Fire Service Today

Wildfire safety efforts pay off in Idaho

A fire in the community of Wilderness Ranch, Idaho, put their Firewise efforts to the test. After becoming one of the first recognized Firewise Communities/USA sites in 2002, residents and the volunteer fire department have worked diligently to make common areas and individual properties safer from wildfire.

This week, lightning from a turbulent storm system started fires in and around the community, just outside of Boise, where hot, dry weather has been steady for weeks. Approximately 50 homes were evacuated and several hundred homes were in danger. When the threat passed, and homeowners returned, not a single home sustained damage. And firefighters credit Firewise efforts for their success in protecting these properties.

Congratulations to the residents of this community, who have worked so hard over the years to reduce their risk and become Firewise.

-- Michele Steinberg

 

Fire-Rescue International 2010 Expo

Chicago is the place to be this week.  August 24^th –28^th  is the Fire-Rescue International (FRI) leadership conference and exposition, produced by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).  This is the premiere conference for bringing together new products, research, ideas, and best practices for today’s fire service.  There will be a wide range of leadership and training courses available for attendees, and plenty to see on the expo. floor with over 600 exhibitors expected to be in attendance. 

A special guest on Friday, August 27, Meridian Medical Technologies will host celebrity talent Steven Pasquale, who plays Sean Garrity on the acclaimed television drama series “Rescue Me.” Pasquale is appearing as part of Meridian’s effort to raise awareness for the prevalence of cyanide poisoning due to smoke inhalation.  Pasquale will be in booth #4714 from 10:30am to 12:30pm on Friday, August 27.

Be sure to stop by the NFPA booth for information on current NFPA Codes and Standards, membership benefits, and other available resources.  Check out the link below for more detailed information.

 

Fire-Rescue International

 

Ryan Depew

 

Fire Department Staffing

Fire departments throughout the country have taken cost saving measures on everything possible during these tough economic times.  Unfortunately, some departments have been forced to hold off on hiring much needed staff, while others have had no choice but to lay off personnel.  Federal grants are currently available to help fire departments increase inadequate staffing levels, rehire staffing that has been previously terminated, and assist with the recruitment and retention of volunteers.   Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants are open to career departments, combination departments, and volunteer departments, but time is running out.  The deadline for applications is September 17, 2010 by 5:00pm.  Pertinent information such as program guidelines, tutorials, and applications are available at the Department of Homeland Security website. 

The Department of Homeland Security supports the staffing, response, and operational requirements set forth in NFPA 1710, Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments, and NFPA 1720, Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Volunteer Fire Departments.  Take a moment to see how your department measures up and determine your departments staffing needs.  For more detailed information on NFPA 1710, NFPA 1720, and Department of Homeland Security SAFER Grants click the links below.     

SAFER Act Grant and NFPA

NFPA

SAFER Grant

 

Ryan Depew

 

Interesting Reading on Wildfires in Fire Protection Engineering Magazine

The latest issue of Fire Protection Engineering landed on my desk this morning, chock full of interesting articles, several focused on wildfire and wildland/urban interface fire concerns. 

The cover story deals with building in fire-prone areas in Australia after the Black Saturday (February 2009) fires that destroyed thousands of structures and claimed 173 lives. Revision of codes and standards is still underway, even as homes are rebuilt in devastated areas.

"Wildfire: past, present and future," is an excellent summary of historical events and struggles around trying to frame the problem of homes burning down during wildfires, with suggestions from two former California state fire marshals on ways we might rethink the problem to reduce future losses.

--Michele Steinberg

National Firefighter Health Week is August 16-20

The National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) 2010 National Firefighter Health Week is August 16-20.

Each day focuses on a topic.  The topics are:

Monday, August 16: Head Strong - (Behavioral Health)

Tuesday, August 17: Respond Strong (Put It On) - (Personal Protective Equipment)

Wednesday, August 18: Strong at Heart - (Heart-Health)

Thursday, August 19: Stand Strong Against Cancer - (Cancer)

Friday, August 20: Strength for Life - (Nutrition & Physical Fitness)

Check out this link from the NVFC Heart Healthy Newsletter for more information FFhealth.

Stacey Van Zandt

Wildfire Training Featured in Upcoming NFPA Seminar Weeks

NFPA's Seminar Weeks run from September to December, offering a broad array of training and professional development opportunities. NFPA's Wildland Fire Operations Division has worked with professional development staff to offer a new and improved "Assessing Wildfire Hazards in the Home Ignition Zone" seminar during four of the formal Seminar Weeks.

The seminar is designed to increase learners' understanding and competency in wildland/urban interface fire mitigation, assist students in assessing risks to individual homes in wildland, forested or grassland areas, and help learners encourage and prepare residents to participate in Firewise activities that can prevent home loss to wildfire.

Offered on October 25-26 in Denver, November 8-9 in Seattle, December 6-7 in Anaheim, and December 13-14 in Orlando, these opportunities are not to be missed! Check the NFPA Catalog for more details, including how to register for these seminars.

--Michele Steinberg

NFPA 472 and NFPA 1600 Update

The Technical Committee on Hazardous Materials Response Personnel, which revises NFPA 472, Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents, and NFPA 1600, Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs will be meeting this Fall to begin discussions on the next editions of these documents.

Both of these documents have been adopted by DHS, and are widely used both domestically and internationally. The respective technical committees are constantly at work trying to stay ahead of the ever-changing hazmat and emergency management/business continuity environment, especially related to regulatory, process and technological issues.

The TC on Hazardous Materials Response Personnel also has responsibility for NFPA 473, Standard for Competencies of EMS Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents.

The proposal closing date for NFPA 472 and 473 is November 23, 2010, so please take time to review the current editions of these standards. The TC welcomes your proposals. The PCD for NFPA 1600 is May 23, 2010, but the TC is already beginning to receive proposals to that document. Your proposals are also welcome.

Dave Trebisacci 

 

 

Location and Tracking...

The Worcester Warehouse Fire of December 3, 1999 resulted in the deaths of six firefighters after crews became lost inside of a burning structure.  As a result, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), located in Worcester, MA, has been providing a venue for researchers and developers to bring their ideas together and to focus on finding a technological solution for tracking of emergency responders.  I had the privilege of attending this year’s event, the 5^th Annual Technology Workshop for “Precision Indoor Personnel Location and Tracking for Emergency Responders”. 

The event consisted of a multitude of presentations by members of the fire service, law enforcement, military, and private industry.  We also had the pleasure of viewing demonstrations by three organizations in conjunction with Worcester Fire Department, as it relates to lost firefighters within a structure.  It is clear that this technology could provide a great benefit to emergency services personnel as a whole, and especially to that of the fire service.  It will take more research and development to make this technology beneficial on the fire ground, but it’s easy to get excited about a tool that could potentially save firefighter lives.  If used in conjunction with other technology such as integrated PASS devices and thermal imaging cameras, it seems like this technology could significantly help in cutting back the number of firefighter deaths. 

Keep an eye out at WPI’s website for the posting of presentations and demonstrations from the workshop.    

http://www.wpi.edu/

Ryan Depew

 

Wildland Fire Standard Open for Proposed Changes

NFPA 1144: Standard for Reducing Structure Ignition Hazards from Wildland Fire is open for proposals. This standard provides a methodology for assessing wildland fire ignition hazards around existing structures, residential developments, and subdivisions and improved property or planned property improvement that will be located in a wildland/urban interface area, and provides minimum requirements for new construction to reduce the potential of structure ignition from wildland fires.

Make your proposal by November 23, 2010. Visit the 1144 Standard Page on the NFPA website for more information, to download the proposal form, or to submit your proposal online.

--Michele Steinberg 

Call for Presentations at 2011 Annual Meeting

 NFPA is already planning for our 2011 Annual Meeting and is looking for presenters. There were over 600 attendees at the 2010 Annual Meeting from the fire/emergency management/emergency medical/hazardous materials occupations. This is a great chance for emergency service leaders to share their ideas. Do you have a program you want to present?Responder safety, personal protective equipment, lessons learned, are several examples of topics that interest our attendees.

via kwillette.typepad.com