August Recap
Incidents
Wexford VFC volunteers kept busy with 105 calls in August. Fifty-five (55) incidents involved fire and rescue-related responses and fifty (50) incidents were for quick response emergency medical calls. Notable incidents included a residential structure fire response in the Highland district of McCandless and demolished building fire in Marshall. A total of thirty (30) members responded to calls in June. Our average turnout time (dispatch to the first unit on the road) was two minutes and seven seconds. Our average response time (dispatch to the first unit on the scene) was seven minutes and six seconds.
Crews work at a residential fire in McCandless
Here is a breakdown of our incidents for April by major incident type:
Fire- 4
Fire Alarm- 15
Good Intent- 22
Hazardous Condition- 3
Rescue & QRS-54
Service Call-5
Severe Weather Related- 2
TOTAL- 105
Training
Hydrant valve training
August was an active month for training at the Wexford VFC. Highlights included training nights on our new hydrant valves and rapid intervention training. The hydrant valves will be used to help boost pressure and volume in areas where the hydrant system has low pressure. The first fire engine to arrive at the hydrant drops the valve at the hydrant and lays a hose to the fire. The next fire engine finishes connecting the valve by connecting a hose from the valve to their pump intake, and a second hose from their pump discharge back to the valve. This allows the second fire engine to take water from the hydrant, boost its pressure and send it back through the valve to the first fire engine.
Members practice CPR as part of rapid intervention training
Rapid intervention training involves skills needed to rescue other firefighters at a fire. This could be due to a collapse, disorientation, a medical emergency, or a number of other scenarios. Firefighters learned and practiced techniques to locate distressed firefighters, assess their condition, and remove them from the building. As part of the training, members also practiced scenarios where firefighting gear needs to be removed to start CPR. More neighboring departments have been using the Wexford VFC to provide a rapid intervention crew at their fires, so we have been adding more training like this tour schedule.
Community Outreach
Engine 1 at the Pine Ridge Manor block party
We made a visit to the Pine Ridge Manor block party early in the month. Kids (and adults) had a chance to tour the fire engine and visit with firefighters. We also made a stop at a lemonade stand organized by children at the Christopher Wren Apartments. We are also happy to make community appearances whenever possible. If you are in Pine and are having an event that you’d like us to visit, send us an event request by clicking here.