First Full-Time Fire Chief Skip Shirlaw to be Sworn-In on January 1, 2016

ICFPD invites all of the residents of the district to join us Friday January 1, 2016 for the Swearing-In ceremony for our first full-time Fire Chief.  Skip Shirlaw will be sworn-in at 10:00 a.m. at ICFPD Station One, 7939 South Turkey Creek Road, in Morrison.  The community is invited to attend the ceremony and celebrate this move into the future for the district.

Traffic Incident Management - Don't Be a Cone - Safety on the scene of motor vehicle accidents

Three injury crashes occur every minute in the United States, putting nearly 39,000 incident responders potentially in harm's way every day. Congestion from these incidents often generates secondary crashes, further increasing traveler delay and frustration. The longer incident responders remain at the scene without significant protection, the greater the risk they, and the traveling public, face. A response by well-trained law enforcement, firefighter, EMTs, paramedics, road crews and tow operators helps improve traffic incident response and provide better scene protection and safety . Better incident response improves the safety of responders and drivers, reduces crashes that occur because of incident-related congestion, decreases traffic delays caused by incidents, and can cut incident response time.

Traffic Incident Management is a combined effort of law enforcement - including our partners at Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and the Colorado State Patrol, - firefighters from ICFPD and other responding departments, Jefferson County Road and Bridge, Colorado Department of Transportation, and tow operators.  At Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District we call this scene safety initiative "Don't Be a Cone".  The goal of our "Don't Be a Cone" safety training over the past two years has been to improve scene safety for all responders, our patients, and the traveling public.  

"Don't Be a Cone" safety training provides ICFPD responders a shared understanding of the requirements for safe response, appropriate scene shielding, safe work on scene while extricating or caring for injured patients, quick clearance of traffic incident scenes; prompt, reliable and open communication; and motorist and responder safeguards. This "Don't Be a Cone" training covers many TIM recommended procedures and techniques, including:

- TIM Fundamentals and Terminology
- Notification and Scene Size-Up - Requests for additional fire apparatus to protect responders working on scene
- Safe Vehicle Positioning - Fire trucks are positioned to shield the emergency scene
- Scene Safety
- Command Responsibilities
- Traffic Management - Use of fluorescent vests, cones and/or flares, and vehicle lighting
- Special Circumstances - Hazardous materials, weather visibility, road conditions
- Clearance and Termination - safely leaving the scene

The safety of all responders on Highway 285 and other roads within ICFPD depends upon motorists as well.  Don't drive while digital - don't use your phone or other electronics while driving and please - slow down as you approach the accident.  We need your help in improving safety at the scene of a motor vehicle accident:

1. Pay Attention to Any Signs of Slowing Ahead  Be a defensive driver and scan the road for any potential threats of quick slowing or swerving. As a defensive driver, if there are signs of slowing ahead, let up on the gas pedal and hover over the brake to start slowing your vehicle down as you get closer to the congested sea of brake lights.

2. Plan Ahead for Any Potential Detours  For example, in some reported accidents on highways, illuminated signs will warn drivers before they approach the scene. If the warnings are a couple of miles away from the accident’s scene, some drivers will react to exit the highway ahead of time.

3. Don’t Stare  Once near or at the accident scene, keep your eyes focused ahead. Rubbernecking (when drivers stare at the accident scene instead of looking ahead in the direction they are driving), is a major cause of sudden slowing. Paying too much attention to the accident scene is a threat to you and your passengers because you may miss the signs of braking ahead of you or any road debris from the accident that causes you to swerve.  Watch for responders working on scene or providing directions to drivers.

4. Report if Necessary  Some accidents may not have been reported yet. If you do not see any emergency officials at the scene of an accident and wish to call in the accident, pull over safely to use your mobile device to do so. Do not try to use your phone while still driving around the accident because that will be a driving distraction and can cause an accident itself.  If you do call in the accident, provide detailed instructions and follow the operator’s instructions. 

5.  Slow down as you approach the accident.  

Pictures from Inter-Canyon Open House held on Saturday November 14

Oh what a difference a few days makes with weather in Colorado.  A few pictures from the ICFPD Open House held on Saturday November 14, 2015.

Families Enjoying a Beautiful Day while Meeting ICFPD Firefighters, EMTs, and Paramedics

Citizens Meeting Chief Skip Shirlaw

Chatting with the Citizens We Serve

ICFPD Open House Saturday November 14, 2015 at Station One 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Jefferson County to Test CodeRED Emergency Notification System

Are you ready for an emergency?  Have you signed up for the Jefferson County Emergency Notification System?  Great information from the Jefferson County Sheriff

County-wide emergency notification set for November 17^th

Jefferson and Broomfield Counties testing existing CodeRed system

Jefferson County, CO. –  Jefferson and Broomfield Counties emergency services agencies, including law enforcement, fire and EMS, are working together to test their emergency notification system CodeRED.

On November 17^th, at 9 a.m., the CodeRED emergency notification system will begin making test notifications.  This process is expected to take several hours due to the large number of notifications being made via landline, cell phone, and email.

The CodeRED system is used by emergency services agencies in Jefferson and Broomfield counties to help disseminate information regarding critical incidents. In addition to Jefferson and Broomfield counties, there will be portions of Adams and Clear Creek Counties included in the CodeRED notification. 

Citizens can elect to also receive notification of severe weather using the CodeRED Weather Warning system.

Landlines are automatically included in CodeRED notifications, but residents and businesses are encouraged to visit the CodeRED registration web site to add additional contact information, including additional phone numbers, SMS (text) and email address preferences. This is especially important for those addresses without a landline, as individuals must register if they want to receive emergency notifications. 

Volunteer Applications to Open January 1, 2016

Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District will open applications for volunteer firefighters and EMTs on January 1, 2016.  ICFPD is in need of volunteers.  We have two separate tracks for volunteering:

Firefighter – provides structural and wildland firefighting, initial EMS care, rescue and extrication.  In addition may complete additional EMS courses to provide pre-hospital care.  If you are accepted, you must attend, successfully complete and maintain these certifications:

A.    State of Colorado Firefighter 1 Certification

B.    State of Colorado Hazardous Materials Operations Certification

C.    NWCG Wildland Firefighter 130/190

D.    State of Colorado Emergency Medical Responder or AEMT, EMT-I or Paramedic

Emergency Medical Services/Firefighter Support – provides Emergency Medical Services treatment and transport and supports firefighters in non-hazardous roles.  If you are accepted, you must attend, successfully complete and maintain these certifications:

A.    State of Colorado Emergency Medical Technician – AEMT, EMT-I or Paramedic

B.    State of Colorado Hazardous Materials Awareness

C.    Firefighting safety course

ICFPD has two types of membership:

In-District Volunteer:  A firefighter or EMS staff member who lives within the ICFPD or within one air mile of district boundaries.  An in-district volunteer may respond to emergencies from home or work.

Out-of-District Volunteer:  A firefighter or EMS staff member who lives beyond the one air mile boundary of ICFPD.  An out-of-district volunteer must serve duty time at one of the ICFPD stations and be available to respond to emergencies while on duty.

Trainings are held at ICFPD every Thursday at 1900 hours.  ICFPD will provide you with training, motivation, protective gear, insurance, and friendship.  You provide your personal commitment to excellence and your willingness to serve the community.