We've created some simple recruitment flyer/poster templates to help you do some public promotion of your want for more volunteers.
Based on the simple theme of: "Fight Fires. Save Lives. Volunteer Today!" - these marketing pieces can be used simply by printing them out in whatever size your printer can handle and hand-write, label or stamp your fire department contact info into the box provided.
Want a customized version of the poster/flyer? Contact Tiger Schmittendorf at schmitte@erie.gov or 716.681.7111 to learn more about how Erie County Emergency Services can help make your local recruitment efforts more successful.
Click our Flickr.com account to see some samples: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40216465@N03/sets/72157622813314746/
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Receive Personalized Regional Traffic and Border Crossing Information on your Mobile Device or PC
November 18, 2009
As the winter months approach, travel in the region can become more difficult. To help manage your travels through the region and across the international border, the Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition (NITTEC) is pleased to announce the availability of MYNITTEC.
MYNITTEC is a personalized subscriber system jointly developed by NITTEC and the University at Buffalo (UB) that will provide real time traveler updates directly to users computers, mobile devices and cell phones. This service is provided free of charge to assist regional travelers in improving mobility, making travel more reliable and avoiding incidents and congestion on the regional expressway network and border crossings.
Through collaboration with the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, NITTEC is providing the system to enhance traveler information in the region. "The cooperation and collaboration between UB’s Transportation Systems Engineering Laboratory and NITTEC provided a good opportunity to utilize the knowledge and skills learned at UB in working on a real-world project, while providing benefits to the community", said Shan Huang, Principal Project Developer and a Ph.D. student working with Adel Sadek, associate professor in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering at UB.
Users can register for MYNITTEC from the homepage or Crossroads map page of the NITTEC website www.nittec.org. By completing the no cost registration, users are allowed to customize the traveler information received either by email or text or both. The individual routes by direction and segment of expressway or specific border crossing can be selected to reflect the registrants travel patterns. Notifications will be received only during the particular time frames selected.
"This service has been developed to help ease your daily commute by providing information on the condition of the transportation system. We want to help drivers make decisions that reduce their time in congestion," said Tom George, Executive Director of NITTEC. "This is another example of regional transportation partners working together to improve mobility through real time information sharing."
The MYNITTEC system will notify travelers of incidents and congestion on the regional transportation system. Users can also choose to receive notifications for alternative routes to their normal travel patterns. By receiving information on multiple expressways and bridges, the user can make informed decisions on route selection as conditions change.
"The Thruway Authority believes that providing customers with targeted traveler information will enable them to better plan their trips on the within the region," said Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael R. Fleischer. "As technology continues to evolve and provide transportation officials with better real-time information, we, in turn, are able to inform customers about major unscheduled incidents that may affect their travel. That being said, it is important that everyone arrives at their destinations safely - motorists are reminded to leave extra time for travel, wear their seatbelts, and keep their attention on the roadway."
Travelers registering for this service are reminded of the restrictions on the use of mobile devices in vehicles. The system utilizes technology to improve travel in the region, but should not be used in a fashion that is illegal or would create unsafe conditions.
For additional information visit:
NITTEC - www.nittec.org
As the winter months approach, travel in the region can become more difficult. To help manage your travels through the region and across the international border, the Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition (NITTEC) is pleased to announce the availability of MYNITTEC.
MYNITTEC is a personalized subscriber system jointly developed by NITTEC and the University at Buffalo (UB) that will provide real time traveler updates directly to users computers, mobile devices and cell phones. This service is provided free of charge to assist regional travelers in improving mobility, making travel more reliable and avoiding incidents and congestion on the regional expressway network and border crossings.
Through collaboration with the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, NITTEC is providing the system to enhance traveler information in the region. "The cooperation and collaboration between UB’s Transportation Systems Engineering Laboratory and NITTEC provided a good opportunity to utilize the knowledge and skills learned at UB in working on a real-world project, while providing benefits to the community", said Shan Huang, Principal Project Developer and a Ph.D. student working with Adel Sadek, associate professor in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering at UB.
Users can register for MYNITTEC from the homepage or Crossroads map page of the NITTEC website www.nittec.org. By completing the no cost registration, users are allowed to customize the traveler information received either by email or text or both. The individual routes by direction and segment of expressway or specific border crossing can be selected to reflect the registrants travel patterns. Notifications will be received only during the particular time frames selected.
"This service has been developed to help ease your daily commute by providing information on the condition of the transportation system. We want to help drivers make decisions that reduce their time in congestion," said Tom George, Executive Director of NITTEC. "This is another example of regional transportation partners working together to improve mobility through real time information sharing."
The MYNITTEC system will notify travelers of incidents and congestion on the regional transportation system. Users can also choose to receive notifications for alternative routes to their normal travel patterns. By receiving information on multiple expressways and bridges, the user can make informed decisions on route selection as conditions change.
"The Thruway Authority believes that providing customers with targeted traveler information will enable them to better plan their trips on the within the region," said Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael R. Fleischer. "As technology continues to evolve and provide transportation officials with better real-time information, we, in turn, are able to inform customers about major unscheduled incidents that may affect their travel. That being said, it is important that everyone arrives at their destinations safely - motorists are reminded to leave extra time for travel, wear their seatbelts, and keep their attention on the roadway."
Travelers registering for this service are reminded of the restrictions on the use of mobile devices in vehicles. The system utilizes technology to improve travel in the region, but should not be used in a fashion that is illegal or would create unsafe conditions.
For additional information visit:
NITTEC - www.nittec.org
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Vigilant Guard Exercise Underway
THIS IS AN EXERCISE!!!The Vigilant Guard exercise that simulates a significant earthquake in Erie County and Western New York got underway early Monday morning, November 2, 2009.
Our entire Emergency Services team is involved in coordinating and participating in this week-long scenario that involves National Guard troops from across the northeast and first responders from around the world.
An Emergency Operations Center has been established at the Erie County Emergency Services Training & Operations Center in Cheektowaga NY with more than 100 emergency management personnel converging to handle the made-up disaster. A "Sim-Cell" constantly injects realistic problems into the scenario, allowing the role players to exercise their skills and come up with creative solutions to the challenges they're presented.
The exercise includes training venues in Erie and Niagara Counties including the cities of Buffalo, Lockport and Tonawanda.
A simulated rubble pile was engineered and created in less than three weeks at the Spaulding Fiber site on Wheeler Street in Tonawanda. The pile includes huge chunks of concrete as well as other debris including crushed cars and medical equipment. Rescuers burrow threw the debris looking for simulated victims, some digging in as far as 35 ft. from the outside perimeter of the pile. A separate smaller pile allows rescuers to locate and retrieve live victims.
More than 400 responders and guardsmen worked the rubble pile on Tuesday. Firefighters and USAR (Urban Search & Rescue) Specialists from across New York State, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Alaska, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina and Massachusetts are heavily engaged, receiving experience and training that is unparalleled. International partners have come from Canada, Denmark and the UK for the week - sharing their experiences and taking home an invaluable exchange of information.
The scene is rich with the brotherhood of the fire service and the emergency services community with first responders from all disciplines and locales enjoying creating new friendships and revisiting old ones.
We've uploaded Monday's photos from the pile to our Flickr.com account at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40216465@N03/collections/72157622601194813/
And, our ESU Facebook page has been updated as well:
Stay tuned here and to these pages for frequent updates from the field and the EOC.
VIGILANT GUARD EXERCISE IN THE NEWS:
National Guard Vigilant Guard Site and Journal
Tonawanda News
WIVB-TV Channel 4
WNY ShutterBug
THIS IS AN EXERCISE!!!
Monday, October 26, 2009
PLEASE HELP A GOWANDA VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER
The members of the Gowanda Volunteer Fire Department and other area organizations have teamed up to hold a pop can - bottle drive benefit on October 31, 2009 from 9am-1pm. The pop can drive is being held to help offset the costs of medical treatments for Louis LaBelle, who is a 16 year old member of the Gowanda Volunteer Fire Department and a student in 11th grade at Gowanda Central.
Louis was just recently diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. He has been in Children’s Hospital and is starting medical treatment at Roswell. Louis was a member of the Collins Fire Company as a junior firefighter since the age of 12 and most recently joined the Gowanda Volunteer Fire Department as a full fledge fireman last year at the age of 16.
Louis has been very active in this community as a firefighter and in school. During the flood, Louis was faithfully at the hall everyday and evening giving a helping hand to the community. We are asking you as a community to help us help one of our own firefighters and his parents in making this long journey ahead of them less painful.
The members of the department and other concerned and caring community members will be assisting us in doing a door - door pop can drive on October 31, 2009. Anyone willing to donate any pop cans or bottles at all will be greatly appreciated. Anyone wanting to drop off pop cans or bottles may do so, the day of the drive at the fire hall on Aldrich Street.
There is also another benefit planned on January 9, 2010 at our fire hall with more details to follow. We truly appreciate the community support. As we said before, Gowanda is truly a town of caring neighbors and a close knit community.
Thank You,
Steve Raiport,
Fire Chief, Gowanda FD
Louis was just recently diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. He has been in Children’s Hospital and is starting medical treatment at Roswell. Louis was a member of the Collins Fire Company as a junior firefighter since the age of 12 and most recently joined the Gowanda Volunteer Fire Department as a full fledge fireman last year at the age of 16.
Louis has been very active in this community as a firefighter and in school. During the flood, Louis was faithfully at the hall everyday and evening giving a helping hand to the community. We are asking you as a community to help us help one of our own firefighters and his parents in making this long journey ahead of them less painful.
The members of the department and other concerned and caring community members will be assisting us in doing a door - door pop can drive on October 31, 2009. Anyone willing to donate any pop cans or bottles at all will be greatly appreciated. Anyone wanting to drop off pop cans or bottles may do so, the day of the drive at the fire hall on Aldrich Street.
There is also another benefit planned on January 9, 2010 at our fire hall with more details to follow. We truly appreciate the community support. As we said before, Gowanda is truly a town of caring neighbors and a close knit community.
Thank You,
Steve Raiport,
Fire Chief, Gowanda FD
Monday, September 14, 2009
URGENT: New Fall Training Courses Announced
URGENT: New Fall Training Courses Announced
The Fall Training Schedule has been uploaded to www.erie.gov/fire with eight (8) new courses added.These course represent the balance of the remaining state fire instructor hours allocated to Erie County unt...il March 31, 2010. We have course requests on file that represent more than 1,500 state fire instructor hours that will go unfulfilled unless we receive more training hours from NYS OFPC. If you do not feel that this situation satisfies the training needs of your fire department and our fire service at large, we encourage you to contact your state representatives.
To maximize the efficiency of all remaining instructor hours, all courses are at risk of not running as scheduled unless the maximum number of allowable students are registered for the respective course.
Please note the following about these courses:
1R09002 Scene Support Operations: STARTS NEXT MONDAY 9/21 at the Training & Operations Center. This course will not run as scheduled unless full with at least 20 students. This course will run on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays for 3 weeks.
1S09008 Firefighter 1: Will run double-sessions on Saturdays at the Training & Operations Center. As this may be the last Firefighter 1 course we run until next spring and in fairness to all fire departments, registration will be limited to 2-3 students per fire department depending on the number of applications received. Chief officers are encouraged to prioritize the applications they submit by placing a circled number in the lower right hand corner of the application, with 1 being the highest priority.Please download, print and share the attached Firefighter 1 Student Packet with all interested recruits and chief officers.
1T09002 Firefighter 2: As this may be the last Firefighter 2 course we run until next spring and in fairness to all fire departments, registration will be limited to 2-3 students per fire department depending on the number of applications received. Chief officers are encouraged to prioritize the applications they submit by placing a circled number in the lower right hand corner of the application, with 1 being the highest priority.
1Y09002 Apparatus Operator-EVOC: Runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Some Saturdays at Alden- 10/6, 8, 13, 15, SAT-10/17 2X (double-session)
7809003 Apparatus Operator-Pump: Is expected to run Tuesdays, Thursdays and Some Saturdays at Alden following the EVOC course#1Y09002. Exact dates to be determined. Registrations will be accepted now. Preference will be given to those registering for the EVOC course at the same time.
1Y09003 Apparatus Operator-EVOC: Runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Some Saturdays at Orchard Park - 10/6, 8, 13, SAT-10/17 3X (triple-session)
7809004 Apparatus Operator-Pump: Runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Some Saturdays at Orchard Park following the EVOC course#1Y09003 - 10/20, 22, SAT-24 (2X), 27, 29, SAT-31 (2X). Registrations will be accepted now. Preference will be given to those registering for the EVOC course at the same time.
7809002 Apparatus Operator-Pump: Runs Tuesdays and Thursdays at Mortons Corners. Please not the following details about the EVOC and Pump courses:
NYS OFPC Course Descriptions & Details: Apparatus Operator Courses
1Y - Apparatus Operator - Emergency Vehicle Operation (01-05-0004)Provides vehicle operators with a better understanding of the seriousness of emergency vehicle operation. Based on objectives from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1002 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator, Chapter 2, this course stimulates the thought processes to make students aware of the potential for tragedy and financial loss and of the legal and moral responsibilities encountered when operating an emergency vehicle.
Note: Apparatus Operator Emergency Vehicle Operations equivalents are EVOC Courses offeredby VFIS Insurance, ESIP Insurance, or Utica National Insurance. Train the Trainers are not accepted as equivalent.
Designed For: Fire service personnel
Course Length: 18 hours
Prerequisite: Scene Support Operations and a valid driver's license
78 - Apparatus Operator – Pump (01-05-0005) Offers knowledge and skills essential to pump operation. Based on objectives from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator, Chapter 3, this course includes responsibilities of pump operators, hydraulics and friction loss, pump controls and accessories, fire streams, pumper practices, pumping from draft and pump evolutions, and using the fire pump at the fire hydrant. Demonstrations and practice sessions are included.
Designed For: Fire service personnel
Course Length: 24 hours
Prerequisites: Apparatus Operator - Emergency Vehicle Operation (01-05-0004) and Scene Support Operations or equivalent
NYS Certification Level: Firefighter Recruit I, Fire Instructor I
National Certification Level: Fire Service Instructor I
College Credit: Yes
38 - Water Supply Operations (01-05-0047) Offers firefighters with information and skills in determining water supply requirements for firefighting purposes and water delivery methods. Demonstrations and practice sessions are included.
Designed For: Fire service personnel
Course Length: 18 hours
Prerequisites: Apparatus Operator - Pump (01-05-0005) and Scene Support Operations or equivalent
79 - Apparatus Operator - Aerial Device (01-05-0003) Designed to follow the NFPA 1002 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications, provides the student with knowledge necessary to operate, inspect and maintain aerial devices. Course content includes emergency vehicle operations review, classification and typing, vehicle inspection, operation of various types of aerial devices including platforms and ladders, proper location of placement and setup at an incident including driving, spotting and stabilizing. Fire departments must possess an aerial device to offer this program enabling students to fully operate this device.
Designed For: Fire service personnel
Course Length: 24 hours
Prerequisites: Truck Company Operations (01-05-0046) or Ladder Company Operations (01-05-0029) andApparatus Operator - Emergency Vehicle Operation (01-05-0004) or equivalent
Source: http://www.dos.state.ny.us/fire/residential.html - As of: 09/14/09
Check http://www.dos.state.ny.us/fire/residential.html for all other pre-requisites and other information regarding this training.
The Fall Training Schedule has been uploaded to www.erie.gov/fire with eight (8) new courses added.These course represent the balance of the remaining state fire instructor hours allocated to Erie County unt...il March 31, 2010. We have course requests on file that represent more than 1,500 state fire instructor hours that will go unfulfilled unless we receive more training hours from NYS OFPC. If you do not feel that this situation satisfies the training needs of your fire department and our fire service at large, we encourage you to contact your state representatives.
To maximize the efficiency of all remaining instructor hours, all courses are at risk of not running as scheduled unless the maximum number of allowable students are registered for the respective course.
Please note the following about these courses:
1R09002 Scene Support Operations: STARTS NEXT MONDAY 9/21 at the Training & Operations Center. This course will not run as scheduled unless full with at least 20 students. This course will run on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays for 3 weeks.
1S09008 Firefighter 1: Will run double-sessions on Saturdays at the Training & Operations Center. As this may be the last Firefighter 1 course we run until next spring and in fairness to all fire departments, registration will be limited to 2-3 students per fire department depending on the number of applications received. Chief officers are encouraged to prioritize the applications they submit by placing a circled number in the lower right hand corner of the application, with 1 being the highest priority.Please download, print and share the attached Firefighter 1 Student Packet with all interested recruits and chief officers.
1T09002 Firefighter 2: As this may be the last Firefighter 2 course we run until next spring and in fairness to all fire departments, registration will be limited to 2-3 students per fire department depending on the number of applications received. Chief officers are encouraged to prioritize the applications they submit by placing a circled number in the lower right hand corner of the application, with 1 being the highest priority.
1Y09002 Apparatus Operator-EVOC: Runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Some Saturdays at Alden- 10/6, 8, 13, 15, SAT-10/17 2X (double-session)
7809003 Apparatus Operator-Pump: Is expected to run Tuesdays, Thursdays and Some Saturdays at Alden following the EVOC course#1Y09002. Exact dates to be determined. Registrations will be accepted now. Preference will be given to those registering for the EVOC course at the same time.
1Y09003 Apparatus Operator-EVOC: Runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Some Saturdays at Orchard Park - 10/6, 8, 13, SAT-10/17 3X (triple-session)
7809004 Apparatus Operator-Pump: Runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Some Saturdays at Orchard Park following the EVOC course#1Y09003 - 10/20, 22, SAT-24 (2X), 27, 29, SAT-31 (2X). Registrations will be accepted now. Preference will be given to those registering for the EVOC course at the same time.
7809002 Apparatus Operator-Pump: Runs Tuesdays and Thursdays at Mortons Corners. Please not the following details about the EVOC and Pump courses:
NYS OFPC Course Descriptions & Details: Apparatus Operator Courses
1Y - Apparatus Operator - Emergency Vehicle Operation (01-05-0004)Provides vehicle operators with a better understanding of the seriousness of emergency vehicle operation. Based on objectives from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1002 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator, Chapter 2, this course stimulates the thought processes to make students aware of the potential for tragedy and financial loss and of the legal and moral responsibilities encountered when operating an emergency vehicle.
Note: Apparatus Operator Emergency Vehicle Operations equivalents are EVOC Courses offeredby VFIS Insurance, ESIP Insurance, or Utica National Insurance. Train the Trainers are not accepted as equivalent.
Designed For: Fire service personnel
Course Length: 18 hours
Prerequisite: Scene Support Operations and a valid driver's license
78 - Apparatus Operator – Pump (01-05-0005) Offers knowledge and skills essential to pump operation. Based on objectives from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator, Chapter 3, this course includes responsibilities of pump operators, hydraulics and friction loss, pump controls and accessories, fire streams, pumper practices, pumping from draft and pump evolutions, and using the fire pump at the fire hydrant. Demonstrations and practice sessions are included.
Designed For: Fire service personnel
Course Length: 24 hours
Prerequisites: Apparatus Operator - Emergency Vehicle Operation (01-05-0004) and Scene Support Operations or equivalent
NYS Certification Level: Firefighter Recruit I, Fire Instructor I
National Certification Level: Fire Service Instructor I
College Credit: Yes
38 - Water Supply Operations (01-05-0047) Offers firefighters with information and skills in determining water supply requirements for firefighting purposes and water delivery methods. Demonstrations and practice sessions are included.
Designed For: Fire service personnel
Course Length: 18 hours
Prerequisites: Apparatus Operator - Pump (01-05-0005) and Scene Support Operations or equivalent
79 - Apparatus Operator - Aerial Device (01-05-0003) Designed to follow the NFPA 1002 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications, provides the student with knowledge necessary to operate, inspect and maintain aerial devices. Course content includes emergency vehicle operations review, classification and typing, vehicle inspection, operation of various types of aerial devices including platforms and ladders, proper location of placement and setup at an incident including driving, spotting and stabilizing. Fire departments must possess an aerial device to offer this program enabling students to fully operate this device.
Designed For: Fire service personnel
Course Length: 24 hours
Prerequisites: Truck Company Operations (01-05-0046) or Ladder Company Operations (01-05-0029) andApparatus Operator - Emergency Vehicle Operation (01-05-0004) or equivalent
Source: http://www.dos.state.ny.us/fire/residential.html - As of: 09/14/09
Check http://www.dos.state.ny.us/fire/residential.html for all other pre-requisites and other information regarding this training.
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