Newspaper Page Text
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_DECEMBER 24, 1998
AFD tests hi-tech equipment
By Mork Oliphant
AUGUSTA FOCUS Mndont
The Augusta-Richmond County
Fire Department continues tomake
aggressive :zortl to enhance :;l
firefighting efforts totoday’s mod
ernstandards with technology used
in other major American cities.
Oneitem tested recentlyis a visual
device used to help firefighters be
come more effectivein locatingand
rescuing fire victims, even in the
worst infernos. The new thermal
imaging camera (TlC)was used on
a test fire on the corner of East
Cedar Streetand Magnolia Avenue.
The camera, which costs $17,000
each, has both visual and trans
mission capabilities, according to
the fire department public infor
mation officer Katrice Bryant.
“Thermal imaging picks up im
ages of victims by their body heat,
which allows firefighters to locate
victimsdirectly,” said Ms. Bryant.
“It also has a video overlay which
relays the images and becomes
transmitted as video to the com
mand posts’monitor, allowing the
commanders to give proper orders
of action.”
. After the demonstration, Au
gusta-Richmond County Fire Chief
Ronnie Few believes this is some
thingthe department needs; heis
simultaneously cautious ofthe bud
getary boundaries the Augusta
Local athletes score at TMC
Truett-McConnell College in
Cleveland is proud to have four
local basketball playerson the TMC
Men’s Basketball team. Rod
Ashmore, a sophomore majoring
in Sports Medicine, is a native of
Augusta and a 1997 graduate of
Josey High School. Rod is the
team’s leading scorer, averaging
17 points per game. Healsoled the
conferencein three-point shooting
at 56% last year as a freshman.
Rod’smotheris Carolyn A. Berring.
Marco Brown, TMC'’s starting
point guard, is a sophomore major
ing in Electrical Engineering.
Marco is also a 1997 graduate of
Josey High School. His season
highin scoring thusfaris 28 points
scored against nationally ranked
Spartanburg Methodist. Marco is
the son of Mr. and Mrs. Myron
Brown.
Roosevelt Walker is a freshman
whograduated from North Augus
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AUGUSTA FOCUS
Commission has placed the depart
mentwithin.
“We like the concept, especially
with thecapabilities it has for our
commanders to see what's inside
the burning building. This is cer
tainly wfiupr technology,”
said Chief Few. “We've had po bud
get increase since my first day on
the job here, and this maybe some
thing we cannot budget for right
away. However, we are taking a
look at this.”
TheTlCis nottheaverage hand
held camcorder. It is affixed to a
firefighter’s helmet in a facial posi
tion, allowing everything seen be
transmitted to commanders. Ac
cordingto Ms. Bryant, thedepart
ment willneed four TICs for each of
their four battalions, and prospects
for funding appear positive.
“Instead of goinginto our budget,
we plan to research state and fed
eral grants and private donations
to aid us in securing the equip
ment,” said Ms. Bryant. “A strong
possiblesourceisgrant money given
by FEMA (Federal Emergency
Management Agency),aswell asa
federal government overlay. The
militaryhas these equipment and
oftentimes end up with a surplusof
TICs. I've placed the department
on thelisttoreceive any extra ones
they mayhave available.”
Thefiredepartment of the city of
Atlanta, like Augusta, areresearch
ta HighSchoolin 1998. Hestarted
at theshooting guard position until
he suffered an ankle injury.
Roosevelt averages five rebounds
and carries a 20-point season high
against Andrew College.
Roosevelt’s parents are Mr. and
Mrs. Roosevelt Walker.
Tim Dock, a freshman majoring
in Business, is a 1998 graduate of
Butler High School. His season
high to date is 12 points against
Piedmont College. Tim’s parents
are Tommy and Dorothy Dock.
Truett-McConnell College is
proud to have these men on the
team andin theclassrooms. “Each
of these young men give their best
on and off the court,” says Wayne
Collett, TMC’sathletic ditéctorand
men’s basketball coach. For more
information about the collegeand
athleticprograms, pleasecall (706)
865-2134 or check their website at
www.truett.cc.ga.us.
ing the possibilities of obtaining
the TICs and source of funds as
well, accordingtoMs. Bryant. Ironi
cally, the fire department in Co
lumbus, Georgia beat out the top
two largest cities in the state by
becoming the first to obtain this
modern technological firefighting
equipment, -
Ms. Bryant added that other po
tential sources for funding are in
surance companies such as
fire dagtaieis anb I el
thas along-stand
ingbusiness exchangerelationship.
“When Chief Few headed the fire
department for the city of East
Point, he had success in securing
fundsfrom Allstate for the depart
ment,” said Ms. Bryant
Another modern firefighting
technology tested recently was the
use of a fire suppressant, a chemi
cal agent whichis added towaterto
enhance the speed of fire suppres
sion. This was also put in place by
the department, according to the
chief.
Chief Few also announced two of
thedepartment’sdevelopment plans
for 1999. One is the addition of
command vehicles, equipped with
a command board, new communi
cation headsets, extra radios while
othersare charging, and the capac
ity for all other equipment needs.
He said the first vehicle is set to
arrive late next month.
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Another plan tobe implemented
is the “Preplan System,” a data
base of the floor plans of all com
mercial buildingsin Augustadown
loaded onto a computer system,
allowing the department to in
stantly retrieve the make of a build
ing in case of a fire there. This
includes location of sprinkler sys
tems and fire escapes.
“Some buildingsin the city have
already been entered into the sys
tem,” said Chief Few. “We are con
tinuing to work hard to enhance
our rescue operation with these
cutting-edge technological efforts.”
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FEMA... Helping the Fire
detslartments mr through
walls at the y heat of
blazing hot buildings’
occupants. Thankstothe Ameri
can government, ‘disaster’ will
soon have nowhere tohide.
GASC announces second
quarter G.A.M.E.S. winners
The Greater Augusta Sports
Council is pleased to announce
the second quarter honorees of
the 1998/1999 G.A.M.E.S.
(Greater Augusta Medal for Ex
cellence in Sports.)
The winners in each category
R Rising Star: Autjuan Welch
— : uan Welch,
Butler High Schots (football.)
Antjuan truly is a rising star.
Although he is only in the tenth
grade, this year he started as
Butler’s starting quarterback! He
is one of the highest rated quar
terbacks in the CSRA. He has
also earned player of the week
from Church’s Fried Chicken.
Antjuan alsoexcelsin basketball
and track.
— QOutstanding Male: Reid
Sanders, Thomson High School
(football.) Reid wasinvaluable to
the team this year by playing
wide-receiver, half-back, center
back, kickoff returner, punt-re
turner and XPT/FG holder. He
led the team in receptions, kickoff
returns and punt return. These
accomplishments are even more
remarkable since injuries forced
him to miss two complete games
and major portions of two other
games out oftheir 10 game sched
ule.
Fax your news in to Augusta Focus at (706) 724-8432.
~ Outstanding Female:
Katherine Hall, Evans High School
(softball.) Katie Hall is an out
standing athlete and scholar. She
not only excels in softball, but in
swimming and golf as well. Some of
her other accomplishments are
makingthe Augusta Chronicle First
Team All-Area softball team, Golf
Region Champion, Augusta Rotary
Club Student of the Month, Best
Offensive Player for softball, Most
Valuable Player for golfand Geor
gia high school AAAA Honorable
Mention All-State softball team.
Katie hasa 3.972 G.P.A.
— Outstanding Team: Augusta
Christian football team. They had
the best season in school history by
becoming the Georgia state run
ners-upinclass AAA.
— Outstanding Coach: Tommy
Macon, T.W. Josey high school foot~
ball team. Tommy Macon isa truly
outstanding coach. In 1997, Josey
held the record of 2-8. This season,
he really turned the team around
byleadingthemintothe state play
offs with 8-3 this season.
This community program is
sponsored by Club Car, Coca-Cola
and WAGT 26 Action News.
For More information contact
the Greater Augusta Sports Coun
cilat(7o6) 722-8326.