F.F.A.M.

A Message From The 2nd Vice President

Greetings FFAM membership. Since our last newsletter Missouri has been a busy state with record amount of rainfall weather related calls, water rescues, and even tornados keeping our fire departments, EMS agencies and 911 dispatchers very busy. Thank you for all your hard work and the agencies involved you did a great job and represented your our state well.

Unfortunately also since our last newsletter Missouri had two line of duty deaths. The first was with the Memphis Fire Department. Firefighter Jesse Ketchum died Monday, May 29, 2017, as a result of an apparatus accident while responding to a call. Firefighter Ketchum served the City of Memphis Fire Department for four years. He also served with the Scotland County Fire Association.

The second was with the Mayview Fire Protection District. Firefighter Jeffery Sanders died on June 19. Jeff has been involved with the Mayview Lions Club, the Odessa FFA Advisory Board, the Mayview Special Road District, and the Mayview Fire Protection District. Jeff was also treasurer of the Mayview Zion Cemetery Board.

Also injured in this accident was Firefighter Jacob Hayward with the Mayview Fire Protection District. Jacob is recovering in a Kansas City area hospital. Let’s continue to keep the Memphis Fire Department, Mayview Fire Protection District and also the Jacobs family in our prayers and hope for a speedy recovery.

Many thanks to Brian Zinanni and the Missouri Fire Funeral Assistance team that assisted in both services.

On May 16, I traveled to Bates City, Missouri to see the opening of Sni Valley Station 2. This is a great addition for this department as it will better serve the citizens of Eastern Jackson County and the Citizens of Western Lafayette County. Congratulations to Chief Carl Scarborough on your addition.

On Memorial Day I traveled to Cowgill, Missouri, to support the department there with their annual hog roast. This fund-raiser helps the department with equipment and also repairs to their trucks. Thanks Chief Jeff Misel for the great meal and your hospitality.

On June 10, I traveled to West Plains, Missouri. To the Howell County Rural Fire District 1. While in West Plains I attended a training program on Traffic Incident Management hosted by the department. This class was very excellent. Thanks to Chief Joe Auffert and his staff for a great training class and hospitality.

Many thanks to the members that helped move equipment out of the State Fair Fire Station, so repairs to the roof could be done. Your help was appreciated. The state fair committee, Chief Donnie Rogers and his staff have been busy preparing for the fair. The work weekends for the fair are July 7-9 and July 21-23. Any help would be appreciated as we need to move equipment back into the station and also prepare for the fair.

Thank you to Firefighter EMT Chris Thompson of the Holt Summit Fire Protection District on representing Missouri at the National EMS Memorial Service in Washington DC.

As I finish this article, I would love to hear from the membership what the FFAM is doing well for our members but also hear ideas on how we can increase membership, and also what the FFAM needs to work on. Feel free to email me with your ideas. I am also interested in attending your events as well. I can be reached at grant_oetting@yahoo.com.