Fall Activities in Full Swing
I want to congratulate longtime fire service sales representative for Key Fire Hose, Jay Fredrickson, on his retirement. Jay has been coming to state fire schools for decades and provided fire departments with miles and miles of various fire hose and appliances. He told me at fire school this year, it was his final one on the job. Congratulations and Thank You for all your years of providing for the fire departments across our state and the country.
If you are looking for a quick session of fire services ideas and discussions, the SDFA Fall Fire Conference is 2-4 October at the Pete Lien & Sons Shooting Sports Complex just north of Rapid City. For full details and register at the events link on the SDFA website.
October is Fire Prevention and Home Safety month. “Charge into Fire Safety™: Safe Charging is a Superpower,” is the slogan for this year.
Emphasizing the proper ways to safely use, store, and recharge all of the many rechargeable, battery powered devices we have in our homes, cars, and on ourselves every day.
Check out the NFPA’s Fire Prevention Week website, www.FPW.org , for more public safety announcements and information.
Harvest season is upon. Silage cutters have finished up most of the acres for this year, but the combines, trucks, tractors, and various implements will be travelling the roads for the next several weeks. Let’s hope for the best, but prepare and review for the possibilities. Simple fire extinguishers or weed sprayers with water can be a million dollar fire stopper.
Hunting seasons have started, as well. A simple public service announcement in the local newspapers or posters with reminders of having extinguishers or extra water in case of a fire may be in order. Remind hunters to be careful where they park. Vehicle exhaust systems can easily start tall grass on fire.
Hopefully, we all make it through with a slow fall fire season.
Dan Hodge and I will have a report from the fall NVFC Conference. We had several pre-conference committee meetings in September. One of the topics talked about was Community Risk Reduction (CRR) plans.
CRRs are preparedness and prevention plans for communities of all sizes. Just like we have an escape plan from our house in a fire, shelter in place locations for storms and tornadoes, and winter survival kits for our personal planning, communities need to have basic plans for the normal or likely to happen events that could strike.
Play the “What if..?” game of scenarios. But keep it simple and solutions that are locally solvable.
Major disasters are the usual thought process.
If a wildfire is spreading across the cornfields or pastures on the edge of town, who is checking for spot fires inside the city limits? Have you done a walk-a-bout of your property to see what is a fire hazard or catch point for those little satanic butterfly embers floating into that little pile of leaves on your roof or untrimmed grass by your garage?
Are those batteries charged or extra ones still in the drawer? Do you run your portable generator on a monthly basis? To borrow from the Boy Scouts, be prepared.
The SDFA Board will be meeting on 2 October prior to the Fall Conference. If you have something to discuss or for the board to consider, let your district director know.
The Fall Fire Conference will also have a membership meeting to discuss current fire service happenings and looking forward to the 2027 state legislative session. An open forum for discussion will take place after the speaker sessions. Updates and brainstorming for fire service related ideas.
Hope to see you there.
Stay safe,
Charlie Kludt
SDFA President