Fallston, MD
WATCH THIS SPACE AND OUR FB PAGE FOR MORE INFO AND DETAILS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE !!!!! SANTA HAS NOT GIVEN US HIS FULL TIMETABLE AS OF YET…..PLEASE DO NOT ASK WHEN HE WILL BE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD UNTIL WE CAN GET HIS SCHEDULE!!!! AS ALWAYS, REMEMBER THAT WEATHER AND EMERGENCY CALLS WILL CREATE SCHEDULING ISSUES FOR SANTA.
The FVFAC wants to share some Halloween safety tips with you !!!
FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW FOR MORE INFO !!!
It is with deep sorrow that The Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company, Inc. share the loss of active member John “Tom” Weigle.
Tom has been an active member of FVFAC since 2012 and has volunteered as an EMT, EMS driver, and Coordinator of our Fire Safety Children’s Birthday Parties. His impact of spreading joy to a child on their birthday was insurmountable. Tom has also been one of our primary photographers documenting training, public safety events, Santa and his elves, and the daily activities of FVFAC members. He was most recently an active member of FVFAC Fire Police, who are an essential part of our department. Prior to joining the FVFAC Tom served with honor and distinction for 31 years with the Baltimore County Police Department
Please keep Tom’s immediate family…wife Marci, daughters Brittany (Patrick Carmen Jr) and Taylor (Patrick Maher), and son Ryan in your thoughts and prayers as well as his extended family.
Friends may call at the Ruck Towson Funeral Home on Monday, October 3, from 1 to 3 pm and 5 to 7 pm. A Celebration of Life will be held at Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company, 2201 Carrs Mill Rd, Fallston, MD 21047, on Tuesday, October 4, at 2:00 pm.
A request from the Weigle family….Tom’s favorite color was orange. If you are attending the viewing and/or services for Tom please feel free to express your support for them by wearing an orange accessory or apparel….
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation (t2t.org) and/or Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company (fvfac.org/donations).
Our condolences go out to the Weigle family, the community that knew Tom, and our FVFAC family.
As a new school year draws near, college students throughout our area have been gearing up to return to the campus of many higher education institutions. At this time, through their annual “Campus Fire Safety for Students” campaign in September, the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) and The Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS) are working together to help ensure living spaces are as safe as possible for college students. The Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co. wants you to have access to the fire and life safety information you need to assist college students approach the school year with fire safety as a high priority in their college lifestyle.
Every September, Campus Fire Safety Month raises awareness about the threat of fires in both on- and off-campus housing and puts relevant information in the hands of students, their parents, and campus housing staff and administrators who are encouraged to take proactive measures to protect themselves, their family, and peers from fires and make living spaces as safe as possible upon a student’s return to school. The college environment is a learning environment, students should be learning and reinforcing fire and life safety as well as their degree curriculums!
According to data from CCFS, from January 2000 to April 2022, 94 fatal fires have been documented that occurred on a college campus, in Greek housing, or in off-campus housing within three miles of the campus and claimed 134 lives. Of the 94 fires documented, 38 were accidental and involved cooking, candles, smoking, or electrical equipment, and took the lives of 51 students. NFPA research shows that September and October are the peak months for campus fires, particularly during the evening between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
“As students return to college life this fall, we encourage them to review fire safety tips to learn how to prevent fires. The more prepared we are, the more we can do to reduce fire risk,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA Vice president of Outreach and Advocacy and CCFS Advisory Council member. “Campus Fire Safety Month provides a great opportunity to share materials and action steps and foster a culture of awareness and preparedness about fire safety on our college campuses.”
These tips from FVFAC, NFPA and CCFS can help students reduce the risk of fires and save lives:
These short videos help to reinforce important messages from the list above…..
Candle Safety Video Clear Dorm and Apartment Stairways Video Appliance Safety Video
Many of the resources, including videos, checklists, infographics, and tips sheets, are designed to be shared through social media, school newspapers, college websites, and posted in dormitory common areas. For more Information about the Campus Fire Safety for Students campaign and to find free resources, visit nfpa.org/campus and the CCFS website and its Share! For Students webpage.
The Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company urges all of our friends and neighbors to follow the advice of the State Fire Marshal.
State Fire Marshal Brian Geraci joined Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services Deputy Chief Gordon Wallace this past week along with leaders in various medical fields to present the dangers of legal and illegal fireworks.
“There were numerous fireworks-related incidents reported in Maryland last year,” said State Fire Marshal Geraci. “Prevention of burns, injuries, and fires has always been a top priority of our office. The safest way to enjoy fireworks this July 4th holiday season is to attend one of the many public fireworks displays throughout the state.”
The safety demonstration, conducted by the State Fire Marshal’s Bomb Squad, showed the impacts of M-80s, firecrackers, and even sparklers on various parts of the human body, including the hands and eyes.
“A sparkler can burn hot enough to melt gold,” said Dr. Dean Fiergang, an ophthalmologist and executive board member of the Maryland Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons. “While advancements in ophthalmic surgery have come a long way, there is very little that can be done when extreme temperatures make contact with the human eye.”
If you insist on viewing fireworks at home instead of at a recommended professional display, you are encouraged to do the following:
“This time of year is one of the busiest for The Curtis National Hand Center at MedStar Memorial Hospital,” said Dr. Ryan Zimmerman, an attending hand surgeon. “If you experience a loss of digits during a fireworks accident, never put them directly on ice. First, wrap them in gauze and place them in a plastic bag within another plastic bag that contains a combination of ice and water. Go directly to your nearest emergency room.”
Click here for a list of permitted, professional fireworks displays across the State of Maryland this holiday season or visit https://mdsp.maryland.gov/firemarshal/Pages/ExplosivesandFireworks.aspx.
FVFAC members have responded to three dwelling fires over the past six hours, two of which escalated to additional alarms.
At 1517 hours (3:17 p.m.) the Harford County Department of Emergency Services 9-1-1 center received a call for a building fire in the 1900 block of Brookside Drive in Edgewood (Joppa Magnolia VFC – Company 8 district). First arriving Chief 8-2 reported fire visible from windows on the second and third floors of an end of the group townhouse. As units from the JMVFC, APG Fire Department, and other area VOLUNTEER Fire Companies arrived the Incident Commander advised that the fire was extending from end of group townhouse which was fully involved to the adjacent units. A working fire dispatch was alerted and a second alarm was requested bringing additional fire apparatus from Harford and Baltimore County to the scene. FVFAC Engine 1311, Engine 1312, and Chief officers responded to this incident. The last FVFAC unit cleared the scene at 1800 hours (6 p.m.).
photo credit JMVFC
A short time later at 1630 hours (4:30 p.m.) Harford County DES once again dispatched area Volunteer Fire Companies to a report of a dwelling fire, this one in the 2200 block of Nodleigh Terrace in the Madonna area of the Jarrettsville VFC district (Co. 7). FVFAC Truck 13, Tanker 13 and Chief officers responded on this first alarm assignment. Chief 7 arrived and reported fire visible from the attic of the two story dwelling. Arriving fire crews began fire suppression efforts and additional units were dispatched for rural water operations and manpower. Engine 1312 had cleared the Brookside Drive fire scene and was dispatched along with Rescue 13 and Medic 13-1 on the second alarm assignment. During the course of battling this fire two FVFAC Volunteers were suffered minor injuries and were evaluated by EMS on the scene. Neither member required transport to a hospital from the scene. Rescue 13 was cleared from the incident by the Incident Commander and re-directed by Fire Dispatch to relocate to the Jarrettsville VFC station to cover their district until Company 7 units were available. Units from Volunteer and career fire companies in Harford, Baltimore, and York Counties responded on this call.
photo credit- Facebook pages 
Later Friday evening, at 2144 hours (9:44 p.m.) the FVFAC again responded to a dwelling fire in the JMVFC district located in the 600 block of Shore Drive, Joppatowne. Engine 1311 , Truck 13 and Chief officers responded to assist JMVFC, APG Fire Department and other area Volunteer Fire Companies with an attic fire in a middle of the group townhouse. FVFAC Truck 13 operated on the scene and Engine 1311 relocated to the cover the JMVFC district until other units cleared.
photo credit–FVFAC/ Sgt. Zach Karn
These three incidents are being investigated by the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), as is routine to accurately determine the cause and origin of the fires. Information developed through these investigations is useful for insurance company claims, documenting the possibility of faulty equipment or practices that can lead to fires developing.
It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the death of Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company Life Member Wilbur E. “Will” Steg Jr. on April 14, 2022.
Will was a member of the FVFAC for 34 years, and served in roles that include EMT, Fire Police Sergeant, Top Ten Responder and Life Member.
Relatives and friends will gather at Schimunek Funeral Home, Inc., 9705 Belair Rd., Nottingham MD 21236, on Thursday, April 21, 2022, 3-5 & 7-9 p.m., and where a funeral service will be held on Friday, April 22, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. Interment St. Michael Lutheran Church Cemetery. On-line condolences may be left @ www.schimunekfuneralhomes.com
Please keep Will’s family including his wife Sue, daughter Holly and son Wes, and his extended family at the Fallston Volunteer Fire & Ambulance Co. in your thoughts and prayers .
photo credits the Steg family/Schimunek Funeral Home Inc.
On Sunday April 3, 2022 the FVFAC participated in a Truck Pull organized by “Sgt.” Aaron Penman as a fundraising event to benefit the FVFAC. Unlike a tractor pull, in which competitors use modified or stock tractors to pull a weighted sled a given distance, this event required the manual efforts of Penman and his team!!!
Sgt. Penman’s goal was to raise $6,000 for the FVFAC to allow the purchase two thermal imaging cameras (TICs) for our firefighting personnel. Thanks to the generosity of the Fallston community and those in attendance Sgt. Penman raised more than $14,000 to benefit the FVFAC!!!
Thermal imaging cameras are used by firefighters on the scene of fires, and suspected fires, to check for heat signatures in walls and are used to assist with searching for victims as well as downed firefighters. Additionally, they are useful when searching for missing or lost individuals.
The excess funds raised will be used for the purchase of personal protective equipment for our EMS responders to use when working on the scene of rescue and extrication type incidents.
The Officers and Members of the FVFAC want to say THANK YOU !!! to Aaron Penman, our awesome and generous community members, along with the businesses that are there for us on a continuing basis!!! We could not continue to provide the services we do without your ongoing support!!!
THANK YOU ONE AND ALL !!!!!
The Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co. hosted an acquired structure training event on Saturday March 19, 2022 along Harford Road near the Baltimore County line. Personnel in attendance at this training event practiced various aspects of structural fire fighting, incident command, water supply, as well as learning and reinforcing previously gained knowledge of fire behavior, building construction, firefighter survival, and other skills.
An extensive amount of planning and support from outside agencies is required for these type of training events. At the risk of omitting any of our partners involved in Saturday’s training the FVFAC would like to say THANK YOU !!! to the following local businesses:
911 Restoration
Without the gracious and ongoing support of these local businesses the FVFAC could not provide the level of service to our community that is needed. Please consider these vendors when shopping for their services!
In addition, anytime that the FVFAC plans an event that will require multiple units and personnel to be unavailable for emergency responses we arrange to have other volunteer fire companies or career fire departments provide “cover” or relocate units and personnel to our district. For this training event the Hereford Volunteer Fire Company (Baltimore County Station 44, Engine 441) and the White Marsh Volunteer Fire Company (Baltimore County Station 20, Engine 202) provided stand by crews at the Carrs Mill RD station until our units and personnel returned and became available. The WMVFC Engine 202 did respond to a working structure fire incident in the Kingsville VFC district Saturday afternoon while re-located to Fallston.
Prior to the day of the acquired structure training event our personnel must complete hours of site preparation, coordinate and obtain permit approvals from Harford County Agencies, arrange for approved support instructors to be present, and insure that all operations related to the training event comply with the National Fire Protection Association Standard On Live Fire Training Evolutions (NFPA 1403).
Once everything is in place the day of training begins at 0800 hours with a Safety Briefing and review of the Incident Action Plan prepared by FVFAC personnel. Several hours of training evolutions are then conducted rotating crews through the building while performing various operations related to firefighting activities and firefighter rescue (Rapid Intervention Team) operations prior to beginning the live fire training. The live fire training is conducted as crews are again rotated through, this time with the advantage of observing and mitigating fire development and potential fire spread as well as ventilation pathways and smoke spread factors.
After personnel have completed the live fire training portion of the day, the structure is allowed to continue into “free burn” stage while crews at the drill site protect exposures from fire spread and begin cleanup operations. Once the drill site is deemed safe to do so, the property is turned over to the owners for further demolition and debris removal as required by Harford County.
In addition to the approximately 30 plus FVFAC members in attendance including EMS providers who handled medical support on site, other participating volunteer fire companies included:
Lastly, the FVFAC would like to extend an immense THANK YOU!! to the owners of this property for allowing us and the above named volunteer fire company’s personnel the opportunity to train under actual emergency scene conditions. This type of training is invaluable to our members, their safety, and their ability to serve the citizens of our communities!
photo credit FVFAC
Calling all Harford County High School Students!!!!!……
The Harford County Fire-EMS Cadet Program, a joint effort between the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association, the University of MD Fire and Rescue Institute, and Harford County Public Schools has opened its application period for the 2022-23 school year Fire and EMS Cadet Program through April 30, 2022.
The Program offers college-level education and career training in emergency services to high school seniors and juniors who meet the admissions criteria. Those students…and their parents….who are interested should download the PDF application from this link or on the website below…..
LEARN MORE & start the application process today: https://www.harfordvolunteer.com/volunteer-opportunities/…
While much has been said about the challenges incurred by Fire and EMS departments due to Covid surges, hospital capacity issues, etc…just how have these and other factors influences operations at the FVFAC throughout 2021?
We saw huge increases in the number of calls for service in 2021. Our Fire/Rescue calls increased by 32% overall. This includes structure fires, motor vehicle accidents, fire alarm activations, assisting EMS, hazardous conditions, and other call types. The number of times our EMS units were dispatched increased an astounding 48% during 2021. This equates to a overall increase of 42.5% in call volume from 2020.
So many factors play into these increases that we cannot attribute the numbers to specific causes. Regional growth and development, Covid, hospital capacity, overall regional EMS staffing, societal changes, and other factors all account for the increases to some degree.
One thing is certain, the increased call volumes reflect the increased challenges faced by the VOLUNTEER system in Harford County and elsewhere throughout the Fire and EMS service. These challenges present themselves in the form of needed increases in staffing, training, equipment, and funding for FVFAC. Please consider this when you receive the Fund Drive requests in your mailbox in 2022, and PLEASE think about joining the FVFAC as a member to help us continue to help the Fallston community!!!
The Baltimore City Fire Department suffered an unimaginable tragedy today, the Line Of Duty Deaths of three fire fighters, plus the serious injury of a fourth member. The four firefighters were advancing a hose line into and through a well involved three story row house in southwest Baltimore in an effort to extinguish the fire. It was nothing that the veteran firefighters from BCFD Engine 14 and other companies hadn’t done previously, too many times to count. However, today, the firefighters encountered a partial collapse of the interior of the structure which trapped all four of them. One firefighter, FF/EMT John McMaster was rescued by other crews and transported to University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center were he is listed in serious condition. Two others, FF/Paramedic Kelsey Sadler and FF/EMT Kenny Lacayo were then removed from the collapsed dwelling and also transported to UMSTC where, despite the absolute best medical care available anywhere in the country, they were pronounced deceased. Lieutenant Paul Butrim was removed from the remnants of the dwelling this afternoon after a monumental effort by BCFD Special Operations Team members and other BCFD personnel. He was also pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Officers and Members of the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company are keeping not only these four amazing firefighters , but also their families, friends, co-workers, and the entire BCFD in our thoughts, prayers, and memories today and during the difficult times ahead.
As is often the case in this tight knit world of the Fire and EMS service, this tragedy hits close to home for members of the FVFAC. Firefighter/Paramedic Kelsey (Norman) Sadler began her firefighting career as a member of the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co, and as a graduate of the Harford County High School Fire/EMS Cadet Program. Kelsey joined FVFAC in 2005 while attending The Fallston High School. In her senior year she enrolled in and successfully completed the High School Fire/EMS Cadet Program. She then joined the Baltimore City Fire Department and continued to build a very successful career stationed at Engine Company 14 on Hollins Street. Kelsey was known to be a very determined young woman, and a great Firefighter. She will be greatly missed by all.
Funeral arrangements for Lt. Kelsey Sadler can be found here….
Obituary for Lt. Kelsey Sadler
photo credit to Mike Hugg Media
