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March 2016
Volume 3 Issue 3
Central Fire Station
271 North Street
Phone: 207-282-3244
Fax: 207-282-8203
Web: www.sacomaine.org
Fire Chief
Chief John L. Duross
Deputy Fire Chiefs
Deputy Chief Robert A. Martin
Deputy Chief David O Pendleton
Call Division Chief
Raynald Legendre
Public Education Coordinator
Karl Finley
EMS Coordinator
Clif Whitten
Fire Training Coordinator
Lieutenant David Hamel
FROM THE CHIEF…….
Happy Springtime to our staff and to the people of Saco and our neighbor-ing communities that we serve. Each spring brings a renewed opportunity to reflect upon our department activity during the past months and to consider our near and long term goals.
Working in our Fire/Emergency Services during the winter months and over the holiday season can be especially challenging for our firefighters and EMS staff. In Fire/Emergency Medical Services we are faced with tragedy and loss all too often. Over the Christmas holiday, the tragic house fire and loss of life that oc-curred from a residential fire on Christmas morning put our department to the test. I am pleased and quite proud to state that every member of our department who responded to that incident performed at their highest training level and with the highest degree of professionalism. The superlative efforts of all off and on scene firefighters significantly diminished the loss.
Our FY’ 15 Saco Fire Department Annual Report, July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015, is scheduled to be released. Please take the opportunity to view it. Once available, a link to the report will be posted on the City of Saco Web Site (www.sacomaine.org) and on our Fire Department home web page. We are confi-dent that the annual report is an excellent resource for reviewing and evaluating our departmental performance over the past year and our planning for the future. Thank you to all who contributed to its production.
According to the United States Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association, the winter months are the leading time of year for home fires, but regrettably, such fires continue to occur at any time of the year and in any place. We join the USFA and the NFPA in reminding you to keep fire safety in mind all during the year. Exercising care when burning materials outside after spring cleanups, keeping a safe distance between combustible materials and heat-ing elements, making certain your clothes dryer vent is free from obstructions and maintaining your heating system equipment in good working order are just a few of the safety recommendations we provide to help to minimize the risk of a home fire. We strongly encourage the use of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for early fire and smoke warnings and detection. Have an emergency evacuation plan in
place to follow for you and your family or you and your employees in the case of a home or business safety emergency.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Saco Fire Department for their hard work and superior efforts over the past winter season.
My Best regards,
John L. Duross, Fire Chief
Saco Fire Department-Saco, Maine
Chief Duross
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Test your Fire and Safety Knowledge about ——————— Spring & Summer Safety
Courtesy of ConsumerReports, here’s a few true or false questions:
1) True or False: Heat related illness may strike even when it is not extremely hot.
True. Even when temperatures are not extremely high, humidity, sun exposure, exercise, and inadequate water intake can each increase the risk and help trigger heat exhaustion
2) True or False: For optimal health , the less sun exposure, the better.
False. Unless you're consuming plenty of vitamin D, you need a little sunlight to stimulate production of that vitamin and, in turn, keep your bones healthy.
3) True or False: Wearing sunblock under your clothing can be a good idea.
True. You can get sunburned right through fabrics that let pinpoints of light shine through when they're held up to strong illumination, particularly if they're light-colored.
4) True or False: If a sunscreen protects you for many hours, you can reapply it and safely stay in the sun for several hours.
False: Even with scrupulously applied sunscreen, some radiation still slips through. Eventually, the cumulative effects will start to burn your skin if you stay outdoors too long. So think about how long you are in sunlight exposure.
5) True or False: Darker sunglasses protect your eyes better.
False: The darkness of the glasses has nothing to do with their protectiveness against the main types of ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB. Instead, a chemical in or on the lense(s) does the job.
6) True or False: Insect repellents that contain deet are too risky to use regularly or to use on children.
False: The risks of catching a dangerous disease, such as West Nile or Lyme disease, from an infected tick or mosquito are far more worrisome than the very slight risks from deet, which is still the best way to prevent those illnesses.
7) True or False: If a deer tick bites you, there’s usually a small chance of getting Lyme disease.
True: For one thing, only some ticks carry the disease, even in regions where it's prevalent .
8) True or False: If you are stung by a bee, remove the stinger as quickly as possible any way that you are able.
True: Remove the stinger immediately with whatever is handy—including your fingernails—and don't waste time seeking a tool.
9) True or False: To remove ticks, apply nail polish, oil, alcohol, peanut butter, a burnt match or heat to the tick.
False: Home remedies to kill or make bugs "let go" are, at best, ineffective and can even be dangerous. The best way to remove an embedded tick is to grasp it with tweezers close to the skin and slowly but firmly pull it off
10) True or False: If you haven’t had an allergic reaction to an insect bite before, you don’t need to worry .
False: Very few people react to their first sting, but in the roughly 20 percent of people who are hypersensitive to the venom, each subsequent sting by the same type of insect—or in some cases by another insect—intensifies the reaction. See a doctor if you experience either major swelling at the sting site—an entire limb is swollen, for example—or systemic symptoms such as hives, fever, painful joints, or swollen glands. Get immediate medical help if you experience any of these signs of a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction: nausea, abdominal cramps, or vomiting; hoarseness or swelling in the throat or face; chest pain or rapid heartbeat; difficulty breathing; faintness; or confusion. If you're allergic to insect stings, ask your doctor to prescribe an epinephrine-injection kit and carry it with you outdoors.
Saco Fire Department-Saco, Maine
Say...can you rearrange these letters to
spell a word associated with our de-
partment and public safety?
The answer is elsewhere in our newsletter
B A O CK DB A
Incident Responses by your
Fire Department
From January through February,
Department personnel responded to
the many needs of our citizens,
businesses and surrounding com-
munities. The total of incident re-
sponses was 452 as compared to
598 in the same period a year ago.
Of the 452 total calls during this
time period, 367 or 81.2%, were
medical emergencies. Last year in
the same period, there were 460
medical emergency calls, or 76.92%
of the total for that time period. R
Prevent falling at home: Organize your clutter - remove it from floor & stairs Tack down loose carpets and throw rugs Install Grab Bars and Handrails in baths & on stairs
3
At a recent City Council meeting, Saco Fire Chief John Duross and Captain Marc Paquette were honored by the City for their individual 35 years of service to the City.
Chief John was hired as a Saco Firefighter in 1980. After
completing EMT school, recognizing the importance of training
and education, he enrolled in the Fire Science Degree Program
at Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute. In 1987,
John joined the Maine Fire Training Service and worked as a
State Certified Fire Instructor teaching fire related topics to
firefighters throughout the State and continues to do so today.
John was promoted to Captain on July 1, 1990 and in 1995,
John was appointed as Deputy Fire Chief. In 2010, John was
appointed Chief of the Department. For more than 35 years,
Fire Chief John has proudly served the citizens of Saco and the
Maine Fire Service Community and continues to demonstrate
his commitment and dedication to his chosen profession.
Pictured are Marc Paquette and Fire Chief John Duross
Captain Marc is currently serving as the Shift Commander of
B-Shift. As Shift Commander, Marc is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Fire/EMS service and service delivery to meet the needs of our citizens and our department. For 35 years, Marc has proudly served the citizens of Saco and has time and time again demonstrated his commitment and dedication to the Fire Service.
As was announced, Saco is fortunate to have the services of John and of Marc.
Saco Fire Department-Saco, Maine
ANNUAL SACO FIRE DEPARTMENT
OPEN HOUSE
Bring all the family and friends to
See and Learn about your Saco Fire Department
On Saturday, April 9, 2016
From 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
At the Central Fire Station
At 271 North Street Saco, ME Free Refreshments and Chili for all who attend!
Public Education Programs Courtesy of Karl Finley
Public Education Coordinator
Spring Clean Ups and Burning Permits
A written burning permit must be obtained prior to any outside burning
within the City of Saco. Permits may be picked up from 7 AM to 10 PM
at the Central Fire Station. Permits are considered valid for the date of
issue and until 9 AM the following day. Fires and Burning Permits will
not be allowed on a class four or class five day.
By law, the only things that can be burned are brush, leaves and clean
wood. All other materials must be brought to the transfer station on
Foss Road.
Hear the Beep where
you Sleep. Every Bed-
room needs a working
Fire & Smoke Alarm!
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The Saco Fire Department, after accepting delivery, recently placed into
active service, its new City of Saco Fire Department Engine 5. Built on a Cinder custom chassis with an extruded aluminum body, Engine 5 is a 2016 Ferrara MVP (Multi Vocational Pumper). It is equipped with a Hale® ‘Qmax 1,250 to 2,000 GPM (Gallons Per Minute) pump with a FoamPro® 2002 motor-driven, flow-based proportioning system that measures water flow and then injects a proportional amount of foam concentrate to maintain a preset percentage for fire suppression.
Engine 5 carries up to 1000 gallons of water and 50 gallons of foam and was designed to meet the increasing public safety responsibilities assigned to the Fire Department. Engine 5 is assigned as first due at the scene of motor vehicle accidents and specialized rescue incidents. Housed in the Central Fire Station, Engine 5 functions to provide a water and foam supply during fire incidents and with its specialized equipment, Engine 5 also responds to medical emergencies accompanied by an Advanced Life Support Ambulance as determined by the Priority Dispatch Emergency Medical Dispatch Protocols followed by the City of Saco.
Engine 5 replaces Engine 7 which was traded in as part of the purchase. Engine 7 was in service to the Department for over 15 years and recorded responding to over 15,000 emergency calls before its utility for the City was exhausted.
Engine 5 is staffed by members of the Department’s on-duty trained Firefighters, EMT’s and Paramedics. Additionally, all members of the Department are trained to operate the various specialized equipment carried aboard the new Engine which includes the Department’s Gas Detection equipment, Confined Space, Heavy Rescue and Extrication devices.
Saco Fire Chief, John L. Duross, explained that the purchase of Engine 5 was made through the Houston-Galveston Cooperative Outreach Program. This national program assists local governments in reducing costs through a pre-bidding process. The Department met with several qualifying manufacturers and selected Ferrara Fire Apparatus as it provided the best price while meeting Department specifications. Chief Duross stated that the focus of firefighting is shifting from carrying large amounts of fire hose to compartmentation for effective and efficient operations at medical calls and specialized rescues. “Engine 5 is better engineered for our significant volume of calls that are not fire suppression related as well as operating as a fully functional pumper at a fire”, said Chief Duross.
Fire Chief Duross announced that Engine 5, along with all of the Saco Fire Department apparatus and emergency equipment, will be on display during the Annual Open House, on April 9, 2016, at the Central Station on North Street.
Saco Fire Department-Saco, Maine
Meet Your Department ……. You see them at various safety incidents, city meetings and
volunteering for our community. You my have met them
when you needed help. Ever wonder who are these people?
Where did they come from? And, why are they here?
Here’s a little bit of information about our some of our de-
partment staff…….we’ll be featuring our other staff mem-
bers in future newsletters.
Chief John Duross grew up in Saco and graduated from Thornton Acade-my. John and his spouse, Prudie, have a family consisting of children Donna, Amy, Kevin, Matt and Saman-tha. John joined the Saco Fire De-partment in 1978 at the encourage-ment of his Dad, a Saco Call Division Captain, and with a lifelong desire to provide public service to Saco.
Deputy Chief Robert A. Martin III grew up in Lyman and graduated from Massabesic High. Rob and his wife Nancy, have two children, Marc and Mary. A volunteer firefighter at age 14, Rob spent much of his early years preparing for a career in the Fire and Emergency Medical Service. He was a certified FF/EMT by high school graduation and joined the De-partment in 1988.
Deputy Chief David O. Pendleton grew up in Saco and graduated from Thornton Academy. David and his spouse, Brigitte, have a daughter, Va-lerie. From a 14 year old Junior Fire-fighter in Saco, to Volunteer at the Camp Ellis Station to Career Fire-fighter, David has followed the path of his father (former Saco Fire Chef) and older brother, Kenneth, a Saco Fire-fighter.
Call Division Chief Raynald Legendre grew up in Saco and is a graduate of Thornton Academy and attended Southern Maine Community College. Ray and his spouse, Sandra, have two children, Meghan and Matthew. A veteran of the Army, Ray took an in-terest in firefighting from his Uncle and Cousin who served in the Depart-ment and committed to teach new firefighters and assist those in trouble.
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The Saco Fire Department publish-
es its online newsletter bimonthly.
To receive an email notifying you
when it is published, please visit our
newsletter page and complete the
email sign up information.
Just click below to sign up:
For the latest on what’s happening
at Saco City Hall, see the newest
edition of the City Hall newsletter by
clicking below:
Saco Fire Department-Saco, Maine
THE PEPPERELL POST
Fire Department Newsletters
Our latest Annual Report with
detailed information on Depart-
ment activities, responses, equip-
ment, facilities, personnel and
operations is available on our
website. To view or download
the Annual Report, click:
ANNUAL REPORTS
We encourage you to be watchful of our elderly and infirmed neighbors. Should you
believe an elderly or infirmed neighbor needs medical or emergency assistance, don’t
hesitate to contact our Department for information and help.
EMS Week Personal Thank You
News from our Crews
The American Red Cross conducted a very successful Blood Drive that was held in our training room at Cenral Station. Assistance was provided by Department personnel who also volunteered as blood donors.
During our 2015 EMS week, a grateful Sa-
co resident presented the Department with
a very special Thank You for the life saving efforts the Department provided. Our thanks
to the Saco Frame Center in Pepperell Square for their beautiful framing of the Thank
You which was recently placed in
the Central Fire Station.
Every Holiday, sponsored in conjunction with the Salvation Ar-
my, a deserving family from the Saco community that is in
need of assistance is ’adopted’ by members of the Saco Fire
Department. Typically the family has 4-5 members with several
small children.
Page 2 word solution: BACKBOARD
Focus on Department Staffing
Chief John Duross recently announced the appointment of Clif Whitten as our Emer-
gency Services Coordinator. Clif has served as a Firefighter and Paramedic
with the Department since 2010. We wish Clif success as he acclimates to his new
duties.
Chief Duross also announced the following appointments in our Call Division:
Stephen Bishop, a Saco resident, as Call Division Firefighter
Jillian Gagne, a Saco resident, as Call Division Firefighter
Kevin Chamberlain, a Saco resident, as Call Division Firefighter
The Department and staff extends our welcome to Stephen, Jillian and Kevin and
our thanks for your commitment of service to the Department and Saco.
Members of the Department also organ-
ize a giving tree, filling between 50 to
100 giving tree tags. The tags are
placed on the tree at our Central Station
and at City Hall. The tags are gifts filled
by the professional firefighters, mem-
bers of the Call Division, Department
Administrators and City Hall staff.
Holiday Gift Giving Delivery
Holiday Gift Giving Delivery
Saco Frame Center
