IAFF Local 2067 Member News

Local 2067 Member News

Firefighter Combat Challenge Launches Season
(The Norman Transcript)

April 20, 2008 - With the Capitol and National Mall as a background, the Firefighter Combat Challenge launched its 2008 national season April 2 in Washington D.C., with Team Norman Sonic getting off to a winning start, organizers said.

Due to scheduling conflicts, Norman firefighters Greg Blackburn, Jack Ingram, Robert Carrick and Don Balm were the only members of Team Norman Sonic to participate in the event. “This was, next to the Fremont Experience venue in Las Vegas for the World Championships (last November), the coolest place the Challenge has ever been,” Ingram said. “The event was held on the National Mall directly in front of the U.S. Capitol Building. It was held in conjunction with the Congressional Fire District National Conference so all of D.C. was filled with firefighters from across the country and it was also the Cherry Blossom Festival, so D.C. was packed.”

Hosted by the Congressional Fire Services Institute and sponsored by the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), the showcase displayed a vast assortment of technology firefighters use when responding to emergencies. The event was designed to educate Congress, the Administration and the general public about the many roles of our nation’s firefighters, organizers said.

Blackburn was back in winning form, winning the “Over 50” individual event with a time “good enough to qualify for the Lion’s Den — an award given to any competitor whose time meets a certain standard for the age group in which they are competing,” he said.

The other three team members did not place, but the Open Tandem Team of Ingram and Carrick placed seventh and their time was good enough to qualify them for the World Championships in November.

Since TNS member Brent Porter was unable to attend and compete in the Over 40 Tandem, Balm teamed with Jimmy Rogers, a firefighter from Altus, and they placed second in the event. Bob Callaghan also was unable to attend, so the TNS’ “Over 50 Tandem” team did not compete.

TNS is instituting some changes this year, Ingram said, as all team members will now be competing in the Individual competitions. These events are where one man runs the entire course by himself and must also breathe out of the air pack — which makes it even more difficult, he said. “In years past we were competing in the Relay and Tandem events,” Ingram said. “ln the Relay up to five guys run the course — which is a breeze compared to the Individual — until (if you are still in it) you get down to the final races where you would have to run two to three races “back to back” with no rest. In the Tandem it is a bit more difficult as two competitors run the course. In both the Tandem and Relay you do not have to breath from the bottle — only in the Individual.

The team decided this year it was “go time” — time to step up to the big test. “Definitely the hardest thing physically I have ever done,” Ingram said. “We will however continue to compete in the Tandem events as well as the Individuals this year.”

Next up will be the Combat Challenge competition in San Diego in June, with TNS members traveling up the coast by train to participate in San Francisco the very next week. Other venues TNS plans to participate in this year include Altus; Tyler, Texas; St. Louis; Atlanta for the nationals and Las Vegas for the World Championships.

Team members credited their sponsors, Norman area Sonic restaurants, Gregg Byram and Roy Oliver, for generously allowing the team to participate in the Firefighter Combat Challenge.

---

 

IAFF members ARE the Norman Fire Department. It is in this that we hope to use this section to promote, advertise and relish in the accomplishments that we as members of the International Association of Fire Fighters and the Norman Fire Department wish to share with members and visitors.

Click here to submit all news and alerts that you would like to make us aware of that either has or will be happening that is considered 'news worthy' about our members, their accomplishments, or events that you as members would like to inform others about.

---

Firefighters Help Put Roof on Residence for Colleague
(http://www.newsok.com)

November 1, 2007 — It didn't take long for the Norman Fire Department to let Scott and Shema Jones know they are part of the family. At least 17 firefighters from three crews spent much of their off day earlier this week by putting a new roof on the Jones' home on Himes Street. (Photo Gallery...)

Jones, one of nine Norman firefighters hired this year, is one of about 2,600 Oklahoma Army National Guard soldiers from the 45th Infantry Brigade who began training this week in Texas for an upcoming deployment in Iraq. "It's overwhelming,” Shema Jones said after coming home from work Tuesday, fighting back tears. "It's wonderful. They are the nicest guys you will ever meet.”

The Jones family includes three daughters, ages 14, 7, and 19 months.

Scott Jones spent months tearing out an old room with mold and building a larger addition in its place. Most of the work was completed, except for the roof. The couple contacted roofing companies to get estimates for the job, and the best was $3,500. Meanwhile, Scott Jones was preparing for his military deployment. "We were concerned with where the money would come from,” Shema Jones said. "We actually prayed about it the night before (some firefighters) came over. We said we were getting estimates with a roofer, and they said, ‘No you're not, we're going to roof it for you.'”

The volunteers ranged from captains to rookie firefighters. The firefighters decided to buy shingles and put a new roof on the entire house and not just the new addition. "He had part of the roof covered with plastic,” said Butch Crawford, the Norman Fire Department's union president. "That won't last a whole year until he gets back, and his wife and daughters are still living here, so we're here to finish the roof.”

A voice cried out, "You've got to help a brother out!” Crawford said, "Firefighters are our brothers, and we support the military, too.”

---

"Great Work" Cody

June 22, 2007 - Cody Cramer, son of Dana Cramer, was one (1) of five (5) Oklahoma students that received the 2007 Pete and Lela Stavros Scholarship.  This scholarship was established in 2002 to help children and relatives of members of the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association to attend college. The award is given to graduating high school seniors each year. Pete Stavros is the former OSFA Legislative Director and retired Oklahoma City firefighter.

---

Past-Prime Firefighters Scale Depths of Grand Canyon

December, 2006 - Last month two nature challengers attempted the unthinkable for two 'over-50' year olds and scaled the traverse path down the walls of this 10 mile trek to the bottom of Grand Canyon in search of Phantom Ranch down below. As if that weren't enough of a challenge for the gals, the two women chained to them another two 'over-50' year olds for company; one retired & one present NFD Firefighter in Bob Callahan and Greg Blackburn respectively.

Sheila Blackburn, along with LaDonna Smith, commented to close friends later, "...those guys held us back ever so slightly...we're simply grateful they didn't wonder too far off looking for sticks or beer. Normally that would have added several miles to our hike. We had to keep an eye on both the trail and THEM at all times. But, we share the experience equally with them."

Congratulations to the four of you! (Rumor has it they'll be planning another such trip in 2007 during the Combat Challenge Event in Las Vegas, NV.) (Related Information...)