Arvada Fire Department buys 2 new tools to safely battle electric vehicle fires

VIDEO: Firefighters with Arvada Fire have two new tools to help them battle electric vehicle fires, including an electric vehicle fire blanket and the turtle fire system. These kinds of fires are very dangerous and challenging to put out. The battery is underneath the car and it's difficult to get water to that area. Plus, EV fires burn much hotter, reaching temperatures of around 2,800 degrees. "Some of the nightmare scenarios is an electric vehicle fire in a parking structure and trying to protect the structure, the columns and everything around," said Battalion Jamie Chief Dennison, with Arvada fire. Dennison said these two new tools will help protect life and property and make it safer to battle EV fires. The turtle fire system looks like a giant lawn sprinkler that can spray around 500 gallons of water a minute.
CBS News Colorado

Roaring Fork Fire Rescue responds quickly to wildland fire, preventing a potential disaster

On Wednesday, April 24th, the Roaring Fork Fire Rescue was dispatched to a wildland fire near 403 East Fork Lane, Basalt. Upon arrival crews were faced with a 1-acre wildland fire burning in grass, oak brush and timber at the base of Crown Mountain. Winds were gusting around 10 miles per hour and spread the fire up toward Crown Mountain. Firefighters hiked up the terrain in order to extinguish the flames and to lay a wetline around the fire. In doing so, they were able to contain the fire at approximately 5 acres. Due to the possibility of the spread, all available resources were requested from the United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. “Firefighters quickly attacked the fire and were able to stop the fire from spreading,” said Incident Commander Chance Goldyn.
KKCO-TV NBC 11 Grand Junction

Colorado Springs Fire Department joins trust for firefighter healthcare

On Tuesday, April 23 Colorado Springs City Council voted unanimously to allow the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) to join the Colorado Firefighter Heart, Cancer, and Behavioral Health Benefits Trust. The trust was created to aid Colorado firefighters and agencies in managing the human and financial burdens created by serious health issues. The trust mandates cardiac and voluntary cancer benefits to state firefighters. Recently the trust expanded to include behavioral health support. “We are incredibly grateful to our city councilmembers for voting to support the health and wellbeing of our more than 500 firefighters and their families in the event they have to face medical burdens from heart, cancer, or behavioral health,” said Fire Chief Randy Royal.
KXRM-TV FOX 21 Colorado Springs

‘What’s old is new again’: Colorado Springs firefighters expect to save more lives with new UCHealth partnership

VIDEO: In a new partnership allowing firefighters to perform whole blood transfusions in the field, Colorado Springs firefighters predict they will be able to save more lives while out on calls. The partnership is with UCHealth. It gives firefighters the equipment they need to be able to give whole blood to patients suffering from blood loss while in the field. “This is the bridge between those patients dying in the field and living and making it through emergency surgery,” Fire Chief Randy Royal said. Whole blood is a vital fluid that can be given in emergency situations to help those experiencing blood loss make it to the hospital to get more extensive emergency treatment. “What we also recognize from new research is that you have to give it in the first 15 minutes to 30 minutes of injury,” said Dr. David Steinbruner, a doctor at UCHealth with experience in emergency medicine.
KKTV CBS 11 Colorado Springs