pnbsppdiv styleline-height 16ptspan stylefont-size 10ptDeWitt Fire span stylecolor 333333joined the Town of DeWitt for its 1st Annual Earth Day Fair and ldquoClean-up to Green uprdquo Campaign spanon Saturday April 30 to help clean-up our community.nbspIn conjunction with many other Earth Day activities and programs designed to promote environmental conservation five fire department crews covered a variety of areas around town including the Orville Cemetery.nbspDisplays and demonstrations were presented at the Town Hall in order to increase awareness of ways we can all contribute to our planet. spandiv

In the early afternoon hours East Syracuse was alerted for a commercial fire at the corner of James St and W. Manlius St. Notes had indicated several calls and several explosions of gas tanks on the scene. On the arrival of the first East Syracuse Chief he gave a size up of heavy smoke and fire and requested an Engine from DeWitt then gave a Signal 99 working fire. Engine Company 8 responded and worked with the companies from East Syracuse on checking for extension forcible entry and overhaul. Companies from East Syracuse DeWitt and Mattydale worked for while over an hour and no injuries to firefighters or civilians were reported. East Syracuse Car 4 Capt Brewster had the James St Command

pSince constructing our new fire station the DeWitt Fire District has been working towards developing a student bunk-in-program fornbspvolunteer firefightersnbspand EMS personnel attending classes atnbspOnondaga Community College and other local institutions. For several years this type of programnbsphas been a huge success in numerous Onondaga County fire departments.nbspBy providingnbspyoung men and women an excellent opportunity to supplement their studies with essential on-the-job training and experience they can begin their career development during college.pdiv stylemargin 0in 0in 10ptIn addition to training and experience accommodations at the station are provided to the students.nbspThe DeWitt fire station is conveniently located near Erie Boulevard East as well as Interstates 481 and 690 providing easy access to downtown and a large retail area.nbspStudents answer emergency alarms and participate in training station duties and community events along with our career and volunteer staff.nbspAny students preparing for studies at local educational programs that may be interested should contact us for more information at a hrefmailtoinfodewittfire.orginfodewittfire.orga or stop by the station.div

pDoors will be open at the DeWitt fire station from 10 am until 2 pm April 9 amp 10 as part of a recruitment open house.nbsp Community members interested in seeing what opportunities exist within the fire department are encouraged to stop in for more information.p

pnbsppdiv stylemargin 0in 0in 10ptspan styleline-height 115 color 111111 font-size 12ptAdvocates Incorporated held a spanspan styleline-height 115 font-size 12ptHealth amp Wellness Fair amp St. Patrickrsquos Day Dance Party on spanspan styleline-height 115 color 111111 font-size 12ptFriday March 4 at the LeMoyne College athletic center.nbspDeWitt Fire Chief Jason Green and crew members were present to explain fire department services and assist participants with questions about how to access services in an emergency.nbspspanspan styleline-height 115 font-size 12ptRepresentatives of other health related services were available to provide information for individuals with developmental and physical disabilities.nbspAdvocates Incorporated serves over 700 children and adults with disabilities and their families in Central New York. Advocates works with individuals with a wide variety of intellectual and developmental disabilities including Autism Cerebral Palsy Down Syndrome Genetic Syndromes Muscular Dystrophy Epilepsy and other medical disabilities. Their goal is to partner with individuals with developmental disabilities their families and the community-at-large to create opportunities for individuals to lead inclusive lives in our community by providing advocacy resources information and choices to empower individuals and their families. nbspThey assist people with developmental disabilities to direct their own lives and choose their services and supports from many available sources. spandiv

pnbsppdivAn open letter to the Residents and Merchants of the DeWitt Fire DistrictdivdivnbspdivdivOver the last several years the DeWitt Fire District spanhas strived to evolve and meet the challenges of providing a wide spectrum of services to a diverse community.nbspOur operational procedures reflect that evolution and as such organizational structures are adjusted.nbspUpon moving into our new fire station in June 2008 we discontinued use of our emergency seven digit telephone number.nbspBecause Onondaga County provides a central answering point at the 911 Center and due to the increase in private fire alarm systems it was not necessary to maintain this redundancy.nbspAs we experience an increase in call volume and requests for service of all types we also are not able to have the benefit of personnel in-house dedicated to receive those calls via telephone.spandivdivnbspdivdivIt has become customary for many to telephone the fire station for all types of situations including at times serious emergencies.nbspMany people believe that their situation isnrsquot serious enough to call 911 and often waste valuable time searching for alternate phone numbers.nbspPlainly stated your phone call directly to the fire station may not be able to be answered immediately resulting in a delay.nbspIt is highly recommended that you call 911 for any type of situation that you believe may require our response regardless of how serious you believe it may be.nbspThe personnel at the 911 center are best trained to prioritize calls for service and if necessary refer calls to other agencies.nbspThe 911 center also provides crucial standardized pre-arrival instructions for emergencies which save lives and time.nbspThese services are not provided by personnel at the fire station.divdivnbspdivdivWe are proud of the work we do in our community and remain committed to providing you with the best possible service.nbspdiv

pnbsppdiv stylemargin 0in 0in 0ptspan stylecolor 1f497dThe DeWitt Fire Districtnbspand all county fire service agencies were recently identified in numerous news sources concerning response times.nbspWe are pleased to provide a high level of service and do so expeditiously.nbspThe report that was releasednbspcontains raw data from dispatch records which does not take many response factors into account.nbspThis data along with additional information should be used by each fire department to evaluate how it can best provide service to its community.nbspThese factors can include distance to the emergency additional call volume prioritization of the emergency and many others.nbspAs departments across Onondaga County are compared to one another in this reportnbspit isnbspextremely important to consider the demographics of each particular area prior to drawing conclusions based on one piece of information.nbspThose who have questions about this report as it relates to our fire district or wish to learn more about our service are encouraged to contact us at any time.spandiv

pThanksgiving doesnt just bring turkey and family time. Reports of burns kitchen fires and other holiday-related emergencies often increase. Simple precautions can ensure firefighters wont need to join your holiday celebration.nbsp We share with you some important safety tipsppbullTurn pan handles in when youre cooking something on the stove.ppbullDont wear loose clothing. If you must pull up your sleeves or wear gloves.ppbullBe sure to clean out your oven before and after cooking. Drippings can catch fire.ppbullDont keep flammable items such as hot pads or plastic tools close to the oven.ppbullStay in the kitchen whenever something is cooking. If you must bake a pie while youre eating Thanksgiving dinner check on it often throughout your meal.ppbullKeep a fire extinguisher within reach when youre cooking.ppbullIf you choose to fry your turkey do it outside. Set up your supplies in the middle of your backyard rather than right next to your home.ppbullEstablish a safe zone around your oven or fryer. Tell children they need to stay outside of your cooking area.ppbullBe sure to turn off your oven when youre finished cooking.p

pspan stylefont-family quotArialquotquotsans-serifquotfont size3DeWitt Manlius and East Syracuse fire department personnel joined the Fayetteville Fire Department and hundreds of others in the Village of Fayetteville to pay tribute to Army Sgt. Edward Bolen this morning as a military honor guard and members of his family welcomed him home. Bolen who comes from Chittenango was killed in action in Afghanistan just weeks ago and was escorted by The Patriot Guard motorcycle group and numerous law enforcement agencies along Route 5 toward Chittenango.opopfontspanp

pLate Monday morning DeWitt was alerted for a motor vehicle collision with injuries at 6750 Kinne Rd.nbsp As Engine-8 and Rescue-7 were responding the Onondaga County Emergency Communications Center notified units that the crash was a rollover with 1 person trapped.nbsp Engine 8 and Rescue 7 arrived within 2 minutes of initial dispatch to find a car on its roof with 1 patient trapped inside.nbsp Mutual Aid was requested bringing East Syracuse Rescue 1 and Fayetteville Engine 7.nbsp Crews worked to remove the drivers side of the vehicle.nbsp The patient was disentangled then packaged and turned over to the waiting RuralMetro Medical Services ambulance for transport to the hospital.nbsp Companies were back in service in under an hour.nbsp DeWitt Car-1 Chief Green had the Kinne Rd Command.p

Congratulations to the newest DeWitt candidate that graduated the Firefighter 1 academy in Fayetteville. Firefighter Ray Borg Bowen completed the 2 month academy consisting of FF1 Haz-Mat awareness Firefighter Survival and FAST. . Welcome aboard Ray and we look forward to working with you.

The Board of Fire Commissioners has appointed Jason C. Green as the new Chief of Fire for the DeWitt Fire District. Chief Green started his new position on Wednesday October 20th after rising through the ranks within the Fire District. Chief Green becomes the third career Chief of Fire in DeWitt but the first to come within the career ranks of the Department. Jason started in DeWitt as a part-time FirefighterParamedic in December of 1998 while he was a full-time FirefighterParamedic with the Fayetteville Fire Department. Jason transferred to DeWitt full-time in January of 2002 where he was initially assigned to the B shift. In 2003 while assigned to the A shift Jason along with then Lieutenant Randall Griffin Firefighter Shawn Tompkins and Firefighter John Canorro received a Medal of Valor for rescuing a victim trapped on the second floor of a working structure fire in the Village of Fayetteville. Green was then promoted to the position of Lieutenant in August of 2004 and assigned back to the B shift. In April of 2005 when Lieutenant Griffin left on assignment with the Department of Homeland Security Lieutenant Green became the Municipal Training Officer for the District. Upon the return of Lieutenant Griffin from his assignment to DHS Lieutenant Green was moved to the E shift and worked full-time on training. With this new assignment Lieutenant Green was the 2007 recipient of the Chiefs Award.Chief Green was also instrumental in some very big projects within the Fire District. Jason along with Lieutenant Hogan Firefighter Boyle and Commission J. Daly comprised the truck committee that designed and over saw the build process of the 2008 Seagrave Rescue Engine which replaced a 1981 Mack Heavy Rescue and a 1992 E-One Pumper. Jason during the same time period sat on the committee for the new fire station and served as the design chairman. Chief Green is very active in public service and safety outside of the DeWitt Fire District. He started his fire career at a very young age as a volunteer with his hometown Sennett Fire Department. Green also rose through the ranks within Sennett up to Assistant Chief. Before starting his career in the fire service Jason was employed by Eastern Paramedics and RuralMetro Medical Services. Green there like every place else showed his leadership and dedication. He worked as a Senior AEMT-CC before becoming a Senior Paramedic and a Field Training Officer. When Jason left RuralMetro full-time to pursue a fire career he was an Assistant Operations Supervisor. Jason is currently still employed with RuralMetro on a part-time basis as a Senior Paramedic and FTO.We would all like to wish Chief Green the best of luck on his new Endeavour and look forward to working with him.

DeWitt Fire with the support from Chief of Fire Jason C. Green and the Board of Fire Commissioners have announced their Cares Enough to Wear Pink breast cancer awareness campaign.October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and DeWitt firefighters will be trading in their traditional blue uniforms for pink t-shirts until the end of the month to show support for the disease. Like many others DeWitt firefighters and their families have been effected by cancer. The DeWitt Fire Department and the DeWitt Professional Firefighters have been made donations to the Carol M. Baldwin Research Fund to help with the research and treatment of cancer.The pink t-shirts that the firefighters are wearing are for sale at the fire station. The cost is 10-12 and all the proceeds will be donated to the Carol M. Baldwin Research Fund.

It with great sadness and heavy heart that the DeWitt Fire Department announces the passing of Past Chief of Fire Charles Chuck Burrows. Chuck joined the DeWitt Fire Department as a Firefighter in 1971 and rose through the ranks on both the corporate and operations side of the department. Chuck held the positions of President Vice President Sergeant at Arms Lieutenant Deputy Chief and Chief of Fire from 1993-1995.Under the leadership of Chief Burrows the DeWitt Fire Department purchased Squad Co. 8 and the DeWitt Fire Training Facility was erected. Chuck was instrumental in the UHF communications system not only for the DeWitt Fire Department but for all of the Eastern Section of Onondaga County.Chuck was a long time employee of Eastern Paramedics then RuralMetro Medical Services in Syracuse. He started his career there as a dispatcher in 1978 then moved to the streets working as an EMT on the rigs up until 2005.Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Burrows Family.At the completion of each every alarm the fire department signals that they have returned to the station and are ready for duty. The next Alarm. We signal today that our member Past Chief Charles Burrows has returned home safely and awaits his next assignment.

divdiv stylemargin auto 0inbfont size5span stylefont-size 12ptStaying Safe during the Summer Heatspanfontbdivdiv stylemargin 0in 0in 0ptspan stylefont-size 12ptSimple measures can be taken to significantly reduce the chance of heat related illness. We encourage drinking plenty of water and taking frequent breaks while working outside. Staying inside and avoiding strenuous activity is also recommended.nbspspandivdiv stylemargin 0in 0in 0ptspan stylefont-size 12ptAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approximately 400 Americans die each year due to summerrsquos sweltering heat. Furthermore the National Weather Service asserts that excessive heat was the number one weather-related killer causing more fatalities per year than floods lightning tornadoes hurricanes winter storms and extreme cold.spandivdiv stylemargin 0in 0in 0ptspan stylefont-size 12ptEveryone is at risk when temperatures rise above 90 degrees but the elderly and the very young are most susceptible to heat and heat-related illnesses. Heat-related illnesses can cause serious injury and even death if unattended. Signs of heat-related illnesses include nausea dizziness flushed or pale skin heavy sweating and headaches. Victims of heat-related illness should be moved to a cool place given cool water to drink and ice packs or cool wet cloths should be applied to the skin. If a victim refuses water vomits or loses consciousness call 9-1-1 immediately.spandivdiv stylemargin 0in 0in 0ptbspan stylefont-size 12ptHeat Safety Tipsnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbsp spanbdivdiv stylemargin 0in 0in 0ptspan stylefont-size 12ptnbspbDress for the heatb. Wear lightweight light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away some of the suns energy. It is also a good idea to wear hats or to use an umbrella.spandivdiv stylemargin 0in 0in 0ptbspan stylefont-size 12ptDrink waterspanbspan stylefont-size 12pt. Carry water or juice with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeine which dehydrate the body. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.spandivdiv stylemargin 0in 0in 0ptbspan stylefont-size 12ptEat small meals and eat more oftenspanbspan stylefont-size 12pt. Avoid high-protein foods which increase metabolic heat.spandivdiv stylemargin 0in 0in 0ptbspan stylefont-size 12ptSlow down. Avoid strenuous activity.spanbspan stylefont-size 12pt If you must do strenuous activity do it during the coolest part of the day which is usually in the morning between 4 and 7 a.m.spandivdiv stylemargin 0in 0in 0ptbspan stylefont-size 12ptStay indoors when possiblespanbspan stylefont-size 12pt. If air-conditioning is not available stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine.nbsp Remember that electric fans do not cool they simply circulate the air.spandivdiv stylemargin 0in 0in 0ptbspan stylefont-size 12ptBe a good neighborspanbspan stylefont-size 12pt. During heat waves check in on elderly residents in your neighborhood and those who do not have air conditioning.spandivdiv stylemargin 0in 0in 0ptnbspdivdiv stylemargin auto 0inbfont size5span stylefont-size 12ptSwimming Pool and Spa Safetyspanfontbdivdiv stylemargin auto 0inSpending time in swimming pools and spas is a favorite activity for children and adults all over the country at this time of year. Whether enjoying pool time with family and friends exercising playing water sports or learning to swim everyone needs to be mindful of the potential for incidents and drownings in pools and spas.divdivEach year nearly 300 children under the age of five drown in residential and public pools and spas. Submersion incidents requiring emergency-room treatment or hospitalization number in the thousands and many victims experience permanent disability including brain damage.nbspFew people know of the hidden dangers from drain or suction entrapments. Drains with broken missing or faulty covers can entrap hair the body limbs jewelry and clothing and cause serious injury.divdivnbspdivdivFor more information visitdivdiva hrefhttpwww.poolsafety.govfont color800080httpwww.poolsafety.govfontadivspan stylefont-size 12pta hrefhttpwww.bt.cdc.govdisastersextremeheatheattips.aspfont color800080httpwww.bt.cdc.govdisastersextremeheatheattips.aspfontaspandiv