Meet your new Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District Fire Chief

Randy Simpson has been appointed Fire Chief for Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District (ICFPD).  As Fire Chief he will manage the operations, stations, apparatus, firefighters, EMTs and paramedics of Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District.  

"I am honored to serve the citizens of our district and proud to lead our volunteers" Chief Simpson said following his appointment by the ICFPD Board of Directors.  Chief Simpson is a Colorado native, having grown up in the Conifer area, and graduated from Evergreen High School. Chief Simpson is a graduate of Metropolitan State College, Denver with a Bachelor's degree in Aviation Science.

Chief Simpson is a Captain at Delta Air Lines, piloting the Airbus A320.  He joined ICFPD in 1997. 

Automated External Defibrillators and Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District

What is an AED?
The automated external defibrillator (AED) is a computerized medical device. An AED can check a person’s heart rhythm. It can recognize a rhythm that requires a shock. And it can advise the rescuer when a shock is needed. The AED uses voice prompts, lights and text messages to tell the rescuer the steps to take.

AEDs are very accurate and easy to use. With a few hours of training, anyone can learn to operate an AED safely. There are many different brands of AEDs, but the same basic steps apply to all of them.

Successful use of an AED
The successful use of an AED resulting in resusciation requires multipe steps:

1.  Prompt recognition of a cardiac event

2.  Rapid notification of 911

3.  Immediate application of CPR in the event of cardiac arrest

4.  Continued CPR and Basic Life Support (BLS) until and during the use of the AED

5.  Use of Advanced Life Support (ALS) for resuscitation

Bystander or family CPR is critical to a successful resuscitation.

What's the American Heart Association position on placement of AEDs?
The AHA strongly advocates that all EMS first-response vehicles and ambulances be equipped with an AED or another defibrillation device.  Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District has an AED in service at each fire station, carried on either the ambulance or the engine at the station. 

The ZOLL M Series AED, defibrillator and monitor is carried on each ICFPD ambulance

Firefighter Certification

Firefighter Certifications

According to the NFPA’s U.S. fire department profile, there are an estimated 30,125 fire departments in the United States. Of these, 2,495 departments are all-career, 1,860 are mostly career, 5,290 are mostly volunteer and 20,480 are all-volunteer. In other words, 70% of all firefighters in America are volunteers, which equates to 768,150 fire and emergency service responders.

Inter-Canyon Fire/Rescue very comprehensive training systems, professional qualifications and certifications, meet or exceed state and/or national certifications in many areas.  Meeting these requirements can be difficult in rural communities served by vounteers.  Inter-Canyon firefighters, EMTs and Paramedics invest hunderds of hours in training before ever responding to your call for assistance.

All of the vounteer firefighters serving Inter-Canyon are certified at the Colorado Firefighter I or Firefighter II level and have at least Emergency Medical Responder Certification.  Our firefighters then move into specialized certifications in areas such as Hazardous Materials, High Angle Rescue, Emergency Medical Services and Wildland firefighting.

To apply for Colorado certification the applicant must meet the general requirements of the state. These requirements include being a resident of the state and possessing a valid driver's license. General requirements to become a firefighter include passing a criminal background check. Individuals should also expect to meet the physical requirements for the job, such as running and lifting.

Firefighter Voluntary Certification Program

The Colorado Voluntary Firefighter Certification Program for Fire Fighters is now required for all firefighters within the state, including volunteer firefighters, though the title of the program continues to hold the former wording. This certification is to ensure that firefighters obtain the knowledge, skills and abilities to meet nationally recognized standards for the position. Training for certification is established by the National Fire Protection Association Standards for Professional Qualifications. Training subjects are offered according to the level of certification being obtained, such as Fire Fighter I (basic, entry level certification), driver operator, driver operator pumper, etc. Certifications must be renewed every three years through successful completion of each job performance requirement and submission of a renewal application.

Job Performance Requirements

Job Performance Requirements (JPRs)are used to prepare firefighting candidates for International Fire Service Accreditation testing. This testing is done to ensure that the candidate possesses the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of a firefighter safely and within the standards of the National Fire Protection Association. The job performance requirements are tested through performance of tasks determined by the level of certification the individual holds. For Firefighter I, certification tasks include radio transmitting, donning and doffing equipment, search and rescue, salvage, cleaning and checking equipment, and inspecting the hose.

Meet the Newest Member of the Board of Directors of Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District

Leslie Caimi

Leslie is a Colorado native – having graduated from Heritage High School and Metropolitan State College. Leslie and husband, Carl, have lived in the district for 15 years. Prior to that they lived in Ken Caryl Ranch.

Leslie is a self-employed Event Planner and has organized large events such as the Triple Bypass Bicycle Tour, MS150, Denver Century, Healing Wheels Bicycle Tour, and the Big Chili Cook-Off. Leslie is also an Executive Wine Sommelier. Leslie and Carl were previous owners of Aspen Perk Coffee House.

Read the National Wildfire Outlook for 2013

National agency: Dry winter, warming trend foretell wildfire danger across West

Two rapidly growing and unseasonably early fires burning in northern California’s wine country and another wind-whipped blaze farther south likely are a harbinger of a nasty summer fire season across the West.  Officials with the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise said Wednesday in their first 2013 summer fire outlook that a dry winter and expected warming trend mean the potential for significant fire activity will be above normal on the West Coast, in the Southwest and portions of Idaho and Montana.  A combination of a low-moisture winter and a warming and drying pattern in the West that will increase the fire potential.

In 2012, record-setting fires raged in New Mexico and Oregon, while destructive Colorado blazes torched hundreds of homes amid one of the state’s worst seasons in years.  Like 2012, Colorado experienced some of its first 2013 wildfires in March.  Outside the West, however, much of the U.S. is expected to experience normal fire conditions, with below-normal danger in the South where significant, long-duration rains saturated the landscape.