 |
|
|
|
HOME EMERGENCY NUMBERS IN AN EMERGENCY ABOUT THE BRIGADE ENCODE - NEWSLETTER OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM BURNING ADVISORY CONTACT US |
|
||
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
About the Placitas Volunteer Fire Brigade
*West boundary of I25 from mile marker 237 to mile marker 240; length of highway 165 from mile marker 0 to mile marker 17; south boundary, Sandia reservation; north boundary, San Felipe reservation. |
The Placitas Volunteer Fire Brigade was formed in 1973, and for the past 30 years has provided emergency 9-1-1 services to a 45 square mile area of Placitas*, as well as mutual aid for emergencies to the communities of Bernalillo, Algodones, and other surrounding communities. |
|
|
|
Who are the members of the brigade?
There are currently 39 registered members, with a core of about 15 active responders serving over 1700 households in our growing community of over 6,000 people. The brigade has both female and male members who volunteer their time to respond to emergencies on a 24 hour a day basis, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The brigade also has an active cadet program for youth between the ages of 16 to 18. Cadet members have the same training opportunities as adult members, and can assist with non-emergency duties or community service activities. When cadets turn 18, they can become full responding members of the brigade. What kinds of equipment does the brigade have,
There are nine pieces of apparatus operated by the brigade — Two fire engines, or pumpers that are used to pump water through hoses to fight structural fires — Two water tenders or tankers that are used to keep water supplied to the fire engines ~ Two rescue vehicles that are used as ambulances for emergency medical calls ~ One brush engine that is used to fight brush or wild fires. One Command vehicle, used to transport personnel and aid in communications during emergencies and one Service vehicle, used to carry miscellaneous equipment to support emergency responses. Where are the vehicles housed? The brigade has two fire stations. Station #1, recently named in honor or Pat and Bill Bennett, long-term responders and supporters of the brigade, is located on highway 165 near mile marker 4.6. One fire engine, one water tanker, and one rescue vehicle are stationed at the main station. Station #2 is located off Perdiz Canyon Road near mile marker 8 on highway 165. One fire engine, one water tanker, one rescue vehicle, and the brush engine are stationed at the substation. What kind of training do members receive so they are able
All new members undergo approximately 40 hours of recruit training that includes a CPR course, information about personal safety, a driving course for emergency vehicles, information and training about hazardous materials, and basic information about fire and emergency scenes. After this initial training, members can choose to pursue additional training in either emergency medical skills or fire fighting or both. Length of training in each area varies and can range from approximately 80 hours for structural fire fighting to well over a year for paramedic level training. All members are required to attend a minimum of 20 hours of related refresher training each year, and must also renew their CPR certification annually. On the emergency medical side, the brigade has responders trained to the level of first responder, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic, EMT Intermediate and Paramedic. Many of the members with medical training are also trained in wilderness emergency medical procedures. On the fire side, the brigade has responders trained to the level of basic firefighter, firefighter 1 and firefighter 2. Many members are also trained as wildland firefighters. Additionally, many members are also trained to perform low angle rescue (bringing people down a mountain or up out of a canyon), or to extricate victims trapped in vehicles. How do members know when there is a fire or emergency to respond to? Each member carries a paging unit that is activated from a central dispatch location. When someone in the community has a fire or emergency, they dial 9-1-1, and then the dispatcher activates the paging units of the brigade members. Available members respond to one of the stations to pick up apparatus and to don any protective gear needed to assist with the emergency. How is the brigade structured? There is an established chain of command outlined in the By Laws and Standard Operating Guidelines of the brigade. Members elect a Chief Officer and two Assistant Chief Officers. One assistant chief is assigned to oversee fire emergency operations; the second is assigned to oversee medical emergency operations. The assistant Chiefs report to the Placitas, District 4 Chief and he in turn reports to the Sandoval County Fire Department Chief. Newly trained recruits are also assigned a mentor with whom they can stay in contact, and who can help them develop into their role as responders. How does the brigade get money to do its work? The brigade receives funding from the state fire Marshall, the state emergency medical services fund, and through the generous donations of the community of Placitas. How can I help? The brigade responds to as many as 300 emergency calls each year. As the community continues to grow, the number of calls increases. If you are interested in becoming a responding member, please call 867-5080 and leave a message with your name and phone number. Also see Our Volunteer Program. SUPPORT YOUR FIRE BRIGADE The fire brigade needs your support. Visit the Contact Us page MEMBERS ONLY - Brigade Roster, Phone and Mailing List and PVFB Phone List
|
|
HOME EMERGENCY NUMBERS IN AN EMERGENCY ABOUT THE BRIGADE ENCODE - NEWSLETTER OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM BURNING ADVISORY CONTACT US |
|
|
|