US Fire
Grant Support
| Announced for Round 31,32,33, & 34 on Sept. 10 & 24 and Oct 1 & 8, 2010
For the amount of
Click Here for Grant Information |
|
GAC Resources
|
|
For GAC documents, announcements, and information please click here to visit the microsite.
|
|
FAMA Web Site
|
|
FEMSA Web Site
|
|
|
Join our list
|
 |
|
|
| Senator Christopher Dodd Honored as CFSI's Legislator of the Year | | 
The Congressional Fire Services Institute presented its 2010 Legislator of the Year Award to Senator Christopher Dodd (CT) in a ceremony this past week in the Senator's office. First elected to the House of Representatives in 1974, Dodd served three terms in the House before being elected to the Senate in 1980. A senior member of the Senate, he has been a stalwart champion of the fire service since his earliest days in Congress. In 2008 he was named as a co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. Throughout his career he has been an advocate for the fire service on a number of initiatives, including the creation and funding of the Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs.
"It is our honor to present this award to a member of Congress who has stood with us for so many years. Senator Dodd's leadership on issues of importance to the nation's fire service is one of the primary reasons our agenda on Capitol Hill has been successful in recent years. Firefighters across this nation, from rural communities to large cities, owe him a debt of gratitude," said Bill Webb, CFSI's Executive Director.
Senator Dodd announced his retirement from the Senate earlier this year.
Source: CFSI
Back to Top
|
USFA Releases Annual Report on Firefighter Fatalities in the United States
| |
 September 29, 2010
Emmitsburg, MD - The United States Fire Administration (USFA) today released the report Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2009 (PDF, 2.7 Mb). The report continues a series of annual studies by the USFA of onduty firefighter fatalities. The USFA is the single public agency source of information for all onduty firefighter fatalities in the United States each year.
Ninety onduty firefighters from 33 states lost their lives as the result of incidents that occurred in 2009. Pennsylvania experienced the highest number of fatalities (8). In addition to Pennsylvania, only New York (7), North Carolina (6), Louisiana (5), and Texas (5), respectively, had five or more firefighter fatalities. This compares favorably to 2008's firefighter losses where 9 states experienced 5 or more onduty fatalities. The total number of fatalities in 2009 was one of the lowest totals in more than 30 years of record.
"Over the past ten years alone, the trend shows a 14 percent reduction in onduty firefighter fatalities but we must continue every effort to be sure that when it comes to firefighter health and safety, everyone goes home," Acting United States Fire Administrator Glenn Gaines said.
The unique and specific objective of Firefighter Fatalities in the United States is to identify all onduty firefighter fatalities that occurred in the United States and its protectorates during the calendar year and to present in summary narrative form the circumstances surrounding each occurrence.
An overview of the 90 firefighters that died while on duty in 2009:
· The total break down included 47 volunteer, 36 career, and 7 wildland agency firefighters.
· There were 6 firefighter fatality incidents where 2 or more firefighters were killed, claiming a total of 13 firefighters' lives.
· 16 firefighters died in duties associated with wildland fires, compared to 26 such fatalities in 2008.
· Activities related to emergency incidents resulted in the deaths of 57 firefighters.
· 30 firefighters died while engaging in activities at the scene of a fire.
· 15 firefighters died while responding to or returning from 13 emergency incidents in 2009. This compares to 24 responding/returning fatalities in 2008.
· 10 firefighters died while they were engaged in training activities.
· 14 firefighters died after the conclusion of their onduty activity.
· Heart attacks were the most frequent cause of death with 39 firefighter deaths.
For 33 years, USFA has tracked the number of firefighter fatalities and conducted an annual analysis. Through the collection of information on the causes of firefighter deaths, the USFA is able to focus on specific problems and direct efforts toward finding solutions to reduce the number of firefighter fatalities in the future. This information is also used by many organizations to measure the effectiveness of their current efforts directed toward firefighter health and safety.
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, which worked closely with USFA on this report, also maintains a list of firefighters who die in the line-of-duty and are honored during the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend held each October in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Visit www.FireHero.org for more information about the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and their assistance to the families of the firefighters lost in 2009 and beyond.
Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted on the USFA's website.
USFA Media Contact: (301) 447-1853
Source: DHS
Back to Top
|
PS-Prep
| |
The Department reached another key milestone in developing a private sector preparedness plan with last week's announcement about the next phase of PS-Prep-soliciting public comment on a private sector readiness certification program specifically tailored to the needs of small businesses.
A notice in the Federal Register posted Sept. 29 seeks public comment on the proposed plan for implementing separate classifications and methods of certification for small businesses under PS-Prep.
In June, Secretary Napolitano announced final standards for the Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification Program (PS-Prep). This was a major step in the program's implementation-once fully in place, PS-Prep will provide tools and standards to help private sector partners share the responsibility and participate in efforts to help prepare communities for the unexpected.
PS-Prep is a 9/11 Commission-recommended, voluntary partnership between DHS and the private sector to improve businesses' preparedness and resilience for disasters and emergencies. PS-Prep enables private sector entities to receive emergency preparedness certification from a DHS program created in coordination with the private sector.
For more information, visit http://www.fema.gov/privatesectorpreparedness.
Source: DHS
Back to Top
|
"Best Practices" in Fire Service-Based EMS
| |
The Fire Service-Based EMS Advocates Steering Committee, of which the National Volunteer Fire Council is a member, has added a "best practices" feature to their web site at www.fireserviceems.com. The Steering Committee is gathering descriptions of best practices, innovations, and success stories in fire service-based EMS and posting them on the web site for advocates and others to study. The articles will be posted as they are received and are intended to benefit all fire departments: career, combination, and volunteer.
Read full article.
Source: NFVC
Back to Top
|
PS-PREP: Will your organization seek certification?
| | Publisher's Note: The format for the eGUIDE is a bit different this week. We are publishing an excerpt of the "PS Prep Program". And, we are wondering... Is your organization planning to seek certification? Why or why not? We'd like to hear from you -publisher@disaster-resource.com
The Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification Program (PS-Prep) is mandated by Title IX of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (the Act.). Congress directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop and implement a voluntary program of accreditation and certification of private entities using standards adopted by DHS that promote private sector preparedness, including disaster management, emergency management and business continuity programs.
The purpose of the PS-Prep Program is to enhance nationwide resilience in an all-hazards environment by encouraging private sector preparedness. The program will provide a mechanism by which a private sector entity may be certified by an accredited third party establishing that the private sector entity conforms to one or more preparedness standards adopted by DHS.
Voluntary Program
Participation in the PS-Prep program is completely voluntary. No private sector entity will be required by DHS to comply with any standard adopted under the program.
Designation of Preparedness Standards
Congress directed DHS to designate one or more standards for assessing private sector preparedness. The standards will be used by accredited certifying entities to evaluate and certify compliance by private sector entities with the standards adopted by DHS. Three standards were approved in June 2010, based on scalability, balance of interest and relevance to PS-Prep:
- ASIS International: SPC.1-2009 Organizational Resilience: Security Preparedness, and Continuity Management System - Requirements with Guidance for use (2009 Edition). Available at no cost.
- British Standards Institution: 25999 (2007 Edition) - Business Continuity Management. (BS 25999:2006-1 Code of practice for business continuity management and BS 25999: 2007-2 Specification for business continuity management) The British Standards Institution is making both parts available for a reduced fee of $19.99 each.
- National Fire Protection Association: 1600-Standard on Disaster / Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs, 2007 and 2010 editions. Available at no cost.
Understanding the Certification Process
Over the next several months, the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB), the accreditation body selected by DHS to develop and oversee the certification process, will manage the accreditation and accredit qualified third parties to carry out the certification in accordance with the accepted procedures of the program.
Program Monitoring
DHS will monitor the effectiveness of the program on an ongoing basis.
To read the entire FEMA fact sheet, go to www.fema.gov/media/fact_sheets/vpsp.shtm
Source: Disaster Resource Guide
Back to Top
|
Emergency Preparedness Drill Tests Local First Responders
| |
75 active emergency personnel from Waverly, PA and its surrounding areas were involved in the drill. A total of 20 different agencies participated.
Read More>>
Source: Disaster Resource Guide
Back to Top
|
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatalities:
| |
Name: Jim Saunders
Rank: Firefighter
Age: 52
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: 20
Date of Incident: 10/03/2010
Time of Incident: Pending
Date of Death: 10/07/2010
Fire Department: Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District
Address: 2101 Hurley Way, Sacramento, CA 95825
Fire Department Chief: William B. Sponable
Fire Department Website: http://www.sacmetrofire.ca.gov/
Incident Description: Firefighter Saunders succumbed to a cardiac arrest injury that he suffered while operating at a fire on the Haggin Oaks Municipal Golf Course several days earlier.
Incident Location: Haggin Oaks Municipal Golf Course
Funeral Arrangements: Pending
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Jim Saunders at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Name: Thomas Innes
Rank: Assistant Fire Chief
Age: 61
Gender: Male
Status: Volunteer
Years of Service: Pending
Date of Incident: 10/02/2010
Time of Incident: 2245hrs
Date of Death: 10/03/2010
Fire Department: Hindsboro Community Fire Protection District
Address: PO Box 37, Hindsboro, IL 61930
Fire Department Chief: Steve Beaty
Incident Description: Assistant Fire Chief Innes responded to a medical call in the town of Hindsboro. After the call was completed and the patient was transported, Innes went back to the station, readied the equipment, and then returned home. Shortly after returning home, Chief Innes became ill and was taken to a hospital where he passed away from a cause still to be reported.
Incident Location: Pending
Funeral Arrangements: Pending
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending
Tribute is being paid to Assistant Fire Chief Thomas Innes at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Name: Robert Hall
Rank: Firefighter
Age: 57
Gender: Male
Status: Volunteer
Years of Service: 4
Date of Incident: 09/27/2010
Time of Incident: 1900hrs
Date of Death: 09/27/2010
Fire Department: Lynchburg Area Joint Fire & Ambulance District
Address: PO Box 585, 8123 State RTE 135, Lynchburg, OH 45142-0585
Fire Department Chief: David Manning
Incident Description: Upon completion of a firehouse meeting and as he was preparing to perform apparatus checks, Firefighter Hall became ill. While being transported to the hospital by Advance Life Support personnel, Firefighter Hall went into cardiac arrest. Despite all resuscitative efforts, however, Firefighter Hall passed away from complications as a result of the cardiac arrest.
Incident Location: 8123 State RTE 135, Lynchburg, OH 45142-0585
Funeral Arrangements: Pending
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Robert Hall at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Source: USFA
Back to Top
|
|
|
