The Fire Wire Cherokee County Office of Fire & Emergency Services May-June McElwee Promoted to Battalion Chief Story on page 6 Volume 14 - Issue 2
Published bi-monthly by the Cherokee County Office of Fire and Emergency Services Tim Prather Fire Chief Tim Cavender Editor Eddie Robinson Assistant Fire Chief Greg Erdely Field Operations Chief Barry Gibson Fire Marshal Kevin Botts Support Services Manager Jill Mabley, M.D.,FACEP Medical Director Cherokee County Office of Fire and Emergency Services 150 Chattin Drive Canton, GA 30115 Phone: [678] 493-4000 Fax: [678] 493-4034 www.cherokeecountyfire.org Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Closed Saturday, Sunday and Holidays ABOUT THE COVER: Ryan McElwee is promoted to Battalion Chief during ceremonies held on March 28th at the Cherokee County Fire Training Center. Photos and story on page 6 The Fire Wire The Environmental Protection Division (EPD) ban on open burning resumes as usual on May 1, 2016. In 2005, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division, Air Protection Branch, listed 54 counties that are subject to following the annual burn ban. Cherokee County is included in this list of counties. Page 2 Burn Ban Goes Into Effect The burning ban is an important part of the state s plan to improve air quality during smog season, which runs from May 1 through September 30 of each year. Citizens and businesses in the affected 54 counties are not allowed to burn yard and land-clearing debris during the burn ban season. Some actions, such as campfires and agricultural activities are exempt. For more information about alternatives to burning such as composting and chipping, please call the Department of Community Affairs at 404-679-4940 or the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division toll-free at 800-685-2443. Debris can also be hauled to a commercial processing/ grinding/composting operation or to an inert or construction and demolition landfill. For a list of landfills in your area, please call EPD s Solid Waste Management Program at 404-362-2692. Cherokee County Citizens can get more information on the open burning ban by calling the EPD Mountain District Office: 478-751-6612 or EPD s Air Protection Branch at 404-363-7000. Small businesses can get help and information by calling EPD s Small Business Assistance Program toll-free at 877-427-6255.
Page 3 Cherokee County Fire Explorer to Appear in National Promotional Video Captain Brooke Ice, a member of the Cherokee County Fire Explorer Post #469, was recently asked to appear in a national promotional video on the Explorer program. Cherokee County Fire Explorer, Captain Brooke Ice, looks through the viewfinder of the camera to see her work. Exploring Youth Chair for the 42nd Annual Winterfest that was held in Gatlinburg, Tennessee this past February. Additionally, Brooke was recognized by Aisha Stith, District Executive from the Atlanta Area Council for the Boy Scouts of America, for her success and dedication to the exploring program at the state and national level. Cherokee County firefighter, Sgt. Michael Sims, was also interviewed on camera as a success story for the exploring program. Sims was once an explorer who eventually became a career firefighter and advisor. He was also video-taped for a promo for the exploring program, too. www.cherokecountyfire.org The video will be shown to all types of exploring posts nation-wide through social media, promotional emails, and at national, regional, and council level events. It should start airing sometime later this Spring. Peter Simon and Tom Fiorini with the National Boy Scout of America Multimedia Team flew into Georgia on March 17th from Texas. They met Brooke at Station 19, located on Highway 92 west of Woodstock, to shoot the video. The promotional video is for the first ever Exploring Summerfest which will take place in July at the newest National Boy Scout High Adventure Base called The Summit Bechtel Reserve, which is located in West Virginia. Brooke, who has been a Cherokee County Fire Explorer for the past 4 years, was selected to be the spokesperson for this event after serving as the Standing with Brooke are (left to right): Tom Fiorini, Brooke, Mike Sims, an advisor for the local explorer post, and Peter Simon.
Page 4 Fire Recruits Host Lunch for Retirees The latest group of Cherokee County Fire Recruits invited retirees of the fire department to a luncheon in April at the Cherokee County Fire Training Center. The recruits prepared a large meal of grilled hamburgers and hot dogs along with all the fixings including a large choice of desserts. After the meal, the recruits sat with the retirees to learn from their past and to hear stories about the early beginnings of the fire department. Former Cherokee County Fire Investigator, Ossie Delay, encouraged the recruits to continue with their training and to learn as much as they can about the fire service. The latest group of Cherokee County fire recruits prepare lunch for the retirees of Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services. Bob Nealey, a former Cherokee County Fire Chief, talked about all of the events that the departments held in order to receive money to purchase the equipment that firefighters needed during that time. The recruits learned about how the times have changed for the department from the early beginnings of all volunteer fire departments to the departments falling under the county government and the stations having full time firefighters on duty today. The retirees enjoy their delicious meal that was prepared for them at the Cherokee County Fire Training Center in Holly Springs. After the meal, the retirees spoke to the new recruits about the early beginnings of the fire department. It was a great day to hear stories of the past and to see and meet the newest generations of firefighters who will be serving the citizens of Cherokee County in the near future.
Page 5 American Legion Honors Firefighters and Staff Thomas M. Brady Post #45 of the American Legion, located in Canton, Georgia, honored several firefighters and staff members with Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services during their annual Community Service Awards Banquet that was held last night at the local legion hall. Recognized at this year s banquet were: Battalion 1 Firefighter Award Michael Axford Battalion 1 Firefighter Award Michael Axford Battalion 2 Firefighter Award Lt. Scott Gwinn Battalion 3 Firefighter Award Alisha Graham Volunteer Firefighter Award Rebecca Strobl EMS Employee of the Year Award Nate Sullivan Fire Administration Award Ron Quackenbush Special Operations Award Lt. Ric Mitchell Attending the ceremony were (left to right): Cherokee County Fire Chief, Tim Prather, Sgt. Nate Sullivan, Rebecca Strobl, Ron Quackenbush, Michael Axford, Lt. Ric Mitchell, Lt. Scott Gwinn, Denver Ice and Alisha Graham. Explorer of the Year Award - Denver Ice Tornado Preparedness While we think of tornado season as being from mid March through mid June, we can see storms in any month. Remember that storms don t have a calendar, and don t care what month it is. As long as the right conditions come together, tornadoes can happen in December or August as easily as they can in April. If you are at home during a tornado: Go to a windowless interior room on lowest level of your house. Go to a storm cellar or basement if your house has one. If there is a basement, go to an inner hallway or a smaller inner room without windows, such as a bathroom or closet. Get away from the windows. Go to the center of the room. Stay away from corners because they tend to attract debris. Get under a piece of sturdy furniture such as a workbench or heavy table or desk and hold on to it. Use your arms to protect head and neck. If you are in a mobile home, get out and find shelter elsewhere.
The Fire Wire Page 6 Five Cherokee Firefighters Promoted Five firefighters were promoted on March 28th during ceremonies held at the Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services Training Center, located just south of Holly Springs. Cherokee County Fire Chief welcomed those who gathered for the event and presented the promotion warrants to the firefighters. Two firefighters were promoted to the rank of sergeant. Those promoted include Joseph VanBeers and Richard Conley. Attending the promotion ceremony (left to right): Cherokee County Fire Chief, Tim Prather, Sgt. Joseph VanBeers, Lt. James Gravitt, Battalion Chief, Ryan McElwee, Capt. Marc Liscio, Sgt. Richard Conley, Assistant Fire Chief, Eddie Robinson and Field Operations Chief, Greg Erdely. One firefighter, James Gravitt, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Another firefighter, Marc Liscio, was promoted to Captain. Ryan McElwee was promoted as the new Battalion Chief. He replaces Tom Pelletier, who recently retired. Numerous firefighters, chiefs and family members attended the event and refreshments were served afterwards. Congratulations to all that were promoted! Cherokee County Fire Chief, Tim Prather, presents Ryan McElwee (2nd from left) with his promotion warrant that promotes him as the newest Battalion Chief for Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services.
Page 7 Collett Graduates from Police Academy Cheri Collett (third from left) with Shane Daniel, Cherokee County Fire Investigator, Barry Gibson, Cherokee County Fire Marshal and Cherokee County Field Operations Chief, Greg Erdely. Cheri Collett, a fire investigator with Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services, graduated Friday from the Cherokee County Regional Police Academy during ceremonies that were held at the Falany Performing Arts Center in Waleska, Georgia. Along with Collett, five deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff s Office graduated, too. The deputies were Christian Nelms, Kurtz Garfield, Dakota Lyvers, Andrew Hendrix and Michael Mistretta. The graduates completed 408 hours of police training over the past 11 weeks. The Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) is responsible for the coordination of the delivery of training to all state public safety officers, job specific training programs for state agencies, advanced and specialized training for both state and local peace officers, chief executive training and supervisory and management training. The Basic Mandate course, which is required to be a peace officer in Georgia, is an 11 week course which teaches the fundamentals of law enforcement. This is the 11th class to graduate from the Roger D. Garrison Law Enforcement Training Center since it opened in late 2013. Before becoming a fire investigator, Collett was a fire educator and later became a firefighter.
Page 8 Check Presented to Goshen Valley Ranch Cherokee County Fire and Emergency presented a check on March 23rd for $3,810 to Zach Blend, Director of Residential Life, at the Goshen Valley Boys Ranch located in the Salacoa area of Cherokee County. The fire department donated their winnings from the recent Guns and Hoses 5K Run that was held in February at Hobgood Park. The purpose Goshen Valley Boys Ranch is to provide hope and a family-model home for boys who do not have either. This was the 10 th annual Guns and Hoses Run that was presented by the Cherokee County Recreation and Parks Agency. The fire department wishes to thank everyone who came out and participated in the run to help the Goshen Valley Boys Ranch. Attending the check presentation ceremony were (left to right): Cherokee County Assistant Fire Chief, Eddie Robinson, Cherokee County Fire Chief, Tim Prather, Director of Residential Life at the Goshen Valley Boys Ranch, Zach Blend, Recreation Coordinator with Cherokee County Parks and Recreation, Kate Borden and Field Operations Chief, Greg Erdely, who holds the winning trophy. Fire Safety Tips Create and Practice a Fire Escape Plan Create and practice a home fire escape plan with two ways out of every room. As part of your plan, designate one person to get infants and small children out safely. Have a back-up plan for young children just in case the primary person is overcome by smoke. Smoke is toxic. Teach children to get low and go if there is smoke when they are leaving the home. Practice feeling the door, doorknob and cracks around the door with the back of your hand to see if they are too hot. Help your children practice this step. Choose a place to meet outside that is a safe distance away from your home.