Columbus Fire and Rescue Magazine Volume 3 Number 2

PUBLISHERCOLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI FIRE and RESCUE DEPARTMENT

EDITORANTHONY COLOM

ART DESIGN & LAYOUTANTHONY COLOM

PHOTOGRAPHYANTHONY COLOM

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSCHIEF MARTIN ANDREWS

ASSISTANT CHIEF MARK WARDCHIEF OF TRAINING DUANE HUGHES

FIRE and LIFE SAFETY EDUCATOR CAROLE SUMMERALL

STAFFMARTIN ANDREWS: CHIEF

MARK WARD: ASSISTANT CHIEFDUANE HUGHES: CHIEF OF TRAINING

NEAL AUSTIN: SPECIAL OPERATIONS CHIEFBOBBY BARKSDALE: A-SHIFT BATTALION CHIEF

MIKE GIBSON: B-SHIFT BATTALION CHIEF: C-SHIFT BATTALION CHIEF

TODD WEATHERS: FIRE MARSHALCAROLE SUMMERALL: FIRE & LIFE SAFETY EDUCATOR

MICHAEL CHANDLER: ACCREDITATION MANAGERANTHONY COLOM: PUBLIC RELATIONS

TABITHA BARHAM: ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Columbus Fire and Rescue Department205 7th Street S.

Columbus, MS 39701(662) 329-5121

This publication may not be reproduced in whole nor in part without the written

permission of the publisher. Copyright © 2014, Columbus, Mississippi Fire and Rescue Department.

06 l COLUMBUS FIRE and RESCUE MAGAZINE l Photo by anthonyCOLOM (662) 329-5121

I am committed to

trying my hardest to

lead in the best way

possible so that the

twenty-third Fire Chief

will have the same firm

foundation to start with

as I have had.

T

by CHIEF [email protected]

chief s chair

This is not your conventional race. It is a race that began in 1840,

with a baton passed twenty-two times so far, each time with the

same goal in mind: to improve the Fire Department. Columbus

Fire & Rescue has advanced to comparison with the top 1% of all

fire departments in the United States. How can I improve on that?

This is a question I have asked myself several times since becom-

ing Fire Chief in May of this year.

The learning curve has not been easy. There are things that the Fire

Chief must handle that cannot be gained through training; they

must be learned as you go; things such as the budget process, and

personnel issues. Of course, there are guidelines to follow, and you

can begin by comparing previous years, however, these guidelines

are just that, only guidelines, there really are no specifics. And I

have learned that while the process is similar, it is also constantly

changing. Staying one step ahead is not always going to be easy, but

I am committed to trying my hardest to lead in the best way possi-

ble so that the twenty-third Fire Chief will have the same firm

foundation to start with as I have had.

I have many goals that I would like to see accomplished during my

tenure as Fire Chief, and I am excited to see what kind of progress

can be made. I am in the process of trying to prioritize these goals

and advance while maintaining the high quality of service that we

currently provide. The transition from Retired Chief Kenneth

Moore's to mine has been pretty smooth. I am depending on my

team, the entire department, as well as the Mayor and City Council

to aid me in success so that I can pass the baton with a firm foun-

dation.

In closing, I would just like to thank all of the previous Fire Chiefs

of Columbus Fire and Rescue for getting the "race" started. This

"baton" will not always be easy to carry, but I am confident that we

will continue to advance as a team while maintaining our bond.

This race has never been determined by the quickest. A steady,

unwavering pace will bring applause from those we serve. And

when the baton is once again passed, Columbus Fire & Rescue will

continue to lead the pack.

CARRYINGTHE

BATON

'

For some reason, a

lot of Mississippians

use to be, and in some

instances, still are, stuck

on the ‘because of

where I live’ thinking,

for either not trying or

not accomplishing

something.

LLike most people, I ve never cared for the naysayers telling me

what I can’t do; but at the same time I kind of enjoy it - it’s

motivation. Most of my adult life I’ve had someone telling me

that I couldn’t achieve a goal that seemed unrealistic to them;

usually someone outside of my family. For some reason, a lot of

Mississippians use to be, and in some instances, still are, stuck on

the ‘because of where I live’ thinking, for either not trying or not

accomplishing something. You know.... I’m from Mississippi, so

I’ll never get hired to direct a movie. The reason my art and my

music won’t sell is probably because I’m from Mississippi. Why

would that corporation hire me? I’m not from New York. And,

you have to leave this state if you ever want to accomplish any-

thing.

Those with that mentality are usually on a path to follow others

all their life. I believe true doers and leaders grow up in an envi-

ronment where they’ve seen or lived around great leaders. Born

with the qualities? Maybe. But living with greatness or being told

constantly that you can achieve anything can certainly help.

You’re either a leader or follower, a doer or a doubter. Everyone

can’t lead and everyone shouldn’t follow. Many people just don’t

care for the responsibility that comes with leading others; and

some don’t have the drive nor the courage to say NO when

they’ll need to.

If you’re in a leadership position, make sure you’re truly capable

of leading. If you happen to be a follower, know who it is that’s

leading you.

French emperor and military leader, Napoleon Bonaparte, once

said, If you build an army of 100 lions and their leader is a dog,

in any fight the lions will die like a dog. But if you build an army

of 100 dogs and their leader is a lion, all the dogs will fight like

lions. And, An Army of lions commanded by a deer will never

be an army of lions.

Are you a leader or follower? A lion or deer? If you’re not mov-

ing, you’re standing still. If you’re standing still, then you’re

going nowhere.

editor s noteLIONS

and DOGS

08 l COLUMBUS FIRE and RESCUE MAGAZINE l Photo by Fire and Life Safety Educator caroleSUMMERALL (662) 329-5121

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by anthonyCOLOM, PUBLIC [email protected]

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We are now Columbus

Fire and Rescue. We

respond to all calls for

medical assistance in the

City of Columbus. We are

trained and respond to all

water rescues and recover-

ies in the city as well as

surrounding counties.

10 l COLUMBUS FIRE and RESCUE MAGAZINE l Photo by Captain wesMIMS (662) 329-5121

O

by ASSISTANT CHIEF [email protected]

command staff

On September 30, 1987, Chief Martin Andrews and I began our

careers as rookies with Columbus Fire Department. That date

seems like a lifetime ago, but in many ways it seems like just yester-

day.

In 1987 the fire department only responded to fire calls. We did not

respond to any calls for medical assistance, motor vehicle accidents,

or any special rescues. We did perform annual inspections for all

businesses within the City of Columbus. There was not an estab-

lished program for fire prevention or public education conducted

by the department.

Let's fast forward to September 2014. The department has had a

name change. We are now Columbus Fire and Rescue. We respond

to all calls for medical assistance in the City of Columbus. We are

trained and respond to all water rescues and recoveries in the city

as well as surrounding counties. We perform trench rescues, con-

fined space/high angle rescues, overland search, structural collapse,

and hazardous materials incidents in the entire Golden Triangle

area.

Columbus Fire and Rescue has a full-time Fire and Life Safety

Educator and a full-time Public Relations Officer that directs and

assists with all fire prevention and public education throughout the

city of Columbus. The department conducts a mentoring program

in area high schools, conducts a Citizens Fire Academy, and a

Summer Youth Fire Academy. We have also reached the designa-

tion of being an accredited fire department: the only department in

Mississippi and Alabama to achieve this designation.

Writing this article made me think about all the changes that have

occurred at Columbus Fire and Rescue in the last 27 years. I can

proudly say that Columbus Fire and Rescue has evolved into a

department that serves the community and its citizens in the best

possible manner.

Thinking about those two rookie firefighters who began their

careers 27 years ago, they are now the fire chief and the assistant

fire chief.

27YEARSLATER

Lowndes County Full-Scale Disaster Exercise

Mississippi University for Women receives a $1,000,000 dona-

tion from a corporation to set up animal testing labs. A group

of students who happen to be members of an animal rights

group on campus are protesting. Some of the students are in a

dorm room attempting to make bombs from internet instruc-

tions. In the process of making the bombs they explode inside

the dorm room killing several students. The dorm is on fire

and those responding include: Columbus Fire and Rescue,

Columbus Police Department, MUW Police, MUW Nursing,

FBI, Lowndes County Emergency Management, MEMA,

Mississippi Department of Health, Baptist Memorial Hospital,

and Columbus Air Force Base Fire Department.

Several activist outside are also found with bombs and are shot

and killed by law enforcement.

SCENARIO :

14 l COLUMBUS FIRE and RESCUE MAGAZINE l (662) 329-5121 15

SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES I PHOTO BY ANTHONY COLOM l COLUMBUS FIRE and RECUE MAGAZINE 15

16 l COLUMBUS FIRE and RESCUE MAGAZINE l (662) 329-5121

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SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES l COLUMBUS FIRE and RESCUE MAGAZINE l 19

prevention

It's

interesting to

note that a

family's most

valued possession in those

days was the bed. It was

typically the largest and most

expensive thing the family

owned.

T

by CHIEF of TRAINING [email protected]

command staff

The job description for modern firefighters is constantly changing.

Long gone are the days of only being responsible for fire suppression.

Today's firefighters perform multiple tasks in a wide variety of mis-

sions. From overland search to confined space rescue, firefighters con-

stantly train to become proficient in those skills the public requires of

them. A wide variety of responsibilities has increased the amount of

equipment a firefighter carries. This has also been reflected in the size

of fire apparatus, which have grown immensely over the years to carry

the increased loads. There was in the past a much simpler time, when

all a firefighter needed was a bag and a bed key.

In the early history of our nation, homeowners kept leather buckets to

hold water, and bags to carry out valuables in case of a fire. The fire-

fighters in those times put out and stopped the spread of fire, along

with saving lives and personal belongings. Standard equipment for

these firefighters was a bed key for the dismantling of beds (a most

precious possession), and a salvage bag (a large bag into which valu-

ables could be quickly stuffed).

It's interesting to note that a family's most valued possession in those

days was the bed. It was typically the largest and most expensive thing

the family owned. Saving beds was very important. It took months to

have a bed made or ordered from a catalog. Most families lacked the

money to buy a bed.

Part of every fire company's equipment in those days was a "bed key"

made of iron. These tools quickly and efficiently separated the rails

from the head and footboards, so that the bed could be quickly

removed and saved. The bed key was more like a wrench than a lock

cylinder type key. Not surprisingly, these "bed keys" are highly prized

by collectors today.

The family bed has long since lost its place as a family's most valuable

possession. The calls from today's frantic homeowners are to save a flat

screen television or new automobile. The one thing that has not

changed is the firefighter's commitment to save life and personal prop-

erty. Whether it is the cries from a cell tower technician hundreds of

feet from the ground, or the pleas for help from a family caught by

flood water, firefighters respond. The tools change, yet the missions

remain the same.

BAGS andBED KEYS


24 l COLUMBUS FIRE and RESCUE MAGAZINE l Photos by anthonyCOLOM (662) 329-5121 SMOKE ALAR

SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES I Photos by anthonyCOLOM l COLUMBUS FIRE and RECUE MAGAZINE 25

WWhile your boss may not appreciate the snor-

ing in the office, the truth is that well-timed

sleep actually boosts your effectiveness as a

worker. “A brief mid-day nap can reduce lev-

els of fatigue, improve reaction time, promote

learning, and improve coordination,” says

Michael A. Grandner, Ph.D., instructor and a

member of the Center for Sleep and

Circadian Neurobiology at the University of

Pennsylvania.

There is, however, a right and wrong way to

grab some quick shuteye. Try to sleep as close

to the middle of the day as possible, prefer-

ably 8 hours after you wake up, says

Grandner, or else it will be more difficult to

go to bed at night. Ideally your snooze should

be 20 to 30 minutes—it’s best for regulating

brain functions and keeping you from feeling

like you’ve been hit by a truck when waking

up from deeper sleep. Keep reading for three

sound reasons to rest your eyes right now.

Improve Your Memory

A 2012 Northwestern University study

showed participants could play a recently-

learned song on a keyboard more accurately

after it played in the background of their

afternoon nap. The reinforced tune helped

consolidate the memory, making it more easi-

ly reactivated when awake, according to the

study authors. Wondering why we’re pushing

a catnap in place of simply a steaming cup of

joe to motivate your noggin’s memory?

According to a University of California San

Diego study, people did significantly worse in

memory exercises when hyped up on caffeine

compared to people who slept in the middle

of the session.

Additionally, UC Berkeley research shows that

memorized facts are briefly held in the brain’s

hippocampus before being sent to the pre-

frontal cortex for more permanent storage,

which occurs during your Stage 2 sleep, or the

point you reach in a 20-minute nap. Without

this transfer of memories, your hippocampus

“fills up” like your voicemail inbox and

wouldn’t be able to hold new information,

meaning a siesta preps you for learning more

stuff, concludes the study authors.

Relieve Stress

Looks like it’s possible to sleep your worries

away: Night shift nurses who took two 15-

minute naps during 9-hour work shifts report-

ed feeling less stress and tension in a recent

Japanese study. The researchers noted that if

the medics followed a stricter snoozing sched-

ule during their breaks, they would feel the

napping benefits more strongly, such as feel-

ing more alert. Need more convincing? In a

study from Allegheny College in

Pennsylvania, students who dozed after taking

a mentally taxing math test had significantly

lower blood pressure and thus higher cardio-

vascular recovery than those who stayed

awake.

Lose Weight

Immobility as a sort of calorie-burner? This

sounds too good to be true. “What we know

about sleep and weight loss, the more sleep-

deprived you

are, the less

likely you are to

lose weight,”

says Michael J.

Breus, Ph.D.,

author of The

Sleep Doctor’s

Diet Plan: Lose

W e i g h t

Through Better

Sleep. If you’re

c o n s i s t e n t l y

shorting your-

self on pillow

time, taking a

longer, 90-

minute nap

that encom-

passes a full

sleep cycle will

help lower your

sleep deficit

and positively

alter your levels

of hormones

ghrelin and leptin, making weight loss more

likely, Breus says.

Leptin tells your brain when you’re full, while

ghrelin gives you an appetite. Studies at the

University of Chicago and Stanford

University found that when participants slept

less, leptin levels decreased while ghrelin

increased, meaning the men felt more hungry

and craved high-carb foods 45 percent more

than those who got more shuteye.

By Ashley Balcerzak / courtesy

menshealth.com


WHY A 20 MINUTE

NAP COULD SAVE

YOUR LIFE

It takes over 1

minute and 30 seconds

for a smoke alarm to

activate in a fire; add

another minute and 30

seconds to report the fire

by calling 9-1-1. Don't

forget, a fire doubles in

size every 30 seconds.

W

by FIRE and LIFE SAFETY EDUCATOR /PIO [email protected]

fire and life safety

With the rash of cooking fires our department has experienced

lately, it is time to get down to fire safety basics. A fire needs 4

things to create combustion: fuel, heat, oxygen and a chemical

chain reaction. Like it or not, the 3 leading causes of fire are men,

women and children; either accidental or intentional. The fire

department responds when you call 9-1-1 and are dispatched.

Based upon national accreditation standards, Columbus Fire &

Rescue responds to 90% of fire emergencies within 5 minutes and

25 seconds; however, response time is influenced by factors such

as distance from fire stations, time of day, traffic, weather, etc. It

takes over 1 minute and 30 seconds for a smoke alarm to activate

in a fire; add another minute and 30 seconds to report the fire by

calling 9-1-1. Don't forget, a fire doubles in size every 30 seconds.

Your home can become fully engulfed in flames by the time the

firefighters arrive. The firefighters will risk their lives to save these

men, women and children that cause the fire.

Based on 2006-2010 annual averages (Source: National Fire

Protection Association):

- Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing

factor in home cooking fires.

- Two-thirds (67%) of home cooking fires started with the

ignition of food or other cooking materials.

- Three of every five (57%) reported non-fatal home cooking

fire injuries occurred when the victims tried to fight the fire

themselves.

- Clothing was the item first ignited in less than 1% of these

fires, but these incidents accounted for 16% of the cooking

fire deaths.

- Frying poses the greatest risk of fire.

- Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires.

Stop a cooking fire before it starts:

- Keep towels, pot holders, and curtains away from flames,

ovens, and stove tops.

- Never leave food that is cooking on the stove alone. A serious fire

can start in just seconds.

- Never use the stove or oven to heat your home.

- Clean cooking surfaces regularly to prevent grease buildup,

which can start fires.

COOKINGSAFETYFACTS


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Columbus Fire and Rescue Magazine Volume 3 Number 2

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Transcript of Columbus Fire and Rescue Magazine Volume 3 Number 2