Charger 2522

Kevin Daw was here this morning and replaced the charger unit on 2522.  He also indicated that the Stihl chain saw was in need of a new oil cap which they were getting.  Thank you.

FW: Motorola portables on Black

Hi Folks,

The recent problem with our Motorola portables not receiving dispatch on Black has been fixed.  It was a problem at the base station at Coxcomb.  The Motorola portables are very picky and were more vulnerable than other models. 

Our preferred channel is still the Blue repeater (at Skyline) or Blue direct. 

I am working on a chart and/or map that will help outline the working frequencies.  Thank you.

Congrats Mark Truax!

Congratulations to Mark for receiving an award from the state at this year’s Hazardous Materials Teams conference.  Mark received an award “Given to an Individual who has Worked Thanklessly to Help HazMat Teams Succeed”.  Great Job Mark!!!

STIHL 025 on 2522

Aaron,

 

There was an excessive amount of bar oil on the shelf of 2522.  The majority of the pool was under the STIHL 025, I checked the reservoir and it was half empty and visibly leaking out of the cap.  I refilled the reservoir and tightened down the cap, however I feel that it was more than just a loose cap and should be looked into.

 

Thank you,

 

Adam Casillas

Motorola portables on Black

Hello all,

 

I have detected a problem with receiving dispatch on our Motorola portables on “Black”.  I do not exactly understand why.  The bottom line is that Black is not a good option for us until we get this sorted out.

 

During some testing last night and this morning the problem seems to be isolated to our portables ability to hear dispatch.  I successfully tested with a Knappa engine and my portable last night.  I could hear them just fine.  I did a similar test between my Icom portable and another Motorola portable and that worked just fine too.  My Icom portable could hear dispatch just fine.  This is most likely a programming problem with the PL tone but it is odder than most that I have seen.  The fact that dispatch is the one that I can’t hear is weird. 

 

We will try to sort this out as quickly as possible.  Until then please avoid Black when possible.  In a mutual aide situation you may be okay with other mobiles or portables.   I can’t guarantee it.  Be reminded that the Vertex back up portable in each engine may be useful as a work around.  Thank you.

Lock box at star of the sea

Good morning friends,
Yesterday we were called to a fire alarm at the old star of the sea, address 1411 grand. Upon gaining access to a very rusty lockbox that was in fact rusted shut, we found that there was one single key inside the lockbox, and that this key did not work for any of the exterior doors that we tried.

Luckily our call was at an hour which we could find a representative (a pastor) in order to gain access. We discussed the lockbox situation with the pastor, and he informed us that he is under the impression that the building manager JP Moss is aware of this problem and is ordering a new lockbox as well as placing a new key in it. Lieutenant Corbit is planning on following up with Chief curzon.

Botton line, until further notice there is no key in the lockbocx at star of the sea 1411 grand ave.

Thanks
Rob

Zoll on 2523

A Zoll AED Pro has been placed in service on 2523 in lieu of a LifePak 500.

Purchase Order Training Class Thursday Feb 23rd

The Finance Department will be using the training room tomorrow, Thursday, February 23^rd starting around 7:45-8:00am.  Please assist them with putting coffee in the air pots and putting the basket of cream & sugar, cups, and napkins on the small table at the back of the training room.  I will try to put some of the items on the table before I leave Wednesday night.  Thanks!   

 

I will be out of the office in the morning and back in at least by 1pm for the afternoon training class.

-Tara

Maps

We have scanned our map set that we use for training and have placed them on the network drive.  A folder titled “map class” has been created and the maps have been converted to an adobe file.

Clatsop County FF 1 Academy

Hello All,

 

  This coming Sunday February 26, 2012 I will be instructing the Fire Streams portion of the FF 1 Academy.  The class with be using station 25’s training room in the morning hours then we will be moving to tongue point for hands on training.  If you have any questions please let me know.  Thanks Aaron B  

 

Aaron Bielemeier

Firefighter EMT-Intermediate

 

ASTORIA FIRE & RESCUE

555 30th Street

Astoria, Or 97103

Phone: 503-325-2345 Ext: 6006

Fax: 503-325-2346

E-Mail: abielemeier@astoria.or.us

 

2541 Repairs

Kevin brought 2541 back to the fire station after PW Shops replaced the electric shift motor for the pump.

 

If you walk by 2522 you will notice one of the crosslays looks different. It is red colored hose so it is easier to identify at a fire to shut it off/on. The female couplings are imbedded with high visibility reflective arrows that point towards the engine to find your way out. I also am starting to use a different numbering system for the hose. The first number indicates what size hose, the second number is the year we put it in service, and the third is the hose number. Please let me know what you think of the new hose as there is different colors to choose from and I am thinking of changing the color of 2 more pre-connects.

Sent from my Windows Phone

3 volt 123 batteries

From: 5037912213@vzwpix.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 8:28 AM
To: Bob Johnson
Attachments: 0215120826.jpg

This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from
Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone
visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime® 6.5 or higher is
required.

The 3 volt  (123) smoke alarm and Zoll AED Plus batteries are also the battery used in the new small flashlights that Lt. Corbit has been buying for us.  It just so happens that the ones we got through Home Depot.com have the Streamlight name on them.  We will maintain a reasonable inventory of them at both Station 2 and headquarters.  The ones for Station 2 will be kept in the cabinet opposite of the bathrooms and the ones at HQ will be kept in the shop with the rest of the batteries.  In order to take advantage of free shipping AA Constantine will order these three boxes at a time.  It is our responsibility to let her know when the supply needs to be restocked.  Please recycle and dispose of the used ones accordingly.  No one enjoys finding questionable batteries lying around.  Thank you.

Car Seat Clinic

Hi Everyone,

 

Our first car seat clinic is scheduled for next Saturday, February 25^th here at the Astoria Fire Department from 10am to 2pm.  We should only need the first fire bay for the cars and use the second fire bay for a couple of tables and an area for the car seats.  If you have any questions on this event, please let me know.  Thanks!

 

Regards,

Tara Constantine

 

Bloodborne container

Western Oregon Waste has been contacted to empty the contaminated materials container.  They should be here on Wednesday.

Genesis

I took the Genesis pump to Clatsop Power. The fuel cap has a carbon filter in it for emissions. When the fuel tank is too full the fuel splashes around and plugs up the cap not allowing air to enter the fuel tank as fuel is being used up and starving the motor of fuel. I purchased a new cap that should work better. We also need to not fill the tank full and leave around a half to 1 inch air space
From the top.
Sent from my Windows Phone

The Genesis pump was acting up again today. I contacted Santiam and told him we are taking it to Clatsop Power tomorrow. When we are running these small engines we need to run them at least 5 minutes or more. The pump would run for 2 minutes and then quit.

Sent from my Windows Phone

Sony 1.2 Mega pixel camera from 2541

Hey folks,

 

I am stepping way out on a limb here and removing the Sony 1.2 Mega pixel camera from 2541.  It was given to us years ago by our friends at the police department.  Once upon a time it was the best camera in our fire department.  It used floppy disks.  (yes Brett and Robbie, stop laughing).  The current cell phone in the Quint should take much better pictures.  Since this is still valuable city property I will return it to the folks that loaned it to us.  Thank you.  

Five inch hose clamp on 2541

Hello Folks,

 

We own exactly one five inch hose clamp which is located on 2541.  In our early years of working with five inch we learned that this clamp does not work.  We have spent twenty years operating without using it.  And we haven’t bought any more like it.  Is it time to remove it from service and send it to the fire museum? 

 

It has been suggested that if we got rid of the clamp that the hydrant gate could be moved to the right corner of the tailboard.  That would be a safer step up (and down) to the turn table.  Thoughts?  Thank you.

Brett's vlog 2/10/12

Spider Straps

Last night on a call medix used our spider straps and did not have a replacement set. So our spinal kit on 2522 does not have spider straps

Mask Straps

Hey Team,

 

I have noticed on my personal SCBA mask that the elastic straps felt stretched out and I wasn’t getting a nice tight seal like I used to.  It is realitvly inexpensive to replace these straps and it makes a world of difference.  Please evaluate your SCBA mask and let me know if you would like replacement elastic straps. 

 

 

Thanks,

 

Brett

 

RE: Utility room plumbing at Station 2.

I have approved the repairs and Ken should be replacing the lines this week.

 

Cc: Peter Curzon
Subject: Utility room plumbing at Station 2.

 

We obtained a quote re-plumb the utility room water supply at Station 2.  Rather than pursue that option Ken Yuill has been tasked with the work.  Hopefully Ken can get it done in the next week or so.  Until then the washer and sink are out of service.  The valves should remain off.  Ken will use his discretion as to whether to repair/replace portions of the CPVC, replace it with pex, or some combination of copper fittings and tubing.

 

Our apologies to the live ins until this is repaired.  Ken’s schedule is subject to other priorities.  Please let us know if this situation drags on much beyond next week.  Thank you.

Trauma Class on Feb 24th

 

If anyone is interested in attending the Trauma Outcomes Class on February 24^th, please get me your registration form by Tuesday, February 14^th, so I can have our Finance Department cut one check for everyone’s class registration fee.

 

New O2 Bag for 2541

Hello All,

  We have a new Green Oxygen Bag on 2541.  Same equipment just a new bag.  Thanks Aaron B

Bag for defibrillator on 2522

Hello All,

A new bag for the defibrillator on 2522 will be shipped out this Thursday.  Aaron B

Utility room plumbing at Station 2.

We obtained a quote re-plumb the utility room water supply at Station 2.  Rather than pursue that option Ken Yuill has been tasked with the work.  Hopefully Ken can get it done in the next week or so.  Until then the washer and sink are out of service.  The valves should remain off.  Ken will use his discretion as to whether to repair/replace portions of the CPVC, replace it with pex, or some combination of copper fittings and tubing.

 

Our apologies to the live ins until this is repaired.  Ken’s schedule is subject to other priorities.  Please let us know if this situation drags on much beyond next week.  Thank you.

Weeds

Avery and Jacob took advantage of the great weather today and sprayed weeds at both Headquarters and Station 2.  We should give it a couple of weeks to fully enjoy the results. 

Station 2 fire alarm

Another set of batteries have gone bad in a detector for the fire alarm system at Station 2.  These are CR123 3 volt lithium “photo” batteries.  They are pretty expensive when obtained locally as well as a hassle to get.  A pair at Radio Shack in Warrenton is $16.99.  There are about 12 detectors at Station 2 and each detector takes two batteries.  This is going to become a frequent occurrence, be expensive, and a hassle.  I replaced the bad batteries and taped one spare set to the fire alarm panel for the time being.

 

Alas, we have a better long term solution!  AA Constantine has found them through Home Depot online.  A substitute brand is available in a 12 pack for $16.96.  When orders exceed $45 then the shipping is free.  Tara has ordered three 12 packs.  We will send a good number of them to Station 2 when they arrive.  I would like to keep them in very close proximity to the alarm panel. 

 

Incidentally the Zoll AED Plus in the CERT vehicle and the one in the police lunchroom use this same battery.  We need to maintain a decent inventory and remember to shop around for them next time.  Thank you.

FW: Air compressor for pneumatic heating system of the Public Safety Building

Hello Dale,

 

  Chief Curzon has approved the removal and donation of our air compressor and components to the Astoria School District for their use.  Also could you let me know what we would be looking at by adding in a duct for positive heat into our turnout/gear storage room adjacent to the hose tower?  I remember talking with you about the subject and just don’t want to forget it.     Thanks Aaron B

 

 

Aaron Bielemeier

Firefighter EMT-Intermediate

 

ASTORIA FIRE & RESCUE

555 30th Street

Astoria, Or 97103

Phone: 503-325-2345 Ext: 6006

Fax: 503-325-2346

E-Mail: abielemeier@astoria.or.us

 

---

From: Peter Curzon
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2012 10:40 AM
To: Aaron Bielemeier
Subject: RE: Air compressor for pneumatic heating system of the Public Safety Building

 

..OK but he owes us…

 

From: Aaron Bielemeier
Sent: Saturday, February 04, 2012 10:42 AM
To: Peter Curzon
Cc: AFD Users
Subject: Air compressor for pneumatic heating system of the Public Safety Building

 

Hello Chief Curzon,

 

Dale from P & L Johnson has asked if they can have the old air compressor which was for the old pneumatic heating system.  Apparently the Astoria School District has the same model of compressor and can use our old one for parts as the model is no longer available.  I would recommend sending it to the school district if that is ok with you.  Thanks Aaron B  

 

 

Aaron Bielemeier

Firefighter EMT-Intermediate

 

ASTORIA FIRE & RESCUE

555 30th Street

Astoria, Or 97103

Phone: 503-325-2345 Ext: 6006

Fax: 503-325-2346

E-Mail: abielemeier@astoria.or.us

 

GPS

New GPS's have been purchased and put into service. All engines plus 2561 & 2571 now have them on board.

Firecom Headsets

The other day we found a number of Firecom headsets with various problems.  Three have been shipped away for repair.  As a result 2523 only has five right now and the “spare” one from headquarters is gone as well.  Thank you.

Update on the Floors

Hi Everyone!

 

I just spoke with Rick Irish with the Clatsop County Sheriff, work crew and he thought they would be in today to work on the floor however they weren’t able to.  He is now looking to get the jail work crew in the week of February 13^th – 17^th, before his knee replacement surgery on Monday, February 20^th.  His cell phone number is 503-298-9032 if anyone had any questions for him.

 

Honda EU 1000 generator

The Honda EU 1000 generator was found to have oil in the valves.  According to the mechanic it appeared that the oil reservoir was over filled and it may have been placed on its side while it was being filled.  It was running much better after they were done with it.