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DECEMBER 19, 2008,
The
December 16th order concerning the Dividing Waters Bridge
has been rescinded. The bridge has been cleared for
use by GMFD. Effective immediately all GMFD engines &
tankers are allowed to be driven over the bridge
located next to the Dividing Water Road Station.
Bryan G. Riebe, Chief
DECEMBER 16, 2008,
NO GMFD
ENGINE OR TANKER IS TO BE DRIVEN OVER THE BRIDGE LOCATED
NEXT TO THE DIVIDING WATER ROAD STATION.
Bryan G. Riebe, Chief
DECEMBER 8,
2008, LANDRUM, SC – With the holiday season and colder
weather upon us, the Glassy Mountain Fire Department wants
everyone to have a safe and happy holiday and so they are
recommending the following safety tips:
Ř
Keep all holiday
decorations three feet from any heat source
Ř
Check all your
holiday decorations for bad wiring
Ř
Do not overload
extension cords or outlets with holiday lights
Ř
Before leaving a
room, going out of the house or retiring for the evening,
check all candles to make sure they are out and the tree
lights are off
Ř
If using a live
tree, before putting it up, cut two or three inches off the
bottom and trim up the sides. Then place your tree in a
tree holder that holds water and check daily to be sure the
tree has water which will help keep your tree from drying
out
Ř
Most importantly,
check your smoke detector to be sure it is working. If not,
give your family a safe holiday season and replace the
batteries—it may save their lives.
“Most home fire
fatalities take place between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. when
most families are sleeping,” says Bryan Riebe, Chief of
Glassy Mountain Fire Service Area. “If we make the
extra effort to be aware of potential fire hazards around
us, we can keep safe. Working smoke alarms nearly cut in
half the risk of dying in a home fire so it is important to
maintain them. With a working smoke alarm, children and
senior citizens who are most at risk, could get the extra
seconds they need to get out safely.”
Chief Riebe
also recommends residents plan “two ways out” and
practice escape routes with the entire family. Families
should also prepare a fire safety kit that includes working
flashlights and fresh batteries. In addition, families
should have their chimneys for their fireplaces and wood
stoves cleaned by a certified professional chimney sweep
before using. And never, never put hot ashes in a trash
container or on your deck unless you are certain they are
cold.
“If families are
looking for holiday gift ideas, consider giving smoke
detectors, fire extinguishers, first aid kits and
residential window escape ladders,” Chief Riebe said.
“These are practical gifts and could save a life.”
Tragically, fire
can kill selectively. According to the International
Association of Fire Chiefs, those most at risk are:
■ Children
— Approximately 1,000 children under the age of 20 die
each year in home fires. Children under age five are at
twice the risk of dying in a home fire. Eighty percent of
fatal home fire victims who were children were killed in
homes without working smoke alarms.
■ Seniors
— Adults over age 75 are three times more likely to die in
home fires than the rest of the population; those over 85
are 4.5 times more likely to die in a home fire. Many
seniors are unable to escape quickly.
■ Low-Income
Households — Many low-income families are unable to
afford batteries for their smoke alarms. These same
households often rely on poorly installed, maintained or
misused portable or area heating equipment — a main cause of
fatal home fires. For these families, the Glassy Mountain
Fire Department has a limited number of smoke alarms
available. To obtain a free smoke alarm, contact the
headquarters at 864-895-4306.
For more
information about fire safety, contact the Glassy Mountain
Fire Department at
864-895-4306.
OCTOBER 28,
2008, LANDRUM, SC -- As the
time to change our clocks back (“fall behind”) approaches on
Sunday, November 2nd, the Glassy Mountain Fire
Department is urging residents to make another change that could
save their lives — replace the batteries in their smoke alarms
and carbon monoxide detectors.
The International
Association of Fire Chiefs reports that nationally, an average
of three children die each day in home fires. Eighty percent of
those occur in homes without working smoke alarms caused by worn
out or missing batteries.
“The peak time
for home fire fatalities is between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
when most families are sleeping,” says Bryan Riebe, Chief of
Glassy Mountain Fire Service Area. “Smoke alarm
maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire
deaths. Children and senior citizens are most at risk, and a
working smoke alarm can give them the extra seconds they need to
get out safely.”
In addition, Chief
Riebe recommends residents use the “extra” hour they gain
from the time change to test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide
detectors by pushing the test button, planning “two ways out”
and practicing escape routes with the entire family.
Families should also prepare a fire safety kit that includes
working flashlights and fresh batteries. The Glassy Mountain
Fire Department does have a limited number of smoke alarms
available for those who don’t have them. These folks should
contact the headquarters at 864-895-4306 to request them.
To save lives and
prevent needless injuries, the Glassy Mountain Fire Department
has joined forces with Energizerâ
and the International Association of Fire Chiefs for the
Change Your Clock Change Your Battery®
campaign. The
program urges all Americans to adopt a simple, lifesaving
habit--changing smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector
batteries when changing clocks, this time moving them back to
eastern standard time which happens on Sunday,
November 2nd.
“Changing smoke
alarm batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest,
most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries,
Chief Riebe said. “In fact, working smoke alarms nearly cut in
half the risk of dying in a home fire. Additionally, the
International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends replacing
your smoke alarms every ten years.”
Tragically, fire can kill selectively. According to the
International Association of Fire Chiefs, those most at risk
are:
■
Children
— Approximately 1,000 children under the age of 20 die each year
in home fires. Children under age five are at twice the risk of
dying in a home fire. Eighty percent of fatal home fire victims
who were children were killed in homes without working smoke
alarms.
■
Seniors —
Adults over age 75 are three times more likely to die in home
fires than the rest of the population; those over 85 are 4.5
times more likely to die in a home fire. Many seniors are unable
to escape quickly.
■
Low-Income Households
— Many low-income families are unable to
afford batteries for their smoke alarms. These same households
often rely on poorly installed, maintained or misused portable
or area heating equipment — a main cause of fatal home fires.
For these families, the Glassy Mountain Fire Department has a
limited number of smoke alarms available. To obtain a free
smoke alarm, contact the headquarters at 864-895-4306.
For more information
about fire safety, call the Glassy Mountain Fire Department
at
864-895-4306
or the
Change Your Clock Change Your Battery®
hotline at 314-995-3939.
OCTOBER 13, 2008, LANDRUM, SC -- Glassy Mountain Fire
Department announced that it has been recognized for its 100
percent participation in the National and International Fire
Service Seat Belt Pledge program to create a safer fire
service. Glassy Mountain Fire Department (GMFD) is only one of
five fire departments in South Carolina to obtain 100%
participation and the only fire department in Greenville
County. Each member of GMFD pledges to wear a seat belt
whenever riding in a Fire Department vehicle and to insure that
their fellow firefighters/EMS members also on the vehicle wear
their seat belts.
The
Brian Hunton: National Fire Service Seat Belt Pledge, sponsored
by a number of organizations involved in fire service including
the International Fire Chiefs Association, the National Fallen
Firefighters Foundation, the National Fire Prevention
Association and the National Volunteer Fire Council, was
established in the memory of Firefighter Christopher Brian
Hunton, a member of the Amarillo Texas fire department for one
year, who, on April 23, 2005, fell out of his fire truck
responding to an alarm. Two days later, at the age of 27, he
died from his injuries. Hunton was not wearing his seat belt.
For
more information on the National Fire Service Seat Belt Pledge
go to
http://www.trainingdivision.com/seatbeltpledge.asp.
OCTOBER 6, 2008,
LANDRUM, SC…Glassy Mountain Fire Department announced that
Jared A Ferrill has joined the department as a firefighter and
emergency medical technician under a SAFER Grant. Ferrill has
served as a volunteer firefighter with the Glassy Mountain Fire
Department for six years.
Jared’s position
falls under a SAFER Grant awarded to Glassy Mountain Fire
Department in 2006. SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and
Emergency Response) Grants are awarded by the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
According to FEMA, the grants were created to provide funding
directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest
organizations to help increase the number of trained,
“front-line” firefighters available in their communities.
“Glassy Mountain Fire Department was very fortunate to receive a
SAFER Grant to fund three career firefighters for our community
over the next five years,” said Assistant Chief Bryan Bailey.
“
Jared is a graduate
of Blue Ridge High School and the South Carolina Fire Academy.
He resides in Greer, SC.
“While we are grateful for the extra funding for career staff,
with the growth and demands of our community, we need more
volunteer firefighters and first responders to keep our
community safe,” Bailey said. “Something that many folks may not
know, is that we also need help from citizens who can provide
support to the District but it doesn’t have to be fighting
fires. If anyone wants more information on how to become part
of our team, they should contact me at 864-895-4306 or go to our
website at
www.gmfd.net.”
August 21, 2008, Saluda, NC. Curtis
Jessen, who worked with the N.C. Division of Forest Resources,
fell to his death while battling a blaze atop a cliff near
Saluda Thursday morning, Aug. 22nd. He suffered fatal injuries after
falling near Big Bradley Falls near Saluda, officials said.
Medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.
Our thoughts
and prayers are extended to the family and friends of NC
Assistant District Forester, Curtis Jessen.
For complete article see:
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880822022
AUGUST 15, 2008,
LANDRUM, SC…Members of the Glassy
Mountain Fire Department (GMFD) recently gathered at the Blue
Ridge Christian Academy in Tigerville, SC, for a special Search
and Rescue training program simulating the rescue of an injured
firefighter in a burning building. Wearing their flash hoods
backwards so their vision is completely obstructed, the two
person hose crews in full gear follow the hose line laid down by
the injured firefighter. The crew must remain in radio contact
with Incident Command and must find the victim before the
building becomes engulfed in flames.
The training session was
followed by a discussion on heat and burn related emergencies
and proper care as related to structure fires. The GMFD medical
and support personnel established a rehabilitation center to
administer to the firefighters as they emerge from the
building.
“Ongoing training is an
important part of the services we provide to the residents in
the Glassy Mountain Fire District,” Rob Hitt, Assistant Chief of
the Glassy Mountain Fire Service Area, said. “Our
personnel—volunteer and paid staff—spend more than 200
hours a year on average just in training to keep our skills at
the highest level.
“We are always in a great need
for more volunteer firefighters and first responders to keep our
community safe,” Hitt, added. “In addition to firefighting and
medical support, volunteering with GMFD covers a lot of
different jobs that help us support and protect the District
including mechanics to keep our trucks in excellent working
order, handypersons to maintain our stations, cooks to provide
meals for staff while fighting fires and other emergencies and
other liaison duties. If anyone is interested in joining our
volunteer ranks or wants more information on how to become part
of our team, they should contact me at 864-895-4306 or go to our
website at
www.gmfd.net.”
"THE DARK CORNER"
DOCUMENTARY PREMIERES AUGUST 3, 2008
DARK CORNER DOCUMENTARY PREMIERES AT
THE UPCOUNTRY HISTORY MUSEUM
GREENVILLE, SC – Wednesday, July 23rd - Dark Corner Films
and The Upcountry History Museum announce the showing of “The
Dark Corner – A Documentary”. This full length documentary is a
journey through the elusive history of the area known as the
Dark Corner. Told through scholars and storytellers this film
reveals the true history from ancient Indians to the modern
development of northern Greenville County.
Dark Corner Films became inspired not only by its namesake, but
by the many residents who wanted the true history of this area
to be told.
Glassy
Mountain Fire Department Honors 35 Of Its Volunteers For Nearly
12,000 Hours Of Volunteer Service in 2007
MAY 23, 2008, LANDRUM, SC…Glassy
Mountain Fire Department recently took the opportunity to
recognize 35 of its firefighters, emergency medical technicians
(EMTs) and other volunteers for their commitment and dedication
to serve their community.
“We are very proud of our
hardworking volunteers,” Bryan G Riebe, Chief, Glassy Mountain
Fire Department, said. “Without them, we would not be able to
provide the services we do to our community. These 35 men and
women served a combined total of nearly 12,000 volunteer hours
inn 2007. Using 2006 data from Independent Sector, which
estimated the dollar value of volunteer time to be $18.77 per
hour*, these folks saved our taxpayers nearly $220,000.”
The 35 Glassy Mountain
volunteers received the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
This award is issued by the President’s Council on Service and
Civic Participation on behalf of the President of the United
States to recognize the best in the American spirit and
encourage all Americans to contribute to their communities
through volunteer service. The awards are presented to young
adults (15 to 25 years of age) and adults (26 years of age and
above).
The young adults recognized for
their volunteer service with Glassy Mountain Fire Department
were Kevin Hopkins who received the Silver Award for 175 to 249
volunteer hours.; those receiving the Gold Award for 250 plus
volunteer hours were Amber Lynn Hawkins, Michael Duncan, Jeremy
Arrowood, Alissa Dekalb, Curtis Eiss, Jared Ferill and Bobby
Schleier.
The adults recognized for their volunteer service were Jerry
Bender, Jim Stehlik, Debbie Stewart, Kim Swayngham, Rick Hyder,
Lane Land, David Brown, Richard Stephens and Larry Recknagel
receiving Bronze Awards for 100 to 249 volunteer hours.
Receiving Silver Awards for 250 to 499 volunteer hours were
Billy Jones, John Ball, Karen Schleier, Jack Depriester, Robyn
Eiss, Bill Brodie, Paul Pedersen, Jon Eiss, RT Ford, Edward
Harmon, Tom Stewart, Mark Pfeil, Ron Messer, Ed Schleier, Dennis
Geagan and Stephen Orum. Receiving Gold Awards for more than
250 volunteer hours were Max Heim and Rob Hitt.
MARCH 21, 2008, LANDRUM,
SC…Glassy Mountain Fire Department announced today that
Christopher Eldridge has joined the department as a career
firefighter who will be assigned to the Oak Grove Station.
Chris comes
to Glassy Mountain Fire Department from McEntire Joint National
Guard Station where he served as an aircraft armament systems
journeyman and then as firefighter. He has also served as a
volunteer firefighter with Holly Springs (SC) Fire Department,
and the Cherryvale Fire Department in Sumter, SC. Chris and his
wife, Allison, reside in Lyman, SC.
“We are very
pleased to have someone with Chris’ experience to be joining our
career staff,” Brian G Riebe, Chief, Glassy Mountain Fire
Service Area said. "Chris’ position has been made possible
through a Federal grant that GMFD received that provides for a
five year cost-sharing program." “Our community is fast
growing and to meet the demands, we need more volunteer
firefighters and first responders to keep our community safe,”
Chief Riebe said. “Something that many folks may not know,
is that we also need help from citizens who can provide support
to the District but it doesn’t have to be fighting fires. If
anyone wants more information on how to become part of our team,
they should contact me at 864-895-4306 or go to our website at
www.gmfd.net.”
MARCH 17, 2008, LANDRUM,
SC…Glassy Mountain Fire Department announced today that four new
members of its volunteer staff successfully completed OSHA’s
Fundamentals of Basic Interior Structural Firefighting course on
Saturday, March 15th. The volunteers who
participated are: David Brown, Michael Fry, David Malak and
Charles Mayfield. Training was held at the Greer Fire
Department’s Training Center.
The US Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) says the course, which requires 80
hours of training, is designed to help fire departments meet the
OSHA intent for basic interior structural firefighting for their
personnel including basic fire ground skills necessary to get
the firefighter operational and performing. Subjects included
are: fire behavior, fire extinguishers, personal protective
equipment, SCBA, ladders, fire hose, fire streams, search and
rescue and interior fire attack.
Brian G Riebe, Chief, Glassy
Mountain Fire Service Area said, “I am very proud to recognize
our four new volunteers and their commitment to serving their
community through the Glassy Mountain Fire Department.”
“As our community continues to grow, we need more volunteer
firefighters and first responders to keep our community safe,”
Chief Riebe said. “We also need to further develop our auxiliary
of citizens to provide support for the District and we can offer
other job opportunities than fighting fires. If anyone wants
more information on how to become part of our team, they should
contact me at 864-895-4306 or go to our website at
www.gmfd.net.”
1.JPG)
Preparing for Final Exam (left
to right above)
David Malak, Charles Mayfield, David Brown, Michael Fry
1.JPG)
Preparing for Practice Burn &
Final Exam (left to right above)
David Brown,
Charles Mayfield, Michael Fry and David Malak.
House fires have topped all predictions this year . In January
alone, 130 people in Greenville County lost their possessions
and memories due to 25 fires . The Red Cross provided over
$42,000 to these local fire victims for food, clothing,
housing, and medication . Since July 1, 2007 there have been 8
multi-family fires in Greenville County affecting 85
people . These numbers indicate a new challenge facing us during this time of uncertainty – raising the funds necessary to
continue the assistance Upstate residents have come to expect . Every day at least one family will turn to the Red Cross after
suffering a fire.
The annual
Heroes campaign officially kicked-off this morning at the local
chapter office . The goal this year is to raise $10,000 and I
think we should be able to raise all of that here in the
district . Last year the first place department in the county
raised $3530.98 . I am often asked how we might assist the
victims of fires and this is a wonderful way to do so . The
monies raised remain solely within Greenville County and are
used to provide temporary housing along with food, clothing and
medical stipends . Let’s get behind this effort . Talk to your
friends, neighbors and business associates . We can top last
year’s winner by a long shot . Should we place first, we will be
recognized with a plaque; the “Traveling Trophy” and a $500 cash
prize which we would return for inclusion with our total . If you
donate or collect funds, have checks made payable to the
American Red Cross . It is deductible as a contribution . Please
submit donations to me and I will issue a receipt . Thank you for
considering this important effort.
The Annual Christmas Dinner and Awards
Program was held December 7th at the Beaver Dam Fire Station .
The Ronn W . Eiss Volunteer Service Award
for 2007 was given to the Glassy Mountain Fire Department
Explorer Post in recognition of their tremendous efforts in
working together as a team, for their consistent attendance at
training and their never-ending drive to learn . The Post
516 members receiving the award are Jeremy Arrowood,
Alissa DeKalb,
Michael Duncan,
Curtis Eiss, and Amber Hawkins .
