The latest class of recruits are in the middle of their Fire Fighter I training.
Recruits will learn and perform basic firefighting skills – such as climbing ladders, pulling hose, working with rope, extricating victims from wrecked vehicles, fighting fire, and maintaining equipment.
They will also learn about communications, fireprevention, and handling hazardous material emergencies.
They will be evaluated through written and practical tests.
Recruits
We have inquiries all the time regarding fire insurance rates in our response area. Our current ISO rating for each property which is situated within 5 miles of one of our two fire stations and within 1,000ft of a fire hydrant is Class 6. All other properties that cannot comply with these criteria will be a class 10.
In the past year, we have received delivery of 3 new vehicles.
The first one to be received was our Ford F-150 Beach Rescue Vehicle #596. This was paid for out of our generous donations and butt roasts. It has been used extensively for transport from the beach to the ambulance, and as a quick response and basic life support vehicle.
We then received our new E-One 50' Teleboom aerial pumper #591. This is permanently positioned at Station#2 and is availble for use 24/7.
Finally, we have just received delivery of the new Ford F-450 Brush Truck #597. The chassis was paid for out of donations received and the build was paid for from part of a State Grant received by the Fire Control District.
Click here for pictures of these new trucks.
Safety Blog
There have been an increase in sitings of Brown Widow spiders on the Cape recently. These spiders are a little bit smaller than Black Widow, can vary from light tan to dark brown or almost black and may have differing markings such as white, black, yellow, brown and even orange on the back of their abdomen. The hour glass on the underside is usually bright orange.
The easiest way to determine if there is a brown widow around is to find the egg sack. It is not that same as other widows and has pointed projections much like the old sea mines. Their webs are haphazard with no design on them. They can be found in every kind of nook and cranny.
Even though the brown widow is more venomous than a black widow, it does not inject as much venum when it bites. But the bite is still painful. The severity of the reaction depends on the age and physical condition of the person bitten. Children and the elderly are more seriously affected than young adults.
The decision to seek emergency care should be made early. If the person who was bitten by a brown widow spider has more than minor pain or has whole-body symptoms, seek care at a hospital's Emergency Department. If symptoms are severe, call 911 for emergency medical transport so that evaluation and treatment can start en route to the hospital.