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200911022009110220091102
November 2nd, 2009
In this Edition:
Around Montana
Benefit for Firefighter Leonard Lundby
Lolo house fire still under investigation
In-wall fire damages Billings home
Celebrate Community: Nashua community digs deep for charities, volunteer firefighters
Follow Up: Former fire chief charged with theft of funds
Downed power line kills animals in northwestern MT
Around the Nation
Hikers in NH must be prepared or pay for rescue
FF Cancer-IAFF Redmond in Los Angeles
Sprinklers, Lies and Politicians
Provisions for Emergency Responders Reinstated
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Around Montana
Benefit for Volunteer Firefighter Leonard Lundby
November 14, 2009 at the Vaughn Volunteer Fire Department at 4 PM.
Spaghetti Dinner - $5/person or $20/family
Live music by Shirley Menghin & Fiddlers
6 PM live and silent auction – over 100 auction items to choose from (including a John Deer riding lawn mower, 5 piece Oak dining room set, and .270 Ruger Rifle)
$5 raffle tickets for 375 No. 1 Ruger H&H Mag. Rifle, $500 Pampered Chef basket, and 2,00 square foot sod with local install)
Donations can be sent to: Stockman Bank c/o: Manchester VFD Savings PO Box 2327 Great Falls, MT 59403
For more information contact: Chief Nate Curtis 788-9339 ncspvfd34@yahoo.com or Andrew Carlson 799-1316 supervolunteer@live.com.
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Lolo house fire still under investigation
Montana’s News Station
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/global/story.asp?s=11417602
Fire investigators are still investigating a fire which broke out in a new home in Lolo on Friday afternoon.
The blaze hit a residence on Sleeman Creek Road, off of Highway 12, at around 4:00 Friday afternoon.
Units from Missoula Rural Fire District and the Florence Fire Department fought the blaze which burned a new home which was under construction.
Missoula Rural Battalion Chief Dan Merritt says the daughter was at home when she heard the breakers pop and got out.
Merritt says they're still investigating the cause, but believe the fire started in the piping for a pellet wood stove.
The damages done by the fire have been estimated at $170,000. There were no injuries reported.
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In-wall fire damages Billings home
By Gazette Staff
http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_1fe1937a-c5d7-11de-aa54-001cc4c002e0.html
A fire that started Friday night in a West End trailer home was started by an electrical problem, according to Billings Fire Department officials.
Battalion Chief Terry Larson said the homeowner was working on the home's electrical box when he heard an odd noise and smoke started coming from the walls a short time later. The fire was reported at the home, at 14 Wild Oak Drive, shortly after 6 p.m.
While there were no visible flames when firefighters arrived, they did have to pull off the skirting on one side of the home's lower half, pulling out insulation in the process, to get to the fire.
Larson said that most of the damage was underneath the home and within its wall, with only a minimal amount of smoke damage inside.
The home's occupant was not injured and it wasn't immediately clear if it is insured.
According to Yellowstone County tax information, it is a two-bedroom, 938-square-foot home built in 1983.
Four engine companies responded to the fire.
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Celebrate Community: Nashua community digs deep for charities, volunteer firefighters
By Brett French of The Gazette Staff
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_5231fcb0-c768-11de-8133-001cc4c03286.html
When Sandy Laumeyer's family home was destroyed by fire in 1983, neighbors brought clothes for her children before the ashes were cold, she recalled.
"When there's somebody in need, people step forward," she said. "I call them the hard-working, big-hearted people of the prairie."
Laumeyer should know. Her house burned again in 1996. Again, neighbors and friends responded. Luckily, no one was seriously injured in either blaze.
Widespread giving
Laumeyer hasn't been the only beneficiary of the community's big heart. The town also throws two annual fund-raisers that have supported charities and the local volunteer fire department.
In August, the town's three-day motorcycle rally raised $3,300 for the Montana Hope Project, a charity run by the Association of Montana Troopers that funds wishes for critically ill children. Last year, it collected $2,200 for the charity.
How can a town of only 300-some souls raise such a large chunk of change?
"They believe in putting back," said Rick Ost, co-owner of the Wagon Wheel Bar, which caters the bike rally. "Everyone up here has had hard times at one time or another, so they probably relate to that."
In September, the town throws its annual dinner and dance fund-raiser for the volunteer fire department. This year the event raised about $2,000, which the town council matched.
"The community appreciates what we do, fighting fires and helping them out," said Ray Yoss, the fire department's chief. "The big thing is they like the gatherings because they're like those we had 30 years ago."
Nashua is a small farming and ranching community located near the confluence of the Milk and Missouri rivers in northeastern Montana, just 16 miles east of Glasgow. Its heritage is rooted in German, Irish and Norwegian families. The biggest employer in town is the K-12 school, which has about 130 students.
Laumeyer, who writes, photographs, prints and distributes the town's weekly newspaper, can list other instances of giving by the community, as well. From November through March, the Lions Club sponsors skating at the civic center. In December, the group has a shopping spree for school children, filling the library with gifts that cost just 25 cents each. All of the presents are donated. The money raised goes back to the high school art club and the local FHA.
Carrying on
Carl Laumeyer, Sandy's son, is a volunteer firefighter and helps organize the motorcycle rally. He said in addition to the charity aspect of the rally, it's also targeted to boost local businesses with an influx of people.
"We're just hoping we can get it big enough to keep people in town for a full three days," he said.
Helping out the community is a concern that runs deep for Carl. He remembers that first house fire that hit three days after Christmas.
"We were lucky we lived where we lived," he said. "Friends and family that cared about us were ready to give."
To pay the townsfolk back, Carl returns the favor whenever he can.
"The only real thing you can do is to give it back," he said. "The best thing to do is give everything you can, every day."
From casseroles when someone's sick or recovering from an injury, to buying winter clothing for needy school children, the residents of the Nashua area always seem willing to pitch in.
"They give to help," said Brent Bacon, manager at the Aglands Co-op.
"When there are people in need, folks come together," Sandy Laumeyer said. "This is just something that happens here all the time. I really think these people deserve recognition for the goodness of their heart."
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Follow Up: Former fire chief charged with theft of funds
By NICHOLAS LEDDEN/Daily Inter Lake
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_25c13608-c69d-11de-b5e6-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=print
The former chief of the Somers Volunteer Fire Department has been charged with embezzling more than $13,000 from department bank accounts.
Robert W. Kienas, 50, pleaded not guilty last month to one count of felony theft, a common scheme, during his arraignment in Flathead County District Court.
Court records show that Kienas stole at least $13,300 between January 2005 and September 2007 by writing checks to himself, writing deposit slips asking for cash back, and making cash withdrawals from a department bank account.
Kienas, who has suffered two serious lung injuries from smoke inhalation while fighting fires, became the Somers Fire Chief in 1999 and served in that position for about six years.
The funds he is accused of misappropriating come from department donations and not from money provided by taxpayers, a representative with the Somers Volunteer Fire Department Association told investigators.
Kienas is accused of writing checks totaling approximately $2,600 on the department's account for personal purchases at area businesses, including grocery stores, restaurants, bars, casinos, convenience stores, and pawn shops.
About another $8,600 of the allegedly embezzled money came from checks cased above and beyond Kienas' $200 monthly stipend, which was granted to cover expenses such as fuel. During the course of the alleged thefts - 2005, 2006, and 2007 - Kienas received $7,150 in legitimate stipend payments.
The rest of allegedly embezzled money was withdrawn from department bank accounts but not used for department purposes.
In May 2006 Kienas is accused of withdrawing $450 in cash from the department's saving account at Flathead Bank and in March 2007 of receiving $100 cash back on a deposit to the same account.
Also in March 2007, prosecutors allege Kienas began withdrawing $2,375 in cash from the department's account at a second bank. Those withdrawals, which ranged between $50 and $600, occurred between March and August 2007.
Kienas' lung injuries led to a heart attack in 1992, ending his employment in construction and forcing him onto oxygen.
Facing $200,000 in medical bills he couldn't pay, Kienas in 1996 declared medical bankruptcy and went on Social Security disability. Despite his injuries, Kienas began training firefighters and rose through the ranks of the Somers Fire Department.
In 1997, Kienas helped set up the Big Mountain Fire Department and also served a stint as its chief.
If convicted, Kienas - who was released on his own recognizance following his initial appearance in Justice Court - faces a maximum of 10 years in a prison and a $50,000 fine.
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Downed power line kills animals in northwestern MT
Associated Press
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_296f10f8-c5d6-11de-a373-001cc4c002e0.html
KALISPELL - Officials say a downed power line near Eureka in northwestern Montana electrocuted more than a dozen animals over a period of months, including a wolf that was "still warm" when it was found earlier this month.
Roger Pitman, operations superintendent at the Lincoln Electric Cooperative, said crews did not know about the situation until Oct. 10, when the dangling power line in the Pinkham Creek drainage south of Eureka was finally knocked out. The carcasses of five whitetail deer, four black bears, two wolves, one coyote and a turkey vulture were found in the area.
"We're just thankful there weren't any two-legged creatures up there, except for the turkey vulture," Pitman said.
Tim Thier, a biologist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said the whitetail deer probably walked into the line first and their carcasses attracted the predators, which were in turn electrocuted.
Thier said he's heard of similar cases of deer being hit by trains and their carcasses luring in predators.
"It's sort of a chain reaction," he said. "But I've never seen it relative to a power line before."
Officials believe a dry tree fell on the high-voltage power line during the summer. All the animals were in varying stages of decomposition, and Pitman said utility crews found a large dead wolf that was "still warm" when they came upon the downed line.
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Around the Nation
Hikers in NH must be prepared or pay for rescue
By NORMA LOVE (AP)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jSyrIdrpWazJyhFzsjeKSaj7NaWAD9BKU71G0
CONCORD, N.H. — Stranded with a sprained ankle on a snow-covered mountain, Eagle Scout Scott Mason put his survival skills to work by sleeping in the crevice of a boulder and jump-starting evergreen fires with hand sanitizer gel.
He put plastic bags inside his boots to keep his feet dry as he sloshed through mountain runoff hidden beneath waist-deep snow. After three cold days last April, rescue crews spotted him hiking toward the summit of Mount Washington, the Northeast's highest mountain.
New Hampshire officials praised his resourcefulness. So grateful was he for his rescuers that Mason, 17, sent $1,000 to the state.
Sometime later, New Hampshire sent him a bill: $25,734.65 for the cost of rescuing him.
New Hampshire is one of eight states with laws allowing billing for rescue costs, but only New Hampshire has made frequent attempts to do so — even strengthening its law last year to allow the suspension of hiking, fishing and driver's licenses of those who don't pay, according to an Associated Press review.
National search and rescue organizations insist just the possibility of being billed is dangerous policy. Hikers may delay calling for help while they think about the cost, and that could put them — and the mostly volunteer corps of rescuers — at greater risk.
Other states with laws allowing them to recoup costs rarely, if ever, enforce them, largely for that reason, the AP found.
"If it had happened in Colorado, he would have been applauded for being able to survive for three days," said Paul "Woody" Woodward, president of Colorado's Alpine Rescue Team. "New Hampshire is way out on their own on this one."
New Hampshire officials counter that being properly prepared — not the size of the scout's bill — should be the message about visiting wilderness areas. And, fish and game officials say, many of the state's trailheads are posted with signs warning hikers they may be billed for rescue costs if they aren't properly prepared.
Mason, now an 18-year-high school senior, from Halifax, Mass., has hired a lawyer to try to negotiate a settlement. Officials said he was found to be negligent because he veered off the marked path, was unprepared for melting snow that made a shortcut perilous and went up the mountain with an injured ankle, not down.
The bill included more than $24,000 for a helicopter and labor provided by state fish and game officers. Volunteers provided their time at no charge.
Three states besides New Hampshire — Hawaii, Oregon and Maine — have general laws allowing agencies to bill for rescues. Only Maine has attempted to recoup money a handful of times and the bills were never paid. California, Vermont, Colorado and Idaho have laws allowing state agencies to bill in limited circumstances, but the laws are rarely enforced — and when they are, draw a firestorm of protest from search and rescue groups.
Two years ago, the fire department in Golden, Colo., rescued a hiker from Kansas who had sprained his ankle and later billed him for $5,135. The outcry from national search and rescue groups influenced the city to change its policy and settle with the hiker for 10 percent of the bill.
Only New Hampshire has consistently billed people. Last year, lawmakers increased the likelihood of being billed when they lowered the legal standard from reckless to negligent to make it easier to collect.
Records obtained by The Associated Press from a Freedom of Information Act request found that New Hampshire spent $413,543 on 275 rescue missions over the past two years. The state issued 16 bills for rescues totaling $41,435 — with Mason's $25,000 bill the largest. The state spent far more, $59,426, on a December 2007 search that was not billed. In that case, the body of the 70-year-old hunter was found four months later. His family was not billed.
"We're not going out there with the intent to bill everyone," insists Fish and Game Maj. Timothy Acerno.
Policies vary across the country on penalizing people who ignore weather warnings, don't carry flashlights on long hikes, fail to leave itineraries, ski out of bounds or are otherwise unprepared or act irresponsibly.
If Mason had gotten lost in a National Park, his rescue would have been free, said David Barna, chief of public affairs for the National Park Service.
New Hampshire officials stress they only bill those who are negligent.
Acerno said that experienced search and rescue volunteers and fish and game staff consider what a reasonable person would have done and measure the person's actions against a hiker responsibility code that calls for knowing the terrain and conditions, taking proper gear, leaving an itinerary and turning back if conditions change. The attorney general's office makes the final determination.
Hannah Groom, a 21-year-old college student from Cumberland, Maine, learned the hard way.
While grateful for rescuers' help, Groom said the $3,360 bill sent to her and a friend was steep for one night on New Hampshire's Baldface Mountain in May. The two had planned a day hike, but took a wrong trail. She blames confusing trail markers.
"I do not believe that charging two young adults such a high fee for a mistake caused by poor trail markers is warranted," she wrote The AP in an e-mail.
Acerno said they were billed because they didn't tell anyone where they planned to hike and didn't have proper equipment, especially a flashlight.
Seasoned winter hiker John Winship, 46, of Boxford, Mass., paid the state $4,000 instead of his $1,479 bill after spending four days on Mount Washington last March when he missed his trail by 50 feet in a snowstorm. The third night out, he was getting frostbite.
"I was so grateful I got out of it. I have 10 fingers and 10 toes," he said of the experience.
Allen Clark, whose volunteer Pemigewasset Rescue Team participated in the Mason search, believes the punishment should be fixed dollar fines, not bills for state workers' time.
"This is an essential service the state should adequately fund," he said.
Woodward, of Colorado, said New Hampshire's image has been badly tarnished.
"If people are going to come to New Hampshire and go take hikes and make a mistake and get billed, they aren't going to come to New Hampshire," he said.
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FF Cancer-IAFF Redmond in Los Angeles
Thanks Billy G from The Secret List @ www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
Reservations are now being accepted for the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) Fundraiser Dinner/Gala "Fight Cancer With Fire". The event will be held on November 10, 2009 during the IAFF's "Redmond Symposium" at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, Los Angeles.
The event will start at 6:00 p.m. and guests will be greeted by the original "Squad 51" from the 1970's hit television show "Emergency" proudly on display. Opening ceremonies will include a performance by the California Professional Firefighters "Pipe and Drums". Los Angeles news anchor and T.V. personality on the "Jay Leno Show" Rick Chambers will serve as the event emcee.
The FCSN will present the 2009 "Spirit of Debbi Wood Award" given to the FCSN member who displays the passion and hard work demonstrated by Debbi Wood as she fought her cancer. The 2009 "Dallas Jones Memorial Award" will also be given to the fire service member who promotes cancer awareness and provides assistance to those fighting the many effects of this disease. Dallas Jones who lost his battle with cancer in 2008 was an icon in the fire service.
The evening's entertainment will begin with a performance by the "Alley Cats" followed by the comedy of special guest "Paul Rodriguez". Rodriquez is nationally known for his stand up comedy and roles on television and on the big screen. Silent auction items will be up for bid and Paul will be assisted by the beautiful Audrina Patridge during a live auction of selected items. Don't forget to purchase raffle tickets and have the opportunity to walk away with incredible prizes including the all new Nintendo Wii game "Real Hero Firefighter" and meet the design team from Epicenter studios, a 46" HD flat panel T.V. will also be one of the many incredible prizes.
Reservations are encouraged as the event will sell out soon, you can make reservations by visiting:
http://firefightercancersupport.org/index.cfm?Section=1&pagenum=219&titles=0
For those who plan to spend the evening a block of rooms have been set aside. The Hyatt Regency hotel is sold out; but, special arrangements have been made with the InterContinental Hotel (2151 Avenue Of The Stars, Century City). The rooms are held under the IAFF Redmond Symposium name; when making your hotel reservations please use their name. The reservation telephone number for the InterContinental Hotel is (310) 284-6500.
If you have questions or need further assistance, please contact Event Coordinator Tom Knerl at (213) 500-6700.
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Sprinklers, Lies and Politicians
Thanks Billy G from The Secret List @ www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
With just a few days left until election day, 2009, there are the usual thoughts of who is running for what, what their motivations are and how THEY will change, improve or just not worsen things.
Sometimes we wonder if good, grass roots folks like these are the ones who need to be in charge:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltFbLd_kfIk&feature=related or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKc2Ld_T0tw
Of course, as Tip O'Neill said: "All politics is local" --be it the above video, or the below situation.
This situation concerns a young volunteer Firefighter who is running for office in a Pennsylvania township. He has taken a positive stand on residential sprinklers. He has the support of Career and Volunteer Firefighters in all political parties. The PA Professional FF's Association, an affiliate of the IAFF, supports his stand. Here is his website:
http://www.votebrazunas.com
Take a look under ISSUES.
In looking for anything to cause panic and win an election, his opponent is attacking him on this issue. Take a look HERE: http://tredyffrinpolitics.blogspot.com (Click on the ad)
Given that the election is November 3rd, I'm not sure what can be done to get the facts out that quickly, but their "last minute" attack ads are playing off the same old losing home builders' lame charges that fire sprinklers will greatly increase the cost of housing, require towns to hire more employees, will start "squirting water" for no reason and on and on. Name it-they will say it in order to win-no matter what the cost-no matter the truth or not.
We are passing this on because this won't be the last time that some desperate candidates, perhaps supported by home builders associations, will try this tactic. We are also passing it on to see if you can help. If you have any ideas, we know Eamon would be interested in hearing them. He can be reached at: electeamon@yahoo.com
This isn't a Democrat or Republican issue. Just like those who claim that communities can "live" with fire staffing cuts, firehouse shut downs, brown outs, layoff's and related issues without looking at the facts, they will say anything to win. It's an issue, like in so many elections this week-of fact vs lies. It's once again another opportunity for us to witness lying politicians who are all wet-but for all the wrong reasons.
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Provisions for Emergency Responders Reinstated
President Signs the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009
Fairfax, Va., Oct. 30, 2009... Important source-patient notification language for emergency responders was reinstated this morning when President Obama signed into law the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. The IAFC and its EMS Section worked in a collaborative manner with the International Association of Fire Fighters, the Advocates for EMS and others to restore this important language.
“This legislation is so instrumental to the safety and wellbeing of our firefighters and paramedics, especially during critical times such as this when we see a rise in emerging diseases,” remarked Chief Garry Ludwig, EMS Section chair, upon learning of today’s signing.
Section 13 of the new law reinstates language that was removed in 2006. The new language requires emergency-response employers to have a designated officer for infection or exposure control to respond to requests from employees about exposures to communicable diseases and to obtain the disease status of the source patients in those exposures from the medical facility providing treatment. These notification provisions also provide coverage for state and local government employees in states without state occupational safety and health plans.
One addition to the new language allows the secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to temporally suspend the notification provisions if the secretary deems it necessary and “as the circumstances reasonably require” in the event of a national public-health emergency. The secretary is required to notify Congress of such action and publish in the Federal Register a notice of the suspension.
The IAFC will work with HHS to help best define such circumstances and ensure emergency responders receive the necessary source-patient information they need for personnel safety.
In 1990, the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act (P.L. 101-381) was enacted with emergency response provisions focusing on emergency-response workforce safety. The notification language remained unchanged for 16 years until 2006. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-415) removed these pertinent sections when the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee decided to eliminate programs that had never been funded or reexamined in the previous two reauthorizations. This is noted in the applicable section of the committee report (H. Report 109-695) that accompanied H.R. 6143.
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