Six Israeli firefighters visited Ponderosa FD and other areas in the region for a week in early November. They participated in live fire training at the training facility, traveled to Texas A&M Brayton Fire Field, the DuPont chemical plant in Orange, Texas and “shopped til they dropped”. They also presented a terrorism awareness overview and shared their experiences regarding the missile attacks on their homeland. On their final day they spent the day at the Texas Renaissance Festival. The group then traveled to Las Vegas, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC and New York City.

The trip was arranged by Ponderosa FD Public Education Coordinator Marti Stein in conjunction with Houston based Israel Consul General Asher Yarden.

TRAINING FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS HELP KEEP PVFD
FIREFIGHTERS ON TOP OF THEIR GAME

When you view the history of the Ponderosa VFD, you view a history of pioneers. Over the past 30 years, our staff and volunteers, along with our board members and community leaders have worked together to make the PVFD a forward-thinking department of “firsts”. The first department to have a ladder truck in the 1960 area, the first to bring a platform ladder truck to the region, and the first to build a state-of-the-art training facility – a facility which provides our firefighters with the tools and hands-on experience necessary to be prepared for the many challenges that come their way.

Improvements to the training facility, which was originally erected in 2001, were made possible in 2005 after PVFD received a federal grant (in the amount of $157,000) used to purchase two liquid petroleum gas (LPG) live burn simulators – a kitchen and a bed. The training facility can also be filled with “theatrical” smoke to simulate real fire conditions, while producing near zero emissions.

“The live burn simulators have basically removed the pollution associated with the original method of burning pallets and hay,” said PVFD Chief, Fred Windisch. “Not only did we eliminate the trash debris and smoke, but we also eliminated the clean up of the facility and the washing of all the protective clothing every time a training evolution was performed.”

Chief Windisch also explains that the largest gain from the live burn simulators was in the ‘firefighter throughput’.

“In the past we could do maybe three burns in a three hour period, followed by a lot of time and hard work to clean everything,” said Windisch. “Now we can do burn after burn with zero clean up. We just reset the electronic control system and do it again and again…allowing us to simulate ten burns in that same three hour window.”

The 2005 grant also set the stage for the most recent improvement to the facility - the expansion of the existing training tower. After plans were approved by the Ponderosa VFD Board of Directors, work began to remove the one-story burn annex and build a two-story, four room building that resembles an apartment complex. The entire building can be used for a host of scenarios, maintaining and sharpening the skills of the firefighters.

“As a Board of Directors, we recognize the fantastic service that the entire fire department provides to our citizens,” said board President, Tom Wyka. “We must provide them with the necessary resources to continue that outstanding service.”

And that they do. Over the years, the dedication of the PVFD, its Board and the community it serves has not only improved the department’s insurance rating from a 5 to a 4 to today’s stellar rating of 3 (putting them in the top 4% of our nation’s fire departments), but more importantly, it has helped us to take care of our citizens in a manner we can be proud of.

Hidden Costs Can Save You Dollars

Your fire department is always concerned about what it costs to live a comfortable life. One of the issues that has raised its ugly head (again) is the taxes you pay on electricity, telephone and possibly natural gas. One particular tax is the Gross Receipts Tax (GRT). The GRT is basically a franchise tax that the State allows for cities to charge based on utility companies’ use of rights of ways, etc.

Our fire district is NOT in a city. It is unincorporated Harris County and your bills should not reflect a GRT. Some utility companies utilize the postal address that defines the GRT, and in our case about 80% of our fire district has a Houston mailing address (zip codes 77090, 77073, 77068 and 77014). We encourage you to contact your utility provider and demand that the GRT be removed from your bill’s current and retroactive. In the case of your fire department, it took a lot of effort and the result was about a $4,000 refund on the three fire stations electric bills. The Texas Public Utilities Commission will support you and may require a letter from them.

Another issue is your fire rating on your homeowners insurance. The Ponderosa VFD is a Public Protection Class 3 department. You should review your policy and verify that the PPC is a 3 – contact your agent to assure you are receiving the cost reduction. The Ponderosa VFD is rated in the top 4% of our nation’s fire department service levels. You have supported that over the years and you deserve the insurance discount.

Judge Ted Poe, Texas Congressman 2nd District, visited the Ponderosa Fire Department training facility to view the improvements to the training tower. The PVFD applied for a federal grant in 2005 to upgrade the live burn training capabilities by adding two LPG burn simulators - a kitchen and a bed. Also, the entire training building can be filled with "theatrical" smoke to simulate real fire conditions. These simulators produce near zero emissions versus burning wood and firefighter throughput will increase exponentially since relights are difficult and no cleanup is required. Congressman Poe is a great supporter of emergency services and he stated, "Because of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, area emergency services will now be in a position to enhance their capabilities over a very long period of time. We appreciate what firefighters do every day, especially the volunteers who give their time and talent to their communities."

The Ponderosa VFD Board of Directors also approved the training tower expansion associated with the grant funds. The Board obtained a long term loan from Prosperity Bank to add additional live burn rooms and other improvements. President Tom Wyka said, "As a Board of Directors we recognize the fantastic service that the fire department provides to our citizens, and we must provide them with the necessary resources to continue that outstanding service."

“This storm (referring to the heavy rains which caused widespread flooding in late June 2006) is yet another reminder of the dangerous weather season that is upon us. Each Texas family needs to take time to prepare their own emergency response plan that includes provisions for food and water, and supplies like batteries and flashlights. We do not always know what Mother Nature will bring, but we must always be prepared." Governor Rick Perry

After last year’s record-breaking hurricane season, it would seem logical that citizens in hurricane hot zones are doing all they can to prepare for what is expected to be another active storm season. But are they? Are YOU? A recent study conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research, Inc. says “NO”. In fact, of 1,100 adults polled along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, 83 percent had taken no steps to fortify their homes this year, 68 percent had no hurricane survival kits and 60 percent had no family disaster plan. Needless to say, we were shocked by the findings.

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PONDEROSA VFD WELCOMES NEWEST MEMBERS

After six months and 125 hours of in-depth training, Ponderosa Volunteer Fire Department’s newest members graduated in a ceremony held on June 13. Before graduating, each member had to meet all recruit class requirements, which included, but was not limited to, training in ladders, hoses, nozzles and live fire; an introduction to hazardous materials; CPR and first aid and organizational structure, policies and procedures.

Chief Fred Windisch commends the class for effectively meeting the many training challenges, including rigorous schedules, studying, and the passing of written and skills tests.

“This class did an outstanding job in all regards,” he said. “After some ‘seasoning time’, this group will be an integral part of our organization.”

New recruits come from many different backgrounds, professionally and personally. But all have one thing in common: the need to give back to their local community.

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PVFD: Trained And Ready For Action

After 10 years of careful planning, the Ponderosa Volunteer Fire Department headquarters become a reality in 1998, and is now a showcase for state-of-the-art fire fighting skill and equipment. Thanks to an outstanding, forward-thinking Board of Directors, the organization was poised and ready to acquire land when it became available at a surprisingly affordable price in 1992, well under market value. The dream was finally on the drawing board.

Today, the Ponderosa Volunteer Fire Department headquarters proudly stands as a monument to cooperation and ingenuity.