MSFCA Regional Report

Report Date:   10/19/2011                             Region #4 Noertwest         

Regional Meeting Date:  7/21/2011                Meeting Location: Glyndon

Number of attendees:  26 firefighters from 15 departments

Special Guests: None

Program: Lessons learned from the Galleria Apartment fire in Fargo. Captain Lee Soeth from the Fargo Fire Department was the presenter. Lee said that this was the first time the Fargo Fire Department have had a mayday with one of their own firefighters. We listened to radio transmissions from the first 911 call thru much of the fire. It was a very interesting presentation and can be a training class for any fire department interested  to learn what Fargo firefighters have trained on since.

Issues of Local Interest: 

Issues of State/National Interest: State Fire Marshal's office - No representative.

Del Bellanger, our representative for the M.S.F.D.A. talked about the Minnesota Fire Fighters Monument they are trying to move to the Capitol Grounds. He said the 2012 conference is next June in Alexandria.

Rick Loveland reported for the training board that 3,500 firefighters have been licensed so far  in the state. Round three of training money reimbursements were due August 1st, so get them in ASAP. Rick reported changes to the training reimbursement next year. If you are in need of more money for training, call your legislators and complain. You may have heard about the Cambridge fire fighter that was killed at a training there. MNSQUE is going through their policies and revising them.  St. Cloud Tech was involved in this training in Cambridge, and got hit hard by OSHA on a couple of key elements, so they are revamping their system. There will be a change in the culture of fire training throughout the state. If you are in need of any training, get in contact with Rick or Denise, and start early.

Mark Hovland passed out info on the Minnesota Fire Service Memorial. We are trying to move the statue from the airport to the state capitol. Mark played a presentation for us and suggested we show it to all fire fighters. In doing so, our hopes are that if every fire fighter in the state of Minnesota donated $30.00, we could do this project.  If you have any questions feel free to get in contact with George Esbensen, President of the Minnesota Fire Service Foundation, at gesbensen@edenpraire.org or 952-949-8336. You can also go on youtube and look for the presentation. If the project does not get enough money to make this happen, all monies will be refunded. The Fire Chiefs' fall conference will be in St. Cloud October 20th, thru the 22nd. Mark is suggesting a spring Fire Chiefs' officer school in the western part of the state.

Steve Spaeth - Volunteer Firefighter Benefit Association rep was present and gave a short report. 

Other Comments:

Next Meeting Date/Time: Oct. 26, 2011 18:30hrs                       Place: Fergus Falls

Report to Board October 2011
Reports to Board 2010
Reports to Board 2009