We hope everyone enjoyed the annual Halloween party. We certainly saw a lot of “new” faces this year. Thank you to Estey Hardware who sponsored this years party; the 4-H’ers for carving the pumpkins; everyone who helped get the station ready, assisted with the games and refreshments and helped clean up after. 

Do you have a fire hydrant on/near your property? Please help us save time in an emergency. After the storm and the roads have been cleared, please take a few minutes to clear a path to and around the hydrant. This small task will save firefighters valuable time in the event of an emergency.

During the year, department members train in numerous aspects of medical and firefighting duties. Whether it is extricating a victim from a mock crash; practicing search and rescue in a building; or keeping current with response and safety guidelines, Firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s) spend a lot of time training. For EMT’s the culmination is taking a re-certification exam every two years.

 

Firefighters put some of the skills together once a year during a Fitness Training. This training is required for all interior certified firefighters. The purpose of the test is to be sure interior firefighters are able to carry out the duties required of them on a fireground.

 

Firefighters put on full protective gear and don a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus. The Firefighter then goes through a course which simulates activities found on a fire ground. The course starts with carrying a ladder from the engine to a building, positioning the ladder against the building, and climbing to the top. The next activity is twenty-five swings of a sledge hammer against a log; goes over near the engine and drags a charged hose line fifty feet; opening the nozzle to flow water and knock down a target; and finally over to a training dummy which is dragged approximately 100 ft. The entire course is to be completed in less than four minutes. 

The Hinesburg Fire Department would like to thank the residents of Hinesburg and St. George who purchased a 911 sign and made our fundraiser a great success. With the help of Tom Brown from Safety Street Signs, just over four hundred signs were sold and installed in the towns of Hinesburg and St. George. Through these purchases, the Hinesburg Fire Dept. received approximately $1000 in fundraiser proceeds. 

The real benefit is the scores of homes that are now appropriately marked with visible address signs, making identification fast and easy in the event of an emergency. Although Tom Brown will no longer be in town making and installing signs, they are still available for purchase through the Hinesburg Fire Dept. The cost remains $25 and includes installation by a department member. To purchase a sign please contact Jeremy Steele at 482-3898 or email jsteelman1979@yahoo.com 

 

The Hinesburg Fire Dept. would like to thank those of you who have helped support our Department. through your generous and thoughtful donations. Your support is sincerely appreciated.