HUDSON HEAT

Hudson Heat
Featuring Hudson New Hampshires Bravest

NEWSLETTER

[1]

February 2015

Hudson Heat
February 2015

Volume 20
Issue 2

Featuring Hudson
New Hampshires
Bravest

HUDSON
NEW HAMPSHIRE
FIRE
DEPARTMENTS
UNOFFICIAL
NEWSLETTER

Inside The Heat

Group 2 Responds To Litchfield
Crash
Fire Quickly Contained In Pizza
Shop
Companies Respond To Derry
Blaze
Dispatcher Dani Jean Stuart
Writing Monthly Column
Multiple Crews Battle Litchfield

Publisher D Morin

3
Front Cover

Blaze
Two Alarms Struck For Litchfield
Fire

Med Flight Called For CO

8
Back Cover

Poisoning Patient
New Members Join The Ranks Of
HFD
Hudson Heat February 2015

Crews treat a trapped

patient in this roll-over
crash on Bush Hill
Road.

Past Firefighter Mark

Myers

Public Service crews work to clear the crash scene.

Group 2 Responds To Litchfield Crash

Fire crews discuss operations after knocking down a fire in Wallys Pizza
located at 189 Central Street.

A single vehicle crash into a telephone pole in the area of 34

Charles Bancroft Highway on February 13th, sent Hudson crews

Fire Quickly Contained In Pizza Shop

to Litchfield to assist at the scene. At 13:24 Dispatcher Stuart

toned Ambulance 1 with a crew of Lieutenant Mamone,

A small fire in Wallys Pizza at 189 Central Street was

Firefighters Bavaro and Hier and Litchfield crews to the scene.

quickly brought under control on February 16th. An employee

While en route to the scene Litchfield Rescue 1 requested

at the Cumberland Farms Store located next door called 911 at

assistance from Hudson. at 13:31 Squad 1 with a crew of

23:56 reporting an odor in the building. Dispatcher Castonguay

Firefighters Sands and Conlon and Car 4 with Captain Grebinar

toned Squad 1 with a crew of Firefighters Clearenbach and

were toned to the scene.

Haerinck to the scene. A police ocer arrived on the scene

On arrival crews found a single vehicle crash into a telephone

before fire crews and reported smoke coming from Wallys

pole the pole down blocking the road. Ambulance 1 treated and

Pizza.

transported one patient from the scene with minor injuries to a

A first alarm was struck bringing Engine 1 with a crew of

Nashua Hospital. Squad 1 assisted Litchfield removing hazards

Lieutenant Paquette and Firefighters Schofield and Perkins,

from the vehicle with Car 4 assisting with command.

Engine 4 with a crew of Firefighters Conlon, Graham and Rich

along with Car 1 with Chief Buxton, Car 4 with Captain Hansen
and Forestry 2 with Captain Morin to the scene. Both Engines 1
and 4 were operating at a car fire on Central Street and quickly
responded to the scene.

Squad 1 arrived at the scene and reported heavy smoke

coming from Wallys Pizza and forced entry to the front door.
Car 4 arrived and assumed command. Engine 1 was directed
to the rear of the building forced entry and stretched a line into
the building. Squad 1 found a box of rags burning under a
cooking unit and quickly had the fire knocked down.

Engine 4 set up fans to clear smoke from the fire unit and
convenience store. The fire was called under control at 00:08.
Car 1 and Forestry 2 staged at the scene.

Engine 1s crew of Firefighters Benner, Berube and Armand place ground

and roof ladders to reach the chimney of the home located at 4
Meadowlark Drive on February 6th. The homes owner discovered flames
coming from the top of the chimney.

Hudson Heat February 2015

Companies Respond To Derry Blaze

Derry Fire Alarm requested assistance from Hudson on

February 16th, for a 2 alarm fire on Alder Court in Derry.
Firefighter Sullivan toned Engine 1 with a crew of Lieutenant
Dube and Firefighters Rich and Mulcay along with Car 4 with
Captain Hansen to the scene at 15:52.

On arrival of Derry firefighters they found a two car garage

fully involved attached to a large 2 story single family home.
Multiple mutual aid from surrounding towns were called to the
scene. Firefighters had the fire knocked down on arrival of the
Hudson crews who staged for a time then were release from
the scene.

Explorers Dylan Conway and Phil Justvig put good use to their Presidents
Day school day o by assisting Nashua Fire shovel hydrants. They were
assigned to the Crown Hill section of the city and shoveled out 65 fire
hydrants.

RUN TOTALS:
February - 318
2015 Year Total - 644

All department members participated in in RIT training during the month

of February. Crew were tested handling a simulated firefighter down
using the SCBA conversion and removal from the basement of Central

One person suered minor injuries after this vehicle struck a DOT Loader

Station.

clearing snow in the area of 161 Lowell Road on February 17th.

Ambulance 4, Squad 1 and Car 4 operated at the scene.

Hudson Heat February 2015

Dispatcher Dani-Jean Stuart Writing Monthly Column

Dispatcher Dani Jean Stuart was invited a few months ago to write a regular column for APCOs Professional Communications
Human Resources Taskforce Committee (Pro-CHRT) web section. Jon Goldman the Communications and IT Supervisor at Derry
Fire, saw a few of her past articles on dispatcher health related to weight, sleep deprivation, stress eating, and the eects of sitting
for long periods of time.

This is not her first time being published. The NH Emergency Dispatchers Association (NHEDA) has a monthly newsletter. In
the past she wrote a couple of pieces health concerns on the dispatcher. She dove into these topics because when she told her
doctor that she was making a career change to fire/EMS dispatch he said, Every dispatcher I know is on the spectrum from
overweight to morbidly obese.

The APCOs Professional Communications Human Resources Taskforce Committee scope is to champion the professionalism
of the public safety tele communicator in all disciplines (Law Enforcement, Fire-Rescue and Emergency Medical Service). And
they have created a separate space for Dani Jeans column in their Pro-CHRT Toolbox of resources for public safety
communications professionals.

The following is Dani Jeans latest column and watch for future columns on the APCO Site..

Its About Balance AND the Calories

Back in 2012, after diagnosing me with high blood pressure and prescribing meds for the same, my doctor suggested a fastingtype weight loss program run by the local hospital. Eight shakes a day, then reintroducing a meal at a time over several weeks until
the participants were eating three meals a day again. I scoed at the idea. Me? I knew how much a person was supposed to
exercise, and I did. I ate a lot of salads and not the kind based on a bowl full of iceberg lettuce. For the most part I didnt eat
processed foods. And after spending 26 years in broadcast news I was all too familiar with the statistics on the yo-yo eect of
extreme dieting...losing weight then gaining back what you lost and then some. I believed the program would get results but I didnt
think the results would be sustainable. I also know myself well enough to know that I probably couldnt handle fasting for days on
end either emotionally or psychologically.

In August 2013, when I told my doc I was going to be a dispatcher he said, Every dispatcher Ive met is either overweight or
obese. Then I heard the term, Dispatchers Disease. Welcome to your new career. Yikes.

Now... its confession time. I am as seduced by instant gratification as anyone else! Not a lot was happening with my weight
despite the addition of periods of basic step aerobics on my shifts as I was able. (Were solitary dispatchers at my agency,
important if youre going to rock out to Salt n Pepa to do step. Yeah, Push it Good.) So I caved. I signed up for a modified fasting
program run by the local hospital. Five shakes a day and a 400 calorie dinner. And thats it. No Starbucks chai, no chocolate, no
beer, no wine, no nothin! That went for four weeks and then we started adding back the other two meals of the day.

Four things. It was easier than I thought it would be. It got results. I learned something important. And Im still whittling away at my
weight.

The most important item in that list is what I learned. Its not just about the calories...although its a LOT about the calories, make
no mistake about that...its about balance within meals, too. The right proportions of protein, starch, and vegetables. I certainly
didnt learn that growing up, Im a member of the clean plate club, with food piled on my plate, no proportions in sight. And I
didnt think to learn it when I changed how and what I was eating as an adult.

Heres the deal: each meal has 4-6 ounces of protein, a serving of starch...which is less than I thought it would be... and a half a
plate of vegetables. To the tune of 1200 calories a day. Bingo! Nearly fifteen pounds o in the ten week program and another nearly
two pounds in the past two weeks. No, Im not hungry all the time although for the first time in years I actually get real feelings of
hunger instead of never feeling hungry and eating anyway. Yes, I miss eating chocolate whenever I want it. And some days I fall o
the wagon and eat whatever the heck I want. With no guilt because Im a grownup. I own it when I do that, just as I own the results
I get when I stick with my new eating behavior.

Yes, new eating behavior. Ive started thinking about the extras, Starbucks chai, chocolate, Dairy Queen Blizzards, in the way
financial experts say you should think about buying something with credit. You

know, whats your plan to pay it o? (By the way, did you know a DQ large size Blizzard is 1300 calories? Plunk a couple of those in
your week and youve got a hefty bill to pay!) Ive started thinking, What do I have to do to burn those calories today? Because
while it is about calories in, its also about calories out. Will I have time to run an extra mile with the dog? Will I have a crew inhouse long enough to relieve me for my lunch half hour so I can use that time to walk laps around the complex? My options are
yes, I can do that, no and Im not going to eat this, or Heck with it, Im going to eat this anyway. The more I choose the
second option the better I get at resisting the want rather than reacting to the impulse.

Dont get me wrong. Im not a fan of fad dieting. Im a fan of eating. Enough so that I occasionally repeat this mantra to myself
while sitting at a meal with the firefighters: This is how I eat now. This is how I eat now. This is... You get the idea!

By the same token, its not solely about calorie management. A sedentary lifestyle leads directly to what we call Dispatchers
Disease and what a leading obesity researcher at Arizona State University and the Mayo Clinic started calling Sitting Disease
back in 1999. He says your chair will kill you.

In the next column: Fighting the Killer Chair.

Hudson Heat February 2015

soon as the water was directed in another area the flames

roared back. Due to a downed power line on side three of the
building the fire burning up the side of the building could not
be contained and continued to feed the flames in the attic.

Numerous crews rotated on the second floor trying to

knock down the flames in the attic. Making no headway the
building was again evacuated and Nashua ladder pipe was
put in service.

Eversource was called to the scene to disconnect the

power to the downed power line allowing crews to stretch a 2
1/2 line to the rear of the building and quickly they had the
fire on the exterior knockdown. Crews again entered the
building and within a short time had the heavy fire contained.

Heavy fire comes from the attic of the Litchfield home as crews set up to

Deep snow hampered crews stretching hand lines and

battle the flames. Photo by Al Boucher

placing ground ladders. Several firefighters lost their balance

falling into the 4 foot deep snow and had to be assisted back

Multiple Crews Battle Litchfield Blaze

to their feet. Londonderrys rescue was special called to the

A house fire on February 17th, at 27 Nesenkeag Drive in

scene to fill their bottles as crews for over two hours rotated

Litchfield required the response of Hudson and multiple other

overhauling and knocking down numerous hotspots burning

surrounding towns to knock down the flames. Dispatcher

within the building. The fire was placed under control's 1813.

Stuart received a 911 call at 15:37 reporting the blaze. She

Ambulance 2 with a crew of Lieutenant Rudolph and

toned Litchfield crews to the scene and while companies

Firefighters Brideau and Armand stages at the scene as the

were en route numerous 911 calls continued to be received

medical and rehab units. Fire crews from Hudson, Nashua,

and Litchfield C3 requested an additional engine from

Londonderry, Manchester, Gary, when he am, and Bedford all

Londonderry to the scene.

operated at the scene. No injuries were reported.

On arrival of Litchfield crews heavy fire showing from sides

three and four extending from the basement to the attic and a
working fire was struck. At 15:48 Engine 1 with a crew of
Firefighters Mallen, Berube and Graham, Car 1 with Chief
Buxton and Car 4 with Captain Morin and Firefighter
OSullivan were tone to the scene.

Litchfield crews stretched a 1 3/4 line into the building to

attack the heavy fire. Chief Buxton on arrival was assigned as
operations of the scene and directed Engine 1s crew to the
first floor to assist hitting the fire. Car 4 along with a Litchfield
crew were assigned stretch a 2 1/2 line to floor two.
Firefighters found heavy fire in the basement floors one and
two and extending throughout the attic.

At 15:53 command struck a second alarm as heavy fire

took hold of the second floor and attic. Firefighters using two

Heavy fire comes from the vent hole Nashua firefighters cut into the roof

attack lines and pulling ceilings could not contain the flames

during a 2 alarm fire at 27 Nesenkeag Drive in Litchfield on February 17th.

and all crews were pulled out of the building. Large caliber

Photo by Al Boucher

streams poured into the building knocking the flames back

and crews were allowed to reenter the building.

Nashua Ladder 2 set up in front of the building and went to

the roof cutting a vent hole. Crews on floor 2 continued to
experience heavy fire that would be knocked down and as
Hudson Heat February 2015

the number large caliber streams operating on the fire

additional feeder lines were laid to supply the water from the
incoming tankers to the attack engine.

This Engine 1s screw was reassigned to stretch a 2 1/2

attack line to the rear of the building to knock down heavy fire
coming from the roof. Flames shot 30 feet into air as the fire
consumed the entire roof of the home.
As firefighters continued to pour water onto the flames the
building collapsed into a burning pile of debris. Heavy fire
continue to burn in the collapsed remains of the home
making it very dicult for firefighters to extinguish the blaze.

The Town of Litchfield brought in a backhoe to assist

removing the debris so firefighters could get the flames. The

Litchfield and Hudson Firefighter Jim Bavaro stretch a line to the front as

Londonderry Tower ladder was set up in front of the building

the building becomes fully involved.

to pour water into the pile that was once the home for final
extinguishment. Firefighters remained at the scene well into

Two Alarms Struck For Litchfield Fire

the afternoon wetting down and overhauling the scene.

For the second time in a week Hudson firefighters

There were no reported injuries at the scene the fire

responded to the town of Litchfield to assist them in battling a

remains under investigation. Deep snow and very cold

two alarm fire. Dispatcher Castonguay received several calls

temperatures and wind chills below zero hampered crews.

at 08:47 on February 23rd, reporting the fire. The caller stated

Fire crews from Litchfield Hudson Londonderry Gary

that heavy smoke was coming from the home at 20 Martin

Manchester Bedford Windham and Tyngsboro Mass

Lane. Litchfield crews were toned scene. With numerous calls

responded to the scene.

being received Litchfield Engine 4 requested a working fire

assignment bringing Engine 4 with a crew of Firefighters Rich,
Graham and Bavaro, Ambulance 1 with a of crew of
Lieutenant Dube and Firefighters Blinn and Levesque alone
with Car 1 with Chief Buxton.

On arrival Litchfield crews found a two-story single-family

home with heavy smoke showing requested a second alarm.
Crews stretched lines into the building and found fire in the
basement, first and second floors. Ambulance 1 set up the
EMS sector, Chief Buxton was assigned as operations and
Engine 1 stretched the line to floor one.

Hydrants in the area could not be located so additional

tankers were requested for water supply to the same. A 4
inch supply line was hand dragged to Albuquerque Avenue to
set up rural hitch operations to supply water to the scene.

Firefighters Graham and Bavaro stretch a line into the front door of the

Numerous attack lines were stretched into the building.

home. Very cold temperatures and wind chills below zero hampered crews.

Crews attacking the fire found the fire had gained

considerable headway on all floors and all companies were
evacuated from the building. As numerous large caliber attack
lines were being set up for defensive attack heavy fire shot
from the first floor windows. A short time later the second
floor and attic became fully involved.

A Manchester engine located a hydrant on Albuquerque

Avenue, hooked in and supplied the scene with water. Due to
Hudson Heat February 2015

Lieutenant Paquette and Firefighters Bradish and Perkins

along with Car 4 with Captain Hansen.

Crews quickly removed the victim from the building and

began treatment. Engine 1 checked the building and found
CO levels in the hundreds and set up ventilation fans to clear
the building. Car 4 assumed command.

The patient was operating a propane fired forklift with a

closed building without ventilation for an extended period of
time and became overcome by the fumes.

Medical Control at St Joe's Hospital was alerted and

advised crews the needed treatment in a hyperbaric chamber
and patient would be flown out. Command requested a
helicopter and a landing zone setup at Sam's Club. Engine 4
Firefighters Ben Crane and Brian Clarenbach assist the crew of the

with a crew of Firefighters Lappin and Lamber and Car 2 with

helicopter load the CO patient for the flight to Boston.

Captain Morin were dispatched to the landing site. On arrival

Sam's Club it was determined due to snow banks a new

Med Flight Called For CO Poisoning

landing site was needed and a companies moved to the

Patient

Presentation of May School where a landing site was setup.

A DART helicopter while en route to the landing site

On February 24th, Firefighter Rich received a 911 call from

suered mechanical issues and canceled. Boston Med Flight

the wife of a man suering from carbon monoxide poisoning

was notified and responded. The helicopter landed and the

after finding him unresponsive at 75 River Road. Toned to the

patient was transported to Mass General Hospital in Boston

scene at 19:08 were Ambulance 4 with a crew of Firefighters

for further treatment.

Crane, Clarenbach and Hearinck, Engine 1 with a crew of

Members of Engine 4 and Tanker 1 placed ground ladders to reach the

chimney at 71 Bush Hill Road on February 25th, to knockdown a chimney

Lawrence Mass firefighters struck 2 alarms for this fire at 38 Bowdion

fire at the location. Photo by Al Boucher

Hudson Heat February 2015

Street on February 20th. Photo by Brian Alley

New Members Join The Ranks Of HFD

Boston Latin High School and Colby College, before working

as a media news journalist for many years at radio stations

Two new members joined the ranks of the department on

WERZ, WGIR and WSMN in

February 22nd. Justin Tracy became the newest

New Hampshire, and

firefighter.Justin Tracy.

reporting for the Lowell Sun.

Justin grew up in

Since 1998, John has resided

in Hudson with wife Beth and
two children who are currently
attending Alvirne High
School. In his o hours, John
enjoys reading, and coaching
and playing baseball.

In the 2004 movie Fever

Pitch, John appears onscreen as the Red Sox
second baseman.

All of us at wish them both the best of luck with their future
endeavors with HFD.

Hopkinton New
Hampshire were his desire
to be a firefighter began
when he joined the fire
explorers post at 16.

In collage he
participated in a live in
student program with the
Chichester Fire
Department while
pursuing his Associates
Degree in Fire Science.

After completing Associates Degree in Fire Science entered

into and became a live in student at the Swanzey Fire
Department while pursuing his Bachelors Degree in
Occupational Safety. Towards the end of his schooling he
applied to the Hudson Fire for full-time employment. He feels
privileged to being able to join our team as a Probationary FF/
EMT. He currently is living in the City of Manchester.

Our second new member is Dispatcher John Collins. John,

a native of the Jamaica Plain section of Boston, attended

Group 4 Responds To Pelham Working

Department Anniversaries

Fire
A fire in Pelham that was quickly brought under control on
February 28th, required mutual from Hudson and Windham.

February

Dispatcher Glenn received a call from Pelham Fire Alarm at

Al Dube 2/11/2001

10:20 requesting and engine to the scene at 1 Michelle Ave.

Engine 4 with a crew of Firefighters Graham, Rich and
Sullivan along with Car 4 with Captain Gannon were toned to
the scene.

Pelham crews quickly had the fire under control but

continued mutual to assist with overhaul. Engine 4 remained

at the scene as short time then was sent to cover the Pelham
Station.
Hudson Heat February 2015

Deputy Chief John OBrien (right) and his son Everett Mass Lieutenant
Mike OBrien together at a 2nd alarm in Everett on February 25th.

Photo by

Tim Gorman

Tail
Board
Firefighters Brian Patterson and Ben Crane work at a car fire on February
25th.

After one of the heavy snow falls Firefighter Bob Haggerty began
shoveling his roof. During his work he injured his arm leave the job unfinished. On February 20th, Firefighter Andrew Perkins Toby Provencal,
Brian Schofield and past member Brian Alley work together to finish
clearing the snow from Bobs roof.

Hudson Heat February 2015

Hudson Heat February 2015