For the Record 10/21

Fire Service Achievement Awards

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) announced the winners of its 2021 annual fire service achievement awards at its fall meeting in Jackson, WY.

Theodore Schroll Jr. (above) received the Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by ADT); Robert James received the Chief James P. Seavey Sr. Health and Wellness Leadership Award (co-sponsored by VFIS and Ward Diesel Filter Systems); Paige Davis received the Junior Firefighter of the Year Award (sponsored by California Casualty); and the Colonia, NJ, Volunteer Fire Department Explorer Program received the Junior Firefighter Program of the Year Award (sponsored by California Casualty).

For more information on the awards program, visit nvfc.org/awards.

EVT of the Year Nominations

Firehouse and the Fire Department Safety Officers Association announced the Call for Nominations for the ninth annual Emergency Vehicle Technician (EVT) of the Year Award.

Anyone can nominate an EVT who meets the following criteria:

A member in good standing of a state or local EVT association as of Jan. 1, 2021
At least five years full-time employment in the maintenance of emergency vehicles
Working toward or passed any of the Emergency Vehicle Technician Certification
Commission tests
Working toward or passed any of the Automotive Service Excellence tests
Fosters professionalism through participation in a local, state or provincial maintenance/emergency vehicle technician association
Adheres to the education of safety practices and procedures in his/her profession

A letter of nomination for the EVT that explains why that person is nominated and any supporting information should be included with the completed entry form and e-mailed to [email protected] by Nov. 1, 2021. Complete the entry the form at https://tinyurl.com/EVTForm.

Steven Torrez (left) is wearing the helmet that was donated by MSA Cairns as he poses with Firefighter Gerry Dillman of the Twin Falls, ID, Fire Department.

Firehouse, MSA Team to Help Kids

As part of a collaborative initiated by Firehouse Magazine, MSA Safety recently provided Courageous Kids Climbing with a new Cairns fire helmet. This was a welcome addition to the new structural firefighter’s turnout coat that was contributed by MSA.

Courageous Kids Climbing provides free opportunities for people who have special needs to experience the various forms of rock climbing at events that are held in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada and Washington. It was organized by retired firefighter Jeff Riechmann in March of 2014.

Local first responders often come out to support the free events and to take the kids out to the fire engine for a private tour. However, concerns grew about the children being exposed to the hazardous substances that are found on firefighter PPE. With these new donations, the children have new, clean PPE to try on as they tour the apparatus.

For more information, visit msasafety.com or contact Riechmann at [email protected].

Two Winners Announced in Globe Gear Giveaway

T he latest recipients of MSA’s and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway are the Geneva, AL, Volunteer Fire Department (GVFD) and the Hope, IN, Volunteer Fire Department (HVFD).

Of the GVFD’s 30 sets of turnout gear, only five are newer than 10 years old, which means that the rest are out of NFPA compliance. The department relies on a tobacco tax to purchase new gear, yet this source of income has dwindled year after year.

The HVFD only has eight sets of turnout gear that comply with NFPA 1851: Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, and many of these are nearing their expiration date.

For more information, visit nvfc.org.

Pierce Completes Ownership Interest in BME

Pierce Manufacturing completed the purchase of an ownership interest in Boise Mobile Equipment (BME). The investment facilitates greater collaboration between Pierce and BME within the wildland fire market. Furthermore, Pierce will support BME as the business moves from a factory-direct model to an independent dealer distribution model, with a focus on the West Coast, which will provide new and existing BME customers with comprehensive service, parts inventory and support.

For more information, visit piercemfg.com.

Line-of-Duty Deaths

24 U.S. firefighters recently died in the line of duty. Fourteen firefighters died after contracting COVID-19, six deaths were health-related, two deaths occurred during fireground operations, one firefighter was electrocuted and one firefighter was killed when she was struck by an apparatus. This issue of Firehouse is dedicated to these firefighters. For the latest on COVID-19-related LODDs, visit firehouse.com/covid-19.

ENGINEER JUSTIN HANSEN, 37, of the Central Mat-Su Fire Department in Wasilla, AK, died on June 27. Hansen responded to fire and EMS calls during a 24-hour shift. A few hours after returning home, he was found deceased. The cause of his death was cardiac-related.

DEPUTY CHIEF TOMMY ALLEN HOPSON, 53, of Carroll County, GA, Fire Rescue, died on Aug. 15. On Aug. 2, Hopson contracted COVID-19 while on duty at the fire department.

FIREFIGHTER JOSHUA SCHWINDT, 42, of the Morton County Fire Department in Elkhart, KS, died on Aug. 15. Schwindt responded to a vehicle rollover accident. While searching for victims, he came in contact with downed power lines and was electrocuted.

FIREFIGHTER/EMT WILLIAM STALLS, 68, of Oak City, NC, Fire and Rescue Department, died on Aug. 15. On July 22, while on duty at the fire department, Stalls contracted COVID-19.

FIREFIGHTER/EMT TIMOTHY WATSON, 48, of Barrow County Emergency Services in Winder, GA, died on Aug. 15. On June 13, Binder responded to a possible cardiac arrest; numerous individuals, including the patient, had COVID-19. Watson subsequently contracted the virus.

LT. WILLIE BUNCH, 57, of Oak City, NC, Fire and Rescue Department, died on Aug. 16. On July 21, while on duty at the fire department, Bunch contracted COVID-19.

FIREFIGHTER/EMT DYLAN RODIEK, 34, of the Jollyville Fire Department in Austin, TX, died on Aug. 16. The Jollyville Fire Department received a call for a medical response, but Rodiek didn’t respond to the call. After returning to the fire station, firefighters found Rodiek deceased on the floor of his bunk room.

LT. MARIO J. MOYA, 51, of the Jacksonville, FL, Fire and Rescue Department, died on Aug. 17. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Moya served his community while continuing to expose himself to the virus responding to EMS calls. He subsequently contracted the virus on July 26.

ENGINEER CORY PHILLIP COLLINS, 32, of Pine Bluff, AR, Fire and Emergency Services, died on Aug. 21. While on duty and responding to EMS calls on Aug. 5, Collins contracted COVID-19.

FIREFIGHTER/SQUAD BOSS FRUMENCIO RUIZ CARAPIA, 56, of GE Forestry in Central Point, OR, died on Aug. 23. While working at the Gales Wildland Fire, Carapia was killed when he was struck by a falling tree.

FIREFIGHTER JUDY SPENCER, 65, of the Hartland Volunteer Fire Company in Gasport, NY, died on Aug. 24. While on scene of a field fire, Spencer, who was acting as a spotter for a Barker Fire Department rescue truck, was hit when the truck backed up. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

LT./PARAMEDIC CODY TRABER, 41, of Spokane County Fire District #9 in Mead, WA, died on Aug. 26. Traber responded to a reported brush fire, and while investigating the fire, he fell from the Wandermere Bridge at Highway 395. He died from the injuries that he sustained in the fall.

LT. DONALD J. TROUT, 53, of the Middlesex County Hazardous Materials Unit in Sayreville, NJ, died on Aug. 27. Trout was dispatched to a tractor-trailer accident. The vehicle, which carried hazardous materials, overturned and crashed on the New Jersey Turnpike. While getting ready to leave the station, Trout suffered a medical emergency. He was transported to the local hospital where he died.

CHIEF EMERITUS JAMES KROUSE, 72, of the Colfax, WA, Fire Department, died on Aug. 28. Krouse responded to a wildland fire. While stretching hoselines, Krouse experienced a medical emergency and collapsed. He was taken to the local hospital, where he died from an apparent heart attack.

DIVISION CHIEF MARK COVIL, 51, of Pender EMS and Fire in Burgaw, NC, died on Aug. 30. On Aug. 13, Covil contracted COVID-19 at the fire station.

ENGINEER MALCOLM ARRINGTON, 54, of the Nashville Fire Department, died on Sept. 1. Arrington contracted COVID-19 from responding to numerous emergency medical calls.

DISTRICT CHIEF MARSHAL HILLEY, 53, of the Gulfport, MS, Fire Department, died on Sept. 1. On Aug. 11, Hilley contracted COVID-19 while at the fire station.

FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC JOHN CLAY GADDY, 48, of Forest Park, GA, Fire and Emergency Services, died on Sept. 2. On Aug. 12, Gaddy contracted COVID-19 at the fire station. He was promoted posthumously to deputy fire marshal.

BATTALION CHIEF JAMES BERNARD GUILER, 55, of Heard County Fire & Emergency Services in Franklin, GA, died on Sept. 2. Guiler was working a 24-hour overtime shift when he was dispatched on a call but didn’t show up at the apparatus to respond. Crews went to wake him and found him deceased. The cause of death was an apparent heart attack.

DRIVER/ENGINEER DAVID LEOS, 62, of the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department, died on Sept. 2. On July 13, Leos contracted COVID-19 while responding to numerous emergency medical calls.

FIREFIGHTER JAMES HEATER, 32, of Orange County Emergency Services District #1 in Vidor, TX, died on Sept. 3. On Aug. 22, Heater contracted COVID-19 from responding to numerous emergency medical calls.

FIRE POLICE CAPT. LARON HOLCOMB, 73, of the Ellsworth, PA, Volunteer Fire Department, died on Sept. 4. Upon arriving home after responding to a vehicle crash, Holcomb began having shortness of breath. He was taken to the hospital but died shortly after arrival from an apparent heart attack.

CHIEF RANDALL “RANDY” BURNHAM, 53, of the Lake City, FL, Fire Department, died on Sept. 5. On July 30, Burnham contracted COVID-19 at the fire station.

FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC MIGUEL ANGULO, 42, of the Phoenix Fire Department, died on Sept. 6. On July 22, Angulo responded to an EMS call with a patient who had COVID-19. Angulo subsequently contracted the virus.