Thanks to Retiring Fire Chief Randy Simpson

ICFPD would like to thank Fire Chief Randy Simpson for his service to the district and citizens. Randy Simpson has served as Chief for four years with honor, integrity and a clear sense of purpose. During his tenure as the last volunteer Fire Chief at ICFPD, the district has expanded volunteer training, opportunities for additional volunteers to serve the citizens of the district, and standards for certifications.

Enhancements to the district during his tenure as Fire Chief include:

1.  Increasing certification requirements for all firefighters to Colorado State Firefighter 1 and Hazardous Materials Operations level, improving both service quality and firefighter safety.
2.  All firefighters must now complete and maintain the Colorado State Emergency Medical Responder  certification.    Approximately 70% of ICFPD 911 responses are medical in nature, mirroring national statistics.  In addition, ICFPD has added additional EMTs and paramedics during this time.
3. Acceptance of the largest donation in ICFPD history - $220,000 for the purchase of a new ambulance to serve the eastern and southern areas of the district from the estate of Evelyne Nordheim.
4.  Increasing opportunities for volunteers who live outside the district.  This new program is building the base of volunteer responders.

Chief Simpson will retire December 31, 2015 as the first full-time Fire Chief for ICFPD, Skip Shirlaw, is sworn into office on January 1, 2016. Simpson plans to remain an active volunteer firefighter with ICFPD.

Thanks from all of the firefighters, EMTs and paramedics, the Board of Directors and staff of ICFPD.

Safety in Numbers - We Can't Help You If We Can't Find You

When ICFPD emergency responders respond to your home, it can be quite difficult to find your exact location if your house number is not clearly marked, especially at night or in bad weather conditions. An accurate and easily visible address is vital for rapidly locating a home or business in any emergency requiring law enforcement, fire or Emergency Medical Services.  

The picture shows a reflective address sign as highly visible at night.  As we approach your home or driveway this type of sign speeds response.  Is your address this visible at night from both directions?

WHERE TO PLACE SIGNS

Drive to your home after dark. Determine if your address would be IMMEDIATELY identifiable to an emergency responder approaching for the first time from either direction - on a dark and stormy night perhaps ...
If your mail box is not directly in front of your house, you should have a sign on the mail box and one at the entrance to your driveway or on any locked gate.
If the house numbers on your street or road are not sequential, it is especially important that each house is clearly marked.
If your mail box is one of a group of boxes, is it clear in which direction to go to get to your house? You may need an arrow or additional address marker in addition to a marker at your driveway.
If your property has several buildings or multiple dwellings, each entrance door should have a house marker sign next to it.
In most cases it is an additional safety factor to have a house marker sign directly on your house in a location that is visible from the street or road and that would not be hidden by landscaping.
You don't have to remove any current signs that you really like, but we hope that you see the need for uniform signage that all responders will be looking for as we approach your home
If you're not sure where a sign should be placed, contact us and we'll send a firefighter to your residence.

Reflective blue signs are available for purchase from ICFPD. Call our non-emergency office number 303-697-4413.

Thanks to our volunteers

A word of thanks to all firefighters and EMS responders 

Firefighters, EMTs and paramedics - Thank You

To all those who serve the citizens of ICFPD We thank you.

Sparing yourself for the sake of a stranger and placing yourself at risk.

All you need to hear is the tone awakening you in the middle of the night and you just do your job.

Your most important objective: to save those in need - to all firefighters, the community of ICFPD thanks you

You all have such a courageuos desire to serve, seeking neither compensation nor recognition.

There is a job to be done, no matter where or when, and there is great comfort, knowing you will be there.

So, once again,
To all who serve - and to their families -
we thank you.

Heavy Snow and Potential for Carbon Monoxide in Homes

Due to the heavy accumulation and drifting of snow experienced along the Front Range Tuesday December 15, 2015, citizens are reminded of a common problem found with furnaces and other heating systems in the storm's aftermath. The problem occurs when snow blocks furnace fresh air intakes and exhaust vents. This can cause improper combustion or venting within the furnace or, in some cases, can cause deadly Carbon Monoxide gas to accumulate inside the home. Newer heating systems are more vulnerable to these issues due to the location of these vents, which are often installed much lower on the side wall of a home. Homeowners can take the following precautions to ensure their safety;

• Have a properly operating Carbon Monoxide detector
• Keep the fresh air intake and exhaust vent area free from snow or ice build-up

Home owners can find the inlets and outlets of your furnace by looking at the heating equipment and following the intake back to where it penetrates the wall. They can then check this area outside to ensure no snow is blocking the vents.

ICFPD also reminds everyone to keep alert for symptoms of Carbon Monoxide exposure. Symptoms and effects vary between individuals, even at the same level of CO exposure, but people typically experience headaches, flu-like symptoms, including: dizziness, fatigue, weakness, headache or vomiting, trouble breathing, or confusion.  If you or your family suspects symptoms from Carbon Monoxide exposure they should evacuate the home and call 911.

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