Reprint from the Progress Times - September 21, 2007
©Progress Times 2007 - All Rights Reserved

Fire department looks to be more than responders

One of the most crucial litmus tests of a fire department is how quickly they respond to fires. Seconds truly do count in emergencies. However, the Mission Fire Department is working hard to do much more than react to fires.

The other major effort of the Mission Fire Department is in the area of Fire Prevention. Gilbert Sanchez, Mission Fire Marshal, is in charge of community education.

Firemen do many presentations to teach fire safety in elementary and middle schools. The department has a variety of teaching aids that help teach fire safety to children at an early age.

One is a miniature mobile home used to identify hazards throughout the home. It can create simulated smoke and sound fire alarms while providing safety tips to adults and children.

A 911-phone simulator teaches children the different types of clothing that will be asked if they make a 911 call. It teaches children to be accurate if a real 911 emergency were to occur.

Sparky is the department's mascot. A firefighter dresses up in a Sparky costume for parades and public presentations. The department also has a Sparky in a fire truck robot that is very popular with the younger set. The robot is placed in front of the children and an out-of-sight operator answers their questions.

Another very popular teaching tool is the clown and puppet presentation designed to teach elementary children about fire safety. Presentations can be given in English and Spanish.

Firemen also take part in junior high and high school Career Days, where they explain the skills the youth will need to become firefighters. English writing skills are needed for reports that must be written after each incident. Math skills are needed to determine how much water will be pumped through the hoses and the amount of pressure it will take to maintain them at full efficiency.

Youth can become paid firefighters at 18 years of age. They can volunteer at 17. Those who wish to make it a profession must attend the academy for five to six months.

They first learn Emergency Certification Attendant (ECA) classes where they learn basic skills.

The next training is Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), where they learn basic medical skills such as bandaging and stopping blood flow.

The third level is Emergency Medical Training (EMT), which provides more medical skills and allows the technician to attach IVs and to administer oxygen, if needed.

The paramedic is at the top of the skill ladder. Paramedics can administer drugs at the recommendation of a doctor.

In order to become a firefighter in Mission, a youth must have ECA skills. Sanchez said that each city is different. Weslaco requires all firefighters to be paramedics.

When a youth attends the academy he will learn how to manage the hoses and ladders and work hydraulics on the fire trucks. He will learn techniques for handling hazardous materials and for extrication of persons stuck in cars after accidents.

A third level of fire prevention instruction is at the community level. Each commercial business is inspected once a year to look for fire hazards such as a daisy chain of plug strips that put too much demand on electrical circuits.

Sanchez said the inspections lower fire rates by looking for minor violations that can easily be corrected. Messes such as old newspapers, books and magazines left in a mechanical room are an invitation for a fire to start.

Marking ways to exit the building in case of fire that can be seen during a fire can save lives. And being sure that a business has a working fire extinguisher is a very important method of keeping a fire that has started from growing bigger.

Prior to the opening of a new business, the fire department also does an occupancy inspection where fire alarms and sprinklers are checked to see that they are in working order before the business is allowed to open.

The fire department also teaches a course in how to use fire extinguishers. While all businesses are required to have them, the course teaches business owners - hands-on - how to use them.

Fire prevention also uses its teaching trailer to teach elderly people the best ways to get out of a mobile home in case of a fire.

In addition to his community education duties, Sanchez is also responsible for teaching the inspector's academy. In order to qualify as an inspector, a candidate must pass multiple subjects on a state examination. All inspectors must be state certified.

They learn how to determine the origin and cause of a fire. Was it child's play? Or was it accidental, arson or a natural cause such as lightning?

Future inspectors learn how to document a fire scene through photographs, sketches, and interviews with victims. Such documentation is necessary for insurance purposes, legal purposes and for court dockets. They also learn how to look for suspects in cases of arson.

The Mission Fire Department has worked hard to see that the city has up-to-date equipment, skills and prevention methods to provide the best possible service to Mission residents.