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Executive Director Bill Webb discusses FY10 Homeland Security Appropriations.
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 On Wednesday, June 24th, the House passed H.R. 2892, the Fiscal Year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Act. The spending bill was approved by a vote of 389-37. The bill provides $42.6 billion in funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), an increase of $2.6 billion over Fiscal Year 2009, but $205 million less than requested by the Obama Administration.
The bill includes $420 million for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant program, doubling the amount of funding for this critical program. The bill also provides $390 million for the Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE) Grant program. While this represents a 31% cut in funding to the program, Congress provided a significant increase in funding over the Obama Administration's request. The White House initially requested only $170 million for the FIRE Grant program; a 70% cut to Fiscal Year 2009's enacted level.
The House Appropriations Committee initially approved $380 million for the FIRE Grant program. During the debate by the full House, Congressman David Price (NC-4), chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, sponsored an amendment that increased funding for the FIRE Grant program by $10 million. The Price amendment was adopted by a vote of 345-85.
The Senate was expected to consider S. 1298, that chamber's version of the spending bill, before adjourning for the July 4th recess on Friday, June 26th; however it appears unlikely this will occur. While it is still a possibility, speculation is the Senate will take up the bill sometime after returning from the recess. CFSI will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
Source: CFSI
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Register for the 2nd Annual Night at the Nationals Sponsored By Fire Team USA
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Gather your friends, family, colleagues or clients and treat everyone to one of our nation's greatest past times in the heart of our nation's capital.
Come out and enjoy the company of friends and the beautiful fall weather at Nationals Ballpark as the Washington Nationals face the Philadelphia Phillies! Each ticket includes one game seat, a complimentary seat cushion, and entry to CFSI's hospitality area inside the stadium, with complimentary food and beverages for all guests. Once the teams take to the field, we will take to our seats located along the left field foul-line. All proceeds from this event will benefit CFSI and the DC Fire and EMS Foundation.
DATE: Thursday, September 10, 2009
TIME: Hospitality Area Open from 5:40 p.m. until first pitch at 7:10 p.m.
LOCATION: Nationals Ballpark, Washington, DC
PRICE: $75 per ticket
MORE: The hospitality suite will remain open through the first pitch. It will close at approximately 7:15PM. Hot dogs, burgers, and beverages will be served while it is open.
Read More>>
Source: CFSI
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SCG Application Deadline
Submissions Due by July 10, 2009
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Please submit your 2009 Assistance to Firefighters Fire Station Construction Grants (SCG) application no later than 5 p.m. Eastern daylight time on Friday, July 10, 2009. As always, we recommend that you do not wait until the last minute to submit!
If you have not started, you can find the online application at http://firegrantsupport.com/afscg/.
The Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Fire Station Construction Grants (SCG) will provide financial assistance directly to fire departments on a competitive basis to build new or modify existing fire stations in order for departments to enhance their response capability and protect the community they serve from fire and fire-related hazards. The authority for SCG is derived from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). Congress appropriated a total of $210 million for this Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 program.
SCG staffs a help desk throughout the (FY) 2009 SCG 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. Call the help desk at 1-866-274-0960 or send e-mail to firegrants@dhs.gov.
The help desk is open during the application period from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., on Saturday.
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 SCG help desk for information on contacting the nearest regional specialist.
Read More>>
Source: Fire Grant Support
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DHS Announces Nearly $1.8 Billion in Preparedness Grants
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Secretary Napolitano and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate last week announced nearly $1.8 billion in FEMA preparedness grants designed to help states, urban areas, tribal governments, and non-profit agencies improve their readiness by enhancing protection, prevention, response, and recovery capabilities for all disasters.
Preparedness grant program allocations for FY 2009 include the following:
· Homeland Security Grant Program
· State Homeland Security Program Tribal
· Nonprofit Security Grant Program
· Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program
"These grants provide direct support for regional preparedness, urban security, and medical response efforts in communities across the country," said the secretary. "The new grants management initiative launched this year will generate better value for every grant dollar while strengthening our nation's ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from all disasters."
Since 2002, FEMA has allocated more than $28 billion in grants to bolster the nation's preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities in response to terrorist attacks and other major disasters.
Read More>>
Source: DHS
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DHS Officials Follow President's Lead in "United We Serve"
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President Obama last week unveiled "United We Serve," a summer initiative that officially begins today and continues through Sept. 11, which has been designated as the National Day of Service and Remembrance. As a way of getting things started, the president said many members of his administration, including First Lady Michelle Obama, would take part in activities designed to encourage sustained, meaningful community service among all Americans.
In a video message posted to the White House's Web site, the president said, "Economic recovery is as much about what you're doing in your communities as what we're doing in Washington - and it's going to take all of us, working together." The president urged Americans to go to www.serve.gov to register their community service projects and get involved in other volunteer activities. A message from First Lady Michelle Obama is also available on the White House site.
On the first official day of "United We Serve," DHS officials engaged in several community activities; these include:
· Secretary Napolitano working with members of the FEMA Citizens Corps in Orlando, Fla. to help prepare their neighborhoods and communities for successful emergency response and recovery;
· Deputy Secretary Lute leading a citizenship class at the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights in New York City, where immigrants from around the world come to learn English and prepare to become U.S. citizens; and,
· FEMA Administrator Fugate discussing the importance of service at a roundtable in Denver with Americans who have made President Obama's challenge central to their daily lives, including firefighters as well as volunteers from FEMA's Fire Corps and CERT programs.
"Volunteerism strengthens a community's capacity to meet challenges," Secretary Napolitano said in a statement released Friday. "President Obama's call for service - today and everyday - plays a critical role in our efforts to prepare and protect the nation."
Read More>>
Source: DHS
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Theme Announced for Fire Prevention Week 2009: Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned
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The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has announced the theme for Fire Prevention Week, October 4-10, 2009. This year's campaign, Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned, focuses on the importance of fire safety and fire safety education and ways to prevent fires and the deaths, injuries, and property loss they cause.
Read More>>
Source: Fire CORPS
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Critical Files Missing at FEMA, Audit Finds
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency needs to keep better track of
its contracts because it is currently missing at least 30 percent of
its files, according to an independent auditor.
In
an article on the Federal Times website, Elise Castelli says the
Homeland Security Department inspector general hired Foxx & Co., an
independent audit firm, to review the department's contracts.
Not
only could the auditors not find approximately 30 percent of the files,
they also found that many lacked the documents that: proved the goods
and services were necessary; justified why work was not competed; and
assessed contractor performance, Castelli says. "For example, none of
the 32 contracts reviewed had contractor performance assessments, and
23 didn't provide information about whether the contract was opened to
competition," she wrote.
Why is this information
important? According to the report, not having the information makes it
"difficult to determine that contractors were performing as required or
that FEMA was paying fair prices for goods and services."
Ultimately,
the report found that FEMA was not in compliance with the Federal
Acquisition Regulation or Acquisition Management Division's contracting
policies and procedures for emergency acquisitions for most of the
contracts reviewed.
Read More>>
Source: Disaster Resource Guide
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Katrina Relief Funds Misspent on FEMA Warehouses
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An investigation by the Homeland Security Inspector General has
confirmed ongoing concerns about FEMA's lax contracting policies.
In
an article on the Los Angeles Times website, Eileen Sullivan says a
government investigation revealed FEMA ignored the law when it built
two warehouses with more than $7 million in funds, some of which should
have gone to hurricane victims.
Sullivan reports FEMA
broke the rules by paying for one warehouse from federal disaster
relief fund, and the other with proceeds from sales of travel trailers
and mobile homes. The warehouses were intended for maintenance of
trailers and mobile homes used by disaster victims at two of FEMA's 12
storage sites for the housing units.
FEMA officials had
rejected the proposal to build the warehouses, but the project went
ahead regardless. FEMA spokesman Clark Stevens told Sullivan he could
not comment on a report that hadn't yet been released, but stated that
FEMA "does not tolerate wasteful spending and is committed to making
sure that any past mistakes are not repeated."
Investigators said FEMA had "no authority to use appropriated funds to construct the two buildings."
Read More>>
Source: Disaster Resource Guide
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| The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatalities:
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Name: Ryan Wingard
Rank: Firefighter
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Status: Volunteer
Years of Service: 8 months
Date of Incident: 07/06/2009
Time of Incident: 0354hrs
Date of Death: 07/06/2009
Fire Department: Strattanville Volunteer Fire Company, No. 1
Address: PO Box 93, 441 Washington ST, Strattanville, PA
Fire Department Chief: Bill Stroup
Incident Description: Firefighter Wingard was working a debris fire shortly after arriving at the site of a recently demolished house in Strattanville. After telling fellow firefighters that he was not feeling well, Wingard collapsed. CPR was initiated immediately by members at the scene and an ambulance was called for at 0409hrs. Firefighter Wingard was transported to the hospital where he passed away. Both the nature of the fatal injury and the cause of the fire are under investigation.
Incident Location: 151 Washington ST, Strattanville, PA 16254
Funeral Arrangements: Pending
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Ryan Wingard at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Name: Allen LePage
Rank: Assistant Fire Chief
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Status: Volunteer
Years of Service: 42
Date of Incident: 06/29/2009
Time of Incident: 1430hrs
Date of Death: 06/30/2009
Fire Department: Kingston Fire District
Address: PO Box 284, 35 Bills RD, Kingston, RI 02881-0284
Fire Department Chief: Nathan Barrington
Incident Description: Assistant Fire Chief LePage passed away from a head injury he suffered while working on a ladder truck. Investigators have not released details of the accident.
Incident Location: 35 Bills RD, Kingston, RI 02881
Funeral Arrangements: Pending
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending
Tribute is being paid to Assistant Fire Chief Allen LePage at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Name: Brett Stearns
Rank: Captain
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: 10
Date of Incident: 06/26/2009
Time of Incident: 1630hrs
Date of Death: 06/26/2009
Fire Department: Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - Little Snake Field Office
Address: 455 Emerson Street, Craig, CO 81625
Fire Department Chief: Field Manager John Husband
Incident Description: While working at Freeman Reservoir on a hazard tree abatement project with a dozen other BLM firefighters, Captain Stearns was struck and killed by a falling tree.
Incident Location: Freeman Reservoir
Funeral Arrangements: Pending
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending
Tribute is being paid to Captain Brett Stearns at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Name: William Thompson
Rank: Firefighter
Age: 65
Gender: Male
Status: Volunteer
Years of Service: 30
Date of Incident: 06/18/2009
Time of Incident: Approx. 0715
Date of Death: 06/18/2009
Fire Department: Dushore Fire Company
Address: 101 Julia ST, Dushore, PA 18614
Fire Department Chief: Scott Hope
Fire Department POC: Assistant Chief John Yonkin
Incident Description: Firefighter Thompson suffered an apparent heart attack and died at approximately 0715 hrs Thursday, June 18, 2009, while on his way to work. Firefighter Thompson had responded to an emergency call the previous evening.
Incident Location: Pending
Funeral Arrangements: Pending
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Not Reported
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter William Thompson at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Name: Lyle Lewis
Rank: Firefighter
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Status: Volunteer
Years of Service: Pending
Date of Incident: 06/16/2009
Time of Incident: Approx. 1800 hours
Date of Death: 06/16/2009
Fire Department: Osborne County Fire District #3
Address: 614 Mill St, Alton, KS 67623
Fire Department Chief: Eldon Hartzler
Incident Description: Firefighter Lewis had been assisting with an interior fire attack at a farm house when he reported not feeling well and exited the structure where he subsequently collapsed. Care was initiated on scene and he was transported to the local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. It was reported that he had used and switched out several SCBA bottles and that the temperatures were in the high 90's with extremely high humidity.
Incident Location: Pending
Funeral Arrangements: Funeral will be 06/20/2009. Time TBA. Interment at Kill Creek Cemetery.
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Lyle Lewis at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Name: Jimmy E. Cameron
Rank: Firefighter
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Status: Volunteer
Years of Service: 20+
Date of Incident: 06/16/2009
Time of Incident: 1845hrs
Date of Death: 06/16/2009
Fire Department: South Chester Fire Department
Address: 2252 Columbia HWY, Blackstock, SC 29014-8969
Fire Department Chief: M. Blair White
Incident Description: Firefighter Cameron passed away in his personal vehicle from a heart attack while performing a damage assessment survey for the fire department in the aftermath of a major storm that struck the Chester, SC, area.
Incident Location: Douglas School Road
Funeral Arrangements: Visitation, 06/19/2009, 1800-2000hrs, Barron Funeral Home, 133 Wylie St, Chester, SC. Funeral services 06/20/2009 @ 1100hrs, Woodward Baptist Church, 1570 Ashford Rd, Chester, SC.
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: The family has asked that any memorials in honor of Firefighter Jimmy E. Cameron be made to the South Chester Fire Department, 2252 Columbia HWY, Blackstock, SC 29014-8969
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Jimmy E. Cameron at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Name: Alan M. Hermel
Rank: Firefighter
Age: 62
Gender: Male
Status: Volunteer
Years of Service: 1
Date of Incident: 03/01/2009
Time of Incident: Pending
Date of Death: 03/03/2009
Fire Department: Bossier Parish Fire District 1
Address: 4494 Highway 80, Haughton, LA 71037
Fire Department Chief: Grady Lee, Jr.
Incident Description: On 03/01/09 at 1810 hours, Firefighter Hermel responded to a report of a vehicle into a power pole. Upon his arrival on scene, he was assigned to assist with traffic control. The incident was terminated at 1823 hours and Firefighter Hermel cleared the incident scene. On 03/02/09 at 0248 hours, the fire department and EMS were summoned to Firefighter Hermel's residence and found him unable to ambulate or speak. Care was initiated and he was transported to the local hospital where he was diagnosed as having suffered an inter-cranial bleed. He was then transferred to a larger hospital where he underwent surgery at 0700 hours and again at 1800 hours. He succumbed to his injuries at 0447 hours on 03/03/09.
Incident Location: Pending
Funeral Arrangements: Not reported
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Not reported
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Alan M. Hermel at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Name: Conrad Mansfield
Rank: Firefighter
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Status: Volunteer
Years of Service: 25
Date of Incident: 06/10/2009
Time of Incident: Pending
Date of Death: 06/14 /2009
Fire Department: Delaware Township Volunteer Fire Department
Address: 602 S. Main Street, Blanchard, OH 45867
Fire Department Chief: Jeff Adams
Incident Description: Firefighter Mansfield collapsed while participating in pump training. Mansfield was transported to the local hospital and then airlifted to a hospital in Toledo where he was placed on life support. Firefighter Mansfield succumbed to his injury on June 14 th. Preliminary results indicate the nature of the fatal injury was a stroke, but a final determination is pending further investigation.
Incident Location: Pending
Funeral Arrangements: Pending
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Conrad Mansfield at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
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