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Posted: Feb 22, 2016

Defibrillators Added to Six Nations Fire Apparatus

Six Nations fire and emergency services department has placed an automatic external defibrillator on every truck in its fleet to treat any firefighter who may suffer a cardiac arrest.

The measure was ordered by Six Nations fire chief Matthew Miller as part of heart month in February. The units were paid for by a grant from the Six Nations Community Trust.

Miller noted that, according to statistics provided by the National Fire Protection Association, cardiac arrest continues to be the leading cause of death for on duty firefighters in North America.

The association says 56 per cent of line of duty deaths in 2014 were the result of cardiac arrest.

Due to this "staggering" number, the Six Nations department has placed defibrillators on every fire truck in the fleet, Miller said.

"When the unthinkable happens, and a firefighter collapses on an emergency scene, we need to be prepared to provide the highest level of care possible."

He noted that the department also has introduced its firefighters to a livesaving technique known as firefighter down CPR.
 
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Posted: Feb 22, 2016

Calgary Ambulance Drivers Face Speed Restrictions

Unlike ambulances, both firetrucks and police vehicles don't have rules that dictate how fast they can go in Calgary. The rule, which took effect on Friday, says paramedics can only drive a maximum of 15 km/h over the posted speed limit when operating emergency vehicles with lights and sirens activated.

Prior to the change, ambulance operators could drive at a speed of 25 per cent over the posted limit, while operating with lights and sirens.

The Calgary Police Service and the Edmonton Police Service don't have a specific number for what speeds police vehicles can drive at, but officers are expected to drive to an emergency event at a speed that is safe and reasonable.

Unlike Calgary, Edmonton officers mustn't exceed the limit by more than 50 km/h.

As for the Calgary Fire Department, crews can go as fast as they deem necessary, as long as its safe.

"Safety is the number one factor our drivers take into consideration," said Calgary Fire Department spokeswoman Carol Henke. "I don't think that they need to be looking down at the speedometer to know whether they're being safe or not -- they know intuitively and through experience."
 
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Posted: Feb 22, 2016

Fire damages Walla Walla Veterans Memorial Golf Course building

A fire destroyed a portion of a maintenance building on Veterans Memorial Golf Course in Walla Walla Sunday. Corrections Officers at the Washington State Penitentiary reported the fire around 1:16 a.m. Firefighters from the Walla Walla Fire Department and Walla Walla County Fire District 4 responded to the call.
- PUB DATE: 2/22/2016 2:38:44 PM - SOURCE: KVEW-TV ABC 42 Kennewick
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Posted: Feb 22, 2016

Fire damages Walla Walla Veterans Memorial Golf Course building

A fire destroyed a portion of a maintenance building on Veterans Memorial Golf Course in Walla Walla Sunday. Corrections Officers at the Washington State Penitentiary reported the fire around 1:16 a.m. Firefighters from the Walla Walla Fire Department and Walla Walla County Fire District 4 responded to the call.
- PUB DATE: 2/22/2016 2:38:44 PM - SOURCE: KVEW-TV ABC 42 Kennewick
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Posted: Feb 22, 2016

Otto Jensen Obituary

Otto Jensen passed away Feb. 3 2016 peacefully in his sleep with his family nearby, he was 86. Otto was born Aug 28 1929 on the family farm near Coulee City WA. He graduated from Hartline high school in 1947.  He married his high school sweetheart, Betty Pierpoint, on April 8 1948. He moved his family from Coulee City to Moses Lake in 1954, where he worked as a mail carrier and as a volunteer fireman. He became a full time fire fighter and worked his way up to Fire Chief in 1963. 

In 1970 he took the position of Fire Chief in Olympia, WA until 1977, he then became Fire Chief in Vancouver, WA. He retired from the City of Vancouver in 1986 to become the Executive Director of the WA State Association of Fire Chiefs in Olympia. During his Fire Career he was instrumental in starting Thurston County Medic 1, wrote Fire Codes for the IFC, and taught class at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD.  He retired from the Association in 1996 and moved back to Coulee City. He was active in the City Counsel and then became Mayor of Coulee City. He resigned from the Mayor position when his wife Betty became ill to take care of her. They eventually moved back to Olympia to be closer to their kids...

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