Meet Lamar Fire Department’s Newest Engineer/EMT

 

We would like to welcome Ryan Davidson to the staff of the City of Lamar Fire and Ambulance Services.  Ryan began with the department in late March and brings seven years of firefighting experience with him.  Prior to coming to Lamar Ryan was a training captain with Bennett, Colorado Fire/Rescue.  Ryan is a Colorado Certified Firefighter II with Hazardous Materials Operations level certification.  He is also a Colorado Certified EMT-Basic with intravenous endorsement.  Ryan and his wife LaDonna have two children.  Ryan is fitting in well and we have already tasked him with coordinating our new firefighter certification program.

Lamar Fire Department Continues With Regional Leadership Series.

 

In February and May the City of Lamar Fire and Ambulance Services continued with our Leadership in Emergency Services series.  We recognize that access to outside instructors can be difficult in the rural and frontier areas so we do our best to bring quality instructors to our region.

 

Critical Leadership Issues in Emergency Services

 

This class was held on February 17th and was instructed by Chief Jerry Rhodes of the Cunningham, Colorado Fire Protection District, Paul Cooke, Executive Director of the Colorado State Fire Chief’s Association and Chief Marshall Cook of the City of Lamar Fire and Ambulance Services.  The course featured topics such as leadership strengths and weaknesses of the Battle of Gettysburg and the negative effects of inappropriate behavior in the fire house.

 

 

 

 

Left to right:  Chief Jerry Rhodes, Paul Cooke, Chief Marshall Cook

 

 

 

 

 

Breaking the Four Minute Barrier in Leadership

 

This outstanding course was taught on May 19th and was instructed by Chief Chris Riley of the Pueblo, Colorado Fire Department.  Chief Riley is also the current President of the Colorado State Fire Chief’s Association.  This was the fourth in our leadership series over the last two years.

 

The City of Lamar Fire Department provides these courses at no cost to everybody from our region with an interest in attending. 

 

 

 

 

                                                                              Left: Chief Chris Riley                 

Lamar Fire & Ambulance Services Host FarMedic Farm Rescue Training

 

On the weekend of February 28th the Lamar Fire and Ambulance Services hosted a two and one half day FarMedic farm rescue course.  This program was attended by rescue personnel from Lamar and Hasty.  During the course of the program rescuers learned about the heavy construction of farm implements as well as the specialized techniques required when extricating victims of farm machinery accidents.  The course was the first of three held throughout our region with the remaining two held in La Junta and Springfield.  Long-time FarMedic instructors Rick Hartley and Harold Self taught the program.  The majority of the cost of these programs was paid by the Southeast Colorado Regional Emergency Medical and Trauma Advisory Council.

Lamar Hosts Basic & Advanced High Angle/Confined Space Rescue Course

 

For the third time Lamar Fire and Ambulance Services invited Steve Fleming to present an advanced high angle and confined space rescue program.  Mr. Fleming is a company officer with Poudre Fire Authority in Fort Collins, Colorado.  He is also the owner and lead instructor with Technical Rescue Systems, Inc.  Steve provided Lamar Fire Department with its first high angle class in 1988 when the department’s high angle team was formed.  Although there are no mountains in our area there is certainly potential for this type of rescue.  Our area is covered with grain silos, mills, septic tanks, ravines and confined spaces where specialized training is required.  The program started with a one-day basic ropes, knots and rappelling class taught by Chief Cook of the Lamar Fire Department in April.  In late May Mr. Fleming instructed the two and one half day advanced level course where techniques in highline construction and rescue as well as pick-offs were instructed.  Fifteen students attended from Lamar, La Junta, Hasty/McClave and Cotopaxi.  We would like to recognize the Southeast Colorado Regional Emergency Medical and Trauma Advisory Council for funding this course in its entirety.  Currently Lamar has the only organized high angle/confined rescue team in Southeastern Colorado.

“Tactical Considerations at Grain Elevator Fires” Training Held in Lamar.

 

Area firefighters spent another weekend in training on June 12th and 13th as Lamar hosted a training titled “Tactical Considerations at Grain Elevator Fires”.  The course, instructed by Sedgwick County Kansas Fire Protection District Fire Chief Gary Curmode and Firefighter Matt Nance, was graciously funded by Tempel Grain, Cargill and The Scoular Company.  During the weekend fire and rescue personnel learned about concrete grain elevator construction, confined space rescue considerations and overall firefighting tactics.  Grain elevators present unique challenges during times of fires, explosions and rescues.  Chief Curmode brings with him decades of experience in dealing with these types of incidents.  His willingness to travel to Lamar to share in his expertise is very much appreciated.  We would also like to thank Tempel Grain, Cargill and The Scoular Company.

Lamar’s 1907 Rapid Fire Truck Takes Top Honors at SPAAMFAA 52nd Annual Fire Muster.

 

The Society for the Preservation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America held its 52nd Annual National Summer Muster in Littleton, Colorado from June16th—19th, 2010.  This muster, held in cooperation with the Mile High Hook & Ladder Club and Ralph Schomp Automotive, showcased over sixty antique fire apparatus in various stages of restoration from around the United States.  For the first time ever the Lamar Fire Department displayed our recently restored 1907 Rapid fire truck at the event.  A crowd gathered around the transport before the truck was even unloaded and they remained throughout the entire day.  Antique fire buffs from all around the United States and Canada visited with department members throughout the day in regards to the very old and extremely rare fire apparatus.  It was the general consensus of most everybody there that this was the oldest motorized fire truck they had ever seen.  At the end of the day Lamar’s 1907 Rapid brought home two awards from the national fire apparatus show.  The first award was the oldest apparatus award.  The Rapid’s closest competitor was a 1911 Federal fire truck.  The second and most prestigious award was the “People’s Choice Award”.  This was the top award of the day and was determined by a vote of all visitors and exhibitors present.  We consider this to be a profound honor in light of the fact that this was our first time exhibiting our antique fire truck at this national event.

 

We are especially proud of the staff members involved in preparing, transporting and exhibiting the fire truck.  Captain Jeremy Burkhart, Firefighters Heather Burkhart, Ryan Cook, Emily Hager, Amanda Duffy, Engineer Brandon Sherwood, Chief Marshall Cook and Volunteer Assistant Chief Chris Duffy all helped out.  One more thank you goes to City Council member Skip Ruedeman who spent about two hours in the station the day before the event helping to prepare the fire truck for its appearance.  We would also like to thank the Lamar-Prowers County Volunteer Fire Department for providing the enclosed trailer for our little fire truck.  Yet another example of the teamwork that the Lamar Fire & Ambulance Services exhibit daily.  Well done everybody! 

The City of Lamar Fire Department’s 1907 Rapid fire truck is exhibited at the SPAAMFAA 52nd Annual National Summer Muster at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, CO.