Newsletter

As the temperatures have gotten colder outside, we are depending on multiple types of heating sources to stay warm inside our homes. The Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company and State Fire Marshal William E. Barnard offer residents the following life safety and home heating safety tips.

 

“Elements of home heating continue to be a significant factor in home fires in Maryland,” according to the Fire Marshal. “Following these guidelines, we can work together to reduce the number of residential fires.”

 

You should:

---Ensure chimneys are cleaned annually or more frequently if used as the primary heating equipment.

 

---Use properly sized fireplace screens or enclosures. Never use a flammable liquid to start a fire.

 

---When disposing of cooled ashes, do not use paper or plastic containers.

To remove them, use a metal container. Ashes will insulate hot embers long after the fire is considered out.

 

---Make sure fuel burning stoves are installed according to local fire codes and the manufacturer’s instructions.

 

---Have your furnace inspected and serviced annually.

 

---Check portable electric heaters for frayed or damaged wires. Ensure

that they are clean and placed on a flat level surface. Use only heaters that are “listed” by an approved testing laboratory for this type of equipment and follow all manufacturers’ instructions.

 

---Do not use extension cords or strip outlets with portable electric space heaters. The extension cord or strip outlet can overheat and cause a fire.

 

---If you use kerosene fuel fired heaters, use only “K-1” kerosene fuel. Never fill the unit inside. Always remove it to the exterior of the building after it has cooled before refueling. Open a window enough to provide proper ventilation.

 

---Keep combustibles (furniture, curtains, clothing, paper goods, etc.), at least three feet from all heat sources.

 

---Fuel burning appliances can produce the deadly, tasteless and odorless gas known as carbon monoxide. Install and maintain carbon monoxide (CO) alarms inside your home to provide an early warning of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere.

 

---Always turn off portable heating equipment when leaving the room for extended periods. Portable heaters should never be operated while unattended.

 

Along with these heating tips, check to make sure your smoke alarms are in good working order. “Routine maintenance and safe operation of heating equipment, combined with properly installed and operating smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, are a life-saving combination for all Marylanders,” stated Fire Marshal Barnard.

The FVFAC has smoke alarms available for area residents that need them. Smoke alarms do have a "shelf life" of approximately ten years and should be replaced prior to reaching that age.

If you would like further information on home fire safety please contact the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co.

    The membership of the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company (FVFAC) held our annual Election of Officers on January 2, 2012. Each of our elected officers serves a term of one year, except the President, Chief of the Department, and one Associate Director who are elected to two year terms. Eligible members for each elected position must meet requirements as stated in FVFAC By-Laws which relate to activity levels, training certifications, previously fulfilling lower offices, etc. Each elected officer must receive greater than one half of the votes cast by voting members in the election process to earn the position they are seeking. Higher ranking elected officers appoint members based on their credentials and fire service experience to any positions not filled through the election process. Many of our officers, particularly those in upper level management positions, have been re-elected or re-appointed to their previous positions by our members providing a welcomed sense of continuity in the leadership of the FVFAC.

2012 FVFAC Officers:
Administrative Officers:
President – Chris Gibbons (fulfilling 2nd year of term)
Vice President- Scott Golly (incumbent)
Treasurer- William Miller
Recording Secretary- Katie Sanner
Corresponding Secretary- Christine Sullivan
Associate Director- Alex Pafel
Associate Director- Brian Woodley (fulfilling 2nd year of term)
Associate Director- Steven Scheinin (incumbent)
Associate Director- Bob Griffith (incumbent)
 
Operational Officers:
 
Chief- Will Rosenberg (incumbent)
 
Fire Service Officers:
 
1st Assistant Chief- Robert Stanton (incumbent)
2nd Assistant Chief- Randy Blevins (incumbent)
Captain - Jim Longo (incumbent)           
Captain - Matthew Barlow (incumbent)
Captain- Randy Reinecke
Lt.- Jon Martin (incumbent)
Lt.- Kevin Hartlove (incumbent)
Lt.- Dave Smith
Lt.- Josh Blevins (incumbent)
Lt.- Steven Hull
Sgt.- Andrew Selig (incumbent)
Sgt.- Allen Jennings (incumbent)
Sgt.- Brian Woodley
Sgt.- Nick Stuttleberg
 
EMS Officers:
 
Assistant Chief EMS- Ken Sanner(incumbent)
EMS Captain-Jenn Chenworth-Price
EMS Lt.- Lisa Rosenberg (incumbent)
EMS Lt.- Amanda Puleio (incumbent)
EMS Sgt.- Bob Griffith   
EMS Sgt.- Audrey Puleio
 
Fire Police:
 
Captain- Jeff Popp (incumbent)
Lt.- Jim McCready (incumbent) 
Sgt.- Will Steg (incumbent)
                                                                               
Safety Officer:
 
Tim Holt (incumbent)
 
In addition to supervising our members during the day to day activities of the fire company these officers are responsible for insuring the continued financial viability of the fire company, implementing maintenance programs for all assets of the FVFAC, overseeing the training of our members, interacting with governmental agencies and community groups, as well as planning for the emergency response needs of the citizens throughout the Greater Fallston Community now and in the future. These are only a few of the tasks that our VOLUNTEERS perform on a regular basis! Major projects to be worked on during 2012 include the beginning of the process to replace Truck 1331, our aerial ladder truck and the continuing implementation of recommendations from the “Fire Study” and the Fire Commission.
 
The Officers and Members of the FVFAC would like to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU!! to all of our outgoing officers for their hard work, long hours, and dedication to the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company and to the citizens that we serve. Without members that are willing to step up and be involved, we cannot provide the services that are required of our VOLUNTEER organization.    

Sunday, November 27, 2011  At approximately 1100 hours Sunday November 27, 2011 the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company (FVFAC) was dispatched to a motor vehicle collision in the 1700 block of Carrs Mill Road. While en route, units were advised by Fire Dispatch that the Harford County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) had already requested a response by Maryland State Police Aviation for aero-medical transport of a patient to a trauma center. On arrival at 1103 hours, FVFAC personnel found a passenger car versus motorcycle collision, with one victim, the motorcycle operator, lying in the roadway. As EMT’s and paramedic personnel from FVFAC assessed this victim, it was rapidly determined that he had suffered multi-system trauma, was pulse less, non-breathing, and exhibited no signs of cardiac electrical activity. At this time the victim was pronounced deceased by the FVFAC paramedic on scene and the response of the MSP helicopter was cancelled. The operator of the passenger car denied any injuries and did not require EMS treatment or transport. The scene was turned over to the HCSO for their investigation into the cause of the collision.

 

Units on scene- Ambulance 1393, Rescue 1351, Engine 1311, S.O.13, Chief 13-1, FVFAC Fire Police

Article by PIO Dave Williams

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5, Before you go to bed, remember to change your clocks back one hour for daylight savings. This is also the time that you are reminded to CHANGE THE BATTERY in you SMOKE ALARMS. Smoke alarms are a life saver, we loose too many each year in the USA from homes not having WORKING Smoke Alarms.  When testing the battery once it is changed, it is a good time to remind your children what action to take when they hear that "sound". Also, go over your evacuation route and meeting place to keep the information fresh in their growing minds.  

Friday, November 4, 2011  Any member of the community wishing to recieve a copy of the newsletter by email please go to the left column of the screen where it says newsletter and fill in your name and email address. Thank you for your continuing support. From our station to your homes....be safe in your daily activites.  Any questions please feel free to contact our webmaster at webmaster@fvfac.org

Sunday, October 9, 2011 10:00 AM October 9, 2011 from 10:00 am unitl 3:00 pm at our Carrs Mill Station, our Annual Open House will be held. Please bring your family for a informational fun filled day. There will a extrication demonstration with a vehicle fire. Pit Beef Sales. 

Information on membership and all Fallston Apparatus will be on display. Please bring your children of all ages to enjoy the day.

2201 Carrs Mill Rd Fallston MD 21047

Thursday, September 1, 2011  Parking Permits are still available. Please contact webmaster@fvfac.org with information for a permit.

Have a safe school year.

Thursday, August 25, 2011  Please ready your self and your loved ones for the upcoming Hurricane Irene.  Look for prepardness plans and more information at www.harfordpublicsafety.org