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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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USFA Releases Fire-Related Firefighter Injuries Report CFSI ANNOUNCES CONGRESSMAN DAVID PRICE AS RECIPIENT OF THE 2008 CFSI LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD IAFC and Emery & Associates, Inc. Partner to Expand Hazmat Offerings University of Arkansas Tests Multiple Alert Warning System
Department of Homeland Security Announces Application Period for FY 2008 Assistance to Firefighters Grants The Department of Homeland Security's Grant Programs Directorate will begin accepting applications for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) beginning March 3, 2008, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EST) with the deadline for receipt of the applications no later than April 4, 2008, at 5:00 p.m. EDT. The AFG, which will be distributed in phases throughout FY 2008, will ultimately award approximately $500 million. Interested applicants can access the FY 2008 AFG application through the AFG website http://www.firegrantsupport.com, the U.S. Fire Administration's (USFA) Website (http://www.usfa.fema.gov) and the Grants.gov Website (http://www.grants.gov). The website contains important information about the AFG including the FY 2008 funding priorities and program guidance, a web-based tutorial on the application process, a listing of frequently asked questions and other materials. Fire departments that have questions regarding this grant opportunity should contact the Help Desk at 1-866-274-0960 or email to firegrants@dhs.gov. During the application period, Help Desk hours will be from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT. Additional Help Desk hours may be added if demand is high. Eligible applicants for the FY 2008 AFG are limited to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service (EMS) organizations operating within the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Interested applicants may submit two separate applications for consideration under each of the following two program areas: Operations and Safety Program Area: Eligible activities for fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations are limited to training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and modifications to facilities. Vehicle Acquisition Program Area: Eligible apparatus available to fire departments under this program area include, but are not limited to, pumpers, brush trucks, tankers/tenders, rescue vehicles, ambulances, quints, aerials, foam units, and fireboats.
USFA Releases Fire-Related Firefighter Injuries Report EMMITSBURG, MD. – Twice as many firefighters are injured each year performing fireground duties as there are fire injuries to the civilian population, according to a new report issued today by the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). In 2004, there were an estimated 36,880 firefighter fireground injuries. The new report, Fire-Related Firefighter Injuries in 2004, was developed by the National Fire Data Center, part of the U.S. Fire Administration, and is based primarily on analyses of the 2004 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) Version 5.0 data. “Everyday firefighters face great risks of bodily injury and possibly even death,” said National Fire Data Center Director Alex Furr. “Firefighting, by its very nature, is an extremely dangerous job, and therefore it is important that we take steps to educate the fire service on improving firefighter health and safety and focus on injury prevention.” Download Report (PDF, 2.5 Mb)
Source: USFA CFSI ANNOUNCES CONGRESSMAN DAVID PRICE AS RECIPIENT OF THE 2008 CFSI LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD Washington, DC - The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) announced yesterday it will to honor Congressman David E. Price with the 2008 CFSI Legislator of the Year award. The annual award acknowledges members of Congress who seek to enhance the capabilities of the fire service through significant contributions in leadership and legislation.
IAFC and Emery & Associates, Inc. Partner to Expand Hazmat Offerings Fairfax, Va., Feb. 29, 2008... The IAFC is now partnering with Emery & Associates, Inc. to present the Midwest Hazardous Materials Response Conference, scheduled for May 2–3, 2008, in Northbrook, Ill. This partnership will expand and enhance the suite of outstanding hazmat training already available through the organizations individually. Both the Midwest Conference and the IAFC’s International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference, scheduled for May 28–June 1 in Hunt Valley, Md., provide a unique niche in the training of hazmat responders. By collaborating more closely, the IAFC and Emery & Associates, Inc. will be able to expand and enrich their respective programs. “The IAFC has worked with Rick Emery and his team for a long time,” said Assistant Chief Tim Butters, IAFC Hazardous Materials Committee chair. “I am excited about the opportunity to formalize such a long and valued relationship.” This partnership will unite the high-quality hazmat training and education that is the hallmark of the Midwest Hazardous Materials Response Conference with the IAFC’s meeting-management and conference-marketing expertise in order to take the conference to the next level. “The Midwest Hazardous Materials Response Conference has offered outstanding hazardous materials response training for the past 20 years; this partnership will allow us to build on that success as we move into the future,” said Rick Emery, president of Emery & Associates, Inc. “I appreciate the support of the IAFC leadership and the Hazardous Materials Committee and I look forward to working closely with them.” Information about attending and exhibiting at the Midwest Hazardous Materials Response Conference and the Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference is now available online.
Chair of the Homeland Security and Governement Affairs Committee Leiberman's letter to Budget Comm. requ. $535 million for EMPG Congressional committees in both the House and Senate issue views and estimates letters to the Budget Committees commenting on President Bush’s proposal for Fiscal 2009. Required by law, the letters aid budget members in writing budget resolutions. Click Here to download the letter (.pdf)
Source: IAEM University of Arkansas Tests Multiple Alert Warning System Officials at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock say last week’s deployment of its new emergency alert system was effective – as long as students and staff received the messages. In an article on the NWAnews.com website, Tara M. Manthey and Charlotte Tubbs say the school sent out thousands of emergency-alert phone calls and e-mail messages to students and staff after a shooting last week. The system’s first live test worked well, the authors say, although there were some glitches. “UALR Chancellor Joel E. Anderson said that Wednesday’s first messages were sent within 14 minutes of a 911 call — a rapid response in his opinion,” Manthey and Tubbs say. “However, some complained this week that they didn’t get a message or that messages were late.” “The anecdotal evidence from the standpoint of a lot of people, it worked well and quickly,” Anderson told the pair. “To others it did not. The systems were overloaded. One reason was because of the cell-phone calls that people began to make. Those are issues that we need to look at really carefully. We will look at the strengths and weaknesses and correct them.” The university is also exploring adding a text-message alert system and an intercom system, but Associate Vice Chancellor Cindy Milazzo told Manthey and Tubbs that no single system will ever work perfectly and the best approach is a layered emergency alert system. To read the full article, click here: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/national/218316/
Source: Disaster Resource Guide The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatalities: Name: Rafael Vazquez Rank: Fire-Rescue Lieutenant Age: 42 Gender: Male Status: Career Years of Service: 7 Date of Incident: 03/03/2008 Time of Incident: 1220hrs Date of Death: 03/03/2008
Fire Department: Palm Beach Fire-Rescue Department Address: 50 South Military Trail, Suite 101, West Palm Beach, FL 33415 Fire Department Chief: Fire Rescue Administrator Herman W. Brice
Incident Description: During a lunch break from a department mandated training session on “strategy and tactics,” Fire-Rescue Lieutenant Vazquez was shot and killed at a Wendy’s restaurant by a deranged gunman, who injured several others before turning the weapon on himself.
Incident Location: 1376 North Military Trail, Palm Beach, FL (USNG: 17R NK 8842 5323)
Funeral Arrangements: Pending
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Donations to assist the Vazquez family may be sent C/o: Union Office, 2328 S. Congress Avenue, Suite 2C, Palm Springs, 33406. You can also call (561) 969-0729. Checks can also be dropped of at any Palm Beach Fire-Rescue station. In the comment area of checks, please make note that the donation is for the Vazquez family.
Tribute is being paid to Fire-Rescue Lieutenant Rafael Vazquez at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Name: Brad Holmes Rank: Firefighter Age: 21 Gender: Male Status: Volunteer Years of Service: Unk Date of Incident: 02/29/2008 Time of Incident: 0600hrs Date of Death: 03/05/2008
Fire Department: Pine Township Engine Company Address: 545 Barkeyville RD, PO Box 627, Grove City, PA 16127 Fire Department Chief: Christopher Holmes
Incident Description: Firefighter Holmes and another firefighter (Lt. Scott King) were attempting to rescue a 44-year-old female resident from the second floor of a burning duplex, when conditions in the building rapidly deteriorated and the firefighters became trapped.
The two firefighters were rescued by a rapid intervention team and transported to the hospital. Lieutenant King has since been released from the hospital, but Firefighter Holmes, after several days in critical condition at the Mercy Hospital Burn Unit, succumbed to his injuries in the morning hours of 03/05/2008.
The female resident of the structure did not survive the fire. According to FirefighterCloseCalls.com, the fire has been ruled accidental by the State Fire Marshal, sparked by a hair dryer on the living room couch on the first floor.
Incident Location: 132 Garden Way, Grove City, PA (USNG: 17 TNF 7625 5645)
Funeral Arrangements: Pending Memorial Fund Contact and Address: A fund has been established at North West Savings Bank, 200 S. Center Street, Grove City, PA 16127 ATTN: FF Brad Holmes.
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Brad Holmes at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Rank: Lieutenant Age: 35 Gender: Male Status: Volunteer Years of Service: 7 Date of Incident: 03/05/2008 Time of Incident: 0830hrs Date of Death: 03/05/2008
Fire Department: Lower Chichester Fire Company Address: P.O. Box 1084, 1540 Huddle Street, Linwood, PA 19061 Fire Department Chief: Ray Fuller Sr. Fire Department Website: www.lowerchi39.com
Incident Description: Lieutenant Picozzi became trapped when fire conditions rapidly deteriorated in the basement of an unoccupied single family residential structure. Three other firefighters were injured, one taken to the Chester-Crozer Hospital Burn Unit and reported to be in fair condition; two others treated at the hospital for smoke inhalation and released. The cause of the fire is under investigation but is thought be related to two large trees near the residence falling on a 13,000-volt primary distribution line. Source: USFA |
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