"Fireground Responsibility"

Presented by:

John J. Salka, Jr

Battalion Chief (ret) FDNY

Issues related to SCBA usage, accountability tactics, risk vs reward decision making, survival skills and communications will all be discussed and debated to uncover the real causes of the LODD and the possible actions and decisions that can be made in the future to prevent another tragedy.

Author: First in Last Out (A great leadership book)

Contact for questions: tkolb@sunyjefferson.edu

On April 11, 2010, an unfortunate event changed the lives of many across northern New York when Garrett Loomis, Assistant Chief of Sackets Harbor Volunteer Fire Department and a member of Firefighters Local F-105 Fort Drum Fire and Emergency Services, was killed on the scene of a silo fire. While on fire, the 60 foot metal oxygen-limiting silo exploded causing the ladder to detach from the silo and Garrett to fall approximately 30 feet to the ground. Emergency medical protocol was initiated, but Garrett succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at Samaritan Medical Center upon arrival. After this event donations were received to honor Garrett’s memory. These donations have been transferred to the Northern New York Community Foundation for distribution according to the wishes of the Loomis family. Over the next several years these donations will be used to sponsor a series of educational seminars developed to improve firefighter safety.

This year’s seminar will be held on April 11th on the campus of Jefferson Community College in cooperation with their Fire Technology Program and is free of charge to all attending. Registration is recommended however walk-in is welcome.

Registration application will be released in March 2015.

Garrett Loomis Educational Committee Members:

Gary Loomis, Robert Kerr Peter M. Queior, T.G. Kolb, Robert Tennies, Gary Ashline

Northern New York Community Foundation; Rande Richardson, Max DelSignore

The mission of this committee is to increase awareness in the fire service of the dangerous and life changing decisions made on a daily basis by members of Fire and Emergency Medical Services organizations in the North Country. Without proper training and knowledge of fire ground operations, every day firefighting operations can become hazardous and life-threatening. Our hope is through the continued generosity of Garrett’s family and friends, these educational seminars will continue for many years to come.