MCVFA - Smoke Showing Article
Hinsdale Live Burn – June 1, 2008
Beginning in April many HFD members spent several Tuesday evenings doing training on ladders, hose lines, portable pump deployment, roof ventilation, search and rescue, positive pressure attacks, SCBA, and survival breeching techniques preparing for today’s live burn. The day began about 8am and continued through about 5pm. Mother Nature cooperated beautifully, not to hot and lots of sun. I have not been an active FF or EMS volunteer since the early 80’s in Northern Vermont, so today was going to be quite exciting for me.
I was eager to see the number of volunteer departments who would be participating and it was nothing short of amazing! Peru, Becket, Lee, Middlefield, Worthington, Dalton, and Hinsdale, were all represented; arriving with great enthusiasm for the days training. Chief Larry Turner emphasized safety was priority one and there would be no ‘Maydays’ or simulated rescues. Any of these announced would be REAL! Steve Deloye was on hand as Instructor for Mass Fire Service of Berkshire County chapter and some departments used there own safety officers for a multitude of exercises and monitoring. Many scenarios were played out from the evolution of fire in a controlled atmosphere, to positive pressure attacks, along with roof ventilation and interior attacks. The HFD air light rehab truck was the key in re-filling air bottles and provided much needed monitoring of many FF by way of the HFD EMS personnel. Several HFD and other VFD members took great pains by using foam to preserve a closely growing tall pine tree and an adjacent exposure that is occupied.
About 11:30 was final call last practice, and then onto lunch .We (the VFD, media people and EMS) are very grateful to the DFD grill and the multitude of food and beverages provided by many VFD’s. I dare say nobody went hungry or thirsty.
At 12:30 the building was set on fire. I was assisting HFD LT. Proctor filling tankers so I cannot report on the actual burning. I did see a huge volume of smoke and a plane circling above; presumably taking photos. I am told the time from ignition to complete burning was about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Many thanks go to HPD Officers Daniels and Maloney for the excellent traffic and crowd control. Close to one hundred spectators stopped by throughout the day. Many of them commented on the level of professionalism, respect shown to each other and the high level of organization for such a project.
Many departments filmed the entire training day. DFD member Cachet filmed the whole day and will be having a DVD available soon. Ed Harvey of Fire Service Photography.com did a wonderful job inside and out, and has a video available.
By all reports, today was the most true-to-life and beneficial hands on- training many of us have had. Nothing beats live, supervised, controlled, safe training. Many thanks go to all the department chiefs for planning this; especially HFD Chief Larry Turner. We also extend a big thanks to property owner Mike Viner for giving us this opportunity to learn.
Submitted by Don Campbell HFD
Hinsdale Fire Department Muster Team
11th Annual Block Dance July 18, 2009 5pm – Midnight
Neighborhood Parking
May 7, 2009
Dear Homeowner:
Due to the continued success of our annual Block Dance, it has become necessary to address the issue of parking in our town. As many of you are fully aware during the night of the Block Dance the streets are full of cars making travel somewhat difficult. We on the Fire Dept. Muster Team are aware of the problem and we are trying to address this situation. Parking in our town is very limited (currently we use the school parking lot, Dufour Tours, The Homeclub, Post Office, the Athletic Field, along with one sided street parking), yet we still have a need for more parking and that is where you come in.
This year we are going to allow homeowners to park cars in their yard and those homeowners who do will be allowed to charge a fee for each car they park.
The following are a list of guidelines that should be followed in regards to having cars park in your yard.
1. The homeowner assumes all responsibility for those who park in their yard and any damage that may occur to cars or property.
2. The homeowner will have someone at the residence during the hours of the Block Dance to help park vehicles and to see an orderly departure of those vehicles.
3. The homeowner will provide appropriate signage with a stated price to the customers.
4. No one will be allowed to stand in the street to flag down customers. The homeowner may be on their property to illicit customers.
5. Persons working the parking should wear some sort of reflective or bright clothing, especially after dark to ensure that they are visible.
6. There will be no alcoholic beverages consumed by those people parking in your yard before, during, or after the Block Dance.
7. The homeowner will hold harmless the Hinsdale Fire Dept, Hinsdale Firemen’s Association, Hinsdale Muster Team, Town of Hinsdale and any agent who is hired or volunteers for the Block Dance.
Through the continued efforts of the Town Select Board, Police Department and the Fire Department we have come up with this plan and with the help of you, our valued citizens, so we can continue to make the Block Dance one of the summer’s safest and best events our town has to offer.
If you have any questions feel free to contact me at 413-655-8084 or by email at steve_1958@yahoo.com
We thank you in advance for supporting our worthy cause.
Stephen Suriner
Muster Chairman / Lt. Hinsdale Fire Dept
Ps: If you are going to participate in this endeavor, I would like you to give me a call so that I can get a count on approximately how many cars you think you can hold on your property. Thanks again and let’s have another great night in our town!!
