Since the last magazine, our state is still rejoicing and celebrating our Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl win. I enjoyed the game and how competitive, skilled, and well-coached each team was. Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs and Chief’s Kingdom.
We in the fire service can understand how important it is that everyone does their part when we are called upon to perform. That is what I have appreciated over the years working in the first responder services. Not everyone can be Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, or Harrison Butker, seems like the field goal kicker never gets the limelight, just saying, but all 11 players on defense and offense has the skill they bring to the team. To be the best boots on the ground, you, we must train, and stay educated in the latest construction types, materials, and how technologies are evolving across our communities, and state, to be a winning proactive Missouri fire service. Train and practice your skills so when you are on the big stage, a Super Bowl call, your customer wins, Mr. and Ms. Smith, and their property is saved, and you and everyone on the call go home safely.
Thank you and congratulations to the MU Fire and Rescue Training Institute team for another successful Winter Fire School and Equipment Exposition in Columbia. It was good to see a lot of old friends and meet several new ones. Our state fire service is fortunate to have such an excellent training opportunity each year. I see our home state instructors along with several from across the nation passing along their knowledge to us. Thank you to the ones who took the time to attend and further their education. I urge you to pass along something you learned to someone who wasn’t able to attend. If you have never attended Winter Fire School or Summer Fire School which is coming up in June, get with your department and plan on attending, you will be better off for it.
This month I would like to make sure everyone who may need to contact our certification and training division has the information needed to be successful. Here is a list of names and numbers:
Deputy Chief Greg Landwehr
Office: 573-522-1625
Cell: 573-508-3010
Justin Merritt
Office: 573-522-4064
Cell: 573-508-3250
Brock Biggerstaff
Office: 573-526-5701
Cell: 573-508-3343
Amanda Williams
Office: 573-751-5302
Cell: 573-508-4343
Julie Voss: 573-522-4849
Pete Martin: 573-751-4938
We work for you, if it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t have work. Please reach out by email that works too. Type their name with a dot in between their first and last name @ dfs.dps.mo.gov (for example tim.bean@dfs.dps.mo.gov).
Firefighter’s Day at the Capitol will be April 12th. Things kick off on the 13th floor at 10:30 a.m. for coffee and fellowship, followed by a legislative update at 11:00 a.m. We will dismiss and move to the Capitol rotunda for a 12-noon ceremony. Our theme this year is early career development. We have several Firefighter 1 & 2 students from career centers attending. We will showcase them and promote and recruit high school students to join our local Firefighter 1 & 2 career center programs. After visiting with your state Senator and Representative we have a box lunch for you to carry you over until you return home.
In closing on February 13th, 2017 I entered the Jefferson building, climbed 13 flights of stairs and stepped foot onto the 13th floor. I will admit I did not know what I signed up for. God had a plan for me, and look here we are 6 years later still working his will. Thank you to my wife Judy, kids, and grandkids for their support. I have developed a new fire safety family over the past 6 years. It is amazing how dedicated each Division is to what they are responsible for. Public Safety is their passion. Thank you for allowing me to join your team. I also want to give a big shout-out to every firefighter I’ve met, and every fire department I’ve stepped inside of, and truly enjoy that part of my job. Thank you for your support, let’s keep building our Missouri fire service to continue being the best boots on the ground, and leaving things better than we found them. Stay safe and I appreciate you.
FFAM
