May 2017 Awards Banquet

This year marked MSFD's 66th annual awards banquet, an evening to celebrate the many investments of our membership into the department and serving the community. 

We were honored to receive a plaque from Diana Taylor, MSFD's fire investigator, in recognition of exceptional work in overhaul and evidence protection in a recent structure fire.

Classes:

  • EMT Academy: Cindy Duncan, Molly Geiger, Laura Jamison, Oscar Michel, Matthew Robson, Andrew Thompson, Tyler Thompson, Brad Walters, and Jennifer Walters.

  • Wildland Academy: Cindy Duncan, Molly Geiger, Oscar Michel, Lee Reinhart, Matthew Robson, Andrew Thompson, Tyler Thompson, Ashley Triplett, Lt. Andrew Winchell, and Mark Wong.

  • Officer Academy: Kaitlyn Byrne, Capt. Dave Combs, DC Joshua Maul, Capt Bobby White, Michael Willie, and Lt. Andrew Winchell

Excellence in support of the EMT Academy:

  • Mackenzie Mulligan-Buckmiller and Groff Schroeder

Years of service:

  • Ben Engelhardt – 5 years

  • Asst. Chief Keith Buckmiller – 25 years

  • Brad Walters – 30 years

  • Lt. Steve Schopper – 40 years

Red jackets:

  • Lt. Chris Byrne, Laura Jamison, Andrew Thompson, Tyler Thompson

Retirements:

  • Asst. Chief Paul Willie, after 32 years of service

Fire calls:

  • 2700: Capt. John Nichols

  • 1800: Linda Radice

  • 600: Asst. Chief Keith Buckmiller

  • 500: Dep. Chief Josh Maul

  • 300: Capt. Bobby White

  • 100: Lt. Andrew Winchell

Gift of Life:

  • 5/6 save - Capt. David Combs, Linda Radice, Andrew Thompson, Brad Walters, Ashley Wardell, and Capt. Bobby White

  • 12/16 save - Capt. David Combs, Alex Keylin, Lt. Larry Mitchell, Ashley Triplett, and Michael Willie

Firefighter of the year:

  • Lt. Chris Byrne

Press release: burn ban

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Update: As of 04/04/2017, the burn ban has been lifted.

15-March-2017

Madam Mayor and Members of City Council,

 

Effective immediately, I am ordering the following Fire Restrictions for the City of Manitou Springs:

 

1.       Open Burning Ban, defined as the prohibited use of any outside fire, including camp fires and warming fires. 

 

This current ban excludes fires in permanently constructed fire rings within the city’s RV and Camping Parks; and charcoal grills, and wood burning fire places, (chiminia) or fire pits with proper fitting screen covers and with a minimum of 15’ separation from structures or other combustible material at private residences.  None of these exclusions permit a total fuel area greater than 3 feet in diameter, and all must have a flame height of less than 2 feet.

 

2.       Outdoor Smoking Ban, defined as the prohibited use of any tobacco product or similar material in cigarettes, cigars, or pipes outdoors.  This excludes smoking in enclosed buildings or structures, and along Manitou Avenue.  Discarding of a lighted cigarette, cigar or pipe tobacco products is strictly prohibited. 

 

These restrictions do not apply to gas-fueled grills used out-of-doors, or to fires within liquid-fueled or gas-fueled stoves.  Additionally, compliant fireplaces and wood-burning stoves within private residences are not included in the ban.

 

Current Wildland Fire predictive services for our area indicate continuing warm, dry and breezy conditions.  I have attached the Predictive Services Fire Weather/Danger Update from March 13th for your reference, and you can monitor these outlooks at;

http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/outlooks/outlooks.htm .

 

While we can only control our city limits, it is my hope that these restrictions will enhance awareness of our citizens and visitors, and the message will carry far outside of our boundaries.  It is also my hope that El Paso County Sheriff’s Office will also soon imposed fire restrictions for all areas of unincorporated El Paso County in some similar manner.  Should the county impose a fire ban while this ban is in place, this ban may be adjusted to allow for consistency in management and compliance.

 

If weather patterns change the local outlook significantly one way or the other, Fire Restrictions will be adjusted accordingly.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

John K. Forsett, Fire Chief, City of Manitou Springs

Introducing Engine 1011

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On November 4th, 2016, Manitou Springs Fire Department took delivery of a 2016 Rosenbauer Commander engine. For the last year, MSFD has worked through custom designs and inspected the engine multiple times before reaching this day. The engine will replace Engine 1011, a 1995 Becker engine that has served Manitou Springs for the last 21 years.

The new engine has four wheel drive, a short wheel base, and a tight turn radius for the narrow back roads of Manitou.

We appreciate the support of the community and Manitou Springs City Council, and look forward to using Engine 1011 for years to come.

Fire Prevention Week 2016

This year's Fire Prevention Week was a busy one at MSVFD. In the space of a week, we completed the following:

  • 5 fire prevention classes for Manitou students
  • Lunch with Sparky the Fire Dog at the Manitou Springs Elementary School
  • Judged the fire prevention poster contest 
  • Hosted a lunch for the poster contest winners and Chief for a Day
  • Setup, lit, and safely extinguished 400 pallets for the MSHS Homecoming Bonfire
  • Drove apparatus with students for the Homecoming Parade
  • Held the annual MSVFD Open House for the public, complete with food by Capt. Randy, a bounce house, station tours, trying on firefighting gear, and pictures with Sparky.

MSVFD 65th Annual Awards Banquet

Firefighter of the Year - Kaitlyn Byrne

Dusty Boot Award (Presented to a member of the department who has the most responses up the Manitou Springs Incline)

- Alex Keylin

Red Jacket Award and Badge (Presented to those members of our department after they respond to their first 35 fire calls)

- Austin Breen

-Ben Engelhart

- Andrew Winchell

Years of Service Award (Members are recognized after every five years of service with the Manitou Springs Volunteer Fire Department)

- Matthew Clark (5 Years)

- Groff Schroeder (5 Years)

-Mark Wong (5 Years)

- Dave Pamplin (25 Years)

Fire Calls (A patch is presented to our members after every 100 fire calls that they respond to during there years of service)

- Kaitlyn Byrne (100)

- Alex Keylin (100)

- Dave Combs (500)

- Linda Radice (1700)

- John Nichols (2600)

                           2015 Firefighter of the Year award presented to firefighter Kaitlyn Byrne on May 7th 2016

                           2015 Firefighter of the Year award presented to firefighter Kaitlyn Byrne on May 7th 2016

MSVFD Firefighter 1 Class 2016

The Manitou Springs Volunteer Fire Department just recently wrapped up our firefighter 1 training for 2016. Our department would like to give thanks to the instructors that put in so much time and effort to make this class possible to for our members.

2016 Firefighter 1 Class

- Andrew Thompson

-Matthew Stelmaszek

- Kaitlyn Byrne

- Mackenzie Mulligan-Buckmiller

Our Instructors

- Chris Byrne (Lead Instructor)

- Jeremy Van Der Merwede

- Joshua Maul