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200911052009110520091105ÿþ<div class="content-box"> <h5>November 5rd, 2009</h5> In this Edition: Around Montana <a href="#arson">Arson suspected in early morning fire in Butte</a> <a href="#gallatin">Gallatin National Forest fire project postponed for grizzly study</a> <a href="#vaughn">Vaughn house fire</a> <a href="#juniper">Juniper bush catches fire at Capital High</a> <a href="#university">University of Montana student injured in fall from dormitory roof</a> <a href="#fire">FIRE training in Fairfield</a> Around the Nation <a href="#penn">PENN. FIREFIGHTER DIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY</a> <a href="#naftd">NAFTD Grant Writing Program Reporting Requirements</a> <a href="#utah">Utah Refinery Blast Damages Homes</a> =========== Around Montana <a name="arson">Arson suspected in early morning fire in Butte By John Grant Emeigh http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2009/11/04/breaking/hjjaiijficjeeb.txt Arson appears to be the cause of a fire that destroyed a garage and a shed to a residence on South Dakota Street early Wednesday, according to the Butte police department. The fire was reported just after 2 a.m. at 420 S. Dakota St. Sheriff John Walsh said the blaze is being investigated as possible arson. The fire destroyed the single-car garage and spread to a nearby shed, which it leveled. Firefighters stopped the flames from spreading to an occupied mobile home on the lot, according to Butte Fire Services Director Jeff Miller. The residents of the mobile home were safely evacuated, and were able to return to their home after the fire was under control. One firefighter was injured at the scene after he stepped into a hole in the yard and twisted his ankle, Miller said. The firefighter was treated and released. =========== <a name="gallatin">Gallatin National Forest fire project postponed for grizzly study By Gazette Staff http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_dd602eaa-c98a-11de-9c0d-001cc4c03286.html The Gallatin National Forest has withdrawn its Lonesome Wood Vegetation Management Project Decision to further analyze the project's effects on grizzly bears given the species' recent relisting as an endangered species. The project is located 12 miles northwest of West Yellowstone along the Hebgen Lake Road. The vegetation removal would reduce fire danger near residences. It would also reduce vegetation along the Hebgen Lake Road evacuation route by thinning trees and removing dead and down fuel. The project would also help maintain and enhance aspen stands. The decision called for about 3,100 acres of treatment including thinning, slashing and burning. Withdrawing the decision will allow the Forest Service to refine the project to meet the requirements now in place for grizzly bears under the Endangered Species Act. =========== <a name="vaughn">Vaughn house fire Thanks Butch W Vaughn, Gore Hill, Fort Shaw and Sun River fire fighters were tied up on a mobile home with attachments between 2:40 am and 7:00am this morning. A family of three was displaced. The fire is reported to have started on or near the front porch and the structure was 50 percent involved by the time firefighters were able to get water on it. The cause is under investigation by the Cascade County Sheriffs Office. =========== <a name="juniper">Juniper bush catches fire at Capital High By ANGELA BRANDT of the Independent Record http://www.helenair.com/news/local/article_275c4b8c-c9d7-11de-89ba-001cc4c002e0.html Firefighters made quick work of a burning bush at Capital High School on Wednesday afternoon. A juniper bush on the corner of the student parking lot was reported on fire about 3:45 p.m., according to Helena Fire Battalion Chief Kevin Kelly. Although initial reports indicated there were cars in the area of the blaze, the vehicles had been removed by the time firefighters arrived on scene. The cause of the fire has not been determined. A school resource officer will investigate, Kelly said. =========== <a name="university">University of Montana student injured in fall from dormitory roof By CHELSI MOY of the Missoulian http://www.missoulian.com/news/local/article_642f81ec-c972-11de-b462-001cc4c002e0.html A University of Montana student accidentally fell from the roof of a five-story dormitory on campus Wednesday morning, landing on a flat roof and suffering minor injuries. Emergency responders received a call just after 10 a.m. of a "naked man" on the roof of Miller Hall. In reality, it was a UM student wearing only his boxer shorts. The student, who lives on the fifth floor of the co-ed dorm, was returning from the restroom when he realized he was locked out of his room. Rather than finding a resident assistant with a master key, the student crawled out a nearby study lounge window, walked the ridge of the slanted roof, and planned to re-enter through his dorm-room window - a relatively short distance. Only, he slipped and fell off the roof, said Capt. Jim Lemcke, director of the UM Office of Public Safety. It appeared from marks in the frost on the roof that the student lost his footing or grip, Lemcke said. The student was conscious when emergency responders arrived, but complained of neck pain and was bleeding slightly, said Capt. Steve Paske of Missoula City Fire. Medical responders backboarded the student, but were unable to safely carry him off the roof, so firefighters summoned a ladder truck to help. The student was transported to the hospital by ambulance. Authorities would not release his name. UM public safety officers closed the block of Arthur Avenue that runs in front of Miller Hall for about half an hour. Emergency responders cleared the scene by 10:45 a.m. The UM Office of Public Safety is still investigating the incident, pending an interview with the student. =========== <a name="fire">FIRE training in Fairfield By Darryl L. Flowers http://www.fairfieldsuntimes.com/articles/2009/11/04/news/doc4af1b5e670638107214510.txt Last week you could not help but notice the bright red tractor-trailer sized mobile fire training facility parked at the Fairfield swimming pool. The portable fire simulator, owned jointly by Cascade and Lewis and Clark counties, is made available to Teton County for training for a week each year. Teton County earned access to the custom built rig by contributing money towards ts construction. The trailer, built in New Jersey by Kidde, can be set up to resemble a two story home, complete with stairs. There are two fire points; in the front area a burner is set up to resemble a gas fired furnace. In the rear area a burner is set up that looks like a small piece of furniture. The rig was built at a cost of $455,000. The fire departments in Cascade, Teton and Lewis and Clark counties contributed 10% matching funds. The remainder was raised through a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Administration) grant. The FEMA grant was spearheaded by Leonard Lundby, who is with the Manchester station of the Vaughn Volunteer Fire Department (see related story on this page). The burners are fueled by two large propane tanks, holding a total of 200 gallons of fuel. The facility is fitted with sensors that constantly feed data to a computer that allows the operator to customize the simulation as well as keep an eye on conditions in the trailer. To make the experience more realistic, the operator can create artificial smoke. There are no lights in the simulator area. Last Thursday night the Fairfield firefighters were using just the front portion. The exercises began with a team climbing the steps at the end of the simulator, crawling to reach the door. The town s pumper truck was on site to supply water during the mock event. A team of two firefighters made their way from the door down a set of stairs. Once the fire has been ignited, the temperature in the metal trailer rises rapidly. Typically, the ceiling may reach upwards of 700 degrees. In the training, the firefighters wear full gear and face mask, along with air tanks. A team is inside, behind a metal barrier, to monitor the activity and to be ready in case aid is needed. An ambulance is on standby at the site. The fire may only be active two or three minutes. In that short span of time the interior of the trailer becomes unbearable if protection is not used. Standing up you notice the heat as it rises towards the ceiling; the eyes sting from the by-products of the flames. Fire shoots out from the main burner as another burner simulates flames leaping across the roof. Without training or protection it is easy to become disoriented. You quickly realize the potential life saving education this training offers. Once the firefighters begin to put water on the blaze, the temperature begins to drop rapidly. In a matter of seconds, the fire is extinguished. The team pulls out the fire hose, making it ready for the next crew. Between simulations, the firemen gather to discuss the experience. Soon another team is assembled, and they begin the simulation all over again. Fairfield Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ben Rhodes said the training offered by the simulator was invaluable. Not too often are we able to train by fighting a live fire with flashovers , said the chief. Flashbacks occur when the oxygen in the air reaches a certain temperature and explodes from spontaneous combustion, a situation that can injure or kill a firefighter. Jason Rosenbaum, who, along with Merv Carper, was running the simulator Thursday night, said the trailer offered real world training. We are able to change the circumstances the firefighters experience in the trailer. We can alter the size of the flame, how long it takes to put it down. With the program we can easily change the experience, he said. =========== Around the Nation <a name="penn">PENN. FIREFIGHTER DIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY Thanks Billy G from The Secret List @ www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com It is with deep regret that we advise you that a 47 year old Firefighter of the Amity Fire Department, Berks County, has died following run. Firefighter Robert Stone age 47, who was not married, responded to a CO alarm at a residence. After returning, FF Stone left the fire station to return a short time later as he was complaining of chest pains. The Firefighter was treated by EMS and transported to Reading Hospital. Hospital medical staff advised he needed to have surgery to repair an aortic separation. He underwent the procedure and was recovering. At approximately 0730 this morning, Firefighter Stone went in to cardiac arrest and could not be revived. As always, our sincere condolences to all affected. =========== <a name="naftd">NAFTD Grant Writing Program Reporting Requirements NAFTD Members, It has been brought to my attention that I was incorrect about the quarterly reporting required in our NAFTD Grant Writing Seminar Program. Even though I wrote that part of the program, I had failed to remember the requirement to submit a quarterly report to the NAFTD Treasurer (Randy Novak) and your Regional AFG Office regardless of the activity level. If no activity was recorded for the quarter (no seminars taught) a quarterly report is still required (check the no activity box). If I had shared that incorrect info with anyone, please accept my apologies and send past due reports as soon as you can. I accept responsibility on this one. Feel free to explain your tardiness in reporting to the AFG offices as all my fault. Although this is the first mistake I ve made this year ( Jð ); I will refuse my normally huge NAFTD salary this month as penance for my transgression. Glenn Pribbenow, Director Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute The University of Kansas Continuing Education 1515 St. Andrews Drive Lawrence, KS 66047 Direct Phone: 785-864-9199 Toll Free: 866-804-8841 Email: gprib@ku.edu www.continuinged.ku.edu/fire =========== <a name="utah">Utah Refinery Blast Damages Homes By Paul Foy http://www.firehouse.com/news/news/utah-refinery-blast-damages-homes WOODS CROSS, Utah -- An explosion shook nearby homes as a fire broke out Wednesday at a refinery north of Salt Lake City. No injuries were reported. Residents reported a "significant boom" with damage to several homes around the Silver Eagle Refinery in Woods Cross, South Davis Metro Fire Deputy Chief Jeff Bassett said. The fire was contained but not yet out, said Krege Christensen, a company vice president. Christensen said a brief power outage was reported at the nearby Holly and Flying J refineries in West Bountiful, causing generators to kick in. Steam and fire were released as a safety measure, he said. Silver Eagle had a similar outage and a diesel unit caught fire, said Cindy Gubler, a public relations consultant for Silver Eagle Refinery. The chain of events remained unclear. Christensen said his company believed a utility outage led to trouble at multiple refineries, but Rocky Mountain Power said it didn't cause the problem. Utility spokesman Dave Eskelsen said the explosion at Silver Eagle briefly knocked out a 46,000-volt transmission line, leading to emergency measures at the refineries. Christensen said the exact cause of the explosion also remained unclear, but the trouble started at a pipeline connecting two vessels. He acknowledged the blast knocked out windows of nearby houses. "We don't know what happened, but nobody was hurt," he said. It was the second blaze this year at the Silver Eagle refinery. On Jan. 12, four people were seriously burned when a 440,000 gallon storage tank caught fire and burned for 11 hours. Federal investigators said the ignition source may have been a gas heater or a refrigerator's electric outlet in a utility shed about 160 feet from the tank. Silver Eagle Refining Inc. is about five miles north of Salt Lake City. =========== </div>

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