Highlights from the Board of Fire Commissioners meeting

Board of Fire Commissioners approves Regional HazMat Agreement.

Reno, Nevada. March 15, 2016. 

1. Regional Hazardous Material Response Team agreements approved. 
At Tuesday’s Board of Fire Commissioners meeting, the Board approved the 2016 Regional Hazardous Material Response Agreement between the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD), the City of Sparks, and the City of Reno. The Regional HazMat Team, known as TRIAD, is a collaboration of staff trained to respond to hazardous material spills, leaks, releases and other incidents. Each agency holds monthly HazMat trainings, and the consortium trains together twice a year to test response capabilities involving specialized training beyond the scope of the current response system provided by any individual agency. TRIAD teams also practiced responding to a domestic bio-terrorism incident earlier this week, which would not be possible without this agreement.

“Bi-annual TRIAD exercises provide the individual HazMat Teams the opportunity to train together, which is imperative if the region is to be prepared for future major emergency incidents,” said TMFPD Fire Chief Charlie Moore.

2. TMFPD receives Heroes With Heart Award
On February 11, 2016, the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) of Northern Nevada held their Annual Heroes with Heart Dinner where TMFPD received the 2016 “Heroes With Heart” award. TIP volunteers provide counseling and support when family and friends are coping with a natural, accidental, or unexpected death. The Heroes With Heart award is an opportunity for TIP volunteers to recognize first responders who went above the call of duty throughout the year to provide compassionate support to citizens in crisis. 

3. Development of new fire station in south Reno begins late 2016.
Chief Moore updated the Board about the development of Station 14, located on Foothill Road in South Reno. Construction is expected to start in late 2016, with occupancy planned in late 2017.  The new site places crews in a better position to serve residents in the Holcomb Ranch area. 

Also, at Tuesday’s meeting, Chief Moore announced the hiring of six new Firefighter/Paramedics: Nicole Stowe, Tom Ames, Gary Garrett, Jonathan Bernard, Peter Larsen, and Ed Martin.  The new recruits will complete orientation on March 20, and will begin shiftwork on March 21.  

4. Hundreds of open burn permits issued.
Nearly 800 open burn permits were issued during the first two weeks of open burning in Washoe County.  Air Quality restricts burning within the Hydrographic Basin unless Washoe County Air Quality Management Division provides a special exemption. View map of the Hydrographic Basin. The District encourages citizens to create defensible space by removing dead and excess vegetative materials and recognizes the pile burning is an effective way to accomplish that. Chief Moore noted that a wet spring has provided good conditions for burning, but urged citizens to always burn with safety and caution in mind.  Citizens should call the burn line every day to determine if open burning is permitted for the day, as wind and weather conditions may preclude it.

5. Palomino Valley Volunteer Auxiliary receives wildfire Community Preparedness Award.
Palomino Valley Volunteer Auxiliary (501c3) received a $500 Wildfire Community Preparedness Award to install reflective address number signs.  The program is sponsored by State Farm Insurance.

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