By Chief Ben Palm
YARNELL FIRE DISTRICT WINS FIRE MITIGATION AWARD:
The International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Fire Protection Agency, National Association of State Foresters and the US Forest Service sponsored the 2017 Fire Mitigation Award; Yarnell Fire District Cooperative with the Bureau of Land Management and Arizona State Forestry Division has been awarded for our outstanding efforts in wildfire mitigation and fuels abatement. This is a high honor for our department. The award ceremony is to be held in Reno this March. Check our website, yarnellfire.org to read the commendation and press release.
The weather has definitely been wet in our area; but what happens after a wet winter? Often a period of extremely dry springtime weather, complete with aggressive plant overgrowth. Now is the time to prepare your property. Keep your grass cut; remove potential sources of fuel around your home. We also urge you to sign up for the Knox Box® Program. How it works: homeowners or business owners may purchase a box containing a key to their premises; the box is placed next to the entry door of the building; If Yarnell Fire needs access to the building, rather than breaking in, we will be able to access the Knox Box with our master key, and retrieve the entry key. For information, please contact us: Chief Ben Palm or Denise Roggio, Admin. 928-427-6578. Visit yarnellfire.org
Reminder: New Position!
YFD has a new team member for our Support Staff Position. We welcome Harold Brown to the department. He is an experienced Wildland Firefighter residing in Glendale. We have several upcoming interviews scheduled. The role of Support Staff is to assist Firefighter personnel and the Chief with various tasks. Yarnell Fire District is a drug free environment and candidates could be subject to drug testing. There are three ways to apply: Print an application from our website, www.yarnellfire.org; visit the Administration Building or email Denise Roggio for an application: d.roggio@yarnellfire.com.
Yarnell Fire Training Center was active in January with a successful comprehensive IV Training class. We are hosting an EMT Refresher Course February 17, 18 and 19 from 8am – 5pm each day. The cost is $225 and includes CPR. To register call Denise Roggio, 928-427-6578. Are you interested in becoming an EMT? Do you know someone who might be? We are considering hosting an EMT Certification Class in March, based upon the number of students. Contact Denise for information.
In review of last year’s Grant Awards, we are happy to report that we received $159,764 in funding from January through December 2016. Funds were used for various equipment purchases to help us better serve the community: AED Defibrillators, new Radios, Cardiac Monitor, and firefighter training/tuition. Funds were also allocated to our general operating budget to include repair and maintenance of YFD property. Engine 406 was also procured with a grant award.
Yarnell Memorial Run 2017 is open for registration! Thanks to Native Air of Air Methods for their generous Gold Sponsorship. If you’d like to get involved, we sure appreciate the help. Contact Linda Ma, Auxiliary Chair, Shannon Smith or Frances Lechner: Email: 19memorialrun@gmail.com. You may also visit the Administration Building, or check the Race website – http://yarnellmemorialrun.com.
December 2016 Service Calls
Incidents: 15
EMS: 11 Motor Vehicle Accident: 1 Public Assists: 1 Structure Fire: 1 Wildland Fire: 1