The AFG program…it’s that time again!
Editorial by Peter Makowski, Editor-The Northland Fire Wire
It has started again! The Department of Homeland Security has begun announcing funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. It’s very encouraging to hear the list of those getting these grants. It’s also disheartening that a number of departments which applied for a grant won’t be successful. However, in the end, the grant program remains one of the best things that the federal government has done for the fire service. Dozens of fire departments in the Arrowhead Region have benefited from this program and I truly believe it has made us better in our profession. We now have modern equipment from personnel protective gear to brand new apparatus.
The program would not be successful if it were not for the support from our federal lawmakers. Both “sides of the aisle” have come out with high praise for the AFG program and when it comes to making sure that the program is adequately funded, we have seen both major political parties in our corner. When you see our elected federal folks, make sure you thank them for their strong support of this program. And while you’re at it, if your new AFG funded equipment is nearby, make sure they see it as well. Seeing is believing and the AFG program and its results are certainly worth showing off.
We welcome Fire talk to our website
By Pete Makowski-Editor, The Northland Fire Wire
Great partnerships make for great things to happen. And, I firmly believe that having Jim Iammatteo on board with his Fire Talk articles is one of those great things. I have a lot of respect and admiration for Jim. I would say that he is one of the “rising stars” in the region’s fire service.
His dedication to our profession is without question and his determination to spread the word about fire prevention is very admirable. I also have to give credit to the Hibbing Fire Department and Chief Tony Pogorels for allowing Jim to share his information with us. We are all on the same team, dedicated to saving lives and property.
We welcome “Fire Talk” to The Northland Fire Wire family. Please use this information to educate the public about the dangers and consequences of fire. Who knows? In the end, we may end up saving someone’s life and isn’t that really what it is all about?
The Fire Wire is 20 years old!!
Editorial by Peter Makowski, Editor-The Northland Fire Wire
There won’t be any big cake or even a party. We mark the occasion by looking forward to the future and not looking back. Well, maybe we’ll look at some of the old publications and see how far we’ve come. 2008 marks our 20th year of putting out The Northland Fire Wire. We’ve seen this publication grow to where it is today and frankly, we take a little pride in how far we’ve come. We’d also like to thank those who have supported us throughout the years.
Since our first edition, the goal of The Northland Fire Wire has been to put out a quality publication to the fire departments and firefighters of the Arrowhead Region. The Fire Wire is not a money making operation, otherwise we would have crammed the pages with ads and reduced the number of articles. We still stick by our rule of limited advertising on each page. I just recently had a potential advertiser hang up on us because he couldn’t get an ad in the Fire Wire. Oh well!! The Fire Wire has been strictly a hobby for us. Sometimes it has been a fun undertaking and there are times when we wonder what we are doing. Like any publication, we always seem to struggle with getting articles, but then manage to end up with a surplus. Behind the scenes, we agonize when we find mistakes in stories. I can still recall “trashing” an entire edition because we misspelled Rex Lentner’s name. We strive for accuracy in every story we do. It is something we take very, very seriously.
The Fire Wire would not have occurred without the strong support of the Arrowhead Regional Firefighters’ Association, although we haven’t always agreed in the direction that the organization has taken and have said so. However, our relationship remains strong and we have a great working relationship with ARFA President Ron Minter. Another strength comes from our loyal advertisers. Some of them have been with us since the very beginning and we appreciate their confidence in us. We certainly appreciate their support. And, we have a great partner with the Ely Echo, which has been our publisher for many years. Anne Swenson and her team do a wonderful job for us and they have really improved “the look” of the publication.
We have some big ideas for the future. We’ll continue the publication with our current six pages. We did try more, but it didn’t work out. And, we plan to continue to expand and update our website, www.nlfirewire.com. More than anything else, we will continue our tradition of a quality publication for the region’s fire departments and firefighters which has been our goal since Day One.
Congratulations Rex
Lentner!
Your record of service speaks for itself!
Editorial by Peter Makowski-Editor, The Northland Fire Wire
After more than 30 years, 32 to be exact, in the firefighting profession, Rex Lentner retired from the Hibbing Fire Department in January. What a legacy he is leaving! Throughout his three decades of unselfish service, Rex has always been concerned about the region’s firefighters. He was instrumental in the formation of the Stuntz Volunteer Fire Department, which later became part of the Hibbing Fire Department. He developed a number of practices and procedures for the department and they remain in effect today. He has been active and remains active with the Minnesota State Fire Department Association and the Arrowhead Regional Firefighters’ Association.
I met Rex over 20 years ago when he was the president of the regional organization. It was Rex who strongly promoted the development of a regional fire department newsletter, which led to The Northland Fire Wire. Actually, he wrote the first editorial that appeared in the publication. I would actually wish Rex a happy retirement, but his heart and soul remains in the fire service and you’ll still see him at the Arrowhead meetings. The Hibbing Tribune recently did a wonderful story about Rex and his career in firefighting, which was great to read. In that article, Rex said that he was proud of the impact he made at the Hibbing Fire Department. Well, Rex, I’ve got news for you, you’ve made an impact on all of the fire service. Your record of service to all Minnesota firefighters speaks for itself!
I really give a lot of credit to the Grand Rapids Knights of Columbus for their work in arranging a procession and memorial service in remembrance of September 11th. It was good to remind the community of the supreme sacrifice made by over three thousand Americans that day. It was also important to honor all of the public safety organizations throughout this country who are poised and ready to respond to emergency situations. What occurred in New York City, Washington, D.C., and in a Pennsylvania field that day could have occurred anywhere in this country. The frightening reality is that such a tragedy could still occur. September 11th was a real wake-up call to all Americans, especially our law enforcement agencies, EMS providers and the fire service. Consequently, we have improved our nation’s security and all of our emergency services have benefited from numerous government programs. For example, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program has been a tremendous success and over the years dozens of fire departments in this region have been able to purchase new equipment. A recent grant will allow Itasca County to build a state of the art radio communications system. A SAFER grant to the Virginia Fire Department allowed for the hiring of additional firefighters. On this website, ten area departments are getting help to buy new apparatus and equipment. The list of grant recipients goes on and on and in the end, all of our communities will benefit. We have improved much of our public safety systems since that terrible day, but we still have an awful lot to do. We must never forget that September 11th changed America forever, but we also have to move forward. We must remind all of our lawmakers (local, county, state and federal) that we still need funding, lots of it, to continue with public safety improvements. We also need to remind our communities of the valuable services we provide day in and day out. And finally, we must not forget our fallen brothers and sisters (I343 FDNY firefighters) who went to work on September 11, 2001 and never came home. To not continue their cause for improved procedures and public safety equipment would truly be a dishonor to them, to ourselves and to the people we serve. We must never forget September 11, 2001.
Going defensive doesn’t mean defeat!!
Editorial by Peter Makowski, Editor-The Northland Fire Wire
Over the last couple of months, two area fire chiefs made the decision to go “defensive” while attacking two large fires. Back in May in Eveleth, Eveleth Fire Chief Steve Sklors decided that the fire going through the roof structure of a beer and liquor warehouse no longer warranted an aggressive interior attack and an exterior defensive position was far better and safer. And in June, Duluth Assistant Fire Chief Mitch Peterson made the decision that a defensive attack was necessary as fire raced through a wood products building.
To some of those in the public, going to a defensive course of action means defeat. It means that the fire department “lost” the fire and is now retreating. To them, it is a sign of giving up. Those of us in the fire service know differently. It means that we have evaluated the situation, weighed the options and put public and firefighter safety up in front, where they belong. Life safety comes first, the rest is all secondary.
There are likely some out there who will criticize the actions of the two fire chiefs. But, here’s an interesting and sometimes overlooked fact from both fires. All of the firefighters went home to their families when the fires were out. No one was killed. No one was injured. End of story!
We mourn the loss of the Charleston firefighters
By Peter Makowski, Editor-The Northland Fire Wire
The tragedy in Charleston weighs heavy on the minds of a lot of us in the fire service. The loss of nine of our brothers, the worst since 9/11, is truly devastating. The Charleston Fire Department lost over 130 years of experience on that day and the community lost a whole lot more. We must never forget the sacrifice that these men made, a sacrifice that any one of us could make at any time.
In the weeks ahead, there are going to be a lot of reports and insights on what happened and how this tragedy could have been prevented. Decisions made at the scene will be questioned and it is very likely that the skills, training and procedures of the Charleston Fire Department will be challenged. We all know that is going to happen because an incident of this magnitude will certainly “come under the microscope.”
As the Charleston Fire Department goes under this review, perhaps every department should also review its operating guidelines, strategies and protocols. Sadly, it is from such tragedies that the fire service learns to do a better job and perhaps an even safer job. There is always something to be learned from such an event.
However, It is my hope that as we analyze, scrutinize and even criticize what happened in Charleston, we never lose sight of the simple fact that nine of our own are not coming back. The analysis won’t change what happened. It won’t bring these brave men back to us.
Firewise works!
Ham Lake Fire provides proof!!
The recent Ham Lake Fire in the Gunflint Trail area clearly showed the importance of the Firewise Program. While just over 140 structures were lost in this huge forest fire, nearly 760 structures were saved. And, a number of the saved structures were the direct result of the landowner implementing Firewise practices.
The Firewise Program has been in the region for several years now. A number of communities have adopted this national program, which is coordinated in the Arrowhead Region by the U.S. Forest Service and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Communities which have implemented the program have seen the value of this program, not only during the wildfire season, but in other applications. First responder and fire department organizations gain valuable knowledge about the areas they serve. Landowners learn how to protect their property and they create better access points for emergency responders. It is a “win win” situation for everyone involved.
While the Firewise Program has shown its potential and benefits, a number of areas are still reluctant to adopt this voluntary program. Some fear that the program could be mandated or required. And, some of it may be that the program itself is not clearly understood. However, one only needs to look at the Ham Lake Fire and the results to see that Firewise is indeed a very effective program!!