E911 Appreciation

Christmas Gift Cards

The Christmas Gift Cards received by 911 Dispatchers was a great hit. They were very appreciative, and conveyed their pleasure to me. The 911 Dispatchers and Staff wished to thank the Association for the very kind gifts that the Scott County Firefighters Association gave to them for Christmas, 2008.

QRP Field Day

QRP Field Day is 07Feb09 SAT. This is a low-power ham radio Field Day conducted by Amature Radio men and women and kids throughout the world. Be listening for KJ4ADV Jim on 7.285 Mhz QRP SSB Calling Frequency, and 7.040 Mhz CW Call Frequency in the 40 Meter Band. He'll be trying to contact other QRPers throughout the world. If the weather doesn't get too bad he's going to try and make some contacts from High Knob, VA. 73.

VA Dept of Forestry Firefighter I at Fort

VA Dept of Forestry conducted a VDoF Firefighter I class at Fort Blackmore Fire Department on 02Feb09 at 1900. The class included Fire Behavior, Fuels, Fire Triangle, Tools, etc. A video on Fire Shelters was viewed and the Firefighters practiced deploying a Fire Shelter out between the Engine 701[a] and Tanker 706 at the Station. Thanks to 2500 who conducted the class; your effort on our behalf is much appreciated. Thanks also to the 6 Firefighters with our Department that stayed for the whole class.

Firefighter I - VDFP

Firefighter I began 30Jan09, SAT, at 0800 in Duffield. The 100+ hours of instruction will be held each SAT and SUN. The Lead Instructor is the Department Chief from GCFD. Fort Blackmore sent 2 Firefighters to attend the class, who should be graduating in April. The written test and practicals will be followed the next day with live fire instruction at the Coeburn Burn Building. Make-ups may be held, time-date-place TBA.

VA Forestry FF I - Ground Operations Class

Fort Blackmore Fire Department will have a Virginia Forestry class on 1st Monday night in February, 2009, at 1900. All members and non-members are urged to attend. The class will consist of VA DofF Firefighter I Ground Operations. It will last approximately 2-3 hours. Training in fire tent deployment and use may also be incorporated into the training, time permitting.

Fire Fighter I

Fire Fighter I through VDFP to be held at Gate City Fire Department. First meeting is the weekend of 15Jan09. Three [3] firefighters are currently signed up to participate. Approximately 100 hours of classroom and handson; class to include HazMat Awareness and Healthcare Professional CPR through AHA. Contact the Chief for further information.

Flood Warning - Tuesday 06Jan09

Flood Warning for Scott County until 0545 tomorrow morning. Standby at your residence until called upon. Stoney Creek residents may need help moving things to dry ground. Contact Chief at 995-2035 for 995-2228.

Upcoming Association Meetings

All Meetings at 1930 hrs on the first Thursday of each month:
January 15 - Duffield Station 1
February - Dungannon Fire Dept
March - Gate City Fire Dept
April - Hiltons Fire Dept
May - Nickelsville Fire Dept
June - Weber City Station 1
July - Fort Blackmore Fire Dept

CPR / AED

Thanks to those firefighters who made it through another CPR / AED recertification. Your attention to detail is appreciated. Thanks for all you do for the Department.

Association Meeting

Scott Co. Firefighters Association meeting at Fort Blackmore this Thurdsay at 1930 hrs. All FBVFD firefighters are requested to attend if possible.

Christmas Party

Plan for the annual Christmas Party for Firefighters on Saturday 20th December.

EMT Class and Recertification Class

An EMT Class will begin on 20OCT08 at 1800 at Scott Co Life Saving Crew in Gate City. Those interested should contact Assistant Chief Perry.

An EMT Recertification Weekend will begin Friday, 19Oct08 and will be held at Nickelsville Rescue Squad. Those EMT's who wish to attend this recerticiation weekend should contact Capt. Marshall with NVRS in Nickelsville. The class will contineu on Sunday daytime and finish on Monday evening.

Upcoming Association Meeting Locations

2008-2009 Scott Co Firefighters Association meeting times and locations are listed below:

All times 1930 hrs:
Oct 02 - Nickelsville Fire Department
Nov 06 - Weber City Fire Deparment
Dec 04 - Fort Blackmore Fire Department

Holmatro Tools

An inspection of the Holmatro tools will be done at 1300 on Friday, 19OCT08, by the Rural Development Coordinator from Lebanon, VA. Any Officer that is free that day should report to the hall by 1245 hrs.

CPR Recertification

A CPR REcertification will be scheduled in the near future. It is hoped that this training can be done in October. Contact the Chief Officer for more information.

Candy Stand-by

Stand-by at FBVFD 31OCT08 1600-2000

FBVFD will sponsor a candy-giveaway at the Station on the date listed above. Firefighters are urged to attend. Members are requested to be on stand-by during the week-end as it is usually a high activity slice of time. Contact a Department Officer if you cannot attend.

VDFP Meeting

The Virginia Department of Fire Programs, District IV, coordinator, Mr. Dennis Price, will be at Gate City Fire Department on Tuesday , 14OCT08, at 1900. All Departments are requested to send a respresentative.

Fire Prevention Week

Fire Preventio Week is October 7-13, 2008. The Department will be presenting a program to the Fort Blackmore Primary School on Friday, 10OCT08 at 0900. All Department members are requested to attend.

Cake Walk

Cake Walk to be held June 14th. It may be held at one of two places: Front Porch Store or Fort Blackmore Primary School. Contact the Department for information. 276-995-2035

Chief on the Move

The Chief at Fort Blackmore VFD must go to his mom's out West to help her transition to a new way of life. Her health has taken a different turn. Chief Currier will be gone until late June, '08. Assistant Chief Perry will be the contact for the Department at 276-995-2035 STATION or 276-995-1156 FAX. Chief Currier will leave contact numbers before he goes West.

A Personal Note

I would like to take this space to thank all those volunteers at Fort Blackmore Fire Department who took time out of their busy schedule to stand-by at the Station during May 10th's County-Wide Exercise. I was very proud of the way you all did that. It is unfortunate that word did not filter to the Exercise Coordinators that you were available for that Exercise. I would like to take the rest of this space to remind Scott County that there are Seven fire departments inside the county boundaries, and there are actually Four EMS Providers in our county, which includes Fort Blackmore VFD First Responders. We may be small, and we may be far out in the countryside, but our hearts are just as big, and we volunteer our time and talent just like everyone else...