Shelly Moore Capito an Honorary Firefighter
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Congresswoman Capito is made Honorary Firefighter
Congresswoman Capito was invited in April to be recognized as a staunch supporter of the fire department. Working in conjunction with Chief Parsons she has secured $330,000.00 since 2004.
"ST. ALBANS FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES APPROVAL FOR THREE NEW POSITIONS
After ten years in the making the department will be increasing the staff by three new firefighter positions. This will be the first increase in staff since the early 1970's even though call volume has increased 800% as well as the diversity in the types of responses. At a recent City Council Meeting and Budget Hearings the City Council provided the necessary funding for three new positions. At a time when other cities are laying off their firefighters and police officers the City of St. Albans recognizes the need to provide safety for its residents. Chief Parsons was very pleased with the recent vote and will begin the process of hiring immediately.
FREE SMOKE ALARM GIVEAWAY
Smoke Alarms will be provided to city residents and installed for free while supplies last. Call 304-727-2253 to schedule an appointment. Smoke Alarms greatly improve your chances of surviving a fire through early detection and notification to you. Contrary to what the movie industry shows through movies and television shows the smoke will not wake you up, most are killed by poisonous particles of combustion and you never wake up.
CARBON MONOXIDE THE SILENT KILLER
Often called the silent killer, carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless,
colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural
gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. In the home,
heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel can be sources of
carbon monoxide.
FACTS
A person can be poisoned by a small amount of CO over a longer period of
time or by a large amount of CO over a shorter amount of time. In 2005, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 61,100 non fire CO incidents in which carbon monoxide was found, or an average of seven calls per hour.
Ø CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
Ø Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement and mounting height.
Ø Choose a CO alarm that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
Ø Call your local fire department’s non-emergency number to find out what number to call if the CO alarm sounds.
Ø Test CO alarms at least once a month; replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Ø If the audible trouble signal sounds, check for low batteries. If the battery is low, replace it. If it still sounds, call the fire
department.
Ø If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from a fresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel.
Ø If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Do not run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not covered with snow
Ø During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of snow build-up.
Ø A generator should be used in a well-ventilated location outdoors away from windows, doors and vent openings.
Ø Gas or charcoal grills can produce CO — only use outside.
Take Appropriate Action:
Ø Open the windows and doors to ventilate
Ø Assess the medical condition of the occupants
Ø if necessary, call the fire department
In most cases because of the low alarm threshold required by UL 2034, there is no need to call the fire department if the
residence is immediately ventilate and appropriate service personnel are called to investigate the source of the CO.
By the time service personnel or fire department responders arrive, CO may no longer be present because the occupant
took appropriate action by opening windows and doors. If any occupants are suffering symptoms of CO poisoning
call 911 for emergency medical services.
Symptoms of CO poisoning
CO enters the body through breathing. CO poisoning can be confused with flu symptoms, food poisoning and other illnesses. Some symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, light headedness or headaches. High levels of CO can be fatal, causing death within minutes.
The concentration of CO, measured in parts per million (ppm) is a determining factor in the symptoms for an average, healthy adult.
Source: NFPA's Fire Protection Handbook, 20th Edition.
Remember a working smoke alarm in the home can save your life.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that kills without warning.
It claims the lives of hundreds of people every year and makes thousands more
ill. Many household items including gas- and oil-burning furnaces, portable
generators, and charcoal grills produce this poison gas. Following these
important steps can keep your family safe.
CO Detectors
• Install battery-operated CO detectors near every sleeping area in your home.
• Check CO detectors regularly to be sure they are functioning properly.
Oil & Gas Furnaces
• Have your furnace inspected every year.
Portable Generators
• Never use a generator inside your home or garage, even if doors and
windows are open.
• Only use generators outside, more than 20 feet away from your home, doors,
and windows.
PRESS RELEASE, "St. Albans Fire Department Receives Training Equipment Grant"
The St. Albans Fire Department received word from the National Auto Dealers Association (NADA) that it was a recipient of a C.P.R. Equipment Grant worth $1,500.00. Mr. Stephens from Stephens Auto in Danville as well As Ruth Lemon, President of NADA presented the equipment to the department on December 9, 2011. The equipment will be used to teach firefighters and police officers as well as community members.
PRESS RELEASE "St. Albans Fire Department switches to UHF Radio Trunking System"
The St. Albans Fire Department on June 10, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. changed the way that it receives and handles emergencies regarding its emergency radio frequencies. If you had been wondering why you cannot hear the department anymore on a scanner it is because they are now part of the statewide trunking radio system. With this type of communication you cannot be heard by a typical emergency radio scanner.
After 56 million dollars, 130 radio towers the statewide radio network is finally operational. After years of delays St. Albans was permitted to start broadcasting its emergencies on the UHF P-25 system. Chief Parsons stated, “It’s about time”. “I never thought I would see the day before I retired that we would be using technology that had existed in other parts of the country for many years”. The new system designed after 9-11 is part of the National Emergency Response Plan that allows all responding types of agencies the ability to communicate. This system is a direct result of the attacks of 9-11 and the inability of police, ambulance, fire and other emergency services to talk to each other. The system works similar to cell phones and will pass the first responder off from tower to tower as he moves through the region. Previously if you traveled to far from your radio tower you had no ability to talk. The radio system seems to be functioning quite well the chief stated and other emergency agencies in the Kanawha Valley are suppose to be brought online in a graduated process. It is the hope of Kanawha County Emergency Management to have all municipal police and fire departments on line using the trunking system by the end of 2011.
The system throughout the state was paid for with numerous federal grants from 2006 to present. The fire department issued radios valued at $75,000.00 were paid for with a federal grant from the late Senator Robert Byrd, a FIRE Act Grant and with city funds.
Electrical Fire on June 13, 2011 Provides Lesson.
The St. Albans Fire Department responded on Monday, June 13th to a reported house fire to find the home owner attempting to put out an electric fire in his electric service box. The family was home at the time and was alerted by the sounds of something popping and cracking. Chief Parsons stated that the family was very lucky in that they were home at the time and discovered the fire before it had spread and became too large, damage was estimated at $4,000.00. The home owner did a good job of using a dry chemical extinguisher to put the fire out, the chief said. During the investigation to determine what caused the fire it was discovered that the service box was overloaded and pulling too many amperage for what it was designed. The homeowner had stated a few days earlier he had a new larger air conditioner installed. Mr. Charles Roberts of the St. Albans Building Department was notified and he too concurred with the fire chief that the electric circuit box had many different issues and code violations.
The chief gave the advice that when having work done at your house there are steps you can do to protect your house and family. Ensure that the contractor has a valid business license and they have attained a permit from the city building department. The building department verifies contractors training and certification before being allowed to do work in the city. Ask contractors for references of former jobs they completed. Check with the state attorney’s office to see if they have had complaints filed against them for previous bad work. Verify that they have liability insurance in case they do more damage than repairs. The Chief stated that years ago he hired someone to cut down a tree and they cut it down on his house. After the incident it was discovered they had no business license or insurance and he was stuck with the repair cost. Never accept work done by someone who says they will do it on the side separate from the company they work for. If they do something improper and cause a fire they are not protected from liability by their company and therefore you have no recourse except to sue the individual.
PRESS RELEASE
The St. Albans Fire Department has released their response statistics for 2010. Fire Chief Steve Parsons says the department continues to increase its work load every year. “Unlike when I first started in this business in 1978, people now call the fire department for more things than just fires.” St. Albans Fire Department also provides emergency medical responses in the city as well as automobile accidents, hazardous material leaks, water rescue, and other types of responses. Chief Parsons said, “When you don’t know who else to call, people call for the fire department to help.” In 2010 the department responded to 1,281 rescue calls in which 111 where auto accidents 1,154 medical emergencies and 16 other types of rescues. There were 71 fires, 119 investigations, and 86 fire alarm responses, 50 requests for mutual aid to neighboring departments and 54 general requests for non-classified assistance. In all there were overall 1,652 calls for help. The peak hour that citizens requested help was 1:00 p.m. In the past the trend has been to peak around noon and at dinner time, around 6:00 p.m. since the department has been keeping statistical records, however, emergencies happen all hours of the night as well. Chief Parsons said that the data indicates that the Central Fire Station near the Loop responded to 798 emergencies while Highlawn Station on Walnut Street responded to 750. Both stations responded to the same emergency 104 times in 2010.
Chief Parsons was very proud of the fact that the small department of 19 full-time and 11 part-time has maintained its outstanding ISO Insurance rating of a Class 3. Chief Parsons stated that there were only 5 fire departments in West Virginia with that rating out of the over 400 in the state. The closer you are to a Class 1, the lower the city homeowner and businesses pay in insurance premiums. There are only approximately 36 Class 1 departments in the U.S., however, none are in West Virginia. In 2010 the department had over 3915 man-hours in training.
The St. Albans Fire Department continues to provide community education on the dangers of fire to seniors, businesses and schools at the elementary level. During 2010 the department provided instruction to over 2,500 students and adults on how to properly call 911, Stop Drop and Roll, Home Evacuation Plans, Fire Extinguisher Use, Kitchen Safety and Outdoor Burning. The fire department participated in the Kanawha Valley fire prevention program Life Safe for the twentieth year. Life Safe is a non-profit community organization that promotes safety in businesses through education and building codes. Businesses are required to conduct two fire training sessions and two evacuation drills annually. The building is also subject to a building code inspection and is required to post an evacuation plan.
The St. Albans Fire Department continues to make strides in improvement regarding the quality as well as the overall delivery of our service. I have always seen our victims of tragedy as our customers and it is our responsibility and duty to deliver the best product we can in relation to the amount of resources we are provided. You can find out more about the department at their website at www.stalbansfd.com.
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: March 29, 2011
DATE OF INCIDENT: March 28, 2011, 9:36 p.m.
INCIDENT TYPE: Rescue from Tug Boat
On March 28th at 9:36 p.m. the St. Albans Fire Department responded to a call for help from the Tug Boat “Reliant”, an AEP owned tug that pushes coal barges to the area power plants. A employee had fell and broke his leg and they could not get him to shore. The St. Albans Fire Department which moors a water rescue boat at Lou Wendell Marine year round was used to transport firefighters and Kanawha County Paramedic Jeff Holmes to the tug. Once the patient was stabilized and packaged he was transported to shore to an awaiting ambulance where he was taken to CAMC General Division. His injuries were not immediate life threatening.
While completing the emergency regarding the tug boat employee the fire department received another call at 10:20 p.m. that there was a possible jumper on the Nitro St. Albans Bridge. As the fire department prepared for what might be a water rescue emergency the St. Albans Police Department found the possible suicide jumper in the middle of the bridge. He was taken into custody but later released and transported to his residence on Barrett Street.
The fire department which employs 11 water rescue personnel is equipped and trained to handle all types of water rescue emergencies. The fire department began performing these duties in 1980’s after pleasure boating started booming in the Kanawha Valley. What started out as rescue divers has developed into swift water rescue and ice rescue as well. Firefighters train year around in diving, ice rescue and swift water training procedures. Fire department personnel have assisted all over West Virginia in the past whenever flooding occurs and are vital to the St. Albans area whenever an emergency occurs.
WATER RESCUE BOAT
With two state grants and other state funding the fire department purchased a custom designed water rescue boat at a cost of $31,000.00. The boat designed by our own Lou Wendell Marine has greatly improved our capability and reliability. The new boat has a motor three times the size of the older one. The new boat is wider and six foot longer. The department purchased and installed a crane lifting system to remove potential victims from the water as well as any heavy objects such as evidence recovered for the police department. The department upgraded all the communications and sonar equipment as well. The boat was placed in service a few days before Riverfest and was a much needed improvement. This boat is docked year round at Lou Wendell’s at no cost to the fire department
