By Ricci Graham
Inside Bay Area (California)
Copyright 2006 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers
All Rights Reserved
CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. — For the past week, crews with the Alameda County Fire Department have been polishing fire engines, dusting counters, pressing their uniforms and spit-shining their shoes — not to mention their equipment.
Wednesday was inspection day.
And not just any inspection. As members of the department's top brass went over the agency's 17 stations, fire agencies across a wide swathe of North America were undergoing similar scrutiny.
All across the country and well into the upper reaches of Canada, fire departments are participating in what was billed as "The Safety Stand Down" — an inspection effort that is jointly sponsored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Association of Firefighters.
"It gives us an opportunity for crews to give (stations and equipment) a good spring cleaning," Alameda County Fire Chief Bill McCammon said. "It also gives us an opportunity to really look closely at the tools being used on a daily basis."
Assistant Chief Jim Purchio, a spokesman for the Alameda County Fire Department, said this year's stand down emphasized safety awareness issues of which firefighters and citizens must be aware.
"We've always done annual inspections," Purchio said. "But we're adopting (inspections standards) that are being stressed. This stand down is similar to what the military does."
During the ACFD's six-day inspection period — which concludes next week — McCammon and department leaders have been visiting stations, meeting with firefighters and giving equipment and rigs a once-over.
During the inspections, McCammon and two of his deputy chiefs — Dave Lord and Sheldon Gilbert — also stressed the importance of seat belt use while responding to calls, and taking extra precautions when driving fire-fighting equipment through busy intersections.
"Our rules are you always wear your seat belt and slow down in intersections," Purchio said. "But we'll look atother things, like communicable diseases, wearing rubber gloves and going over other safety measures."
The emphasis on safety is not without merit.
Last year, 106 firefighters died in the line of duty nationwide, Purchio said.
Of those deaths, 26 occurred in accidents involving emergency vehicles. Additionally, almost 25 percent of all firefighter fatalities happened in vehicle-related accidents, Purchio said.
"By stressing safety, we'll be able to save a few lives and keep people from being injured," Purchio said.
McCammon visited Station 4 on Wednesday, one of nine stops that he made during the day.
McCammon said the department devoted six days for the inspections, because he wanted to inspect all of the agency's stations during their three individual shifts.
"We've been very impressed with what we've seen this year," he said. "The energy level is high, and everything is in tip-top shape."
