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Howard County Fire Fighters
Rescue “HAMS” Field Day
Brother Kenny Coyle (right), Lieutenant with Howard County Office of Emergency Management with Dave Prestel (left), Howard County RACES officer sharing the spirit of cooperation between HAMS and Firefighters.
July 15, 2008 – When disaster strikes and traditional lines of communication go down, amateur radio operators -- or HAMS -- have the backs of Howard County, MD Local 2000 fire fighters. Fire fighters were able to return the favor recently by donating needed diesel fuel when the fuel supplier for the HAMS’ annual field day went out of business.
“The two organizations hosting the event were going to have to pay for the fuel out of their treasuries,” says Richard Ruehl, president of Local 2000. “The annual dues for these organizations are not very much. With the rising cost of fuel, we wanted to help. So, we agreed to pick up the fuel tab.”
Annually, the American Radio Relay League encourages amateur radio operators to hold “field day” events. The goal is to set up a post-disaster scenario to evaluate how far and how well they can communicate.
In Maryland, Columbia Amateur Radio Association (CARA) and the Potomac Valley Radio Club (PVRC) host one of the nation’s largest events. This year, on June 28-29, the organizations set up tents and broadcast from a field continuously for 24 hours, making contacts locally and worldwide.
Nearly 25 members of CARA also participate in the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) program administered by Howard County Fire and Rescue, Office of Emergency Management. RACES is designed to back-up fire station alerting, as well as provide a link in the event of a 9-1-1 phone outage.
“If disaster strikes and our communication lines go down, the amateur radio operators are pre-deployed to our fire stations,” says Local 2000 member Kenny Coyle, who works in the Office of Emergency Management. “If our dispatch or 9-1-1 isn’t operational, they are the ones who make sure we hear those important emergency calls. They have our backs when we need them, so donating the fuel money for their event was the least we could do.”
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Three Members Honored for Heroism
Baltimore City Fire Department PIO Kevin Cartwright, Master Fire Fighter/Paramedic Marty Wood, Lt. Dave Olson, Capt. John Bean, Red Cross Hometown Heroes Chair Eugene Williams.
Master Fire Fighter/Paramedic Marty Wood, Lt. Dave Olson, and Capt. John Bean with Baltimore City Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld, III.”
On Monday, June 16, 2008 three Howard County Professional Fire Fighters, IAFF Local 2000 members were honored along with other extraordinary individuals in the Central Maryland region. Receiving the American Red Cross’ “Fire Fighter Award”, these three brothers were recognized for their bravery and selfless efforts to rescue two citizens of Howard County from a house fire. Printed below is the write-up that appeared in the program that day.
"Captain John Bean, Lt. Dave Olson, & FF/P Chuck Wood - While working a 24 hour shift, a house fire was reported with people trapped on the second floor. One unit was already on location with the house fully involved and a second alarm was requested. A neighbor advised that the trapped residents were at the bathroom window moments ago. FF/P Wood removed the bathroom window to get crews inside to search for the two victims, one adult and one child. Captain Bean and FF/P Wood immediately entered the structure without the protection of a hose line. Lt. Olson entered the building from another side window. Both victims were removed by ground ladder and in cardiac arrest. Simultaneous to the rescues being made, the outside crews were confining the fire and protecting the rescuers. The Fire Chief stated this was one of the smoothest operations seen in 25 years. Every company on the fire ground followed orders with limited radio transmission. Their efforts are applauded for their commitment and putting their lives on the line to protect those that were in grave danger."
Congratulations to Brothers Bean, Wood and Olson on being honored by the American Red Cross and for their extraordinary service to the citizens of Howard County.
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