January 2021 Newsletter

We Start a New Year With New Challenges and Opportunities

Well here we are at the start of a new year! Let’s hope and pray that this year, 2021, will result in more open meetings and experiences. 2020 was definitely a challenging year for all of us. Unfortunately the decision was
made by the Board of Officers and Beechwood Fire Department to not host the 2021 Bowling Tournament.

The Board of Officers and the Training Committee are working hard to provide valuable information to our members. We are planning on our Spring Meeting and Awards Banquet on Sunday, April 25th. In addition the
Training Committee is finalizing plans for the March 12 and `13 Basic Rapid Intervention Team Training at the Slinger RIT House. The committee has met recently at Golden E Dairy outside of Fillmore to start finalizing plans
for the Agriculture Emergency Response Training. We will have a full day of activities on Saturday, April 17th following our evening classroom sessions on Friday the 16th at the Fillmore Fire Station.

Congratulations to Allenton Firefighter/EMT Bernie Wolf as he is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. “The Wisconsin EMS Association Lifetime Achievement Award Honors an individual for lifetime achievement (Service of 20 or more years) in the EMS field. Only one of the awards is given annually. Each nomination will be looked at and judged by its own merit. Lifetime Achievement will be automatically submitted for the National EMS Association Awards process. The nominees are recognized as individuals and organizations for making a significant contribution to EMS in Wisconsin in the past year. The awards selection committee made up of EMS professionals outside of Wisconsin and they selected the winning entry.

Belgium Fire Department’s EMS Lieutenant was recognized recently with a Life Saving Award. While Tammy Pfeifer  was dining at a local restaurant, another patron began choking and had a full airway obstruction. Tammy  performed the Heimlich Maneuver and successfully cleared the obstruction saving the patrons life. Congratulations  Tammy on a job well done!! Pictured with Tammy, are EMS Captain Cindy Large and Fire Chief Dan Birenbaum.

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to Richfield Fire Company for being awarded the Kelmann Cares Foundation grant,  which we used to purchase additional traffic safety cones for each of our frontline apparatus. These  collapsible safety cones will add some much-needed safety to emergency scenes occurring on roadways.  If you see us, law enforcement, or tow operators working on the roadway please slow down and move  over to give us a safe working area. 

All thirteen Washington County Fire Departments safely disposed of firefighting foam containing deadly  PFAS chemicals this past month, thanks to the efforts of a team from the Washington County  administration, lead by County Executive Josh Schoemann. “This is a great example of collaboration by  our emergency management and conservation teams,” said County Executive Josh Schoemann. “We  don’t know of other coordinated efforts similar to ours. By the county using clean sweep dollars, we  save local taxpayers thousands of dollars and our fire departments headaches.” Forever chemicals known as Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances or (PFAS) have been  identified as entering our soil and streams. PFAS are widely found in many industry and consumer  products that are used on a daily basis, but most notably PFAS has been specifically used in synthetic  Class B firefighting foams, including aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). Most people have been exposed  to PFAS and certain PFAS can accumulate and stay in the human body for long periods of time. 

The collection of this foam which is dangerous to the health of our responders was done by Northshore  Environmental Services of the Milwaukee Area. 

We extend our condolences to town of Ixonia Fire Department with the passing of EMS Captain Kelly  Raether. Also lost in the Line of Duty to COVID-19 are Firefighter Dave Tomlinson with the  Poynette/Dekorra Fire Department and Chief Donald Kittelson with the Clayton Fire Department. We  extend our thoughts and prayers for comfort and peace during this difficult and sad time. 

Until next month, stay safe, stay alert, stay healthy and stay positive, 

Board of Officer 

Badger Firefighters Association