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Message from the Editor: Chief Rick Wilson
During the winter and early spring when temperatures hover near record lows, families, due to financial hardships, are forced to find innovative ways to heat their homes. Remembering some basic fire safety tips to keep our families safe through this period is very important. Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner Ed Mann has constructed a list of preventative measures designed to help reduce your risk of a fire starting in your home.
"Of all the man-made fires in the state, residential fires have historically been the most costly in terms of lives lost," explained Commissioner Mann. "Although most Pennsylvanians will use conventional methods such as gas furnaces, baseboard heaters and radiators to heat their homes, some may look for less expensive ways to stay warm. This can be very dangerous and even deadly. Regardless of which heating method you decide to use, remember to be smart about the decisions you make and keep safety a top priority for your family."
Here are some basic safety tips that you can implement to help prevent a fire starting in your home:
- Never use ovens, stove top burners or grills as a primary or supplementary heat source. These units, burning over an excessive amount of time, may overheat and start a fire or can produce deadly fumes and Carbon Monoxide that can be deadly to anyone inside the structure.
- Because smoke and gases from a fire don't follow a set path through your home, it is recommended that smoke/carbon monoxide detectors are installed on each floor of you home and in each bedroom.
- Keep all heating devices at least three feet away from other objects, such as walls and furnishings.
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R.I.T. - What is it?
Firefighters spend hundreds of hours each year training on different tactics on how to put out fires, property conservation and rescue the general public from serious injury. The firefighter's top priority is life safety. But who helps the firefighters when they are in trouble? This is where R.I.T. (Rapid Intervention Teams) comes into the picture.
R.I.T., also referred to as R.I.C. (Rapid Intervention Crews), are firefighters that are specially trained in advanced rescue techniques for pulling firefighters out of situations that threaten their lives. Situations such as collapses, becoming lost or disoriented, little or no breathing air, and becoming entrapped or stuck are just some of the reasons R.I.T. is initiated at a fire scene.
R.I.T. has become a necessity at today's fire scenes because of the increased hazards that firefighters face, as well as the push for firefighter safety and survival by NFPA, OSHA and other agencies related to the fire industry.
R.I.T. crews do not help put out the fire when responding to a scene. Their main goal is to size up the structure and prepare it for quick entry in case they are called upon to extricate a firefighter in trouble.
Firefighters put their lives on the line to save the public from harm. R.I.T. puts their lives on the line to help save a fellow firefighter. |
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2009 Training Schedule Posted
The 2009 Fire training schedule is now available. Contact us at 412-472-5871 or by email at bcolella@pitairport.com.
Basic and Advanced classes are scheduled for September 21 through September 25, 2009.
You can download a request for training form at www.flypittsburgh.com/arff
We also have specialized training in AED/CPR and Employee Safety and Fire extinguisher training and community Right to Know classes. Call for details.
Let us assist in the design of your training program that meets all FAA requirements. |
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Sign up for 2009 Training Classes
Training classes are being held January-July and August-December. To register, click the appropriate month, print out the form and submit the completed registration/payment form. For more information about the class call (412) 472-5871 or email bcolella@pitairport.com. ( Payment Policy and 2009 Rates) Here at ARFF Pittsburgh, we offer a variety of courses and class schedules to prepare students for numerous fire safety situations. Some of the courses we offer include:
- Annual Training
- ARFF Training
- 8 hour recurrent training
- 16 hour ARFF training
- Confined Space Training
- Hazardous Materials
- NIMS / ICS
Basic and Advanced classes will be held September 21-25, 2009. |
