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A PUBLICATION OF THE MOBILE FIRE-RESCUE DEPARTMENT- EST. 1888
SEPT - OCT 2007
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK
OCTOBER 7-13
Our Mission
The Mission of the Mobile Fire
- Rescue Department is to identify and respond to community
needs in order to deliver an
effective and efficient system
of service which minimize risk
to life, health, and property from
fire, trauma, acute illness, and
hazardous conditions.
Visit Our Website:
http://www.cityofmobile.org/fire/
Inside Features
In Memory of Captain Sam Downing.....................................Page 2
Citizens Academy Inspiration...............................................Page 3
Kudos.......................................................................................Page 4
Hot Shots................................................................................Page 5
Firefighter Safety...................................................................Page 6
Fire Prevention Week...........................................................Page 7
Featured Cartoon...................................................................Page 8
Trumpet
In Memory of
Samuel W.
Downing
1962-2007
Mobile
Fire-Rescue
Department is mourning the loss of
Captain Samuel "Sam" W. Downing.
Downing, a veteran of over 21
years with the department suffered an
apparent heart attack and died
Saturday, June 30 in Lucedale, MS
after working a 24-hour shift.
Downing was assigned as a
shift supervisor for Engine 15 and the
Hazardous Material Response Team
at Gus Rehm Fire Station
Captain Walt Riley said
Downing, 45, never lost his enthusiasm
for the job.
“Every time the lights came on
to make a run, he was just as excited
as probably the first run he ever made,”
Riley said. “He never got tired of it. If he
could come to work every day and
make run after run after run, he’d be
happy.”
Riley said Downing worked
hard as one of the captains of the
department’s hazardous materials
response team, but he also loved
educating the public about fire safety.
On the Cover
Kent Landsberg and Dusty the
Dragon at a recent Public Education
program.
Cover Photo By: Steve Huffman
"Quality Professional
Services Delivered with
Compassion"
11 a.m. at Wilmer United Methodist
Church in Wilmer. Downing was buried
with full fire department honors.
A permanent internet memorial
for Captain Downing has been setup. It
can
be
viewed
at:
www.firefightinglinks.com/
sdowning.html
“He had a bit that he
did about fire safety and the
right way to get out of your
house alive,” Riley said. “It was
amazing how he related to
kids. They would sit there in
awe.”
Downing went the
extra mile when school groups
would visit the fire station.
Rather than having them simply
walk through the station seeing
the fire truck and where the
firefighters sleep, Downing did
his best to entertain as well as
educate
the
youngsters. Downing
would dress up, do
skits, dress the kids
up and let them squirt
water from the hose.
He would
actually teach them
something while they
were there, He
certainly will be
missed.
Downing
leaves behind his wife,
Lisa, and three
children,
Cody
Jefferson Downing,
Victoria Elizabeth
Downing, and Colton
Edison Downing, all
of Citronelle; and one
brother, John Wayne
Downing of Wilmer.
Funeral
services were held on
Wednesday, July 4
with a procession
from Radney's to
Photos By STEVE HUFFMAN
the church at 10
Above: Captain Sam, Left, at a house burn located at 961
a.m.
Lawrence Street on January 24, 2007. Top: Receiving an
T h e
award from Assistant Chief Mike Byrd (Retired), date unknown.
service was at
Trumpet
Citizens Academy
Graduate
Recognized by
City of Mobile
I Remember When...
By FRANK BYRD
District Chief
By STEVE HUFFMAN
PIO
At some point in our lives, probably when we were kids, there was
someone that inspired us and we proclaimed that we wanted to be just like
that person when we grew up. Well,
Captain LeAnn Tacon and myself found
that person recently.
Shirley Mears, a 70-year-old
Mobile cancer survivor, inspired us as
she most likely did many others in our
recent Citizens Fire Academy.
Hopefully some of you had the
opportunity/honor to meet this very
unique woman.
Shirley was among the 25
graduates on June 19 of the first Mobile
Fire-Rescue Citizen’s Academy.
Shirley received an award that
recognized her as the most enthusiastic member of the class. “She rappelled
... she did everything,” said Captain
Tacon, who organized the academy.
Diagnosed with brain cancer
about two years ago, Shirley underwent surgery to remove a tumor over
her right eye. After that, she had to
learn to walk again, she said.
But the cancer scare set her
on a mission: She resolved to get
everything she could out of life, and that
included learning and sometimes doing what police officers and firefighters
do for the public.
Recently Mayor Sam Jones and City
Council Member Gina Gregory proclaimed July 3 as Shirley Mears
Day. A recognition that was well deserved.
I can honestly say that Shirley
Mears is listed among my own personal heroes and is truly an inspiration.
Left: Mayor Jones, Council Member
Gregory, and Captain Tacon stand with
Shirley Mears and her family members
at the recent City Council meeting. Top:
Shirley successfully completes her
rappelling from the top of the drill tower.
Above: Shirley suits up in Level A Haz
Mat Suit.
Well it's been awhile since I put
pen to paper or should I say fingers to
keyboard in my typical hunt and peck
fashion. But there has been a lot going
on and I really just have not had the
inspiration to write. Recently however,
I was ask to come up with a little
something concerning some issues
within the department. I truly hope all of
you will take the time to read and reflect
on some of the material that is written
here and in ever segment on this paper.
For some of us who choose to write, it
can be quite difficult getting our thoughts
into the right words and phrases. The
last couple of times I submitted to the
Trumpet, the articles had twists to how
things were done in the past versus
what was going on at the present time
within the department. I'm still going to
talk about what's going on and appeal to
you to look inward among yourselves.
Hoping to stir something inside yourselves that will help you to a better job.
Before I went on vacation I was
called to a meeting to discuss some
recent events and happenings within
the department that are out of character
for our personnel. If true we have to nip
it in the bud early and begin working on
correcting these uncharacteristic behavior patterns. Since returning from
vacation I have been in a few meetings
that were not only enlightening but very
positive in nature. The last one I was in
with Chief Dean was very informal and
upbeat. So much so, I wish each of you
could have had the opportunity to have
been there. The topics ranged from
lines of authority to accountability, but
the biggest issue was job satisfaction.
We as a department have to restore the
Pride that once ran rampant among
personnel within this department. Where
has that gone? and why? Twenty-three
years ago I fell in love with this job and
still love it today. When I was a Private
I couldn't wait for that third day to get
here. How many of you feel that way
today? Even as a Chief, I still love this
Please see Remember Page 4
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Trumpet
Remember
Continued from Page 3
JUNE - Tommy Bishop - Driver, TA04
JULY - Dwight Smith - Firefighter, Supply Division
Representatives of the Hero to Hero (H2H) program
arrived at Central Station on June 11 to collect t-shirts from
Mobile Firefighters. H2H travels around the country visiting
police and fire departments, collecting department t-shirts
that are signed by members of the department. Photos,
along with the collected t-shirts, are sent to military personnel
fighting overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan. This was their first
visit to Mobile.
Photos By DEBBIE BRYARS
Wise men talk because they
have something to say,
fools, because they have to
say something.
-Plato
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job and enjoy coming to work. Admittedly though, there are
aspects of this level I could live without but that doesn't
change my attitude nor my love for the job.
Ok, let's get down to some issues at hand. The out
of character issue I spoke of occurred recently when several
stations had some visitors. Some were foreign and some
were female and some were John Q. Public looking for
assistance. The word I got was that people entering the
stations were not properly welcomed and then attended to.
Well, some of this may go back to home training. I don't know
but when guest enter a room it is always proper to stand and
greet them. It was reported that in several situations that
some of our personnel never even lifted their head to acknowledge the visitors presence. Well folks, that is just down right
rude. In days gone by most everyone in a sitting room would
jump up to assist and greet visitors in a polite manner. It did
not matter if it interrupted our favorite episode of Days of Our
Lives, it was and is expected of us. It is part of our jobs, part
of our traditions. So when you signed onto this department,
you signed up for the traditions regardless of home training.
So, in this case I appeal to your sense of human relations.
Jump up and treat people the way you would expect to be
treated if you were in their shoes. If that doesn't work I can
always point to the bible, Mobile Fire-Rescue Department
rules, regs policies and OG's.
Rules and Regs 725, Floor Duty, #5, Shall greet
visitors. Also, R&R 350 #23 and R&R 500 #16. Boys and
girls, it's just down right laziness not to acknowledge the
presence of a visitor in the room. Turn off the TV, get up, smile
and politely ask how you can assist them today. I hear tell
of a story of a young man on this department a little over a
year was transferred to a news station. At this new station
one day his new Company Officer told him he had floor duty
today. The young firefighter ask, "what's floor duty"? This
sort of thing is happening all over the department and it is
neglect of duty on behalf of Company Officers. Captains have
got to step up to the plate and do the job that is expected with
those bugles on your collar. Until you do we will struggle to
turn things around for the betterment of all. Cleaned,
polished and firefighters ready, willing and able to help is a
custom and tradition that the public has come to expect from
firefighters and we do not need to tarnish it. Most of the John
Q. Public will have very little interaction with you and the
department over their lifetime. We need to make sure that
when they do, we, meaning me, you, Chief Dean Chief
Brannon or whomever it may be do not leave a bad taste in
their mouths when it comes to the Mobile Fire-Rescue
Department.
I think this will fill about all the space Steve will allow
me to have so I'm going to close with this. When I drove at
SAIA Motor Freight, there was a gentleman that came
around very often from the home office, who could have
been Captain HuiHui's twin brother. I can't remember his
name and to this day I don't know what his job was. I called
Trumpet
him the RAH! RAH! Man, because most times his sole
purpose was to pump us up and tell how good a job we were
doing, regardless of how true that may or may not have been.
I never heard "Frank, you had 300 returns out of 700 deliveries
last month, explain why?" I never heard "Frank, you had 30
damaged deliveries last month due to driver, care to explain?" He would always show a short little customer service
oriented video, ask a few questions, thanked us for being
there, like we had a choice, and thanked us for doing a good
job regardless of how our true performance was. I hope we
as a department can take some of that attitude and apply it
to our daily work ethics. After all your attitude is solely your
control.
There are other topics and other issues that need to
be laid out before you and if I can do so without stepping on
toes, I will bring them to you. Some of the issues that were
discussed in the meeting I told you about in the opening. I
think you will find to be interesting reading. So, I hope you
are reading and I hope you will do your part to help make this
an even better place to work and in the words of my friend from
SAIA.
Yorkwood Road House Fire
May 2, 2007
THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK AND GOOD JOB
YOU DO AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE!
This letter comes as an accommodation to
your Firemen and Emergency Department.
On Tuesday, July 3, 2007, I was a customer in
Wal-Mart when the Tornado hit. I was not physically
hurt, nor were my two other best friends (who were in
the store and neither of us knew the other were in the
store at that time, we all met at the same side in the
front to exit the building).
My letter is to commend your department for
the professional job that all of the units did. They were
so caring for the safety of all (customers and employees). They responded so fast (jumping off the trucks
taking over, taking charge, helping everyone).
I know that there were many units there, so this
thank-you goes for the whole Department.
This letter may be used to encourage your
department. I was certainly encouraged and felt safe
when I witness the action of the Mobile Fire Department.
God bless your department.
Sincerely, Jacuelyn Young
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Trumpet
Check your PPE between calls
While personal protective equipment (PPE) can
never guarantee firefighter safety, a large number of injuries
are still caused by firefighters not wearing required gear.
With hand injuries being among the most common,
research shows the majority of these injuries are caused
when gloves are not worn.
Common reasons firefighters give for not wearing
gloves are that they have been lost or left at the station.
An easy solution is to check all PPE after returning
to the firehouse from each incident and before going on the
next one.
Remember everyone, regardless of rank or years of
service, makes an impression on someone at every call…lets
all try to make sure it’s always the right one!
Something to think about:
Amateurs practice until they
get it right.
Professionals practice until
they cannot get it wrong.
Which one are you?
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Trumpet
“Practice Your Escape Plan!” —
that’s the message of Fire Prevention Week
2007. It’s not enough just to have a fire
escape plan. To escape safely from a
home fire you’ve got to make sure that
everyone in the home has practiced the
plan as well.
According to a recent poll conducted for
NFPA, while the majority of Americans
have an escape plan in case of a fire, most
haven’t practiced it. And three-quarters of
Americans believe they have 10 minutes or less until a fire turns deadly.
From October 7-13, fire safety advocates across the country will be spreading the word that when it comes to
escape plans, practice is key. Whether you’re a firefighter, a teacher or a parent, we’ve got lots of helpful information
to help you help neighbors, friends and family members escape safely in the event of a home fire. So let's get started!
Sound the alarm for the Great American
Fire Drill! In October, NFPA is asking kids
and families across the U.S. to practice
their home fire escape plans. With your
help, we’re hoping to have the world’s
biggest fire drill.
Make Your Own Escape Plan
• Draw a floor plan or a map of your home. Show all doors
and windows.
• Mark two ways out of each room.
• Mark all of the smoke alarms with . Smoke alarms should
be in each
sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every
level of the home.
• Pick a family meeting place outside where everyone can
meet.
• Remember most children don't wake up to traditional
smoke alarms, consider a voice activated alarm in addition
to your traditional alarm.
• Remember, practice your plan at least twice a year!
Photo Courtesy of CHIEF DONALD CLEMENTS
House Fire, Location Unknown,Date Unknown
Submit your old photos to huffman@cityofmobile.org
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Trumpet
Dates to Remember
September 3 - Labor Day
September 11 - Patriot Day
September 23 - Autumn Begins
October 8 - Columbus Day
October 7-13 - Fire Prevention Week
October 16 - National Boss Day
October 31 - Halloween
November 4 - Daylight Saving Time
Ends
Mobile Fire-Rescue Department
701 Saint Francis Street
Mobile, Alabama 36602
An official publication of the Mobile
Fire-Rescue Department.
Stephen A. Dean, Fire Chief
Editor & Publisher
Steve Huffman
The Trumpet welcomes your
questions and/or comments. To
submit photos, articles or comments
call (251) 208-2857 or e-mail:
huffman@cityofmobile.org
The Trumpet is published by the
Mobile Fire-Rescue Department. ©
Copyright 2007 by Mobile FireRescue Department. All rights
reserved.
WEB SITE:
http://www.cityofmobile.org/fire/
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