NEW ENGINE PROJECT
Concerned and caring people from around the world sent financial donations to volunteer fire departments involved in fighting last year’s devastating wildland fires in Colorado. The Glacier View Fire Department is one of the grateful recipients of these generous donations that continue to be received by the department since the High Park Fire.
The Glacier View Fire Department plans to use money received from donations to assist with replacement of its aged, high-maintenance engine fleet. Three Type-6 engines and one Type-1 engine will be replaced with new vehicles - two Type-5 engines and two Type-7 engines. These new engines will significantly improve the capabilities of the department and will update the fleet from 28-year old models to a brand new fleet. The old engines will be made available to other fire departments at low or no cost to those departments.
The essence of the plan for the Glacier View Fire Department is to be stronger and faster in response to wildland and structure fires and to the numerous types of rescue situations that occur in the district. The new engines are designed for enhanced response in diverse operations environments and require less staffing to operate. The current fleet of old engines involve nearly constant maintenance and repair, and require firefighters to learn unique, engine-specific operations required for each engine. The new fleet will tremendously reduce maintenance costs for the department and will allow for uniform, standard procedures for operations of equipment. The engines are specifically designed for the Glacier View environment and are all-wheel drive. The Type-7 engines can be converted to “track” vehicles, providing access to snowy terrain during winter rescue operations. Completion of the engine replacement project is anticipated to be complete in the Fall of 2013.
The generosity of the public, near and far, has been indescribable. The Glacier View Fire Department is deeply grateful for the donations that have made purchases of these new engines possible. We extend our most sincere thanks to everyone who has made this possible.
Concerned and caring people from around the world sent financial donations to volunteer fire departments involved in fighting last year’s devastating wildland fires in Colorado. The Glacier View Fire Department is one of the grateful recipients of these generous donations that continue to be received by the department since the High Park Fire.
The Glacier View Fire Department plans to use money received from donations to assist with replacement of its aged, high-maintenance engine fleet. Three Type-6 engines and one Type-1 engine will be replaced with new vehicles - two Type-5 engines and two Type-7 engines. These new engines will significantly improve the capabilities of the department and will update the fleet from 28-year old models to a brand new fleet. The old engines will be made available to other fire departments at low or no cost to those departments.
The essence of the plan for the Glacier View Fire Department is to be stronger and faster in response to wildland and structure fires and to the numerous types of rescue situations that occur in the district. The new engines are designed for enhanced response in diverse operations environments and require less staffing to operate. The current fleet of old engines involve nearly constant maintenance and repair, and require firefighters to learn unique, engine-specific operations required for each engine. The new fleet will tremendously reduce maintenance costs for the department and will allow for uniform, standard procedures for operations of equipment. The engines are specifically designed for the Glacier View environment and are all-wheel drive. The Type-7 engines can be converted to “track” vehicles, providing access to snowy terrain during winter rescue operations. Completion of the engine replacement project is anticipated to be complete in the Fall of 2013.
The generosity of the public, near and far, has been indescribable. The Glacier View Fire Department is deeply grateful for the donations that have made purchases of these new engines possible. We extend our most sincere thanks to everyone who has made this possible.
Wildland Urban Interface Project Update 6/1/2013
Glacier View Fire Department has signed up over 100 acres for the fire
mitigation project. Applications are continuing to be accepted from property owners as more money may become available but there will be a cut-off date soon. Over 100 acres have been signed up for the project to date. We have no applications outside of GVM at this time.
The department has marked most of the properties in the 3rd and 6th filings of Glacier View Meadows and will be completing markings in these filings within a few days. Work is moving from west to east through the fire district. We apologize for some property owners receiving premature evaluations.
The following schedule has been set for completion of the marking
process:
Week of 5/27: 2nd, 3rd and 6tt filings, start 9th and 10th filings
Week of 6/3: 9th and 10th filings
Week of 6/10: 1st and 4th filings
Week of 6/17: 5th, 7th and 8th filings
Week of 6/24: 9th, 10th and 11th filings
Week of 7/1: 12th filing and late applications
Once the fire crew marks your property using flagging, review the recommendations for mitigation. The next step is to complete the contract so the work can be scheduled.
CONTRACT INSTRUCTIONS: Please download and print the contract. Complete the contract and send contract to the fire department by mail or drop it by on Monday's from 9:00 to 3:30.
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UPDATE ON WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECT
All positions for the Mitigation Crews have been filled.
The Fire Department is starting evaluations of properties to select those to be included in the Wildland Urban Interface Project. Property owners will be contacted prior to the evaluations of their properties and their permission will be obtained before the mitigation work begins on their land.
Crews are scheduled to begin cutting and clearing to create defensible space during the week of May 20th.
Property owners have already signed up for 82 of the maximum 100 acres, leaving 18 acres available for possible inclusion in the project.
If you are interested in having your land considered for this project, please complete the Application for Wildland Urban Interface Project Evaluation (see below).
WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECT
Glacier View Fire Protection District has received a grant from Colorado State Forest service to help individual property owners and Home Owners Association’s provide defensible space and fire mitigation on their respective properties.
The estimated cost of providing this service is $1,098.00 per acre; the property owner would pay $292 out of pocket, and the grant pays $806 of the per acre cost. Priority
properties for this project are:
· properties that boarder National Forest property
· properties that provide continuity with previous projects in the district
· larger parcels of open space in Home Owners Associations
· blocks of lots in residential areas
Focus of the project is creating defensible space, opening up the forest canopy, reducing ladder fuels, as well as removing beetle infested trees. Fire department will either burn the slash piles or chip the slash. Logs and other vegetation that is left on property is the responsibility of the property owner.
Glacier View Fire Department will manage the project by identifying and prioritizing the properties to be included in the project, hiring the crew to complete the work, billing of property owners or HOA’s for their share, and providing documentation for the project.
The start of the project will be spring of 2013. If you are interested please complete the Application for Wildland Urban Interface Project Evaluation Form below this article.
Glacier View Fire Department is accepting applications for crew members from 2/18/2013 to 3/15/2013. Job Announcement and Description, as well as Membership Application, are available on this web site. An informational meeting for potential crew members will held on 3/5/2013 at 1900 at Glacier View Fire Department Station 1 at 1414 Green Mountain Drive, Livermore, CO 80536.
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News Release
Glacier View Fire Department
The Glacier View Fire Department held its annual meeting on January 10, 2013, voting to accept eight probationary members into full membership as firefighters. The group of new firefighters include:
Denise Alvord, Lawrence (Bear) Beals, Heath Fournier, Vanessa Fournier, Lisa LaDue, Chris Serafin, Rose Simmons, and Todd Westfall. This group has completed extensive training in structural and wildland firefighting techniques, general adult and pediatric medical conditions, and in emergency medical response for physical trauma including vehicle accidents and backcountry accidents, cold water/ice rescue, and low angle rescues. These individuals all worked with the Glacier View Fire Department during the fires of 2012 including the High Park Fire.
The membership anonymously re-elected Chief Greg Niswender; Assistant Chief of Operations, Bob Isaacson; and Assistant Chief of Training, Tom Bizzell, to another term of office in their respective roles. Chief Niswender reported that he had appointed individuals to the following positions:
Jim Perry and Bear Beals were promoted to Captain positions to fill those being vacated by John Miller and Andrea Niswender
Chris Serafin- Lieutenant
Pam Pickle -Uniforms Coordinator
Lisa LaDue –Logistics Liaison
Cindy Engels –Logistics Liaison Assistant
Cindy Engels and Lisa LaDue – Public Information Officers
Chief Niswender reported that 2012 was a record year for a high volume of calls, for the intensity and acuity of calls, and for the number of homes lost to fire –obviously due to the High Park Fire. He commended everyone for their hard work and commitment to the community noting that although the equipment is old and often challenging to operate,
members had accomplished a high level of skill through training and experience on calls.
Chief Niswender stated that a high-priority goal of the officers and of the fire department board of directors is to replace aging equipment in the coming year with new equipment that will be easier to operate, provide greater flexibility in its use, and provide greater capabilities for fire attacks and rescues in the rugged backcountry terrain. He indicated that acquisition of new vehicles and equipment will require additional funding and the Board is actively engaged in exploring options for this.
Please meet and greet the Glacier View Fire Department members at the Annual Chili Cook-Off hosted by the Western Ridge Restaurant on January 26, 2013. All proceeds will benefit the fire department. The Glacier View Fire Department website, www.glacierviewfiredept.com provides information about the fire department, current topics of interest, and has a photo gallery of recent events.
Submitted 01/11/13 by Lisa LaDue, PIO, GVFD
Glacier View Fire Training
Vehicle Extrication and Fire Exercise
Acquisition in 2010 of a new ambulance allowed our “Rescue 1” ambulance to be moved into the Support Vehicle position. The oldest GVFD ambulance that was being used as the Support (Logistics) Vehicle was a 1980’s vintage with no real value other than “scrap” so it was decided to use it for critical training sessions.
During the October training, Glacier View Fire Department members practiced entering a damaged vehicle with multiple entry techniques using extrication tools. Additional techniques to remove doors and move a steering column to extricate a trapped victim were successfully exercised by firefighters.
Glacier View residents may have witnessed the old ambulance in flames during a training session in November. During this exercise firefighters practiced extinguishing a vehicle fire to permit a safe approach and to minimize collateral damage caused by this highly dangerous situation.
Residents are reminded to be alert for accidents on the mountain roads. If emergency response vehicles are on scene, please watch for individuals conducting traffic control. Proceed slowly and watch for individuals in the roadways in order to prevent additional injuries.
Website Article – Mutual Aid for Red Feather Lakes Fire
Glacier View Fire Department members were awakened in the early hours of Monday, December 10, to a page requesting mutual aid for a house on fire in Red Feather Lakes that was “fully engulfed and spreading rapidly”. The wind that had been blowing ferociously all night apparently toppled a beetle-kill pine tree which fell into power lines, sparking the fire that would soon trigger a total of twelve separate fires and would consume two structures and approximately 5 acres of brush and trees.
GVFD sent a Command Squad, a wildland fire engine, and two water tenders to help our neighbors. They joined forces with Red Feather Lakes and Crystal Lakes fire departments to successfully subdue a fire that the potential to be another catastrophic wildland fire. Spread of the fire was contained by approximately 5 AM Monday morning, avoiding further loss of property. Although the Red Feather Lakes Property Owners Association building was not burned, it sustained significant damage from a 500-gallon propane tank that was propelled into the building’s second story. Fortunately, there were no personal injuries suffered during the fire.
According to Chief Niswender, “The quick action and performance of all fire departments on scene prevented a substantial loss of private property. As many as twenty other homes were threatened but were saved by the commendable actions of Red Feather, Crystal Lakes and Glacier View fire departments.”
Vehicle Extrication and Fire Exercise
Acquisition in 2010 of a new ambulance allowed our “Rescue 1” ambulance to be moved into the Support Vehicle position. The oldest GVFD ambulance that was being used as the Support (Logistics) Vehicle was a 1980’s vintage with no real value other than “scrap” so it was decided to use it for critical training sessions.
During the October training, Glacier View Fire Department members practiced entering a damaged vehicle with multiple entry techniques using extrication tools. Additional techniques to remove doors and move a steering column to extricate a trapped victim were successfully exercised by firefighters.
Glacier View residents may have witnessed the old ambulance in flames during a training session in November. During this exercise firefighters practiced extinguishing a vehicle fire to permit a safe approach and to minimize collateral damage caused by this highly dangerous situation.
Residents are reminded to be alert for accidents on the mountain roads. If emergency response vehicles are on scene, please watch for individuals conducting traffic control. Proceed slowly and watch for individuals in the roadways in order to prevent additional injuries.
Website Article – Mutual Aid for Red Feather Lakes Fire
Glacier View Fire Department members were awakened in the early hours of Monday, December 10, to a page requesting mutual aid for a house on fire in Red Feather Lakes that was “fully engulfed and spreading rapidly”. The wind that had been blowing ferociously all night apparently toppled a beetle-kill pine tree which fell into power lines, sparking the fire that would soon trigger a total of twelve separate fires and would consume two structures and approximately 5 acres of brush and trees.
GVFD sent a Command Squad, a wildland fire engine, and two water tenders to help our neighbors. They joined forces with Red Feather Lakes and Crystal Lakes fire departments to successfully subdue a fire that the potential to be another catastrophic wildland fire. Spread of the fire was contained by approximately 5 AM Monday morning, avoiding further loss of property. Although the Red Feather Lakes Property Owners Association building was not burned, it sustained significant damage from a 500-gallon propane tank that was propelled into the building’s second story. Fortunately, there were no personal injuries suffered during the fire.
According to Chief Niswender, “The quick action and performance of all fire departments on scene prevented a substantial loss of private property. As many as twenty other homes were threatened but were saved by the commendable actions of Red Feather, Crystal Lakes and Glacier View fire departments.”
Holiday helpers
With the holiday season upon us we have put some good information on our info slot of our website for the community to view and use for safety during these holidays.
LETTER FROM THE LARIMER COUNTY SHERIFF
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