DECEMBER 2014 FIRELINE

FROM THE DESK OF THE CHIEF T H O M A S M. B I L L I N G T O N

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 2

BIRTHDAYS 3

BATTALION 1 4

BATTALION 3 5

TRAINING 6

ANNOUNCEMENTS 7

THE F IRELINE NEWSLETTER

FAUQUIER COUNTY

DEPARTMENT OF FIRE, RESCUE

& EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Phone: 540-422-8800

www.fauquierfirerescue.org

“What's in your Bucket?"

In “Go for Gold: Inspiration to Increase Your Leadership Impact” by

John Maxwell, the author expresses that every good leader

continuously holds two buckets: in one hand is a bucket of water,

the other holds a bucket of gasoline. Empowering leaders know

when to use each bucket. Disruptive leaders do not. The way you

use each bucket is the way you influence individuals, groups, and

situations.

When a wise leader comes upon a situation that’s volatile and

tense, he/she doesn’t pour gasoline upon it! That’s a situation

where cooler heads need to prevail. This situation calls for a

bucket of water, so that you can put that fire out. Imagine the

damage that’s created when a disruptive, dysfunctional, or down-

right MEAN leader comes into a volatile setting and just adds to it!

That is pouring gasoline on a fire, and it won’t be long before it’s

worse than ever.

On the other hand, not all fires need to be put out. We’ve probably

all seen times when a person in the organization gets really

excited about a new vision, new challenges, or new opportunities;

only to have someone “pour water” all over their aspirations. It

may even have happened to you! That’s when an empowering

leader uses her bucket of gasoline. It is a situation that calls for

encouragement and enthusiasm!

Everyone has both buckets in their possession. Great leaders just

know when to use the right one!

FAUQUIER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF FIRE , RESCUE & EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

DECEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 2

EM E RG E N CY MA N AG EM EN T B Y : S A R A M A K E L Y

Check or have a mechanic check the following items on your car:

Antifreeze levels - ensure they are sufficient to avoid freezing.

Battery and ignition system - should be in top condition and battery terminals should be clean.

Brakes - check for wear and fluid levels.

Exhaust system - check for leaks and crimped pipes and repair or replace as necessary. Carbon

monoxide is deadly and usually gives no warning.

Fuel and air filters - replace and keep water out of the system by using additives and maintaining a

full tank of gas. A full tank will keep the fuel line from freezing.

Heater and defroster - ensure they work properly.

Lights and flashing hazard lights - check for serviceability.

Oil - check for level and weight. Heavier oils congeal more at low temperatures and do not lubricate

as well.

Thermostat - ensure it works properly.

Windshield wiper equipment - repair any problems and maintain proper washer fluid level.

Install good winter tires - Make sure the tires have adequate tread. All-weather radials are usually ade-

quate for most winter conditions. However, some jurisdictions require that to drive on their roads, vehi-

cles must be equipped with chains or snow tires with studs.

Update the emergency kits in your vehicles with:

a shovel

windshield scraper

and small broom

flashlight

battery powered

radio

extra batteries

water

snack food

matches

emergency flares

extra hats, socks,

and mittens

first aid kit

pocket knife

medications

blanket(s)

tow chain or rope

road salt and sand

booster cables

distress flags

DECEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 3

12/03—Chief Randall

12/11—Terry Graham

12/28—Kerri O’Brien

12/31—Clifton Frederick

Be Safe during the Holiday Season!

Follow these important safety tips:

Holiday Trees

Place your tree away from fireplaces, heaters and other

heat sources.

Don’t use candles on or near the tree.

If you have a live tree, keep it in a sturdy base filled with

water. Check the water level every day.

Safely dispose of your tree before it becomes dangerously

dry. Never burn the tree or tree parts in your fireplace.

Holiday Lights

Use “UL” approved lights.

Examine all indoor and outdoor lights for frayed

cords and replace if necessary.

Lights should not touch combustible materials.

"Indoor" lights should never be used outdoors.

Avoid using extension cords, but if you do, follow

instructions carefully.

Do not overload electrical circuits such as wall

outlets and extension cords. Use a circuit strip.

Holiday Gift Wrap

Keep papers, bows and trims

away from heat sources such as fire-

places, space heaters, and radiators.

Never burn gift wrappings in your

fireplace.

Fireplaces and Wood Stoves

Have chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned by a certified

chimney specialist.

Leave glass doors open while burning a fire to prevent creosote

buildup.

Install a stovepipe thermometer to help monitor flue temperature.

DECEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 4

Let’s Get Ahead of the Fire!

Staying in good physical condition is a challenge no matter what may be happening in our

lives, but during the holidays it can be downright the last thing we want to do. The good

news is that most folks who choose the fire service as a career are “take the bull by the

horns”, type “A” personalities that attack change. The bad news is, no one ages

backwards. We need this for our career, our families, and frankly to enjoy life after

retirement. All of us can decrease the chance for injury, enhance our lifestyles, and heal

more efficiently with exercise just 30 minutes per day, 5 times per week. Yes, this requires

commitment to not only exercise but diet as well. So, keeping the end of the journey in

mind with first steps, I propose a two stage approach this holiday. #1: Start today, during

the holidays. That can be the hardest time to do it but we all are a rare breed indeed that

faces challenges each shift, we got this! #2: Reduce your portions by 1/3 and start a fit for

life regime. More meals per day of smaller portions help to metabolize fat and keep the

pounds away. Stretching, walking, running, pushups, air squats, and core strengthening

exercises will have you well ahead of those folks who use the New Year as their

benchmark. It takes 21 days to create a habit, let’s give ourselves a gift before Santa

comes calling. Not a sermon, just a suggestion. Be safe and have a great Christmas!

B A T T A L I O N 1 B Y : T E C H N I C I A N K R I E G

Technician Dodson and family

Technician Wood’s

newest edition

Battalion 1 also added some

new additions to their families

last month! Congrats!

DECEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 5

The month of November is already behind us and we are

only a few short weeks away from the holiday season and

the New Year. The Southern Battalion is getting ready for

the end of the year and the start of a new one. As the

year comes to an end we look back at what we have

learned and accomplished and look forward to the chang-

es of the New Year.

We would like to thank Technician Wilson and Technician

Neese for their DFREM presence at this year’s Turkey

Trot. They showed that although DFREM’s participation

was not as high as last year, we were still there. Techni-

cian Wilson even got himself a ribbon (ask him for more

details).

Lastly we would like to congratulate the Catlett Volunteer

Fire Department for the arrival of their new Rescue En-

gine which is anticipated to be in service around the first

part of the New Year.

T H E S O U T H E R N V O I C E B Y : B C L I C H T Y

Tractor trailer accident

at Elk Run Road and

Bristersburg Road

Technician Wilson learns how to

start a burner on an old stove

Big vehicle fire

on Daffan Drive

DECEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 6

The holiday season is upon us and it seems winter is coming early this year. With cold

weather setting in on us, take some time and make sure you are prepared for the cold

weather. As everyone is settling in and adjusting to their new assignments, we in the north

have been busy training, inventorying, cleaning around the stations and visiting new

construction sites. Calls in the north have been business as usual; auto accidents, fly outs,

fires, and medicals. Staffing at 4 and 11 have swapped days with Station 11 now being

staffed Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and Station 4 now being staffed Tuesday and

Thursday. Companies 3 and 5 are still anxiously awaiting the arrival of their new units.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

N O R T H E R N L I G H T S B Y : T E C H N I C I A N T R O I L O

DECEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 7

T R A I N I N G D E PA R T M E N T

There’s a lot going on in the training department lately! Check out the photos below

from various events and training opportunities from last month. There are photos

from the new protocol training, bailout training, the department update with Chief

Billington, and some photos taken at our new SIM Lab!

DECEMBER 2014 FIRELINE 8

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Fauquier Alert Network (FAN)

Fauquier County Emergency Notification System

Effective July 1st, 2014 - Fauquier County has launched a new emergency notification system, Fauquier Alert Net-work (FAN) provided by Everbridge. Everbridge is a web based service that enables the County to provide mass no-tification quickly and easily. Notifications may include evacuations, missing person alerts, hazardous materials inci-dent, flooding, and other emergency incidents where rapid and accurate notification is essential for life safety. Mes-sages are delivered by phone call, text, and email. To ensure you receive emergency notifications, sign up by clicking on the image link below.

Remington Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department’s annual Toys-for-

Tots breakfast buffet will be December 14th from 8 AM until noon. Bring

a new, unwrapped toy and eat for free! All toys go to the Marines Toys-

for-Tots program. Remington filled seven boxes last year, and has a goal

to fill at least ten this year! Also, Santa will be there from 9:30 AM to

10:30 AM, so be sure to stop by.