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Topics - PotterFXFD
1
« on: June 05, 2010, 05:41:03 AM »
Good news we have been able to purchase a used ATV to pull our Rescue sled. We purchased a 660 Grizzly with a track kit on it. Over the last couple of years on several occasions we have had calls where we needed to use the sled and had nothing to pull it with, problem now solved. New problem we had a member donate a trailer to hold the ATV and Sled. Problem is it is too small, another town resident has offered to sell use another trailer that is big enough. Problem being we have used most of our money to put together the atv. So we are going to do a bottle drive at Minors store to come up with what we need to purchase the trailer and put the whole package into service. I will try to get pictures of the ATV, Sled, and Trailer posted up here. (if I figure out how) BOTTLE DRIVE @ MINORS STORE IN FAIRFAX, JUST TELL THEM YOUR BOTTLES ARE FOR THE FIRE DEPT.
AS ALL WAYS THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
2
« on: June 10, 2009, 07:50:32 AM »
How did the girls do last night ?
3
« on: May 15, 2009, 01:41:08 PM »
I have 2 tickets to the Nascar Cup race in Dover May 31. My daughter is having a birthday party that weekend so I can not go. I will sell the tickets for face value $84.00 / each. Maybe next year I can go.
4
« on: March 01, 2009, 06:53:34 AM »
I would like to extend a thank you to everyone that was at town meeting yesterday and supported Article#4. You can all be assured you did not give the Fire Department a blank check to do with as they wish. We are going to do a lot of homework on this and WILL NOTspend any more then we have to. As I had stated earlier I have received quotes over the last 2 years from a high of $238,000 to a low magazine price of $135,000. We will not be looking at the high truck again, but I am very curious as to what the low truck is like. We will be forming a truck committee this Tuesday night to get to work. It should take until summer to decide what truck we are going to go with and usually around a year to get it built, depending on the company's back log. I will be sure to keep everyone up to date as we go. On this web site and in the Fairfax News
We are always looking for new volunteers we meet at the fire station every Tuesday night from 7-9PM. As always feel free to stop by whenever we are there to see what we have and what we are doing. We like to have the company. Thanks to all for your support when ever we need it, Chief Dean Potter
5
« on: February 24, 2009, 08:38:34 AM »
On Saturday's town meeting one of the articles we will be voting on is money for a new tanker. Tankers are the life line of our fire department, with most of the town's houses being away from the hydrant system the tankers are what bring the water we need. We currently have 2 tankers on the road a 1985 and a 1995. We have had to park our third tanker the Silver Bullet a 1983 because it was no longer safe to have on the road. And have been told the 1985 has about 2yrs left before it will no longer pass inspection. We started looking into a new tanker 2yrs ago but have been putting it off because of the shaky economy. This year looks no better but we have put off the new truck as long as we can and still try to provide good fire coverage to the town. We have gotten quotes on new trucks ranging in price from $230,000 to $150,000, our plan is to spend as little as possible and still get a truck that will do the job. Below is a list of our current truck, when they will need to be replaced and a guess at the cost at that time. 15-25 yrs is the average life of a fire service vehicle depending on number of calls a yr. 15 yrs ago when I joined the dept we may have run 40-50 call/year. Last year we ran 160 , I fully expect to run closer to 200 calls this year.
Engine # 1 2004 2029 $450,000 Engine # 2 1996 2021 $350,000 Utility # 1 2003 2018 $175,000 Tanker #1 1995 2015 $225,000 Tanker #2 1985 2012 $205,000 Tanker #3 1983 2009 $200,000
Feel free to stop at the station tonight to look over what we have for equipment. Or give me a call I will gladly answer any and all questions . Chief Dean Potter, Fairfax Fire Dept.
6
« on: December 24, 2008, 08:03:37 AM »
On my drive home last night I was noticing the Hydrants in the village. Here is my notice for this year. If there is a fire hydrant in front or beside your house, it is there to protect YOUR home or business. Please take the extra couple of minutes to shovel it out so the fire department can get at it if needed. Also watch where your snow is being plowed, I noticed 1 or 2 that have been completly buried under driveway snow piles. Last winter on a couple of our Tuesday night meetings we went around and shoveled them all out. some where all set when we got there and some took a hour of shoveling just to find them.
THANKS FOR THE HELP AND HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT HOLIDAY AND NEW YEAR. I hope not to see any of you. At least in my position with the Fire Department.
Chief Dean Potter, Fairfax Fire Dept.
7
« on: October 21, 2008, 06:01:19 PM »
2008 FAIRFAX FIRE DEPARTMENT CALCUTTA – WINNERS
Winner of ticket # 100 Jim Magnan
Draw # Ticket # Amount Name
1 75 $100 Lee Minor 10 60 $100 Henry Cota 20 43 $100 Riverberry Farm 30 7 $100 Peter & Karen Fitzgerald 40 26 $100 Dave & Julie Filiberti 50 2 $100 Eric & Mary Ellen Lapine 60 76 $100 Minor’s Country Store 70 1 $100 Karen & Paul Langelier 80 74 $100 Gillilan & Sons Excavating 90 17 $100 Don & Ginette Pigeon 91 13 $100 Greg & Helen Hartman 92 77 $100 Don Fleming 93 85 $100 Steve & Lynn Orton 94 62 $100 Randy & Shawn 95 100 $100 Alana Hogle 96 46 $125 Gary & Lindsey Ryan 97 15 $175 Jim Ellsworth 98 99 $200 Lucian Hayes 99 40 $300 Cambridge Fire Dept. 100 67 $1,500 Jim Magnan
Losers 1 41 $50 Paul Lavallee 2 86 $50 Pigeon & Carey 3 49 $50 Anne & Gary Pomichter 4 4 $50 Jamie Wooster
As Always thank you very much to all the people that helped use out this year. Chief Dean Potter
8
« on: October 04, 2008, 05:01:50 AM »
It looks like it will be a nice weekend to tie up some fall items. With the rising cost of fuel oil and propane I am sure there will be a lot of alternate heating units used this winter. Please follow a few easy steps so I do not have to learn where you live.
- Make sure your chimney is clean, safe and the proper type for the fuel you are using. Look in the yellow pages and find a Professional Chimney Sweep in your area.
- Make sure your stove/furnace is in good working order. A free or cheap wood stove could cost you a $250,000.00 home.
- Make sure your appliance has been installed correctly. In the owner's manual there should be diamensions for all safe set backs. ie from back of stove to wall. And what type of chimney should be used. Don't just trust the installer check these items yourself.
- Only use seasoned dry wood in your stove, it will form less creosote and give you more heat. If using a pellet or corn stove make sure you only burn the appropriate fuel source.
- Have several fire extinguishers thru out the house.
- Install, test and check batteries in your smoke and CO detectors.
-Have a fire drill at your house with all the family. Make sure everone knows several ways out of the house and where to meet once outside.
Hopefully everyone will have a safe winter
Chief Dean Potter , Fairfax Fire Dept.
9
« on: July 05, 2008, 06:57:25 AM »
I meant to get this out in the middle of the week, but have been very busy. It is that time of year again and after listening to the bangs last night here is a few words of caution. Fireworks are dangerous and a fire hazard . Keep in mind other than smoke bombs and sparklers it is illegal to set off fireworks in Vermont. Without a permit from the Fire Chief. However if you are going to set them off make sure to use care. Only adults should set them off, keep all flamable material 70-100 feet from where you are setting them off, keep a garden hose or bucket of water close by, as well as a first aid kit, wear safety glasses, use a long tipped lighter and wear leather gloves. There will be a fireworks show in Fairfax tonight July 5. The company that is doing the show Boisjoli LLC from Milton have a permit and are looking forward to giving everyone a good show. Make sure to thank the Fairfax Business Association for stepping forward and putting on this years show.
10
« on: April 17, 2008, 06:23:14 AM »
We had our first brushfire of the season yesterday. Here are a few reminders for everyone before you decide to burn. 1. You must have a burn permit from the Forest Fire Warden in Fairfax this is Duane Leach. 2. You can only burn natural products leafs, grass, trees. No painted wood, couches, mattresses 3. Watch what you are burning at all times. These fires can and will spread very quickly and will go from burning a small area to a big area or the neighbor or we have been to them that have burned the house or barn as well. 4. Keep a garden house or buckets of water near by. Just in case the fire starts to grow be ready to put it out. 5. Last if you think it is starting to get out of control. CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT get use coming early, don't wait until it has spread out of control or into your house. Fairfax Fire Dept. Chief Dean Potter
11
« on: March 01, 2008, 04:26:43 PM »
It was great today to see how much the residents of Faifax support the fire department. Article #4 was passed by a large margin with very little discussion. Thank you.
The fire officers have come up with a replacement schedule and the selectboard is working on making it happen with out effecting taxes to severe. This was the first step. I will start doing my homework and sharpening many pencils with hopes we can get a new tanker in 2009.
As always we meet at the station every Tuesday night from 7-9pm everyone is invited to come down look around and ask questions about what we do and what we have.
12
« on: February 26, 2008, 05:17:35 AM »
Article # 4 I would like to take a couple of minutes to explain this article. It is to pay off Engine # 1 that was purchased in 2004 and financed on a 10 year note. There is $80,000.00 left to be paid on this truck. The goals behind this are to clear up the loan so we can purchase a new tanker in 2009. And so that the Town can save on interest, As I understand the town would save roughly $5000.00 in interest fees if the loan is paid off this year.
We currently have three tankers in service a 1995 (retired town truck) a 1985 (retired fuel truck) and a 1983 (retired town truck) that is out of service. The tankers are the backbone of the department to be able to affectively fight fires, they bring us the water that we use. Even with the upgraded water system in the village this only covers the village and can only be used for short amounts of time. We do not want to run the water system dry. So even with a fire in the village we are looking to haul water from the closest river, brook or pond that we can find. There is six trucks in the Fire department fleet. Please find below a replacement schedule that the fire department officers have come up with. We have used a 25 year service life for all apparatus. The more the town grows the more we use the equipment and the faster it will have to be upgraded or replaced. When I started with this department back in 1994 I think we ran 40-50 calls per year. In 2006 we went on 97 emergency calls, and in 2007 that number grew to 130. In the future this equipment will have to be paid for with shorter term loans so that we are never paying for more than one piece at a time. Currently tankers cost around $180,000 to have built and Engines are more in the range of $325,000. We meet every Tuesday night for training or maintenance at the station between 7-9pm. I encourage anyone with any questions or that would like to see the equipment to stop by and talk with one of the members.
Truck Year Year Replace Engine #1 2004 2029 Engine #2 1996 2021 Utility #1 2003 2028 Tanker #1 1995 2020 Tanker #2 1985 2012 Tanker #3 1983 2009 Thank you for all the support Chief Dean Potter Fairfax Fire Department
13
« on: February 20, 2008, 08:20:14 AM »
I would like to take a couple of minutes to explain this article. It is to pay off Engine # 1 that was purchased in 2004 and financed on a 10 year note. There is $80,000.00 left to be paid on this truck. The goals behind this are to clear up the loan so we can purchase a new tanker in 2009. And so that the Town can save on interest, As I understand the town would save roughly $5000.00 in interest fees if the loan is paid off this year. We currently have three tankers in service a 1995 (retired town truck) a 1985 (retired fuel truck) and a 1983 (retired town truck) that is out of service. The tankers are the backbone of the department to be able to affectively fight fires, they bring us the water that we use. Even with the upgraded water system in the village this only covers the village and can only be used for short amounts of time. We do not want to run the water system dry. So even with a fire in the village we are looking to haul water from the closest river, brook or pond that we can find. There is six trucks in the Fire department fleet. Please find below a replacement schedule that the fire department officers have come up with. We have used a 25 year service life for all apparatus. The more the town grows the more we use the equipment and the faster it will have to be upgraded or replaced. When I started with this department back in 1994 I think we ran 40-50 calls per year. In 2006 we went on 97 emergency calls, and in 2007 that number grew to 130. In the future this equipment will have to be paid for with shorter term loans so that we are never paying for more than one piece at a time. Currently tankers cost around $180,000 to have built and Engines are more in the range of $325,000. We meet every Tuesday night for training or maintenance at the station between 7-9pm. I encourage anyone with any questions or that would like to see the equipment to stop by and talk with one of the members. Truck Year Year Replace Engine #1 2004 2029 Engine #2 1996 2021 Utility #1 2003 2028 Tanker #1 1995 2020 Tanker #2 1985 2012 Tanker #3 1983 2009 [/left] Thank you for all the support Chief Dean Potter Fairfax Fire Department
14
« on: January 18, 2008, 09:52:53 AM »
When time permits me I would like to pass on information related to the Fire dept. With Henry'y site being so open and viewed by the town. I will start here.
Cell phones are carried by everyone today and a cause for many false alarms for the Fire Dept. First thanks for being concerned and calling, however after you have made the call to 911 please take a few minutes to look into what you called in for.
Sign of smoke ( look to see if there is something burning or just someone grilling)
car accident ( is anyone hurt? is anyone even in the car? Or has the car been there overnight?)
On several occasions already this year we have driven around and around trying to find something that was called in on a cell phone. If at all possible stay in the area to help use find what you saw. As always thank you to all the people in the community for all of there support and help.
15
« on: December 17, 2007, 09:16:42 AM »
With all the snow we are getting I notice on my way to work that the Fire Hydrants in the village are getting buried. i will get some crews together and start shoveling them out this week. For anyone that has one on there front lawn it would be a huge help if you could keep it cleared out. It might (hopefully not) be your house we need to use it for. Also if you are plowing or shoveling your driveway try not to pile the snow on or around the hydrants I saw a couple that are going to be hard to find. Thanks for all of your help. Fairfax Fire
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