Multi-Agency Saw Class

Pine Lake - 

From January 14-16, 2014, personnel from multiple agencies attended a wildfire chainsaw class (S-212) held at the Pine Lake Fire District and instructed by Arizona State Forestry representatives. During the three day class, students learned proper tool handling and safety procedures, chainsaw maintenance and cutting techniques.

One the final day of class, students participated in a field day exercise in the Hualapai Mountain Park  where a thinning project has been started to help complete the fuel break around the Pine Lake community. Students were graded on proper cutting techniques and safe felling operations as well as a stump analysis of trees that were cut.

This project as well as the class took a jump to the front row after this past summers Dean Peak Fire that started on June 29, 2013 by a lightning strike and burnt nearly 5,500 acres, threatening both the Pine Lake and Pinion Pine communities. The class provides more local first responders with chainsaw knowledge and certifications at the National level to help protect the communities in which they serve as well as other communities when dispatched to nationwide natural disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes and tornadoes.

Agencies that attended the course included Golden Valley Fire District, Desert Hills Fire District, Fish and Wildlife Services, Pinion Pine Fire District and the Mohave County Division of Emergency Management.

Instructors included Aaron Green and Tony Parks (Arizona State Forestry),  Kevin Gifford (Golden Valley Fire District) and Doug Carney (Mohave Valley Fire District)

Story by Lieutenant Ron Hood, Pinion Pine Fire District
Photos by Mike Browning, Mohave County Emergency Management Assistant Coordinator

Vehicle Stabilization and Patient Extrication Class

The Pinion Pine Fire District will be hosting a Vehicle Stabilization and Patient Extrictation class on November 17-18, 2012 which will prepare rescuers to successfully manage vehicle incidents safely and proficiently. The course will cover incident size-up, scene hazard management, vehicle stabilization, patient access and management, extrication techniques, and new car technology. Students will recieve a certicification through the Arizona Center for Fire Service Excellence upon completion. For more information, visit http://www.pinionpinefire.com/classes.htm. Class size is limited and students must be sponsored by their department.

Basic Firefighter Skills Class Available

The Pinion Pine Fire District will be holding a Basic Firefighter Skills Class open to area depts, for individuals interesting in earning a Basic Firefighter Skills certificate through the Arizona Center for Fire Service Excellence. The class will be held at Pinion Pine Fire Station No. 52 and take place over the course of three weekends for 8 hours a day starting April 21, 2012 and ending on May 6, 2012. The class will be a combination of classroom lectures, discussions and hands on skills ranging from Personal Protective Equipment to Rapid Intervention Crews to Fire Behavior. There is a limited amount of space available and some requirements apply. For more information on class details and requirements, Visit http://www.pinionpinefire.com/.

Pinion Pine Firefighter's Prepare for 2012 Fire Season

On Sunday February 26, 2012, firefighter's participated in the annual wildland refresher course in preperation for the 2012 Wildland fire season conducted by Operations Lieutenant Kevin Gifford, Enginner Ken Milner and Engineer Ron Hood. Every year, Pinion Pine firefighters participate in an 8 hour class designed to keep them sharp and safe during wildfire incidents focusing on LCES (Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes and Safety Zones), entrapment avoidance, fire shelter deployment, and safety along with an annual physical agility test that requires firefighter's to walk 3 miles with a 45 lb pack in under 45 minutes. These standards are required to be "Red Carded" by the state of Arizona and to assist other agencies in the United States, primarily on the west coast for wildfire incidents.

Lt. Kevin Gifford (middle) and Engineer Duane Dodds (right)
prepare to deploy their fire shelters. The Department requirement
is to be in your shelter completely within 20 seconds.

Lt. Kevin Gifford instructing class about entrapment avoidance

Article Submitted by Engineer/EMT Ron Hood