Matt Shaw knew it was time to talk to somebody when the boy he had tried to save showed up in his dreams and on the face of his own son. “Our job in the emergency medical services is to be there for a person’s worst day,” said the Guardian Medical Transport battalion chief. “But for us, that’s just Monday.” What first responders experience on the job doesn’t necessarily go away when their shift is over. Often, they carry the trauma from a single horrific call – or the cumulative effect of many … [Read more...] about Understanding the Hidden Trauma of First Responders
Flagstaff Fire Department
How Prepared is Flagstaff for More Warm, Dry Weather?
Our dry winter is on all our minds as we head into even warmer weather. In Flagstaff under these conditions, we can’t help but think about what these drought-like conditions mean for our community and the surrounding forests, fire-wise. The good news is that a large group of agencies and organizations work year-round to monitor data critical to our forests’ health and community’s well-being. This includes Flagstaff Fire Department (FFD), City of Flagstaff Emergency Management, Summit Fire and … [Read more...] about How Prepared is Flagstaff for More Warm, Dry Weather?
Keeping Flagstaff Safe Through Preparedness and Partnership
Keeping our community safe is always top of mind for me and for city staff. Readers will be glad to know that Flagstaff’s fire, police and emergency management staff work closely on safety planning and all three work with regional partners on drills to ensure they are ever-ready for any emergency. A large part of Flagstaff’s strategy for protection from destructive wildland fire involves many partners engaged in the planning of forest thinning treatments, prescribed fire and wildfire response. … [Read more...] about Keeping Flagstaff Safe Through Preparedness and Partnership
Collaborative Efforts Underway to Keep Flagstaff Safe from Wildfire, Floods
Hot and dry weather renews our concerns about destructive wildland fires. They can start in an instant and our strong winds can quickly cause them to grow, sometimes taking them out of the control of our firefighters. What’s being done to protect our community and ensure that fire in the surrounding forests is helping to keep them healthy instead of scorching everything in its path and leaving the soil hydrophobic, resulting in flooding? Quite a bit, with more to come. I want to emphasize … [Read more...] about Collaborative Efforts Underway to Keep Flagstaff Safe from Wildfire, Floods
Last of the Large Loggers Leaves Flagstaff
When forest restoration giant Wally Covington drives by the Ribelin Logging Co. sort yard on East Huntington in Flagstaff and sees the equipment up for sale, it makes him sad. “They are very good operators in the forest and had a huge impact on the community.” With decades of experience, millions of dollars invested in logging equipment and a deep love for the forest, Ribelin Logging Co. President Ken Ribelin says the family-owned and operated business – a thriving logging company that at one … [Read more...] about Last of the Large Loggers Leaves Flagstaff
New Routes, Whiskey Turned Hand Sanitizer, Quality of Life
Despite the difficulties of promoting Flagstaff during the pandemic to potential visitors and businesses looking to relocate, Discover Flagstaff officials and economic vitality leaders had many successes to report during their Annual Marketing Meeting on Thursday, Oct. 21. City of Flagstaff Economic Vitality Director Heidi Hansen stressed the fact that during the pandemic the Flagstaff Airport never shut down. “This was no easy task. There were several other smaller airports that lost … [Read more...] about New Routes, Whiskey Turned Hand Sanitizer, Quality of Life
Serving, Protecting Flagstaff
We have gotten a lot done at City Hall that I’m excited to share. We recently passed the final budget, which, among many things, included funding for a fully functioning alternative policing crisis response for three years, whereby a medic and social work professional will respond to 911 calls that are not criminal in nature. Calls for a mental health crisis, homelessness, public intoxication, etc., will now be diverted as appropriate to this alternative response team, reducing the call volume … [Read more...] about Serving, Protecting Flagstaff
Flying Right
Fourth-generation Arizona Babbitt Billy Cordasco got a bit of a tear in his eye as he felt the significance of the moment – the majesty of the snow-capped San Francisco Peaks above the town on a brisk April morning, the deep meaning of a prominent flag staff back in service for a city bearing the same name and the glory of the American flag being raised atop the historic Babbitt Building where his family has conducted business since 1886. “This is what community looks like – joining together … [Read more...] about Flying Right