| Having trouble reading this newsletter? Click here to print or to view in your web browser. You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up from our web site. Click here to unsubscribe. |
 |
Governmental Affairs Committee |
 |
 |
|
US FIRE GRANT SUPPORT GAC Resources For GAC documents, announcements, and information please click here to visit the microsite.
Subscribe to the Fire Grant Data website Success Stories RSS (Real Simple Syndication) news feed. Click here.
|
|
Letter Asks Chertoff to Change Homeland Grant Guidance Inconsistent with Law Investigation into ICE Halloween Party Finds Officials Attempted Cover-up USFA Releases Civilian Fire Injuries in Residential Buildings Report Mangogna Appointed as CIO; Briese Named FEMA’s Region VIII Administrator Hurricane Predictions Turning out Risky at Best Fire Corps Participates in Vision 20/20 Washington Forum
Letter Asks Chertoff to Change Homeland Grant Guidance Inconsistent with Law April 11, 2008 (WASHINGTON) – Today, Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Ranking Member Peter T. King (R-NY), along with Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Ranking Member Susan Collins (R-ME), sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff expressing serious concerns about provisions in the 2008 Homeland Security Grant Program Guidance which are inconsistent with the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (The 9/11 Bill). The 9/11 Bill permits state and local governments to use up to 50% of the funding they receive through these programs for any combination of personnel expenditures. Unfortunately, the FY 2008 Homeland Security Grant Program Guidance places limits on the funding far below the 50% level included in the law. In the letter, linked below, the Members ask the Secretary to change the grant guidance to comply with the 9/11 Act to ensure our State and local partners receive the financial assistance they need.
Investigation into ICE Halloween Party Finds Officials Attempted Cover-up April 8, 2008 (WASHINGTON) – Today, the Majority Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security, Chaired by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), released a report entitled “The ICE Halloween Party: Trick, Treat, or Cover-up?”
FOR MORE INFORMATION: USFA Releases Civilian Fire Injuries in Residential Buildings Report WASHINGTON D.C. – The Department of Homeland Security's United States Fire Administration (USFA) today issued a report, part of its Topical Fire Report Series, examining the causes and characteristics of civilian fire injuries occurring in residential buildings. Nearly three-quarters of all civilian fire injuries occur in the home. In 2005, there were an estimated 13,375 civilian fire injuries resulting from an estimated 376,500 residential building fires. Thirty-nine percent of residential building fire injuries occurred while victims were trying to control the fire. An additional 23 percent of civilians were injured when trying to escape; another 11 percent happened while victims were sleeping. "Most civilian fire injuries are preventable," said United States Fire Administrator Greg Cade. "If a fire occurs in your home, it is important to exit your home quickly and leave firefighting to professional firefighters. By establishing and practicing a home fire escape plan, you can help reduce the chances of fire injury or even death if a fire were to occur in your home." The report, Civilian Fire Injuries in Residential Buildings in 2005 (PDF, 480 Kb), was developed by the National Fire Data Center, part of USFA. The report is based on 2005 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). The short topical reports are designed to explore facets of the U.S. fire problem as depicted through data collected in NFIRS. Each topical report briefly addresses the nature of the specific fire or fire-related topic, highlights important findings from the data, and may suggest other resources to consider for further information. Also included are recent examples of fire incidents that demonstrate some of the issues addressed in the report or that put the report topic in context.
Source: USFA Mangogna Appointed as CIO; Briese Named FEMA’s Region VIII Administrator President Bush on Tuesday announced the appointment of Richard Mangogna as the department’s next Chief Information Officer. In a statement about this appointment, Secretary Chertoff said, “Rick has the managerial and information technology experience needed to continue the great progress already made with our department’s technology systems… I look forward to working with Rick and continuing the development of the department's enterprise architecture.” In his most recent position, Mangogna has worked for the Mason Harriman Group Inc. of Towaco, N.J., serving as a senior advisor to several DHS components. Before that, he served as the Chief Information Officer for JP Morgan Chase, as the division head of business re-engineering management at Chase Manhattan Bank, and as the president and CEO of COVIDEA, an online technology services company. More information about this announcement is available at: http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1207691273709.shtm. In a separate announcement, FEMA Administrator David Paulison named Garry Briese FEMA’s Regional Administrator for Region VIII. Briese served as executive director of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Fairfax, Va., for more than 20 years. "Garry is an effective, collaborative leader who uses communications, relationship building, facilitation, and political skills to achieve results. His broad background in emergency management and homeland security will benefit Region VIII and FEMA as a whole," Paulison said. More information about this is available at: http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=43152. Source: FEMA Hurricane Predictions Turning out Risky at Best Hurricane forecasters are predicting another busy year, with 15 named storms and eight hurricanes in the forecast for this year’s hurricane season. But should we rely on those predictions for emergency planning? In an article in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Ken Kaye says the predictions by William Gray and Phil Klotzbach from Colorado State University have set off a storm of their own over whether long-range forecasts have any validity. “Some forecasters say predictions so far in advance contain too much margin for error, confuse the public and may lull people into not making adequate hurricane preparations,” Kaye says. “Those criticisms come after Gray and Klotzbach overestimated the 2006 and 2007 seasons and severely underestimated the chaotic 2005 season; in April of that year, they called for seven hurricanes to emerge — and 15 eventually formed.” Who is critical of the new forecasts? Kaye points to the forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami-Dade County, who say residents of South Florida and other hurricane-prone areas need to make careful preparations no matter how many storms are predicted for a given season. “The forecasts tell you nothing about whether you’re going to get hit in any given year – even if they’re dead-on accurate,” senior hurricane specialist James Franklin told Kaye. “As we’ve seen, they’re not dead-on accurate.” The six-month Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1, Kaye says, and at the end of May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, parent agency of the hurricane center, will release its own seasonal outlook. To read the full article, click here
Fire Corps Participates in Vision 20/20 Washington Forum Fire claims an average of 4,000 lives and $12.7 billion in property damage each year. Fire Corps joined fire safety experts from across the nation for the Vision 20/20 Washington Forum in Washington, DC, from March 31-April 1 to develop a national strategic agenda to reduce the loss of life and property from fire. "This project is unprecedented in scope and depth," said Vision 20/20 Project Manager Jim Crawford, Fire Marshal for the City of Vancouver, Washington. "We have assembled an incredible array of experts from a diversity of fields to help craft a national plan to reduce the loss of life and property from fire. Through our collective efforts we will develop strategies that will save lives, now and in the future." Funded through a grant awarded to the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) - USA Branch by the Department of Homeland Security’s Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program, the Vision 20/20 Washington Forum drew experts from across the United States as well as IFE representatives from Australia and England, countries with innovative and cutting-edge programs that have significantly reduced fire deaths up to 50 percent. Presentations on international practices were delivered by the Head of Community Services for the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Services in the United Kingdom and the Chief Executive Officer for the Country Fire Authority in Australia. At the conclusion of the Forum, Bonnie Woodruff spoke about the vital importance of improving fire safety across the nation. In 1995, Woodruff's only son, Ben, was killed in a fraternity house fire at the University of North Carolina on graduation day and Mother's Day. Since that time, Woodruff has become an outspoken advocate for fire safety, recently joining with other mothers who have lost children in campus fires in the Common Voices Coalition. Forum participants identified five specific strategies with corresponding action plans to reduce fires in America. These include: Advocacy: Get on the agenda to make America safe from fire. More information about Vision 20/20 is available at www.strategicfire.org.
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatalities: Name: Charlie Fraley Rank: Fire Chief Age: 65 Gender: Male Status: Volunteer Years of Service: 48 Date of Incident: 04/12/2008 Time of Incident: 0601hrs Date of Death: 04/12/2008
Fire Department: Macon Fire Department Address: PO Box 29, 605 W Pearl ST., Macon, MS 39341 Fire Department Chief: Pending Incident Description: Chief Fraley became ill while operating at the scene of a structure fire, complaining to other firefighters that he was short of breath. Law enforcement transported the chief to Noxubee General Hospital where he passed away shortly after arrival. The cause of death is pending.
Incident Location: Noxubee County Vocational Center, 13002 Hwy. 45, Macon, MS. 39341 Funeral Arrangements: Visitation for Chief will be 04/14/2008 at his home from 1700-2100hrs.
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Please make all memorials to the Macon Fire Department, Macon City Hall, Attn: Pam Norris, P.O. Box 29,Macon, MS 39341.
Tribute is being paid to Fire Chief Charlie Fraley at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Name: Gert Marais Rank: Pilot Age: 42 Gender: Male Status: Wildland Contract Years of Service: Unk Date of Incident: 04/15/2008 Time of Incident: 1820hrs Date of Death: 04/15/2008
Fire Department: Colorado State Forest Service Address: Campus #5060, Foothills Campus, Bldg. 1050, Fort Collins, CO 80523-5060 Fire Department Chief: NA Fire Department Website: http://csfs.colostate.edu/contact.htm
Incident Description: Gert Marais of Fort Benton, Montana, was killed when his Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) went down just after dropping a load of slurry onto portions of a wildfire on Fort Carson Downrange. The SEAT, operated by Areo Seat of Sterling, CO, was working under contract for the Colorado State Forest Service on a wildfire that had grown rapidly during the day, threatening buildings within and along the western flank of the Downrange training area. A mandatory evacuation was ordered for areas west of State Hwy 115 from Barrett Road (13S EC 0741 7123) north to Ft. Carson Gate 5 (13S EC 1576 8570). There were no controlled burns taking place on the Downrange; the cause of the fire is under investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the SEAT accident.
Incident Location: Fort Carson Downrange, 2.13km east of Colorado Hwy 115, mile marker 34 Funeral Arrangements: Pending
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending
Tribute is being paid to Pilot Gert Marais at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/ Name: Terry DeVore Rank: Fire Chief Age: 30 Gender: Male Status: Volunteer Years of Service: Unk Date of Incident: 04/15/2008 Time of Incident: 1545hrs Date of Death: 04/15/2008
Name: John Schwartz, Jr. Rank: Firefighter Age: 38 Gender: Male Status: Volunteer Years of Service: <1 Date of Incident: 04/15/2008 Time of Incident: 1545hrs Date of Death: 04/15/2008
Fire Department: Olney Springs Volunteer Fire Department Address: PO Box 154, 401 Warner Ave., Olney Springs, CO 81062 Fire Department Chief: Pending
Incident Description: Chief DeVore and Firefighter Schwartz were killed in their fire apparatus while trying to cross a bridge over a drainage ditch about a mile west ofOrdway, CO. Due to heavy smoke conditions they were apparently unaware that the fire had already damaged or collapsed the bridge.
Incident Location: Ordway, CO
Funeral Arrangements: Pending
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending
Tribute is being paid to Fire Chief Terry DeVore and Firefighter John Schwartz, Jr. at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Source: USFA |
||||||||
|
|
|