On November 6th, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the posting of the Program Guidance for the FY2009 SAFER grants.  The Program Guidance provides information on the SAFER program including the implementation of recent legislative changes and program priorities.  The guidance may be found at www.firegrantsupport.com.  The FY2009 SAFER program has approximately $210 million available for grants.

 
The Congressional Fire Services Institute also offers information on the different programs that are eligible for grants.  For more information as well as tips to aid in your grant application process please click here.

 

The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI) conducted the annual Congressional Firefighter Training Program on November 6th.  Held annually at MFRI's College Park training facility, the event allows Congressional staff the opportunity to literally walk in a firefighter's boots for a day. 
 
This year, 50 staffers from both the House and Senate were able to experience seven stations of training.  The stations included, a smoke maze, a bucket ride, taking a car apart with extraction tools, a hose-line to put out a propane fire, and finally a few minutes in a burn building. 
 
While this experience is fun and exhilarating, it is also extremely educational for the staff.  They learn just how hard it is to crawl around without being able to see in a confined environment and to perform a number of firefighting drills while wearing 50 pounds of turn-out gear and self contained breathing apparatus.    Instructors and CFSI staff carefully explained the functions of each piece of gear and its cost.  The program gives staff a unique knowledge of the fire service that they can share with their bosses when discussing legislation impacting the fire service. 
 
CFSI would like to thank Steve Edwards, Director of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, and all the MFRI staff for their support of the program. 
On Tuesday October 27th, 2009 the CFSI National Advisory Committee (NAC) met in Washington, DC to address  its legislative priorities as well as hear a presentation from Chief Kelvin Cochran, Administrator of the United States Fire Administration (USFA).
 
Chief Cochran outlined the initiatives that USFA would pursue for the nextthree years.  They included, reducing losses from fire, improving fire prevention and life safety, reducing line of duty deaths and injury to firefighters, conducting an assessment of the impact of AFG and SAFER grants, highlighting the importance of the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) to local departments, creating new professional development programs in response to high rates of attrition within the fire service, and enhancing EMS courses being offered through the National Fire Academy.

CFSI would like to thank Steve Edwards, Director of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, and all the MFRI staff for their support of the program. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A VIDEO OF THE EVENT COURTESY OF FIREHOUSE.COM

The Volunteer & Combination Officers Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs honored CFSI Executive Director Bill Webb with its Chairman's Award at its annual conference in Clearwater, Florida on November 8th.  "One of the first groups that extended its support when I became CFSI's Executive Director in 1995 was VCOS," said Webb.  "Since then, I have worked closely with their leadership, seeking their guidance and input on a broad range of issues.  I extend my thanks and gratitude to Chief Tim Walls for this recognition."