COURAGE UNDER FIRE
Getting to know the men and women of Daisy Mountain Fire Department
Submitted article ~ 03/3/2010

Dave Jensen, Daisy Mountain
Fire Department Ladder Truck Captain

Dave Jensen was hired by Daisy Mountain Fire Department as a firefighter in June of 1996 and was assigned to Engine 145 in Desert Hills. Within a couple of years Dave became an Engineer and was assigned to Engine 146 in New River. In 2003, Dave tested successfully for a Fire Captain’s position. His current assignment is as a Captain on Ladder 142 in Anthem.

In addition to his regular duties, Dave is also the Program Manager of DMFD’s Citizen Corps Programs. In this position, Dave is responsible for training and development of the CERT and Fire Corps Programs. CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) is a program that prepares citizens to assist themselves, their family and neighbors in the event of an overwhelming emergency situation. Free training is offered to the public twice a year. Fire Corps is a program that allows citizens to assist the fire department in non-critical operational duties. For more information on both programs, visit DMFD’s Citizen Corps website at dmfdcc.org or contact Paul Schickel at 623 695-1424.
Jensen’s wife was formerly a teacher at New River Elementary School, and the couple have two daughters.

What are the Fire Captains responsibilities?
“A Captain in our department is responsible for a 3-6 person crew depending upon the station’s units. The Captain directs the crew’s operations at emergency scenes. The first Captain on scene of a large emergency is in charge of that scene until relieved and is responsible for developing an action plan for everyone sent to that emergency to follow. Around the station the Captain is responsible for all activities and sets the daily agenda.”

What can you tell us about the ladder truck and ladder company and how they benefit our communities?
“A ladder truck company’s main function is rescue, with a secondary function of elevating and directing a water stream. Ladder trucks carry a lot of specialized rescue equipment such as a power generator, various sized ground ladders, forcible entry tools, vehicle extrication equipment, stabilization equipment, ventilation saws, power ventilation fans, scene lighting, salvage equipment, thermal imaging camera and emergency medical equipment. Another function of a ladder company is to provide ventilation of smoke and hot poisonous gases out of any building that is having a fire or has had a fire. When people are escaping or waiting for rescue, the smoke and poisonous gases are what kill people much faster than the heat from a fire. A ladder truck is also used during defensive fires (one that is unsafe to fight from inside the building) and is the most effective way to safely direct water where it is most needed to effectively and quickly put out the fire. A ladder truck can also be very effective in stopping a house fire from spreading to the next house by putting a large amount of water between the fire occupancy and the neighboring residence. A ladder company is also tasked with salvage and overhaul operations during and after a fire. Salvage is when the firefighters remove and attempt to save your cherished belongings.”

How is the ladder truck used in our communities?
“The ladder truck is called to every fire in our district and brings the aerial device and its other specialized equipment to be used in any capacity necessary. When people think of ladder trucks they generally think of a tall building needing the ladder to access its windows or balconies. This is a valid perception but not the complete picture. The reason a ladder truck’s ladder is so tall is so it can also be very long horizontally and can reach out long distances. Buildings are often hard to get near and it is not safe to be right up next to a burning building. Our ladder truck and company completes the department’s needed equipment and manpower for average everyday structure fires. Before we had own ladder truck and company we had to depend on other fire departments. This meant we waited 20-30 minutes for a ladder company to arrive on scene and then assist us with managing the emergency. A delay like this is dangerous to the citizens and firefighters and your property.”

What do you like best about your job?
“The best thing about my job is the fact that on each shift we do something different to help someone. Sure, we have routine calls but most calls are at different locations with different people and with different needs. We do more than just fight fires and treat ill or injured people. There are many calls for assistance that are out of the ordinary, like a man with his leg caught in a cattle guard or a construction worker injured and unable to remove himself from the fourth floor scaffolding. I like to adapt and overcome not just do the same task over and over. The second best part of my job is training. To remain good at what we may be called to do we must practice a lot. I enjoy learning something new and honing skills already mastered. “