Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer Fire Department
Spring 2013
Wildfire: Not Just A Rural Issue Anymore
Talk about wildfires and
cityscapes in the same breath
and people may just roll their
eyes. Yet, with a record-setting
2011 fire season that saw
flames encroaching on many
city boundaries, urbanites are
taking cues from their suburban neighbors and pledging to
reduce their area's risk of
brush, grass and forest fire
damage. Firewise is a great
program that serves as a platform to spread fire prevention
information to those who live in
the wildland/urban interface.
Our goal is to get every one of
our communities to take part in
this program and help make
our neighborhoods fire adapted
and Firewise.
About the Firewise
Communities Program
Brush, grass or forest fires
don’t have to be disasters. The
National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Firewise Communities program encourages
local solutions for wildfire safety by involving homeowners,
community leaders, planners,
developers, firefighters, and
others in the effort to protect
people and property from wild-
fire risks.
Th e progra m is c osponsored by the USDA Forest
Service, the US Department of
the Interior, and the National
Association of State Foresters.
To save lives and property
from wildfire, NFPA's Firewise
Communities program teaches
people how to adapt to living
with wildfire and encourages
neighbors to work together and
take action now to prevent
losses. We all have a role to
play in protecting ourselves
and each other from the risk of
wildfire.
—www.firewise.org
From The Chiefs Desk
Bexar-Bulverde
Volunteer
Fire Department
Station One:
1126 E. Borgfeld
San Antonio, TX
78260
(830) 980-4733
Station Two:
23103 Bulverde Road
San Antonio, TX
78259
(210) 272-0353
www.bexarbulverdevfd.org
Released April 1st, 2013
We started off
the new year
like it was the
beginning of a
race. Things
have
been
going fast and
furious since
January and
now it is already April. We have
been working on numerous
projects that have been on the
to do list for some time now.
working to provide education
and guidance to residents on
wildfire safety. Our fire prevention officer has been attending
workshops and gathering literature that will ensure you are
educated and know what to do
in the event of a wildfire.
We started a Volunteer Firefighter Academy that will train
new members to meet the
standards
for
firefighting. There are 7 new cadets that will graduate on April
11th after four months of training. Our goal is to have two to
three Volunteer Firefighter
Academy's every year.
In April our new Medical
Rescue Vehicle will be arriving. This is our first new medical response vehicle in five
years. It will be assigned to
Station 1 on Borgeld Drive. My
hope is to order another identical unit later this year to be
assigned to Station 2 on Bulverde Road. These units will
continue to be equipped with
advanced life support equipment to provide the highest
level of care to people in need
as quickly as possible.
April is also the start of wildfire season. We have been
Our Battalion Chiefs are
currently working on an internal
VISIT US:
audit for our ISO rating. The
Insurance Services Organization rates fire departments on
their ability to provide fire suppression. The rating scale is
between 1 and 10, 1 being the
best and 10 being unrated. We
are currently rated at 4 for areas that have fire hydrants and
are within five road miles of our
stations. We have a rating of
8B for areas that do not have
fire hydrants, but still are within
five road miles of our stations.
For residents beyond five road
miles, you are classified as a
10. We currently have three
areas that are rated 10. The
far southwest, the far northeast
and the far south east portions
of our response areas are rated
at 10. We are working very
hard to lower the rating for
those residents by acquiring
Continued On Page 2
Spring 2013
Page 2
Fire News
Continued “From the Chiefs Desk”
land for new fire stations. I will
keep you up to date on our
progress.
Our Battalion Chiefs are also
working to have our department accredited with the Texas
Fire Chiefs Association as having the "Best Practices" for fire
department operations. BexarBulverde Volunteer Fire Department is one of only seven fire
departments in the state that
have chosen to undertake this
major initiative and we are the
only volunteer department participating. There are 112
benchmark goals that have to
meet and verified by an independent auditor.
We have
joined other departments like
Irving, Terrell Hills, Taylor, Coppell, Tyler and Laredo Fire Departments.
In May we will have our
open house and Board of Directors meeting, which will include
elections. There are three positions on the board that will be
up for election. All residents in
our response area are considered members and can vote for
the board of directors. We will
be updating our website and
Facebook page with the details
on dates and times of the open
house and elections. We invite
all residents to come out to
visit the fire station and look at
the fire trucks.
Sincerely,
Paul Tarter
Fire Chief
Grilling Safety
Grill Fire
There’s nothing like outdoor grilling. It’s one of the most popular ways to cook food. But, a grill
placed too close to anything that can burn is a fire hazard. Grills can be very hot, well after cooking is
done, causing burn injuries. Follow these simple tips and you will be on the way to safe grilling.
Safety Tips:


Year to Date
Run Report
 Total
Responses 410
 Dispatch to
enroute avg
time - 1.48
min
 Dispatch to
onscene avg
time time 7.55 min
Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors.
The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings, and out from under eaves
and overhanging branches.
 Keep children and pets at least thirty feet away from the grill area.
 Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the
grill.
 Never leave your grill unattended.
 Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it.
Charcoal Grills:

There are several ways to get the charcoal ready to use. Charcoal chimney starters allow you to
start the charcoal using newspaper as a fuel.
 If you use a starter fluid, use only charcoal starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other
flammable liquids to the fire.
 Keep charcoal fluid out of the reach of children and away from heat sources.
 There are also electric charcoal starters, which do not use fire. Be sure to use an extension cord
for outdoor use.
 When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal
container.
Propane Grills:
Check the gas tank hose for leaks before using it for the first time each year. Apply a light soap
and water solution to the hose. A propane leak will release bubbles. If your grill has a gas leak, by
smell or the soapy bubble test, and there is no flame, turn off the gas tank and grill. If the leak stops,
get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again. If the leak does not stop, call the fire
department. If you smell gas while cooking, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not move the grill. If the flame goes out, turn the grill and gas off and wait at least 15
minutes before re-lighting it.
—National Fire Protection Association
Burn Ban In Effect Until June 24th
Commissioners Court approved an order last week restricting outdoor burning in unincorporated
Bexar County because of dry weather conditions and heavy fuel loads on the ground. The ban is effective immediately and will expire on June 24, or sooner if the court finds that a public safety hazard
no longer exists. A violation of the order is a Class C misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine not to
exceed $500. For more information, please contact the Bexar County Fire Marshals Office.
Spring 2013
Fire News
Page 3
Scorpions and Scorpion Stings
West Texas Scorpion
The good news is
that there are no
deadly scorpions in
Texas. Their venom
is
neurotoxin
and
causes some, or all,
of
the
following
symptoms:
pain,
numbness
of
extremity,
edema,
tongue
and
the
thickening,
difficulty
focusing.
Scorpions and non-insect
arthropods. There are approximately 90 species of scorpions
in the United States. At least 20
of those species are found in
Texas. The most common scorpion found in, and around,
South Texas is the West Texas
Scorpion.
The good news is that there
are no deadly scorpions in Texas. Their venom is neurotoxin
and causes some, or all, of the
following symptoms: pain,
numbness of the extremity,
edema, tongue thickening, and
difficulty focusing.
The bite may go systemic
and can cause an allergic reac-
tion. If this happens, you need So what do you do?
to seek immediate medical
Spray the interior and exteriattention. Treatment is often ice
or of your home with an insectior warm compress for the pain.
cide that contains chemicals
Most scorpion bites occur in such as permethrin or cypermethe warmer months. Scorpions thrin. You can do an online
seek shady, even dark areas to search for the best place to
hide. They like moist and humid purchase products containing
areas, so the bathroom of your these chemicals.
house is a prime spot.
The big thing to remember
How do you know if you have when you are stung is that you
an infestation of scorpions? Go are not going to die. Yes, it is
out after dark and look around going to be painful for a while,
using a UV, or black, light. Their but you are going to survive!
exoskeletons contain a protein
that is fluorescent. If you notice
your yard has a large amount of
—Terry Eaton, UT Health
“glowing spots,” you may have a
Science Center
scorpion problem.
USFA: “2,900 Residential Clothes Dryer Fires Reported Annually”
Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010), a special report by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), noted that in that time period, 2,900
fires involving clothes dryers in residential buildings were reported to U.S. fire departments. These
incidents caused an estimated five deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. The report
was developed by the USFA’s National Fire Data Center and is based on data from the National Fire
Incident Reporting System.
The report also highlighted the following:

The incidence of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings, higher in the fall and winter months,
peaked in January at 11 percent


The leading cause of these fires (34 percent) was failure to clean the dryer of lint

54 percent of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings were confined to the object of origin
The leading items first ignited were dust, fiber, and lint (28 percent) and clothing not on a person (27 percent)
The report is part of the Topical Fire Report Series and includes recent examples of fire incident
related to the report topic in context. Additional information on these topical reports is at
www.usfa.fema.gov
—www.FireEngineering.com
Dryer Fire
What you can do...



Clean the lint trap before and after drying each load of clothes.


Replace plastic or vinyl exhaust hoses with rigid or flexible metal venting.
Don’t forget to clean the back of the dryer where lint can be trapped.
The interior of the dryer and venting system should be cleaned periodically by qualified service
personnel. If you notice the drying time is longer, clean the vent system thoroughly to ensure proper
airflow.
Do not dry clothing/fabric on which there is anything flammable (alcohol, cooking oils, gasoline,
spot removers, dry-cleaning solvents, etc.). Flammable substances give off vapors that could ignite
or explode.

Don’t forget to read manufacturers’ warnings in use and care manuals that accompany new
dryers. Also, warning markings can usually be found on the inside of the dryer’s lid and take only
minutes to read.
Spring 2013
Page 4
Fire News
Reducing Wildfire Risk
According to IBHS, one-third of U.S. homes are located in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), areas that
combine housing developments with natural topography, trees, and vegetation. In recent years, homes
in these areas have become common casualties of hard-to-control wildfires. Even if you are located
outside the boundaries of the WUI, you can sustain significant fire damage. Burning embers can be
blown into the area ahead of the fire front and can start fires by landing on hazardous parts of the building. Deck and patio furniture, lounge chair cushions, awnings, woodpiles, and areas where pine needles
or leaves accumulate are some of the places were embers can collect and possibly ignite the structure.
Wildland Urban
Interface

Windows—Radiant heat from a wildfire can easily shatter single pane windows; choose tempered
glass and preferably dual-pane windows for increased protection. An open window is vulnerable to
the entry of embers, so make sure your windows are closed.

Vents—Attic and crawlspace vents are the most likely entry points for firebrands. Cover with 1/8inch metal mesh screens (usually the finest mesh allowed by the building code). Flying embers
driven by gusty winds often pose the biggest fire threat to structures. Embers can enter through
vents and burn a house from the inside out.

Roofs and Gutters—Choose a Class A fire-rated roof covering, which is a roofing material described
by an Underwriters Laboratory rating system as being noncombustible and capable of withstanding
severer fire exposure without igniting. Keep the roof and gutters clear of debris through regular
maintenance.

Attachments—Decks, patios, and porches are often attached to the house and can act as a wick,
bringing flames to the building. Use ignition resistant building materials and keep the top and underneath clear of debris and combustible items. Enclosing the bottom of your elevated deck patio
or porch or screening the top area are both good options for reducing fire risk. Combustible fences
also can be a hazard; separate the fence from the house by using a Metal gate.

Yard Structures—Arbors, pergolas or trellises, playground equipment, boats, RVs, firewood, and
other combustible items can allow fire to touch the building. When possible, relocate at least 30
feet from the house and choose noncombustible or ignition-resistant building materials when possible.

Propane and LP Tanks—Relocate the propane tanks at least 30 feet from your house or, if relocation is not an option, create a 10-foot noncombustible zone around the tank. An alternative solution is to enclose the tank using noncombustible materials.

Proximity to Surrounding Properties—Houses located less than 15 feet apart can be significantly
threatened by neighboring properties ignited by wildfires Work with neighbors to reduce the risk of
cluster burning, which can whip out an entire block of properties within hours.
“Even if you are
located outside
the
boundaries
of the WUI, you
can
su sta i n
significant
fire
damage.”
Member Spotlight
Neek Razavi
While wildfires are inevitable, communities and neighbors in and near the Wildland Urban Interface can
come together to make their houses and neighborhoods as fire adapted as possible.
—USAA
Bexar-Bulverde Member Spotlight
Neek Razavi is a twenty-one year
old Firefighter/EMT-Basic with
the Bexar-Bulverde Fire Department and has been a member
there for 3 years. Born in Atlanta,
GA, Neek moved to San Antonio
in 2001. In addition to volunteering his time with BBVFD, Neek is
a student at Texas State University, studying for his Bachelors
Degree in Business Management. Neek currently works for
Southern Cross EMS but aspires
to get on with the Austin Fire
Department. Working on making
that goal a reality, in addition to
everything else, Neek is also
currently enrolled in a TCFP Fire
Academy. Neek Razavi is a very
dedicated and determined individual, who we are lucky to
have here at the BexarBulverde VFD.
Winter 2013
Gallery
Rope Rescue Class — March 2013
BBVFD participates in Hero Rush 2013
Less Mud, More Heroics—Hero Rush is the blazingly tough, totally unique and absolutely fun 3-5 mile obstacle race and experience created by real firefighters (for EVERYONE!) that will challenge you to the max.
Plus, we’ve got kid’s races, support great causes — all in a family-friendly, awesome event experience!
GREAT JOB BEXAR-BULVERDE MEMBERS!!!
Page 5
Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer
Fire Department
Station One:
1126 E. Borgfeld Dr.
San Antonio, TX 78260
(830) 980-4733
Station Two:
23103 Bulverde Road
San Antonio, TX 78259
(210) 272-0353
The Mission of the Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer
Fire Department is to provide fire suppression
and prevention with rescue and emergency
medical first-responder services thru
courteous, caring, and prompt customer
service to protect lives and preserve property,
while promoting community awareness and
involvement.
Visit us on the Web!!
www.bexarbulverdevfd.org
To subscribe to this newsletter, please visit our
website and click on the community portal tab
How it all got started
The Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer
Fire Department was established in 1966. The Department’s response area was to
cover from the US HWY 1604
& US 281 N interchange
north to US HWY 46 in Comal
County, going from Blanco
Road east to Farm Road
3009 in Comal County and
along the Bexar County Line.
The department encompassed approximately 300 sq
miles of Northern Bexar
County and Southern Comal
County. The original station
was built in 1970 at 1126
East Borgfeld where it still
stands today. In 1986, the
department was split into two
separate departments to
establish tax funds more
Department Vision
effectively between the two
counties for the one department. At that time, the station in Bexar County became
the Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer
Fire Department and the two
stations in Comal County
became the Bulverde Area
Volunteer Fire Department.
The current response area for
the Bexar-Bulverde Fire Department is approximately 47
square miles of northern
Bexar County.
To be recognized by the community and our peers as:
1.
A model of excellence in providing fire protection, emergency first-responder medical services, and related services
2.
A department dedicated to continuous improvement, to
every detail, of the services we provide
3.
A department that promotes an environment of tolerance,
trust, and involvement
4.
A department responsive to the community's needs and
concerns
Department Values
The core value of the Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer Fire Department is the belief that out people are our most important
asset. Those values include:





Professionalism
Integrity
Compassion
Concern
Tradition




Pride
Commitment
Camaraderie
Caring