US Fire
Grant Support
|
|
Click Here for Grant Information
|
|
GAC Resources
|
|
For GAC documents, announcements, and information please click here to visit the microsite.
|
|
FEMSA Web Site
|
|
FEMSA Web Site
|
|
|
Join our list
|
 |
|
|
SAFETY WEEK ANNOUNCEMENT: Second of Four Key Areas - Health: Fire Fighter Heart Disease and Cancer Education & Prevention
|
|
IAFC On Scene: May 1, 2009
The recommended focus of this year's Safety Week incorporates 4 key areas where standard operating procedures, policies and initiatives along with the training and enforcement that support them can limit fire and EMS personnel's risk of injury or death:
Safety: Emergency Driving (enough is enough end senseless deaths)
Health: Fire Fighter Heart Disease and Cancer Education and Prevention
Survival: Structural Size-Up and Situational Awareness
Chiefs: Be the Leader in Safety
To support your planning, we've developed a series of announcements, each focused on one of the 2009 key areas. Look for the last two key area in upcoming On Scene issues.
Second Key Safety Week Area Health: Fire Fighter Heart Disease and Cancer Education & Prevention
The IAFC and the International Association of Fire Fighters are asking you to Protect Yourself: Your Safety, Health and Survival Are Your Responsibility. We're calling on all fire/EMS departments and all IAFF affiliates to participate in the 2009 Fire/EMS Safety, Health and Survival Week, scheduled for June 14-20.
Don't smoke or use tobacco products - Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability and death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 1964 and 2004, cigarette smoking caused an estimated 12 million deaths, including 4.1 million deaths from cancer, 5.5 million deaths from cardiovascular diseases, 2.1 million deaths from respiratory diseases, and 94,000 infant deaths related to mothers smoking during pregnancy. Stop using tobacco products period!
Get active - Don't start an exercise program that you will give up on in the second week. Start by just walking at the same time every day and build on that. Use this time to talk over issues at the firehouse with other firefighters while getting that cardio workout. This is also an excellent and easy time for company officers and chief officers to really LEAD by example. So get out there and walk to take control of your health!
Eat a heart-healthy diet - Go to the IAFF's Fit to Survive webpage, where you'll find expert advice and practical information on staying fit and healthy, as well as recipes and nutrition tips to make your next firehouse meal wholesome and delicious. No more fast food drive-through!
Maintain a healthy weight - Your weight is largely determined by the balance between how many calories you consume and the amount of energy you burn in everyday activities. Being overweight can become a matter of life and death. Someone who is overweight and obese is more likely to develop a number of potentially serious health problems. Also, the overall risk of death increases with obesity.
Get annual medical and fitness evaluations - Having regular evaluations is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Finding a problem when it is small is the best way to prevent more serious problems and disease later. Review your current health and fitness status in relation to your prior assessment.
Materials for the second key area are available on www.iafc.org/safetyweek. Check out the Health and Wellness Resources webpage to access the IAFF/IAFC Wellness-Fitness Initiative and other health and wellness resources. Keep watching the Safety Week page for more information on this year's program and planning resources developed by the IAFC Safety, Health and Survival Section.
Source: IAFC
Back to Top
|
DHS Announces FY 2009 Preparedness Grant Allocations
Secretary makes announcement at Union Station in Washington, D.C.
|
|
With Union Station in Washington, D.C. providing the backdrop, Secretary Napolitano on Wednesday unveiled the final fiscal year 2009 Preparedness Grant Allocations. These grants, administered by FEMA and totaling nearly $970 million, will assist state, local, and tribal governments as well as private industry in protecting individual communities and the nation.
The selection of Union Station for the announcement was made to highlight the fact that several million in grants will provide greater security for the nation's passenger rail system. Representatives from FEMA, Amtrak, TSA, and the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as the grant-funded Amtrak team of K9 detectives, joined the secretary for the announcement. At the event, the K9 unit demonstrated their explosive, money, and drug detecting skills that are used at Amtrak facilities nation-wide.
In a press statement, the secretary emphasized that this year's grant allocation process is more transparent, and that improvements will continually be made based on stakeholder feedback and peer review processes. "As we continue to expand our state, local, tribal, and private sector partnerships, our combined efforts will improve and hone our grant programs," the secretary said.
Last week's announcement covers 10 programs that will receive the grant allocations, including the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) and the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP). Both TSGP and PSGP will receive $388.6 million of the grants to protect their critical transit and port infrastructures from terrorism and other vulnerabilities. The TSGP provides grant funding to the nation's high-threat areas to enhance security measures for their critical transit infrastructure including rail, ferry, and bus systems.
More details about this announcement, including additional fact sheets, are available at
http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1239203061205.shtm.
Source: DHS
Back to Top
|
Two Weeks Remaining for 2009 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Applications
|
|
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Two weeks remain to submit your 2009 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) applications. Completed applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern time on Wednesday, May 20, 2009.
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 AFG remains largely unchanged from previous years and is once again based upon input from members of America's fire services and other stakeholders. However, in FY 2009 the Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) will shift the focus on the level of response provided in emergency medical services (EMS) from basic life support (BLS) to advanced life support (ALS). The FY 2009 also has "candidate physical agility assessments" added as a high priority under the Wellness and Fitness Activities.
"As in the past, with electronic online filing and a help desk standing by to assist all fire departments with their applications, there should be no hindrance to any department seeking these valuable funds," said Acting Assistant Administrator Glenn A. Gaines. "Having been involved in the AFG Program since the U.S. Congress created this funding opportunity, I know first hand the complications which might arise when departments wait until the last moment to file their applications. The AFG has provided a significant enhancement to fire and EMS service delivery since 2001. Every fire department in this nation should consider competing for these funds."
The AFG office staffs a help desk throughout the FY 2009 AFG application period. The help desk staff is standing by to provide assistance with navigation through the automated application process as well as provide programmatic assistance with respect to questions of eligibility. The help desk can be contacted at 1-866-274-0960 or via e-mail at firegrants@dhs.gov. The help desk hours of operation during the application period are from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. FEMA also provides an online tutorial to help applicants prepare a competitive application and has other helpful information at the AFG Web site: www.firegrantsupport.com. In addition, FEMA Regional Fire Program Specialists located in each of the FEMA Regions can assist fire service applicants with the application process. Interested parties may contact the AFG help desk for information on contacting the nearest regional specialist.
Source: DHS
Back to Top
|
FEMA Releases Final Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101
|
|
FEMA last week announced the release of the final Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101: "Developing and Maintaining State, Territorial, Tribal, and Local Government Emergency Plans." The guide completes the requirements of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8, Annex I, to develop a "national integrated planning system," and serves as the emergency plan foundation for both public and private sector planning in the United States.
A team of state, tribal, and local officials from across the country developed the final CPG 101. FEMA said that incorporating this guide with its Integrated Planning System guidance fulfills the vision of a vertically integrated planning system and provides a consistent emergency planning process across all levels of government.
The guide is the first in a series of publications developed through the FEMA National Preparedness Directorate's CPG Initiative. Future guides will discuss planning considerations for a variety of emergency functions, hazards, and special preparedness programs.
A press release about this announcement is available at http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=47972. An overview and copy of the CPG 101 document is available at http://www.fema.gov/about/divisions/cpg.shtm.
Source: DHS
Back to Top
|
USFA Urges Continued Vigilance by Firefighters to Avoid Exposure to Carcinogens and Other Toxins
|
|
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has completed its review of a recently released study conducted by the TriData Division of the System Planning Corporation, analyzing firefighter presumptive cancer legislation and attempting to prove or disprove a correlation between firefighting activities and the occurrence of cancer. While this study is considered thoughtful and well-presented, its results are scientifically inconclusive, and indicate that more expansive study is in order.
Acting United States Fire Administrator Glenn A. Gaines noted, "The results of this report clearly indicate that more study and analysis is necessary. It is much too early to abandon presumptive laws and benefits for firefighters who present with cancers. To make such a quantum leap at this point in time may be premature."
Added Administrator Gaines, "What is appropriate at this time is continued vigilance on the part of all firefighters to limit their exposure to toxins and known carcinogens by use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), by proper decontamination of PPE and other equipment, and by use of diesel exhaust removal strategies in fire stations throughout our nation."
As a long time partner of all of the nation's firefighters and fire service organizations, USFA has regularly and continually supported research efforts, specific training, and other initiatives focusing on firefighter wellness and safety issues.
"As with all truly professional disciplines, the fire service must be willing to support independent third party research and reviews of our profession as well as its actions and approaches," said Administrator Gaines. "Just as importantly, and like other professions, we must also focus on prevention and mitigation strategies limiting exposure to toxins and carcinogens by firefighters, be they career or volunteer."
Such strategies can include public education efforts to reduce the occurrence of fires and mitigation strategies that include adequate enforcement of fire and life safety codes. Additional mitigation strategies include the installation of fire sprinkler systems in all types of occupancies, including residences, throughout our nation.
Future research efforts in the area of firefighter cancer must recognize the myriad dangers faced by firefighters throughout our country, be it asbestos in the older factories of the east, chemical and plating plants in the Midwest, or wildland fires that occur each year throughout the country.
Any future studies must include methodologies to adequately recognize those firefighters who have already experienced legacy exposures, and must include definitive measures of the effectiveness of the improved PPE, decontamination equipment, and diesel exhaust systems placed in service over the past decade.
Those fire departments lacking appropriate equipment to avoid and limit such exposures are encouraged to seek assistance and funds from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program which presently is accepting applications for funds. The AFG Program has already and dramatically improved the safety of firefighters since the program came into existence by valuing such safety initiatives and providing federal funds direct to local fire departments to assist them in such efforts.
USFA stands ready and willing to assist with any new research efforts that can positively impact on firefighter safety and wellness in our nation.
For more information on all USFA programs and activities, visit the USFA at www.usfa.dhs.gov.
Source: DHS
Back to Top
|
FEMA Nominee Says Debate Over Agency's Fate is Finished
|
|
As far as Craig Fugate is concerned, the question of whether or not the Federal Emergency Management Agency should be removed from the Department of Homeland Security has been answered. It's staying where it is.
In an article on the Federal Times website, Gregg Carlstrom says Fugate, director of Florida's Division of Emergency Management and President Obama's nominee to lead FEMA, should stay under the auspices of the DHS. Fugate made the remarks in front of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee last week.
"I believe that the next confirmed administrator of FEMA needs to be focused on the next disaster, and being focused on that means that debate, as far as I'm concerned, is over," Fugate told the committee.
Fugate says the agency needs to invest in technology to help it notify citizens about a disaster, and that the agency needs to focus on responding to the consequences of a cyberattack. He also hopes to improve morale at the agency.
"In the emergency management community, we often find ourselves ... without clear guidance, clear direction and authority to do our jobs," Fugate told committee. "I know of nothing else that saps morale faster than being put in a situation in which I wasn't allowed to solve the problems."
To read the full article, click here: http://federaltimes.com/index.php?S=4052317
Source: Disaster Resource Guide
Back to top
|
Emergency Managers Use Nonprofits to Speed Funding
|
|
There's a new trend growing among emergency planners to tap into the resources of non-profit agencies for more than just providing services after a disaster.
Read More.
Source: Disaster Resource Guide
Back to top
|
| The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatalities:
|
|
Name: Dennis M. Simmons
Rank: Firefighter
Age: 63
Gender: Male
Status: Volunteer
Years of Service: 7
Date of Incident: 04/21/2009
Time of Incident: 1800hrs
Date of Death: 04/21/2009
Fire Department: Stafford County Fire Department
Address: 636 E 4th AVE, St. John, KS 67576
Fax: 620-549-3744
Fire Department Chief: Interim Chief TJ Rockenbach
Incident Description: Firefighter Simmons was returning to the fire station following a grass fire when he suffered a heart attack. He was transported to the CentralKansas Medical Center where he passed away a short time later.
Funeral Arrangements: Service will be held Saturday, April 25, 2009, 1030 hrs., Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton RD, Great Bend, Kansas, 67530.
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Memorial contributions in honor of Firefighter Simmons may be made to the County Fireman's Relief Fund in care of the funeral home.
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Dennis Simmons at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Name: Thomas L. Risk
Rank: Captain/Pilot
Age: 66
Gender: Male
Status: Wildland Contract
Years of Service: Pending
Name: Michael Wayne Flynn
Rank: First Officer/Co-Pilot
Age: 59
Gender: Male
Status: Wildland Contract
Years of Service: Pending
Name: Brian Joseph Buss
Rank: Crew Chief
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Status: Wildland Contract
Years of Service: Pending
Date of Incident: 04/25/2009
Time of Incident: 1000hrs
Date of Death: 04/25/2009
Fire Department: Neptune Aviation Services, Inc.
Address: 1 Corporate Way, Missoula, MT 59808
Fire Chief: President Kristen Schloemer Nicolarsen
Incident Description: An air tanker (Neptune Tanker 42) under contract to the United States Forest Service was lost when it crashed in the Oquirrh Mountains, Utah. The crew of three was lost in the incident. The aircraft and crew were responding from Montana to battle a wildland fire in New Mexico at the time of the incident. The cause of the crash is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.
Incident Location: In the Oquirrh Mountains, East of Stockton, UT (12TUK9474).
Funeral Arrangements: Pending, updates will be posted @ www.neptuneaviation.com.
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Cards and letters may be sent for the Risk Family, Flynn Family, and Buss Family, c/o Neptune Aviation Services, Inc., 2 Corporate Way Missoula, MT 59808. A "Brian Buss Memorial Fund" has been established for his two daughters at the First National Bank of Montana, 201 N. Higgins Ave., Missoula, MT 59802, Tele: (877) 362-6752.
Tribute is being paid to Captain Thomas L. Risk, First Officer Michael Wayne Flynn, and Crew Chief Brian Joseph Buss at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Back to top
|
|
|
