Jackson Professional Firefighters

 

Reprinted with permission of author. Original can be seen at http://www.1stresponder.com/webpages/news/displayNews.aspx?PT=news&ID=e9297f6f-a204-4c14-9bc3-c765e777d4f8 .

 

CANTON, OH – Stark State University was again home to the 13th Annual Jackson Fire Expo, which was

 held on January 26th, and 27th, 2008. The 156 participants that attended the two-day event were treated to a trade show and two guest lecturers who spoke about current issues affecting the modern fire service. Of the 33 departments that were represented at this year’s expo, Jackson Twp FD led the pack with the most members registered. They had sixty-six attendees, followed by the Perry Twp FD with seventeen attendees followed by the Plain Twp FD which had thirteen attendees

 

Saturday’s session started with a continental breakfast and vendor’s expo which ran from 7:30am to 9:00am. At 9:00am the seminar got underway with the presentation of the flags by the Jackson Township Fire Department Honor Guard as the Stark County Firefighters Pipes and Drum Corps performed Amazing Grace. This was also their debut performance. Captain Dave Aberth of the Perry Twp. FD performed a stirring rendition of the “National Anthem” in front of a packed auditorium.

This year as in others, two dynamic cutting edge speakers were featured with each taking a day. Saturday’s session featured Chief Eddie Buchanan of the Hanover County, Virginia Fire Department who made his first appearance at the annual event and returning presenter Chief Dave Dodson (Ret.) who made his second appearance (2003) due to the request of students.

Chief Buchanan began his fire service career in 1982 and currently serves as the Operation Division Chief of the Hanover County (VA) Fire and EMS which is combination department with a roster of over 500 volunteer and full-time firefighters. He is the author of the Volunteer Training Officer’s Handbook published by Pennwell Books and has lectured throughout the country on leadership and training topics. He is also the co-author of the Red, White, and Blue Ribbon Reports issued by Volunteer/Combination Officers section of the IAFC. Currently, Chief Buchanan serves on the Board of Directors of the International Society of Fire Instructors (ISFI) and the Technical Committee of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Chief Buchanan discussed the attributes of Leading with Attitude and training techniques.

 

Chief Dave Dodson (Ret.) is the owner and lead instructor for Response Solutions. He has twenty four plus years of fire service experience and was the first career training officer for Loveland (CO) Fire & Rescue and was a shift battalion chief for the Eagle River (CO) Fire District prior to starting his company. Chief Dodson is a nationally recognized author and lecturer on the topic of safe and emergency fire operations as well as the course developer for the popular program, “The Art of Reading Smoke,” “The art of First Due,” and the “incident Safety Officer Academy.”

 

His company, Response Solutions has taught and consulted with hundreds of fire departments, agencies, and corporations since its inception. A few of his clients include, the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, Fort Worth Fire Department, Lake County MABAS, Toronto Fire Service, Hewlett Packard, Wal-Mart, QWEST Communications and the United States Air Force. Chief Dodson’s topics of discussion included Advanced Techniques of Reading Smoke & Buildings and the roles of Incident Safety officers

This year’s Expo attracted thirty-seven vendors who set up their booths in the recently renovated Student Center on the grounds of Stark State University. Attendees could view and purchase PPE, thermal imagers, hand tools, environmental sensors, EMS gear, and rescue equipment. The expo hall was open throughout the expo and drew crowds before and after the expo and during breaks and lunch both days.

Another highlight included a catered lunch that was furnished by Santangelo Catering of Canton, Ohio. During lunch firefighters from the Jackson Township Professional Firefighters

 Local 2280 were busy selling commemorative golf and T-Shirts as well as 50/50 tickets for charity. This year they raised $740.00. The funds were distributed evenly between the Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Breast Cancer Research Fund, Spina Bifida Association, and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The four charities chosen this year represent diseases that affect fire department members’ families.

 

The Jackson Fire Expo is held annually and is considered to be one of Ohio’s Premiere Fire Schools. They also have a web page that is updated regularly and which includes on-line registration forms as well as maps. Go to www.jacksonfirefighters.com to learn more about the Jackson Township Fire Department and the upcoming 2009 Jackson Fire Expo.

 

Thank you to Steve and Amy McKinney for the photos used in this article.  Information for this article provided by Kai Rieger.

 

Jackson Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 2280 would like to thank the 37 vendors who made this expo possible.  Thank you to Shamrock Gear and Repair for the printing of the advertising materials.