By Justin Parker
The Pueblo Chieftain
Copyright 2007 The Pueblo Chieftain
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News
PUEBLO, Colo. — Safety is the name of the game when it comes to fighting fires.
The Pueblo Fire Department is conducting its first annual Safety Stand Down to inform local firefighters on the necessary safety precautions that should be exercised in the line of duty.
The Stand Down, which will run today through Thursday at each of the city’s 10 stations, is part of a nationwide program sponsored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Association of Fire Fighters.
“This is the first year we registered and will be participating in the Stand Down,” said Pueblo Fire Chief Christopher Riley. “This is a safety-driven program geared at reducing the number of deaths and injuries to firefighters through heightened awareness in regards to safety.”
As part of the program, firefighters will be subjected to a series of equipment checks, as well as informative discussions on personal health and physical fitness.
“The No. 1 killer of firefighters is cardiovascular events,” Riley said. “Every firefighter must go through a strict fitness test when they are hired on. We’d like to continue that fitness focus throughout their careers.”
Only three Pueblo firefighters have died in the line of duty in the history of the department. All three were the result of traffic accidents, with the last fatality occurring in the 1940s.
“The lack of deaths in this department has been a testimony to our commitment to safety,” Riley said. “This department currently responds to over 12,000 incidents a year. For us to remain fatality-free is a tribute to our high safety standards.”
The Stand Down is just a small part of the rigorous training schedule in which Pueblo firefighters participate. Each year the department dedicates more than 60,000 man-hours to various training programs.
“Aside from emergencies, training is a top priority for our department,” Riley said. “We are constantly trying to maintain the highest level of service we can for this community. If this program helps us keep ourselves safe, then we have a better chance of saving people in need.”