The June 21 event is fast approaching and limited to 100 youth. Sign up online now to guarantee a spot.

“It’s an awesome program for kids,” says Joanne Paul, crime prevention specialist. “They develop relationships with police and firefighters while having a great time learning about safety.”

Awards are presented to all participants.

The $25 fee includes snacks, lunch, supervision, and a Safety Camp T-shirt. Parents must provide transportation to and from Brookview Park. Camp is held rain or shine. Scholarships are available.

Registration is open to anyone, including non-Golden Valley residents, and is taken through the Park and Recreation Department.

The drills are part of the April 11 – 15 Severe Weather Awareness Week.

Team Golden Valley included Steve Baker, Ken Bence, Brent Hadoff, Andy Hutson, Bryan Magnuson, Gregg Prest, Ben Vogel, and Steve Yingst. Golden Valley firefighters Jenny Toavs (representing Metropolitan Airport Commission Fire Department) and Matt Preston (representing West Metro Fire Rescue District) also climbed.

A six-foot clear space around the circumference of the hydrant will help reduce the time it takes firefighters to hook up hoses if a fire occurs in your neighborhood. The best time to shovel out a hydrant is after the streets are plowed, before snow accumulates and freezes.

Please, consider grabbing a shovel to give your fire department, and your community, a helping hand.

Bence has been a paid-on-call firefighter with the Golden Valley Fire Department since 1999 and currently serves as captain at Station 2. In his day job, he is director of community health initiatives for the state public programs division of Medica Health Plans. 

“As a health professional and as a firefighter, I have seen the effects of lung disease in our community,” Bence said. “Plus, I watched my Dad suffer from emphysema before he died two years ago. Buying and using Christmas Seals on holiday cards and packages is one way everyone can help fund vital research for lung cancer, COPD, asthma, as well as core programs of the American Lung Association.”

For the past two years, Bence and other Golden Valley firefighters have supported ALA efforts by participating in its local Fight for Air stair climb event, one of many “vertical road races” held annually throughout the nation. ALA in Minnesota’s participants race up 660 steps of the Accenture Tower in Minneapolis. Golden Valley firefighters do the race wearing full fire turnout gear, which weighs 68 pounds.

In 2010, the Golden Valley team raised the most money ($5,228) of the nine fire departments and the 38 non-fire department teams participating. Bence was Minnesota’s top individual fundraiser, bringing in $3,425. He was also the top fundraiser in 2009.

The 2011 Fight For Air Climb will be held Feb 26, and the Golden Valley Fire Department will once again participate. Anyone interested in becoming a Golden Valley paid on-call firefighter can contact the Fire Department.

Test them once a month and replace batteries twice a year. When the alarm “chirps,” this means the battery is low. Replace any alarms that are more than 10 years old.

Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are also important for safety. State law requires all homes to have a carbon monoxide detector within 10 feet of every bedroom or within each sleeping room. It’s a good idea to have one on each level of the home, especially the same level as the furnace, since that’s the most likely source of a CO leak.

In the spirit of Fire Prevention Week, Golden Valley firefighters are conducting their 22^nd annual school fire drills, helping educate kids about fire safety. But parents must do their part, too, Baker says, suggesting parents run through exit drills in the home with their kids and establish a meeting place outside the home in the event of a fire. Keeping your fire alarms in working order and establishing an exit plan for when those alarms go off could save your family’s life.

Golden Valley’s decision to change dispatch providers is a cost-saving issue, explains City Manager Tom Burt. The City has contracted 911 dispatch services through the City of St Louis Park since 1994. Costs for 2010 are $305,000 and have been as high as $337,000 in other years. Golden Valley gave notice to terminate the dispatch agreement with St Louis Park effective Jan 1, 2011.

The City first approached Hennepin County as a potential dispatch provider in 2008. Hennepin County provides dispatching services for 23 law enforcement agencies and 19 fire departments at no cost. Like all county residents, Golden Valley residents already pay for dispatch services through their property taxes to Hennepin County. In May 2010, the Hennepin County Board denied Golden Valley’s request, and City officials began taking bids from dispatch service providers in nearby cities or counties.

Golden Valley will pay Edina a one-time $25,000 administrative fee, annual charges of $178,140, and will contribute to technology and staff upgrades. Even with those costs, Golden Valley will save up to $100,000 a year.

It’s a good business decision for Golden Valley, says Police Chief Stacy Altonen, adding that residents and business can expect a seamless changeover with no impact on service levels.