The LSFD reminds everyone that while fireworks are beautiful to enjoy, you should leave them to professionals.  In the State of Ohio, the only fireworks that are legal are sparklers, snakes and snap pop type products.  Any other fireworks including bottle rockets, fire crackers and fountains are not permitted to be ignited in Ohio.  They may be purchased for use outside of the State, but they can not be used in Ohio.

Fireworks have been enjoyed for decades as part of our patriotic celebrations and despite their legal status, many backyards have seen mini displays.  Please remember that once ignited, most fireworks present a violent, dangerous, very hot and uncontrollable result.  Depending on the chemical makeup of the product, the temperature can reach well over 1000 degrees and is capable of causing severe or deadly burns in an instant. 

Smaller novelty type fireworks are shaped like small tanks, airplanes, boats etc and are very appealing to small children and toddlers.  Sparklers can be equally dangerous and are capable of very severe burns if not used properly.  Children should be closely supervised and instructed not to pick up the lighted sparkler if they drop it and to keep it at arm's lengthy from clothing. 

We recommend that you enjoy professional displays rather than producing your own.  This is especially true if you live in a subdivision or apartment complex.  Even small fireworks products can travel uncontrollably in any direction several hundred feet.

If despite warnings you decide to have your own display, here are some tips for safety:

*Late in the afternoon, wet the area that you plan to use for displays.

*Have a 5 gallon bucket of water close by to provide a deluge of water should an accident happen.

*Also have a garden hose nearby for sustained water.

*Call the fire department for any product that continues to smolder after landing on a roof of a house.

*Call EMS for any injury.

*Wear eye protection and proper clothing.  Shirts should be made of natural fibers such as cotton as these materials resist the melting effect that man made fibers exhibit. 

*CLOSELY SUPERVISE CHILDREN.  Especially small children.  Never give a sparkler to a toddler or a young child.  They rely on parents to keep them safe and do not understand just how hot the item is that they're holding.  Children should be instructed to hold sparklers at arms length and to put the used sparkler wires into a bucket of water.  These wires remain very hot long after the sparkler burns out. 

*Follow manufacturers instructions and never light any product while holding in your hand. 

*Intoxicated persons should never be involved in lighting products.

Don't let your celebration wind up at an Emergency Room.  Please be responsible and use fireworks wisely.

Press Release
Date: June 18, 2009
To: Cincinnati Outlet Media
From: Otto J Huber, Fire Chief LSFD,
Ralph Hammonds, Fire Chief City of Sharonville,
William Jetter, Fire Chief Sycamore Township,
Rick Brown Fire Chief, City of Blue Ash
 
Subject: Northeast Fire Collaborative
 
Effective immediately the communities of Blue Ash, Loveland, Sharonville, Sycamore and Symmes Township’s announce the creation of the Northeast Fire Collaborative. The Fire collaborative joins the assets of five communities and eleven fire stations to support a comprehensive effort to enhance fire protection services to their respective communities. 
 
This agreement joins safety forces to provide safer fire ground operations, smarter business operations and a sensible approach to meeting mandates all while providing fiscal responsibility to their taxpayers.
 
While maintain each communities autonomy these departments have agreed through policies, standard operating guidelines  how these communities will train firefighters together, respond to emergencies together utilizing the closest station to the emergency approach and work toward better fiscal responsibility by sharing assets, conducting group purchasing and providing for standardization .
 
The communities involved place a high priority on the safety service we provide to our residents. Through these efforts we will bring to bear the full response capabilities of eleven fire stations and over 300 professionals on a daily basis. Our residents will experience an enhanced response to their calls for assistance all the while knowing their fire departments are spending their tax dollars wisely.
 
We are in hope that this collaboration will spawn more communities to take a similar approach or join in our group.
Local Media Coverage Click Below.

WKRC-TV Local 12

http://www.local12.com/news/local/story/Fire-Departments-Work-together-To-Save-Money/N_3rh0-TVEaJ2ztxpn_BeQ.cspx

Cincinnati Community Press

http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/article/20090624/NEWS/906240327/1001

 WCPO-TV CH9

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story/Firefighters-From-5-Communities-Join-Forces/mSITu-fu0EK3ltpud6TRMA.cspx

WLWT-TV CH5

http://www.wlwt.com/money/19800665/detail.html

WXIX-TV Fox19

http://www.fox19.com/Global/story.asp?s=10563614

June is National Home Safety Month.  The LSFD would like to remind everyone that a few minutes of prevention can save lives and prevent needless injury.  Take a few moments and visit the Home Safety Council's website for some valuable safety information.  As always if there are any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

www.homesafetycouncil.org

In public safety, we rarely get "thanks you's" from people.  We're in this profession to help people and we really don't expect them.  We know that we oftentimes see people at their absolutely worst.  When they need help and have nowhere to turn.  Sometimes our actions leave unspoken impressions on people.  Impressions that last a lifetime.  Recently we received such a letter from actions of some firefighters over 50 years ago.  Click on the image below to read the letter.

LSFD crews responded to an auto accident with entrapment on Saturday morning on east bound I-275.  Upon arrival crews encoutered an over turned vehicle with a single occupent.  The incident was handled by Sycamore Twp Fire Department. The driver was transported to a local hospital. 

An extensive cardiac research project was completed just two years ago. As a result it was determined that a twelve lead EKG is a valuable tool in the field along with the ability to transmit a twelve lead EKG to the hospital.  A twelve lead EKG gives a much better “picture” of the electrical activity involving the heart. Most EKG’s in the field are performed with a three lead machine. Pre-arrival interpretations of a twelve lead EKG can reduce the amount of time that elapses from entry into the emergency room  to cardiac procedure for our patients.
 
On behalf of Tri-Health the Loveland Symmes Fire Department will be receiving twelve lead EKG Transmission Equipment.  This equipment was purchased thru grants and Tri-Health will be donating this equipment to the LSFD as well as other departments in the area to provide this service to the surrounding communities.
 
 The equipment that the LSFD is receiving enables paramedics to provide a valuable and perhaps life saving service.  When a person is having a heart attack LSFD medics will be able to transmit the EKG data to Bethesda North Emergency Room where it will analyzed by a physician.  The physician can determine if what type of intervention, if any, that patient will need.  If the Cath lab is activated, the patient’s information including the twelve lead transmission will be forward to the Cardiologist on duty. Studies have shown that in most circumstances the average time it takes for a patient to reach a cath lab is 90 minutes.  Pre-arrival transmission of a twelve lead can reduce that time to just 30 minutes in some cases.
 
LSFD would like to thank Tri-Health for their commitment to this program and the residents of Loveland and Symmes Township.

On May 14th,  Station 61 responded to a commercial structure fire at the Sam’s Club on Fields Ertel Road Symmes Township. First due was, Tower 61, Engine 62, Quint 63, Engine 60, Medic 62, ESU 62, Ladder 57, Ladder 92,  Engine 88, Engine 13, Chief 6001, 9201,1301,8902,5601, 6005,  Upon arrival District Chief Books ( 6005) reported smoke from the Delta side coming from the over head doors. Tower 61 crew lead by Captain Blum entered on the Charlie side walk door reporting heavy smoke conditions with a fire from floor to ceiling in the Charlie Delta corner with activation of the sprinkler system and ordered a hand line placed in service. Lt. Rose and crew from Engine 60 entered the building from the Alpha side and report heavy black smoke floor to ceiling from 10’ inside the building.  Ladder 92 had RAT Division, Battalion 56 had Alpha Division, Chief 8902 had accountability, Chief 5701 had safety, Chief 9201 had interior operations Division 1 ,Chief 1301 had Charlie Division entry point and later assigned PIO. Engine 88 was interior 3, Engine 13 was interior 4, Quint 63 was assigned to the FDC, Ladder 57 had ventilation on the Alpha side, Medic 93 has triage, Support 62 had re-hab . Crews worked on scene for four hours. Deputy Chief Hunter 6008 had investigation with State Fire Marshal  investigator Lawless. No injuries reported , Fire was fought by employees for several minutes before fire dept was activated.
 
For local media coverage of the incident, click below.
http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story/Five-Alarm-Fire-Breaks-Out-At-Local-Sams-Club/TOA0Qfi1o0Sqy6as-sU51A.cspx
 
http://www.wlwt.com/news/19458270/detail.html
 
http://www.local12.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=39733@wkrc.dayport.com&navCatId=5
 
http://www.fox19.com/Global/story.asp?s=10360516
 
 

      T-61 took part in a Fire Training excercise at the Great Wolf Lodge in Mason Ohio.  This training simulated a fire on the 3 floor with people trapped on the 3rd and 4th floor.  Other agencies participating in this drill were, City of Mason, Deerfield Township, City of South Lebanon, City of Lebanon, and Sycamore Township. 
During this training T-61 was assigned victim rescue from the balconies.  Victims were picked off of the balconies and placed in the bucket and brought to safety.  Additionally this training served as a round robin excercise, which involved all of the personnel getting togther and sharing the equipment on the apparatus and discussing specific procedures that are utilized by the City of Mason FD.  These trainings are imperative in ensuring that we all work seamlessly when called to the scene of an emergency.

The 2009 Loveland Senior Expo was held on May 9, 2009 at Receptions on Loveland Madeira Road in Loveland.  The goal was to provide our senior citizens with helpful information about health information, services and businesses who specifically help seniors improve their quality of life.  The event had nearly 100 participants and 30 separate information booths.  This expo was a cooperative effort on behalf of many groups who hope to make it an annual event.  A buffet lunch was sponsored by LSFD.  To see photos from the event, visit our image gallery.

In an effort to insure public safety, LSFD crews are out in force maintaining the district's fire hydrants.  Twice a year, as recommended by ISO, crews perform inspections and routine maintenance on the over 1650 hydrants in our district.  Although time consuming, this project helps to find problems with the hydrants before they are needed.  This process is done by our own firefighters, the men and women who will ultimately be using them.  The process includes visual inspection of the hydrant and surrounding environment, opening and greasing of all caps, flushing, draining and painting as needed.  In the spring time we flush the hydrants.  This assures that the hydrant is functioning and removes corrosion from the barrel of the hydrant.  After flushing, the barrel is pumped out.  In the fall we return to the hydrants and check for hydrants that have water in them.  This indicates that the hydrant may be leaking and allows us to have them repaired before a hard winter freeze. 

In addition to the twice year testing of hydrants, you may see us in new construction areas doing flow testing.  This testing assures that the new construction meets our standards for water flow.

Hydrant maintenance is another example of our commitment to your safety.  Click the link below to see a short video of the maintenance process.