Fire Department Connection

A Fierce Fire

see pg. 3

Dedicated to Service

09

New Partnerships

see pg. 12

February 2013

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Message from the Fire Chief

I want to personally thank everyone who took the time to write their questions and concerns during the State of the Department address. I would like to start by addressing a concern that gave me chills as I read it. Tired of being a sidewalk firefighter. Going defensive is our motto. Let us fight fire with aggression. Unfortunately, I read this comment just after listening to a wave file of the radio transmissions between the two Bryan firefighters who used their radios to communicate their last words during the structure fire that took their lives. Last month, Bryan firefighters entered into a large vacant structure, which had no vehicles in its parking lot. The flames grew and the fire rapidly consumed the unoccupied structure. Firefighters reported they were low on air, and they were ordered to evacuate the building. However, Lt. Eric Wallace remained inside the structure. A Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) that consisted of Lt. Gregory Pickard, Firefighter Ricky D. Mantey and probationary Firefighter Mitchel Moran were ordered to assist Wallace, but while firefighters were still inside, the buildings roof collapsed in flames. As a result, Lt. Wallace was pronounced dead at the scene. Lt. Pickard died at the hospital while Mantey and Moran remain in critical condition. Since my arrival to the San Antonio Fire Department, safety has been my number one priority. I understand some do not share this priority with me, but we should use the Bryan tragedy as a learning opportunity. Its important to understand risk management when you look at the loss the Bryan Fire Department experienced. I am very familiar with the adrenalin rush and the excitement of walking into a burning structure, there is nothing like it. But, coming to a realization that this can cost you your life or the life of your brother or sister, should be enough incentive to understand the reasons we as a department, sometimes, take a defensive stand. It is therefore troubling reading this type of comment. It leads me to believe that as an organization some of us may not understand what risk management really is. I encourage you to be aggressive during training, aggressive in preplanning the hazards in your first due, and even more aggressive understanding risk management. It can save your life. Operating in a defensive strategy and following the risk management policy is more than just being a sidewalk firefighter. Its being able to measure and recognize the thin line between risk and benefit. It is not putting your life or anyone elses life on the line when there is nothing to be saved. Its about being a leader. I want each and every member of this organization to understand there is no structure within this city that is worth any of our lives. Firefighting is one of the most dangerous professions on this planet. There is no reason for us to make it more unsafe by falling into the trap of aggression without purpose on the fire ground. There is nothing heroic about it. I feel that as your chief, the least I can do while you perform this dangerous job is to try to protect you as much as possible. I hope I addressed this concern clearly and you will all consider the safety measures which were put in place with the sole purpose of protecting you. I dont want a tragic accident to be the reason you understand my position. Yours in service, Charles N. Hood, Fire Chief

Message from the Fire Chief

Contents

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Feb. 1, 2013 around 11:57 p.m. the San Antonio Fire Department arrived at a roaring fire engulfing the Childress Memorial Church of God in Christ, located at 901 North Pine Street. Ladder 1 was the first to arrive on scene within three minutes of being dispatched. Firefighters immediately entered the structure and attempted containment, but the fire was spreading very rapidly. Firefighters noticed the building could possibly collapse and started to operate in a defensive position outside of the historic church. Firefighters not only faced the challenge of extinguishing the rising flames, but they had to protect the houses and vehicles just feet away from the church as well. A second alarm was called for. Our main objective was to get in between the roaring church and protect the residences next door. You try to protect what is not protected, said Captain Fernando Sosa. Oscar Gonzalez, FSC remarked, My initial assessment was of a fully-involved church that was only going to be put out with master streams. We proceeded to establish collapse zones and repositioned a couple of the trucks. There were no injuries or fatalities. The houses nearby did not experience any kind of damage. Unfortunately however, the church, built in 1908 and valued at more than $3-million, was a total loss. Arson Lieutenant Kenneth Campbell indicated that since the inside walls of the building were predominantly wood, the fire extended rapidly into the walls causing the collapse of the structure. The fire wasnt discovered until it was very advanced and little from the structure was able to be saved, said Lt. Campbell. The 2nd alarm fire involved 79 firefighters and 30 fire units. The fire was substantially controlled by about 2:30 a.m. Arson investigators were called to the scene to try to determine the cause of the fire but more resources were needed. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was called to the scene in order to have a more complete investigation. Recently, there have been seven other fires in the area, which were classified as arson. Circumstances around it have to be cleared, said Lieutenant

Campbell. After five days of scene excavation and investigation, the origin of the fire was found to be in the mechanical room located on the second floor of the building. The cause of the fire is undetermined; however, there are no indications of a criminal act. Investigators concluded that it was not a criminal act partly because upon the fire departments arrival at the church, all doors were closed and locked and there were no signs of a forced entry. Also, the area where the fire started was hand sifted and the accelerant detecting K-9 was utilized at the scene but no remains or indications of an incendiary device were found. In addition, ATF reviewed hours of security camera video recovered during the scene excavation, but no unauthorized individuals were seen entering the church and those authorized were not seen introducing anything that could have caused a fire. At the end of the investigation, it was concluded that there were several possible accidental sources of ignition such as a light fixture, a heater, the air conditioning unit, and continued heating in the electrical wiring and/or appliances in the room.

a FIERCE fIRE

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***Picture provided by Caleb Macias

Celebrity of the Month Celebrity of the Month

LIEUTENANT ERIC ERNST
Making a decision and being determined changed Lieutenant Eric Ernsts life. As a firefighter he kept in shape, but when he got transferred to EMS, staying fit became more challenging and he gained some weight. But he significantly gained even more weight 15 years ago when he started getting chronic back pains and he stopped working out on a regular basis. However, life provided Lt. Ernst with the opportunity to become the cadet trainer. His new job required him to train the cadets with high intensity exercises. His aches, pains, and long time away from maintaining fitness, prevented him from keeping up with the cadets. I then noticed that I wanted to be able to perform at the same level as the cadets, said Ernst. It was at that point that Ernst decided to make changes in his life. He first went and saw a doctor to receive clearance and clarification of the kind of exercises he could perform. Then he started to become more physically active. Yet, his first try was not very successful. It was until he decided to give CrossFit a chance and make better food choices that he started to see results. The CrossFit program changed the way I worked out and ate. It was hard work and small changes in my diet that gave me great results, said Ernst. Within a year of gradual progression, Ernst lost 20 pounds and 4 inches around his waist and is now able to perform every single high intensity exercise. This decision made a few years ago has also improved Ernsts injury. He mentions that since he started working out, his back pains are not as severe and his back has gained strength. He invites all firefighters that are injured not to be afraid of being physically active. As a certified CrossFit trainer, Ernst explained that he is able to adapt and modify exercises and create a fitness program for individual needs. Lieutenant Ernst is 49-years-old. He has aches and pains but he still goes to work everyday and performs the same physical exercises as the young cadets.

If I can do it, you can do it. You just have to stick with it and dont give up, said Ernst.

AFTER

BEFORE

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IMPORTANT MESSAGE MIGHT SAVE YOUR CHILds LIFE

At the request of uniformed and civilian personnel, the San Antonio Fire Department has created a follow up video about DWI awareness. The department understands many employees have teenage children and would like to extend the DWI message to them as well. This video targets young adults and shows them the importance of not driving while intoxicated as well as the dangers of texting and driving. Showings are available at the SAFD Training Academy, every Wednesday from March 13-20 beginning at 7:00 p.m. This is an opportunity to take care of our family, said Deputy Chief Noel Horan.

2012 Hero-thon
The SAFD Running Team, fueled by the goal of helping The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, participated in the Hero-thon Half-Marathon race on Jan. 27. The main goal of the race was to raise awareness in the community. It was very nice to be able to represent the SAFD and show its support for this good cause, said Firefighter Joe Urias. Organized and developed by Roger Lopez, Joseph Munoz, and Jay Cardenas, the running team and some of their families came together at the Alamodome and completed the race. The spirit to help was such that Lopez and Munoz decided to run the 13.1 miles in their bunker gear. The running team has been a work in progress with the intent of creating camaraderie, fellowship among firefighters and our families, and brotherhood for a healthier fire department, said Engineer Jay Cardenas. Currently, the running team does not have any scheduled events but they are open to suggestions. For further information, questions and suggestions, contact Capt. Roger Lopez 28-A, FF Joseph Munoz 34-A, or Eng. Jay Cardenas 19-B. Firefighters who participated in the Hero-thon Half Marathon include: Lopez, Munoz, Chris Johnson, Urias, Kenny Cook, Roger Fuentes, Michael Borrego, Jenny Park, Dean Solis, Justin Johnson, Tyler Herrera, Rolando Garza, Fernando Sosa, and Austin Cain; plus several spouses, significant others, and/or family members.

***Pictures provided by running team members

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The San Antonio Fire Department State of the Department Address presentations kicked off the first week of February. The address was presented by Fire Chief Hood, who reminded firefighters and civilian personnel about the mission, vision, and core values of the department. An overview of the department, improvements, accomplishments and the strategic plan were also thoroughly discussed. It was a good way to communicate expectations and information in order for us to see the course the department is taking, said Captain Michael Moore.

SAFD State of the Department Address

Fire Department Overview Currently, for Fiscal Year 2013, there are 1,660 uniform positions and 164 civilian positions. Since 2006, the addition of firefighters has increased. Within the Department there are a total of 1,113 EMTs in the Firefighting Division (197 at Paramedic level) manning 51 engines, 20 trucks and 16 squads. In addition there are 393 EMT-Paramedics in the EMS Division manning 33 full-time ambulances. Accomplishments Chief Hood was proud to announce during the presentation the great value of the Advanced Life Support Program (ALS). The program began in 2010 and increased the number of trained paramedics on fire trucks. The number of ALS responses by fire paramedics has increased reducing EMS hectic work load. Another accomplishment was the addition of the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD). This technology has improved information gathering, dispatching of fire units, expanded GIS data, and improved preplanning by tying hazardous material information to specific premises. Chief Hood acknowledged that not everybody may be happy with this new system, however it has increased the service provided to the citizens. In addition, in an effort to keep the department healthy, the SAFD has implemented and successfully accomplished a wellness program. Thanks to the program 1,573 physicals have been completed and time lost due to fire ground injuries has decreased by 42% from FY 2011. Additionally, there were 20 new medications added to all medic units, 180 officers have been trained as part of the Officer Training Program, a new planning and research division was created, and the 2012 International Fire Code was adopted by the department. Furthermore, the State of the Department revealed five fire station replacements including 28, 2, 32, 18 and 30, as well as new vehicles. Stations are being built for future growth of the city, said Chief Hood, while answering a question about why new fire stations are being constructed so big? Finally, the presentation introduced firefighters to the new Fusion Center and the Strategic Plan which is currently underway. City Manager Sheryl Sculley and Deputy City Manager Erik Walsh were present at some of the presentations and both expressed their concerns and wanted to hear what the firefighters had to say. The presentations concluded with an anonymous survey that allowed firefighters to express their opinions about different topics. The results of these surveys will be utilized to improve internal and external service and management throughout the department. Everybody was able to provide their input. Hopefully decisions reflect the results of the survey, said Lieutenant David Momone.

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Have you recently married? Had a baby? Been divorced? Lost a family member?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it is important that you verify your beneficiary information is still accurate. It is important to remember that every employees personnel file should be updated in the event of a marriage, birth, death or divorce. Changes can include name, address, and/or marital status changes. This applies to employee dependants as well. In addition, any changes to already existing beneficiary elections should be updated as well. It is always best to be prepared, especially in the dangerous profession of a firefighter. Its critical that this information is kept as current as possible in the case of an emergency or loss of life, said Lucia Puente senior management analyst. Most of us dont want to think about our own passing, but the truth is there is no guarantee we will be here tomorrow. If the worst does happen, you definitely want your beneficiary information to be correct. In addition, having a living will can be also very helpful to your survivors, said Deputy Chief David Martinez. To review your file, please contact HR Benefits at (210) 2078705. To make any changes or update your file, please contact HR Specialist Rosalva Acosta at (210) 207-7958. Also, make sure to check with the SAFD Personnel Office to ensure all contact information is still accurate. You can find the Beneficiary Form in the Intranet Portal under Human Resources. Click on Employee Benefits, then click on Benefit Forms. Scroll down to Life Insurance and click on Beneficiary Form.

Benefit Forms

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Fire station

10

Towards the end of January, Fire Chief Hood received an e-mail describing a situation that not only made him more humble but also increased his pride in his SAFD family. The e-mail which described real life heroism, gave Chief Hood goose bumps. It was written by Paramedic Jason Aguilar: Dear Chief Hood, I would like to take a moment to shine some light on an act of kindness that I was fortunate enough to witness today. I am a paramedic at M10-D and around 5:30 this morning we were dispatched to a structure fire at the intersection of W. Woodlawn and Elmendorf. Upon arrival, E10-A (along with backup companies) was making an offensive attack on a single story structure that was fully involved. The occupants of the house were fortunate enough to escape the flames with only minor smoke inhalation. The fire quickly grew and became too dangerous for an offensive attack and the crews were pulled out to go defensive. After the completion of our patient assessments, it was determined that transport to the hospital was not necessary and M10 stood by as a shelter for the occupants to get out of the cold weather while awaiting the arrival of the Red Cross. The occupants were asleep when the fire started and ran out of the house in what little clothing that they were sleeping in. The fire was determined to have been started by a heater in the garage that was left on for their pets and the homeowners home insurance had just been cancelled making the fire a total loss. After sitting for a couple of hours, the men began asking if they could use the restroom and since we were located close to the station we took them back to the station. When we walked into the station the crew of E10 greeted the men with condolences and fresh coffee to warm them. The men walked in distraught, as you can imagine, and barefooted. Several members of the crew left the room and came back with socks and other various items of clothing for the men. When the men left the station they kept telling me how thankful they were and how we truly were heroes. Crews like this make our department what it is by continuing to act admirably when it really counts and when the cameras arent rolling. Although this was only a small act of kindness, it was a gesture that will never be forgotten in the eyes of those three men that now had a newfound respect and gratitude for the SAFD. Im sure that E10 is not the only company that has served the public in this manner but it seems that there just arent enough people that are willing to sit down and write a letter thanking them for it. The selflessness that the guys displayed was inspiring and made me proud to be a member of the Mens of Tens.

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Going Back in Time

SAFD History

***Special thanks to Hector J. Cardenas, SAFD Museum Society, for providing the facts for the story.

8 1 80
Stories about horses being part of the San Antonio Fire Department are some of the favorite anecdotes among firefighters. Horses became part of the department in 1881, after the fifth annual convention of the State Firemans Association. The first horsedrawn fire apparatus was assigned to Alamo Fire Company No. 2. The newly arrived apparatus was rated at 700 GPM, weighed 7,020 pounds and was complimented with a hose carriage (todays engines weigh roughly 60,000-65,000 pounds). Shortly after, the second horse-drawn steamer arrived in the Alamo City and was delivered to Milam Company No.2. In an effort to improve service and remain up to date, the Turner Hook & Ladder Company sold all of its fire apparatus, trucks and equipment to the Fredericksburg Volunteer Fire Department and invested in its first horse-drawn hook and ladder truck. A few years later, Turner Hook & Ladder Company acquired a second horse-drawn hook and ladder truck and named it the Davy Crockett. By 1888, San Antonio had a total of 192 men, two horse-drawn steamers, five horse-drawn hose carts and seven fire companies. Davy Crockett remained in service until 1917 when it was placed on the reserve apparatus list.

QUIZ YOURSELF? Answer

Because it refers to possesive aspects of that station. Anything in the station like the crew, equipment, and apparatus belongs to that fire station. Our Family Protecting your Family 9

Fiscal News Flash

San Antonio Fire Department
To: Have I reached the person to whom I am speaking? From: Head Cheese of the Fiscal Division Copies: Budget Kahuna, File 11 Subject: Interdepartmental Communication
The Fire Department receives numerous requests daily by either email or by other forms of written correspondence. Often the requests are not very clear making it difficult to understand what is actually being requested and often delaying the response to the requestor. Good communication is the fundamental skill that helps us successfully navigate in our business world. It is also the tool that helps us communicate effectively with our customers and helps us build strong business relationships. When communicating with customers we have found that using the five (5) W process is most effective. When requesting information or providing information, ask/answer the following questions: Who, What, When, Where, and Why HOW? Choose the right medium for your written communication Email - electronic mail the most popular way to exchange communication in an organization. Memorandum used for internal customers and is usually brief and sticks to the facts Letter more formal and contains the Citys Letterhead; includes return address, the date, the recipients address, a subject line, salutation, message, closing and signature.

Additional Guidelines: 1. Simplicity simple sentence structure 2. Avoid Jargon know your audience 3. Specificity avoid writing in ambiguous or unclear details 4. Easily readable format present the information with bullets, tables, and/or formatted lettering so you can get your point across and highlight the most important information 5. Be Conversational as a rule of thumb, write in a similar fashion as talk 6. Avoid Gendered Language avoid attaching masculine or feminine 7. Avoid Passive Language use active voice 8. Be Personable if you know to whom you are writing 9. Appropriate Humor use in moderation, and only when appropriate for the situation In all cases, the creator of the correspondence is the originator and the correspondence becomes an official record. The City has many directives on communications and the use of IT (AD 7.X), including those below. For additional information see: http://www.sanantonio.gov/hr/admin_directives/index.asp A.D. 6.14 City of San Antonio Communications Policy and the City of San Antonio Communications Manual - P44-49 provide guidelines/restrictions for e-mail signatures, as well as outlook out-of-office messages, and voice messages. A.D. 7.4 Acceptable Use of Electronic Communications prohibits the use of HTML format for e-mails.

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Your Health & Wellness Connectionn

Tips for a Healthy-Heart Lifestyle
Vidya Sharma, MA, RD, LD, CDE Registered Dietitian The month of February marks American Heart Month and we would like to take this opportunity to provide information about heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. Heart disease is observed commonly in men above the age of 45 years and women above the age of 55 years. Nearly28 percent of San Antonio area deaths each year are attributed to cardiovascular disease. Certain risk factors, such as having high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, smoking, excessive consumption of alcohol, being overweight, leading a sedentary lifestyle, and diabetes, can be controlled by eating a healthy diet and staying physically active. Here are some recommendations in order to reduce ones risk of heart disease: Choose a combination of healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains including bread and cereal, which contain fiber. Dietary fiber helps in reducing cholesterol, maintaining body weight and creating a sensation of fullness that helps in controlling how much one eats. Include foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids found in fish such as salmon, sardines, albacore tuna, trout and herring in your diet. Consumption of these foods has been proven to be beneficial for the heart by their ability to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol. Choose low fat or lean meats such as skinless chicken, turkey, and fish instead of beef, pork and lamb. Prepare them using less added fat. Grilling, baking, and broiling are better options of cooking foods instead of frying them. Choose fat-free or low-fat dairy products such as skim milk or reduced-fat milk, low-fat cheese, and low-fat yogurt. Trans fats, also known as partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, are notoriously popular for raising blood cholesterol. These types of fats are found in hard margarines and several commercially prepared baked products, cookies, crackers, chips, and candies. Read the nutrition facts label carefully to check for the presence of trans fats. Choose foods with less added salt since salt increases blood pressure. Try using herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor your food or use saltfree seasonings such as Mrs. Dash that is available in most grocery stores. Optimum requirement of daily salt intake is 2300 milligrams everyday. Keep in mind that all kinds of processed foods such as canned soups or sauces, deli meats, bacon and sausage are high in sodium. When using canned vegetables, discard the water and rinse them thoroughly before eating. Choose foods low in dietary cholesterol. Limit cholesterol consumption to less than 300 milligrams per day. Cholesterol is usually found in foods from animal sources such as liver, shrimp and egg yolks. Egg yolks are high in cholesterol, so limit their consumption to no more than four times per week or better still, use egg substitutes. Watch out for beverages and foods with added sugar. Instead, use sugar substitutes or sugar-free products. Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water everyday. Based on a six-year study conducted on more than 20,000 healthy men and women aged 38-100 that was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, it was found that women who drank more than five glasses of water daily were 41% less likely to die from a heart attack than those who drank less than two glasses. Alcohol is digested in the body just like fats; hence, excessive alcohol consumption can increase blood cholesterol and body weight. If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation. For men, this means no more than two drinks in a day and for women, no more than one drink per day. Regular physical activity helps to tone our muscles, maintain a healthy body weight and lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Aim for at least 30 minutes of activity on most days of the week. Even routine tasks such as cooking, mopping and vacuuming help lose those unwanted calories. Quit smoking. Cigarette smoking accounts for nearly 440,000 deaths each year, of which more than 135,000 are due to smoking-related cardiovascular diseases. It has been estimated that cigarette smokers are two-to-three times more likely to die from heart disease than nonsmokers. So, opt for a smoke-free and risk-free life!

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A New Partnership
he San Antonio Fire Department recognizes there is always room for and a need for professional improvement. As a result, the SAFD has taken the opportunity to participate in a 90-hour course delivered by the Community Education Division of the Emergency Health Sciences (EHS) Department at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSC). The Critical Care Transport Paramedic (CCP) Course consists of classroom, laboratory, and critical care clinical hours. Expanded scope of practice topics include hemodynamic monitoring, diagnostic lab studies interpretation, critical thinking skills, and clinical application. This expanded scope curriculum also includes troubleshooting ventilators, intraortic balloon pumps, arterial lines, laboratory study reports, and intracranial pressure monitoring (ICP) waveform monitoring. This new knowledge and skills set is designed and intended to decrease morbidity and mortality while caring for San Antonio citizens. This first class had participants from the Medical Special Operations Unit as well as Technical Rescue paramedics. Twenty-one firefighters engaged in classroom and clinical education. At course completion, all participants will be eligible to take the Flight Paramedic Certification Examination (FP-C). Improving knowledge and skills is always advantageous and patientcare centered in the field of medicine, said Director of Community Education Division Leslie Hernandez. Dr. Craig Manifold, SAFD Medical Director, believes this program will enhance the critical thinking skills of our paramedics. Additionally, he hopes to use this core group of personnel to improve the care provided to our critically ill and injured patients. This will stimulate the medics to anticipate issues in care of patients as opposed to being reactive to a change in

the patients condition, said Manifold. Partners from San Antonio AirLIFE, University Health System, and Methodist Healthcare System are participating by allowing SAFD medics to observe and perform patient care in their facilities. This partnership with local institutions also assists in improving communication and building long-term relationships. The UTHSC Community Education Division is dedicated to providing initial and continuing medical education throughout the state of Texas to EMS, nursing, physician, and other allied health professionals. The course began on Feb. 4 and lasted until March 6, 2013. I am very excited and looking forward to applying the knowledge in the field. This program will bring up the level of care we can provide to the citizens, Paramedic Travis Haecker said.

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Hurricane Sandy

***Pictures taken by fire volunteers

Hurricane Sandy arrived to the United States on October 29 destroying thousands of homes and taking 131 lives. After the enormous destruction and some much needed volunteer help, the New York Office of Emergency Management reached out and requested help from the State of Texas. Without hesitation, Texas sent the Lone Star Incident Management Team which consists of experienced experts from throughout the state. San Antonio provided the expertise of eleven individuals. On December 26 there were a total of eight SAFD firefighters, two SAPD sergeants and one member of the San Antonio Office of Emergency Management who traveled to New York to assist with Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts. They assisted by visiting residences with no heat, by informing the public of the different services which were available, and by distributing care packages which included meals, electric blankets, water and heaters. Every day there was a good thing because we were able to help. We were able to provide food, blankets, and heaters, said Captain Mark Trevino. After a three-week deployment in New York, the eleven San Antonians came back home proud to say that their mission was successful and the goals established by the City of New York were achieved. They were able to identify and respond to the needs of the public by visiting over 100,000 homes. They distributed 6,362 blankets and 41,880 meals to those affected by Hurricane Sandy in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.

This unique experience not only allowed SAFD members to help, but also to practice the skills they learned during training and further those skills. The sheer magnitude of the operation was phenomenal. The Lone Star State IMT we were part of oversaw an operation that reached out to over 100,000 residences spread over 26 square miles in the hardest hit areas of 3 different boroughs of NYC. The operation reached out to each of these residences an average of five times to ensure that they had heat, as well as to offer other basic commodities and assistance. The lessons learned from practicing on someone elses disaster could be very beneficial in Texas, since we could be in a nearly identical situation if the Gulf Coast experienced a large magnitude storm late in the hurricane season followed by an early, severe winter, said Battalion Chief Mark Black. Below are the members of the SAFD who volunteered and provided relief to thousands of people in New York. Lawrence Trevino, Emergency Operations Manager SAOEM Patrick Zepeda, Battalion Chief Mark Black, Battalion Chief Mark Trevino, Captain Jesse Davila, Engineer Jesus Ramon, Firefighter Ernest Salazar, Engineer Danny Wilks, Engineer Chris Strokes- Special Projects Manager SAOEM We are always here, we will always be here as long as Chief Hood allows us to, said Capt. Trevino.

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TAKE THE PLEDGE

The sudden good-bye of Firefighter Matthew Whitley has resulted in a powerful smoke detector campaign within the San Antonio Fire Department. In an effort to communicate to firefighters that they too are susceptible to be affected by fire, Lieutenant Jerry Whitley started a smoke detector pledge program. The program was created in honor of his son, Matthew Whitley, who passed away on December 28th, 2012 in the hands of a fierce fire. While Whitley slept, his heater had a malfunction and created a fire which he did not notice in time. If only he would have had something that had woken him up, said the elder Whitley. His best friend and neighbor explained that in many occasions they talked about installing smoke detectors on their homes. In fact, Whitley helped his friend install smoke detectors at his house. Lt. Whitley is amazed by the number of firefighters who admit to not having smoke detectors in their homes even though they have the expertise to install them and information about how to obtain them free of charge. Smoke detectors might be seen as just another object but they are more important than a cell phone that helps you communicate, or a car which serves for transportation. Smoke detectors can save your life. Please make the commitment to install smoke detectors, maintain them, make sure they are working and if you dont do it for yourself, do it for your family, said Lt. Whitley. Fire Chief Hood invites all the SAFD family to keep Matts memory alive by taking the pledge to install smoke detectors in your homes.

BUDDY

ven though Fire Station 8 is gated, a very undernourished, furry, four-legged friend was able to sneak in and hang out. After continually showing up, firefighters started feeding him. He was very shy, and would barely get near anybody. With time, he became friendlier and made Station 8 his home. Since he had become part of the family, firefighters named him Buddy. Without being trained, Buddy rapidly learned to get ready for emergencies. After two weeks, he learned to get out of the way whenever he hears the station alerting go off, said Andrew Walla, firefighter. In addition, Walla mentioned that Buddy is so smart that without even being properly potty trained, he doesnt dirty the yard. He makes his necessities outside of the station. Buddy is not only a mascot, he also helps the crew. He alerts us whenever the public comes to the station to request our help. Every single time he barks someone has been standing at the door, said Walla. All crews and shifts are happy to have Buddy at Station 8. They all take turns buying his food and whatever he needs. He sleeps in the yard, but when its cold he has a bed inside. Buddy is approximately three-years-old and is a mixed breed. Whenever he needs a hair cut, Enginer Adrian Alvarado and Walla help buddy look handsome. Unfortunately for Buddy, he has gained some weight and now its difficult for him to sneak out of the station.

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A Firefighter with a Voice

Firefighter Tim (Nemo) Menchacas first instrument was a guitar that his dad gave him. After that, his life revolved around music. Menchaca was in the marching band and with time he learned to play all sort of instruments. As time has passed, music has prevailed in the life of Menchaca. Although he knows his calling is helping people, he doesnt let go of his passion: music. Menchaca mentioned that even though music has been part of his life for many years, he was never the lead singer. This year, in hopes of making one of his dreams come true, Menchaca took the opportunity that he was presented with to audition for a reality show. He gave it a shot at the auditions for The Voice. He produced a video where he showed his talent and sent it to the reality show. It will take a few weeks for Menchaca to know whether or not he was selected to participate in the new season of The Voice, however he is confident knowing that he has the unconditional support of his firefighting brothers and family. I never considered myself a singer, but I wanted to give it a shot, said Menchaca. Menchaca performed Me & Mrs. Jones by Jay Perez and Takin It to the Streets by The Doobie Brothers. Currently, Menchaca is waiting for the call.

Batallion
BC1 BC2 BC3 BC4 BC5 BC6 BC7 BC8 47 33 41 23 29 44 26 89

YTD

TOTALS 332

Total # of Reported Fires

Structure Fires Vehicle Fires Brush/Grass Fires
TOTALS

91 42 70 203

YTD

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Responses

FIRE Runs
Unit Number Number of Engine Runs 124 E01 221 E02 169 E03 194 E04 149 E05 181 E06 131 E07 170 E08 178 E09 233 E10 197 E11 53 E12 162 E13 115 E14 195 E15 225 E16 228 E17 271 E18 309 E19 175 E20 261 E21 125 E22 97 E23 305 E24 253 E25 196 E26 226 E27 239 E28 213 E29 165 E30 206 E31 338 E32 231 E33 100 E34 205 E35 190 E36 177 E37 182 E38 246 E39 199 E40 149 E41 149 E42 108 E43 325 E44 193 E45 85 E46 35 E47 100 E48 78 E49 60 E50 117 E51 YTD

EMS Runs
Unit Number M01 M02 M04 M05 M06 M07 M08 M09 M10 M11 M13 M14 M15 M16 M17 M18 M19 M21 M22 M24 M25 M26 M27 M28 M29 M31 M32 M33 M34 M35 M36 M37 M38 M39 M40 M41 M42 M43 M44 M45 M46 Number of Runs 416 87 159 319 377 380 416 387 391 189 383 297 394 436 335 353 375 167 350 391 367 139 372 325 379 315 203 413 224 372 298 364 336 362 157 253 318 49 343 286 167 YTD

Ladders
L01 L06 L08 L09 L14 L17 L22 L29 L33 L34 L35 L36 L37 L40 L41 L46 AP11 AP32 AP38 AP51 104 157 166 150 132 180 131 171 197 73 186 160 163 187 130 106 192 243 165 104 3,097
14 1 12 2

Other Units
AC26 AC29 AC39 AC41 FSC FSO HR11 HR51 R7 RHB1 WT22 WT43 AIR1 AIR2 AIR3 AIR4 BIK1 BIK2 BIK3 BIK4 MOF1 MOF2 MOF3 MOF4 MSC R5 0 9 0 10 3 11 73 35 9 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 6 3 0 0 148 98 73 105 0 36

YTD

YTD

Totals
HZM1 HZM34 SPL1 SPL34

Haz Mat

Totals

29

Totals 620

Brush Trucks
BT20 BT22 BT30 BT36 BT40 BT42 BT43 BT44 BT48 BT50
Totals

Squads
SQ01 SQ08 SQ09 SQ11 SQ14 SQ17 SQ22 SQ29 SQ32 SQ33 SQ34 SQ35 SQ36 SQ37 SQ38 SQ40 SQ44 SQ46 39 53 59 23 3 34 3 102 160 59 23 65 97 65 81 88 4 9 967

10 1 1 11 1 5 1 12 2 2
46

Totals

Totals

9,233

Totals

12,644