cvfd newsletter 2014 feb

8/13/2019 CVFD Newsletter 2014 Feb

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/cvfd-newsletter-2014-feb 1/4

The first winner of the Kent

Thelen Award was Dick

Groff. The 2011 winner was

Joanie Behrends. These two

members are the backbone of

the Cordova Volunteer FireDepartment and it was quite

appropriate that they were

voted by the membership as

the first two winners of this

special award.

Despite being absent from

Cordova for the majority of

the previous three years, Beh-

rends managed the Emergen-

cy Medical Services (EMS)

long distance. Despite time

differences, lost communica-

tions, and family responsibili-ties, Behrends made sure Cor-

dova was covered 24/7 by the

volunteer medic squad. Train-

ings were organized, sched-

ules made, and ambulance

supplies ordered. Dur-

ing Behrends’ brief

appearances in town she spent

many, many hours on all the tasks

that keep the ambulance service

running so smoothly.

The 2012 recipient of this prestig-ious award was Dana Smyke.

Smyke is leader of CVFD’s Res-

cue Truck. He is an Advisor for

the Explorer Post and takes an

active role in Explorer activities.

The Kuparuk Medical Emergency Response Team named Jason Groves “Medic of the

Year” for 2011-12. This honor was voted on by the 60 members of the Team located on

the North Slope.

When Groves is at home in Cordova he volunteers as an EMT (Emergency Medical

Technician) with CVFD. Groves is an EMT III, the highest level of EMT in Alaska. In

addition to “running” on the ambulance, Groves is one of CVFD’s most knowledgeable

and patient instructors. Groves keeps the ambulance medications up-to-date and is al-

ways available to train meet new medics when he is in town on his two weeks off.

Groves is the kind of medic that does a complete inventory of the ambulance at the end

of his shift so everything is ready for the next week’s crew. Congratulations, Jason

Groves!

Kent Thelen Award WinnersI N S I D E

T H I S I S S U E :

Explorers 2

Volunteer

Hours

2

New Medics 2

Spotlight: Mike

Galambush

3

Spotlight:

Laura Kacsh

3

Medic of the Year

C O R D O V

V O L U N T E E R F I R E

D E P R T M E N T

CVFD

THE SIRENF E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 4V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 1

Smyke shows the Explorers how to operate

the lights on the Rescue truck.

Chief Hicks gives Behrends her award.



P A G E 2

Thank you to the

Cordova

Businesses that

allow their

employees to

respond to

emergencies

during work hours.

*Cordova

Community

Medical Center

*Native Village of

Eyak

*PWS Science

Center

Volunteer Hours

Explorers

CVFD members donate a tre-

mendous amount of hours to

the community each month.

Meetings include monthly busi-

ness meetings and weekly

trainings, inventories and

maintenance. Other Activities

includes: Christmas tree light-

ing, community events, andcommunity disaster drills.

This frequent and high quality

training makes CVFD “The

Best in the Business.”

C V F D

2013 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Meetings 360 51 305 365 400 150 Public Education 1 0 0 6 25 0 Other Activities 223 303 252 18 619 76.5 Fire Runs 25.5 10 28 32 30 93 Ambulance Runs 18 58 30 56 92 214

This graph shows the man (& woman) volunteer hours.

Joanie Behrends, EMS Instructor Extraordinaire,

taught an EMTI class last winter. CVFD wel-comes these new medics. (l-r) Katherine Mead,

James Thorne, Paul Trumblee, All ie Russo, Bob

Behrends, Emily Stolarcyk, Galen Meyer, Drew

Lindow, Kara Johnson, Elena Fernandez, and

Megan Hess.

Changing air packs at a Lake Ave. house fire

Learning SCBA with Fire Marshall Trumblee

Welcome New Medics



Spotlight on Mike Galambush

P A G E 3V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 1

Mike Galambush joined the depart-

ment way back in December 1988

and completed the Fire Fighter Icourse in 1989. He’s been a faithful

and dependable member ever since.

Galambush is the Engineer for En-

gine 3. He is also a certified Pump

Operator and Driver. When the

pagers go off Galambush is usually

the first responder to the station

and will have his gear on and Engine

3 ready to go when the rest of the

crew arrive.

Galambush has completed trainings

in Weapons of Mass Destruction

Radiological/Nuclear Awarenessand many HazMat courses.

Additionally, Galambush volunteers

as a driver for the ambulance and

trainer for the Explorers. In 2011

Galambush accumulated 98 hours

of trainings and meetings, 15.5

hours of Emergency Medical Ser-

vices (EMS) t raining, 32 hours of

fire runs, and 14.5 hours of ambu-

lance runs.

Thank you, Mike Galambush!

Laura Kacsh is one of the younger

members of CVFD. She joined the

department in November 2011

while still in high school. She was

assigned to Engine 3.

Kacsh served as Secretary for the

department before leaving for col-

lege.

Kacsh chose to attend the Univer-

sity of Fairbanks after graduating

from Cordova High School and

enrolled in the Fire Service Pro-

gram. She has completed the Fire

Fighter I training.

Laura has the distinction of getting

a marriage proposal at the 2013

CVFD annual banquet. She is en-

gaged to fellow firefighter Derrickk

Torgerson.

Congratulations, Laura & Derrickk!

Spotlight on Laura Kacsh

Galambush running the water pumps at winter re.



Why?

Because it’s fun, we need

you, and the training is in-

valuable.

Contacts:

Chief Mike Hicks

424-6117

Email: [email protected]

Deputy Chief: Rob Mattson

When?

Thursday evenings,7:30pm,

at the firehall.

Who?

Anyone age 17 or older

who is interested in volun-

teering.

Treasurer: Penny Oswalt

Secretary: Kara Johnson

EMS Captain: Joanie Behrends

424-5773

[email protected]

Training Officer: Dave Calvert

PO Box 1210

Cordova AK 99574-1210

Phone: 907.424.6117

E-mail: [email protected]

Facebook: Cordova Alaska Firefighters

To protect life, property, and the envi-

ronment of the community by provid-

ing professional, eecve and e-

cient re and life safety services

meeng the needs and expectaons

of those we serve.

CVFD

Join Us

Cordova Volunteer Fire Department

The Best in the Business

cvfd newsletter 2014 feb

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