Catoosa Fire Department

2009-10-17T21:04:00.002-06:00

MVC on Pine Street, Dump Truck off the old turnpike bridge.

Truck vs House

2009-06-25T08:16:00.006-06:00

Truck vs House, minor injury's no transport.

Tanks on Tiger Switch Road

2009-06-01T09:12:00.003-06:00

I saw the USA's military might on Tiger Switch Road last week, impressive.

Womack To Name New Fire Chief

2009-01-16T08:35:00.001-06:00

Last updated Thursday, January 15, 2009 9:41 PM CST in News

By John Henley Jr.
THE MORNING NEWS

ROGERS -- Mayor Steve Womack is expected to introduce a new fire chief today.

The news conference will take place at 10 a.m. in the City Council chambers at Rogers City Hall.

Thomas C. Jenkins, 27, a deputy fire chief with the Sand Springs, Okla., Fire Department, confirmed Thursday he will be the new chief of the Rogers Fire Department.

Womack on Thursday would neither confirm nor deny whether Jenkins would be the new fire chief.

Jenkins said he and his wife, Erin, will travel to Rogers on Friday to be introduced by Womack. Jenkins said he accepted the position at the Rogers Fire Department because of the progressive city leadership, economic vitality of the area, and most of all because of the Rogers Fire Department and the Rogers firefighters he's met.

"Their work ethic, discipline, knowledge and experience is outstanding," Jenkins said. "I'm honored to be a part of the city, but I'm even more honored to be chosen to lead the Rogers Fire Department."

Allan Skogen has served as the interim chief since Womack removed former Chief Alan Bradrick from duty Dec. 31.

Skogen would not confirm Jenkins was the new chief but said he has visited with Jenkins several times in the past couple of weeks.

"He would be a very good fit for this department," Skogen said. "He'd be one of those guys that would come in and just hit the ground running."

Skogen said Jenkins met with the department's command staff and several other firefighters during his visits.

Jenkins has been with the Sand Springs department for almost five years, all of them as deputy chief. Jenkins was named Sand Springs employee of the year in December.

The Sand Springs department serves a population of about 40,000 people and covers a 64-square-mile area, according to the Sand Springs' Web site.

Jenkins started his firefighting career when he was 16 years old as a volunteer with the Rolling Hills and Oak Grove Fire District in Catoosa, Okla.

While at that department, Jenkins worked his way up to deputy chief before leaving to become deputy chief at the Sand Springs department.

Jenkins received his bachelor's degree in fire protection and safety engineering in 2004 from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. In 2007, Jenkins graduated from the executive fire officer program at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md.

Jenkins received his master's degree in public administration in 2008 from the University of Oklahoma in Norman.

THE MORNING NEWS

http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2009/01/15/news/011609rzfirechief.txt

Grass Fire

2008-12-29T10:39:00.003-06:00

Catoosa responded to a fire off the tiger switch rail line just East of
145th East Ave.
The fire spread to the Lafarge Property and was extinguished by the
department at about 1:40 PM Friday December 26th.
Picture and Comments provided by LaFarge...CF

Congrats to Tom

2008-12-24T21:26:00.002-06:00

Deputy Fire Chief Wins Employee Award

Dec 22, 2008 2:59 PM

Sand Springs (Okla.) Fire Department Deputy Chief Tom Jenkins was named the city's employee of the year. Jenkins has been on the department since 2004.

According to the Tulsa World, won the award in part for his efforts to help integrate police and fire communications with that of other city departments. He also oversaw renovations at the emergency communications center.

"Deputy Chief Jenkins brings his 'A' game to work every day," Chief Mark Joslin told the paper. "His enthusiasm for his job is contagious. He is well-liked and well-respected."

firechief.com

Tulsa's new 911 Center

2008-12-18T10:51:00.001-06:00

By ALTHEA PETERSON World Staff Writer
Published: 12/16/2008 12:14 PM
Last Modified: 12/16/2008 12:18 PM

Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor and local emergency personnel were among the guests at the dedication of Tulsa's new 911 Center Tuesday morning.

The center, located at 801 E. Oklahoma St. in Lansing Business Park II, replaces the old center previously located adjacent to the former city hall building on Civic Center Plaza. A Homeland Security grant and 911 fees on phone bills funded the $9.3 million construction cost.

"This truly is a team effort for building and operating this center," Taylor said.

The 911 Center will host fire, police and EMSA dispatch for Tulsa and surrounding communities, including Catoosa, Sperry, Berryhill and Oak Grove.
tulsaworld.com

Oil Spill at the Port of Catoosa

2008-11-21T10:10:00.002-06:00

We ran a call with Tulsa E-31 to the Port of Catoosa, a semi flatbed trailer lost his load on the roadway.
It appeared to be a CAT motor and it dumped approximately 40 gallons of motor oil on the road that found its way in to the storm water drain. Rogers County DEQ was call to the scene as well as a remediation company. CF

Hybrid Car Responce

2008-11-06T00:42:00.002-06:00

Catoosa Fire in class learning about Hybrid Cars and how to handle them in emergencies. Also in attendance was Rolling Hills FD and Oak Grove FD.

No Radiation Leak In Fire

2008-11-02T17:35:00.001-06:00

News On 6

TULSA, OK -- A fire broke out Monday morning at the Lafarge Rock Crushing Plant in Rogers County. There was initial concern that the firefighters who responded to the blaze at 2609 North 145th East Avenue may have been exposed to a radioactive material used at the plant.

That's because the radioactive element is protected by a lead box that had been exposed to the flames. But, after a complete inspection, plant managers were able to confirm that the dangerous materials hadn't leaked around the plant.

"We have a radiation safety officer, so he's trained on these materials. He went up to the source. He has his indicator, checked out the area, the source is still intact. So nobody was exposed," said plant manager Jim Bachman.

Fire officials say the fire started because of a mechanical failure on the conveyer belt used to make cement.

Were Hiring Full Time

2008-06-23T11:58:00.002-06:00

Were Hiring Full Time, so pickup your application package at Catoosa City Hall Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:40pm...CF

2007 SAFER Grant

2008-04-11T10:04:00.003-06:00

Catoosa Fire Department was awarded the SAFER Grant totaling $159,405 on 4/11/2008 - Round 12, This grant will provide 2 Full Time Firefighters.
http://www.firegrantsupport.com/safer/awards/07/

House Fire

2008-04-10T10:25:00.001-06:00

03/11/2008, 11:00pm. A House Fire on Lacy Street. First arriving company placing hand lines for fire attack.
Mutual Aid from Rolling Hills FPD and Oak Grove FPD.

House Fire

2008-04-10T10:10:00.002-06:00

02/09/2008, 5:00am. A fully involved Vacant House Fire on Lacy Street. The first arriving unit was Engine-1 you can see Lt. Kirk, and Firefighter R. Miller placing a hand line to protect an exposure and waiting for help to arrive.
Mutual Aid from Rolling Hills FPD and Oak Grove FPD.

Overnight Fire Destroys Business

2008-03-14T18:43:00.003-06:00

A raging fire wrecked a Catoosa factory on Wednesday night. It happened in a busy industrial park just east of Tulsa. The News On 6's Steve Berg reports it was a huge fire and Catoosa firefighters say it's a prime reason why they need more people.

Joe Bushyhead has been a delivery man for Fiber Pad for the past three years, but with the fire, he's temporarily out of work.

"Come to work every day, building's here. Everybody shows up, building's laying on the ground," said Bushyhead. "It's gone."

And it could have been worse.

Fiber Pad splits its work between two factories, manufacturing customized plastics that burn extremely hot and the fear was the fire would get the second building.

"Just because it was such a large fire. I was very concerned with the surrounding property being damaged. But they were able to keep it under control," said Fiber Pad owner Don Law.

Don Law had high praise for the Catoosa Fire Department, which, as we reported more than a year-and-a-half ago, has just three full-time firefighters.

Catoosa firefighter Jason Rogers says that hasn't changed.

"I think everybody understands that and realizes the need for more manpower," said Rogers. "As well as the equipment that we need."

Rogers says the biggest help from Tulsa came from their ladder truck.

"We had to get up high on the building, so we used their truck, and their truck helped us tremendously," said Rogers.

Rogers says they respond to hundreds more calls than other towns their size.

In fact they had to cut their interview short with The News On 6 because they had to respond to a call.

Rogers says there has been more talk about increasing the size of the department. And he's hopeful that will happen soon.
The News On 6
http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?s=8009250

Our New Brush Truck's Story

2008-02-26T14:32:00.003-06:00

2008 Fire Season

2008-02-26T14:02:00.000-06:00

Cherokee Nation Rural Fire Donation

2008-02-15T14:09:00.001-06:00

February 14, 2008 - High winds and dry conditions in Green Country today and we're seeing more brush fires.

Firefighters had to put out a 40-acre fire near Broken Arrow earlier today and 41st Street was briefly shut down because of the smoke.

Another fire happened near Harvard and the Broken Arrow Expressway. Firefighters say this one could've possibly started when someone flicked their cigarette out the window.

The good news though for rural fire departments is that the Cherokee Nation, just today, gave $300,000 to 115 firehouses. Firefighters say the timing couldn't have been any better.

Hours after a brush fire was put out in Sapulpa today, smoke still rises from the charred grass.

“The wind just picked it up and took it everywhere.” Eric Hawkinson was doing work at a house when the blaze ignited. “Saw the smoke, and the smoke filled all the sky… that happened within seconds.”

And within minutes, Eric says the Sapulpa Fire Department arrived, “then when they saw that it jumped the road, they immediately went over there and took care of that guys yard.”

As quickly as it started, firefighters had it out.

Today, the Cherokee Nation presented a check for $300,000 to help the rural fire houses.

Many of these firefighters are volunteers working at stations with very little cash flow.

“Many of our guys drive their own vehicles, donate their own time to work on trucks, to do different projects, they go to classes, they donate a lot of time for that”, said Chief Denus Benton with the Catoosa Fire Department.

The Catoosa station got about $2,400 dollars to buy more protective gear for two firefighters. “The most important thing is to keep our firefighters safe, they’re out here to protect the public.”

Firefighters say you have to be extremely careful in these conditions not to cause a fire. First, don't throw cigarettes outside. Also, they suggest parking in a driveway or on the street, not over dry brush. And make sure your lawn is debris free by mowing your lawn and raking your leaves frequently.

Governor Brad Henry is asking Green Country not to burn any brush when winds are more than 15-miles per hour.

Car Fire

2008-02-08T13:44:00.001-06:00

01-27-2008 Car Fire outside the Little Reasor's Car Wash. Catoosa Engine-1 on the assignment ...CF

I'm Back

2008-02-08T13:42:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the long down time, I will try harder to keep this page updated this year...CF

This is Funny

2007-09-03T16:21:00.001-06:00

Update...

2007-08-06T07:32:00.000-06:00

Hall charged with murder
CNHI News Service

Rogers County First District Attorney Ray Hassleman filed first-degree murder charges last week against Shawn Hall, 21, of Broken Arrow in the death of a Pryor teenager.

If convicted, Hall could receive life imprisonment, life without parole or the death sentence.

He was taken into custody and placed into Rogers County Jail less than two weeks ago on a probable cause affidavit, in connection with 18-year-old Aaron Anderson’s death in July.

Anderson was killed on July 23 while he was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Hall.

According to an earlier OHP report, Hall was traveling north on 145th East Ave., just west of Catoosa, at a “high rate of speed,” with a Broken Arrow Police Department officer in pursuit.

Hall crossed over railroad tracks, lost control of his vehicle, and struck a utility pole at the front right side passenger door. He was not injured, but Anderson later died from injuries he received in the collision.

Another passenger in the vehicle, 20-year-old Aaron Welch of Tulsa, received minor injuries.

KOTV - 7/23/2007 6:12 AM - Updated 7/23/2007 7:07 AM

A high speed police around east Tulsa ends with a crash and two people transported by helicopter to a Tulsa hospital.

It started about 3:45 a.m. Monday, when a Broken Arrow Police officer tried to make a traffic stop for speeding. The chase ended a few minutes later when driver lost control while traveling over some railroad tracks and the car slammed into a power pole near Pine and North 145th East Avenue.

Police say three men were in the car, two passengers went to the hospital. The driver was arrested and taken to the Tulsa County jail.

Mobile Home Fire

2007-08-01T14:02:00.000-06:00

Catoosa Fire Department responded to a mobile home on fire with the assistance of Rolling Hills FPD and Oak Grove FPD. No one was home at the time of the fire.

MVC at the Port of Catoosa

2007-08-01T13:50:00.000-06:00

Catoosa Fire Department along with Tulsa Fire, responded to an MVC with a power line down. On our arrival we found no injury's and a power pole that had been broken and hanging by the high lines. we stood by until PSO and OHP arrived.CF

Assisting PD with a Suspected Meth-Lab

2007-08-01T13:36:00.000-06:00

Catoosa Fire Department assisted Catoosa Police Department with ventalating a suspected Meth-Lab on July 24th. We ventilated the house with our PPV and stood by until they had completed most of there investigation.CF

Rudy's 9/11 Failures of Leadership Exposed by Fire Fighters

2007-07-12T10:12:00.001-06:00

This is interesting...

MVC on I-44 West Bound

2007-07-12T09:15:00.000-06:00

Non-injury MVC on I-44; it took two semi tow trucks to get it out of the mud...

2007-07-12T08:44:00.000-06:00

FireRescue1 Member Comment of the Week

"To those of you who believe in traditions 'never dying' and suffer from the "we have always done it this way" syndrome. Are you riding on an enclosed engine with a 1500gpm pump or an old open cab engine with 4-6 men hanging on the tail boards? Tradition is a good thing but progressive change will save more lives. If you don't agree then just hop on your old horse-drawn engine and eat some smoke."

Posted in response to:
'Old school tactics' questioned after Charleston, S.C., FireRescue1 Forums

RV Fire on the Turnpike

2007-07-02T09:36:00.000-06:00

Catoosa Fire and Verdigris FPD working an RV fire on the Will Rogers Turnpike...

New Dump Tank

2007-07-02T09:27:00.000-06:00

We received our new 2000 Gallon Dump Tank and here are the guys training with it.

It's a Soft Side which makes it a little different to use but super easy to set up...

Fatal Traffic Accident Shuts Down Highway

2007-06-09T21:03:00.000-06:00

KOTV - 6/9/2007 10:41 AM - Updated 6/9/2007 8:56 PM

One person is dead and four are seriously injured after a dump truck lost control on the interstate. It happened Saturday morning on I-44 and 193rd in Catoosa. News On 6 anchor Latoya Silmon reports troopers say it was a devastating scene.

A dump truck was driving east bound when it lost control and struck two vehicles.

It would take several rescue crews, the Jaws of Life, and two medical helicopters to get help to the victims, but it was too late for one of them.

The dump truck driver, 27-year-old Stanly Sweeney, was dead. Four others were in a fight for their lives.

“I know the driver of the van had severe leg injuries, and they've got some pretty severe injuries from what I can see,” said Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Russell Stripling.

Troopers say they work hard to enforce traffic safety to avoid scenes like this, but on a stretch of road like this it may be impossible.

I-44 and 193rd is known for trouble. Its nickname is dysfunction junction because all the highways merge there.

Last year a semi truck hydroplaned on the highway sending the truck into median. No one was hurt, but just like thescene on Saturday, it took hours to clear the wreckage.

“It starts up the road quite a ways so it's a large scene,” Stripling said. “It's pretty devastating.”

Troopers say they still don't know what caused Sweeny to lose control of the dump drunk and cross the median.

The New Rescue Truck

2007-05-24T11:55:00.000-06:00

All the guys shown working on the new Rescue Truck on Tuesday to get it ready for service.

Tanker Fire

2007-04-21T20:31:00.000-06:00

Catoosa Fire ran on a Gasoline tanker explosion and on fire, Tuesday evening, with the driver missing. On the first units arrival the driver was found running away from the scene on the main road to the complex. We called for mutual aid from Oak Grove, Rolling Hills, and Tulsa Fire Haz-Mat along with one of Tulsa International Airports ARFF (aircraft rescue & fire fighting)Units. The fire was brought under control with in 30 minutes after arrival. We used approximately 3000 gallons of water with AFFF foam. The complex had several fire hydrants but we found only one that worked after a failed try of the closest one we shuttled water to keep up the good fight. The tanker was off loading to several above ground tanks when the fire occurred; the cab of the semi was completely involved and a third of the tanker was burned away.

Still Checking Hydrants

2007-04-09T16:01:00.000-06:00

Chris and Jason checking a hydrant at the Catoosa High School Activity Center.

Haz-Mat

2007-04-04T19:05:00.000-06:00

Ran a Haz-Mat call down Redbud Drive, we found a five gallon bucket full of acid; Tulsa Haz-Mat came out to help identify and dispose of the bad stuff...

E-One Ladder Truck

2007-04-04T18:58:00.000-06:00

E-One brought down a 95 footer for us to look at. Finding the funding for such a big purchase is a real challenge..

Hydrant Test Around Town

2007-03-20T11:40:00.000-06:00

Found a Rats nest in a hydrant with out a cap. CF

Hose Testing Time Again

2007-03-20T11:38:00.000-06:00

Testing the 5" LDH

Enid rookie firefighter loses job following public hearing

2007-02-23T10:55:00.000-06:00

An intresting story comeing out of Enid...

The Enid News & Eagle

By Cass Rains Staff Writer

Enid Fire Civil Service Commission voted 4-1 Monday to uphold the termination of rookie firefighter Ashlei Wilson.

The five-member board reached its decision following more than an hour in executive session and after hearing a day’s worth of testimony from Enid Fire Department leaders, firefighters and Wilson. Monday’s meeting, which Wilson requested be public, was the second day in which testimony was heard.

Details of a strip tease performed by Wilson in an Enid bar Nov. 29, Wilson’s sex life and her performance as a first-year firefighter during a yearlong probation were discussed for nearly eight hours Monday.

Wilson’s termination was based upon her actions while off duty, in violation of the EFD’s Code of Ethics, questions of her strength and stamina, and level of maturity.

“Obviously, she’s on probation for the first year and that’s when you’re supposed to do your best,” EFD Chief Phil Clover said in an interview after the meeting.

Wilson has the option of appealing the commission’s ruling in Garfield County District Court or seeking arbitration in the matter.

During testimony, City Attor-ney Carol Lahman questioned two of Wilson’s supervisors, Capts. Leonard Harvey and Mark Meir, about their concerns over Wilson’s performance and abilities.

Asked if he would have her back on his shift, Harvey said, “Yep.”

“I don’t have any problem with having her back,” he said.

Meir said Wilson’s performance could benefit from more maturity on the 22-year-old’s behalf.

“Firefighter Wilson has done a pretty good job so far but would benefit from a little more maturity,” he said.

During her testimony, Wil-son said she had been told Clover did not want a second woman working at his department and had harassed her and singled her out for discipline based upon double standards.

She said the situation at the bar Nov. 29 was a result of her drinking, aggravated by a brain injury and medication she takes.

“I have quit drinking since,” she told the board. “I went to a doctor, then went to Alcoholics Anonymous and saw a counselor.”

Wilson also had been reprimanded for inappropriate discussions with other firefighters and for cursing, crying and pouting while on duty.

Wilson said she was discriminated against by other firefighters, and a decision to switch her from A-shift to B-shift was because Clover wanted her fired and the A-shift captains would not write her up.

Wilson also said Clover had a problem with her father, and Clover’s niece, whom she went to high school with, also had a problem with her.

Former Assistant Fire Chief Darrell Bundy testified that prior to Wilson’s hiring, Clover had expressed concern about her past and its possible affect on the fire department.

“Basically, he really didn’t want to hire her because of her reputation,” Bundy told the commission.

Bundy said he’d seen others cry or become upset while on duty, including Clover.

“If you don’t show emotion,” he said, “you’re pretty callous.”

Steven Ruther, who was Wilson’s union steward, said he was present when Wilson was given a letter suspending her for 30 days with pay pending a criminal investigation into the incidents of Nov. 29. No charges were filed related to the incident, and Ruther said Clover began searching for other reasons to fire Wilson.

He said some of the reprimands Wilson received are not given to her male counterparts for the same offenses.

During closing arguments, Lahman said Wilson’s actions were inappropriate and were enough to warrant her termination.

“Stripping and lap dances are inappropriate,” she said. “The misconduct is enough to terminate someone who is on probation.

Lahman said Wil-son’s problems with keeping her adult lifestyle private, her issues with strength and stamina and immaturity were reasons for her to be terminated.

“I’m sorry this occurred in public session because it is embarrassing to the department,” she said.

Attorney David Henneke, representing Wilson, said she has been treated differently from other firefighters and the other rookies. He said Clover launched his own investigation into the Nov. 29 incidents after the Enid Police Department’s investigation did not lead to criminal charges.

“He launches his own investigation. He gets the Enid Police Department to start a criminal investigation,” Hen-neke said. “There were four off-duty Enid police officers who watched this whole thing and didn’t do anything. But he’s sure she’s committed a crime.”

Henneke said Clover should have relied upon the captains’ initial reviews of Wilson’s performance, noting he had not spent time with Wilson but had say over her evaluation.

“It shouldn’t be that way,” Henneke said.

He said other firefighters who had committed crimes in which charges were filed had not been terminated or treated like Wilson was.

“There is no uniformity in the discipline in this department,” he said. “It’s a double standard.”

Clover said Henneke could have no way to know about other discipline issues within the department.

“There’s no way he can know the uniformity in discipline because personnel issues are private,” he said.

Commission member and retired Enid firefighter Larry Schafnitt was the dissenting vote.

http://www.enidnews.com/localnews/local_story_051001248.html

MVC on the Turnpike

2007-02-20T14:14:00.000-06:00

Catoosa Fire Department responded with Verdigris FPD to a MVC on the Will Rogers Turnpike. VFPD extricated one patient that was transported by Pafford EMS.

Oklahoma Medic Killed

2007-02-02T09:02:00.000-06:00

Oklahoma Medic Killed In Ambulance Rollover (The Secret List)

An EMT was killed in the line of duty when the ambulance she was
riding in crashed on an icy road in S.E. Oklahoma yesterday. Clayton
EMS was transporting a pregnant female from another vehicle crash to
the hospital. The patients water had broken and she was carrying
twins. While transporting, they apparently hit black ice and lost
control, with the ambulance rolling multiple times. The vehicle
operator was seat belted in and suffers relatively minor injuries.
The medic, Janeze Case, 51 suffered multiple traumatic injuries and
died. Both of the twin babies also died. The patient remained
strapped to the cot and received minor injuries as a result of the
second crash. Mutual aid units responded to the roll-over and found
the medic unconscious wrapped under the cot. She was extricated &
transported to the Choctaw Nation Indian Hospital where she passed
away. Paramedic Case is survived by her husband and a grown son who
is also a nurse at CNIH.

The community is obviously devastated and leaves them without an
ambulance. If your agency is interested in helping, contact
neighboring EMS Director Bob Hawley at lcems77@alltel.net or by phone
at
918-647-9270

While road conditions obviously contributed to this tragic loss, the
issue of stabilizing EMT's and paramedics has been discussed for a
long time. here is one FD's solution:

http://www.emsclosecalls.com/vehicle.php (scroll down to the Winter
Park, FL story).

Take Care-BE CAREFUL.....
BillyG
The Secret List 2-2-07 / 0725 hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
www.EMSCloseCalls.com

Good Samaritan Rescues Two People From Burning Catoosa Home

2007-01-28T20:49:00.000-06:00

From Channel 6 News,

Good Samaritan Rescues Two People From Burning Catoosa Home
KOTV - 1/7/2007 4:38 PM - Updated 1/8/2007 3:01 PM

Green Country firefighters say a Good Samaritan and some quick thinking may have helped to save lives during two separate fires. News on 6 reporter Chris Wright has more on what turned out to be a busy Saturday night for area firefighters.

Authorities say a passerby helped rescue two people from a burning house in Catoosa, while in Tulsa firefighters were forced to use a defibrillator to save one of their own.

A Catoosa home became entirely engulfed in flames shortly before 5 a.m. Sunday. The couple who lives there was asleep when the fire broke out, but authorities say a passerby knocked on their door and alerted them to the flames. Both escaped without injury.

In Tulsa Saturday night, what started out as a routine house fire near 77th and Memorial turned out to be anything but after a firefighter on scene experienced cardiac problems. His fellow firefighters shocked him with a defibrillator several times until paramedics arrived. Authorities believe both situations could have turned out much worse than they did.

"It's a stressful business, unfortunately he had some cardiac problems, but luckily we had the equipment, we had the training, we were on scene, we administered care," said Tulsa Assistant Chief Harold McCoy.

"It would have been difficult for them to get out if it had got any bigger than what it did. They really were pretty fortunate they had a passerby stop," Jason Rogers with the Catoosa Fire Department said.

The home in Catoosa is a complete loss. As for the Tulsa firefighter, he is still in intensive care at an area hospital.

ICE!!!

2007-01-19T10:30:00.000-06:00

Well it's still icy everywhere, I think we have used more floor dry in the last two days that we have all last year...CF

The picture is FF R.Miller and FF Rogers sliding down the hill on long spine boards.

Great Save by Tulsa Fire

2007-01-17T15:49:00.000-06:00

Outstanding save by Tulsa Fire, Lt. Taylor at his day job TFD E-20 gets a big thank you for rescuing a man from his burning apartment. Great Job Guys…CF

KOTV New Channel 6 Follow Up File.

Firemark Consulting

2007-01-08T14:37:00.000-06:00

Catoosa Fire Dept. has once again entered into a contract with Firemark Consulting for the year of 2007. Owner Tom Jenkins will provide his expertise in grant funding in the following manner.

• Formal needs assessment meeting and evaluation

• Monthly meeting with funding committee

• Application processing and narrative development for:

1. Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program

2. Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Program

3. Fire Prevention Grant Program

4. Commercial Equipment Direction Assistance Program

5. Rural Fire Subscription Research and Program Establishment

6. Bond Issue Subject Matter Resource.

The article from Catoosa Times

Municipal Judge Rita Lamkin

2007-01-08T14:19:00.000-06:00

Rita Lamkin has announced her resignation as Catoosa's Municipal Judge to run in the election as Catoosa's Mayor in April. The City Council held a meeting on the 2nd of January and accepted the resignation of Judge Lamkin and placed Kimberly Appelman as the new Municipal Judge.

The article from Catoosa Times

Vacation Time

2006-12-29T22:12:00.000-06:00

I'm on vacation for two week's.

I will put some more stuff up after the first week of the new year.

Thank for visiting and Happy New Year 2007!!!

CF

NIMS Class

2006-11-16T10:28:00.000-06:00

11-04-2006 The Catoosa Police, Public Works, and Catoosa Firemen took an Incident Command System Class to meet the National requirements of NIMS. The class was tought by Don Lynch.

Ladder Training

2006-11-16T10:23:00.000-06:00

09-08-2006 Rolling Hills Fire Department displaying there new Aerial to Catoosa Firefighters.

The City of Catoosa's New Web Page

2006-10-13T12:42:00.000-06:00

Check out the City's new web page http://www.cityofcatoosa.org/

MDA

2006-09-07T13:46:00.000-06:00

FF Jones collecting for MDA.
Our total this year was $7004.94

House Fire

2006-09-07T13:43:00.000-06:00

Two story house fire on 9-5-2006

RV Fire

2006-09-07T13:40:00.000-06:00

Catoosa Fire on a RV Trailer Fire on 8-10-2006

Chemical Fire Breaks Out At Port of Catoosa

2006-08-23T10:50:00.000-06:00

Catoosa - A chemical fire at the Port of Catoosa created quite a concern for firefighters overnight. It happened at Advanced Research Chemicals. Firefighters from both Tulsa and Catoosa arrived at the scene around 1 a.m., but had to leave their water hoses rolled up.

When fire crews arrived, the plant manager told them that the chemical chlorine triflouride was inside and that if you add water to it, it could explode. So, fire crews had to use chemical extinguishers to put out the blaze.

"Anytime you have a fire inside a chemical plant, it's very concerning to us," says Fire Captain Larry Bowles. "We make a very cautious approach, we check our material safety data sheets, actually in route before we ever arrive."

The fire was contained to the inside of the building, which is marked with the highest level of hazards because of the chemicals produced inside the building.

The building owner and employees remained on the scene taking a look at the damage. The owner believes an oxidizer caught fire and that the blaze spread from there, catching some safety curtains on fire.

There were no reports of injuries or environmental hazards. The owner says the production on their products will be shut down for at least a few days and possibly a month depending on the damage the fire caused.

Reporter: Kristin Dickerson Posted By: Kevin King
Copyright 2006 KTUL, LLC.

Motorcycle daredevil crashes

2006-07-26T08:04:00.000-06:00

Motorcycle daredevil crashes in Oklahoma

By Shaun Schafer
The Associated Press

MIAMI, Okla. — Motorcycle daredevil Trigger Gumm crashed Sunday while attempting a world-record motorcycle jump at a northeast Oklahoma casino.

Gumm, 38, fell far short of his attempted goal of 315 feet. Riding a 450cc Service Honda outfitted with a custom-built engine and specially designed shocks, Gumm hit a ramp that launched him about 70 feet in the air before he landed on the top of a dirt ramp, lost control and crashed over the handlebars.

Gumm leaped 273 feet, 11 inches on a practice jump prior to the world-record attempt. The distance of his failed jump was not measured but it appeared shorter than the practice jump.

Gumm waved to the crowd while being treated by medical personnel. He then got up and walked to a waiting ambulance, which took him to a local hospital.

The crash stunned the estimated 5,000 people who had gathered at the Buffalo Run Casino, operated by the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. The crowd quickly dispersed after the crash.

"He's hurt. He's hurt. That's the first thing I thought and the first thing I said," said Paul Smithson, of St. Louis.

Gumm had planned to be traveling at about 90 mph during the world-record attempt. Promoter Tony Holden said he believed Gumm's bike may have had a carburetor problem that kept it from reaching full speed. Gumm's bike was not equipped with a speedometer.

"He didn't get full power on that jump," he said.

Gumm was jumping into a slight north wind, but Holden said that wasn't a factor.

Gumm, a San Clemente, Calif.-native, already holds the Guinness world record for a 277 1/2-foot jump on May 14, 2005, at the Queensland Raceway in Australia.

House Fire

2006-07-12T08:31:00.000-06:00

7-8-2006 Two story house fire, extinguished with the assistance of Verdigris, Oak Grove, and Rolling Hills Fire Departments.

Show and Tell

2006-07-12T08:23:00.000-06:00

6-16-2006 Firefighter Rogers during the show and tell for Cingular Wireless Bring your child to work day. CF

Landing Air Evac

2006-07-12T08:19:00.000-06:00

6-16-2006 Catoosa Engine 2 landing Air Evac Lifeteam for a First Responder class at the laFarge Concrete Plant. CF

Hydraulic Extrication Equipment Grant

2006-06-24T21:06:00.000-06:00

By Jay F. Marks
The Oklahoman

Four Oklahoma emergency agencies earned more than $50,000 worth of equipment and training, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced today.
The awards for the Catoosa Fire Department, Sand Springs Police Department, Edmond Fire Department and Miami Emergency Management Department were among 148 in the second round of the fiscal year 2005's Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program.

The program has awarded more than $35 million in grants since its inception.

Channel 6 News Story

2006-06-10T17:40:00.000-06:00

Check out our news story.CF

Firefighter Shortage

Technical Rescue

2006-06-01T09:28:00.000-06:00

Catoosa Fire Engine-2 and Tulsa Fire Engine-31 Responded to an injured worker in side of a 30 foot high container at the Port of Catoosa. The Patient was removed from the porthole in the end of the container. Then Life Flight transported to St. Francis after Pafford EMS stabilized the patient.

CFD Montage

2006-05-10T17:44:00.000-06:00

CFD Montage

Volunteer Firefighter Killed In Kay County

2006-04-24T17:48:00.000-06:00

A volunteer firefighter died Friday night after he was run over by his own fire truck while helping a land owner with a controlled burn in Kay County.

It happened Friday at about 9:30 p.m. in a pasture just northeast of Ponca City. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says 39-year-old William Lewis Robinson III of Shidler was helping a land owner start a controlled burn in the pasture when it's believed he fell out of the fire truck and was run over.

Robinson was transported to a Ponca City hospital, but was later pronounced dead.

The investigation into the incident continues.
Copyright 2006 KTUL, LLC.

Fire Hydrant Testing

2006-04-21T15:13:00.000-06:00

Firefighter Jones and Firefighter Rogers, “Testing The Plug”, we will be testing nearly 300 Fire Hydrants the next few months.

Firefighter Rogers is using a Piezometer to test the flow pressure and determine the gallons per minute the hydrant will flow. CF

MVC on I-44

2006-04-14T19:57:00.000-06:00

Lt. Taylor directing traffic at a non-injury MVC on I-44. CF

1979 murder conviction upheld in opinion by judge

2006-04-08T21:32:00.000-06:00

Nearly 30 years ago, a Tulsa man was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a Catoosa police chief. In a recent opinion from an Oklahoma district judge, that sentence was upheld.
David Gordon Smith was found guilty in 1979 of murdering Catoosa Police Chief J.B. Hamby during the robbery of the Catoosa Tag Office on Sept. 1, 1978. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison and has since filed a Post Conviction Relief motion in appellate court.
In March, District Judge Gary Maxey, of Craig County, issued an opinion regarding the 1997 motion, denying any post conviction relief and upholding the imposed sentence.
According to statements made by witnesses and law enforcement at the time of the crime, Smith, along with Jackie Ray Young, who was killed during the robbery, entered the Catoosa tag office wearing masks and reportedly carrying firearms on Sept. 1, 1978. The two men announced that they were going to rob the office and ordered the two female employees to the ground, binding their hands with silver tape, according to reports. Prior to being bound, one employee was able to relay over the phone that they were being robbed, and police were dispatched, witness statements revealed.
With the employees lying face down on the ground and bound, reports state that Smith and Young attempted to remove a camera and other equipment located inside the office. One witness told authorities that when they could not remove the camera, yelling began between them and at that time, a customer entered the office. The customer screamed and, according to witness statements, that’s when Chief Hamby entered the building.
Statements reveal that Hamby shouted to the men and a shoot out followed. Two of which struck Smith — one in the left hand and one in the right leg. Young died after a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to reports, and Hamby also died due to shots fired at the scene.
In his motion, Smith claimed he was forced, at gunpoint, by Young to commit the robbery and contends that he was not carrying a weapon. He also claims that Young was carrying a .357 Magnum in one hand and a .22 pistol in the other and that Young was heavily armed, claiming he carried no weapons into the building.
Smith began his life sentence in June 1979 following his conviction, appealing only to have the conviction upheld in 1982.
In 1985, Smith escaped from the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, and was on the run for eight years before being nabbed by authorities in 1993. At that time, records show he was returned to Oklahoma to serve his remaining sentence.
Smith filed the motion for post conviction relief nearly 18 years following his conviction, which Maxey said was filed too late. In his opinion, he added that the reasons outlined in the motion were not adequate reasons why Smith failed to raise any of these issues at the trial in 1979, and that none of the issues would have changed the outcome of the trial.

The Claremore Progress

Destry Horton, Chickasha Fire and EMS

2006-03-27T19:28:00.000-06:00

One of our brothers had to leave us to serve for the Real Chief. CF

Funeral services are set for Thursday for an Oklahoma firefighter who died Friday of burns and injuries sustained earlier this month in a wildfire.

Destry Horton, 32, a career firefighter with the City of Chickasha Fire and EMS, was seriously burned on March 1 when his fire truck became stuck in the midst of a wildfire.

He was volunteering with the Acme Vol. Fire when the incident occurred near Duncan. The roaring wildfires were being fanned by strong winds associated with a weather front, said Chickasha Chief Ronnie Kessler.

Another firefighter, Larry Crabb, who was riding on the outside of the truck, also suffered burns. But, he hiked out to find help for Horton. "The smoke was so thick, he (Crabb) couldnt see. He had to locate them by voice."

"As a paramedic, Destry knew what was going on. Before they inserted the airway, he was able to say he loved his wife and daughters."

Horton was originally taken to Duncan Hospital, but was later flown to Baptist Burn Center in Oklahoma City.

"The doctors said the burns were they worst they'd ever seen," Kessler said. Doctors had to amputate both of Horton's arms.

Horton, who started as a career firefighter in Chickasha in 1999, was recently promoted to driver. In addition to being a paramedic, he also was a HAZMAT technician and a member of the departments HAZMAT team. "He was a really great guy..."

He is the first firefighter in the department to die in the line of duty. Flags are at half mast in his honor.

Visitation will be held at Callaway, Smith, Cobb Funeral Home in Rush Springs from 1 p.m. Tuesday through 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Funeral services are set for 2 p.m. Thursday, March 30 at Grand Assembly Church of God.

Departments wanting additional information should contact the Chickasha Fire & EMS at 405-222-6030.

Hymm to the Fallen Heros

Young and aged
volunteer and career,
man and woman
of all races and colors,
you left aching hearts behind

An eternal flame
warms your names
inscribed on cold, lifeless plaques
around this stone cairn
In the hearts you left behind
your memories abide
in undying gratitude

You asked nothing more
You knew the risks,
served without fear
and paid the highest price

You embody a quality
of which many only dream
Your selfesness for others
is now your eternal crown

O fallen comrades,
give us all this quality
that we may more fittingly
prolong your memory

Annonymons

Dangerous hill to get guardrails

2006-03-15T21:16:00.000-06:00

Dangerous hill to get guardrails

By Krystal J. Carman
Staff Writer
Claremore Daily Progress
Commissioners hope guardrails along a steep hill southwest of Claremore will keep motorists on the roadway during inclement weather.
“The sheriff’s office has had several complaints about Nichols Hill, and have had several Oklahoma Highway Patrolmen go off the edge,” Commissioner Mike Helm said. “When they go off that edge, they could go down the hill.” Two bids for 1,300-feet of guardrail were opened at the Rogers County Commission meeting Monday, with both bids at more than $24,000. Once the bid is awarded, the safety equipment will be installed on 193rd Street, near the intersection of Highways 266 and 167 by the Port of Catoosa, where drivers, as well as law enforcement, have experienced problems.
According to Undersheriff Barry Lamb, in December, a deputy responded to two vehicle accidents on Nichols Hill involving a truck and a car that had slid off the road.
Also at the scene was a woman and a small child inside a minivan. Although their vehicle was not involved in the accident, the vehicle was unable to get traction on the road, therefore leaving them stuck.
A state trooper was transported up the hill to the scene in a four-wheeled drive vehicle driven by Rogers County Lt. Mike McElhaney because the trooper’s car could not climb the hill.
Even the tow truck that showed up to hoist the two vehicles back onto the road found itself off the edge of an embankment — about a 20-foot drop. A second tow truck was called in to assist when it stopped in the road, unable to gain traction to continue traveling on the road.
According to Helm, the railing will keep motorists from descending down the steep embankment in the case of an accident.
The bid for the guardrail is expected to be awarded at the next Rogers County Commission meeting Monday and Installation of the guard rail will follow.

Rollover near the Port

2006-03-07T10:45:00.000-06:00

Rollover near the Port entrance Catoosa Fire and Pafford EMS gathering info from OHP.CF

MVC in The Pond

2006-03-01T09:32:00.000-06:00

Car in the water retention pond next to the Cherokee Casino, some pedestrians got the driver to the shoreline and we called Inola Fire Departments Dive Team to check the report that a child may have been in the car but the report was false. CF

MVC

2006-02-13T15:40:00.000-06:00

An MVC at The Main Port of Catoosa Entrance.

Pancake Breakfast

2006-02-13T14:34:00.000-06:00

The Ladies Aux. hard at work at the pancake breakfast, everyone had a great time and the breakfast was out of this world. Great Job Ladies! CF

CPSC, SFC America Announce Recall to Repair Fire Extinguishers

2006-02-08T21:13:00.000-06:00

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recalls in voluntary cooperation with the firms listed below. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers

Units: About 50,900

Manufacturer: Strike First Corp., of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.

Importer: Strike First Corporation of America (SFC America), of Front Royal, Va.

Hazard: The fire extinguishers can fail to discharge properly when the trigger is activated, which puts consumers at risk of fire-related injuries.

Incidents/Injuries: SFC America has received three reports of the fire extinguishers failing to discharge properly when activated. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recall includes Strike First 2.5 lb and 5 lb dry chemical fire extinguishers with model numbers WBSF-ABC110AP, WBSF-ABC210AP, and WBSF-ABC340AP. The model number is located under the manufacturer’s address on the far right hand side of the instruction label.

The recalled fire extinguishers have the following serial numbers:
Model Number / Serial Number Range

WBSF-ABC110AP / TC101566 through TC108819
WBSF-ABC210AP / TC114969 through TC135000, VV822001 through VV832000, WH161001 through WH167622
WBSF-ABC340AP / TC135894 through TC142345

The serial number is located on the extinguisher's label, below the “UL” mark. The fire extinguishers are red, and designed for commercial, industrial, multi-residential and vehicle applications.

Sold at: Fire extinguisher dealers nationwide from December 2002 through April 2004 for between $13 and $21.

Remedy: Consumers with fire extinguishers included in the recall should immediately contact SFC America for information on how to arrange to have their extinguishers repaired.

Consumer Contact: Call SFC America at (800) 255-5515 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the SFC America
Web site: http://www.strikefirstusa.com/bulletin002.htm

Catoosa Police Department

2006-02-02T14:00:00.000-06:00

Catoosa Police Department has there new website up and running go check it out. CF
http://catoosapd.org/

Pelvic Stabilization a la KED

2006-01-18T21:28:00.000-06:00

Excellent Tip When Your In Pinch...CF

Name: William T. Johnson

Rural areas sometimes mean lower budgets and, therefore, improvisation. Consider finding alternate uses for the equipment already in service on your rig. When confronted with pelvic fractures, some units may not have access to commercial stabilization products that are specifically designed for the task. Never fear, because most units already carry some type of KED.

Simply flip the KED upside down, using the larger (bottom) end to fasten around the pelvic area for stabilization. You can add pressure slowly until you achieve the desired amount. The straps on the lower portion can then be fastened around the legs to keep them stable, but be sure to have someone assist you to prevent compromising spinal immobilization. Remember to place padding between the legs to keep them in a relatively correct anatomical position.

From there, its just package on a spineboard and transport. With a little thought, and improvisation EMTs and paramedics can overcome some of our job’s most difficult situations.

William T. Johnson works with Jonesboro (Ark.) Fire Department. He has been in EMS for 11 years and served as a professional firefighter for the past five years. He’s also an adjunct instructor for the Arkansas Fire Academy and the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management.

JEMS.com.

Area Ambulance Service Could Go Out Of Business

2006-01-08T13:29:00.000-06:00

Looks like Rogers County is not the only ones in this sinking ship, the entire state is in the same boat. When will citizens’ wake up and realize there pre-hospital healthcare system is dead or dieing?
The EMS Companies need subsidies, State and Federal support or you’re going to pick up the phone and dial 911 for and Ambulance and get a “sorry this number has been disconnected”. CF

OKLAHOMA CITY -- State officials warned that the main ambulance company that serves Cleveland, Pawhuska and most of Osage County could go out of business soon.
Officials said Friday local governments and taxpayers may have to fund emergency medical care or go without.

Central Med EMS made about 2,400 runs in 2005 and is experiencing major financial problems that could leave 80 percent of the county, plus the city of Cleveland in Pawnee County, in a crisis, said Rick Bronson, regional coordinator for emergency medical services for the state Health Department.

"We are on very thin ice," agreed Eddy Red Eagle, an Osage Nation official who has been working on a countywide plan to provide steady ambulance service.
Central Med's woes are much like those of other rural ambulance services nationwide that are barely funded by the public that relies on them.

The Pawhuska-based service has bounced paychecks and nearly closed last week, in part because of a tardy payment from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for hurricane relief work it performed in Texas.

"The fact is that many of these ambulances services were in trouble before the hurricanes ever came," Bronson told Osage County commissioners. "We need to encourage public funding to keep these ships from sinking."

The state and the Osage Nation are trying to organize a countywide EMS service that every taxpayer would support. Only a few cities subsidize ambulance service- and they do so in small amounts- like Pawhuska, which gives Central Med $4,135 a year.

Cleveland and Hominy both closed their ambulance services to contract with Central Med in the past 18 months; those cities each give $3,000 subsidies and also supplied the company with ambulances.

Central Med's operations chief, Joe Weaver, said the company struggles daily. Its expenses and income are both about $84,000 a month.

Central Med is supported lightly in its operating hubs of Cleveland, Hominy, Fairfax and Pawhuska, but it constantly makes runs elsewhere.

"The county pays nothing, and the city of Pawhuska is in effect paying for county ambulance service," Weaver said. "It's inequitable."

How to fund a county ambulance service remains unclear. Proposals include an increase in property taxes, a sales tax increase, or a surcharge on utility bills.

Every person in Osage County has to buy into this if they want to be able to pick up that phone and get an ambulance when they need one, Red Eagle said. AP

July fire sparks lawsuit against Gatineau fire department

2005-12-21T21:47:00.000-06:00

Hummmm....

CBC News

The City of Gatineau, Canada and its fire department are being sued by an insurance company over claims of shoddy fire fighting when a fire destroyed most of the Glenwood Plaza in the Aylmer section of the city last July.

The insurance company, as yet unidentified, claims in the million-dollar suit that firefighters demonstrated incompetence, and lacked training to properly extinguish the blaze.

The suit also alleges the firefighters were poorly equipped.

The firefighters' union says its members were dealing with a lack of water.

More than 80 firefighters and two tankers from Ottawa responded to the blaze that started after midnight on July 6. Flames raced through the roof and shot four to five stories into the air.

Forty-five businesses were destroyed, and about 300 people were thrown out of work. Damages were assessed at close to $35 million.

Within days, the police ruled arson was involved.

Christmas Party

2005-12-12T14:57:00.000-06:00

The Christmas Party was a hit; we had Charlie’s Chicken catering Mmmmm Chicken!

Firefighter Of The Year

2005-12-12T14:46:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Jeremiah Kirk, recipient of the 2005 Dale Lynch Firefighter of the Year Award.

Christmas Party

2005-11-28T19:18:00.000-06:00

Our Christmas Party will be on Saturday the 3rd, 6:00pm at J.W. Sam’s Elementary.
We will be having Charlie’s Chicken Catering, and you will be receiving your run compensation checks.

The Dale Lynch Memorial Firefighter of the Year Award will be presented that night; the candidates are FF. J. Kirk, FF. J. Rogers, and FF. C. Jones.

See you there..CF

Round 2 SAFER Grants Announced

2005-11-10T10:38:00.000-06:00

Round 2 SAFER Grants Announced

Congratulations to our Oklahoma Departments:

• Chouteau Fire Department, (Hiring-1) $70,496
• Keystone Volunteer Fire Department, (Recruitment) $10,012
• Oak Grove Fire District, (Recruitment) $67,100

2005-10-12T16:06:00.000-06:00

Catoosa Fire attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Wellman complex in the Port of Catoosa, in attendance was Governor Brad Henry, Mayor Curtis Conley, Mayor Bill LaFortune, and State and County Representatives. CF

Oologah, Oklahoma Medic was Killed When Her Vehicle Ran Off Road

2005-10-06T19:34:00.000-06:00

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Todd and Family, she accepted the call of the servant, and she touched many lives in thankless acts of courage and dedication. We will miss you Trish. CF

Dear God, Through the intercession of our patron, Saint Florian, have mercy on the souls of our comrades who have made the supreme sacrifice in the performance of their duty, and on all who have gone before us after years of faithful discharge of their responsibilities which now rest on ourselves.
Give us Grace to prepare each day for our own summons to Thy tribunal of justice. Into Thy hands O Lord, I commend my spirit. Withersoever Thou callest me, I am ready to go.
Merciful Father of all men, save me from all bodily harm, if it be Thy will, but above all, help me to be loyal and true, respectful and honorable, obedient and valiant. Thus fortified by virtue, I shall have no fear, for I shall then belong to Thee and shall never be separated from Thee.

Amen.

http://www.oologah.net/
The Rogers County emergency services community was reeling Wednesday after 27-year-old Oologah-Talala medic Patricia Ann Barron was killed in a one-car accident.

The wreck occurred two miles from the ambulance station where she worked and just six months after OTEMS paramedic Emily O’Banion was attacked and severely injured by an intruder who was trying to steal morphine from the station.

“This is a tremendous shock for the emergency medical community,” said Andy Hudson, OTEMS director.

Patricia Barron and her husband Todd worked as a team and joined OTEMS July 25. Before that, they had worked together at Med-Tec EMS in Claremore, which was sold last summer. Both are well-liked within the county’s tight-knit emergency services community, where major incidents regularly cross geographical boundaries.

“We were just thrilled to have them working with us. It is extraordinary that they worked as a team, not only as partners in life but partners on the job,” said Hudson. Ben Williams, the pastor who married them, said the couple was “madly in love.”

Patricia Barron was an intermediate EMT. Todd Barron is a paramedic and also a longtime employee of the Rogers County Sheriff’s Department. He works as the jail’s in-house medical coordinator, arranging doctor visits and prescriptions for prisoners, treating minor injuries and ailments, and supervising other medics on the sheriff’s staff.

“This has just been devastating for him,” said Sheriff Jerry Prather. “He’s a super employee and gives 150%. He’s on call all the time for the jail. He is a super guy.”

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said the accident occurred about 11 a.m. as Mrs. Barron was driving her 2001 Nissan four-door sedan west on a county road two miles south of Oologah. The vehicle dropped off the right side of the road, traveled 218 feet along the ditch, returned to the asphalt road, went out of control and struck a tree.

Tricia Barron was born Patricia Ann Coyle on Dec. 7, 1977. Besides OTEMS and Med-Tec, she had worked as a phlebotomist at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa and as a receptionist at Claremore Regional Hospital. She had studied phlebotomy at Community Care College and emergency medicine at Rogers State University.

Hudson noted that ambulance crews, like police officers, work as partners and form a special bond. He said he knew of only one other husband-wife team in medical services in the area.

The depth of the bond was clear in the Emily O’Banion case, where she sustained near-fatal knife and beating wounds fighting off the intruder to keep him from reaching her sleeping partner, Kelly Berry. Berry was credited with saving her life and remaining at her hospital bedside until she awoke from a coma and identified her assailant.

Ironically, Berry and O’Banion were filmed Sept. 24 at the OTEMS station for a forthcoming episode of The Montel Williams Show. The Barrons were on duty, enjoying O’Banion’s first day with a medical release to resume all her paramedic duties. During several hours of taping, the family-like relationship of the two teams was obvious.

The Barrons had to make an emergency run, and when they returned the talk turned to dinner and who would be responsible for providing either propane or charcoal for an outdoor grill. After several complicated theories were suggested, Mrs. Barron laughed and said it might be easiest for her “to just go buy a bag of charcoal—it only costs about two dollars.”

Sheriff Prather said emergency personnel had set a schedule to prepare and deliver food to the Barron family for the next several days. OTEMS personnel were participating in a debriefing this evening, and will have counseling services available as needed, Hudson said.

Funeral arrangements are pending with Rice Funeral Service in Claremore, 341-0376.

Cops get to keep there 10-Codes.

2005-09-28T16:04:00.000-06:00

Looks like the Cops did some kicking and screaming, so they get to keep there 10-Codes at least for now until someone realizes it won’t work that way.

“Just a quote” from the horses’ mouth.

“NIMS was developed by Homeland Security to provided a ~~consistent~~ nationwide template to enable federal, state, local, and tribal governments and private-sector and non-governmental organizations to work together effectively and efficiently to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, or complexity, including acts of catastrophic terrorism. Abolishing the 10-Code verbal communication was part of the consistency dictated”.

I took the liberty of striking the consistent from there mission statement for them.

Link:
http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?sectionId=46&id=44881

I'm 10-98 and 10-8, 10-4 CF

Emily's Back to Work

2005-09-26T20:17:00.000-06:00

I’m glad to see Emily’s back to work; it goes to show the power of prayer really works.CF

http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?sectionId=17&id=44332

2005-09-11T19:12:00.000-06:00

Never forget 343

Fire Chief

2005-09-08T07:56:00.000-06:00

Job Description:
The City of Catoosa, (pop. 5,000) (42 square miles), is currently accepting applications for Fire Chief. The chief's position would be the head of a young and growing organization of two stations, and a combination of paid and volunteer personnel. Job qualifications include:

1. A firefighter for three years
2. A first Responder or EMT (must achieve EMT status ASAP)
3. Inspection Certification
4. Instructor I Certification
5. Firefighter I,II or equivalent
6. Hold Fire Officer's position
7. Must be able to pass medical physical and physical ability test

Submit resumes to City Clerk, City of Catoosa, P.O. Box 190, Catoosa, OK 74015. Resumes will be accepted until 10/10/2005. A letter of information and questionnaire may be picked up at City Hall, 214 S. Cherokee, Catoosa, OK or requested by calling 918-266-2505, 8 am to 4 pm Monday thru Friday. EOE

Finally! CF

2005-08-31T14:59:00.000-06:00

Well J. Rogers worked long and hard on this and it finally paid off we have the sample in and it looks awesome!

We have signed the paper work and the patch should go in to full production, we are getting 300 of them so we should see them in 3 to 4 weeks.

Thanks go's to Firefighter J. Rogers,
For all his hard work and persistence to Get-R-Dun! CF

CFD’s Patch Interpretation

2005-08-31T14:55:00.000-06:00

Fort Spunky:(Center)
Located in southwestern Rogers County near Catoosa. Was not a military post, but a stop on the stage line from Vinita to Tulsa. A post office was established in Catoosa on March 27, 1883 it took its name from nearby Spunky Creek. The town site was approved for Catoosa on June 16, 1902 in the Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory. The picture depicts Fort Spunky, and Spunky Creek.

The Seven Pointed Star:(Bottom)
Symbolizes the seven age old clans of the Cherokee (Taken from the Cherokee Seal).

The seven clans of the Cherokees were:
1. aniwadi (Paint Clan)
2. anigategewi (Raccoon or Blind Savannah, Shawnee or Wild Potato Clan)
3. ani-sahoni (Blue, Panther or Wild Cat Clan)
4. ani-gilohi (Long Hair or Hair Hanging Down, or Wind Clan)
5. anitsiskwa (Bird Clan)
6. aniwahiya (Wolf Clan)
7. ani-awi (Deer Clan)

The 8 Characters of Sequoyah's Syllabary:(Bottom) Definition: Catoosa, Oklahoma.
(The Cherokee characters are phonetically pronounced (“Ga-du-si” “O-ga-li-ho-mi).

The Wreath of Oak Leaves:(Around The Seven Pointed Star)
Symbolizes the sacred fire which, from time immemorial, the Cherokees kept burning in their land. Oak was the wood traditionally burned.

The Maltese Cross:(Center)
Is a symbol of protection and a badge of honor. Its story is hundreds of years old. When a courageous band of crusaders known as Knights of St. John, fought the Saracens for possession of the holy land, they encountered a new weapon unknown to European warriors. It was a simple but a horrible device of war; it wrought excruciating pain and agonizing death upon the brave fighters for the cross. The Saracen's weapon was fire. As the crusaders advanced on the walls of the city, they were struck by glass bombs containing naphtha. When they became saturated with the highly flammable liquid, the Saracens hurled a flaming torch into their midst. Hundreds of the knights were burned alive; others risked their lives to save their brothers-in-arms from dying painful, fiery deaths. Thus, these men became our first firemen and the first of a long list of courageous firefighters. Their heroic efforts were recognized by fellow crusaders who awarded each here a badge of honor - a cross similar to the one firemen wear today. Since the Knights of St. John lived for close to four centuries on a little island in the Mediterranean Sea named Malta, the cross came to be known as the Maltese Cross. The Maltese Cross is your symbol of protection. It means that the fireman who wears this cross is willing to lay down his life for you just as the crusaders sacrificed their lives for their fellow man so many years ago. The Maltese Cross is a fireman's badge of honor, signifying that he works in courage - a ladder rung away from death.

The Axe, Pike Pole, and Ladder:(Left & Right on The Maltese Cross)
Symbolizes the tools of the firemen’s trade

The NFPA 704 Placard:(Upper Right Corner)
Symbolizes our work in the remediation of hazardous material incidents

Est. 1971:(Bottom of The Maltese Cross)
Symbolizes the date that the City of Catoosa passed ordnance to create a Municipal Fire Department, and naming Dale Lynch as the first Fire Chief.

The Star of Life:(Upper Left Corner)
Just as physicians have the Caduceus, emergency medical service personnel have the Star of Life. Use of the Star of Life by EMS personnel is encouraged both by the American Medical Association and the Advisory Council of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. The Star of Life applies to all emergency medical products and services funded under the DOT/EMS program. The Star of Life was designed by Leo R. Schwartz, Chief of the EMS Branch of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Star of Life was created after the American Red Cross complained about the common use of an Omaha orange cross on a square background of reflectorized white which they saw as an imitation of the Red Cross symbol. The NHTSA investigated and felt the complaint was justified.
Adopted from the Medical Identification Symbol of the American Medical Association, the newly designed six-barred cross was registered as a certification mark on February 1, 1977 with the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks in the name of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Each of the bars of the blue Star of Life represents the six system functions of emergency medical services, as listed below.

Six Points of the EMS System
1. Detection
2. Reporting
3. Response
4. On Scene Care
5. Care in Transit
6. Transfer to Definitive Care

The snake and the staff in the center of the Star of Life portray the staff of Asclepius who, according to Greek mythology, was the son of Apollo, the god of light, truth, and prophecy. According to legend, Asclepius learned the art of healing from Cheron, the centaur. But Zeus, king of the gods, was fearful that, with Asclepius knowledge, men might be rendered immortal. Rather than have this occur, Zeus killed Asclepius with a thunderbolt. Asclepius was worshipped as a god and people slept in his temples, as it was rumored that, in death, he effected cures of prescribed remedies to the sick during their dreams.
Asclepius is usually shown in a standing position, dressed in a long cloak, holding a staff with a serpent coiled around it. The staff has come to represent medicine's most recognized symbol. In the caduceus, used by physicians, the staff is winged, with two serpents intertwined. Although it holds no known medical relevance, it represents the magic wand of the Greek diety, Hermes, messenger of the gods.

In Numbers 21:9, the Bible makes reference to a serpent on a staff. "And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived."

2005-08-31T13:41:00.000-06:00

Catoosa E-2, and Tulsa E-30 responded to an MVC on I-44 and 193rd West Bound. One person was taken to the hospital by Pafford EMS.

FDNY: The Spirit of Oklahoma.

2005-08-29T09:27:00.000-06:00

Rescue 6 was put in service on Aug 2nd and remained in service thru the elections.
A second collapse unit was put in service with R6. Their response area was river to river, from the Battery to 23rd street.
The company was being manned with detailed members from the other rescues.
It was housed on Lafayette St in the SOHO district of Manhattan in quarters shared by Ladder 20.
It operated until 9am EST on November 3, 2004, it is currently a spare unit CF.

2005-08-26T14:17:00.000-06:00

The Catoosa Fire Ladies Auxiliary purchased a bronze grave marker for Rodger Berry�s grave site to commemorate his volunteerism for the department.

His call sign was C-25.

2005-08-26T14:01:00.000-06:00

Lieutenant Buechline, at a shown and tell for the missionetts from the Timber Ridge AOG. Shooting down cones with the 1 1/2" pre-connect.

Catoosa Fire Ladies Aux. Web Blog

2005-08-25T09:22:00.000-06:00

Our Ladies Have a New Blog Check It Out!

http://catoosafireladiesaux.blogspot.com/

Michigan firefighter has been charged in the traffic deaths

2005-08-21T17:38:00.000-06:00

Hey....
A Michigan firefighter has been charged in the traffic deaths of a Traverse City-area woman and her eleven-month-old son. Firefighter Cory Carlton of the Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department was arraigned Thursday on two counts of negligent homicide. Firefighter Carlton was responding to a chimney fire back in March when the fire apparatus he was driving collided with a sport utility vehicle. Rebecca Garrisi and her son Jesse were killed in the accident. Rebecca Garrisi's husband Matthew, who was driving the S-U-V, was seriously injured. The 26-year-old Carlton is free on bond. He faces up to two years in jail. Firefighter Carlton was his battalion's safety officer when the crash occurred, according to court files.

Antrim County Prosecutor Charles Koop authorized the charges. Sheriff's investigators said it appeared Carlton went through a red light without slowing to check for oncoming traffic. Michigan law says emergency vehicles may proceed past a red light "only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation." A statement of probable cause against Carlton alleges he drove "without due regard" for the safety of others and operated the fire engine at an "immoderate" rate of speed in a "reckless manner."
Carlton's attorney, Roger Wotila, of Cadillac, said criminal charges aren't warranted. "It was an accident, and every accident is not a crime," Wotila said. "It was a tragedy, but not a criminal action." Carlton returned to work shortly after the crash but was banned from driving emergency equipment, Fire Chief Wayne Hanna said. Carlton will be suspended until the charges against him are resolved, Hanna said. Matthew Garrisi filed a civil suit against the fire department in June on behalf of his wife and son.

"We feel the proper forum is the civil lawsuit and do not believe a criminal charge is in any way warranted," said Wotila. But Traverse City attorney George Thompson, who represents Garrisi in the civil suit, said Carlton should have known that sirens alone would not adequately warn motorists. "It is clear that the risks associated with the way he was driving were unreasonable," said Thompson. "We admire these people for their service, but if they are not going to follow the rules and use reasonable judgment, something has to be done."
Thompson filed interrogatories that asked the county whether Carlton had been informed that his engine was not needed at the fire call before he reached South Airport Road, a contention the county denied as "not true," according to court records. Martin thinks the case could be a lesson for drivers of emergency services vehicles. "I really want it to be brought to the public's and lawmakers' attention that more schooling should be done for firemen," said Martin. "Getting to a fire a minute sooner and risking the possibility of killing someone isn't worth it."

This kind of case knocks the wind out of all of us for a variety of reasons...after all, the firefighter's intentions were good-he was responding with his crew to "help" someone....we have all been there, but then, a horribly tragic outcome.
There are numerous discussion points on this issue that we can all use at our firehouses. Here are some important links to help your FD minimize the potential:

www.drivetosurvive.org
http://wsfd.us/Higway%20Safety.htm
www.ResponderSafety.com
www.EmergencyVehicleResponse.com
www.emergencydispatch.org/articles/useoflights1.htm
www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/cvvfa.pdf
www.usfa.fema.gov/research/safety/vehicle.shtm
www.caryems.com/training/driversInformation.html
www.VFIS.com
www.ESIP.com

Please take a few minutes to review this incident, do some research to follow up, and use all of the above links to minimize the potential for the above tragedies to occur again.
*****ALSO-PLEASE NOTE: If you tried to order the free "10 Cones For Highway Safety" video program from: www.ResponderSafety.com, and it didn't work, try it again-please go to: http://www.respondersafety.com/downloads/videoform.html .

Take Care-BE CAREFUL,
BillyG

2005-08-11T09:05:00.000-06:00

Catoosa Fire Department, requests Tulsa Haz-Mat to help make entry and identify a ruptured container that injured two employees of a metal recycling center, the contents was identified as Chlorine. CF

2005-08-11T09:01:00.000-06:00

Catoosa Fire Department responded with Oak Grove Fire, to an MVC on Admiral & 225th. CF

2005-07-28T08:51:00.000-06:00

Catoosa Fire Dept. Family Fun Night; FF Jeremiah Kirk running the bucket brigade.

2005-07-28T08:49:00.000-06:00

Catoosa Fire Dept. Family Fun Night; FF Jason Rogers and his daughter.

2005-07-28T08:48:00.000-06:00

Catoosa Fire Dept. Family Fun Night; PJ McMillan on the slip and slide.

Catoosa Fire Department

Truck vs House

Tanks on Tiger Switch Road

Womack To Name New Fire Chief

Last updated Thursday, January 15, 2009 9:41 PM CST in News

By John Henley Jr.THE MORNING NEWS

THE MORNING NEWS

Grass Fire

Congrats to Tom

Tulsa's new 911 Center

Oil Spill at the Port of Catoosa

Hybrid Car Responce

No Radiation Leak In Fire

Were Hiring Full Time

2007 SAFER Grant

House Fire

House Fire

Overnight Fire Destroys Business

Our New Brush Truck's Story

2008 Fire Season

Cherokee Nation Rural Fire Donation

Car Fire

I'm Back

This is Funny

Update...

Mobile Home Fire

MVC at the Port of Catoosa

Assisting PD with a Suspected Meth-Lab

Rudy's 9/11 Failures of Leadership Exposed by Fire Fighters

MVC on I-44 West Bound

RV Fire on the Turnpike

New Dump Tank

Fatal Traffic Accident Shuts Down Highway

The New Rescue Truck

Tanker Fire

Still Checking Hydrants

Haz-Mat

E-One Ladder Truck

Hydrant Test Around Town

Hose Testing Time Again

Enid rookie firefighter loses job following public hearing

MVC on the Turnpike

Oklahoma Medic Killed

Good Samaritan Rescues Two People From Burning Catoosa Home

ICE!!!

Great Save by Tulsa Fire

Firemark Consulting

Municipal Judge Rita Lamkin

Vacation Time

NIMS Class

Ladder Training

The City of Catoosa's New Web Page

MDA

House Fire

RV Fire

Chemical Fire Breaks Out At Port of Catoosa

Motorcycle daredevil crashes

House Fire

Show and Tell

Landing Air Evac

Hydraulic Extrication Equipment Grant

Channel 6 News Story

Technical Rescue

CFD Montage

Volunteer Firefighter Killed In Kay County

Fire Hydrant Testing

MVC on I-44

1979 murder conviction upheld in opinion by judge

Destry Horton, Chickasha Fire and EMS

Dangerous hill to get guardrails

Rollover near the Port

MVC in The Pond

MVC

Pancake Breakfast

CPSC, SFC America Announce Recall to Repair Fire Extinguishers

Catoosa Police Department

Pelvic Stabilization a la KED

Area Ambulance Service Could Go Out Of Business

July fire sparks lawsuit against Gatineau fire department

Christmas Party

By John Henley Jr.
THE MORNING NEWS