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Show THESENTINEL t--1 v ' r ' i s til. 5?4 I n f k kJmZHc Via ; Day care center owner shows Gene Wallace recently installed fire alarm. u Gene Wallace explains the function of engine three to Boy Scouts. Ted Wallace checks equipment, a dally task performed to "eliminate surprises." spontaneous. Without excusing themselves, the firemen left the scouts and jumped into Squad One. We were on our way within seconds. Aware that time was precious, Gene turned on the siren and began moving through the remnants of rush hour traffic. Sur What firemen do when there are no fires When the men aren't There are those times out fighting fires, they when firemen are inspecting buildings, can be found "sitting checking equipment, around" usually teaching or participating when in training sessions, filing and meals during MASH comes on at reports, completing 10:40 p.m. Most of the public relations assigntime, however, their list ments such as tours of the of things to do more than station or talks to school children and community fills their assigned shift. ; groups, answering truck?" on-du- ty 24-ho-ur . medical assist Hdftm "I studying the departmental tests, and bays cleaning JORDAN half-joking- ly W. 7800 So. 61 time." 2550872 To gain a better understanding of a fireman's responsibilities, I made arrangements with Lt. Kent Brown and Public Safety Director Kal Fair to follow a fireman through a portion of his shift. Arriving at Station Hfl on a Wednesday afternoon, I found Lt. Brown and several of the men 25N.wTltloc Saturday Special Recorder & 4 Movies 25 behind Over 100 Mcvlsj uvernigm s GjRocordors 11 the building testing out a new invention. "It's a hose washer," .Gene Wallace explained as I watched them feed hose in and back out of a metal tube, one end of which was connected to a hose which brought water from the pumper truck. Most fire VHS&Bcfa r4 yes, and washing trucks. "We would like to watch MAS"H in the afternoon," one fireman admitted, "but there just isn't enough VID 5 1 calls, $-j-j- oo Overniaht toodcase Waterbed 5 Bods hoses have a heavy metal cloth covering. Gene con- tinued that, to prolong its life, the hose needed to be cleaned after every use. There were such things as commercial hose washers, but the department couldn't afford to buy one. Thus, Lt. Brown's invention was overall results of the experiment, Lt. Brown pointed out that there were still a few bugs which needed to be worked out. Gene then ushered me into the station and upstairs to his office for an overview of department activities. His shift began earlier that morning at 8 a.m. By the time I had arrived at 3:30, he had already been on two runs. The first had been prompted by a call from a mother whose had stopped baby breathing. West Jordan's trained Emergency Medical Technicians are usually the first respondents to such calls. As EMTs, their responsibility is to provide whatever medical assistance they can until the paramedics and ambulance arrive. The second call was from a woman who had smelled smoke in her home. Gene and Kevin Mertin responded, this time with a fire truck. There was no fire. As a safety precaution, however, they isolated the area where the smoke had been detected and cut Only! die supermarkets while assignments was that if another is strictly day an emergency occurred, care centers. Fire codes they can respond directly are recorded in one of the without reporting back to department's three the station to pick up the Continued on Page 10 "bibles" a life safety truck. Someone is always code written by the at the station to respond National Fire Protection with a fire truck if a call Agency, the Uniform goes down. The men in Fire .Code, and the the other truck then join Uniform Building Code. him at the scene. A three tone alarm will summon Following the introductory discussion, I was the Public Safety Officer, handed a release form to three part time firemen sign and then joined Gene and two full time men. In and Kevin Mertin on their the case of a general final two day care inspec- alarm, all 21 parttime tions. Prior to final licenfiremen (paid volunsing by the state, the cen- teers) respond as well. ENROLL NOW A pack of Boy Scouts ters must meet fire and Sn Fri 1A safety codes. At our first were waiting for their stop, Gene seemed 5:00 tour of the station 2S4-412- S pleased as the owner led when we returned. Kevin us through a tour of the pulled a pumper truck out building and demon- of the bay and Gene exstrated he had complied, plained to the youths how or was in the process of it worked. An air hose A complying with, those packet was pulled out of a areas of concern Gene side compartment next had outlined on a visit and as Kevin modeled, several weeks before. At Gene outlined its funthe conclusion of the in- ction. Then, it was off Th School of Styllsod Training spection, the owner was with the packet and on informed the state would with the boots and coat. be notified and he should One boy was chosen to try 12613 S. Rtdwood Rd., Rlvtrton receive his license soon. it and just as Kevin was At the second center, the helping him with the coat, lastiicter Jtanttt Vitam SufefeN owner had left for the day another medical call 254-41- 28 made went down. Gene (containers, proper and general arrangements to return Their reactions were storage, ".' housekeeping); heating later. j ; " inmedical For calls, devices systems (gas vented, proper piping, spections and other accessible shut-ofetc.); business, the men use portable extinguishers Squad One, a truck they and alarm systems. literally created. Several the general years ago, the deparAlthough tment bought an old truck fire code requirements are the same, each type for 1500. The firemen then of business inspection is a shortened the frame and little different. For better drive line, bolted down a coverage, firemen new utility box and painspecialize. One may han- - ted it. The truck was with equipped HIGH VOLUME equipment (for COUPON automobile accidents) a QUALITY COfY cascade system (to fill IUwm4 VMaf nnnon'Q $709 ff hattr jOO miov , West Valley 4100 S. Redwood Rd. Carriage Sq. : I 'elk 'Dance oom COPY QUALITY Announces Their Two New Features SPIRAL BOOK BINDING FOLDING Automotive Tools Cement Tools Construction Tools Convalescent Needs Party Needs Lawn & Garden Tools Hours 86 Mon.-Sa- Prkts Inclvdt: Mattress. Heatar, Liner H 3&. In A Pickle? 7 Starter Kit . f, Dill Rental Complete - s, Rent It From U prisingly, there were cars that took their time get ting out of the way and others simply refused to move and Gene was for' ced to maneuver around them. This time, the am bulance beat them. Since on-du- ty born. While pleased with the specially electricity. They then instructed the woman to contact an electrician to check for a possible short circuit. More routine tasks had also been completed prior to my arrival. The firemen had done their laundry and cleaned the bays and living areas. In addition, each of West Jordan's fulltime firemen have specific assignments within the department. Gene is responsible for the emergency medical training of both police and firemen and daycare center inspections. Each commercial and industrial building in the city is inspected by firemen once a year as a a for prerequisite business license issuance or renewal. A fire safety guide is used as a check list. The list outlines six general conditions which must be met. These areas are then further broken down: general (proper exits, stairs, fire doors, etc.); electrical (proper wiring, extension cords, accessible electrical shut-offetc.); housekeeping ..L , Ever wonder? . . . fulltime fire fighters. "After all, how many times can you wash a fire i A SL x2 by Renette Anderson Sentinel Staff What does a fireman do when he's not out fighting fires? "Sit around mostly," I've often been told by residents who question West Jordan's need for 3 - Y? , Page I 4 ivl j m Thursday, Oct. 15,1981 J t. atiSwau 9 7 Now 3027 West 7800 South 561-519- 2 air tanks) and other emergency medical items. Money was raised by the Fire Fighter's Association and through other donations from the Will be rharKitl on mil Xerox 8200 for 00 or more copiei (per ori(iiul) willi (his Whiles' 1 1 only. No Mm. nh 1. business and private community, including a sizeable check from doctors at the Southwest Emergency Center. Firemen complete their assignments in pairs. They explained that an advantage of taking squad one with them on ir 1785 W. 7000 So. Redwood Village West Jordan 561-250- 1 Mon-Fr- i 9:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. Sat 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. non-medic- al rs f Pf SSS-- s JhW K J ' -- a PlK ! !!!! .MWQoiMaMk IMPORTED CANADIAN WHISKY . A - A BLEND f 80 PROOF CALVERT DtST. CO.. N YC. |