Inside this issue:

Fire & EMS Run Review 1

Fire Department Operations 2

EMS Bureau Report 3

Fire Prev./ Public Safety 4

Maintenance Bureau 6

Training Bureau 7

In Their Own Words 8

Planning to Protect... ...Acting to Save

September 2017 Volume 5, Issue 9

WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT

…..Acting to Save

Preparation is Key to Autumn Fun

As summer is winding up

and we finish all of our

summer activities we

start to see and feel that

fall is almost here. Every

new season that we en-

joy in Wisconsin also

brings new types of ac-

tivities we can experi-

ence and additional yard

work for some. Here are

a few important safety

tips as we prepare for

autumn in Wisconsin.

Heating Your Home

-Check your furnace and

verify it is operating cor-

rectly.

-It is recommended to

have your furnace pro-

fessionally serviced, this

could save you money

later on.

-Remember to change

the filter in your furnace

too.

-You may want your

chimney cleaned, in-

spected and confirm the

flue is in working order.

YEARS of SERVICE ~ September

LT. M. Heinen ..……09/21/94

MPO D. Reisdorf…....09/16/01

Emergency Activities

Types of Calls September

2017 September

2016

Year to Date (2017)

Year to Date (2016)

Fires Calls 36 44 294 322 Emergency Medical Calls 274 255 2304 2165 Paramedic Intercepts 9 16 129 105 Interfacility Transports 38 36 333 348 Community Paramedics 6 0 11 0

Totals 363 351 3071 2940

Town of Barton Calls 5 4 100 76 Town of West Bend Calls 15 11 100 91

Continued page 2

Page 2

Fall Yard Work

-Remember to pace your-

self.

-Always wear proper safe-

ty equipment, especially if

using power tools.

-If you are using power

tools you are not familiar

with be sure to read the

manufactures safety re-

quirements or ask some-

one that has used it for

help.

-Cleaning gutters, be sure

to use the proper ladder

and don’t take any unnec-

essary risks.

Fall Driving

-Be aware of changes to

the roadway from leaves,

they can sometimes be

distracting and also make

the road slippery, making

braking more difficult.

- Be aware of people who

rake their leaves into the

road-way and children

may be playing in the

leaves.

Fall Hiking

- Know the trail you are

going to be on and have a

map or bring a GPS just

in case.

- Wear your clothing in

layers, remember this is

Wisconsin and weather

can and will change every

15 minutes.

- Start your hikes earlier

in the day if possible. It

gets darker earlier and

earlier in fall.

- If you are hiking later in

the day be sure to have a

flashlight with you and if

you are walking on a road

during dusk to have light

colored or reflective cloth-

ing on.

- Be prepared for any wild

life you may encounter,

have a plan for how you

will defend yourself.

To many people in Wis-

consin fall is the reason

they live here. We want

everyone to make sure

your home is ready for the

winter months that lay

ahead and also spend

some time enjoying the

outdoors. And especially

we want everyone to be

safe and have fun!!

Continued from page 1

Preparation is Key to Autumn Fun

Thank you to Brianna Karls

of the West Bend West High

Scholl girls varsity volleyball

team.

Brainna

spear-

headed an

effort to

get Teddy

bears for

the West

Bend and

Jackson

Fire De-

partments. Free admission

was granted to fans who do-

nated a new Teddy bear at a

recent home volleyball game

against the Homestead High-

landers. About 100 Teddy

bears were donated. The Ted-

dy bears are given to children

who are treated for injuries

and illnesses in our paramedic

units. The bears must have

been good luck as the Spar-

tans won all three games that

evening.

Safety Tip: If possible, do not

use space heaters, they can be

dangerous and are the cause of

many fires each year.

Page 3

September 15th was Nation-

al Concussion Awareness

Day. Not that a paramed-

ic can diagnose a concus-

sion, but we can help with

the treatment and preven-

tion of concussions. At the

end of August and early

September we conducted a

few trainings with the Ath-

letic Trainers that work at

the West Bend High

Schools. Kyle Butters and

Wendy Reitz who are em-

ployed by Aurora Sports

Health work at the West

Bend High Schools. They

came to the firehouse for

three days of training. This

way each of our three shifts

were able to work with

them and ask questions.

They informed us on what

services they provide at the

schools and the different

types of equipment we may

encounter. It gave us and

them the opportunity to

have a game plan, to see

how we would work togeth-

er when/if there is in injury

on one of the athletic fields.

They reviewed all the dif-

ferent locations that games

and practices are held at

the High School campus as

well as different routes we

can use to save time. They

updated our Paramedics on

some of the newer styles of

football helmets and shoul-

der pads, in case we need to

remove them. Information

about concussions were dis-

cussed as well as the pro-

cess for allowing a player

back to practice or a game.

The final topic was spinal

injury and precautions that

can be done to prevent fur-

ther injury. This was a

chance for everyone to

work together and get a

student athlete from the

ground to our cot. Once on

the cot we placed the in-

jured athlete into the am-

bulance and transport to

the most appropriate facili-

ty.

Emergency Medical Services Bureau Battalion Chief Tom Thrash

EMS Training with Athletic Trainers

Page 4

Fire Prevention & Public Safety Bureau Fire Safety Education, Code Enforcement and Fire Investigation

Deputy Chief Chuck Beistle

Community risk reduc-

tion is the primary focus

of West Bend Fire De-

partment personnel. Re-

ducing the incidence of

fires reduces death and

injury as well as increas-

es overall economic

productivity. In the

month of September,

West Bend Fire Depart-

ment personnel:

Completed 240 regu-

lar annual and semi-

annual fire inspec-

tions

Installed smoke de-

tectors at a residence

in the City of West

Bend

Installed two resi-

dential Knox boxes

for a city resident

Consulted with 6

businesses regarding

fire extinguishers,

fire pits, air handling

systems, and exits

Performed a tent and

a fireworks inspec-

tion

Witnessed a fire

alarm acceptance test

at a multi family res-

idence

Had one business

that required inter-

vention from the fire

and electrical inspec-

tors.

Numerous false fire

alarm follow ups.

At 3:30 a.m. on Satur-

day, September 16th,

2017, the West Bend

Fire Department was

dispatched for a working

fire at Advanced Coat-

ings, 304 E Progress Dr.

Upon arrival, the crews

noted heavy fire coming

from the exterior on the

east side of the structure.

Once the fire on the ex-

terior of the structure

was under control, fire

crews entered the build-

ing and found a heavy

smoke condition. The

fire crews noted that the

sprinkler system had

contained the fire, with

no additional spread to

the interior of the struc-

ture.

Fire sprinkler systems

are an important ancil-

lary system to prevent

the spread of fires. This

fire started on the exteri-

or of the business, and

spread to the inside. The

sprinkler system was

effective in suppressing

the fire and reducing the

amount of damage. The

business was operating

within a few days of the

fire. The fire sprinkler

system was effective in

keeping this particular

business economically

viable and continued

productivity.

According to the Nation-

al Fire Protection Asso-

ciation (NFPA), sprin-

klers are effective in

controlling the fires in

96% of the time they

operated. This spr in-

kler save is another ex-

ample of the added value

that fire sprinkler sys-

tems provide. The re-

duced amount of down

time after the fire not

only increased the

productivity of this par-

ticular business, but al-

lowed customers to keep

receiving their product

and suppliers to continue

ship needed materials

for the end user. Sprin-

klers show that they are

economically viable and

worth the expense.

A view from the inside of the building after the fire

sprinkler system suppressed a fire that started on

the exterior at 304 E Progress Dr.

Page 5

Fire Prevention & Public Safety Bureau Fire Safety Education, Code Enforcement and Fire Investigation

by Captain Kenny Asselin

strips, they should only

be utilized for their rated

listings. They are regu-

lated as “Relocatable

Power Taps” in the Na-

tional Electric Code and

NFPA 1. Underwriters

Laboratories (UL) rat-

ings state that power

strips should be used for

small electronics such as

computers and printers.

They are not rated for

small appliances such as

dehumidifiers and coffee

makers. Small applianc-

es should only be

plugged into a perma-

nent electrical outlet.

regulating extension

cords. Chapter 11.1.7.5

states, “Extension cords

and flexible cords shall

not be affixed to struc-

tures, extend through

walls, ceiling, or floors,

or under doors or floor

coverings; or be subject

to environmental or

physical damage. The

electrical inspector en-

forces the National elec-

tric code, which basical-

ly states the same as

above in NEC 400.08(1)

and (2).

When it comes to power

injuries, damage to the

structure, and loss of

contents. The West

Bend Fire Department

wants to educate people

on best practices and

safety precautions. The

reasons codes are writ-

ten is to reduce the fac-

tors that are statistical-

ly proven to start fires.

Following the codes re-

duce the statistical

chance of a fire occur-

ring.

NFPA 1, the adopted

fire code in the State of

Wisconsin, has codes

The West Bend Fire De-

partment Fire Prevention

Bureau receives com-

plaints from time to time

regarding fire prevention

issues. We recently re-

ceived a complaint of a

local business that was

not complying with

some fire prevention and

electrical issues. When

those kinds of com-

plaints are received, the

Fire Prevention Bureau

teams up with the build-

ing inspector, the electri-

cal inspector, and the

police department to

help resolve the code

violations.

In this case, there were

numerous violations, but

most were relatively mi-

nor electrical issues. We

are working with the

business owner and the

building owner to re-

solve the issues. We

would like to thank the

building and business

owners for the coopera-

tion. They are actively

pursuing solutions to the

code violations that were

discovered.

When issues such as

these are brought to our

attention, our focus is on

correcting the violations

to prevent deaths,

Some of the more common fire inspection violations that we find are the

use of power strips for small appliances (not rated for that type of use)

and extension cords that extend through openings in walls.

Operations and Maintenance Page 6

Not A Normal Work Day for City Administrator

City Administrator Jay

Shambeau had a long

day at work on Friday,

September 8. But it was-

n’t his usual work day in

his office. Instead he

packed a bag and spent

it with the Green Shift

at Fire Station #1. The

day started off as a typi-

cal day in the firehouse

with the on-coming shift

checking equipment and

setting the day’s plan.

Crews took Mr. Sham-

beau through some basic

job familiarization about

how they operate on

medical and fire calls. A

training was set up to

run through fire scenari-

os in the training house,

located downstairs in the

old police shooting

range. Crews were about

five minutes into the self

-contained breathing ap-

paratus evolutions when

several calls were re-

ceived and that was the

way the rest of the day

went. By the end of the

shift the department had

responded to 22 calls.

Jay stated he accompa-

nied Med 11 on eight

himself with several

medical calls and an in-

ter-facility transfer.

City Administrator Jay Shambeau spent a 24 hour shift at the fire department. He is caught dust mop-

ping the floor of the fire station (Above left) as part of the daily duties. SCBA training in full turnout

gear (Center). Working through the maze with wire entrapments while in full gear (right).

Three Fires Make for a Busy Saturday Fire crews responded to

three working fires on

Saturday, September

16.

The first fire was located

at Advanced Coatings,

304 E. Progress Drive

for a dumpster fire. The

fire spread to the build-

ing where an automatic

sprinkler stopped the

advancing flames.

Engine 3 was called to

Richfield on a MABAS

second box level later in

the morning to assist

with a house fire. Crews

helped to ventilate the

roof of the house.

Kohlsville Fire Depart-

ment activated the

MABAS system for a

shed fire in the Town of

Wayne. West Bend Fire

Department assisted

with a Tender.

No injuries were report-

ed in any of the fires.

Fire Instruction & Training Bureau Deputy Chief Chuck Beistle & Captain Tom Thrash

Page 7

Annual Hazardous Materials Training

The West Bend Fire

Department trained on

the mitigation of haz-

ardous materials inci-

dents.

All of our personnel

are part of the Wash-

ington County Hazard-

ous Materials Team.

Our firefighter / para-

medics are trained to

the Hazardous Materi-

als Technician level.

The training consists

of classroom as well

as real life training

scenarios. Do to the

serious nature of any

hazardous material

and the threat to the

public and environ-

ment, this is always a

great class to look for-

ward to each year.

Fortunately true Haz

Mat calls are not an

everyday event, but

for that reason it is a

great refresher for all

of our members.

We also had partici-

pants from surround-

ing Fire Departments

as well as local busi-

nesses.

Thanks to the folks

at Emergency Re-

sponse Specialists

(ERS) for another

great year!

325 N 8th Ave.

West Bend, WI 53095

262.335.5054

www.ci.west-bend.wi.us

In Their Own Words…...

WEST BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT

Planning to Protect… ...Acting to Save

The back page of our newsletter features a note or card that we have received from our customers….the

people we serve. Whether it is during an ambulance call, fire call, or a public education assign-

ment, the members of the West Bend Fire Department are always dedicated to making

their contact with area residents a positive experience.

Personnel Spotlight: Firefighter/

Paramedic Jake

Lodl began his

career with the

West Bend Fire

Department in

January of 2016.

Prior to coming

to West Bend,

Jake was a Part

Time Firefighter

with Bellevue

near Green Bay.

Jake has an As-

sociates degree

from Lakeshore

Tech in Fire

Medic, also has

numerous other

Wisconsin certi-

fications.

Jake recently

was married in

June of 2017 to

his wife Megan.

They both enjoy

taking care of

their dog Beau

and taking long

walks on the

beach.