| New
Fire Truck Paid-in-Full!
 Along
with the funds in the New Fire Truck Fund we were able to
pay off the $40,000 loan we had taken out to finance the fire
company portion of the new truck’s total cost. The total
price tag on the new fire truck was $251,641. The 2003 Department
of Homeland Security Office of Domestic Preparedness Assistance
to Firefighter’s Grant we received totaled $177,300.
The remaining $74,341 was the fire company’s responsibility.
The amount owed by the fire company was reduced due to credits
for prepayment of the cab and chassis and late delivery penalty
credits. The total amount that the fire company had to pay
was $48,179. Thanks to the generous donations we received,
the new fire truck is now paid in full!
Introduction
to Vehicle Rescue Tools
 Ten
of our firefighters attended a training session on September
10th here at Cross Fork to get familiar with the use of the
newly acquired rescue tools. Members of the Citizen’s
Hose Company of South Renovo taught us the basics of vehicle
rescue and how to use the rescue tools. We had ‘hands
on’ training with our members getting a chance to use
each of the new rescue tools. We were introduced to different
techniques that are used in vehicle rescue situations.
Basic
Vehicle Rescue Awareness Training
 A
total of 22 students attended the training including 12 who
were Kettle Creek Hose Company Members. During this training
we learned the basic knowledge and skills that are needed
to perform vehicle rescue: assess a vehicle accident situation,
recognize and control potential hazards, how to properly gain
access to a victim trapped in a vehicle to perform ‘patient
oriented rescue’, how to safely and properly use the
tools, equipment, and techniques during vehicle rescue operations,
and most important learned the skills needed to assure the
safety of the patient, bystanders, and rescuers. A day in
the classroom was followed by a day in the field applying
the techniques we learned. We practiced stabilizing vehicles
set-up to simulate different vehicle crash situations.
Now that we have completed the ‘Awareness Level’
training, our members must complete two additional courses
to be certified to perform vehicle rescue. The next course
will be the ‘Operations Level’ 16-hour course,
which is tentatively scheduled for April 29th and 30th 2006.
The final course scheduled for May 13th and 14th 2006 will
be the ‘Technician Level’ 16-hour course followed
by the Department of Health Basic Vehicle Rescue Technician
Written Test.
New
Turnout Gear
The
amount we requested was $29,274, with the grant award amount
being $27,811 and the fire company 5% share totaling $1,463.
On October 3rd 2005 U.S.Congressman John E. Peterson made
a visit to Cross Fork and presented the grant check of $27,811
to Fire Chief Eric Fritzinger and President James McGuire.
Our firefighters now have new NFPA compliant turnout gear
to wear when responding to your emergency calls. Our fire
company greatly appreciates the grant money we have received
both in 2003(new fire truck) and 2005(new turnout gear) through
the Assistance to Firefighters Program.
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