It is with great sorrow we share the passing of Chief Will Johnston on January 10, 2023. Will was a member of Carlin Volunteer Fire Department for 45 years prior to moving to Jarbidge. He served as Fire Chief for more than 50 years in the State of Nevada and had a total of 54 years of total fire service, serving in many capacities around the state. He served on the Nevada Standards and Training Committee and the Board of Fire Services, was a past president of Nevada State Firefighters Association. He was one of the earliest EMTs in the State of Nevada with an EMS number of 38. He trained and inspired so many over the years up until his death. His love for the fire service was who he was and who he inspired to be always.
Services will be held at the Elko Convention Center in the Conference Center, 724 Moren Way, Elko, NV. on January 28th, 2023, at 11:00 am. Followed by a procession for internment in Carlin at the Carlin Cemetery.
Come see us at the 2022 Nevada Rural EMS Conference, September 15-17th, at the Elko Convention Center! We will have a booth set up in the vendor area! We can’t wait to see you there!
We hope everyone has had a nice summer! During our business meeting at the annual training conference we swore in our new board of directors. Throughout the month we will be introducing you to the 2022-2023 board of directors for the NSFA!
Meet Andrew Ostendorf -Director
Andrew Ostendorf moved from rural Illinois to Elko, NV in 2010 to work as a mine geologist. He has been a firefighter for the City of Elko for +7 years, a member of various mine rescue teams for +10 years, and is currently working as an environmental engineer for mine closure and reclamation projects. He is the third in a family tradition of firefighting following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. When not helping out his community you can find him in the mountains skiing, backpacking, or fly fishing.
Reminder for those of you who wish to participate in Live Burn Activities in Virginia City: The Live Burn Accountability form must be filled out and signed by your Chief Officer prior to participating in live burns. The form can be found on NSFA.ORG under the publication tab and the forms button. Please share with all personnel that plan to participate!!!!
Steve Hirsch is training officer for Sheridan County Fire District # 1, Thomas County Fire District #4, and Grinnell Fire Department, all of which are 100% volunteer fire departments. Steve is the chair and KS director on the National Volunteer Fire Council and is currently first vice chair of the Kansas State Firefighters Association after serving as secretary from 2000-2018. His father started a rural fire district in north central Kansas in 1963, the year after he was born, so he grew up in the fire service. Steve is also the county attorney in Decatur County in northwest Kansas. He has a private law practice and serves as city attorney for 18 cities in Norton, Phillips, Graham, Mitchell, Rawlins, Decatur, Sheridan, Thomas, and Gove counties
Nevada Workers’ Compensation Attorney Jason Mills has been practicing workers’ compensation law in Las Vegas for over 20 years, serving injured workers throughout the state. As of January 1, 2021, Jason D. Mills & Associates law firm merged with GGRM Law Firm, serving Nevada’s people for more than 50 years! Mr. Mills focuses his practice on Nevada workers’ compensation claims representing Nevada’s injured workers. Indeed, many new clients are regularly referred to him by former clients who are highly satisfied with the outcome of their worker’s comp cases, and fellow attorneys throughout the Nevada bar who recognize Mr. Mills’ legal skill in the field of Nevada workers’ compensation law. Professionally, there is nothing that Mr. Mills enjoys more than helping Nevada’s injured workers get the benefits they are owed.
History of Nevada EMS – Dr. Elwood Schmidt
From the mid-1950s through the end of the last century, I witnessed a dramatic change in the level of care and service patients received prior to arriving at the hospital. The changes in this pre-Hospital or Emergency Medical Services care was often developed by volunteers, in small towns, and with very limited resources. How did this improvement come about? How did all these places of small population improve so much? It was the search for answers to questions that gave rise to this book and is told through the voices of the people who were there at the times these changes occurred, in towns small and cities large.
Let’s talk about the spouses/ guest events. There will be two events especially for them! Let’s talk about one!
The NSFA is bringing in a fun and educational experience for our spouses and guests that will actually give them the opportunity to bring something home ( and of course, a little wine just might be included). Spread the WORD!!!
Crafty Duo Creations: Wreaths with Friends Class Join us for a few hours of fun and wreath making. We provide the supplies and instruction and you leave with a beautiful “made by you” grapevine wreath. Crafty Duo creations is a team of two best friends that have turned their love of crafting into a business. We would love to share the art of creating with you.
Theme: Americana (with some fire flare if you choose) Hydrangea, greenery and partial grapevine exposed wreath.
The NSFA is going to treat you right in Virginia City this year. We have contracted with a master chef who actually has a degree from a culinary school for your meals this year hear is a sampling of what to expect at the conference this year. Spread the word!!!
Thursday 6/23
– whole pigs stuffed with chickens, roasting on the spit over coals
On October 22nd 2021, Nevada State Firefighter Association Directors Scott Brown and Ken Smith had the privilege of presenting the NSFA Fire Station of the Year for 2020-2021 to Lhoist’s own Mine Rescue Team. Located 21 miles north of Las Vegas in Apex along Highway 91, it is easy to understand the need for an industrial team such as theirs with the closest other units 20 minutes away.
The Company’s stance on safety and this unit’s pride in what they are doing was first evidenced with our arrival at the front gate where we found on display their safety sign proclaiming 2,315 days without a lost time accident. Their impressive feat is accomplished with more than 150 personnel operating 24 hours each day. Lhoist’s operations utilizes multiple open pits for ore body, blasting and heavy equipment for the recovery of that ore, processing ore into a final customer product, and shipping off site happens by way of truck and railcar.
With this much activity day to day we were still able to meet with the men and women that stepped up to the task of fire & rescue, tour their medical area, review some emergency response plans and discussed training. On site, team members can easily be spotted as emergency emissaries by way of tee-shirt, vest, and hardhat insignia not only by co-workers but visitors alike. Outside the property’s main gate is not only Highway 91, but Interstate 15 through this mostly desolate area and team members have had opportunity to assist the public on scene till advanced crews arrived. Keeping with a desire to be good neighbors within the Apex area, this mine fire & rescue team’s aspirations are to continue training and move beyond insipient stage firefighting along with advancing from a first aid role to an advanced EMS unit.
The Nevada State Firefighter’s Association wishes to again congratulate the Mine Fire Rescue Team of Lhoist as the 2020-2021 Fire Station of the Year and we look forward to your growth as a department.
