacted Chief McCluskey of the Heber-Overgaard Fire District and asked how he uses EMR's in his fire district. 

When I told Chief McCluskey we had one ambulance and response times can be hours rather than minutes.

Chief McCluskey said "Our volunteer EMRs enable us to keep the higher trained firefighters and EMTs in the District for the 2nd call which happens pretty frequently" Just like here in Dolan Springs and Meadview

 

Thu, Oct 10, 3:11 PM (16 hours ago)
Chief McCluskey
Heber-Overgaard Fire District
chief@hofdaz.com

Jay,

Don’t let their short sidedness stop your pursuit. No an EMR is NOT and EMT. However when you want to keep, medically trained EMT’s in the district (when transporting patients to the hospital), EMR’s become VERY valuable.  If we respond with EMR’s, they are a 3^rd person. Currently our EMR’s either respond to the scene in an additional ambulance or wait at the station for the transporting crew to stop and change out drivers. This way the scene gets the higher level of care, but the transport driver meets the state requirements. 

Let the other districts know they can call us anytime to get information on what we do. 

Thanks.
Chief D. McCluskey
Office (928) 535-4346 Ext 106
Cell (928) 240-4149
Fire Chief / Paramedic
Heber-Overgaard Fire District

Jay Fleming <leapspeaker@gmail.com>	Thu, Oct 10, 11:00 PM (8 hours ago)
to chief

Sorry I'm old and forget things..... 2 Question 

Since the law allows for EMR's to assist and drive the ambulance in rural communities, and the state doesn't "certify" EMR's, do you know if the medical director can stop EMR's from driving?  

Your EMR's respond to the scene in an additional ambulance, then the EMT or paramedic  takes the 2nd in ambulance and the EMR and the EMT or paramedic  transport? 

Thanks again

Jay

 

William McCluskey	7:17 AM (6 minutes ago)
to me

1. I’d have to look up the statue regarding medical control/director, but he/she can only require what level of service is required for the care of the patient under their direction. The driver provides no care during the transport therefore doesn’t fall under the medical directors control. 

2. Our EMR’s volunteer for time periods during the week. When a call comes out the “Car #” comes up on the air and responds to the station. By the time they get to the station, the responding crew has arrived and the Captain directs the EMR to bring the second amb or wait at the station.  

a. If the EMR is directed to the scene, they always drive without lights and siren. Upon arrival the EMR then prepares for transport in either amb at the wishes of the captain. Then drives the medic to the hospital. We are 45-50 minutes from Summit, so it’s a 3 hour event from dispatch to back in the area. 

b. If the EMR is told to stay at the station, the call has likely occurred west of the station and the crew will simply stop by the station on their way to the hospital and switch out drivers. 

Correct. Our volunteer EMRs enable us to keep the higher trained firefighters and EMTs in the District for the 2nd call which happens pretty frequently. Of course we encourage and pay for the EMRs to become EMTs but some just don’t want to or have the time to go. 

It seems if you have the people interested in helping the community and district this way, it’s a Win-Win for the district and community.

My 2 cents 

Chief Dee McCluskey
Fire Chief/ Paramedic 
Heber-Overgaard Fire District
(928) 240-4149

 

This Repost of a 2017 Blog Post.... Heat Stroke Call at My House Shows Why the LMRFD Needs Volunteer EMR's

This is a repost of a 2017 Blog Post Heat Stroke Call at My House

We need trained EMS volunteers with an interest in EMS. Sadly to be a firefighter you're forced to also be an EMT even if you have no interest in EMS. 

The LMRFD did send a volunteer firefighter to EMR training, but he apparently had no interest.

In 2018 a group of NACFD firefighters including myself and Scott Aitken from the LMRFD took an EMR course taught by NACFD in Kingman. 

I took the final test and was awarded a certification as an Emergency Medical Responder from the same people who certify EMTs and paramedics. 

As I understand Scott didn't have any interest in EMS and after taking the training never bothered to take the test to become certified as an Emergency Medical Responder.

2017 Repost of Blog.....

Every EMT in Arizona should know the signs and symptoms and how to care for a heat stroke patient. The call at my home went very badly....

A friend was out in the heat too long and when her husband came in and told us his wife had vomited, she was confused, disoriented and was having problems walking.  We got her into the shower and removed most of her clothing to begin cooling her off. Her condition continued to deteriorate over the next few minutes so I called 911 to request the LMRFD ambulance. 

She stopped breathing several times after what looked like a seizure. I called 911 again and I was told the LMRFD ambulance was on the way. but the dispatcher refused to give me an ETA. 

After several more calls to 911 asking for an ETA finally an EMT from Meadview arrived on a fire truck. He brought in a heart monitor but no oxygen or suction even after we had told dispatch she had vomited and stopped breathing several times for as long as two minutes. 

As I walked into the bathroom I told the EMT that the patient was decorticate posturing. He said I don't know, I’m sorry I’m just an EMT and pointed to his EMT patch. 

When I ask the EMT if I could see the rhythm or if he needed to use my AED? The EMT said he had pads on but wasn't authorized to use the heart monitor. The EMT was sitting on the floor holding the heart monitor the entire time my wife and her friend cared for the girl. The EMT kept saying I’m sorry I don't know what to do I’m just an EMT.

The EMT on the fire truck asked dispatch to have a helicopter put on standby, I asked him to please cancel the helicopter and start AMR, and he refused. I told the EMT to document on the chart that I had asked to cancel the helicopter and start AMR.

I called again and asked dispatch several times for an ETA for the ambulance and again she refused. I ask her to start AMR and again she refused. I know from monitoring the fire frequency that it’s standard practice when the LMRFD ambulance isn't available to start AMR ambulance from Kingman.

The EMT appeared to be very inexperienced and really not prepared to be on calls alone. Numerous times he said over and over I’m sorry I’m just an EMT and would point to his patch.

Paramedic

When the ambulance arrived I told them it wasn't possible to get the stretcher into the bathroom  and asked if they had a transport chair, they said no and rolled out the stretcher. I told the EMT that we wanted her transported by ambulance and not by helicopter. The paramedic yelled at me from the bathroom saying “he doesn’t get to make that decision, I do”

I ask why if they were tied up they didn't call AMR, the EMT in the ambulance said "he had worked for AMR for 12 years and it always take 2 ½ hours to respond to Dolan". Why he would say something so untrue I'll never know. AMR responds to Dolan on a regular basis and it takes 45 minutes to an hour at most.

They couldn't get to the bathroom with the stretcher and carried her out on a tarp. Using a tarp to move the patient almost bending her in a U shape when she was already vomiting and having respiratory distress was a bad choice in my opinion. I've used someone's kitchen chair many times to move a patient from a difficult area or down stairs.

If she had vomited there's a good chance she could have aspirated, something that can cause severe complications.

AMR is called all the time to Dolan when the LMRFD ambulance isn't available. Why on this call when all of the LMRFD resources were tied up on another call didn't they call AMR as is usually done?

When the LMRFD left my home the helicopter hadn't launched yet, and gave a 30 minute ETA. Its only 37 miles from my home to Kingman Regional Medical Center. If it’s only 30 minutes or so running code to get the patient to Kingman Regional Hospital Emergency Department why sit and wait a half-hour? The helicopter flight time was 30 minutes, 5 minutes to land, 5-10 minutes to load the patient, 30 minute flight time to the hospital, they were diverted to another hospital so 35 minute flight time? So 75+ minutes for helicopter transport rather than 45 minutes to the Kingman Regional Medical Center.

Was a $22,000 helicopter ride to a level one trauma center necessary when she was she released a couple hours later?

As an EMT I was taught that heat stroke is a true medical emergency with a 70% mortality rate. For an EMT in the Arizona desert to not know what decorticate posturing is, let alone that it’s a sign of heat stroke and a true medical emergency again shows the EMT lacks the experience to be on calls alone.

The Law on Emergency Medical Responders, You Decide

 Here's the Law on Emergency Medical Responders, you decide what the law says...

 

AS I read the law it’s pretty clear, EMR’s Emergency Medical Responders can assist an EMT or paramedic and drive an ambulance in rural areas as long as their primary responsibility is the driving of an ambulance.

 

 I’m told over and over that we can’t use EMR’s on the ambulance that we have to have a paramedic and an EMT on the ambulance. Not True

 

We could split the POC crew with two EMR’s and double our transport capability reducing response times and improving patient care.

 

ARS 36-2201 says "Ambulance Attendant" means any of the following:

A - An EMT, an advanced EMT, an EMT I-99 or a paramedic whose primary responsibility is the care of patients in an ambulance and who meets the standards and criteria adopted pursuant to section 36-2204.

 

B - An EMR emergency medical responder who is employed by an ambulance service operating under section 36-2202 and whose primary responsibility is the driving of an ambulance.

 

ARS 36-2202 - Duties of the director; qualifications of medical director

J. paragraph 5 of this section shall require that ambulance services serving a rural or wilderness certificate of necessity area with a population of less than ten thousand persons according to the most recent United States decennial census have at least one ambulance attendant as defined in section 36-2201, paragraph 6, subdivision A and one ambulance attendant as defined in section 36-2201, paragraph 6, subdivision B

LAWS

36-2201 Definitions

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

5. "Ambulance" means any publicly or privately owned surface, water or air vehicle, including a helicopter, that contains a stretcher and necessary medical equipment and supplies pursuant to section 36-2202 and that is especially designed and constructed or modified and equipped to be used, maintained or operated primarily for the transportation of individuals who are sick, injured or wounded or who require medical monitoring or aid. Ambulance does not include a surface vehicle that is owned and operated by a private sole proprietor, partnership, private corporation or municipal corporation for the emergency transportation and in-transit care of its employees or a vehicle that is operated to accommodate an incapacitated person or person with a disability who does not require medical monitoring, care or treatment during transport and that is not advertised as having medical equipment and supplies or ambulance attendants.

6. "Ambulance attendant" means any of the following:

(a) An emergency medical technician, an advanced emergency medical technician, an emergency medical technician I-99 or a paramedic whose primary responsibility is the care of patients in an ambulance and who meets the standards and criteria adopted pursuant to section 36-2204.

(b) An emergency medical responder who is employed by an ambulance service operating under section 36-2202 and whose primary responsibility is the driving of an ambulance.

8. "Basic life support" means the level of assessment and care identified in the scope of practice approved by the director for the emergency medical responder and emergency medical technician.

13. "Department" means the department of health services.

14. "Director" means the director of the department of health services.

15. "Emergency medical care technician" means an individual who has been certified by the department as an emergency medical technician, an advanced emergency medical technician, an emergency medical technician I-99 or a paramedic.

16. "Emergency medical responder" as an ambulance attendant means a person who has been trained in an emergency medical responder program certified by the director or in an equivalent training program and who is certified by the director to render services pursuant to section 36-2205.

17. "Emergency medical responder" as an ambulance attendant means a person who has been trained in an emergency medical responder  program certified by the director or in an equivalent training program and who is certified by the director to render services pursuant to section 36-2205.

18. "Emergency medical services provider" means any governmental entity, quasi-governmental entity or corporation whether public or private that renders emergency medical services in this state.

23. "National certification organization" means a national organization that tests and certifies the ability of an emergency medical care technician and whose tests are based on national education standards.

Radio Receivers for when the SHTF How Important Will News From the Outside World Be?

 When the SHTF one of the most important things we will need is some way to get news. We depend on our phones for all types of news today but when the SHTF your phone may not work. You need some type of radio receiver to get news and information. 

This will be a stressful time, and without some way to know what's going on out in the world, it will be much more stressful. What's going on, who's coming to help us? Did we have a way to tell the outside world were still here and what we need? Is anyone coming to help us? 

Some people have AM-FM radios that run on batteries, others have shortwave receivers that cover AM-FM shortwave and ham frequencies. Many hams have general coverage receivers or the new software defined radios. 

When the SHTF we don't know who will be sharing news on what frequency. Will radio stations or TV stations still be on the air or will it be ham radio operators or even bootleg stations? The more frequencies you have the ability to receive the better. 

Today we have inexpensive software defined radios that cover from 0.5 megacycle to 6,000 megacycles, in AM FM NB WB MW SW and upper and lower SSB single sideband. That's pretty much everything.

This SDR Beginners page is a good place to start 

This SDR software has a waterfall display. Rather than just spinning the dial looking for a signal, you can see signals and their strength. This makes looking for signals much easier. 

There are many SDR's on eBay and Amazon but if your looking for a SHTF SDR then look for a stand alone radio so you don't need to power your computer to listen..

Good Luck