The home heating oil industry has a long and proud history, and Fuel Oil News has been there supporting it since 1935. It is an industry that has faced many challenges during that time. In its 77th year, Fuel Oil News is doing more than just holding
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www.fueloilnews.com | FUEL OIL NEWS | DECEMBER 2016 19 A n emergency responder program in New York State offers propane dealers extensive fire and safety training designed to help them handle emergencies. Every spring the Fire Science program at Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., conducts a course entitled, "Fire Behavior & Combustion." The DCC Fire Science program is modeled on material formulated by the National Fire Academy, and is recognized by the Academy's Fire & Emergency Services Committee. "The goal is to educate emergency personnel as to the properties of LP gas, their containers, transportation methods, uses and locations as well as strategies and tactics that can be employed when dealing with an LP gas incident," says David Walsh, program chair of the fire science program at the college. The fire science program has broadened its mission to include educating propane marketers about the inherent dangers surrounding fuel oil handling and distribution. In the early 1990s, Walsh partnered with Star Gas Inc. to pro- vide firefighter LP gas safety training. He was working for a fire department at the time, and that role led to his current career at Dutchess Community College. For the past 11 years the DCC Fire Science program, in conjunction with Rich Muellerleile, president of Star Gas Products in Poughkeepsie, has conducted LP gas fire safety training for area fire departments. They started incorporat- ing this class within the college's Fire Behavior & Combustion course eight years ago. As a fuel oil marketer, Muellerleile emphasizes that propane marketers—and those new to the propane industry—should have ongoing meetings with their employees that focus on the importance of safety, professionalism, job-specific training, and attitudes. "Also, the importance of periodically hiring association- trained and certified outside consultants could further enhance a companies' training program by providing up-to-date code changes and modifications based upon new products, technologies, installation or service methods, and train- ing specifications that are constantly being updated," Muellerleile says. In April 2015, Muellerleile and Walsh hosted an LP Gas (Propane) Safety Awareness class at the Pleasant Valley Fire Department in Pleasant Valley, N.Y. Thirty-nine local Dutchess Community College students and local firefighters participated in the training. The existing program that Muellerleile and Walsh use offers the student the opportunity to get an initial exposure to the properties OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS MORE OFTEN THAN YOU MIGHT THINK FUELING CUSTOMER SUCCESS SINCE 1870 1.888.440.4944 | SPRAGUEENERGY.COM *Data reviewed from January 2014 to September 2015 for the NYMEX ULSD Contract, adjusted for monthly contract expirations. Information is not intended to be a promise of future performance. Many people think Real-Time® pricing is only good on 'down days,' and since the market finishes higher as o'en as it finishes lower, the real-time buying opportunity is limited. But did you know that over the past 21 months, NYMEX traded in 'lower territory' at some point during the day 9 out of every 10 days*? That means Sprague Real-Time® pricing platform presents our customers with money-saving opportunities nearly every single day. This is something savvy Sprague Real-Time® pricing platform buyers figured out long ago … seize the opportunities that Sprague Real-Time® pricing offers by signing up today. 9 OUT OF EVERY 10 DAYS, THE MARKET PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY Safety Means No Accidents Marketers should be well-versed in the potential hazards associated with propane BY MAURA KELLER