2010 Special Operations Training cont'd

Rangers from the Colorado State Parks also participated in the drills, adding their equipment and expertise to the scenarios.

In March, the District’s rope rescue technicians participated in a mutual aid company rope rescue training at the XCEL Energy Fort Saint Vrain Power Station.  Personnel from Frederick-Firestone, Platteville-Gilcrest, and Fort Lupton Fire Districts were familiarized with each other’s equipment and capabilities.  The rope rescue specialists participated in a low-angle rescue evolution, i.e. a simulated rescue of a person in a below-grade environment.  Rope team members demonstrated various rope rescue competencies by alternating as members of a hauling, belay, and rescue teams.

All District Personnel completed Swiftwater Rescue Awareness training in May that was instructed by the District’s Swiftwater Technicians.  All staff completed classroom training on the topic of water and its dangers, followed by water rescue skills evaluations at the Carbon Valley Recreation Center.  The District also added two additional Swiftwater Technicians to its team this year.

Our HazMat Technicians have been especially busy this year.  Each quarter, our Hazmat Technicians participate in the Southwest Weld Hazmat Training Group drills.  These training sessions are attended by Hazmat Technicians from Frederick-Firestone, Platteville-Gilcrest, Fort Lupton, Mountain View, and Greater Brighton Fire Districts.  On June 16^th, several of the District’s Hazmat Technicians were directly involved in a regional full scale WMD exercise presented by the Weld County Office of Emergency Management. 

In June, our Trench Rescue Technicians conducted one of our bi-annual trench rescue drills for all of our firefighters and officers.  Arriving crews were faced with a large “T” trench with an unconscious utility worker approximately seven foot below ground level.  Crews had to secure the trench and extricate the victim safely.   The District also added two additional Trench & Collapse Rescue Technicians to our Special Operations Team this year.

The District and its members are committed to being able to respond to and safely mitigate the wide-ranging calls for service our jurisdiction receives. This involves a coordinate effort of personnel and equipment from not only our agency, but also from our neighboring agencies. The training and equipping of our Special Operations units is an ongoing and continual process, and comes in addition to the fire suppression and emergency medical training in which all of our staff participates. Confined Space Rescue and Collapse Search & Rescue will be the focus of Special Operations training in 2011, in addition to the continuing education in the aforementioned areas.

New Emergency Notification System Operational in Weld County cont'd

early warning systems that provide you with up-to-date, accurate information. This includes:

1. Emergency Callback Systems such as the Intrado Target Notification system used in Weld County
2. Local Media Broadcasts on Radio, Television and the Internet
3. NOAA Weather Alerts via a Weather Alert Radio

All wireless (cell) and voice over internet (VoIP) phone subscribers within Weld County are eligible to register and receive Intrado Target Notifications from the system, and all of the information you enter is stored in a secure database. You will only receive calls/notifications when emergency officials deem an emergency exists in your area and activate the call-back system. No matter where you are physically located, you will only receive calls for emergencies that affect the address entered into the website. So if you are on vacation in a different state you will still receive a phone call if the address you entered is affected by an emergency.

The Intrado Target Notification is different than the notification systems used by certain communities to send out community information. The Intrado system is used by emergency officials only, and only emergency information is sent to subscribers. Signing up for another system (i.e. Blackboard Connect, Code Red, Connect Cty, etc.) will not register your numbers and address with the Weld County Emergency Notification System, you must register for the Intrado system independently. Signing up for the Weld County Intrado Target Notification Service is free and easy.  Just click on the “Intrado” banner in the left column for more information and registration.

Be Prepared, Be Informed, Be Vigilant