Thank YOU, WPFD for your Dedication & Service!

This year was a big year for the Fire Department. Several firefighters were given service pins for their years of service.

Front row from left: Shawn Bice (12 years), George Milligan (10 years), Bud McMillen (6 years), and Billy Tiger (5 years). Second row: Dale Smith (45 years), Chief Tim Bean (28 years), Captain Kurt Wilbanks (16 years), Corbin Thompson (15 years), Assistant Chief Roy Sims (14 years), and Lieutenant Wayne Cormier (13 years). Not pictured Raymond Blake (20 years) and Gary Brower (8 years).

Together, this totals 192 years of service for the West Plains Fire Department. Together, these guys have served on various other departments and total over 200 years of service in the fire safety field.

THANK YOU WPFD for your dedication to our citizens. Your job requires you to be away from home and your family, miss special occasions, and work when conditions are not always favorable. We appreciate your dedication and know that you all are the definition of 24/7 EXCELLENCE!

Welcome to the West Plains Fire Department

In October the West Plains Fire Department hired two full-time firefighters. Shawn Bice was hired and transferred from the Water Treatment Plant to the Fire Department and Casey Griffin was hired from Arkansas. The month of November the guys have been busy training and learning the ropes around the stations and in town. If you see them around town welcome them aboard! We’re glad to have you both!

Pictured: Shawn Bice, Fire Chief Tim Bean, and Casey Griffin

October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

We all know someone who has been stricken by this terrible disease and we all continue to HOPE for a cure, some day.

The West Plains Fire Department fully supports Breast Cancer Awareness month. Throughout October you will see our firefighters sporting their bright pink shirts supporting the cause.

Thank you for supporting such a great cause, WPFD!

“MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY”….Fire Drill 9/18/12

I had the opportunity to attend one of the monthly fire drill’s at Fire Station #1 Tuesday, September 18th. Wow! I learned so much and was so proud to see all firefighters working together.
Full-time, part-time, and paid-on-call firefighters were all in attendance. They started the evening in the training room going over questions on how to properly call out a “MAYDAY” during a fire. Lieutenant Wayne Cormier lead the discussion and questions and everyone participated.
After class discussion all firefighters put on their turnout gear and got ready for drill.
Now for the real fun…The firefighters were broke up into teams and had to go into a dark room and either find a dummy, another firefighter, call “MAYDAY” the proper way, or even a few other things. The firemen have worked hard on a make-shift house that was built in this room to educate firefighters on hallways, stairwells, small rooms, floors falling in, etc.
All teams did a great job. They learned that calling a “MAYDAY” is not something that happens often, but is something important you need to know when the time comes and you have to call it.
I’m proud to say that everyday heroes live and work in West Plains. These men and women put their life at risk every time they take a fire call. Be thankful for what we have, it’s good, and thank a firefighter today!
Reminder: Fire Prevention Week is October 7-13. For more information visit the West Plains Fire Department website.