Columbus Fire and Rescue Magazine

PUBLISHER

COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI FIRE and RESCUE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

FIRE CHIEF KENNETH MOORE

EDITOR

FIREFIGHTER ANTHONY COLOM

DESIGN & LAYOUT


PHOTOGRAPHY

FIRE & LIFE SAFETY EDUCATOR / PIO CAROLE SUMMERALL

ENGINEER WES MIMS


CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

CHIEF OF TRAINING DUANE HUGHES

FIRE & LIFE SAFETY EDUCATOR / PIO CAROLE SUMMERALL

ENGINEER WES MIMS

BATTALION CHIEF MARTIN ANDREWS

STAFF

KENNETH MOORE - FIRE CHIEF

MARTIN ANDREWS: A-SHIFT BATTALION CHIEF

CHRIS HANSEN: B-SHIFT BATTALION CHIEF

MARK WARD: C-SHIFT BATTALION CHIEF

NEAL AUSTIN: SPECIAL OPERATIONS CHIEF

DUANE HUGHES: CHIEF OF TRAINING

TODD WEATHERS: FIRE MARSHAL

CAROLE SUMMERALL: FIRE & LIFE SAFETY EDUCATOR / PIO

LINDA HANSON: EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE FIRE CHIEF

Columbus Fire and Rescue Department

205 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 © 2012, Columbus, Mississippi Fire and Rescue Department.

CONTENTS

DILLON:

The New Fire & Rescue Dog.... PAGE 6

TAKING A STAND ON SEATBELT USE:

Hugh Lee Newell’s Story.... PAGE 20

THE CHIEF’S CHAIR: Training,

Prevention, and Best Customer

Service.... PAGE 8

EDITOR’S NOTE: A New

Perception.... PAGE 10

CHILD SAFETY SEATS SAVE LIVES ..... PAGE 9

2011 KIDS FIRE ACADEMY..... PAGE 16

COUNCILMAN MICKENS PARTICIPATES IN PUBLIC

AND ELECTED OFFICIALS DAY AT THE MISSISSIPPI

FIRE ACADEMY... PAGE 22

SMOKE DIVING: CITY PROPERTY BURNED TO MAKE

WAY FOR NEW SPORTS COMPLEX .... 24

COLUMBUS FIREFIGHTERS VISIT MISSISSIPPI’S

BURN CAMP ..... PAGE 26

COLUMBUS FIRE & RESCUE’S 2011 CHRISTMAS

PARTY ...... PAGE 27

25+ YEARS OF SERVICE: FOUR FIREFIGHTERS

RETIRE IN 2011 ..... PAGE 30

FIRE & LIFE SAFETY

SEASONAL FIRES:

Cold Weather Increases Indoor Activites

and A Need For Heat... PAGE 14

FIRE SAFETY MONTH PHOTOS ..... PAGE 28

THE TRAINING SECTION

TRAINING PHOTOS..... PAGE 11

AROUND THE STATION

PHOTOS OF STAFF & FIREFIGHTERS....

PAGE 15 & 23

FEATURESEDITORIAL

SPECIALDEPARTMENTS

06 l COLUMBUS FIRE AND RESCUE MAGAZINE l (662) 329-5121

AAs you all know by now, we have a search and rescue dog named Dillon. Dillon is a four-

year-old Golden Retriever. Jason Purgason, a highly regarded working dog trainer with

Highland Canine Training in Harmony, North Carolina, trained him for a SAR team in

Florida that was manned by volunteer dog handlers. Dillon's original handler could not

continue with the team for personal reasons and Dillon ended up back with Jason at the

kennel. Because most handlers want to train their dogs as a puppy, Jason kept Dillon at

the kennel and used him to help train other dogs and handlers. Dillon was so good at his

job that when I was there to train with him, they let out classes to watch him work. Jason

felt like Dillon had a lot to offer a SAR team and began a search to find him a home. Dogs

of his caliber often sell for as much as five thousand dollars but Dillon was offered for free

to a team willing to take an older dog. We were connected with Highland Canine through

Kathy Doty who worked with Jason on certifications around the south. Funds for dog food,

crates, vet bills, and other pet supplies is provided through Columbus Fire and Rescue's

budget.

Dillon can search using a couple of different methods. He can air scent by sampling the

air for a person's scent regardless of how long the person may have been there. He can

also ground scent by following a person's track, which can be limited by how old the track

may be and the ground conditions. When Dillon searches, he is actually looking for his

toy. The only time he is allowed to play is during training when he has located the person

who has his toy. When he locates the victim he is trained to bark repeatedly until he is

given his toy. I instruct volunteers who hide for his training to hold his toy until I can get to

him, and then they can give him his toy and play tug with him. This is his favorite reward

so it is important to play with him vigorously if you volunteer to hide. Dillon can perform

his search as an area search (overland search) or on a rubble pile simulating tornado or

earthquake damage. This training along with agility training on the agility course at station

two and general obedience training is performed three or four times a week.

As of now Dillon's certification is from Highland Canine and he and I are certified as a

team. If we were a volunteer team, we would be required to have a certification to prove

that we were capable of performing the job. Since we work for the agency that will deploy

us and which also oversees our training, we are not required to have that certification.

However, Homeland Security is in the process of outlining a certification that Dillon and I

will have to attain in order to work with other agencies.

Around the station, Dillon spends most of his day milling around the day room, going from

person to person looking for a pat on the head, or chewing on a rawhide bone. We have

been successful in training him to automatically go to his crate when the tone goes off. He

is usually in his crate for short periods of time, even though he is trained to stay in his crate

for long durations. He spends the night in his crate in the training room.

Dillon eats two cups of Purina One in the morning and two cups in the evening. His usual

feeding schedule is around six in the morning and around seven in the evening. He can-

not have table food because most of it will upset his stomach and in general it's just not

good for him. We are also not allowed to play with him in any manner because this would

eventually affect his desire to search for someone to play with.

Since we have to be ready at all times, Dillon goes with me to work and stays with me at

home. When I'm on vacation he will stay at station one. He seems to like home because

he has plenty of room to run when we go for walks. It is hard to tell which one he favors

most because he loves the all day attention he receives at the station as well. I am fortu-

nate to have the opportunity to work with Dillon and look forward to answering any ques-

tions you might have.

DILLON:THE NEW SEARCH AND

RESCUE DOG

BY ENGINEER WES [email protected]

W

THE CHIEF’S CHAIR

Welcome to the new Columbus Fire and Rescue Magazine. Thank you to Firefighter Anthony Colom for all his hard work

making this possible, as well as the individuals who took the time to write articles. The personnel of Columbus Fire and

Rescue do so much to make this possible..

A special thanks to the citizens of Columbus, and the Mayor and Council for their continued support of all the services we

provide.

We would like to introduce you to two of the most important and live-saving prevention programs we offer:

1. Smoke Detector program - if you own your home and can't afford one, we will provide you with a smoke detector. If

you are elderly and need help installing a smoke detector or changing a battery, the personnel of Columbus Fire and Rescue

are there to assist. There is no reason for any home to be without these valuable life-saving tools.

2. Car Seat Installation program - our certified technicians will ensure that your children and grandchildren are properly

traveling in secure seats.

This magazine is a tribute to all that the personnel of CFR do, and a way to recognize programs, individuals and the depart-

ment as a whole. Keeping it growing will require the efforts of everyone in the department.

Columbus Fire and Rescue Magazine will be distributed throughout the City in an effort to heighten the awareness and edu-

cate the public on what the department does and the many services that we provide. I am so excited about the first edition

and its possibilities. I hope when you, your family and friends see yourself or someone they know, you take as much pride in

it as I do in you.

Columbus Fire and Rescue has many things happening that can have a great impact on the future - National Accreditation, a

State Rating Bureau site visit, leadership training for all officers, recent promotions and new hiring - just to name a few. There

is so much still yet to accomplish, but can never be achieved without the help of so many people.

Our Vision: To Be the Best

Our Goal: Everyone Goes Home Safe

Our Objective: Training, Prevention and Best Customer Service

My closing thought goes to a recent event where I received an honor on behalf of Columbus Fire and Rescue called the

Unsung Heroes Award. Fire and Rescue personnel, here and throughout the Country, truly are the unsung heroes of emer-

gency services. In some ways like the Coast Guard, they go about the business of saving lives and property quietly and often

behind the scenes.

The guest speaker for that Martin Luther King, Jr. Day breakfast left us all so much to think about. He humbled us all by

reminding us that no matter how good any of us are, none of us would be anything without those who came before us. So

as we move forward to the future together, let's be humble but proud; smile, while being thankful and professional, as we serve.

And make the way better for those yet to come.

TRAINING,PREVENTION,

and BESTCUSTOMER SERVICE

BY FIRE CHIEF KENNETH MOORE

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[email protected]

08 l COLUMBUS FIRE AND RESCUE MAGAZINE l (662) 329-5121 CHECK YOUR SMOKE DETECT 09

CHECK YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS l COLUMBUS FIRE AND RESCUE MAGAZINE l 09

ACHILD SAFETY SEATS

SAVE LIVESAccording to the National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximate-

ly 7,500 lives have been saved by the proper use

of child restraints during the past 20 years.

Motor vehicle crashes still remain the number

one killer of children ages 4 to 14 in America.

Children ages 4 to 8 who use booster seats are

59 percent less likely to be injured in a car crash

than children who are restrained only by a seat

belt, according to a study by Children’s

Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Only 10 to

20 percent of children ages 4 through 7 who

should be using booster seats to protect them

are actually in them. This puts children at an

unnecessary risk of being injured or killed in

crashes because they are simply in the wrong

restraint for their size and age. One study

showed that children ages 2 to 5 who are

moved to seat belts too early have 4 times the

risk of a head injury in a crash. Children ages

4 through 7 are generally too small for adult

seat belts and need a “boost” to ensure the seat

belt will fit securely across their chests and low

across the upper thighs —to help prevent inter-

nal injuries, neck, head and spinal injuries, and

even ejection and death in the event of a crash.

If They’re Under 4’9”, They NEED a

Booster Seat

As children grow, how they need to be secured

in a car, truck, van or SUV changes. For maxi-

mum child passenger safety, parents and care-

givers simply need to remember and follow

these 4 Steps for Kids:

1) For the best possible protection keep infants

in the back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats,

as long as possible up to the height or weight

limit of the particular seat. At a minimum,

keep infants rear-facing until a minimum of age

1 and at least 20 pounds;

2) When children outgrow their rear-facing

seats (at a minimum age 1 and at least 20

pounds) they can ride in forward-facing child

safety seats, in the back seat, until they reach

the upper weight or height limit of the particu-

lar seat (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds);

3) Once children outgrow their forward-facing

seat (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds), they

should ride in booster seats, in the back seat,

until the vehicle seat belts fit properly. Seat

belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across

the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits

across the chest (usually at age 8 or when they

are 4’9” tall);

4) When children outgrow their booster seats,

(usually at age 8 or when they are 4’9” tall) they

can use the adult seat belt in the back seat, if it

fits properly (lap belt lays across the upper

thighs and the shoulder belt across the chest).

Some parents or caregivers may regard boost-

er seats as a hassle to use or a pain to con-

vince their children to use. But protecting the

ones we love means getting past the tempo-

rary complaints and perceived hassles because

the lives of children really are at risk. Do it

because you love them. Do it because it could

save their lives. Make it the law of your car.

For more information, contact:

Carole Summerall

Fire & Life Safety Education Officer

Columbus Fire & Rescue

(662) 329-5121

EDITOR’S NOTE

A

PERCEPTIONNEWP

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AAs you flip through the pages of our new Columbus Fire and Rescue Magazine, we hope that each

and every one of you will appreciate the work that we’ve put into making this publication one that

the city of Columbus and Lowndes County will enjoy, while using it as a guide to better under-

stand fire and life safety.

I was given the green light by Chief Moore in the summer of 2011 to go ahead and get the ball

rolling with this publication. I’d like to thank Chief Moore for giving me the opportunity to help

create this publication, and Mayor Smith and our city councilmen for their support. Chief Moore,

Fire and Life Safety Educator/Public Information Officer Carole Summerall, Engineer Wes Mims,

Chief of Training Duane Hughes, and Battalion Chief Martin Andrews all contributed a great deal

to this issue, and I thank them for their time, help, and support.

In creating and distributing our publication, we hope to educate, inform, and entertain our read-

ers. There’s a perception that we firefighters only fight fires. These days we wear many hats and

perform many duties: we’re firefighters, haz-mat techs, rope and confined-space rescuers, dive res-

cuers, car seat installers, overland search rescuers, arson investigators, fire marshals, inspectors,

fire-safety educators, and emergency medical technicians.

There’s so much about what we do that you, the public, don’t get an opportunity to see. The

Columbus Fire and Rescue Magazine will provide you the opportunity to see more of what we

actually do. We intend to make our reality your perception. A NEW PERCEPTION !

We thank you for the opportunity to serve you and the community, and we hope that you will con-

tinue to support us in all that we do.

[email protected] FIREFIGHTER ANTHONY COLOM

10 l COLUMBUS FIRE AND RESCUE MAGAZINE l (662) 329-5121 11

the

training

section


1.

2.

3.

5.

7.

9.10.

8.

6.

4.

1. Engineer Richard McBride2. Firefighter Michael Miller &

Engineer Eric Grant 3. Firefighter Chase

Taylor, retired battalion chief James Earl

Cunningham, retired engineer Mert

Campbell, & Engineer Alan Walker

4. Captain Jr. Lancaster with firefighter

5. Captain Jim Robbins, Engineer Doug Cox,

Firefighter Nathan Knepp, former

firefighter Brian Smith, Captain Bobby

Barksdale, & Engineer Shannon Murphy

6. Engineer Frederick Hargrove 7. Fire-fight-

er Will McReynolds, Firefighter Eric Minga,

& Engineer Frederick Hargrove

8. Captain Jr. Lancaster 9. Captain Jr.

Lancaster with firefighter 10. Engineer

Melvin Junkin & retired engineer Mert

Campbell with firefighters

11. Retired engineer Mert Campbell & EngineerMelvin Junkin 12. Firefighter Nathan Knepp

13. Chief of Training Duane Hughes 14. Firefighter

Shane Darrell, Firefighter Will McReynolds, &

Engineer Melvin Junkin 15. Chief of Training Duane

Hughes, Engineer Ray Whitson with new firefighter

recruits 16. Captain Larry Webber with new firefight-

er recruits.

Photos 1, 5, 6, 7, 12, and 14 by Firefighter Anthony

Colom. Photos 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, and 16 by

Engineer Wes Mims.

11. 12.

13.14.

15.

16.

AAs the temperature outside drops,

Columbus/Lowndes County families take to

the indoors to keep safe and warm. Cold win-

ter weather increases indoor activities and the

need for heating; what they may not realize is

that turning up the heat can increase the risk of

home heating fires. Home fires account for 83

percent of all civilian fire deaths. Heating

equipment is a leading cause of home fires dur-

ing the months of December, January and

February, and trails only cooking equipment in

home fires year-round.

On average, National Fire Protection

Association (NFPA) research show that heating

equipment is involved in roughly 70,000

reported U.S. home structure fires, with associ-

ated loss of more than 600 civilian deaths,

almost 1,600 civilian injuries and more than $1

billion in direct property damage.

"While these numbers are frightening, nearly all

of these fires are preventable," said Carole

Summerall, Columbus Fire & Rescue Fire and

Life Safety Educator. "We can reduce the num-

ber of home heating fires in our community be

taking some simple precautions and using heat-

ing equipment properly."

NFPA and Columbus Fire & Rescue recom-

mend some simple home heating safety tips, so

residents can help keep our community safe

and warm this winter.

Space heaters need space; keep all things that

can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture,

at least 3 feet away from heating equipment.

Turn portable heaters off when you go to bed

or leave the room. Plug power cord only into

outlets with sufficient capacity and never into

an extension cord. Inspect for cracked or bro-

ken plugs or loose connections. Install smoke

alarms and test them at least once a month;

they can be purchased for less than $5 at many

stores. Always provide adequate ventilation for

kerosene heaters. Burning kerosene consumes

oxygen, and produces carbon monoxide and

other dangerous gases which may cause you to

suffocate. Never leave burning candles unat-

tended and do not use an oven to heat your

home.

Practice home fire safety but most important is

to have and maintain working smoke alarms

and develop and practice an escape plan that

every family knows; they can

double your chance of sur-

viving a house fire.

For more information, con-

tact: Carole Summerall

(662) 329-5121 x [email protected]

SEASONAL FIRES:Cold Weather Increases Indoor

Activities and A Need For Heat

BY FIRE and LIFE SAFETY EDUCATOR / PIO

CAROLE SUMMERALL


FIRE & LIFE SAFETYP

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AROUND THE STATION

1. Engineer Brad Alexander 2. Captain Mike Chandler 3. New recruit Firefighter Terrance Colister 4.

Captain John Fancher 5. Engineer Brooks Pope 6. Engineer Richard McBride 7. Captain Andy Perkins 8.

Battalion Chief Martin Andrews 9. Engineer Ron Musgrove 10. Mrs. Linda Hanson Executive Assistant to

the Fire Chief 11. Engineer Darren Allbritton 12. Firefighter Damon Estes (All photos taken by Firefighter

Anthony Colom except 4 & 8)

1.

2.3.

4.

5.6.

7.

8.

10.11.

12.

9.

KIDS FIRE ACADEMY2011


E ACADEMYPhotos by Fire and Life Safety Educator / PIO Carole Summerall

Dramatic lens effect: Firefighter Anthony Colom

1. Engineer Jeff Edmondson with Academy student 2. Firefighter Michael Miller and Engineer Frederick

Hargrove with Academy students 3. Academy students on

Graduation Day 4. Councilman Gavin of Ward 6 present-

ing certificates to Academy students 5. Firefighter

Michael Miller, Firefighter Anthony Colom, Firefighter

Dale Ballard, and Engineer Jeff Edmondson 6. Engineer

Ray Whitson with Academy Student

All photos by Fire and Life Safety Educator / PIO

Carole Summerall

1. 2.

3.4.

5.6.

(left to right) Councilman Bill Gavin - Ward 6,

Fire Chief Kenneth Moore, Firefighter Michael

Miller, Firefighter Anthony Colom, Firefighter

Dale Ballard, Engineer Jeff Edmondson,

E-911 Director Sherry Fancher, Lowndes County

Emergency Management Director Cindy

Lawrence, and 2011 Kids Fire Academy Award

Winners.

TTAKING A STAND ON

SEATBELT USE:HUGH LEE NEWELL’S STORY

BY CHIEF OF TRAINING DUANE HUGHES

FEATURE ARTICLE

Traditionally, leadership in the fire

service has been seen reserved for the

higher ranks. Rarely have foot soldiers

established fire department policy or

vision. Some years back, I was present-

ed with the opportunity to change this

standard. Simply stated, I challenged

firefighters to use seatbelts. Holding

the rank of engineer, I was able to per-

suade many in my department that seat

belt use is not optional. With determi-

nation and a little courage, I proved

that leadership can spring from the

lower ranks.

Some years ago I attended an

Interpersonal Dynamics course at the

National Fire Academy. Dr. Burt Clark

appeared in class and gave a speech

concerning seatbelts and their lack of

use in the fire service. Although I was

not a supporter of seat belt use, the

forcefulness of Dr. Clark’s speech

struck a chord within me. When I

returned to my department, I

described the class to my station crew.

After detailing the wonderful experi-

ence of the preceding two weeks, I

mentioned Dr. Clark’s speech. I

remember telling the guys how I

thought Dr. Clark was fighting a lost

cause. “Not a lost cause, a just cause,”

responded then Battalion Chief,

Truman Oswalt. Chief Oswalt was a

long-time member of our department,

and was affectionately known as

“Hobby” by the guys. Hobby directed

me to the hallway of our number one

fire station. Arranged along the walls

were pictures detailing the exploits of

our department. Some of the older

pictures dated back to the late 1800’s.

Hobby pointed towards an old black

and white photo. The framed picture

showed a firefighter in an old-style

dress uniform. Fastened to the bottom

of the frame was a small metal tag

which read, “Hugh Lee Newell - Sept.

11, 1931 / Oct. 1, 1972 - Our Friend.”

Hobby stared at me and said, “I think

you need to hear Hugh Lee’s Story.”

Hugh Lee Newell was a driver with the

Columbus Fire Department. The

apparatus was of the open-cab style,

and had no seatbelts. The captain and

driver sat up front, while the firefight-

er stood on the tailboard. In October,

1972, Hugh and his crew were

responding to an emergency call.

While making their way through traffic,

disaster struck. Swerving to avoid

another vehicle, the front wheels of

their apparatus struck the street curb.

The firefighter was thrown from the

tailboard, and narrowly missed being

run over by the rear wheels. The cap-

tain maintained his seat, but Hugh was

not as fortunate. Thrown from his

position behind the wheel, Hugh land-

ed in the truck’s path. Unable to avoid

his own vehicle, he was run over and

killed.

While devastating, Hugh’s death

moved all the firefighters to action.

Firefighter safety became the rallying

cry for all who experienced the pain of

Hugh’s passing. Their impassioned

pleas resulted in the retrofit to cabs of

all Columbus Fire Department vehi-

cles. This victory fell short of includ-

ing seatbelts. The battle for seatbelts.

The battle for seatbelts continued to

rage on until 1984, when the retrofit of

seatbelts was approved. Even this vic-

tory came with it’s own set of prob-

lems. Because of liability issues, the

City Garage and other local repair

shops refused to install the seatbelts.

Having come so far, the men refused

to surrender the fight. Chief

Kenneth Moore, while still the depart-

ment’s Training Officer, installed the

first few seatbelts himself. Wearing full

turnouts and seatbelts became stan-

dard procedure whenever an apparatus

left the station. It was through these

actions that the firefighters gave mean-

ing to Hugh’s death. The men of the

Columbus Fire Department pledged

themselves to safety, and strived to

never again lose another friend to a

preventable death.

After hearing the story of Hugh Lee

Newell and the department’s struggle

for safety, I felt ashamed. How had

attitudes in my department strayed so

far from the ideals of 1984? Seatbelt

use was no longer a battle cry, just a

tired safety message. I believed that the

lack of seatbelt usage in my depart-

ment was an insult to the memory of

Hugh Lee Newell. How many times as

a firefighter had I refused to buckle up,

believing it slowed my response time?

How many times as a driver had I

pulled away from the station, knowing

that my passengers were not secured

by seatbelts? I began to demand that

passengers on my truck fasten their

seatbelts. I was often met with resist-

ance, but after hearing the story of

Hugh Lee Newell, most firefighters

agreed to fasten their seatbelts.

Many other drivers began to take a

firm stance on seatbelt use. When con-

fronted with an unbelted captain,

Driver Mike Chandler refused to pro-

ceed on a call. Later, Mike told me he

was prepared to face dire conse-

quences, but that truck wasn’t moving

until all seatbelts were fastened.

20 l COLUMBUS FIRE AND RESCUE MAGAZINE l (662) 329-5121 CHECK YOUR SMOKE DETECT 21

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Convincing stubborn firefighters to

wear seatbelts is no easy task. My argu-

ments for seatbelt use often fell on

deaf ears. Many department membes

resisted change, and saw the story of

Hugh Lee Newell as ancient history.

Several fire-

fighters weren’t

born until well

after Hugh’s

death in 1972.

These younger

firefighters sim-

ply couldn’t

relate to Hugh’s

story. That all

changed with a

visit from Mrs.

Deana

Vernon.

An opportunity

for change came

one station

m a i n t e n a n c e

day. I washed

the trucks as

younger fire-

fighters cleaned

the downstair

quarters. Mrs.

Vernon entered

the station with

her young

daughter fol-

lowing closely.

She remarked

that the child

loved fire

trucks, and

asked about the

possibility of a

tour. Presented

with an oppor-

tunity to leave

our chores and

entertain the

excited child, we

happily agreed.

After viewing

the trucks and

turnout gear, the tour proceeded inside

the station. “Do you know the man in

this picture?” asked Mrs. Vernon, while

pointing to Hugh Lee Newell. “Yes

ma’am. He was one of our firefighters

killed a long time ago,” a young fire-

fighter responded. Mrs. Vernon

hugged her daughter and said, “Hugh

was my father, and I am so touched

that you guys still remember him. I’m

glad his death had some meaning. Just

knowing all you guys can now wear

seatbelts makes me happy.” With tear-

filled eyes, Mrs. Vernon recounted the

media coverage of the department’s

fight for seatbelts. “It was always front

page news. I couldn’t believe it took so

long to get the seatbelts,” she said.

What a victory! Mrs. Vernon accom-

plished in five minutes what I failed to

do in weeks of reasoning. She put a

face on her family’s tragedy, and ended

resistance to seatbelt use for all those

young firefighters. Hugh Lee Newell

would be honored by a new generation

of seatbelt wearing firefighters.

I wish I could say that seatbelt usage is

100% in the Columbus Fire

Department, but that wouldn’t be the

truth. I know that cautionary tales and

regulations won’t change years of

ingrained behavior. What I can say is

that a change was made in my life after

hearing the story of Hugh Lee Newell.

My seatbelt was fastened every time I

climbed into

the driver’s

seat, and my

truck didn’t

move until

every pas-

senger had

his seatbelt

secured. I

know that

with each

retelling of

the Hugh

Lee Newell

story,

a n o t h e r

Co lumbus

f i r e f i g t e r

decides to

buckle up.

Leadership

can spring

from the

lower ranks

of the fire

service. The

fire service

r e g u l a r l y

d i s p l a y s

courage and

determina-

tion when

dealing with

public emer-

gencies. Do

we have the

strength to

display these

same attrib-

utes towards

our fellow

firefighters?

Can we love

another fire-

fighter enough to say, “Buckle Up?”

cColumbus City Councilman, Joseph

Mickens, honored the Columbus Fire

and Rescue (CFR) department by

attending the most recent Elected

and Public Officials’ Day at the

Mississippi Fire Academy.. I was also

attendance.

The morning session began at 8:30

a.m. and was conducted in a classroom

setting. The Academy Director, Reggie

Bell, apprised the class of the

Academy’s policies and procedures, as

well as a wide range of other services

they offer. Additionally, speakers from

around the state of Mississippi

addressed a variety of topics related to

the fire service, including a presenta-

tion by the Insurance Commissioner on

the subject of the insurance rebate pro-

gram and other means through which

funds are available. After the speakers

finished, Councilman Mickens joined

the other officials as they participated

in a tour of the Academy. He then

expressed amazement, as well as inter-

est, in the extensiveness and complexi-

ty of the training facility and all that it

offers.

Lunch was provided by the Academy

and was held in the cafeteria. Then, the

hands-on session of this tour began.

Councilman Mickens impressed every-

one with his performance in the emer-

gency driving course. He drove two dif-

ferent fire apparatuses, where the acad-

emy had set up obstacle courses for

each. I thought to myself, “the next

time CFR is short of a driver, we just

might need to mandatory the

Councilman.” That was just the begin-

ning of what was to follow.

Councilman Mickens was now warmed

up and was eager to experience more.

He proceeded to gear up in prepara-

tion to enter the

h e a t

house, which is a simula-

tion of a burning house. In this simula-

tion, heat and smoke is controlled by

Academy staff members. Councilman

Mickens extinguished the fire. He

proved that he can take the heat—on

the Councilman’s bench, as well as in

turnouts.

The next morning, Councilman

Mickens toured Operation Triple Play,

which is comprised of many different

task force teams from around the state.

This event permitted him the opportu-

nity to actually witness the different

teams in action. Next, Councilman

Mickens participated in a tour of the

display of different task forces equip-

ment. Finally, the grand

finale : Councilman Mickens toured the

Mississippi Emergency Management

Agency (MEMA) facility, which is a

state-of-the-art building where all state

emergency personnel meet and set up

the Emergency Operations Center

(EOC) in the time of an emergency or

disaster. I feel confident that this was a

very rewarding experience for

Councilman Mickens. As a

matter of fact, a quoted state-

ment follows. “Firefighters

are universally loved and

respected. In October 2011,

I had the opportunity to

participate in a workshop at

the Mississippi Fire

Academy in Jackson,

Mississippi, along with

Chief Moore and some of

the City’s finest service-

men. This experience

was both enlightening

and gratifying for me—

every little boy’s dream of

becoming a firefighter. For

the first time, I was able to

better understand the physi-

cal and mental demands of the job.

Not only do they put their own lives at

risk performing the work that is

required, but they are accountable for

the lives of others as well. In most

cases, firefighters are first responders;

therefore, they are responsible for

assessing situations, while maintaining

composure. I must admit, I was more

than a bit apprehensive about entering

a burning building, but quickly devel-

oped a greater level of respect for the

profession. On behalf of the citizens

of Ward 2 and the City of Columbus, I

salute Chief Moore and his entire crew

for the impact they make on our lives

daily.” (JOSEPH W. MICKENS, SR.)

I’m thankful to Councilman Mickens

for agreeing to participate in the

Elected and Officials’ Day and for the

courage displayed during the event. We

appreciate the City’s support, and we

invite all City elected officials to consid-

er participating in 2012.

Councilman Mickens Participates in

Elected and Public Officials Day at

the Mississippi Fire Academy


BY BATTALION CHIEF MARTIN [email protected]

Ph

oto

by

En

gin

eer

Wes

Mim

s

SPECIAL

AROUND THE STATION

1. Engineer Brooks Pope & Engineer Shannon Murphy 2. Captain Jim Robbins, Engineer LaMarcus “Billy

Bob” Phillips, & Engineer Kirk McKellar 3. Captain Jr. Lancaster & former firefighter Earnest Ross (now

with Columbus Air Force Base Fire Dept.) 4. Engineer Shannon Murphy & Engineer Doug Cox 5. Engineer

Susan Snapp, Engineer Jeff Edmondson, & Captain Brett Thompson 6. Firefighter Dale Ballard & Captain

Larry Webber 7. Battalion Chief Martin Andrews 8. Captain Derrick Parnell, Engineer Josh Westbrook, &

Engineer Eric Grant 9. Engineer Frederick Hargrove

2.

3.

4.

5.

7.

8.9.

6.

1.

FIREFIGHTERSBURN OLD AND

ABANDONED PROPERTY TO

MAKE WAYFOR NEWSPORTS

COMPLEX

2 4 l COLUMBUS FIRE AND RESCUE MAGAZINE l (662) 329-5121

C - Shiftbattalion chief,

Mark Ward

COLUMBUS FIREFIGHTERSVISIT MISSISSIPPI’S BURN CAMP

2 6 l COLUMBUS FIRE AND RESCUE MAGAZINE l (662) 329-5121

Firefighter Michael Miller and Engineer Wes Mims instructing burn survivor, Jatavis Banks, on how toread a compass, while Firefighter Chase Taylor instructs her sister, Jalisa (bottom), in the same.

1. Engineer Alan Walker & family 2. Retired battalion chief Earl Cunningham, Firefighter Jason Pool, Captain Bobby Barksdale, &

retired captain Jim Ragon 3. Captain Tommy Massey & family 4. Captain Todd Graham & family 5. Captain & Mrs. Mike Gibson

6. Captain & Mrs. Andy Grant 7. Engineer Randall Beatty & family 8. Engineer & Mrs. LaMarcus Phillips 9. Firefighter Michael

Miller & family ( Photos by Fire and Life Safety Educator / PIO Carole Summerall )

COLUMBUS FIRE AND RESCUE’S CHRISTMAS PARTY2011

FIRE SAFETY MONTH

28 l COLUMBUS FIRE AND RESCUE MAGAZINE l (662) 329-5121 29


1.

2.3.

4.

5.6.

7.

8.

9.

1. Engineer Brad Alexander & Captain Jr. Lancaster 2. Captain Jr. Lancaster & Firefighter T.J. Brand with chil-

dren of Franklin Academy 3. Children watching a video in the Fire Safety trailer 4. Children of First Baptist

Church 5. Captain Bud Egger 6. Children of First Baptist Church 7. 80+year-old retired engineer, Lewis

Jaynes, helping out 8. Recently-retired engineer Frank Upton & Captain Bud Egger 9. Captain Bud Egger,

retired engineer Lewis Jaynes, & recently-retired engineer Frank Upton

25+ YEARS OF SERVICE:

FOUR FIREFIGHTERS RETIRE IN 2011CAPTAIN CECIL LOFTON (1979 - 2011),

BATTALION CHIEF JAMES EARL CUNNINGHAM (1979 - 2011)

BATTALION CHIEF MIKE McREYNOLDS (1981 - 2011),

ENGINEER MERT CAMPBELL (1987 - 2011)

1.

2.

3. 4.

1. Retired captain Cecil Lofton & Firefighter Tyler Lofton 2. Retired battalion chief James Earl Cunningham 3. Retired battalion chief Mike

McReynolds & Firefighter Will McReynolds 4. Captain Andy Grant, retired engineer Mert Campbell, & Chief Kenneth Moore 5. Captain Derrick

Parnell, Executive Assistant to the Chief Linda Hanson, & Bruce Hanson 6. Captain Bud Egger, Engineer Anthony Smith, retired battalion chief

Ricky Graves, & Battalion Chief Chris Hansen 7. Captain John Fancher 8. Engineer Doug Wiggins, Firefighter Kirk Gayle, Captain Andy Grant,

& Engineer Kirk McKellar 9. Fire Marshal Todd Weathers, Special Operations Chief Neal Austin, & Battalion Chief Martin Andrews 10.

Firefighter & Mrs. T.J. Brand 11. Engineer Kevin Brown, retired captain & Mrs. Cecil Lofton 12. Captain Todd Graham, Captain Mark Connors, &

Engineer Lance Godfrey 13. Retired battalion chief Earl Cunningham, retired battalion chief Mike McReynolds, & Battalion Chief Martin

Andrews 14. Captain Andy Grant & Chief Kenneth Moore 15. Engineer Shannon Murphy, Engineer Doug Cox, Firefighter Steve Loden, & Captain

Brett Thompson 16. Engineer Doug Wiggins & Battalion Chief Mark Ward

5.

6.

7.

10.

9.

8.

11.

12. 13.

14.

15. 16.

TRAINING, PREVENTION, &

BEST CUSTOMERSERVICE

Columbus Fire and Rescue Magazine

Documents

Transcript of Columbus Fire and Rescue Magazine