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According to the Garland Fire Department and Greg Martz, Box Elder County fire marshal, hot embers from a neighbors BBQ grill fell into the dry grass and started the fire. The fire then worked its way through dry grass where it ignited the garage.  Damages were estimated at $20,000.

The fix to make everything work was a new module to add to the existing dispatch system.  The automatic aid module lets fire departments set up their response plans for roughly 9 different types of calls.  Each department custom ‘designed’ their response plans for the resources they have.  Some departments obviously have more resources than others.  The best part about the new system is departments can add additional resources from other departments and they will be paged out automatically on the initial call.  Many departments in the area don’t have enough resources to handle even a larger structure fire.  In the past help was called as needed under a system called mutual aid.  That meant, if we needed help, we’d call on the radio and ask them to page another department for additional resources.  Many times departments waited to call for additional help until they got on scene.  There could be confusion on who they should call for help or if that department even had enough people to respond.

Now, this has already been pre-determined.  If we get information from dispatch that people on scene say that it’s not just one structure but two structures on fire, now we can tell dispatch to strike a 2nd or 3rd alarm before we even leave.  The other part that we have already determined exactly what trucks are called from what station.  Stations that have only 1 engine, we may want to not call on them or leave them until we have hit a 4th or 5th alarm because we don’t want to take the only engine from that city leaving them vulnerable and unprotected until we absolutely have to.

For this reason you may see Tremonton running a fire truck into Garland on a more regular basis.  If we have a structure fire in Garland, Tremonton was asked to send (and agreed) 1 engine on a 1 alarm structure fire.  If the fire warrants it, Tremoton will then send their ladder truck at Garland’s request on a 2 alarm fire.  After that we are seeking resources from Fielding, Corrine and Brigham City.  Other responses have similar break downs where other resources are coming into town to help.  On the other side, Tremonton has requested Garland send an engine to Tremonton to assist on any structure fire on a 1 alarm fire.

There was an initial price tag for the module.  The 12 departments used a small amount of their own funds to help purchase the module as well as some help from the county.  The good thing for the residents of Garland, is, as part of the automatic aid agreements, if we get help from another department, there will be no cost to the city of Garland for the help from other departments.  And on the same note, Garland FD will help other cities, with no expense to them.  The fire department is excited for the new system.  It will ensure that more resources can be brought to bear on an incident very easily and even automatically.  Automatic aid agreements, which are signed agreements with city officials, actually are looked at by insurance companies.  If they know a fire departments have pre-determined the additional resources, they feel less property will be lost and hence this can turn into lower insurance rates for the residents who’s area is covered by automatic aid agreements.

So, if you see Tremonton, Fielding or Corrine Fire Departments in Garland, rest assured it’s not that the Garland Fire Department isn’t there, it just means more help is on scene as well.

Very successful year again, as we might have had 5 lbs of fish left when the bell rang at 9pm. That’s a lot of salmon and a lot of people served. Numbers area still coming in, but preliminary numbers are showing around 3100. That should grow a little as some tickets sales by firemen are still being turned in.

Special thanks to Kents Market in Tremonton as they put up with the department invading their store for the week before the event. They do alot for us to make it what it is and we couldn’t do it without them. There are many others that help, including the City of Garland itself to make it happen and others I’m sure we’re forgetting at the moment, but we thank you just the same.

Thanks everyone and we’ll see you in 52 weeks! Remember, the first Saturday in June. Next year that means it will fall on the 1st of June 2013.

You can also get tickets online. Some changes were made and you must go through the city’s website instead of ours. Here is the link.

https://www.xpressbillpay.com/portal/payment_forms/?id=NDkzOA%3D%3D

We’ll see you there!

Invites have been sent, but please pass this on if you get the chance. Thanks!

Kickball games on Friday and Saturday

Friday 8/5

5:00 p.m. Children’s Parade Starts at Tabernacle

6:00 p.m. Leaky Hose Fire Fighter’s Challenge

Saturday 8/6

10:00 a.m. Parade Starts @ BRHS

3:00 p.m. Garland/Tremonton Fire Dept. Water Fight

10:00 p.m. FIREWORKS at the Garland City Park

You can find all the details at the Garland City Website:

www.garlandutah.org