ARES Volunteers Support Major Flood Responses

This is why alternative communications are so important..

Amateur Radio operators put their skills to work during flooding in the Centralia area of Southwest Washington and historic flooding in the Greater St Louis area in December and January. In Missouri ARES® volunteers from three counties pitched in. According to Bill Grimsbo, N0PNP, District C Emergency Coordinator, Amateur Radio volunteers contributed more than 170 hours of service just in his district, working with responding agencies.

“These people commit their personal time as well as working regular hours at jobs that represent a cross section of America’s workforce for the greater good of the community,” he pointed out.

Prolonged rainfall occurred December 26-28, with the heaviest rainfall in a 50 to 75 mile wide swath from Southwest Missouri through the St Louis Metropolitan area and into Central Illinois. The total 6 to 12 inches of rainfall led to life-threatening flash flooding and historic river flooding, capping off the wettest year on record for St Louis at 61.24 inches.

More than 26 radio amateurs from St Louis Metro ARES, St Charles County ARES, Illinois Section ARES, and St Louis and suburban radio club members worked with the American Red Cross in serving some 19,400 meals and coordinating more than 640 overnight stays for those displaced by flooding. ARES and club operators were asked to help coordinate communications among shelters in four counties and Red Cross headquarters. On average, volunteers worked 6 to 8 hour shifts, employing repeaters maintained by area radio clubs.

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Confused Over LMRFD Budget

I'm confused about the budget, income, and expenses for the LMRFD. When you review the budget figures, or ask at fire board meetings how much it cost to operate the fire district, we're told it's between $60,000 and $62,000 a month.

I'm not a numbers guy, so someone please explain this to me...

The LMRFD gets $1,100,000 from tax revenue and other income. 

$62,000 X 12 months = $744,000

$1,100,000-$744,000=$356,000

Doesn't the LMRFD have $356,000 over the monthly cost to operate?

Confused....

 

Wanted Firefighter EMT Paramedic for Small Arizona Community

Wanted Firefighter EMT Paramedic for Small Arizona Community

The Lake Mohave Ranchos Fire District (LMRFD) is looking for a firefighter EMT paramedic for our high desert community. If your an experienced firefighter or one who may be retiring soon and would like to continue serving your community, or a young person looking to get experience, this is the place.

Bring your hiking boots and check out Dolan Springs beautiful trail system near Mt Tipton.  web page www.dolanspringstrails.com  Dolan Springs is a small community with a population of around 2,000 people, but 1,000,000 people visit the Grand Canyon West. 

Bring your big boy toys, 4-wheelers, 4X4's and boats, to explore Lake Mead and hundreds of miles of ATV and jeep trails. Check out Meadviews Ridge Riders ATV Club

Dolan Springs is the Gateway to Lake Mead and the Grand Canyon West. Meadview overlooks Lake Mead with it's 1000 miles of shoreline, year round fishing, boating, swimming, and water skiing,

These are high desert communities with mild climates, according to BestPlaces.net Dolan Springs has 293 of sunshine, compared to Seattle with 152 days of sunshine.

Entertainment an hour and you're in Laughlin Nevada all the shows like Vegas only cheaper prices. Want the big city, Las Vegas is only 90 minutes away. Big city not your cup of tea, it's 35 miles to Kingman Arizona and historic Route 66.

Lake Mohave Ranchos Fire District

Volunteer Firefighter Facts like the $139 Billion they Save Our Nation Each Year -- Please Educate Yourself

Educating people about how important volunteer firefighters are to to America, especially the $139 Billion Dollars they save us in these times of budget problems. 

Volunteer Fire Service Fact Sheet

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. Organized in 1976, the NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer fire and emergency services in the national arena and provides invaluable tools, resources, programs, training, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Each state firefighter’s association elects a representative to the NVFC Board of Directors.

We welcome you to browse our web site at www.nvfc.org to learn more about the volunteer fire and emergency services and information regarding membership, training, legislation, and meetings.

This Fact Sheet was produced in order to provide an overall picture of today’s volunteer fire and emergency services.

• Volunteers comprise 69% of firefighters in the United States. Of the total estimated 1,140,750 volunteer and paid firefighters across the country, 786,150 are volunteer.1 • Communities served by volunteer firefighters depend on them to be their first line of defense for many types of emergencies. Volunteer firefighters are summoned to a wide array of emergencies across the country every day including fires, emergency medical incidents, terrorist events, natural disasters, hazardous materials incidents, water rescue emergencies, high-angle and confined space emergencies, and other general public service calls. The public relies on the volunteer emergency services to be their first line of defense in these emergencies. Volunteers spend an enormous amount of time training to prepare for these emergencies.

• The majority of fire departments in the United States are volunteer. Of the total 30,052 fire departments in the country, 19,807 are all volunteer; 5,797 are mostly volunteer; 1,971 are mostly career; and 2,477 are all career.

The volunteer fire service has challenges with recruitment and retention, but the option is what? Please educate your self about volunteer firefighters and the $139 Billion Dollars they they save the nation each year.
More Fire Service Statistics and Fact Sheets HERE

Response to LMRFD Support.com

I have nothing to gain from the Lake Mohave Ranchos Fire District other than better fire/EMS and fire insurance rates. I choose to educate the area's residents about problems with the EMS system in the LMRFD, and look for alternatives and solutions. Other choose to attack people with name calling and unprofessional conduct. 

As a young paramedic I took oath that said, "I shall share my medical knowledge with those who may benefit from what I have learned". I try to honor that oath, and the paramedics that came before me.

Ellen tells us she has worked for the fire district for 10 years. I don't understand why someone with limited web and computer skills was being paid over $16.00 an hour. That's more per hour than a firefighter paramedic with 3000 hours of training gets paid. Why....

When I asked why information was outdated on the LMRFD web page, she said she didn't know how to change it. I question her computer skills. When I requested information i was told she would need to charge me for information because it would take hours, and she would need to print hundreds of pages to find a few fire calls I had asked about.

$16 an hour, really.... Anyone that knows databases could find the information is a couple minutes, and print it on one page of paper.

It's funny that for 2 years the LMRFD web page had information that mislead people wanting to visit or move to the area. Telling them the LMRFD had 7 ALS ambulances, 4 rescue vehicles, and lots of man power, when it really only had 1 ambulance and 2 EMT's most of the time.

When I complained about the misleading information, Ellen told me she didn't know how to fix it  and their web master had quit. What I find funny, is how good she is at running the LMRFD SUPPORT page, when she couldn't run the fire districts page.

LMRFD Budget
We've been told over and over that the LMRFD needs $62,000.00 a month to operate, and we have no money. We're also told the LMRFD receives $1,100,000.00 in tax revenue. So how is it we have no money? 
12X$62,000=$744,000 
$1,100,000-$744,000=$356,000
Do we have an extra $356,000 or $29,666 a month?

LMRFD and the NACFD
The LMRFD doesn't have a bad relationship with NACFD. We have had a mutual aid agreement, and will continue to have a mutual aid agreement with NACFD. It's a standard agreement between neighboring fire districts.

At several fire board meetings prior to the consolidation vote by NACFD, Mr Flynn told us he didn't care if we decided to consolidate with NACFD or go as a stand alone fire district, he would be there to support us during the process.

After consolidation his attitude changed and at fire board meetings he appeared to be mad the NACFD vote didn't go his way. What happened to I'll support you no matter what the decision? 

At one time the LMRFD had many local paid and volunteer firefighters. We went broke, we got that, but so did Rural Metro Ambulance Service. They were the second biggest EMS provider in the nation, and they went broke, so stop blaming everything on the old fire board.

The good ol boy system is alive and well in Mohave County. Rather than do a nation wide search for firefighters, we were told no body want's to work here. Then they hire their buddies part time from the "small community" of local fire fighters. They work one day here, one at their fire department, and then get a day off.and do it again. Pretty good deal...

We don't have one LMRFD firefighter who lives inside the LMRFD. The only firefighter with a stake in the community is Mike Pettway who's lived in the area for a long time. He's worked for the fire district for many years and truly cares about the community. I feel Mike is the only firefighter who is truly a POC, Paid on Call firefighter, he's the only one closes enough to respond if needed off duty. All the other firefighters live in Kingman and Lake Havasu 40 to 100 miles away.

In a major weather event, or worse, we would have the 3 firefighters working at the time. On a bad day, and Mr Flynn doesn't want to admit it, but on some days, there is only one firefighter working in the LMRFD, and not always a paramedic on duty.

I've asked Chief Moore, Mr Flynn, and the county attorney who's responsible when the fire board allows firefighters to leave the fire district on ambulance calls, and my home burns down.I pay $200 a year to the LMRFD so firefighters are in the fire district to protect my home if needed.


Homeowners Insurance Class 8 ISO

Homeowners Insurance is going to go up because over the last 3 years the leadership has gotten rid of all the volunteer firefighters. 

To receive an ISO rating of 8, the LMRFD would need to pump 250 gallons per minute continousley for 2 hours. Tell me how with 2-3 firefighters, that's 30,000 gallons of water

Minimum Criteria for Class 8 or Better

To receive a Public Protection Classification (PPC™) of Class 8 or better, a community must first have the minimum facilities and practices needed for a PPC rating and must earn a score of at least 20 points when evaluated according to the criteria in the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS). The community must also have these additional minimum facilities:

There must be a minimum water supply of 250 gpm for a 2-hour duration for fire protection in the area.

If the fire department delivers the 250 gpm through tanker shuttle, large-diameter hose, or other alternative water supply, the water must be available within 5 minutes of the arrival of the first-due engine, and the department must maintain the flow, without interruption, for the 2-hour duration. ISO Rating Info

Hostile and Slanderous Attacks
There were no hostile or slanderous attacks from me. I asked questions Mr Flynn questions he didn't want to answer. 

Like why was the turnout time, the time it takes to leave the fire station, over 5 minutes on some calls when NFPA 1710 recommends a turnout time of less than 80 seconds, and many departments have a time of 60 seconds for turnout time on fire responses. 

Like the question about the Two-In-Two-Out Rule. 

I asked if two firefighters could enter a burning home to do a rescue. After a long pause, Mr Flynn said yes. Commonly referred to as the 2-in/2-out rule, it's a federal mandate said to be "the most important advance in firefighter safety in decades", and "a regulation that goes a long way in making one of the most dangerous professions safer".

His answer was correct, but... OSHA says "If an immediate action is necessary to save a life, an exception or deviation to the 2-in/2-out rule is permissible. If initial attack personnel are aware of an known life hazard that can be alleviated by immediate action, deviation from the 2-in/2-out rule may be permitted as an exception to a fire department operational plan. 

However, such deviations can result in OSHA issuing a "de minimis" citation. A "de minimis" citation does not require a monetary penalty or corrective action, but any actions taken in accordance with this exception provision require an investigation by the concerned fire department with a written report to the Fire Chief.

If firefighters decide to deviate from the 2-in/2-out OSHA rule, and it leads to injury or death, then OSHA fines us a lot of money, and the families file lawsuits.

The safety of the citizens and firefighters must come first. 
 Landmark Residential Fire Study Shows How Crew Sizes and Arrival Times Influence Saving Lives and Property

Confusion Over Who is in the LMRFD and Who Pays Tax to the LMRFD

There seems to be some confusion over what parcels are in the LMRFD, and who pays taxes to the LMRFD. Everyone pays a tax to the Fire District Assistance Fund, usually between $2.00 and $10 a year. Many people think because it says "Fire District" Assistance Fund, in means they're in the fire district, many are not.

Use the Mohave County Assessor's Office web page, on the left you'll see a link to your Current Tax Bill. Look for Lake Mohave Ranchos FD on your tax bill. If it doesn't say "Lake Mohave Ranchos FD" you're not in the fire district.

I pay $178.78 or 22.65%  of my property taxes to the LMRFD. I only pay $108.35 or 13.73% of my property taxes to Mohave County.

Please check and see if you are in the LMRFD. I talk to people every week who think they're in the LMRFD, only to find they're not. This includes some parcels only blocks from the Meadview fire station.

Don't wait until the election in May, only to find you don't receive a ballot because you're not in the fire district.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and that the new year is prosperous for you and yours.

We vote in a new fire board this next May. I hope we can come together as a community and support the new fire board in whatever course they choose.

We still need people to take the CERT Training coming up in January. SEE Confusion About CERT Training for how to contact Mike Browning to sign up, or for more information on CERT.

CERT Training is something everyone should take. It doesn't matter if you're a prepper or not, it's basic training in first aid, search and rescue, and other skills everyone who lives in a rural area should know. In case of a major emergency you can provide support for your family, friends and neighbors until emergency services can get there.

Let's Be Careful Out There

Merry Christmas
Jay & Jean Fleming
Dolan Springs Arizona

Amateur Radio Volunteers Respond to Flood Emergency in Southern India:

Amateur Radio Volunteers Respond to Flood Emergency in Southern India:

from The ARRL Letter on December 10, 2015
Website: http://www.arrl.org/ 
Add a comment about this article! 

Amateur Radio Volunteers Respond to Flood Emergency in Southern India:

In the wake of severe flooding in Southern India resulting from several days of torrential downpours earlier this month, volunteer radio amateurs jumped in to provide emergency communication and other disaster assistance. Amateur Radio Society of India (ARSIhttp://www.arsi.info/) President Gopal Madhavan, VU2GMN, said hams swung into action soon after flood waters -- 3 to 4 meters deep in some places -- overwhelmed India's fourth-largest city, Chennai, and the surrounding region. Power outages in many parts of the affected area hampered Amateur Radio relief operations, and some radio amateurs were caught in the flooding. Hams with emergency power were able to pitch in, however, via two local repeaters. An HF network remained on standby.

Local hams, several belonging to the South India Amateur Radio Society (SIARS http://www.siars.org.in/) in Chennai, contributed to relief and rescue operations, working in part with ALERT, a non-governmental relief organization "Once it became possible to move, hams started going out assisting with delivery of food and water to stranded individuals and assisting with rescue from tall buildings, where people were trapped," Madhavan said. ARSI National Coordinator for Disaster Communication Jayu Bhide, VU2JAU, said the flooding was one of the city's worst disasters and was unexpected in a metropolitan area. 

Most of the cell phone network, Internet, and other communication systems were knocked out due to power failure and flooding.

The emergency network supported communication for distributing food, tracing missing people, and providing other assistance as needed. With the conventional communication infrastructure disrupted, ham radio was a mainstay. The flooding also cut off access to several bridges, dividing the city.

Bhide said this week that Chennai is slowly recovering as the flood waters recede, but recovery is expected to take a long time. More than 300 people were reported to have died as a result of the disaster. -- Thanks to Jayu Bhide, VU2JAU, Jim Linton, VK3PC, and Gopal Madhavan, VU2GMN

Source:

The ARRL Letter

Some Confusion About CERT Training -- Don't Forget the CERT Training in January

There Seems to Be Some Confusion About CERT Training

CERT Training is for the average citizen who wants to learn emergency preparedness and basic emergency response skills. There’s some confusion about the need to join a CERT Team to take the training, or be part of a CERT team after the training.

The CERT web page says, "Completing CERT’s Basic Training Course prepares the public to safely assist family, friends, neighbors, co-workers or fellow students before professional first responders arrive, whether or not the trainee joins a CERT team".

This CERT TRAINING page explains that when disasters occur, professional first responders are not the first on the scene. It’s going to be friends and neighbors who are the first responders.

If roads are impassable or the local agency’s manpower is overloaded, it may be hours — or days — before professional help arrives. In this environment, nonprofessional members of the public spontaneously reach out to help those affected. 

When we had the church fires, a lot of good people jumped in to help that night. Thankfully all went well and no one was injured. But if we're going to jump in and help when a disaster hits our small community, then let's get some basic training. 

That way we are part of the plan, and assist local emergency services, rather than have someone get injured, and require valuable EMS resources needed elsewhere.

Taking CERT Training will help give Dolan Springs the preparedness skills we need so individuals and neighborhoods can reduce their dependence on emergency services and manage on existing resources until professional assistance becomes available. 

CERT’s Basic Training Course provides a baseline of emergency preparedness and educates the public in basic emergency response skills. This is something everyone who lives in the country needs to learn.

If you’re interested in taking the CERT Basic Training Course, you may want to look over an Introduction to Citizens Response Teams  IS-317, is an independent study course that serves as an introduction to CERT for those interested in completing the basic CERT training or as a refresher for current team members.

The course includes six modules: CERT Basics, Fire Safety, Hazardous Material and Terrorist Incidents, Disaster Medical Operations, and Search and Rescue, and Course Summary.

Hopefully in May when a new fire board is elected, they will choose to provide the necessary insurance for a CERT Team. We can provide additional training for people who completed the CERT training to tailor the team to what the community needs are.

To sign up for the CERT Training contact Mike Browning Assistant Coordinator for Mohave County Emergency Management at 928) 757-0930 or email him at mike.browning@mohavecounty.us

FCC wants to stop allowing cell phones with no service to call 911

In an article in Urgent Communications the FCC wants to stop allowing cell phones with no service to call 911. Today many people have pre-paid cell phones and run out of minutes, or can miss paying a bill and not have cell service. This was part of the governments deal with the cell phone companies in return for the use of the airways we all own.

Abuse of the 911 system comes from many sources, landlines, pay phones, cell phones, and NSI cell phones. If someone is abusing the 911 system, have the nice policeman who shows up explain things to them. If they continue, have a judge explain it.

Everyone needs to have the ability to call for help. That was the deal the cell companies made in return for using our airways.

Jay

FCC’s Rosenworcel says non-service-initialized (NSI) phone policy for calling 911 should be changed

Non Service Initialized Cell Phones
​Non-service-initialized (NSI) cell phones—devices that that are not subscribed to a wireless carrier—no longer should be able to call 911 as they are today, because circumstances have changed substantially since the policy was established almost 20 years ago, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said during the recent APCO Emerging Technology Forum in Atlanta.

Non-service-initialized (NSI) cell phones—devices that that are not subscribed to a wireless carrier—no longer should be able to call 911 as they are today, because circumstances have changed substantially since the policy was established almost 20 years ago, FCCCommissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said during the recent APCO Emerging Technology Forum in Atlanta.

In recent years, representatives of the 911 community have called for the FCC to review rules regarding the ability for NSI phones to call 911. When the NSI rules were created in 1996, programs were established to collect NSI phones and distribute them to people in need—domestic-violence victims being a prime example—so they could dial 911 in case of emergency.

But the NSI functionality increasingly is being used to call public-safety answering points(PSAPs) with thousands of non-emergency calls—some relatively innocent, many blatantly deceitful—that absorb considerable time and resources within 911 centers. At the same time, mobile devices have become almost ubiquitous, so the need for NSI phones to call 911 has decreased dramatically.

“So, the technology and times have changed, but our rules stay the same. And, in the interim, this has become a source of harassment,” Rosenworcel said during a question-and-answer session at the APCO event. “People now use these non-service-initialized phones to waste the time, energy and expertise of our 911 call centers.

“When I look at all of that, I think it’s time for us to get rid of this policy.”

Rosenworcel noted that the NSI issue is the focus of an ongoing proceeding at the FCC, which also wants to ensure that reasonable alternatives are provided to those that still rely on NSI devices.

“I think the challenge is just figuring out precisely how to get rid of it, so that we don’t leave anyone who might be relying on a non-service-initialized phone stuck. But it’s very clear to me that it’s time for that policy to go—it’s not 1996 anymore.

Kingman Miner - Chloride may have to provide its own firefighters

In a recent article in the Kingman Daily Miner about Chloride's consolidation with NACFD, Chief Moore said "After they consolidated, we were subsidizing a firefighter out there. "With the downturn, we couldn't do that anymore."

Does that mean the Chloride fire truck will stay in Kingman? I haven't seen anything where it was returned to Chloride.

Chief Moore went on to say, "At some level, the rural communities, these small communities, the solution out there is that people are going to have to go to school to become firefighters. We'll help provide you the training. You just need to provide the individuals willing and able to do it," said Moore.

Brings home the point small rural fire districts need volunteers. Hopefully the new fire board will find money for volunteers. As I understand the NACFD is only 70 square miles. The LMRFD is 144 sm's, and the LMRFD ambulance covers 2200 sm's.

This meeting comes just after the NACFD board of directors voted not to consolidate with another rural fire district, Lake Mohave Ranchos, based in Dolan Springs. 

That district is now looking to re-establish a fire chief and board of directors. The election is in May, so make sure you're registered to vote, and live in the LMRFD.

Jay

LAKE MOHAVE RANCHOS FIRE DISTRICT is HIRING

   HIRING

The LAKE MOHAVE RANCHOS FIRE DISTRICT IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION for Firefighter/Paramedic and Firefighter/EMT.  

Applications are being accepted for Fire Chief, Administrative Assistant,  and volunteers, to be considered after the Fire Board Election May 17, 2016.  Please access the application at the bottom of this page, and after completing, email to LMRFD@CITLINK.NET.

LMRFD Web Page

People in Meadview Don't Understand How Many Parcels Were NOT in the Old Grapevine FD, and are NOT in the LMRFD

Everyone needs to look at the map of Meadview to see how many people there don't pay banything to the LMRFD, yet get the same services as those of us who do.

Map of the LMRFD
Link http://mcgis.mohavecounty.us/Silverlight_1_9/?Viewer=moh&Project=0803e1c8-e9a8-40ae-aef4-f121fecba7ab

You will need MS Explorer and Silverlight to view the map.

Please zoom in on Meadview and see for your self.

Jay

Who Went to the Fire Station, Who Were the Firefighters they Talked To?

We need to know where these rumors are coming from about cutting firefighter pay.

Who was it that went to the fire station?

Who are the firefighters spreading this rumor?

Does anyone know the truth?

Jay

Reply to Vince Salmu and His Secret Email List

Reply to Vince Salmu

Vince

You're a bully, you try and force people to your will. I try to educate people. You are the most unprofessional so called businessman I've ever seen, even belittling your employees in front of customers.

You resort to name calling like a small child, and should not represent anyone.

This is the last time I will reply to your rants because of you're unprofessional conduct and name calling. 

NOTE: The Black and Blue text below is from Vince. 
The Red text is my reply.

From: Vince Salmu <vincesalmu@gmail.com>
Date: November 15, 2015 at 4:10:11 AM MST
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Fwd: Fleming

What gives this moron the right to speak for the community?  He has a big mouth with foolish stupid ideas, I do not want him representing me at all.

Name calling, really professional.

Why would anyone with mention their location to other country's? These are actions of a person who is concerned about fame, self status and just a brain dead zombie on a mission of no good. He has had little to stir up since the fire Dept issue is coming to an end soon.

More name calling.... I thought the point was to get visitors from other countries, they're called tourists.

I believe he should put is his own address on there also, It would be best if they tried the gas can idea there first,better then our homes. What better place to start then from where the foolish information started. Maybe his Russians friends can get the word out.

Learn to read... I didn't say someone tried anything, now did I? A gas can was on the side of the road and no one noticed. For you to even suggest that someone burn down our home after the church fires is reckless and irresponsible. 

He has only lived here now for about 2 years,he claims to have all this training. Why would a highly trained, educated ,terrorists expert move to a place that sat in the middle of three as he claims potential targets? why? why? It is very obvious that the training did not stick in his head. He should have chose  to live in a place far away from potential targets, I think the smart guy would have done that. he has some very deep issues as his actions are not on the norm of what most would do.He is the one we should keep an eye on.

Let's sit down and compare training, anytime. WOW
Why with a sucessful business in Las Vegas move to Dolan Springs? So he can charge local low income people $1 a gallon more for gas?

This Jay is one of the people who wants to run our fire Department services, I believe he is in the group that is attempting to put a plan together to run the department as stand alone. Why would you people who are in the group or the rest of us want this moron doing any more damage?  I think they have picked the wrong guy to support them. We as a community need to have this observed and his actions detailed and documented. He is a radical who can do no good for the future of our community. I will not support the group he he is involved in, Maybe they also should be looked at.He could be speaking or them also as he has attempted to speak for us in his blogs.

More name calling... you're not the professional I want to represent me? Vince pay attention, consolidation failed, it is a stand alone fire district. You are all about money and could care less how many people die due to poor EMS services. What if you have a heart attack VInce? The current manpower couldn't load you in the ambulance, let alone do CPR. 

I am attaching a screenshot of Fleming's latest blog post, along with some responses.  It appears that now that he has succeeded in derailing the consolidation and run off our Fire Fighters and EMS personnel with his blog, he is now exposing our location and weaknesses to the terrorists of the world...along with "how-to's" ! 

Yes Vince the terrorists didn't know where we had hidden Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, and the Grand Canyon, sorry. As far as how to, it seems by the looks of Paris they have that covered. We need to pray for the people of Paris.

He has misappropriated the LMRFD logo as well, giving him the appearance of having some authority to speak on our community's behalf.  I hope someone with the ability to talk sense into him will be able to do so before he causes us any more damage

 Are you the one who spoke to the firefighters causing two to quit? It was someone...

Small Sleepy Towns Can Be A Dangerous Place

The world changed on September 11th, America became a lot less secure when almost 3000 people died at the hands of terrorist, That's what terrorist do, create fear in peoples minds.

Much of my training in law enforcement had to do with drugs, intelligence, and covert operations, Because of this I was trained in both intelligence gathering, and counter-intelligence. So I look at the world different than most people.

We sit near three major terrorist targets, Las Vegas playground to the world, Hoover Dam a symbol of our nations power, and the Grand Canyon one of the seven natural wonders of the world,

We think of Dolan Springs and Meadview as sleepy little towns on the way to the Grand Canyon. But we sit between two primary terrorist targets, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon. Tourists from all over the world come to both of these attractions, Bombing a bus load of tourists would make people afraid to cross the dam, or visit the Grand Canyon. Terrorists use buses as targets all the time in other countries.

We need to be much more observant than we are. We need to learn what to look for as far as suspicious activity, and suspicious items. In Mohave Valley I watched a 5 gallon gas can sit 5' off the side of US-95 for a month before the highway department picked it up.

During my police academy training during bomb investigations, they put a gallon of gas with an electric blasting cap inside a two bedroom home. When the blasting cap was set off, there was fire out every window in that home. Imagine what five gallons of gas would do? Improvised Explosive Devices, IED's, are made from anything the terrorist can find, even a simple gas can.

Hopefully nothing like this will ever come to our community, but if it does, we need to prepare for the worst, and pray for the best.

Please be observant, if you see something suspicious, tell someone.

Jay

What We Can Do While Waiting for a New Fire Board

As we move forward waiting for the election of a new board of directors for the LMRFD, there are things we can do.

Dolan Springs, Meadview, and White Hills all need volunteers to assist in emergencies. The LMRFD is responsible for fire service inside the 144sm LMRFD, and the 2200sm ambulance area.

With the limited manpower in the LMRFD for both fire service and EMS, a Citizens Emergency Response Team, or CERT could provide various support services to the the sheriff's office, DPS, LMRFD firefighters, as well as other services that would benifit the entire community especially in emergencies.

Mike Browning at Mohave County Emergency Management tells me there will be a training course for a local CERT Team, or Citizens Emergency Response Team coming up in January 2016.

He needs around 20 people. So now is the time for people in Dolan Springs, Meadview, White Hills, and West of US93 to give Mike a call and support their community.

The fire district needs to support a CERT team. I hope the new fire board will be interested in volunteers and support things like a CERT Team.

Mohave County CERT Team Information

Contact Mike Browning

• Emergency Mgmt. Assistant Coordinator, Mike Browning
• 928) 757-0930
• mike.browning@mohavecounty.us

Thanks

Jay

Need to Wait Until Election in May.... Until Then Leave the Firefighters Alone

Apparently some people have been speaking to firefighters about the future of the LMRFD, creating some problems.

It's been decided the LMRFD won't consolidate with the NACFD. Now we need to wait until May 17th and the election of a new board of directors for the LMRFD.

Please let the firefighters do their jobs until people with the authority to speak for the community, the new fire board who takes control after the May election.

Jay Fleming

Sign Up for CERT Training Now

We need everyone interested in volunteering as a firefighter, EMT, ambulance attendant driver, or what ever for the LMRFD, to take the upcoming CERT training. 

Mike Browning at Mohave County Emergency Management tells me there will be a training course for a local CERT Team, or Citizens Emergency Response Team coming up in January 2016.

At this time the training will be in Chloride or Kingman. If we get enough people, we may be able to talk them into having some classes in our area.

He needs around 20 people. So now is the time to show everyone there are good people in Dolan Springs, Meadview, and White Hills who will volunteer.

The fire district needs to support a CERT team. I think the new fire board will be interested in volunteers.

Mohave County CERT Team Information

Contact Mike Browning

• Emergency Mgmt. Assistant Coordinator, Mike Browning
• 928) 757-0930
• mike.browning@mohavecounty.us

Thanks

Jay

Mohave County Supervisors Meeting Monday Nov 2nd

Don't forget the Mohave County Supervisors meeting. It's Monday November 2nd at 9:30AM Mohave County Administration Building Offices at 700 W. Beale Street.

It's not over, we're just starting....

Jay

Check Voter registration and if You're in the LMRFD

You can check your voter registration and districts here Arizona Voters

make sure you're registered to vote, and that you're in LMRFD before the fire board election.

Jay

How to Run for the LMRFD Fire Board

I spoke to Allen at the Mohave County Elections Department about how to run for the fire board. He wasn't sure if the election would be in March or May. It should be decided at the next supervisors meeting next Monday.

If you're interested in running goto the Candidate Filing Information page. Under Non-Partisan Candidate Packet (Fire, Water, & MCC School Board): Download the checklist. Do your homework....

If you're going to run for the fire board you should talk to someone at the elections department to make sure you get things right.

Good luck
Jay

LMRFD Fire Board Meeting Today

LMRFD Fire Board Meeting Today @ 1:30 PM

Come be part of the process of building our fire district and EMS system. Don't sit just sit home, it's your community, lets stay involved in what's going on.

No Consolidation for LMRFD

The NACFD board voted 3 to 2 not to consolidate with the LMRFD last night at the NACFD board meeting. As I understand there will be a ballot by mail in some time in March.

Now it's time to establish a new fire board and get to work building an effective fire EMS system for the Dolan Springs, Meadview, and White Hills areas.

I want to thank Mr Flynn and Chief Moore for getting the LMRFD back on it'd feet, and the NACFD for allowing the people to choose a new fire board so we can continue to serve our community.

Jay

Reply to All

Reply
Sept 29 post on “DolanEMSProblems” by Jay Fleming
“So by requiring the ambulance EMT's to be firefighters we severely limit our volunteer pool. We may have a wealth of experienced women with a medical backgrounds out there who have no interest in being a firefighter. We'll never know unless we ask.”  FALSE Claim

We currently have 1 Female EMT volunteer in Meadview on the roster with NO fire. We had 1 volunteer Paramedic in Meadview, recruited, checked out, certs brought up to date by Chief Moore’s efforts.  NO fire.

The only job description ever given to me or anyone I know is for a firefighter EMT.  Show me one document from LMRFD that says volunteers don't need to be firefighters.

At the October 6 Focus Group presentation, Donna Wickerd indicated that $70,000 would be paid by the LMRFD to NACFD after consolidation as our % of operational costs.  She was not sure what that was for.  It would cover our cost of a Fire Chief, Battalion Chiefs, IT & Radio personnel, grant writer, Administration personnel services IE: payroll, payables, receivables, records management, an EMS Coordinator, and supplies purchasing.

Donna’s conclusion, however, indicated that the determination by the focus group is that “there would be NO benefit to either the LMRFD or NACFD by consolidating.”

$70,000, in my opinion, is considerable benefit to NACFD.  Chief Moore at one point stated it would buy NACFD a fire fighter.  All of the operational and management services that the $70,000 would purchase for the LMRFD is also considerable, easily costing the LMRFD $200,000/year to replicate.  The additional UNPAID benefit of a proven, stable structure already in place from which we can continue to grow our fire & EMS services, and a GOOD reputation with vendors and lending institutions is incalculable.

Donna Wickerd’s statement in her presentation that “there would be no hope of any volunteer program going forward after consolidation” because of NACFD’s “policy against a volunteer program”, is disingenuous.   Donna and other members of her group have been told repeatedly in several public meetings by Chief Moore that he is open to a volunteer program; he just needs people to show up to volunteer.  He has proven his sincerity in pursuing qualified volunteers.  The Paramedic volunteer he spent months putting through the background tests, updating of certs, etc. in 2014 showed up for a couple of calls before leaving the area in a hurry.  We currently have a female volunteer EMT on the roster in Meadview.

That's  because  when people call to volunteer, no one called them back over the past few years. Show me one web page that says NACFD is looking for volunteers. I'm sorry they made a bad choice in paramedics. It proves  my point we need local volunteers, Dolan and Meadview  is culture shock to outsiders. In the middle of nowhere, what do you mean they haul water?


The issue is NOT any imagined “NACFD policy against volunteers”.  It is (1) the lack of volunteers in our area stepping up, and (2) a lack of commitment by volunteers who do step up.  This is the reality of the area in which we live.  We do not have the quality or quantity of volunteers that some other areas of the country have.  To survive, we must work within that reality.  To COUNT on volunteers for any plan going forward is suicide!  To survive we must maintain a stable base of paid personnel and management which NACFD has already established and which consolidation would continue to provide.  From that stable base we can then train and utilize volunteers as they step up, and as their qualifications allow, for such things as recruiting more volunteers, pursuing annexation of Meadview’s $265,000 potential tax base into the District, organizing regular trainings for firefighters & EMS personnel, and community outreach projects, etc.

Not COUNTING on volunteers  could mean your death if no one shows up, or an ambulance or fire truck with one person. If you want the calls where one person shows up, left me know.

The ongoing disinformation being propagated by the focus group to undermine the consolidation effort brings into question their sincerity in their claim to be “neutral, with no agenda”.  Obviously not true!

Don't listen to me, do your homework, look up  fire department staffing lawsuits. Look up your chance of survival with an ambulance 45 minutes to who knows when.

Without volunteers we're in trouble.. When people know we have one ambulance sometimes, how many will visit or move here? 

NACFD Board Meeting October 15th

The NACFD board meeting is October 15th at 6pm at 2486 Northern Ave in Kingman.

This is our last chance to tell the NACFD board we don't want consolidation.

The LMRFD can't provide fire and EMS services without volunteers, and I don't trust we will ever have volunteers if we consolidate.

How could it possibly be worse than having one firefighter show up on the ambulance, or the fire truck.

Look at NACFD history of dropping volunteers.

Two EMT'S Can't Manage A Heart Attack and Do CPR

To manage a heart attack, or run a code while doing CPR you need at least 4 people. One to drive, one to watch the monitor, and two to do CPR.

The only way for two EMT's to run a code, is using a machine called a thumper, or mechanical CPR device.

At the Town Hall meeting I asked if the LMRFD had a thumper or mechanical CPR device. We were told they don't have a thumper. We were also told the thumper was old technology.

It's not only NOT old technology, according to the Journal of Emergency Medicine, mechanical CPR devices provide far better CPR than manual CPR.

Mechanical CPR Article

Mechanical CPR delivers more effective CPR because it doesn't get tired, and always delivers the correct rate, depth, and placement.

This is something LMRFD needs. I doubt anyone who left Dolan Springs or Meadview with CPR in progress ever left the hospital. In Seattle 57% of sudden cardiac arrest patient survive, the national average is 8-10%.

We need to teach everyone CPR.

Town Hall Meeting October 6th Don't Miss

Please Don't Miss the Town Hall Meeting October 6th at the Dolan Springs Community Center at 6 pm.

It our fire district, and without volunteers I think we're in trouble. We need to start recruiting volunteers from all the area çoveresd by the ambulance CON, not just the fire district.

We have good people in Dolan Springs, over West of the highway, in Meadview, and White Hills, we need those folks to come give us a hand. It's not their fire district, but it is their ambulance.

Building an effective EMS system will be a challenge, but saving lives in the street, or in or in the hospital it's always a challenge.

In the near future we hope to have enough volunteers to allow our EMT's to respond from their home, directly to the patient's home, allowing them to assess the patient, and package them  for transport, reducing response times and patient survivability.

Eventually starting a Community-Paramedicine program. Something new in Arizona where paramedics do more primary care as opposed to only emergency response.

Our paramedics would be allowed to be more proactive, than reactivate to chronic medical conditions.

Please come to the meeting October 6th at the Community Center, learn about our options.

Jay

Many rural fire districts field a significant volunteer force, which yields a high degree of cost effectiveness for fire suppression and emergency services.

The paragraph below is from the Arizona Fire District Association.

Many rural fire districts field a significant volunteer force, which yields a high degree of cost effectiveness for fire suppression and emergency services. They fill a need that otherwise cannot be generally provided by another governmental entity.

It's obvious to most Dolan Springs and Meadview need volunteers. It's how we motivate and retain volunteers that will make or break a volunteer program.

To me training volunteers to the level they're comfortable with makes sense. Why force someone who would be great at driving the ambulance, to take hundreds of hours of training to be a firefighter or EMT, they have no interest in, and won't do well at?

We need volunteers but to keep volunteers invested, you need to use them. We need CERT people trained to handle traffic. Like at the church fires, I directed traffic until my flashlight went dead.

Someone needs to support the firefighters on any working fire. When it's 105 degrees, you can't work long in bunkers. We need CERT to do things like setup a cooling station, make sure they have cold water, and don't go down from heat stroke.

We need to come together as a community, show people Dolan Springs does care and volunteer. The other choice is the way we are, because consolation won't change that.

We need people who are willing to volunteer as an Ambulance Attendant, no EMT or paramedic, just take an emergency vehicle operations course to be able to drive the ambulance.

ARS 36-2201 #6 (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.

We need others interested in being an EMT Basic and advancing to EMT Advanced. This would give anyone a big hand up on their way to being an RN, nurse practitioner, physicians assistant, or even a physician.

When an RN gets out of school, they know little more than book knowledge. When a paramedic gets out of RN school, they're an experienced critical care RN paramedic with a career, and service to their community.

If you want to volunteer for CERT Training, as a volunteer firefighter, or for the ambulance, let someone know.

Or stick our heads back in the desert sand.....

So Important You Know the Difference between an EMT an EMT Advanced and a Paramedic

Trying to educate people,....

Please read this, it's what I've been saying from another view.
UNDERSTAND (BUT ARE USUALLY AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT)…

It's important everyone understand the difference between an EMT Basic, an EMT Advanced, and a paramedic.

There's a big difference between what a Basic EMT and an Advanced EMT can do in the field, a paramedic can do a few more procedures than an Advanced EMT, but the Advanced EMT can do most life saving procedures that can save a life right now.

According to the National EMS Scope of Practice Model.
An EMT Basic can do basic first aid and an Automatic External Defibrillator (anyone with CPR training) use an oral or nasal airway, but can't secure your airway to prevent aspiration of vomit and severe complications.

An EMT Basic can use an automatic or bag to assist ventilation. They can give you your own medicine, or over-the-counter medication with appropriate medical supervision.

An EMT Basic can give a Diabetic glucose (sugar) and someone having a heart attack an aspirin, and in case of a nerve gas attack they can give you atropine. They can also use anti-shock pants to split a lower limb.

EMT Advanced
An EMT Advanced can do all the above plus....
Advanced airway that can secure your airway.
Use suction on patients already with ET Tube
Insert IVs
Do bone marrow injections in kids
IV fluid therapy Medication Route or Trauma
Nitroglycerin for chest pain
Epinephrine for anaphylaxis Bee String Etc
Glucose for Diabetic
IV D50 for Diabetic
Administer breathing treatments asthma COPD
Narcan for opioid overdose
Nitrous oxide for pain

A Paramedic can do all the above plus.....
A paramedic can secure your airway with an ET Tube
Perform a cricothyrotomy if your skull is crushed can open your throat
Put a needle in your chest if lung collapsed
Use nasogastric tube to let air from stomach
Insert bone marrow cannula
Access large veins for IV Deep Veins Difficult in the Field
IV medications and drips
Infusion of blood or blood products

The few things a paramedic can do that an EMT Advanced can't, are not worth the additional cost and training for the majority of our EMS needs.

A paramedics skill isn't in what equipment or drugs they carry. A paramedics skill is in their ability to do rapid patient assessment, but get it right.

Back in the day, and in this case I mean not that long after Jesus day. Physicians were teachers, that sharing of knowledge was part of being a paramedic when I was trained.

When I took my paramedic oath, it said "I shall also share my medical knowledge with those who may benefit from what I have learned. I will serve unselfishly in order to help make a better world for all mankind" I take that oath seriously.

Sadly that section was replaced with a be nice on social media section.

In my opinion anyone who has been a paid EMT for more than 2 years without advancing to EMT Advanced or paramedic, has no interest in emergency medicine, and needs to move up or move on, we need more than Basic EMT's.

Why would someone NOT want to move up to EMT Advanced or Paramedic? Because they don't want to provide better patient care, they didn't want more money? Why?

EMS Is a Healthcare Career, Not a Fire Department Career

In case someone forgot the “M” in EMS, it stands for medical. EMTs and paramedics are technically classified as allied health professionals, which is a whole different field of endeavor than firefighting. Our true brethren are respiratory therapists, nurses, physicians’ assistants and the like. This means we operate in conjunction with other healthcare agencies, be they doctors’ offices, clinics, hospitals or health departments.

We need to start somewhere, and CPR instructors and a CERT team would be a good start to a better EMS system.

Do your homework look up Community Paramedicine its what we need to work towards.

Where To Go From Here

Where to go from here.... The lake Mohave Ranchos Fire District functioned pretty well for some 35 years. When the economy crashed many agencies had problems. It was a combination of factors that caused the problems.

There is some money in the budget, unused money for grants, two unfilled positions and $165,000 for another firefighter shift in Meadview that's planned.

There's the federal money for the land we cover, and half of Meadview isn't in the fire district, that need to be addressed.

You can't wear two hats, we need to separate fire service from EMS. The vast majority of calls to the LMRFD, 70% are medical calls.

We need volunteer EMT paramedics on the ambulance, and our paid firefighters EMTs or EMT Advanced  as support.

Forcing a firefighter to become a paramedic, is like forcing a construction worker to become nurses aid. Even if you manage to get it accomplished, it won't work well, or be very pretty.

Please Read the Article but also the comments, see what paramedics think about being cross trained.
Thoughts on Forced Fire EMS Cross Training

Okay it's hard to find firefighters here, but we don't need firefighters, we need EMT's. By requiring the EMT's on the ambulance to be firefighters, we pretty much limit our volunteer pool to men.

Lets face it, not many women want to be firefighters. The vast majority of firefighters are men, with less than 4% in the United States being women.

Medicine on the other hand is made up primarily of women, nurses, physicians, OR techs. According to the Journal of Emergency Medical Services women make up about 50% of today's EMS services.

So by requiring the ambulance EMT's to be firefighters we severely limit our volunteer pool. We may have a wealth of experienced women with a medical backgrounds out there who have no interest in being a firefighter. We'll never know unless we ask.

I would change the volunteer EMT policy allowing volunteers from the 2200 square mile ambulance CON, rather than the 144 sm fire district. This would not only give us more volunteers to draw from, but cover the ambulance area better with volunteers spread out.

I would work toward Arizona's new Paramedicine Program where paramedics can do more primary care. By treating chronic conditions at home, checking on surgery patients and changing bandages before the infections and ambulance ride.

It's new, and legislation needs changed so paramedics can bill Medicare and insurance.

I know it's about money, but if we don't put lives first, it will cost us more in human lives, and lawsuits if we continue to have one firefighter show up at fires and serious vehicle accidents.

Please read Why this is so important to me

Unless we train and hire locals who know Dolan Springs and Meadview, we will always be looking for people, because they will come get experience and go on to more calls and more money.

I just believe the people deserve better care.

Jay

It's About Money I Get That.... But the Real Bottom Line is Do People Feel Safe

It's About Money I Get That.... But the Real Bottom Line is Do People Feel Safe? With around 80% of calls for medical services, why require EMT's to be firefighters?

We all want Dolan Springs and Meadview to grow and prosper. One thing we need is for all those tourist who visit and spend money to feel safe.

Until a few weeks ago when people checked the LMRFD web page, it told them the LMRFD had 7 Advanced Life Support ambulances, 4 fire rescue vehicles and lots of paid and volunteer firefighter EMT's and paramedics.

Today it says the LMRFD has 2 ambulances, actually we only have one that's being used.

When someone planning on a visit to the Grand Canyon, especially those with medical problems or children, check on EMS in the area what will they find.

At the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, the NPS has 75 EMT's and paramedics protecting visitors, and River Medical has a full time ambulance in Ashfork.

When they check the West Rim, Dolan Springs, and Meadview and find there's only one ambulance covering the 100 miles from Hoover Dam to the West Rim. That's if it the ambulance isn't gone, or out of service because the firefighters are out on a fire.

With all that's going on in the world today, people are conscious of what law enforcement and emergency services are in the area they're traveling.

Where would you take your family? North Rim lots of NPS rangers, and 75 EMTs, or one part time ambulance?

It's about money, the money we spend to keep people safe, and the money tourist spend in our area.