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Archive of:  2000

The Internet Source for news concerning the Alert Hose Company of Adams, Massachusetts.

Space Heater Safety Tips 12/30/00

As the weather turns colder, many people press space heaters into service. Be sure to visit the Chief's Corner for important safety tips from the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal on using space heaters cautiously and safely this heating season. 

Worcester School Organizes Tribute CD 12/08/00

As this week marks the first anniversary of the Worcester Cold Storage Fire, a group of school children (whose fathers include Firefighters and EMT's from Worcester, MA) have announced the release of a memorial CD honoring all Worcester Firefighters entitled "Heroes One And All".

On December 3, 1999 our city of Worcester felt a tremendous loss as six firefighters perished in a blaze at the Worcester Cold & Storage building. Many firefighters unselfishly went into a burning building trying to rescue homeless people thought to be inside. The firefighters’ mission changed dramatically as the rescue turned to saving one of their own. The city’s citizens were left in a state of shock as they learned that six firefighters died in that fire. That night will be etched in the minds of many people forever.

The Accelerated Learning Laboratory, like many other Worcester Public Schools, was affected deeply the evening of December 3, 1999, when the six firefighters lost their lives. Several staff members and students had personal family ties to the Worcester Fire Department and City Rescue personnel. Those students (from ages 5 to 17) who had the closest connections to the tragedy came together in support of one another. After several meetings, those same students decided they wanted to give thanks to the community for the support their own families had received in the days and weeks after the fire.

"The American Red Cross extended a hand that was felt by every person closely involved with the tragedy. We are honored to announce that 100% of the profits from the sale of the compact disk will be donated to the American Red Cross of Central Massachusetts-Local Disaster Fund," said Karen Dobson, Co-Chairperson of the project. "They were instrumental in supporting the physical and emotional needs of firefighters, rescue personnel, city officials, and citizens. Therefore, the project group wants to acknowledge with appreciation the support that the Red Cross gave."

The students wanted to make a difference in their community by acknowledging its appreciation for the support that the Red Cross offered. The group’s vision to produce a musical compact disk at the A.L.L School has been met.

The group has produced a 74-minute musical compact disk to honor and recognize all of our firefighters as our heroes. The compact disk features songs by local musicians including the Worcester Firefighter's Children's Chorus and the Worcester Fire Brigade as well as poetry written by citizens of Worcester County and Senator Ted Kennedy's memorial speech.

Order forms for the CD are available on-line at www.redcrossworcester.org, or by calling the American Red Cross of Central MA at (508) 756-5711, ext. 328. Thank you for your support.

Local Business Donates Tips 11/22/00

A local business has made a special donation to the Alert Hose Company.  Robyn and Robert Whitney, owners and operators of Mr. Ding-A-Ling, a mobile ice cream vending business, donated $121 to Adams' volunteer firefighters.  These funds were proceeds from the "tip jars" an each of their ice cream trucks.  While dissapointed at the amount that was garnered, Robyn Whitney said, "As you know, this summer season was very wet and cool.  There were many days that we just didn't operate.  However, we made a commitment to the Alerts because of their work in town, and, instead of using the funds to defray our overhead, we donated what little we collected to this great cause."  Foreman Pansecchi thanked the Whitneys, saying "we greatly appreciate this generous gesture on the Whitney's part, because as a volunteer organization, we rely on donations to fund our special projects, our Relief Fund, and our growing Fire Education Program.  The Alerts are very greatful to the Whitney's for remembering us in this way."

New Member Elected  11/15/00
At November's monthly meeting, Cory Adelt was elected as the Alert Hose Co.'s newest member. If you see Cory, wish him congratulations!  If you would like to become a member, stop by the firehouse any Tuesday at 7:00pm for our weekly drill night and speak to a member.  

National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Held 10/14/00

Career and volunteer firefighters from 30 states and the District of Columbia who died serving their communities were remembered during the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend on October 7-8, 2000, at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency sponsor the annual national tribute.  The Weekend honors the firefighters killed in the line of duty each year and recognizes the dedication and service of firefighters nationwide. Last year 104 firefighters paid the ultimate price. They include six Worcester, Massachusetts firefighters who died in a warehouse fire, three Fort Worth, Texas-area firefighters killed fighting a church fire, and 18 volunteer and career firefighters who died in incidents related to wildland, grass and brush fires.  For more information visit the FEMA website or Firehero.org

Open House Attracts Largest Crowd to Date 10/13/00

The Annual Adams Fire Department Open House was held Wednesday in conjunction with National Fire Safety Week.  Over 500 people attended this year which was held at the Adams Memorial Middle School Gymnasium to accomodate the larger crowds. While the kids enjoyed climbing on the apparatus and seeing fireman in full turnout gear, the main attraction was a special appearance of David Grover and his Big Bear Band.  Before the music, the Alerts demonstrated emergency extrication procedures using the "Jaws of Life" at a mock crash scene.  Throughout the evening, adults were able to gather informational pamphlets pertaining to fire safety and see demonstrations on proper fire extinguisher use. Raffles were held every thirty minutes with a chance to win smoke detectors, CO detectors, and a grand prize of a color television. Steepleview Realty, Wal-mart, and Smith Brothers-McAndrews Insurance Agency all donated either time or materials.  The Lions Club kept the crowd fed by operating their concession stand.  See associated photos.

Alerts Attend Swift Water Rescue Class 9/23/00

Members of the Alert Hose Company and the Adams Fire Department along with other firefighters from around Berkshire county participated in a swift water rescue class this weekend.  The class included a morning session in the classroom followed by practical field experience in the flood chutes of the Hoosac River.  Classes such as these expand the many capabilities of Alerts.  See associated photos.

Virtual Fire & Rescue Expo Opens Tomorrow! 9/11/00

Thanks to the combined efforts of speakers and trainers from eight major fire and rescue institutions, Virtual Fire & Rescue Expo 2000's electronic workshop hall will be the biggest offered in the online conference's four-year history. Opening exclusively on the Internet Tuesday, Sept. 12, http://www.vfre.com will be Web-based keynotes in multimedia by the three national leaders of America's fire, rescue and emergency services community, plus 30 online workshops in seven tracks. As always, attendance at VFRE is free, but on site registration and software downloads (also free) are required to experience this virtual show.  Don't miss this once-a-year opportunity to learn and interact with the recognized leaders of America's fire and emergency services community!

Open House Scheduled 8/21/00

The Adams Fire Department and Alert Hose Company's annual Open House has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 11 from 5-9PM in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week. Officers of the company will be visiting the local schools during the week, giving fire safety demonstrations and inviting the children to attend the open house with their parents or grandparents.  The event has grown each year and now is quite a community event.  Local businesses help each year, providing raffle items such as smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and the like, while others help with food or publicity. The popular event will take place at the Adams Memorial Middle School on Columbia Street this year due the ever-increasing number of attendees.  The station simply has grown too small to accommodate the crowds!  It is likely that the trend will continue this year as David Grover and The Big Bear Band, a popular children's musical group, has been booked to headline the entertainment for the evening.  For more information on National Fire Prevention Week, visit the Education Section.

Susan B. Anthony Street Fair A Success 7/24/00
Thousands of people attended the annual Susan B. Anthony Street Fair formerly known as Hi-Jinx Night.  Three bands played, numerous dancers preformed, and countless vendors offered everything from trinkets to the ever-popular fried dough.  Members of the Adams Fire Department and the Alert Hose Company took to Park Street to display its apparatus.  The trucks were given the once over by many young members of the community to universal approval and the more than occasional comment of "cool...". In addition to the apparatus, the company's sold a cash calendar for $5 to support its public education efforts. If you didn't get one yet, please contact the station at 743-1929 and we would be happy to offer you a lucky one!  See associated photos.

Pleasant St. Building Burns Again 7/11/00

At approximately 11:30 Monday night, the Alert Hose company responded to a structure fire on Pleasant St..  The fire was quickly contained although the building did suffer some damage.  A similar call to the same residence was made earlier this year.

Alerts Capture Parade Honors 7/11/00

Members of the Alert Hose Company participated in the recent July 4th Parade in Pittsfield and took home the Villanova Memorial Trophy for best appearing fire department.  Later that same week, the Alerts received the Best Appearing Out of State and Best Antique Apparatus Awards in Unionville, CT at the annual Fireman's Parade held there. Parade Photos!

Web Page Wins Another Award 7/9/00

The Alert web page has garnered another unsolicited award. The latest award was received from Links 2 Go, a commercial links resource.  According to the company, "each quarter, Links2Go samples millions of web pages to determine which pages are most heavily cited by web pages authors.  The most popular pages are downloaded and automatically categorized by topic. At most 50 of the pages related to a topic are selected as 'Key Resources'. Out of 50 pages selected as Key Resources for the Fire Departments topic, your page ranked 32nd.  The Links2Go Key Resource award differs from other awards in two important ways. First, it is objective.  Links2Go has rated your page as one of the most relevant pages related to the topic of fire department on the web today, using an objective statistical measure applied to an extremely large data set of millions of web pages.  Second, the Key Resource award is exclusive.  The only way to get listed as a Key Resource is to achieve enough popularity for our analysis to select your pages automatically.  We do not accept fees, offers of link exchanges, or free advertising as inducements to add new sites to our lists.  Fewer than one page in one thousand will ever be selected as a  Key Resource."  Be sure to click on their link to check out this site.

Heavy Rain Hits Hard 6/26/00

A slow moving front dumped large amounts of rain in a relatively short time last night causing numerous calls to be placed to the fire department for help with the rising waters.  Estimates indicate that well over 3 inches of rain fell, mainly with in a two to three hour span.  Several small streams overflowed their banks causing damage in many parts of town.

Alert's Annual Golf Scramble Results 6/19/00

The rainy weather cleared and allowed a full field of golfers to tee it up at the Alert's annual golf tournament fund raiser.  For more information, check out the following links.  Results from the tournament.  Our sponsors.  Picture post.

Web Page Adds New Public Education Section 5/28/00

The Alert web page now features a new Public Education section.  Added as a way to increase public awareness in various fire safety areas, the section will feature discussions on:  Fire Basics; Safety Tips; Escape Planning; Smoke Detectors; CO Detectors; Fire Extinguishers; Fire Prevention Week; and Alert Hose Co. F.A.Q.'s (frequently asked questions).  Stop by and check it out!

Structure Fire Ruled Arson 5/23/00

The structure fire in an apartment building at 3 Grove St. late Sunday night has been ruled a case of arson.  The building, owned by the Adams Housing Authority, was occupied by two families, all of which escaped the flames with out injury.  A third tenement was unoccupied at the time.  Christopher Ware, a state trooper assigned to the state fire marshal's office, said yesterday he is seeking the public's help in solving the arson, which began at the rear of a vacant first-floor apartment and spread upstairs and into the roof, driving the two families from their homes.  See associated photos. Full story.

Alert's Response to MVA's on the Rise 5/11/00

With the addition of MVA's to the roster of incident responses, the Alert Hose Co. has become busier than ever.  All Alert members are trained to the First Responder level and some have EMT certification.  At MVA calls, members stabilize and secure unsafe vehicles, remove potential hazards, and aid with the removal and safe handling of injured occupants. Photos of a recent MVA response are located in the photo section.

Annual Solicitation Update 5/11/00
The annual solicitation this year was conducted via mail for the second straight year.  The results so far are very encouraging according to the company secretary.  The annual solicitation is the company's largest fund raiser and all monies collected are used to support the numerous efforts of the Alert Hose Company and its volunteers who donate their time and energy in protecting our town.  To the residents of Adams, thank you for you continued support!  We stand ready to assist you in any time of need.

Alerts Provide Jaws Demonstration at High School 5/11/00

Local emergency agencies including the Alert Hose Co. gathered Thursday at Hoosac Valley High School to showcase a mock motor vehicle accident with injuries.  Personnel used the jaws tools to force entry into a wrecked auto.  The event was scheduled to coincide with the upcoming prom season. See photos of the demonstration.

Old Welfare Building Site of Live Training  5/9/00

The old welfare building on the corner of Summer and Hoosac Streets was the scene of a drill for members of the Alert Hose Co. Tuesday.  The long vacant building, which will soon be demolished to create parking for St Stansislaus parishioners, was prepared and used for live fire practice.  The controlled fires were ignited in two second floor rooms and were knocked down using techniques discussed at previous drills.  Fire personnel from other communities were on hand to witness the effects and patterns typical of room contents fires.  See photos from the drill.

Alerts Take Three Awards in Winchester 5/8/00

17 members of the Alert Hose Company traveled over 7 hours, marched in 2 large parades, and received 3 awards for their effort.  Judges at the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, Virginia presented the Alerts with awards for Farthest Traveled, Best Appearing Antique Non Motorized Apparatus, and Best Appearing Marching Unit.  For photos of the weekend-long event, see the photo section.

Emergency! Becomes Part of the Smithsonian 5/1/00

It was on NBC every Saturday night for six years and now its touring America destined for Washington, D. C. and the Smithsonian Institute.  Project 51, the group behind the plan, was organized to celebrate the impact the "EMERGENCY!" television series had on advancing rescue and emergency medical services in North America and the world.  The old squad is being restored and gear such as the "orange box" bio-phone, old helmets and canvas turnout coats are being readied for inclusion in our museum of American History.  Visit the Project 51 website for more information.

Alerts to Parade in Virginia 4/27/00

Members of the Alert Hose Company will be traveling to Winchester, Virginia next weekend to represent Adams at the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival.  The six day festival, now in its 73rd year annually draws over 200,000 people and the firefighters parade boasts the largest display of firefighting equipment in the nation with over 300 units represented this year.  The Alerts will also march in Saturday's Grand Feature parade.  For more information, including the parade line ups, visit the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival webpage.  

Web Page Wins Five More Awards 4/16/00

The Alert web page has garnered five more awards. The latest award was received from Internet Engine & Hose, a very professional fire service page.  In winning their "Best of the Web" award, our department's page joined an elite group.  It is presented to sites that have graphics, layout, content or service to community above and beyond that of the average web site. Only eight sites have been fortunate enough to be named Best of the Web.  Be sure to click on their link to check out the other winners.  The "Fire Dude", a nice site featuring fire related web graphics among other things gave the Alert page its "Cool Site Award".  The Minisink Hose Co. also awarded the site its "Award of Excellence for Y2K". Res-Q's Patch Collecting Page issued us their Emergency Services Award of Excellence and lastly, Ted's Engine House & Joe's Fireball Express gave its Award of Excellence to our page.

Annual Alerts Golf Tournament Scheduled 3/30/00

The annual Alerts Golf Tournament has been scheduled and will be held at the North Adams Country Club June 10, 2000.  The format is  4 Man Scramble with 2 Shotgun starts at 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM.  The $50 fee (discounts for firefighters and club members) includes hotdogs and hamburgers during the event and a roast beef dinner afterwards.  Carts are available through the country club.  Numerous contests will be held.  For more information, contact John Pansecchi or a member of the committee.  The Alerts Golf Tournament is an opportunity to support one of the largest fundraisers the Alerts hold while also having a good time.

Annual Solicitation to be Held 3/29/00
The Alerts Annual Solicitation will be conducted by mail this year.  Residents should expect to receive their response form during the first week of April and are reminded that all contributions are tax-deductible.  The monies collected during this annual fund raising event support the numerous efforts of the Alert Hose Company and its volunteers who donate their time and energy in protecting Adams.  Please continue to support the company by being as generous as possible.

Daylight Savings Time Reminder 3/28/00

Daylight savings time begins Saturday, April 2nd.  When you are turning your clocks ahead one hour, please don't forget to also change the batteries in your smoke detectors.  This easy procedure can save lives!

First Responder and CPR Classes Held 2/29/00
The members of the Alert Hose Company were involved in mandatory training sessions recently.  Both the First Responder and CPR classes help to keep members adequately trained to do the types of tasks which they may be asked to do at any emergency scene.

Ice Fishing Derby Held  2/20/00

The First Annual Alerts Kids Ice Fishing Derby was held today at Plainfield Pond.  The weather was good and the turn out excellent.  The kids did well fishing, catching many good size Pickerel, but also had fun sliding and snowmobiling. Thank yous are in order for organizers P.J. Goyette and Dana Labbee and also for Racine's which provided the bait for the event free of charge.  Awards were presented to all the kids who participated.  

Honorary, Past, & Deceased Members Section Completed  2/16/00

After quite a bit of research and typing, the Honorary & Past Members, as well as the Deceased Members section of the web page has been posted.  Without the efforts of Secretary John Pansecchi, this fitting honor roll would not have been possible.  Included in the section are not only the names of former members, but also the dates elected and resigned where possible.  The rolls can be located on the Members page.  If anyone spots an error, please contact the webmaster.

1999 Year End Incident Report  2/7/00

The Secretary of the Alert Hose Co. has furnished last year's incident report.  According to the company's records, members responded to 205 calls in 1999.  This number represents responses for a wide range of situations.  For a break down of the calls, see the Incident Report Table.

New Member Elected  2/1/00
At last night's monthly meeting, Mike Daigneault was elected as the Alert Hose Co.'s newest member. If you see Mike, wish him congratulations!

Great Barrington Search Ends with Recovery  1/31/00

Fighting freezing temperatures and snow which have made a difficult situation even worse, fire fighters, EMS personnel, and special trained dive teams from across the state and beyond, concluded the search today for 5 year old Shirley Palmer, the girl who was lost in the Housatonic River.  The girl was found approximately 200 yards from where she was last seen.  Throughout the week, hundreds of volunteers combed the river under the large ice shelves using divers, trained canines, and remote camera equipment, unfortunately to no avail. Sunday, a still-water dredging machine was placed into the river to break up the large ice sheets.  This excavator from Connecticut was instrumental in the eventual recovery.  Local residents and business supported the search effort though a huge outpouring of food and supplies and although a tragedy such as this was extremely difficult for all involved, the response of the community was phenomenal.  The Alerts sent a number of personnel to assist in the week long recovery effort.

Important Safety Information  1/24/00

Although Mother Nature has spared us so far from a very snowy winter, one suspects that a major snow storm is just around the corner.  With this in mind, it is important to keep fire hydrants clear of snow.  Your assistance in keeping these accessible is a time saver for firefighters that just might save a life!  Thank you for your cooperation.

123rd Annual Ball News  1/24/00

The 123rd Annual Alerts Ball will be held Saturday, February 5, 2000 at the St. Stan's Hall.  Music will be provided by Musical Magic and meals by Swanson Catering.  Cocktail hour is from 6-7 with dinner to follow.  Dancing is until 12:30.  Tickets are $30.00 per couple and may be purchased by calling 743-0700 (day) or 743-4257 (evening).  The proceeds from this event support the numerous efforts of the Alert Hose Company and its volunteers who donate their time and energy in protecting Adams. See Photos from the event.

Frigid Weather Causes Havoc  1/20/00

The current sub-zero temperatures and gusting winds have been causing homeowners fits these days as frozen water pipes continue to be a problem.  Alert members have been called out numerous times recently to help residents deal with the problems associated with the arctic weather.  Frozen water lines have caused ruptures and flooding, furnace problems and even a few small fires resulting from attempts to thaw the seized pipes. 

New Member Elected  1/4/00
At last night's monthly meeting, Dan Williams was elected as the Alert Hose Co.'s newest member. If you see Dan, wish him congratulations!

Alert Web Site Receives Award  1/3/00

The Alert Hose Co. web page has been chosen to receive the Alert Fire Company of Great Neck, New York's Emergency Services Web Site Award for its Excellence.  This is the first such award our site has received and the Internet Committee is justifiably proud.  The awarding department, which has a similar name (Alert Engine, Hook, Ladder & Hose Co. No. 1) has a newly constructed headquarters and runs all American LaFrance apparatus.  The company also has a web site which can be visited by clicking on the award. Stop by and check them out.

Alert Hose Co. 2000!  1/2/00

The Alert Hose Co. stepped into the new millennium by substantially upgrading its technology with the purchase of an entirely new computer system complete with color printer, scanner, and digital camera.  The computer system was constructed by Alert member Jason Leja and members of the Internet committee and will allow the company to better keep records as well as support its newest communication medium, the world wide web.  The  web page has recently undergone extensive redesign and has been released as "Version 2".  Among the new features are an easier to use navigation bar and an expanded links page among others.  The page is listed in many web directories including Firehouse.com.