Fire

2018 Los Alamos Fire Department Highlights

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Los Alamos County Fire Chief Troy Hughes
 
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com

Los Alamos County Fire Department was most impacted in 2018 by the unplanned retirement of three of its chiefs. Division Chief Paul Grano, Battalion Chief Joseph Candelaria and Training Division Chief Mike Gill each retired.

“They moved up their retirement after the County wasn’t able to fund raises for non-union and management positions due to uncertain revenues from GRT but did fund raises for union members due to existing labor agreements,” Fire Chief Troy Hughes said. Read More

First Responders Assist Santa, Mrs. Claus & Elves

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Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves and first responders. Courtesy/Chaplain Corp

Santa visits with a local resident. Courtesy/Chaplain Corp

Santa, Mrs. Claus and elves visit local residents. Courtesy/Chaplain Corp

COMMUNITY News:

The Los Alamos County Chaplain Corp organized the Los Alamos First Responders and Friends to help Santa, Mrs. Claus and Elves give gift packages Saturday to all of the residents of Sombrillo and Aspen Ridge Lodge.

Los Alamos Medical Center graciously donated slipper/socks, Classic Air Medical made homemade cookies, Barranca Elementary School 3rd and 4th graders made Read More

Gosar Forest Management Policies Signed Into Law

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Courtesy photo
 
U.S. Rep. Paul A. Gosar
 
FIRE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) has issued the following statement after two of his important active forest management policies were signed into law by President Donald J. Trump:
 
“Following one of the most devastating wildfire seasons in our nation’s history, it is critical that we do everything in our power to provide the Forest Service and public land management agencies with the tools they need to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires and protect our communities,” Gosar
Read More

LAFD Offers Tips For Safe & Happy Holiday Season

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LAFD HOLIDAY SAFETY News:
 
The Los Alamos Fire Department offers tips for a Safe and happy holiday season:
 
Facts about home holiday fires
  • One of every four home Christmas tree fires is caused by electrical problems.
  • Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur, they are more likely to be serious. On average, one of every 32 reported home Christmas tree fires results in a death compared to an average of one death per 143 total reported home fires.
  • A heat source too close to the tree causes one in every four Christmas tree fires.
  • The top three days for home
Read More

Los Alamos Dispatcher Cari Mace Graduates As Valedictorian Of Public Safety Telecommunicator Class

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Police Chief Dino Sgambellone with Dispatcher Cari Mace. Courtesy/LAPD

Consolidated Dispatch Center Manager Kate Stoddard, left, with Dispatcher Cari Mace. Courtesy/LAPD

LAPD News:

The Los Alamos Police Department has announced that Dispatcher Cari Mace graduated Dec. 14 as valedictorian of Public Safety Telecommunicator Class #141.

Dispatcher Mace was one of 25 students from 17 different agencies in Class #141, and she had an average exam rate of 99.75 percent.

New Mexico Statue Chapter 29 Article 7C outlines the qualifications for certification as a Public Safety Telecommunicator. Read More

Scenes From 2018 First Responders Christmas Dinner

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Local first responders including police officers, firefighters, paramedics, 911 dispatchers, police chaplains and fire chaplains and their families were treated to a Christmas Dinner Saturday night sponsored by several churches to thank them for all they do throughout the year to take of and protect the community. The event was held at the First United Methodist Church of Los Alamos. Photo by Kateri Morris

Scene from annual first responders Christmas Dinner Saturday night at the First United Methodist Church of Los Alamos. Photo by Kateri Morris

Scene from annual first responders Christmas Read More

NIST: Fire-Breathing Dragon Helps Fight Ember Attacks On Thatched-Roof Structures

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The NIST Dragon showering firebrands (embers) onto a model of a water reed thatched roof. Courtesy/NIST
 
Workers build the thatched roof of a gassho-zukuri (‘constructed like hands in prayer’) style house in Japan. A new NIST study looks at the impact of firebrands on these and other thatched-roof structures. Courtesy/Bernard Gagnon via Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA
 
NIST News:
 
Visitors to the historic mountain villages in central Japan marvel at the elegance of the steep thatched-roof farmhouses found there. Known as “gassho-zukuri,” Japanese
Read More

On The Job In Los Alamos: Firefighter Michael McElyea

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On the job in Los Alamos is Firefighter Michael McElyea Saturday afternoon shining up a medic unit at Station 4 at 4401 Diamond Dr., across from the golf course. Unfortunately, while he may be laughing on the outside he is really crying on the inside because the longstanding tradition at LAFD is when a firefighter’s picture is published in the paper, he/she must buy ice cream for the entire station. Fortunately, Station 4 is staffed with just five personnel, a company officer, a driver engineer and three firefighters. Fire Station 4 was constructed in 1964 and through Los Alamos County Read More

Beta Sigma Phi Donates To Help California Fire Victims

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BETA SIGMA PHI News:

Following the recent terrible fires in California, Beta Sigma Phi City Council has made a donation to their organization’s Disaster Relief Fund to help their fellow sisters who lost homes and need assistance.  

Los Alamos City Council President Claire Swinhoe said that she felt it was very important to contribute to the fund to show support and let people know that they were not alone. She hoped that this gesture would encourage others to do what they can for the victims. 

“Thousands of homes were lost and any way we can make a difference is important,” Swinhoe said. Read More