The Asheville Fire Department is recruiting middle-school age kids for its summer camp to be held June 24 – 26. This a great way for kids to have fun and learn what it is like to be a City of Asheville firefighter. Click here for the 2013 Fire Escape Application. Apply by June 7.
Below is a 2012 post highlighting the summer camp:
Fire Camp a great escape for kids June 14, 2012
For 28 youths, this week was a chance to fill the boots of firefighters at the City of Asheville Fire Department’s Fire Escape camp.
For the third year in a row, AFD hosted the three-day camp for boys and girls in grades six through eight. Attendance at the camp, held at the Asheville Firefighters Association Camp off Clayton Road, has grown since it began in 2010.
“We got some repeat campers, and a few told their friends. Word is getting out and we filled up pretty quick this year,” said AFD Public Information Officer Kelley Klope.
The department’s interaction with students at Asheville Middle School through the In Real Life partnership also contributed to the turnout, Klope said.
Kids got to learn how to use turnout gear, the suit and equipment firefighters use when entering burning buildings, unroll and connect hoses and take a turn in the 100-foot-tall aerial bucket. They even got a taste of the obstacle course training that Asheville’s firefighters use to stay in top form.
“They get to learn the skills we use,” Klope said. “The kids just love it.”
The camp also serves as an introduction to other opportunities the AFD offers, including Asheville Fire Explorer Post 77, which trains young adults ages 14-21 firefighting skills. Several current firefighters with the department got their start in Post 77.
Fire Escape camp was provided free of charge, thanks to the participation of the Asheville Firefighters Association and Asheville firefighters who volunteered their time over the three days. The AFD also wants to thank Firehouse Subs and Asheville Pizza and Brewing for donating lunches.
There are nearly 4,000 fire hydrants in the City of Asheville and every couple of years they need a new coat of paint. Each year, the Asheville Fire Department repaints one half of Asheville’s fire hydrants in order to extend their life spans and to be more visible to firefighters. Covering that kind of ground takes a lot of hands holding a lot of paintbrushes. That’s where Asheville’s active and engaged volunteer community comes in. A volunteer group can cover 20 to 30 hydrants in a day, and that, says Asheville Fire Department Division Chief of Safety and Training Barry Hendren, adds up to a big contribution.
“This is a great service project for our local organizations and it’s a huge help to us,” Hendren says. “Each fire company is assigned the upkeep of hydrants in a certain part of the city, and having volunteers help out frees up our firefighters and allows them to take care of other tasks.”
Its not just busywork, Hendren says. A bright coat of paint helps firefighters quickly find hydrants when responding to a fire and the colors tell them what water pressure the hydrant has and what kind of coupling to use. Red, orange, green and blue all denote different water flow. That information is critical when seconds can mean saved lives or property.
Repainting takes place between April and October and all kinds of groups, including schools, youth groups, scouting troops or civic organizations are invited to volunteer. The AFD provides all the materials and Hendren leads a short training session before volunteers head out with maps of the area they will cover. Hydrants assigned to volunteers are chosen so that volunteers don’t work on major traffic corridors.
For more information or to sign up to volunteer, contact the city’s Volunteer Coordinator Marsha Stickford at (828) 259-5506 or email: mstickford@ashevillenc.gov..
Click below to see a video about volunteer fire hydrant painting made in collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Buncombe County:
A big thanks to all of the City of Asheville employees who came out and donated at the Asheville Fire Department and Asheville Police Department Blood Drive on October 24. The drive, held in the City of Asheville Municipal Building that houses both the APD and AFD, saw donors from multiple departments contributing where it counts.
“In our business, we see first hand that blood is always a precious commodity when it comes to saving lives,” said AFD Chief Scott Burnette. “We’re glad to host an event that helps that cause.”
To find local blood donor opportunities or get information about how your organization can host a blood drive, go to www.redcrossblood.org.
“Donating blood is an opportunity for people to give the most important gift of all, the ‘Gift of Life,’” said Stacy Taylor, Donor Resources, American Red Cross, Carolinas Blood Services Region. “The Red Cross depends on the generosity of volunteer donors to meet the needs of patients in our area and across the country.”
October is Fire Prevention Month, but the Asheville Fire Department already has an important message about the difference a sprinkler system can make in reducing fire damage.
On September 24, 2012 the Asheville Fire Department was dispatched to 9091 Verde Vista Cr. in response to a reported structure fire. Crews arrived on scene to find heavy smoke coming from unit 5117 and also reported that the sprinkler system had been activated. Evacuation of nearby units was conducted but due to the activated sprinkler system the fire was confined to unit 5117 only and to the washing machine itself. AFD crews did not have to extinguish the fire because the quick activation of the sprinkler system was able to suppress the fire completely. Statistics show that the installation of both smoke alarms and a fire sprinkler system reduces the risk of death in a home fire by 82%.
Click here for more fire safety tips from the Asheville Fire Department.
For some, the ceremony held September 11 by the Asheville Fire Department was recognition of achievement and the effort they have given to the department and
The annual ceremony recognizes new hires to the AFD as well as promotions, special achievements and life saving efforts over the year.
community. For others it was the beginning of a new career and life as a firefighter. But for each person at the ceremony, the day was a reminder and celebration of the dedication it takes to be part of the AFD.
“Thank you so much. We are proud of what you have achieved,” said Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy speaking to the firefighters and their friends and families gathered at the Sherrill Center on the UNC Asheville Campus. “You represent the best and the brightest.”
27 Asheville Firefighters were recognized for promotions or advancements at the Sept. 11 ceremony.
The Asheville Fire Department recognition program observed the advancement or promotion of 27 firefighters and the hiring of 26 new recruits. AFD Chief Scott Burnette said the department’s outreach efforts through programs like the department’s Explorer Post and In Real Life program not only brought in a large field of new applicants, but also allowed the department to increase the numbers of minority hires over the last year.
In the past year, 16 firefighters advanced to the role of Senior Firefighter, and four were advanced to Captain. Seven firefighters received promotions, including 14-year veteran Joy Ponder, who notably achieved the status of the AFD’s first female Battalion Chief.
Joy Ponder is the Asheville Fire Department's first female Battalion Chief.
Ponder was also the 2012 recipient of the YWCA’s Tribute to Women of Influence award, that organization’s recognition of women who are role models in the community. The 2011 recipient of the TWIN award was AFD firefighter and Public Information Officer Kelley Klope.
“That honorees have been women in the Asheville Fire Department for two years in a row, we think is pretty significant,” said Burnette.
The AFD award ceremony is held in tandem with its annual remembrance of the September 11 attacks and the firefighters who gave their lives to save others, as well as a time to honor those from the Asheville Fire Department who lost their lives in the line of duty.
“We honor the lives lost that day by continuing to improve and advance, never forgetting our mission to save lives and to minimize suffering,” Burnette said. “We are here today a stronger nation and a stronger fire service and we will always be grateful for those who gave their lives to save others.”
Below are the AFD firefighters who received promotions and advancements:
SENIOR FIREFIGHTERS
Brian Stanfield
Edan Douek
John Ellis
Thomas Lael
Mark Jameson
William Willis
Ross Parkinson
David House (Active Military Duty)
Chris Kovalchik
Matthew Pride
Nicholas Dematteis
Christopher Rice
Luke Miller
Carla Ball
Keagan Monteith
Dale Wyrick
CAPTAINS
Dana Trantham
Rafael Bango
Robert Keith
Dave Sauer
ENGINEERS
Bradley Duncan
Joey Hammond
LIEUTENANTS
Eric Johnson
Patrick Crudup
DEPUTY FIRE MARSHAL
CASEY SILVERS
FIRE INVESTIGATOR
David Cutshall
BATTALION CHIEF
Joy Ponder
New hires to the AFD are:
Josh Cram
Joshua Jenkins
Joseph Meleski
Kevin Proffitt
Eric Wardwell
Steven Parker
Scott Mirkin
Avery Gibbs
Amber Hartsburg
Patrick Worley
Adam Ross
Dan Young
Gregory Miller
Benjamin Lynch
Sean Garden
James Kodaras
Bradley Maselbas
Brandon King
Matthew Hooker
Wallace Sexton
Antwaiin Worden
Isaac Mccurry
Weston Hall
Peter Morton
Neil Spencer
Jacob Hannon
Asheville Fire Department Captain Jeff Bowen, who died in the line of duty while battling a 2011 blaze, was memorialized Aug. 15 with the renaming of a bridge that spans the French Broad River in Asheville.
In a ceremony attended by hundreds, including firefighters from Asheville and many other areas, a sign recognizing the Capt. Jeff Bowen Bridge was unveiled.
“May all who travel across this bridge see Captain Bowen’s name and be reminded of the sacrifices he made for the community he loved,” said Wanda Proffitt, of the NC Board of Transportation.
Proffitt was one of a selection of speakers at the ceremony that included AFD Chief Scott Burnette, NC Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshall Wayne Goodwin, and City of Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy.
“It is fitting and proper that this bridge is going to have the name of somebody who served our community so well,” Bellamy said. “When people see it, they will know that, in this community, we honor our own.”
Commissioner Goodwin pointed to the sacrifice that all firefighters make in service to others and the outpouring of support the surrounding community showed in advocating for the bridge dedication. “So many people came together in the wake of the tragedy,” Goodwin said. “Captain Jeff Bowen is in the hearts and minds of so many today.”
Capt. Bowen’s mother Laurel Bowen, alongside the rest of his family, attended Wednesday’s ceremony. Click below to see Laurel Bowen addressing the crowd at the dedication ceremony.
Click here for a website that is heading up the fundraising effort in support of Capt. Bowen’s family.
Click here for more pictures from the dedication event.
July 28 marked the one year anniversary of the passing of Asheville Fire Department Captain Jeff Bowen, who lost his life in the line of duty while fighting a 2011 blaze at 445 Biltmore Avenue.
To mark the occasion and honor Capt. Bowen’s life and service, a memorial service was held at Asheville-Buncombe Community College. The ceremony was attended by fellow firefighters from multiple agencies, family, friends and City of Asheville employees who came to pay their respects.
The day before, on July 27, 30 firefighters rode into Asheville on bicycles marking the inaugural Carolina Brotherhood Ride to honor fallen firefighters throughouot the state. The 400-mile, five day ride stretched from Wilmington to Asheville, and the firefighters ended their trek at the Biltmore Avenue stage of the Bele Chere festival to a welcoming crowd.
Proceeds from the ride’s sponsorships and donations will go to the widow and three children of Capt. Bowen.
“It was humbling to see the Carolina Brotherhood end their ride in Asheville to honor Capt. Bowen,” said AFD Chief Scott Burnette. “Their journey through the many communities in North Carolina showed the riders and the Asheville Fire Department the tremendous level of respect that our state has for Capt. Bowen. This was a fitting way to begin a tough weekend for our fire department.”
Participants in the Carolina Brotherhood Ride also attended Saturday’s memorial service.
“The Memorial Service on Saturday was also humbling, to see the community attend to pay their respects to Jeff,” Capt. Burnette said. “That the service was not only attended by fellow Public Safety workers, but by fellow City employees and the community as a whole, symbolizes the tremendous unity our community has.”
For information about how to give to the fund for Capt. Bowen’s family, click here.
One of the best parts of Bele Chere is wandering around the festival, running into unexpected friends and searching for treasures in artist booths or stumbling upon a fantastic street performer.
But sometimes, you want to get somewhere right now, be it a band or a bathroom, and you need to know how to make it from A to B.
Attendees can find information booths scattered throughout the Bele Chere grounds, both on the perimeter and in the center of the festival. Once there, volunteers are available to point the way and hand out festival maps.
There will also be roving information booths meandering about among the festival crowd and dishing out directions to fellow wanderers. Look for the people carrying signs that say “Bele Chere Info.” They know where to go.
For a peek at what to expect this year, click on this map of the festival layout or download your own printable copy here.
The Bele Chere festival is a great time full of free music, fun and performance, but it is also hot, crowded, subject to thunderstorms and sunshine alike. So make sure to enjoy it safely by following these tips from Asheville Fire Department Public Information Officer Kelley Klope:
Be prepared for crowds – think about the shoes you wear and the items you bring.
Because of the crowds, strollers are difficult to maneuver around.
Temperatures at Bele Chere are often very hot – prepare with sunscreen, water and protective clothing.
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Water, juice, sports drinks or even milk will help. Soda is not an effective hydrator.
Watch your intake of alcoholic beverages. Drinking alcohol, even the day before exposure to heat, can exacerbate dehydration.
“Especially be aware of your children and limit their exposure to the heat and sun,” Klope says. “Please listen to your body and its reaction to the heat and sun and try not to wait until it is too late.” Take breaks in air conditioning or shade and take advantage of the misting tents located at Bele Chere.
Wear loose, light fitting clothing and a hat or use an umbrella to protect yourself from the sun.
Sudden thunderstorms often erupt in afternoons. Bring umbrellas or rain gear and be aware of safe places to go for cover (example – parking garages).
Asheville Fire Department will be onsite to treat injuries and heat-related issues, so seek help if you or someone in your party is experiencing problems. First-aid tents will be located at the corners of Patton Avenue and Church Street and at College Street and Lexington Avenue.
On July 9, friends, family and colleagues gathered to mark the retirement of Sgt. Danny Holden and celebrate his 20 years with the Asheville Police Department.
Holden has a law enforcement career under his belt that totals nearly 30 years, having come to the APD from the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Department in 1992. In 1999, he began his role as a drug interdiction officer and is especially noted for his work combating drug activity in several roles. He served on multiple drug task forces including the Drug Suppression Unit, Criminal Investigations Drug Unit and the Buncombe County Anti-Crime Task Force and collaborated with the Drug Enforcement Administration. Holden’s skill at drug enforcement made a big impression on the officers around him.
“Our drug unit would not be what it is if not for Danny,” said Capt. Tim Splain. “On the road, the DSU, the BCAT, officers want to be the type of drug agent he is. We are indebted to Danny and his skills.”
The APD and the City of Asheville thank Sgt. Holden for his dedicated service and wish him a happy retirement.
For 28 youths, this week was a chance to fill the boots of firefighters at the City of Asheville Fire Department’s Fire Escape camp.
For the third year in a row, AFD hosted the three-day camp for boys and girls in grades six through eight. Attendance at the camp, held at the Asheville Firefighters Association Camp off Clayton Road, has grown since it began in 2010.
“We got some repeat campers, and a few told their friends. Word is getting out and we filled up pretty quick this year,” said AFD Public Information Officer Kelley Klope.
The department’s interaction with students at Asheville Middle School through the In Real Life partnership also contributed to the turnout, Klope said.
Kids got to learn how to use turnout gear, the suit and equipment firefighters use when entering burning buildings, unroll and connect hoses and take a turn in the 100-foot-tall aerial bucket. They even got a taste of the obstacle course training that Asheville’s firefighters use to stay in top form.
“They get to learn the skills we use,” Klope said. “The kids just love it.”
The camp also serves as an introduction to other opportunities the AFD offers, including Asheville Fire Explorer Post 77, which trains young adults ages 14-21 firefighting skills. Several current firefighters with the department got their start in Post 77.
Fire Escape camp was provided free of charge, thanks to the participation of the Asheville Firefighters Association and Asheville firefighters who volunteered their time over the three days. The AFD also wants to thank Firehouse Subs and Asheville Pizza and Brewing for donating lunches.
Apply to attend Fire Escape Camp here: http://www.ashevillenc.gov/Portals/0/city-documents/fire/fire_education_and_prevention/ASHEVILLE%20FIRE%20CAMP%202013%20Application.pdf
For information about future camp opportunities, contact Kelley Klope at (828) 251-4011 or kklope@ashevillenc.gov.
For the third year in a row, AFD hosted the three-day camp for boys and girls in grades six through eight. Attendance at the camp, held at the Asheville Firefighters Association Camp off Clayton Road, has grown since it began in 2010.
Kids got to learn how to use turnout gear, the suit and equipment firefighters use when entering burning buildings, unroll and connect hoses and take a turn in the 100-foot-tall aerial bucket. They even got a taste of the obstacle course training that Asheville’s firefighters use to stay in top form.
