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Governmental Affairs Committee |
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US FIRE GRANT SUPPORT GAC Resources For GAC documents, announcements, and information please click here to visit the microsite. Home Day 2007 Toolkit To download the Home Day 2007 Upcoming Events
HELP THE GAC!
Dear FAMA/FEMSA member: In January, you received an e-mail from the FAMA/FEMSA Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC) asking you to complete a survey that will help the GAC and its consultants learn what congressional relationships FAMA/FEMSA member companies have established. This information is essential to the GAC’s work to increase FAMA/FEMSA’s dialogue with federal government agencies in an effort to educate key officials on the important role our industry plays in providing equipment and services to the nation’s first responders. To help us enhance these efforts, we once again ask you to take a few moments to complete the enclosed survey. Specifically, this survey will help the GAC compile a comprehensive list of FAMA/FEMSA members’ locations and the congressional senators and representatives for those locations, an important step in establishing an educational network with the members of Congress and the administration. Please note that the survey can be conveniently completed online here. We also ask that the survey be completed as soon as possible. We have tried to keep this survey as simple and straightforward as possible. We thank you in advance for your assistance in this important effort. Sincerely, FAMA/FEMSA Governmental Affairs Committee
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Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act Signed into Law USFA Releases Provisional 2007 Firefighter Fatality Statistics FCC moves forward on mobile alert system National Firewise Communities Program Publishes Quarterly Newsletter Honor an Emergency Responder as a Serving Hero Pittsburgh Fire Fighters Clash Over New Response Protocols
Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act Signed into Law On December 20, President Bush signed the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA) into law. The NVFC previously reported that VRIPA had been passed by the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. VRIPA provides tax relief to volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel who receive benefits from state and local units of government. Learn more about VRIPA and how it became law. Source: FEMA USFA Releases Provisional 2007 Firefighter Fatality Statistics EMMITSBURG, MD – The United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced today there were 115 on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States in 2007. In 2007, there were firefighters lost in 33 states and Washington, DC. South Carolina experienced the highest number of fatalities (11) while Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, and California each suffered more than 5 on-duty losses. "This past year will be remembered by the entire fire service as one of the most tragic years for firefighters in recent memory," United States Fire Administrator Greg Cade said. "We are committed to continuing our dedicated efforts with the International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Volunteer Fire Council, International Association of Firefighters, and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to make sure 2008 is not a repeat of 2007 and a year in which Everyone Goes Home at the end of their emergency response assignments." Heart attacks and vehicle accidents were responsible for the deaths of 54 firefighters (47%) in 2007, down from 54 of the 106 (51%) firefighters in 2006. In 2007, 10 on-duty firefighters died in association with wildland fires. On June 18th, Charleston, SC lost 9 firefighters while working to control a fire in a large sofa warehouse facility. Each year, firefighters becoming trapped and disoriented represent the largest portion of structural fireground fatalities. For 2007, 64% of all firefighter fatalities occurred while performing emergency duties. Almost 42% were at structure fires with 19 caught or trapped (16.5%). Speed and a lack of seat belts contributed to many deaths as well. More than 2 of every 10 firefighter fatalities in 2007 occurred when responding to or returning from an incident. While seat belts and speed were not necessarily factors in all of these fatalities, they were contributing factors for most of them. These fatality statistics for 2007 are provisional and very much subject to change as the USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify the names of firefighters reported to have died on-duty during 2007. The final, annual firefighter fatality report for 2007 is expected to be available by early June. For additional information on firefighter fatalities, including the annual fatality reports from 1986 through 2006 and the Firefighter Fatality Retrospective Study 1990–2000, please visit the USFA Web site.
Source: USFA FCC moves forward on mobile alert system By Alice Lipowicz The Federal Communications Commission published a notice of proposed rulemaking Jan. 3 to establish a commercial mobile alert system that would let wireless providers send emergency alerts to users of cell phones and other devices. In the notice in the Federal Register, the FCC asks for public comments on the recommendations of the Commercial Mobile Services Alert Advisory Committee regarding the technical protocols, procedures and requirements for such a system. Comments are due Feb. 4. Congress, through the Warning Alert and Response Network Act, ordered FCC to adopt technical standards for wireless providers to send emergency messages to the public. Commercial mobile service providers may voluntarily choose to send such alerts. The goal in setting up rules for the system is to facilitate the alerts to targeted geographic areas as much as possible while also avoiding network congestion. During disasters, wireless networks often get overloaded as victims and family members try to obtain aid. Another goal of the system is to ensure that the emergency alerts used by various providers and devices are compatible with one another so users can receive alerts when away from their home bases. Other aims industry executives discussed include standardization of emergency messaging so cell phone users can expect a common tone or signal when using different devices and aggregating alerts so users are not inundated with multiple alerts from different providers. “By starting this rulemaking today, we take a significant step towards implementing one of our highest priorities — to ensure that all Americans have the capability to receive timely and accurate alerts, warnings and critical information regarding impending disasters and other emergencies irrespective of what communications technologies they use,” the FCC wrote in the notice. “As we have learned from recent disasters, such as the Southern California fires, the Virginia Tech shootings and the 2005 hurricanes, such a capability is essential to enable Americans to take appropriate action to protect their families and themselves from loss of life or serious injury.” The rulemaking also indicates the FCC’s commitment to expanding the existing Emergency Alert System requiring broadcasters to carry presidential alerts to include cell phones, cable television, radios and satellite transmissions, the commission said.
Source: Washington Technology National Firewise Communities Program Publishes Quarterly Newsletter The National Firewise Communities program is designed to involve homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers and other stakeholders in an effort to protect people, property, and natural resources from the risk of wildland fire. Wildfire News and Notes is a quarterly newsletter published by Firewise that provides information and news to wildland firefighters and agencies where the primary focus is controlling or suppressing wildland fires. The December issue of Wildfire News and Notes is now available online.
Source: NVFC Honor an Emergency Responder as a Serving Hero Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robins are looking for stories about people who serve their communities in times of need. Through the Serving Heroes program, civilians and members of the emergency community can thank their hero through recognition and a profile on the Serving Heroes web site. The winners also receive a year’s worth of free Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. The only criteria for nominations is that the story be about an emergency responder in relation to a particular event. Honor your hero by nominating them as a Serving Hero. For more information and to submit a story, visit www.servingheroes.com.
Source: NVFC Pittsburgh Fire Fighters Clash Over New Response Protocols Pittsburgh’s firefighters’ union is locked in a battle with the city’s public safety director over a new policy that could keep firefighters at some fire scenes for up to four hours after fires are put out. According to an article on The Pittsburgh Channel website, the union claims the policy from Public Safety Director Michael Huss will keep them from protecting other city neighborhoods. Joe King, president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1, told the news website that the policy would keep a team of firefighters out of service while guarding against fires rekindling. The policy would deprive other city neighborhoods of the protection they deserve. “Obviously, any policy that we draft here in the Public Safety Department, first and foremost, is [to protect] the public safety and the safety of our employees,” Huss, who was formerly the city’s fire chief, told the news website. “That’s foremost in our mind. So, we’re not going to draft a policy that’s going to jeopardize someone’s safety.” Huss said firefighters would only be put on watch against rekindling in cases of fires in vacant buildings, where it’s not safe to send firefighters inside unstable structures to put out hot spots. To read the full article, click here: http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/14981716/detail.html
Source: Disaster Resource Guide The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatalities: Name: Paul Lewis Ellington Fire Department: Oregon Hill Volunteer Fire Department
Incident Description: Vehicle accident while operating POV in response to a residential structure fire.
Funeral Arrangements: Visitation 01/03/2008, 1800-2100hrs at Wilkerson Funeral Home, 1909 Richardson Drive, Reidsville, NC. Funeral 01/04/2008 @ 1500hrs at Mount Carmel United Methodist Church, 361 Mount Carmel Church Road, Reidsville, NC.
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: In honor of Firefighter Paul Lewis Ellington, C/o Oregon Hill Volunteer Fire Department, 858 Mount Carmel Church Road, Reidsville, NC 27320.
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Paul Lewis Ellington at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/ Name: Donald G. Paterson Name: John H. Martinson Name: Jim Robeson
Source: USFA |
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