Grill Safety
•Propane and charcoal BBQ grills must only be used outdoors. If used indoors, or in any enclosed spaces such as tents, they pose both a fire hazard and the risk of exposing occupants to toxic gases and potential asphyxiation.
•Position the grill well away from siding, deck railing, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
•Place the grill a safe distance from lawn games, play areas, and foot traffic.
•Keep children and pets from the grill area: declare a three-foot “safe zone” around the grill.
•Put out several long-handled grilling tools to give the chef plenty of clearance from heat and flames when cooking.
•Periodically remove grease or fat buildup in trays below the grill so it cannot be ignited by a hot grill.

Charcoal Grills
•Purchase the proper starter fluid and store out of reach of children and away from heat sources.
•Never add charcoal starter fluid when coals or kindling have already been ignited, and never use any flammable or combustible liquid other than charcoal starter fluid to get the fire going.

Propane Grills
•Check the propane cylinder hose for leaks before using it for the first time each year. A light soap and water solution applied to the hose will reveal escaping propane quickly by releasing bubbles.
•If you determined your grill has a gas leak by smell or the soapy bubble test and there is no flame:
1.Turn off the propane tank and grill.
2.If the leak stops, get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again.
3.If the leak does not stop, CALL 911.

•If you smell gas while cooking, immediately get away from the grill and CALL 911. Do not attempt to move the grill.
•All propane cylinders manufactured after April 2002 must have overfill protection devices (OPD). OPDs shut off the flow of propane before capacity is reached, limiting the potential for release of propane gas if the cylinder heats up. OPDs are easily identified by their triangular-shaped hand wheel.
•Use only equipment bearing the mark of an independent testing laboratory. Follow the manufacturers’ instructions on how to set up the grill and maintain it.
•Never store propane cylinders in buildings or garages. If you store a gas grill inside during the winter, disconnect the cylinder and leave it outside.

This is an effort to reduce the risk of wildfires during a period when dry grass & leaves, warmer weather, and wind create conditions where wildfires can spread rapidly endangering life & property. Violators of the open burning regulation are subject to both criminal and civil enforcement actions, with a minimum fine of $500 for a first offense!

A properly installed and maintained smoke alarm is the only thing in your home that can alert you and your family to a fire 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether you’re awake or asleep, a working smoke alarm is constantly on alert, scanning the air for fire and smoke.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in properties without working smoke alarms. A working smoke alarm significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire.

CHANGE THOSE BATTERIES & TEST THOSE ALARMS!

BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONER MEETING – FEBRUARY 14TH, 2012
Bills – Attached is a list of the monthly bills for February 2012 that totaled $50,038.08 for the
general fund. Motion by C/Johnson seconded by C/Harmuth to pay the bills if found correct.
This was passed by all.
Committee – Equipment & Apparatus –
· Thank you for writing the letter of intent. We are going to meet with the Sutphen
salesman and all prices should be back this week. We would like a commissioner to
meet with them as well.
Monthly Maintenance Report – Attached
· C/Albrecht will contact Poover Daley to discuss the district repairs with him.
· C/Albrecht made a motion to repair 56-12 (pump panel is in-operable), C/McRitchie
second the motion for repair and all were in favor.
· A discussion was held on having HO Penn come in and look at the generator at station 1.
Buildings & Grounds – Station #1
· C/McRitchie reported that Nature Aire can repair the double trap drain to stop the odor
problem for a total of $242.90. C/McRitchie made a motion to fix this and it was
seconded by C/Johnson. All were in favor.
· The fans are in to be installed and the sheet rock needs to be cut off to.
· Brien Clark needs to update our firewall and anti-virus for both stations. The firewall
cost $1695 and AVG renewal cost is $330 for 2 years for 15 workstations. He is going to
add one new, remove old and configure and update. It will take him 8 hours to do both
stations for a total of $680 in labor. C/Harmuth made a motion to spend the money to
upgrade the computer software it was seconded by C/Johnson and all were in favor.
Building & Grounds – Station #2r
· C/McRitchie made a motion to spend $800.00 for the new outside steel door. It was
seconded by C/Johnson and all were in favor.
· The big square light in the foyer keeps coming on and off for no reason. They will have
Cotte look at it.
Insurance Committee –
· C/McRitchie will get the application over to the insurance company for Jeff Renihan to
be put on the qualified driver’s list.
Service Award Committee -
· February 23rd, 2012 at 6:30 pm to review 2011 points and get them posted.

BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONER MEETING – FEBRUARY 14TH, 2012
Rules & Regulations –
· SOG’s the committee is formed and plans to do work on an all day Sunday to get them
done. Bill Geerlings and DC/Broas will be heading up the committee, would like to have
C/McRitchie and C/Harmuth on the committee as well. Looking to have this done prior
to the March meeting.
Safety –
· Frank Ludwig will be on the safety committee when he is off medical leave. There will
be an SOG set up and there will be a 3rd person added to the committee.
Officer’s Report – Chief of the Department – District Chief Ray Broas reported the following:
· Heavy Rescue Extrication is set for March 30 and 31st. We will have to pay Brandls’
$2000.00 for our portion of the class. C/McRitchie made the motion that we pay the
$2000 and it was seconded by C/Albrecht all were in favor. They had a discussion about
who was going to be taking the class as well; there will be 15 for hands on during
Saturday and then 30 for the class room part on Friday night which is in our room here.
· The Town Fire Inspector Jeff Renihan has no fire gear for when he is on the scene of
calls. I am going to try and find him some here first that will fit but if not we need to
order him gear I will see if I can get the town to split the bill 50/50.
· I have spoken to used fire equipment dealers and have been told that we can probably
get $10,000 for 56-13 and $15,000 for 56-42.
· There is an interest from about 5 members to go to the Long Island Chief Show on 2/25 I
would like to take a chief’s vehicle. Sutphen will be there with a 95’ remount.
· Have the hotel rooms for the NY Chief Show been booked yet? C/McRitchie will call
tomorrow to make sure.
· Michelle Cussano will be teaching a CPR class for Dutchess Quarry and needs 12 books
purchased for the class. The Quarry will pay us back for the books. C/Albrecht made a
motion to donate the 12 books to the Quarry it was seconded by C/McRitchie and all
were in favor.
· I would like to have 12 people attend the Chiefs Dinner on Friday night. C/Albrecht
made a motion for 12 to attend the Chief’s dinner it was seconded by C/Harmuth and all
were in favor.
· We need to receive better training on the website.
· Clarification is need on where 56-67 can and cannot go. It was decided that at least one
commissioner needs to be contacted and it will be determined on an as needed basis.
· The person who just installed the paging system at station 1 passed away I would like
permission to take my vehicle to the funeral on Friday. That is fine with all board
members.

BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONER MEETING – FEBRUARY 14TH, 2012
· The Knox box for the Quarry has been ordered and will be installed.
Assistant Chief Station #1 – Wayne Gruntler –
· Absent
Assistant Chief Station #2 – Matt Cady –
· Absent
Captain Rescue Squad – Rich Gunn –
· Absent
Unfinished Business
· We have been approved for the radio grant which will be $85,270, our share is $17,054.
We will have Public Information Office Castano write up something about it. New
Hackensack is already in touch with Congresswoman Hayworth and doing a press
release for all involved.
New Business
· President Cady wanted to let the Board know that Station 2 would be holding a chicken
BBQ dinner on Saturday 3/10/12 from 3pm to 6pm and there will be no alcohol served.
· There was a discussion held on driving 56-67 to CME’s in Newburgh. C/Albrecht made a
motion to allow the EMT’s enrolled in the class to take 56-67 to class; it was seconded
by C/Johnson and a role call was called for voting
· C/Albrecht – aye
· C/Johnson – aye
· C/Harmuth – aye
· C/McRitchie – abstaining
· C/Albrecht made a motion that 5 members can go to the Chief Show in Long Island it
was seconded by C/Harmuth and all were in favor.
· C/Albrecht made a motion to spend no more than $350.00 to purchase a new portable
projector system for Station 2 it was seconded by C/Harmuth and all were in favor.
· C/Albrecht made a motion that we will reimburse members .50 cents per mile for
approved travel, this was seconded by C/McRitchie and all were in favor.
· Treasurer Murphy needs to purchase a new QuickBooks. C/Albrecht a motion to
purchase the new QuickBooks and it was seconded by C/Johnson and all were in favor.
· Treasurer Murphy needs to hand out a payroll form to all employees for the new Wage
Protection Act that New York State has. Secretary Broas will help her to get the form.
· DC/Broas needs to go into Executive Session at 2038 hours

BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONER MEETING – FEBRUARY 14TH, 2012
Open Meeting to the Public – None
Adjournment: There being no other business to be brought before the Board, motion by
C/Albrecht seconded by C/McRitchie that the meeting be adjourned. This was passed by all.
The meeting was adjourned at 2038 hours for executive session.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Broas

Six Pleasant Valley firefighters were honored Saturday, March 3, 2012 at the Pleasant Valley Fire Department Awards Dinner for their service following the hurricanes that struck late August and early September 2011.

On September 7, 2011, this six-man team was deployed to the Village of Schoharie as a result of the devastation the community suffered from the flooding from Hurricanes Irene & Lee. The Pleasant Valley firefighters helped transform an old Ford/New Holland car dealership into a fire station because the actual station was destroyed by the floods. Fire apparatus was cleaned to remove all the mud and clay and the equipment was placed back into service. The crew then went to the roof of the new fire station and raised the American Flag. The Pleasant Valley firefighters then sent the Schoharie firefighters home to be with their families as the Pleasant Valley crew handled the fire calls in Schoharie for three days.

Inquire about joining!!