South Metro Fire Rescue: Behind the Scene

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1 November 2016 SMFR Recognized as a Champion of Hope For our firefighters efforts to serve individuals when they are facing lifethreatening situations that result from drug and/or alcohol abuse, South Metro Fire Rescue has been named a Champion of Hope by Parker s Valley Hope Organization. Valley Hope offers residential and outpatient addiction treatment services, as well as support for family members, at 16 locations in seven states. U.S. Representative Mike Coffman sent this letter to EMS Chief Rick Lewis to add his congratulations for earning this accolade from the community. South Metro Fire Rescue: Behind the Scene POST-Certified Paramedics add Time for Patients in Critical Calls It s probably the scariest thing I ve ever done. On Sept. 2, South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) responded with several law enforcement agencies to a heavily armed suspect in the Sierra Vista neighborhood north of Sierra Middle School. When the man tried driving back to his home, Douglas County Sheriff s Office Detective Dan Brite drove toward the vehicle to intercept it and, in the process of trying to stop the gunman, was shot in a gun battle. An SMFR paramedic who belongs to the regional SWAT Team entered the hot zone (the area where there was still an active threat) and with another officer lifted Detective Brite into the back of a truck and drove him to an ambulance at a barricade. They moved the critically injured detective into SMFR Medic 41 and rapidly transported him to Parker Adventist Hospital where medical professionals saved his life. Injuries that occur during active shooter and other SWAT activations are usually critical. Adding specially-trained paramedics to those situations can buy hours of life -- or in this case, a lifetime -- with rapid decision making, bleeding control and breathing support. Time is crucial, the paramedic said. SMFR has five paramedic firefighters who are trained as Peace Officers (POST-Certified). Annually, they typically respond to incidents with the Type 2 Regional SWAT Team. Park Meadows Shoppers Learn Hands-Only CPR When an adult experiences sudden cardiac arrest, the chain of survival begins with a quick call to 911 and someone starting chest compressions as rapidly as possible. An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and a quick transport to a hospital for definitive care are also essential. South Metro Safety Foundation staff and the City of Lone Tree recently hosted a Hands-Only CPR and AED demonstration at Park Meadows in recognition of National Preparedness Month.

2 Badge Ceremony honors Selfless, Brave and Admirable Employees South Metro Fire Rescue proudly held a badge pinning and Oath of Office ceremony on Sept. 20 to welcome new members to its organization, as well as honor individuals for promotions. The firefighter badge represents a rich tradition carried on through decades of history. The badge pinning ceremony signifies the introduction and welcoming of members to their new duties and responsibilities within SMFR. In most cases family members, such as Fire Inspector Dan Russell s son (above) pinned the badges on their loved ones, but station officers also had the honor of recognizing their firefighters. These are some extraordinarily selfless, brave and admirable individuals, said Fire Chief Bob Baker. We are very proud of each and every one of them as they continue to enhance our culture, vision and mission here at South Metro, which is to protect lives and property from all hazards through preparedness, prevention, mitigation and response. Congratulations September 20 Years of Service Lieutenant Pam Krotz Engineer Tim Fead 1 Year of Service Dispatcher Jim Anderson Dispatcher Brad Gleason Promotions Engineer Gary Federico Paramedic Darren Cobb Paramedic Paul Scrabeck Newly Hired Fire Inspector Jim Chaney Fire Inspector Dan Russell Recruit Firefighter Aaron Allen Recruit Firefighter Paul Costello Recruit Firefighter Kyle Hebert Recruit Firefighter Patrick Hendrix Recruit Firefighter Eric Johansson Recruit Firefighter Derek Jordan Recruit Firefighter Nicholas Kuhn Recruit Firefighter Justin LaBorde Recruit Firefighter Jared Lombardi Recruit Firefighter Curtis Moxley Recruit Firefighter Bobby Mulroney Recruit Firefighter Andrew Pavone Recruit Firefighter Todd Plumer Recruit Firefighter Chris Riggs Recruit Firefighter Kevin Seitz Recruit Firefighter Cole Soli Recruit Firefighter Robert Sorensen Recruit Firefighter Korey Springer Recruit Firefighter Steven Tingey Recruit Firefighter Ian Watters October 25 Years of Service Lieutenant Mike DeBoer Lieutenant Kinny Tasker Engineer Scott Bonati 10 Years of Sevice Sr. Systems and Info. Security Analyst David Peppard 1 Year of Service Fire Inpsector Kim Spuhler Fire Inspector Kody Ingle Wellness Director Trae Tashiro

3 Grant helps The Pinery, SMFR Reduce Wildfire Risks The Pinery Homeowners Association (PHA) won a $1,600 grant from the Colorado State Forest Service to provide a chipping service to its residents this fall. Residents who attended a mitigation presentation or volunteered for a home wildfire assessment with SMFR personnel were eligible to participate. SMFR encouraged residents to remove lowhanging branches, which are called ladder fuels, because they let surface fires climb into tree canopies, and little green gas cans : pinyon pines, junipers and fitzers that are excessively flammable. The PHA s Wildfire Mitigation Committee partnered with SMFR to create a neighborhood mitigation plan to address the wildfire risk in the community. The plan identifies private property as the greatest source of wildfire fuels and identifies community slash removal as a prime strategy for eliminating those fuels. Alumni Gather at Station 41 for Good Fellowship, Food, Memories Current and former employees and volunteers gathered at Station 41 in Parker for the semiannual alumni luncheon on Oct. 6. We welcome our alumni back, said Paramedic and Alumni Coordinator Paul Scrabeck, to check in on the department and make sure we are still making them proud. We stand on their shoulders. While the current class of recruits cooked and served burgers, hot dogs and other goodies, Fire Chief Bob Baker updated attendees on the agency s growth. We look forward to seeing more alumni at future events, most of which will be hosted at fire stations going forward, Scrabeck said. The PHA hired A Guy and His Tractor Tree and Landscaping Company, LLC, to perform the chipping in September and October. The company added days to accommodate the enthusiastic participation of close to 50 residents.

4 Life Safety Bureau Ensures Construction Follows Safety Codes By Deputy Fire Marshal Rich Conroy It s difficult to drive around the district these days without noticing the volume of construction projects that are underway. These projects have many benefits: new places to live, work, and play, and the tax revenue they generate helps SMFR provide the services our communities expect. Ensuring that these projects are constructed in accordance with adopted fire codes is a critical aspect of protecting the public and maximizing these positive impacts. So what does it take to go from a field of native grasses to a finished building? Initially, developers submit their proposed development plans to the city or county offices where the project is located. This process begins several months sometimes even years before construction begins. In this referral process, our plan reviewers examine the proposed project to identify potential concerns related to fire department access, water supply and other fire code-related concerns and share them with developers, design teams and the respective city or county planning officials. Most projects then go through a public hearing process where elected officials from the city or county can learn more about the proposed project, hear from interested stakeholders, and provide input to developers. Only after elected officials from the city or county have approved the proposed development can the permit process begin. The developer s construction team applies for permits from SMFR, including building permits and fire protection system permits (fire alarms, fire sprinklers, etc.). Once plan reviewers approve the plans and issue permits, construction can commence. Our fire inspectors verify the project is built according to the fire code and the approved construction documents, and the building is finally ready for opening. Attention Paramedic-Firefighters: We Want You to Serve with Us South Metro Fire Rescue is looking for Paramedic Candidates who know their protocols well enough to think beyond them and who both understand and embrace that medicine is constantly evolving. We re seeking paramedics who are comfortable running one call in the foothills and the next in a high-rise. Our ideal candidates find firefighting and emergency medicine equally rewarding. To join our team, visit or Employment@SouthMetro.org.

5 Littleton, Cunningham and South Metro Bring Safety, Fun to Citizens Academy Although agency news, fire extinguisher safety and hands-only CPR were important elements of the City of Centennial s Citizens Academy last month, the annual firefighter challenge took center stage. Rookie firefighters, one from each of the three fire departments that serve Centennial (Littleton, Cunningham and South Metro), competed in donning their bunker gear and self-contained breathing apparatus. Cheered on by their colleagues and residents from each district, the firefighters did their best. In the end, Cunningham won, but only a couple seconds ahead of SMFR s Travis Hitt and Littleton was only a few seconds behind him. Citizens Academy participants also heard from chief officers about their respective agencies, learned about fire extinguishers and had an opportunity to practice hands-only CPR. Get the Shot, Not the Flu It s flu season, but the flu doesn t have to be part of your fall. South Metro Fire Rescue and DispatchHealth will host a free flu clinic at Station 34 on October 29; other community healthcare partners hold similar clinics throughout the fall to help residents get the protection they need from what can be a deadly disease. Young children, elders and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to the flu. Getting vaccinated can protect you and your community from an outbreak. Do your part, please, to prevent this disease. Connect with Us Twitter Facebook at com/southmetrofirerescue On October 3, firefighters from South Metro Fire Rescue, Littleton Fire Rescue and Buckley Fire & Emergency Services formed the Southeast Metro Taskforce and protected structures at the Beulah Hill Fire near Pueblo. South Metro Fire Rescue 9195 E. Mineral Avenue Centennial, CO info@southmetro.org