It is hard to believe cold weather is on our doorstep. With the unseasonable warmth we have been having this new reality will take some adjustment for sure. I remember when winter was one of my favorite times of the year, but after many years of working and traveling during the winter, I guess I have become a bit more jaded and would really prefer the low to mid-80s with a light breeze and sunshine. Oh well, I guess I can just do some daydreaming and resign myself to tolerating the colder weather.
With the cold weather, those in our profession are always faced with more challenges. It takes a bit more diligence on our part to avoid injury or accidents and continue to serve our communities. The accumulation of snow and ice makes our already difficult job more precarious and adds to the potential for injuries and other accidents. Prepare now for the coming weather and make sure everyone in your agency is aware of the risks of working in a cold and wet environment and the toll it can take on your body. For those of you experienced drivers/operators remember, the apparatus handles just a wee bit differently on the winter roads and for you that are new to driving/operating please be extra careful and take the time to learn the nuances of winter apparatus operation and arrive at your scenes safely. Being confident in your abilities is a good thing, but being oblivious to the risks generally does not end well.
I was not able to attend the Memorial Service in Kingdom City this year, but from the reports I have gotten and the photographs shared it appears to have been another fitting ceremony honoring those of the fire service that have passed away. As with any large event, there were no doubt some issues that arose, but knowing the foundation board that operates the memorial those issues were handled with grace and dignity, and notes were taken to improve in the future. I am always impressed with the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to make the memorial services happen and I am equally amazed at how well the entire weekend generally flows. Thanks to each of the foundation members for the efforts you put forth and thank you to all the others who gave their time to help the ceremonies be successful.
With the year soon coming to an end please start making plans for your agency to register with the State Fire Marshal’s office as required by RSMo 320.271. The requirement to register your agency applies to EVERY fire agency in the state. There is no differentiation between volunteer, combination or career agencies as all must register. The information gathered is beneficial in identifying resources that could be available should our state suffer a larger-scale disaster or during other state-wide mutual aid requests. Additionally, there are grant monies available from time to time and some of those require that you are registered with the state before you are eligible to receive any of the available funding. The process is not difficult or time-consuming so make sure you get this task completed for the upcoming year. Go to the State Fire Marshal’s web page and follow the link to complete your registration.
On a bit more somber note, the emergency services across the nation have made great strides in helping us recognize and remove the stigma of our personnel needing assistance to deal with many of the things we encounter serving the public. We need to be even more diligent this time of year and keep an eye out for indicators you or those you work around may be struggling and need to be connected to resources to help deal with whatever the issue may be. For years we have operated on just compartmentalizing the traumas we endured and that often ended in career or life-ending circumstances. As we continue to evolve we have come to realize asking for help should not be viewed as a negative. Whether it has been a formal encounter or something more casual sitting around the station many of our current and past personnel have received some assistance dealing with trauma even if we didn’t always recognize that was what was going on. Please look out for your fellow personnel as not all people find the winter holiday season to be as fulfilling or joyful as others and this can be an extremely stressful time. In the fire service, we talk about everyone going home after each call… and even with this as a starting point, I prefer to think we should all be working towards making sure everyone survives this occupation.
Are you ready to take part in another great training opportunity? The 2025 offering of MU FRTI’s Winter Fire School is just around the corner. The staff has worked diligently to bring you interesting and beneficial training topics to help keep you relevant with your firefighting, command and other related skills and knowledge. Watch for the emails announcing the available courses and get signed up. If you can’t make classes over the weekend, don’t forget the equipment/vendor expo on Friday. This is always a good time to socialize with your peers, visit with vendors, and see what new innovations may be out there to help make your job safer, perhaps easier or more efficient.
As you know each year the FFAM provides educational scholarships and recognition to some of our members for their outstanding contributions. The scholarship applications and the award nominations are both due February 28. Please visit the FFAM website and review the requirements to apply for the scholarships and the categories and criteria for the various awards. There are always people associated with the fire service that need educational assistance and we know there are FFAM members doing outstanding work regularly that deserve recognition. Take the time now to look at these items and get that application or nomination in on time.
Be safe in all you do as we close out 2024 and if any of the Board of Directors can be of assistance, please never hesitate to contact us as we are here in service to you.
FFAM
