When you are the one in need

Thursday, May 23, 2013  Being a lifelong member of Carlisle did I ever think that I would be in a situation requiring my Department to make a response. Well it happened to me not once but twice in the same week! Monday, I reached out to Carlisle to assist me with my beagle who had somehow become impaled within his kennel. I was in desperate need of “bolt cutters” to free him; I contacted 9-1-1 requesting assistance from Carlisle.  Then on the following day, Tuesday, I received a call from my daughter at home reporting a burning odor in the house. Unfortunately neither my wife nor I was immediately available to respond home to investigate resulting in me instructing my daughter to vacate the house and notifying the Fire Company. Again contacting 9-1-1, in short order Carlisle was responding to my residence. Fortunately both incidents have “happy” outcomes. Our beagle was freed and transported to the vet, returning home yesterday and the situation at home was a burned out relay in the air handling system.   Throughout my career I have always been the responder, handling any situation, providing the solutions to the problem. It is a whole different perspective on the other side, having to reach out for assistance, experiencing that helpless feeling involving your loved ones or those precious possessions you have spent a life time to acquire.  Watching those that you work beside in these circumstances now seeing them not as colleagues but as very special people that care! Care about their community, care about those who make up the community, committed to making a difference, exercising their training by witnessing their skills and experiences to mitigating you’re  problem.  That’s what being volunteer firefighters is all about, even when it is one of your own you are responding too. I am proud to be a volunteer firefighter with Carlisle and equally proud of my fire company that serves our community, there’s nothing else like it!   On behalf of my family and me, Thank You Carlisle for being there when we needed you! If you are interested in wanting to become a volunteer with Carlisle, you can call us at 422-8001 or scroll over to the left side of our home page and click on "To become a member" and download an application and you too can make a difference to the place we all call home.  Submitted By: Glenn Gillespie

KSI Fun Day

Saturday, May 18, 2013  Earlier today Engine 42-5 as well as the career staff on B-42 attended the KSI Fun Day hosted at the Kent/Sussex Industries facility on Rehoboth Boulevard. Chief Engineer, Dorian Klaus drove Engine 5 while EMT’s Willie Trowbridge and Jerry Wales followed in B-42. Everyone enjoyed getting to see the fire truck and ambulance up close. Special thanks Chief Klaus and our Career Staff for making this a special day for KSI. Photo By: D. Klaus

Water Rescue I Class to be hosted at Carlisle

Tuesday, May 7, 2013  The Delaware State Fire School's, Water Rescue I Course training will begin at the Carlisle Fire Company on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 1900 hrs. and continuing on Tuesday, May 21st and Tuesday, May 28th at 1900 hrs. The final day and closing evolutions will take place on Saturday, June 8, 2013 from 9am-1pm at Blair’s Pond; lunch will follow at Station 42. This class is opened to any neighboring Fire Company members requiring this class.  Please contact Capt. Brennon Fountain @ 302-422-8001 or email at brennonfountain@carlisle42.com regarding any questions you may have relating to the upcoming course.   Hope to see you there!

Carlisle Host Vehicle Rescue Refresher Class

Monday, May 6, 2013  On Thursday, April 11, 2013 the Carlisle Fire Company began the first of four nights of their Vehicle Rescue refresher course with a classroom lecture on Hybrid and Modern Vehicles by DSFS Instructor, Donnie Ebright.  Members from Carlisle and Ellendale Fire Companies received lots of valuable information and updates on how to respond and interact with these Hybrid and Modern Vehicles in a real life setting outside of the training environment. 



On Tuesday, April 16th and Tuesday, April 23rd the members of Carlisle began their practical evolutions with vehicle stabilization and cribbing, and later moved into gaining access into vehicles and the performance of various extrication techniques.  Instruction on these two evenings was provided by DSFS Instructors, Donnie Ebright and Jason Brode. 



On Tuesday, April 30, 2013 the Carlisle Fire Company completed the last of the four evenings of the Vehicle Rescue training refresher.  The evolutions on this evening was designed as a full blown mock motor vehicle accident and members responded and staffed both Rescue 42 and Engine 42-5 to begin the various evolutions on all vehicles involved.  Crew leaders on this evening were Apprentice members, Austin Gardner-Bowler and Cameron Griffith; both gentlemen did an outstanding job with coordination efforts. 



 All crews involved in the training evolutions and mock accident drill received additional training instruction and tips from DSFS instructors, Donnie Ebright and Glenn Marshall on this evening.  Special thanks to all Carlisle members that participated in any or all of the Vehicle Rescue refresher training course, especially hats off to Life member Franklin A. Fountain for his participation as one of our more seasoned members.  Thanks again to Station 75, DSFS, and all of those that could assist in any manner.



Photos By: B. Fountain

This Day in Carlisle History

Thursday, May 2, 2013  On this date in 1942, Donnie Holzmueller Jr was killed when his patrol boat the USS Cythera he was serving on was torpedoed and sunk off Cape Hatteras in the Atlantic by a German U-boat 402. A standout student and athlete from Milford High School Donnie, was the son of former Fire Chief C.D. Holzmueller Sr. While on military leave from Carlisle at the time of his death he served with the United State Navy and was the first Combat casualty of the war from Milford.

CFC Recognizes our High School Seniors

Monday, April 29, 2013  By this time next month several of our Junior and Apprentice Members will be graduating from various local and regional High Schools in Kent and Sussex Counties. As May rapidly approaches various events will be attended by our seniors including their Senior Prom. This past Saturday evening, CFC Apprentice Firefighter, Cameron Griffith attended his Senior Prom at the Duncan Towers in Dover. Pictured with Cameron beside Engine 5 is Miss Samantha Gillespie also a senior with Cameron at Milford High School. Like any other High School senior our junior and Apprentice Members are no different as they begin preparing for those final days culminating the end of their high school careers and embarking on their next endeavor. Special thanks to Chief Engineer Klaus and Chief Vanaman for allowing Engine 5 to be used as a back drop.   Photos By: G. Gillespie

Saturday Training at Regional Center

Saturday, April 6, 2013  Earlier today Captain’s Hinton and Fountain lead a two truck caravan down to the regional training center next to the airport in Georgetown for a morning of interior fire evolutions. Engine 5 and the Rescue loaded up personnel for the 25 minute trip. Upon crews were assigned to assist with establishing a supply line to maintain water to engine 5 the entire morning.  Two 1.75 inch hand lines were pulled to be used for the many training evolutions planned. Once all the support lines were put into place and charged the members were all given a short overview by the instructors including pre-burn instructions including safety while attending the regional center. The instructors also conducted a brief review on “direct and in-direct interior attacks which was going to be the focus of the morning training.  Finally, a “demo fire” was set for everyone’s review and complete understanding of the two methods of attack the students would be evaluated on.

 

Crews were divided up ensuring a balance of both experienced and less experienced firefighters. After a couple evolutions Engine 75-2 arrived to participate in the morning training sessions. Station 75, Ellendale is one of our primary mutual companies and providing opportunities under training conditions allows members from both departments to work together developing relationships between colleagues.  The morning continued virtually non- stop instructor aids would prep the room and ignite the straw simulating a room and contents on fire.  Crew from both companies worked throughout the morning supporting each other while gaining valuable training experience to use the next time a working alarm is received and placing both departments side by side.

 

As the morning was approaching noon time, the session ended with several evolutions simulating a “basement” fire. A basement fire is one of the most dangerous situations firefighters can encounter and understanding the basic methodology in attacking a basement fire can mean the difference with firefighters walking out or being carried out because something went terribly wrong. At the conclusion of the training sessions everyone jumped in to clean up the structure building making it ready for the next class to use.  Supply and hand lines were broken down, drained and placed back into service on engine 5 before making the trip back to Milford.

 

For the guys and gals that sacrificed their Saturday to be with family or just to take advantage to veg out, everyone was provided a delicious lunch at pizza palace. The time allowed everyone to talk about the morning training session as well as an opportunity to share a few more minutes with their extended Carlisle family. During lunch Captain Fountain announce future Saturday training sessions being planned including a “water rescue class” coming in June.

 

A special thanks to everyone who took advantage of today’s training in Georgetown strengthening their skills as a Carlisle firefighter while reinforcing their bonds between each other. In addition, a special thanks to the instructors and instructor aids that made the morning possible for everyone.

 

Photos By: G. Gillespie

Forcible Entry Class

Tuesday, March 26, 2013  Earlier this evening the Carlisle Fire Company hosted and participated in the Forcible Entry course prepared by the Delaware State Fire School. The instructor on hand for the evening was Senior Instructor Gordon Davis (Past Chief of Lewes Fire Dept.) and props were supplied by both the Delaware State Fire School and the Aetna Hook and Ladder Fire Company (Newark, De). The course was designated to illustrate proper technique used to force inward and outward swinging doors in residential and commercial settings. Some reinforced points from the training were to teach firefighters to perform an initial size up on their entry point upon arrival, shocking the door, gapping the door with a wedge or tool, setting the door, forcing the door, and then properly controlling the door. Acronyms used were AFA as friendly reminders on how to operate the halligan bar when operating in forcible entry. Firefighters must start and finish with A – Adz, F- forks, and then A – Adz. Lastly, the three C’s used in the process of forcible entry would be to Crush, Clear, and Control. The officers and members of the Carlisle Fire Company would like to thank Senior Instructor Gordon Davis, the Delaware State Fire School, and the Aetna Hook and Ladder Fire Company (Newark, De) for their support and commitment to our training efforts.

 

Article By: B. Fountain

 

Photos By: B. Fountain

CPR Recert

Tuesday, March 19, 2013  Earlier this evening the Carlisle Fire Company hosted its CPR Recertification course in the Grier Banquet Hall of the Carlisle Fire Company. This course is conducted every two years as part of the CFC training curriculum to provide CFC firefighters, first responders, and EMTs the ability to forefill their mandatory training requirements set forth by the State of Delaware. The course was conducted by the Delaware State Fire School in conjunction with the American Heart Association with Instructors Dennis Dittoe (DSFS) and Barry Hoke (AHA). During the evening, each member of the CFC were encouraged to work with manikins along with a partner and perform their necessary CPR skill sets. Following the practical performance, there was a final examination, and a host of great snacks provided by the CFC and CFC Ladies Auxiliary. The officers and members would like to thank the Delaware State Fire School, American Heart Association, CFC Ladies Auxiliary, and all the members that found it important to take hours from their homes and evenings to participate in the course.

 

Article By: B. Fountain

 

Photos By: B. Fountain

2012 Appreciation Video

2012 Appreciation Dinner Video Sunday, March 17, 2013