Some 5,200 departments awarded 2003 Assistance to Firefighter Grants
As of October 30 (Round 20 of awards), more than 5,200 fire departments received more than $367 million in 2003 Assistance to Firefighter Grants. The program is administered by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Questions related to the program should be directed to the FEMA Grant Program staff at (866) 274-0960 or by (e-mail), usfagrants@fema.gov/. The most current information regarding the grant awards is at www.usfa.fema.gov/.
The Congressional Fire Services Institute’s (CFSI) National Advisory Committee (NAC) met in Washington, D.C., in October. High on its agenda were communications, the fire service’s status (U.S. Fire Administration) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the administrative process for fire department grants.
Wireless radio communication update. NAC Chairman Alan Caldwell, International Association of Fire Chiefs director of government relations, reported on three wireless radio communication initiatives:
- The Public Safety Interference Problem & The Consensus Plan Solution. The Consensus Plan, according to a handout provided at the meeting, would, among other things, remedy interference to public safety communications systems and private wireless systems operating at 800 MHz as well as provide public safety with more communications capacity. The Consensus Plan is privately funded; no local, state, or federal dollars would be needed. (Nextel will pay to move public safety and commercial bands.) The Plan is supported by leading public safety organizations and opposed primarily by cellular industry competitors of Nextel. The Federal Communications Commission is expected to vote on this Plan this fall. The NAC says fire service members’ expressions of support for the Plan to the FCC and their local congressional members are critical. They may be sent at www.projectconsensus.org/ or directly. A sample letter for your organization’s letterhead is available at www.iafc.org/ under “downloads.”
- The SAFECOM Program. The Office of Management and Budget established it as the umbrella program within the federal government to help local, tribal, state, and federal public safety agencies improve public safety response through more effective and efficient interoperable wireless communications. For additional information, contact David Boyd, program manager, at safecom@dhs.gov/.
- FCC allocation of channels 60-69 spectrum for public safety. The FCC is supposed to reallocate this part of the spectrum by 2006 (the deadline has been moved back at the request of broadcasters now in that spectrum). The reallocation has been made contingent on 85 percent of the market’s converting to digital technology. Caldwell noted that is not happening and that it may take federal legislation to get the broadcasters off the 60-69 spectrum.
Gilmore Commission Update. CFSI President Bill Jenaway gave an update on the Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction (Gilmore Commission). He noted that the Commission was to complete its tenure in November (after deadline). The Committee’s original objectives, Jenaway said, were to develop a national strategy on terrorism, to establish an Office of Domestic Homeland Security, to fund equipment and training (TOPOFF), and to enhance the intelligence-sharing process. The threats, he noted, have not diminished, and intelligence and information sharing have improved only moderately. The current grant systems should remain in place, he added. The focus should be all hazards, not strictly terrorism. An all-hazards approach, he explained, would enable the same responders to defend from within (against domestic terrorism) and without. He said preparations should include “buying smart” for all hazards, developing a regional concept for determining and allocating needs, and identifying threats within those regions and then planning and training to respond to these high-hazard area incidents. The fire department must be able to determine “the right things to do for terrorism—to establish benchmarks,” he added.
Legislation. Aides of legislators who are working on fire-service related bills were on hand to report on the status of various initiatives and explain the types of information legislators would like to receive from fire service organizations concerning issues such as funding under the various current and proposed programs, timelines for funding, priorities, and various other issues, which will be discussed at multiple legislative hearings to be held soon. Caldwell charged all organizations to think about the best way to administer the FIRE grant and other funding programs from the fire service perspective.
CFSI Legislative Director Sean Carroll reported on the USFA Reauthorization Act (S. 1152/H.R. 2692), which incorporates the Firefighting Research and Coordination Act (S. 321/H.R. 545), which establishes a scientific basis for new firefighting technology standards and improves coordination among federal, state, and local fire officials in training and response. In June 2002, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation amended the Reauthorization Act of 2003 to include S. 321. The House Research Subcommittee, in July 2002, attached H.R. 545 to the Reauthorization Act.
Both versions of the Reauthorization Act do the following:
- Reestablish the U.S. Fire Administrator position, which inadvertently was omitted from the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as a Senate-confirmed position.
- Authorize the U.S. Fire Administrator to work with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Inter-Agency Board for Equipment Standardization and Inter-Operability, national voluntary consensus standards development organizations, and other interested parties to establish measurement techniques and testing methodologies for new firefighting equipment.
- Authorize the National Fire Academy to offer courses in building collapse rescue; the use of new technology in responding to fires caused by terrorist attacks and other national emergencies; leadership; and strategic skills that include integrating management systems and deploying new technology for fighting forest and wildland fires, fires in ports, and others.
The versions differ in two areas: The Senate authorizes appropriation for the USFA through 2008 and the House through 2006. The Senate version allows, through 2006, the awarding of grants for purchasing foam-firefighting equipment for rural areas. The differences in the two versions are expected to be resolved; floor action was expected soon.
USFA Administrator Paulison. U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison noted that the USFA is advocating that sprinklers be installed in homes to decrease the number of fatalities and injuries suffered in residential fires each year, reported that the 2004 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program was funded at $750 million, and urged the fire service “to continue to stay involved.” He noted that the greatest impact is at the local district representative level.
Resolutions. The NAC adopted two resolutions. The “Resolution Expressing Continued Support for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program,” introduced by the National Volunteer Fire Council, states that “If the FIRE Act is administered by the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) that the Congressional Fire Services Institute and the Members of the National Advisory Committee work to ensure that ODP administer the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program in the same fashion as it has been in previous years, in accordance with the language of the Fiscal Year 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.” It notes that the program’s success will be ensured if the grants remain a separate appropriation within ODP, the Department of Homeland Security continues current administrative practices for the grant program, the USFA continues to administrate the program, and the peer review of applications is retained.
The “Resolution Expressing Support for Increased Funding for Advanced Fire Research,” offered by the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, states that “the Congressional Fire Services Institute’s National Advisory Committee supports a minimum of $15 million in funding to advance fire research through the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s ‘Standards, Technology and Practices for Cost-Effective Safety and Security of Buildings and Critical Infrastructure’ initiative.”
Ron Fisher, executive director of the Defense Fire Protection Association, addressing his “Reducing Vulnerabilities and Responding to Multiple Threats and Hazards from Multiple Sources and Causes” handout, said that there should be discretion in funding so that there will be “resources to pay for true needs.” He specifically recommended that first responders “act as well as we should” on lessons learned from past accidents and disasters and that all the agencies, offices, laboratories, and programs involved coordinate information and not duplicate efforts. Information about the DFPA is at http://www. dfpa.org/.
Fire departments urged to participate in fire department census
The U.S. Fire Administration and the Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO) are partnering to encourage fire departments to take part in the National Fire Department Census. Departments will be receiving within the next few months a letter from the ISO explaining how they can register or revise their census data record on-line. The agencies explain that the census data will provide the basis for determining fire department capabilities throughout the country.
Additional information is available at www.usfa.fema.gov/applications/fdonline/ about.cfm. Fire departments that are not registered with the census may register at www.usfa.fema.gov/applications/fdonline/ register.cfm; the census form may be downloaded from this Web page and faxed back to (301) 447-1049.
Fire chiefs report departments’ resources “strained”
The vast majority of fire chiefs (81%) who participated in a survey conducted by Opinion Research Corp. International (ORC), a Princeton, NJ-based research group, say growth likely would tax their departments’ resources during the next three years. This expectation could compound problems for the 73 percent of chiefs who report that their departments’ ability to protect their communities has already been strained by residential and commercial growth. The survey was commissioned by Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO) and conducted in July 2003. Five hundred chiefs, fire marshals, and commissioners from across the nation participated. The survey’s margin of error is ± four percentage points.
Respondents noted that the population growth is expected in district areas in which water mains, hydrants, and hauled-water services need updating and which currently have no fire stations. Not surprisingly, 91 percent of the chiefs note that funding for these improvements will be difficult to obtain.
Among other obstacles to improving service to the community listed by the chiefs include the following: recruiting and retaining firefighters in all types of departments, difficulty in accessing adequate water supplies, and lack of cooperation from local water companies. They projected the following “significant” changes in their districts over the next three years: increased firefighter training, installation of hydrants in more sections of the community, and upgrading communication systems.
Despite the anticipated population growth, only 29 percent believe that new fire stations will be opened; 11 percent, in fact, expect to consolidate their districts to save money. “Significant growth is taking place in areas where fire protection needs to be improved,” observes ISO Senior Vice President Patrick McLaughlin. “That should be a wake-up call for public officials, property owners, and insurers.” n
Legislation would facilitate first responders’ access to military technologies
If a provision in the Defense Authorization Bill is approved, state and local law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency medical services could have available to them a number of the military’s advanced technologies, according to Pete Verga, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense. Verga was speaking at a conference held in Atlantic City in September; it was sponsored by the Communications-Electronic Command, the Program Executive Officer Intelligence for Electronic Warfare and Sensors, the Program Executive Officer for Command, Control and Communications Tactical, and the Program Executive Officer for Enterprise Information Systems.
The legislation would require the secretary of defense to appoint a senior official to ensure the transfer of technology to first responders, according to Verga.
Under the provision, commercially developed technologies such as night goggles and thermal imaging cameras would be made available to police and fire departments; however, the provision does not provide appropriations for first responders to purchase the items. The Homeland Security Department’s Office of Emergency Preparedness will offer grants to help fund the purchases.
Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA), founder of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, which now includes more than 300 members of Congress, also a speaker at the conference, noted that there should have been such a provision years ago. “Thermal imagers,” he said, “were developed by the military 15 years ago. We’ve got to work smarter, to do more collaboration, to transfer technology quicker.” Weldon also pointed to the need for an integrated domestic communications system in which the National Guard, firefighters, police, and other first responders can communicate at all types of disaster scenes. This need, he added, was first brought to his attention at the time of the first bombing of the World Trade Center 10 years ago. The friend who brought this fact to his attention, Weldon noted, died in the WTC terrorist attacks and never got to see his suggestion become reality. Government Computer News/GNC.com, Dawn S. Onley, “First responders could get access to military technologies,” September 17, 2003.
Line-of-Duty Deaths
October 7. Firefighter James Allen, 43, Philadelphia (PA) Fire Department: Collapsed and died from an apparent heart attack while ventilating the roof of a two-story building during a working fire.
October 21. Assistant Chief James Richards, 49, Oran (IA) Fire Department: Heart attack while fighting a grass fire.
October 27. Assistant Chief Don Billig, 49, St. Cloud (MN) Fire Department, Volunteer Division: Struck by a pickup truck while responding to a report of a smoking generator at a roadside construction site.
October 29. Engineer Steve Rucker, 38, Novato (CA) Fire Protection District: Of injuries sustained when his position was overrun by fire while operating at the Cedar fire in San Diego County.
October 30. Chief Roy Prouty, 39, Country Lakes Fire Company, Browns Mills, New Jersey: An apparent heart attack while setting up a landing zone for a medical evacuation helicopter at the scene of a motor vehicle accident.
Source: National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Database, United States Fire Administration.
News Glimpses
DHS approves Interim National Response Plan (INRP). The U. S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approved in October the INRP, designed to help unify domestic incident management across the nation. The INRP was conceived with the input of the Public Safety Preparedness Coalition, consisting of the International Association of Chiefs of Police; the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Sheriffs’ Association; and other state, tribal, and local homeland security partners. A more extensive National Response Plan (NRP) is expected to be released the middle of next year. The INRP gives DHS Secretary Tom Ridge the authority to coordinate federal resources and assets and is considered the first step toward integrating federal domestic prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery plans into a single all-hazards plan. Details of the plan are at www.dhs.gov/.
FEMA and FSC join in residential fire safety initiative. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Fire Safety Council (FSC) have embarked on a two-year pilot program that will include public fire safety education and research on fire safety technology for the home, including smoke detectors. FEMA and the FSC have launched the Web site www.firesafety.gov/, which will offer up-to-date information on program activities, prevention tips, and an interactive page for children. FSC partners include government agencies and nongovernment organizations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States Fire Administration, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission founded FSC and continue to serve as lead organizations for the partnership.
NFPA: Deaths from home heating fires lowest in 20 years. The number of people who died in home fires involving heating equipment fell to the lowest level in 20 years, according to a report by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Home heating fires killed 301 people in the United States in 1999, the most recent year for which statistics are available. This was the lowest number since the NFPA started collecting such data in 1980. The report also noted that an estimated 48,800 home-heating fires occurred in the United States in 1999 and that these fires caused 1,383 civilian injuries and $606.5 million in direct property damage. l NFPA and French agree on sprinkler standard. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13, Standard for Installation of Sprinkler Systems, will be translated into French. The Centre National de Prevention et de Protection (CNPP), an insurance-industry organization that promulgates safety codes and standards throughout France, will translate the standard and then sell the document to businesses and government agencies wishing to use it outside the United States. It is anticipated that CNPP shortly will translate NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection; NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems; and NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code.™
Montgomery County (MD) passes sprinkler legislation. Montgomery County recently passed legislation that mandates that an approved sprinkler system be installed in all new single-family homes built after January 1, 2004, and that the property tax notices provide information about the local tax credit given for installing nonmandated sprinkler systems in other residential buildings. Current state and county laws require fire sprinkler systems in new multifamily dwellings, townhouses, and commercial structures County residents who install sprinkler systems in their homes or retrofit them are eligible for up to a 50 percent one-time property tax credit. Additional information is at www.montgomerycountymd. gov/mc/services/dfrs/documents/councilbill300.pdf/m
Bill would help volunteer firefighters with home mortgage rates. Reps. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) introduced H.R. 2961, the Firefighters Affordable Housing Act, in the House of Representatives in July. If approved, the bill would authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to lower volunteer firefighters’ federally insured mortgage payments for their primary residence by two percent. In addition, the bill would enable career firefighters to make down payments as low as one percent of the purchase price of their homes and would not require them to pay mortgage insurance. National Volunteer Fire Council Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg said this legislation would strongly encourage the next generation to become volunteer firefighters. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
NFPA adds four new codes online for free on demand review. The following four National Fire Protection Association codes have recently been made available online for review without charge at www.nfpa.org: NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids™ Code; NFPA 30A, Code for Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities and Repair Garages; NFPA 909, Code for Protection of Cultural Resources; and NFPA 914, Code for Fire Protection of Historic Structures.
