Category: Personnel

The Florissant Valley Fire Protection District has many outstanding employees who excel in many different areas. We are truly privileged to have among them Captain Jason Hoevelmann, who assumed the role of the district’s Training Officer in 2012 and embraced his role to incorporate more “next generation” aspects of firefighter training into the district’s training regimen. Captain Hoevelmann is also a proponent of professional development and has established many programs for those “coming up the ranks” to be prepared for the next level in their progression as firefighters, engineers, and potential officers. Finally, Captain Hoevelmann is passionate about fire ground awareness and firefighters being aware of dangers they will face while fighting a fire. On Friday, April 11, 2014, at the Fire Department Instructors Conference, the largest conference for fire service professionals in the country held in Indianapolis, IN, Captain Hoevelmann was awarded a Fire Service Writers Award for the blogs he’s written for FireEngineering.com and FireEMSBlogs.com, as well as his contributions through feature columns in FirefighterNation, FireRescue and Fire Engineering. “Jason clearly demonstrates the attitude that we’re in this to reach the widest possible audience and educate as many firefighters as possible,” Tim Sendelbach, editor-in-chief of FireRescue magazine/FirefighterNation.com says. “Further, he aims his writing squarely at the most influential role in the fire service—that of the company officer.” We here at the Florissant Valley Fire Protection District are extremely proud of Captain Hoevelmann and are lucky to have him as an officer of the district. Congratulations, Jason!

This past Sunday, April 13th, the Florissant Valley Fire Protection District held its annual Pinning Ceremony. During this ceremony, employees are recognized for every five years of service to the fire district and awarded a star to wear on their uniform for those five years of service. For 2013, the district had employees recognized for 5, 10, 15, 25, and 35 years of service. Among other awards, the district also recognizes employees who obtain a “clinical save” on patients found in cardiac arrest (this is a patient found in cardiac arrest who has a pulse and respirations that makes it to the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital). For 2013, the district had 12 clinical saves and almost 60 FF/EMTs & FF/Paramedics were recognized. The district was also honored to have some special guests at the ceremony. On June 3, 2013 FF/Paramedics Pat Jones & Bob Gale on 4027 responded to a local motel for a report of an unconscious infant. On their arrival, they found a 9-week-old infant unconscious in his father’s arms. It is worth noting that the infant was born at 28 weeks gestation and had been in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit until June 2, 2013. Taking the infant, the paramedics did their assessment and found the infant’s pulse and respirations to be dangerously low. They initiated chest compressions and assisted ventilations. After 90 seconds, the infant began to cry. The infant was transported to DePaul Health Center, stabilized, and transferred to St. Louis Children’s Hospital for further care and tests. FF/Paramedics Jones & Gale were recognized by St. Louis Children’s Hospital for their quick action and care to this infant. This past Sunday, the Florissant Valley Fire Protection District was honored to have the family of this infant in attendance at the ceremony to recognize the efforts of FF/Paramedics Jones & Gale on this call. Congratulations to all the crews honored for their clinical saves and truly making a difference!

Congratulations to Chief Robert Corey on his Retirement!

Chief Corey retired today, March 11, 2014, after 35 years of service to the Florissant Valley Fire Protection District. Prior to serving at the fire district, Chief Corey was a police officer with the Florissant Police Department and the St. Louis City Police Department. Chief Corey also served our country as a Marine during the Vietnam War. Thanks for all your years of service and dedication to the Fire District and the community. You will be missed. We would also like to thank all those that stopped by the Open House today to wish Chief Corey well.

This morning off duty FF/EMT Dave Woytus witnessed a person collapse on Holiday Dr. in Hazelwood. Dave surveyed the patient and found that they were in cardiac arrest. Dave started CPR with ventilations. As Hazelwood Fire Department arrived on the scene Dave continued to assist in patient care. The patient had a pulse prior to leaving the the scene. Great Job Dave!

All of the Florissant Valley Firefighters just finished their annual CPR recertification last week.

Firefighter/Paramedic Zach Krato was recently recognized by both the Florissant Valley Fire Protection District and the Riverview Fire Protection District for his efforts in delivery a baby.

Off-duty Florissant Valley Fire District Firefighter/Paramedic Zach Krato assisted crews from the Riverview Fire Protection District in delivering a baby on December 16, 2013. Firefighter/Paramedic Krato was doing personal business in the Riverview area when he heard the call dispatched on his scanner. He heard that the closest ambulance was 15 minutes away, on-scene crews were without an Advanced Life Support provider, and they were reporting an imminent delivery. Since he was in the area, he went to the scene, and he successfully delivered the baby. Upon the ambulance’s arrival, Firefighter/Paramedic Krato turned over care of the mother and baby to the ambulance crew.

Great job Zach!

 

The Fire District recently held a Swearing In Ceremony for promotions and a new hire. Deputy Chief Seppelt was promoted to Chief, Captain Randy Ray was promoted to Battalion Chief, Firefighter Chris Hefner was promoted to Captain and Jason Rhyne was recently hired as a Firefighter/Paramedic. Congratulations to all.

Jim Morrissey served with Florissant Valley Fire District until July of 1994 when he retired at the rank of Deputy Chief. Members of the district recently reached out to all retirees and their families requesting that they reconnect with the district if possible. Jim and his wife Cheri returned to the fire district to visit and see the new firehouse and equipment that was not here when he worked for the department. There was also a desire to introduce newer employees to as many of the retirees as possible to help them get to know the names and faces of the men who molded the department into what it is today. Below are some of the images of the Morrissy’s visit to the firehouse. The men and women of the Florissant Fire District would like to thank you for your visit and for spending time with us today.

On Sunday October 21, 2012 Firefighters from Florissant Valley Fire District and Black Jack Fire District were honored for their heroic efforts during the rescue of a woman from a recent house fire. These firefighters were able to rescue a woman from a second floor bedroom of the burning home in the Fox Lake subdivision. Firefighters Glenn Craig and Frank Lipski with Florissant were able to crawl past a fully involved bedroom to get to a remote bedroom on the second floor and carry the woman to safety, while the other firefighters used a hose line to contain the fire to the room of origin and extinguish the fire. For their efforts all members received a class VI Unit Citation from the Greater St. Louis Area Fire Chief’s Association. Firefighters Craig and Lipski were also awarded the Class II Silver Medal of Valor for their efforts during the rescue.

Firefighters from Black Jack & Florissant again worked together to rescue a man from a window during a fire in his home. Crews were able to ladder the building and get to the man who was at the window where they gave him fresh air using a firefighters SCBA Mask. This action kept the man conscious and limited potential smoke inhalation while additional crews extinguished the fire. The man was eventually moved to safety down the ladder by the crews on the scene. For this effort the crews were issued a Class VI Unit Citation from the Greater St. Louis Area Fire Chief’s Association.

Frequent combined training between Florissant Valley Fire District and Black Jack Fire District clearly played a role in these two rescue situations going smoothly. The two adjacent departments train together often due to the frequency that they assist each other on large fires. Congratulations to the members of these to departments for their actions on these two occasions.