WM firefighters learning the ropes

WM firefighters learning the ropes

‘ Training’ the watchword of the day at Fire Commission meeting

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The West Memphis Fire Commission met last week to review a slate of agenda items, including a new crop of trainees, equipment needs and the WMFD’s plans once the much-anticipated new Baptist hospital opens next year.

Two new West Memphis firefighters are headed to school. The seven-week course for novice firefighters teaches Firefighting Standards at the Arkansas Fire Academy in East Camden.

Locally, a round of ropes rescue classes are scheduled through May. Participants from other area fire departments attend the training. The new Louis Dreyfus grain elevators are a proving ground for climbing and rappelling according to Assistant Chief Jeff Jones.

“We have 16 people in class this week, nine of them are ours,” said Jones. “The basic ropes class gets you familiar with basic knots to set up things to raise and lower victims. It leads to taking advanced rescue classes.”

“We’ll be out at Louis Dreyfus,” said Jones.

“They’ve put in anchor points for us to do rappelling.”

Participants at the training came from Forrest City, Marion and Marked Tree rounded in conjunction with the Arkansas Fire Training Academy. An advanced high angle rope class will be offered next month attracting more out of town participants and trips to the new granary to work out technique.

Agility testing was scheduled April 8 for recent applicants. Any more new applicants will be set for testing in the early fall.

EMS collections stood at $86,315 year to date. EMS Chief Chris Brogdon compared the number to last year and said collections surge and slack based on new regulations now benefiting city collections.

“This time last year was $69,000,” said Brogdon.

“We are seeing a lot of the good carry over into the first of the year. They have a year to pay, Medicare and Medicaid only pay so much. For a $500 charge we are lucky to get $150.”

Brogdon noted the new construction underway at Crittenden Baptist Hospital. Shorter turn around times and fewer miles and hours on the city ambulance and equipment benefit the EMS service s well as certain ambulance patients.

“It will be great for us,” said Brogdon. “We’ll have a place to get to within five minutes with a doctor’s care. We are ready to have somebody closer.”

Councilman Marco Mc-Clendon made a general inquiry about the status of the long-standing court ordered bi-racial committee and the percent of minority employees at the department.

Gately acknowledged the staffing ratio was important to McClendon and said he’d get the exact figure to the councilman.

The Fire Department committee meeting had perfect attendance with a representative from each city ward.

The meeting was chaired by Ward 1 Councilman Tracy Catt with Councilors Melanie Hutchinson, Ward 2; Wayne Croom, Ward 3; Marco McClendon, Ward 4; and Helen Harris, Ward 5 participating.

By John Rech