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Support grows for “fire-safe” cigarette legislation
More than 50 firefighting organizations are supporting the “fire-safe” cigarette legislation pending in Congress. The bill, introduced in January of this year, aims to implement the recommendations of a commission created by Congress in 1984 to evaluate the potential of a less fire-prone cigarette, according to one proponent, Congressman Rick Boucher (D-VA). The committee included firefighters, consumer advocates, and representatives of the tobacco industry. “A year ago, the Interagency Committee on Cigarette and Little Cigar Fire Safety recommended further study of the feasibility of developing such a cigarette and of an ignition propensity standard for the cigarettes,” Boucher explains.
An earlier version of the bill was introduced in Congress last year, but, according to Boucher, there was an insufficient base of information concerning the recommendations and not enough time to pass them through Congress. Boucher expects the new bill to pass by the end of next year, at the close of the 101st Congress.
While there is not direct opposition to the idea of developing a fire-safe cigarette, Congressman John Joseph Moakley (D-MA) has proposed a competing bill. Moakley’s bill calls for the promulgation of a fire-safe cigarette standard. Boucher has two problems with Moakley’s proposal. “While it is possible to design such a cigarette, there is no assurance that the product will be commercially feasible. Such a step—imposing a standard without further study—would destroy the tobacco industry,” Boucher says. Another problem, he says, is that currently there is no method of testing such a cigarette for ignition propensity. “Our legislation would direct such a method to be developed and studied,” Boucher adds.
Everybody wins with his legislation, according to Boucher. It has gained firefighters’ support because such a cigarette would reduce the number of house fires. According to 1987 (the most recent) statistics from the Congressional Fire Caucus, of the 2,300,000 fires called in to fire departments in the U.S. that year, 23 percent were home fires. Of the 5,810 civilians killed in fires, 78 percent, or 4,570, were killed in house fires. And of 28,000 fire-related injuries reported, 71 percent, or 19,965, occurred in homes. Thus the legislation has generated support from fire service organizations such as the International Association of Fire Fighters (AFL-CIO), the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, the Great Lakes Division of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters, and a host of state associations.
For smokers, the implications depend on what kind of paper is manufactured that is less fire-prone. “The smokers are an important consideration,” Boucher says. “That is why commercial feasibility must be assessed before a standard can be imposed. If the smoke doesn’t draw well, nobody will buy the cigarettes.”
As for the tobacco industry, representatives that served on the committee voted unanimously for its recommendation of further study, according to Charlie Whitley, special consultant to the Tobacco Institute. Thus, the industry supports Boucher’s proposed legislation.
Boucher has a vested interest in seeing his proposed legislation passed. He serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee in Congress and hails from Virginia, a state with a large tobacco economy. He thinks the bill’s chances of passing are good: “As we protect public safety, we aim to do it in a way that is feasible for all concerned —including tobacco growers.”
Fire service organizations should write their Congress representatives, urging them to adopt the respective legislations, House Bill HR 673 and Senate Bill S.732, Boucher stresses. All those interested in co-sponsoring the bill can call his office at (202) 2253861.
Grants aid fight against arson
Arson and suspected arson remained the number-one cause of property damage due to fire in the United States in 1987, according to the most recent statistics from the National Fire Protection Association. Direct property damage to structures and vehicles totaled $1.725 billion. Approximately 730 people lost their lives that year in such structure fires.
To help combat this leading cause of fire damage, The Factory Mutual Engineering Committee Against Incendiarism recently awarded five grants to public fire services. The committee, established in 1977, awards an average of 20 grants a year to nonprofit organizations in the United States and Canada to assist in their fight against arson.
“We fill about two-thirds of the requests we receive,” explains Don Garner, arson coordinator for the Factory Mutual Insurance Systems, which is a group of three insurance companies in the engineering and research division that sponsor the program. Grants average anywhere from S1,000 to S6,000. “When the federal government funding dried up a few years ago, fire services had no alternative but to go to the private sector,” Garner says.
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“The grants fund training and public education programs, equipment for fire investigations, equipment used to manage arson cases, and more. Garner recalls the Georgia State Fire Marshal’s Office in Atlanta received a $5,000 grant a few years ago. The money purchased a computer to help manage arson cases. Overall efficiency increased 10 percent, according to Garner, and two investigators were able to return to the field, relieved of the burden of office paperwork.
The most recent grant recipients include the Tampa Fire Department, which received $3,100 to purchase an arson management computer to maintain more comprehensive arson reports; the Manatee County Arson Task Force in Bradenton, Florida, which was awarded $1,195 for hydrocarbon detection equipment; the Boston Arson Prevention Commission, which received $1,500 to support its Abandoned Building Project, which studies the background of buildings, using a computer to pinpoint the most likely targets for an arsonist; the Portland, Maine Fire Department, which received $5,000 for its Juvenile Firesetters Program, emphasizing education and treatment; and the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal in Toronto, which received 500 copies of Factory Mutual Engineering’s “Pocket Guide to Arson Investigation” for distribution to local police officers, firefighters, and new fire chiefs.
The committee meets five times a year to consider grant requests. “We want to do everything we can to improve the quality of basic fire investigations, to promote the cooperation of various arson control agencies, and to act as a seed to attract other private industry funding,” Garner says.
Haz-mat committee seeks information on molten material incidents
The Hazardous Materials Committee of the International Association of Fire Chiefs is asking fire departments to report incidents from the past five years involving molten metal, glass, sulfur, or other molten material in transit or in a fixed location.
“Molten material is a growing problem,” explains Tim Butters, manager of government affairs for the IAFC. “Previously, the use of it was predominantly on site. Now there are more cases of it being transported and more resulting injuries and accidents. As molten material is used more, the potential for problems increases.”
The Department of Transportation is working on a proposed standard, and Butters says it should be ready by fall. Current regulations are specific to molten sulfur, since it is the most commonly transported of all molten materials. Molten sulfur is classified as an ORM-3, which requires container marking and shipping documents.
When the proposal covering molten material is published in the Federal Register, affected or interested parties have 30 to 90 days to comment, depending on the complexity of the proposal and other factors. This is where the committee comes in. “It is important to document that this is an issue. We are trying to help the DOT develop better recommendations and regulations to address specific problems such as this,” explains Butters. After the proposal is published, the committee will share its findings on reported incidents with the DOT.
Butters expects two results of the new regulation: “We hope there will be stronger transportation requirements governing the industry, such as what are appropriate vehicles and containers for transport, how much material can be moved, what types of documents and markings are required, and so on; and we also hope the industry will then develop a set procedure on what emergency responders can do in the event of a spill.”
Mail all reports of incidents to Tim Butters, IAFC Government Affairs Department, 1329 18th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036-6516, or call (202) 833-3420.
Foundation funds volunteer programs
The board of directors of the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Foundation is considering proposals for projects of interest to volunteer fire departments and firefighters. The foundation, established in January of this year, raises funds for research and educational activities that promote understanding of the challenges faced by volunteers.
Proposal consideration is still in the early stages, according to Philip Stittleburg, president of the foundation, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
One proposal involves minority recruitment and retention. “The project targets minority groups to determine what interests them, attracts them, and keeps them in the industry,” explains Stittleburg. “It tailors general volunteer recruitment and retention policies to blacks, women, and Hispanics—groups that are seriously underrepresented in the volunteer ranks.”
The foundation is also interested in funding a volunteer firefighters’ stress hotline. While debriefing teams do exist, many departments just don’t have the resources to refer staff to them. Thus an 800 number would offer referrals for those seeking counseling.
Still another project under consideration is a risk management training video. The foundation obtains funding by interesting people in sponsoring a project. The training video will be funded by an insurance company.
The board is made up of 11 directors, six state directors of the NVFC, and five nonmembers. It will probably select new projects in October.
Institute establishes internship program
The Congressional Fire Services Institute is accepting applications from students at all college levels for internships. The institute, founded in April of this year, supports the programs of and develops policy for the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, which allows firefighters access to the executive and legislative branches of the federal government.
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Selected interns will help the institute track legislation, monitor hearings, develop policy, identify consensus priorities of the fire service, and report these findings to the caucus and members of the fire service.
Intern prospects usually have one of two majors—political science or fire science, explains William F. Jenaway, director of external affairs for the institute. “It is an excellent opportunity for students to develop communication techniques, polish research skills, and learn the technical aspects of fire protection-all necessities for the real world,” he says.
All interested students must have the approval of their schools and can send applications or requests for information to William F. Jenaway, Director of External Affairs, Congressional Fire Services Institute, 900 2nd Street NE, Suite 207, Washington, D.C. 20002, or call the institute at (202) 371-1277.
NFPA changes professional qualifications standards
The National Fire Protection Association has changed the development procedure for NFPA National Fire Service Professional Qualifications Standards.
In the future, the development of the standards will be accomplished under the NFPA regulations governing committee projects that govern all NFPA consensus standards development, and a correlating committee will be established for all of the Fire Service Professional Qualifications Committees.
Previously, the committees developing the standards have operated under the NFPA rules governing the standards-making system, with two exceptions: All draft standards have been submitted to the National Professional Qualifications Board (NPQB) for approval before being published in the Technical Committee Report, and committee members have been limited to those individuals sponsored by organizations that are members of the Joint Council of the National Fire Service Organizations.
Other changes include the following:
- Membership on the Professional Qualifications Committees will be open to any affected/interested party, and such appointments will fall under the domain of the NFPA Standards Council under the regulations.
- Requirements for validation of the standards to local conditions will be clearly indicated within the standards to be the responsibility of the adopting agency utilizing the standards.
- The concept of “equivalency to the requirements of local jurisdictions” may be incorporated within the Professional Qualifications Standards to meet the needs of individual jurisdictions.
The changes are designed to integrate more fully the development of the standards with the proven NFPA standardsmaking system to ensure maintenance of the highest level of credibility and integrity in carrying out the NFPA’s intended purpose—to increase the professionalism of the nation’s fire services, according to NFPA president Robert W. Grant.
