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Biography
A
message from Fire Chief Gary E. Curmode, CFO/EFO
The
personnel of Sedgwick County Fire District No. 1 continued to raise the
bar of excellence during 2008.
June 2008 saw the opening of Station No. 32 and the
district’s administrative offices near 77th Street North and I-135 in
Park City. This, the second of a five-station relocation program, will
increase response efficiency and lower fire insurance ISO ratings for
our district’s customers. The Station Review Committee was headed by
Deputy Fire Chief Rick A. Brazill who monitored the construction
progress daily. I would like to thank all committee members for their
efforts and dedication in completing this project. This station greatly
improves services to the areas near Park City, Kechi, and the
north/northeast quadrant of the county. Additionally, Station 32
responds on any structure fires in a 310 square-mile area — half
of the district’s 620 square miles and 85,000 citizens.
Division Chief Walter Rooney became the first Sedgwick County fire
officer to achieve the Fire Plans Examiner certification from the
International Code Council. During 2008 the district also had 10
firefighters attend supervisory training at the Center for Management
Development at Wichita State University. This is a rigorous course of
three-hour sessions lasting 11 weeks that will help prepare a
firefighter for the initial supervisory level of lieutenant.
Captains David Edwards and Tavis Leake,
along with Division Chief Doug Williams, were recognized for completing
the complex process of Chief Fire Officer Designation through the Center
for Public Safety Excellence. Only about 550 fire officers in the United
States have attained this certification. Captain Don Paget and Division
Chief Alfred Pressnell also achieved Chief Medical Officer Designation
as participants in CPSE’s beta launch of this program. All of these
officers are utilizing the district’s Career Professional Development
Program.
A
formal recruit academy of six firefighters graduated from the district’s
training academy in 2008 and the district had 12 personnel of various
ranks attend the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Four of
our employees retired from service in 2008.
The
district’s fifth-annual compliance report to the Commission for Public
Safety Excellence was approved in 2008. In May, an Accreditation Site
Review Team evaluated the district for four days as part of the
five-year accreditation period renewal process. The team recommended
reaccreditation, and the commission approved this in August 2008 at the
Fire/Rescue International conference in Denver, Colorado. This review
included 10 categories covering 77 core competencies and more than 250
specific indicators. Thanks to the excellent accreditation committee,
staff, and members of the district for seeing this through to fruition.
Our first youth Fire Camp was an excellent
success and Captain Tavis Leake has scheduled our next camp for May 9,
2009. Fire Camp is a fun,
exciting day of learning about the job of a firefighter. Activities
include first aid, rescue practices, firefighting, and physical fitness.
Fire Camp challenges attendees to reach within themselves, develop
teamwork, and make new friends.
The
secret to our success of Sedgwick County Fire District No. 1 is our
employees — they
make it happen! My sincere
thanks and appreciation goes out to them, the Board of County
Commissioners, the county manager and his staff, and our citizens.
Fire Chief Gary E. Curmode, CFO/EFO
Your
Government
