Stage Fireobservers in Shreveport, Louisiana

Na ons verblijf in Houston, trekken we naar San Antonio, waar we de River Walk zullen bezoeken en Sea World.

The Alamo, klik op de foto voor de website.

The River Walk, klik op de foto voor de website.

San Antonio, klik op de foto voor de website.

Sea World San Antonio, klik op de foto voor de website.

Klik op het logo voor de link naar de website

Klik op de foto voor de website van Houston.

1ste stop College Station, TX.

Hier brengen we een bezoek aan TEEX, training centrum voor veiligheidsdiensten, meer dan een bezoekje waard!

The Signal 51 Group

The Signal 51 Group was formed in 1969 by five local Fire Buffs whose objective was to serve the Fire Department of the City of Shreveport in any way we could as private citizens. In 2009 we celebrated our 40th year of operation. Our organization is a member of the International Fire Buff Associates, Inc. (IFBA). The IFBA has over eighty five Fire Buff Groups in the United States, Canada and England that joined together to further their ideals, on a common ground in promoting the general welfare of the Fire Service and allied emergency services.

*Rehab was a term that was not heard of when we first started. It was just -- Bring the drinks and food if necessary to the fire.

At our very first major multiple alarm fire we did not hand out refreshment. A large warehouses at Slack Industrial Park was on fire from one end to the other. When Signal 51 members arrived, Chief Greene asked us to get a 2 ½ inch hose line off of Engine 8 and help fight the fire.

Over our long history we have had guys and gals that have taken it upon their selves to respond to any working fire where they thought refreshments might be needed. But because of having children and business commitments we did not always have the people that were able to do this. We still almost always responded to second alarms or higher. We probably make 20 to 30 calls a year responding to just multiple alarm fires.

What are fire buffs? The term is not defined in Webster's Dictionary; however, to the estimated more than 50,000 Buffs in the U.S., most of whom are "free lance" and do not belong to an organized group or club Mr. Karl Detzer comes closest to explaining our avocation when he wrote in the Baltimore Sun as follows:

Fires to us are not mere spectacles. They are demonstrations of strategy and tactics, for behind the apparent confusion at any "working fire," there is generalship. A real buff can tell at a glance just how the battle lines are drawn. The placement of hose lines and ladders, the use of high pressure deck pipes and ladder pipes, the location of windows being smashed out with axes - All these are clues to what kind of fire it is, where it is centered and how the job of extinguishing the blaze is progressing.

Today's Fire Buffs are basically students of the Science of Fire Fighting together with an active interest in a multitude of other activities designed to aid and promote their local Fire Departments.

 Like other fire buff clubs we get a great deal of satisfaction out of assisting with re-hab at multiple alarm fires. At these emergencies Signal 51 members used to operate the local Salvation Army Canteen which supplies food and refreshments to all the emergency workers and displaced citizens. However now we use our personal cars to respond to and take supplies to the incident. The fire dept. sets up the rehab area near a medic unit on any significant event.

Most buffs generally are apparatus enthusiast and some members can even tell you the make, model and year of each Shreveport fire engine.

The picture at the left shows Signal 51 members, Jerry Hope and Karen Mackey at one of only a few light moments during the serving of refreshments at the tragedy of 6 young people drowning in the Red River on August 2, 2010. It was an extremely hot, humid evening and they were grimy and covered with sweat when Father Guido Verbeck snapped this photo. They had carried supplies back and forth over 250 yards of rough terrain to get much needed refreshments to the responders and recovery divers on that fateful night. Click on the their image to see an enlargement.

We act as a citizens' public relations group for our Fire Department and combat unjust criticism or ridicule. Most of us have attended the Citizen's Fire Academy which has given us an entirely new perspective and a deeper respect for what firefighters do. A few of our members belong to the Shreveport Fire Corp. One of our members was Chairman of the 9-1-1 Board, and other are on boards and committees related to the Fire Service. Another member has been president of the IFBA, and two others have been vice-presidents.

Every five years Signal 51 host a regional International Fire Buff Associates meeting in Shreveport to show off our Fire Department. The Fire Buffs who have attended from around the country have always been highly impressed by our firefighters' knowledge of fire fighting, their friendliness, and the appearance of our equipment.

The group is always interested in obtaining Fire Dept. memorabilia and was instrumental in bringing the Shreveport Firefighters Museum into existence. We have taken photos and videos of most major fires over the years and try to keep track of the history of the S.F.D.

We have a 1928 American LaFrance which is one of our museum pieces. In the 1980's we had a 1969 American LaFrance Pioneer I Pumper (ex-Engine 10) that we maintained and used in many parades, weddings, fire dept. funerals, and other events when requested by the Fire Chief. In 1997 we used a 1974 Pioneer II, in 2000 we used a 1983 American LaFrance. and now one of our members has several pumpers we can use, one of which is a 1969 American LaFrance Pioneer I (X-Engine 17). One of our members is known nationwide for his expertise in restoring antique fire apparatus and at one time had the largest and best private collections in the country.

When Shreveport Fire Chief, Brian Crawford became Chief the new fire department maintenance facility was opened on Mansfield Road. Since the building was at one time an automobile dealership it had a large showroom. Chief Crawford designated the showroom to be the location for the Shreveport Firefighters Museum. Dr. Harvey Carter, one of our members placed on permanent loan, a 1928 Seagrave pumper and his alarm console from old Fire Station 5, plus many other SFD historical items.

The 1928 American LaFrance that the members of Signal 51 had maintained for many years was also placed in the museum. Signal 51 members spent many hours refurbishing the alarm console and restoring the appearance of the antique fire engines that are now on display in the museum.

Members of the Signal 51 Group have radio scanners and Fire Dept. Pagers and are paged out when there is a need for our canteen service. A few years ago after units were dispatched to a fire at Libby Glass Manufacturing Company on a very hot summer evening a chief officer was heard on the fire radio frequency barking out to fire dispatch, "Give me a second alarm and tell the Signal 51 Group to setup on the east and south sides of the fire building!" As most of us were listening to our scanners that evening we did not wait for the pagers to go off for us that time.
 
We are very fortunate to have an outstanding fire department here in Shreveport. If you have ever watched them at a fire emergency and paid attention to the organization and leadership that takes place you will notice the strategy and tactics that they use. Watch the aggressive interior attack that takes place, but when there is too much danger the commanders on the scene quickly have the firefighters removed from the structure and begin an exterior or defensive attack. It is a well orchestrated event in what appears to be a chaotic situation.

While firefighting is a very rewarding job, it is an extremely dangerous one. Here in Shreveport where we have the long hot humid summers, and firefighters with their full firefighting protective clothing on take a beating. They are rotated out of the fire scene for rehabilitation at a set time interval. The SFD has an excellent rehab method setup for any incident, but in case of multiple alarm fires or major incidents the rehab area deserves all the help we can give them. In fact, Signal 51 members will, most often, respond to any fire where large diameter fire hose is laid to supply water to put the fire out. When this occurs it is a good indication that there is significant fire and the firefighters will be exerting a great deal of energy.

Voor de mensen die reeds willen volgen wat er bij de fire department of Shreveport gebeurt, kunnen op onderstaande link klikken en de oproepen live meevolgen.

http://www.signal51group.com/Online%20Fire%20Scanners/Fir...

Beste mede fire observers,

Mijn naam is Steven Vanhauwaert, woonachtig te Kuurne en word er dit jaar 27.

Ik ben reeds een 6 tal jaar in dienst als vrijwillig brandweerman waar ik samen met zo een 60 tal collega’s de kuurnse burger bescherm. Daarnaast ben ik reeds 4 jaar actief lid in het Rescue In Safe Conditions team.

Hi, My name is Steven Vanhauwaert, I live in Kuurne and I'm 27 years young. I’ve joined the Kuurne Volunteer FD 6 years ago, and I'm one of the 60 FF who look after the safety of the Kuurne population. I'm a member of the RISC team aka rope rescue team, training for these special skills the last 4 years

Verder ben ik als 5^de generatie, technisch verantwoordelijke in ons familiebedrijf dat reeds meer dan een eeuw oud is en gespecialiseerd is in de constructie van bast vezel verwerking productielijnen, industriële afzuiging en algemene constructie (vanhauwaertmachines.com).

In my professional live, I'm a 5th generation technical engineer, in a 120 years old family company that produces flax scutching production lines, industrial aspiration systems and general construction.

( http://vanhauwaertmachines.com)

Ik hou van verre reizen die vaak gepaard gaan met het werk en ben wel te vinden voor wat avontuur.

I like to travel all over the world, sometimes workrelated, and like the outdoor experience off mountainclimbing, skiing and mountainbiking.

Ik ben sedert 2007 lid van de fireobservers en nam reeds deel aan de stage in San Jose California in 2008 en Macon in 2010. De stage aan de West- en Oost kust bevielen mij enorm goed en zo kijk ik vol verwachtingen uit om het wel en wee van de firefighters in het Louisiana mee te maken.

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As a member of the Fireobservers I already took part in the 2008 trip to San Jose and Macon in 2010. Spending time on the West - and East coast was very satisfying. I'm already looking forward to the upcoming cooperation with the Firefighters from Louisiana.

 Steven

Beste blogger!

Mijn naam is Kenneth Weyn (27)  en ik woon, net zoals Sam en Rui, in Kruibeke. Meer info over onze mooie gemeente kan je hieronder bij Sam lezen.

Ik ben inmiddels  8 jaar bij de brandweer in Kruibeke. Een 5-tal jaar geleden ben ik ook gestart met de ziekenwagen waar ik intensief het dienstrooster help op te vullen.

Hello, My name is Kenneth and I live in the city of Kruibeke, just like my two colleques on this trip Sam and Rui. For more info of our area, you can look at Sam’s introduction. I joined the Kruibeke Fire dept 8 years ago , and since 5 year I also help out in the Ambulance service we run.

Sinds vorig jaar ben ik benoemd tot korporaal bij de brandweer Kruibeke. Tevens in 2010 behaalde ik het diploma van sergeant aan de brandweerschool. Binnen het brandweerkorps wordt ik ook ingeschakeld voor bij de VICTIM/CAMHIE-meetploegen. Dit zijn meetploegen die in geval van calamiteiten metingen op oa schadelijke gassen kunnen uitvoeren.

I was promoted to engineer last year in my department. In 2010 I also got my captains degree at the state fire college. In my department I’m specialized as a hazmat technician and I work with a team that’s on regional standby for incidents with chemicals. When there is a chemical cloud dispersion, our team is dispatched to make measurements.

Ook ben ik sinds enkele jaren verantwoordelijk voor de jeugdbrandweer van Kruibeke. Samen met mijn collega’s probeer ik de goede werking van de jeugdbrandweer te borgen en de kinderen een degelijke opleiding te geven.

I’m the one that’s responsible for our explorers program. With a few of my colleques we make sure that this organization get’s the necessary support and management so the kids get some decent training and learn the basic skills of the fire department.

Ik ben van opleiding industrieel ingenieur (master) in de elektromechanica. Beroepshalve ben ik werkzaam bij de firma Altrad Balliauw waar ik op dit moment de functie heb van controller en planner. De firma waarin ik werk is in de België, Nederland en Frankrijk 1 van de grote spelers in de wereld van industriële stellingbouw, industriële isolatiewerken en asbestverwijdering.

I’m educated as a master in electromechanics. I work for the Altrad Balliauw company as a controller/planner. Altrad Balliauw, founded in 1976, is one of the leading players in the scaffold rental and erection market, both in industry and in the construction sector in the Benelux countries and France and does a lot of insulation project and is a known player in the asbestos removal sector.

Groetjes,

Kenneth