Fire Corps assists Sisters Community

The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District formalized a program for auxiliary volunteers in January 2015. Fire Corps program volunteers assist fire department and related community service functions in non-emergency roles as needed for the fire district.

Fire Corps assignments include: Administrative functions (office work, data entry), life safety education such as CPR and First Aid training, blood pressure assessments, green emergency address sign program, public and fire/EMS department assistance and community risk (smoke alarms and fire prevention/safety education). Fire Corps members may also receive training in other duties and programs as assigned by the fire chief.

The Fire Corps initially started with just a few members; as of December 2017 it has 24 members. Those 24 members volunteered 2,532 hours in 2017 assisting the Fire Department with community and fire/life safety events.

Beverly Halcon is the Fire Corps chairperson and manages the activities for the members. The group had many accomplishments in 2017 including:

• Completed 416 blood pressure readings during monthly Bi-Mart blood pressure clinics. These are held on the third Tuesday of each month from noon to 4 p.m.

• Installed 40 green reflective emergency address signs throughout the Fire District. The signs help crews quickly locate addresses.

• Taught 10 CPR/AED and First Aid classes educating 106 community members.

• Performed residential smoke alarm testing along with the American Red Cross covering 29 homes and installing over 91 smoke alarms.

• Checked a total of 50 child safety seats through three Sisters-area clinics and other regional clinics.

• Began an AED grant program encouraging businesses in the Sisters area to purchase automated external defibrillators. Nine additional AEDs were added to the community due to this program.

Fire Chief Roger Johnson said, "I am so proud of all of our Fire Corps members. They provide services for our community that we wouldn't otherwise be able to provide. I am convinced that their efforts have saved lives and will save many more in the years to come."

For more information about the Fire Corps program, contact the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District at 541-549-0771.