Line-of-Duty Deaths
December 28. Firefighter Cecil Tackett Jr., 28, Flat Gap (KY) Volunteer Fire Department: accident involving his personal vehicle while working on a community fire department-sponsored function.
December 29. Firefighter Stephen L. Jones, 56, Barnstead (NH) Fire & Rescue, Inc.: heart attack.
December 30. Firefighter Phillip Townsend, 31, Denison (TX) Fire Department: injuries sustained when an awning on the front of an appliance store in a strip mall collapsed while he was attacking a working commercial structure fire with a hoseline.
January 5, 2007. Firefighter Sidney Hall, 52, Upland (IN) Volunteer Fire Department: injuries sustained from falling though the floor into a well-involved basement at a structure fire.
Source: USFA Firefighters Memorial Database
DHS: $1.7 billion for local homeland security programs
Early in January, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released its fiscal year 2007 grant guidance and application kits for five grant programs that will amount to about $1.7 billion in funding for state and local counterterrorism efforts.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the 2007 grant process will be more user-friendly than in the past, providing for increased interaction with applicants before awards are made. Even though communities facing the highest risk will receive the majority of the grant funds, Chertoff noted that “the funds will be distributed to reduce risk across the United States, not just in a handful of places.” Also, the six highest-risk Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) cities for the first time will be permitted to apply up to 25 percent of their award toward current state and local personnel dedicated exclusively to counterterrorism field operations.
The focus of the five programs in the Homeland Security Grant Program will be on a regional approach to bolstering homeland security. Among the priorities for grant funding are reducing risks of improvised explosive devices and radiological, chemical, and biological weapons; interoperable communications; information sharing; and citizen preparedness.
The five grant programs are as follows: State Homeland Security Program, $509.3 million; Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program, $363.8 million; USAI, $746.9 million; Metropolitan Medical Response System, $32 million; and Citizen Corps Program, $14.6 million.
Program peer review panels consisting of more than 100 law enforcement, emergency management, and homeland security experts from federal, state, and urban areas will assess the grant applications. Grant allocations are to be announced by summer 2007, according to Chertoff. www.dhs.gov/xews/releases/pr_1168010425128.shtm, Jan. 8, 2007●
U.S. House bill would implement 9/11 Commission recommendations
The 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007 (H.R. 1) would codify some recommendations from the 9/11 Commission Report, among them setting a formula for distributing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) antiterrorism grants and establishing a grant program for emergency response communications, according to the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC).
Among the measure’s provisions are the following:
- Each state would be guaranteed a certain percentage (0.25 percent of grant funds available in a given year or 0.45 percent for states with an international border to protect) of the overall level of funding from DHS antiterror grant programs such as the State Homeland Security Grant Program and the Urban Areas Security Initiative.
- The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and SAFER Grant program funds are not included in the new funding formula.
- The Improve Communications for Emergency Response Grant program for states and regions would be created to improve interoperable communications through statewide or regional communications planning, developing new interoperable emergency communications systems, purchasing new equipment, conducting exercises including modeling and simulation for command and control functions, and providing technical assistance and training.
The nearly 300-page bill includes also mandates for inspecting air- and ship-borne cargo, fighting nuclear proliferation overseas, and bolstering a civil liberties surveillance board.
Industry and the DHS oppose some of the provisions-for example, that airlines be able to physically inspect 100 percent of cargo aboard passenger planes within three years and that shippers scan 100 percent of U.S.-bound cargo for radiation at overseas ports within five years.
In the Senate, Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (CT), chair of the body’s Homeland Security panel, said his goal was to draft and pass by the end of January, after press time, a Senate bill that would include some of the “unadopted, unimplemented, or inadequately implemented parts” of the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission report. The NVFC had not taken a position on the bill at press time. NVFC E-update, Jan. 22, 2007, www.washingtonpost.com, AR2007010901064_pf.html●
FCC proposes partial use of 700 MHz band for national public safety network
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing that 12 MHz of spectrum from the 700 MHz band be used to develop a national broadband communications network for primary use by public safety. The 12 MHz would come from the 24 MHz that became available for public safety use in 2006. Although commercial entities would also have access to the network, they would be temporarily blocked when user traffic exceeds the system’s capacity in a large-scale emergency. Comments on the proposal were due by February 26, after press time.
According to National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg, first responder organizations would not have to pay up front to build the network because the initial funding would come from a government guaranteed loan, which would be paid as private users subscribe to the network. After the network is built, first responders would have available to them various communications options at a relatively low cost, which Stittleburg says is especially important for volunteer organizations, which usually do not have the funds to buy and install expensive communications equipment. The NVFC was developing a comment on the proposal at press time. NVFC E-update, Jan. 22, 3007●
DHS issues interoperable communications report
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released early in January its assessment of interoperable communications capabilities in 75 urban and metropolitan areas. Five panels of state and local public safety and communications technology experts and representatives from DHS’s Wireless Management Office and SAFECOM, a communications program within the Office for Interoperability and Compatibility, evaluated the criteria that included “policies, technology, and training that enable law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services from multiple jurisdictions in a common community to effectively communicate within one hour of an incident.”
DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff says the DHS has made basic interoperability at the command level a priority in every major urban area and that the DHS will continue to push for closing “communication gaps among first responders” by the end of 2008.
Emergency agencies in more than 60 of the communities evaluated had the ability to talk to each other during a crisis, the report noted, but only 21 percent overall demonstrated “the seamless use” of equipment needed to also be able to communicate with state and federal officials.
Only six of the 75 areas received the highest grades: Washington, DC; San Diego, CA; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN; Columbus, OH; Sioux Falls, SD; and Laramie County, WY.
Receiving the lowest scores were Chicago, IL: Cleveland, OH; Baton Rouge, LA; Mandan, ND; and American Samoa. Chertoff acknowledged that Chicago has made great improvements since 9/11. For example, it has an excellent interoperable communications system for the city, but, he added, the city and the county must be able to work effectively as a unified entity to establish interoperability across the entire region (128 municipalities surrounding it). The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications took exception to the report’s methods and findings. It called the study’s parameters “inconsistent and limited.”
In New York, the report said, first responders have well-established systems to communicate among departments but “not the best possible.” Thirteen areas scored ahead of New York. A spokesperson for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the city has improved emergency communications significantly in the “most complicated operating environment in the country.” He noted that there are interoperable communications at the command and operational levels and that the city is continuously improving its systems.
The report, available at the DHS Web site at www.dhs.gov, noted the following:
- All 75 urban and metropolitan areas included in the assessment have policies for interoperable communications in place.
- To effectively link disparate systems and facilitate communications among multijurisdictional responders (including state and federal), regular testing and exercises are needed.
- Although cooperation among first responders in the field is strong, formalized governance (leadership and strategic planning) across regions is not as advanced. www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1167843848098.shtm; www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/200055,CST-EDT-edits07a.articleprint; http://cnn.usnews, Jan. 3, 2007; www.amnycom, Jan. 3, 2007●
NYC gets new radios; FDNY response times decrease
New York City’s firefighters, police officers, and Office of Emergency Management (OEM) announced at a press conference in January that the city has acquired new handheld radios. Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Chief of Department Salvatore Cassano said the radios will enable fire and police to operate on the same channels. Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta told also of the availability of a new dedicated frequency for FDNY, police, and OEM (Vertex radio). He said the radio provides “complete interoperability with the other city agencies at the time of a crisis.”
In presenting its year-end statistics, FDNY revealed the following:
- The average response time for the 27,817 structure fires in 2006 was 4 minutes 29 seconds, a drop from the 4 minutes 36 seconds to respond to the 28,455 structure fires that occurred in 2005. Cassano attributed the drop to more experienced drivers in 2006. He explained that many of the new drivers had replaced those lost on 9/11.
- There were 84 civilian fire fatalities in 2006, the third lowest number since records were first kept in 1916.
- The number of medical emergencies needing firefighter response increased from 202,526 to 209,397; response time was 21 seconds shorter than the 4 minutes 46 seconds of 2005. www.nydailynews.com, story 485588p-408790, Jan. 4, 2007●
IAFC launches state and provincial legislation forums
Members of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) can participate in state and provincial legislative discussion forums on the IAFC Web site. To access the State/Provincial Legislative Discussion Forums, members should go to www.iafc.org/statelegislativeforum; click on their state or province on the interactive map, or choose one of the cross-state issues posted. A Web page for the state or province will provide specific information about political leaders, upcoming legislation, and other relevant information. Clicking on “Go to the Legislative Discussion Forum” near the bottom of the screen will provide access to the state discussion board for researching topics, asking questions about upcoming issues, and learning more about fire and EMS service-related legislation in the state/province.●
Oily towels implicated in spa fire
Fire officials in Mount Kisco, New York, say a basket of towels with massage oil that was in the laundry room of a spa-salon may have caused a Saturday night fire that damaged the spa and also caused water damage to two other stores. County investigators and fire department officials cited a chemical reaction within the towels. One-hundred fifty firefighters from Mount Kisco and nearby communities responded to the fire. www.njjounalnews.com, Jan 23, 2007●
Bill would increase municipal contribution for NJ volunteer firefighters
Legislation introduced in January (A3844) by New Jersey Assemblyman Peter J. Biondi (District 16) would amend N.J.S.40A:14-34 to increase the maximum amount a municipality may contribute to a volunteer fire company or fire district from $90,000 per year to $120,000 per year. The amendment rectifies a failure to account for inflation since the passage of the statute and would provide for biennial adjustments to the account for future inflation.
At press time, the bill was awaiting action by the New Jersey Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee, chaired by Assemblyman Jerry Green (District 22). Supporters of this bill are encouraged to contact Assemblyman Green and their local Assembly representatives and ask for their support of the measure.●
Illinois: Failure to install CO detector punishable by jail term and fines
As of January 1, landlords and home-owners in Illinois who refuse to install a carbon monoxide detector after receiving a warning from the Chicago Fire Department could be given six months in jail and be required to pay $1,500 in fines. Residences without attached garages and that are not heated by natural gas or other fossil fuels are exempt from the state law.
The law mandates that homes, apartments, and condos be equipped with a carbon monoxide alarm within 15 feet of every bedroom. Homeowners and landlords are to install the unit. Tenants must maintain them. http://nwitimes.com, Jan. 19, 2007●
California mandates manufacture and sale of reduced fire risk cigarettes
Effective January 1, only fire-safe cigarettes can be manufactured and sold in California, in accordance with a child protection package contained in AB178, the California Cigarette Safety and Firefighter Protection Act, which became law in October 2005. California is one of six states that have adopted fire-safe cigarette laws. The Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes, coordinated by the National Fire Protection Association, is working toward having statewide fire-safe cigarette laws passed throughout the country. The Coalition includes fire service members, medical and public health practitioners, and representatives of consumer and safety groups and the hospitality and insurance industries.●
Portable generators recalled; electric shock hazards
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and DeWalt, Towson, Maryland, have recalled the company’s DG2900 portable gasoline-powered generators. The ground fault circuit interrupter installed on the generator could fail to operate properly and pose a risk of electric shock. Affected are 13,000 units with date codes 200150 through 200635. Units with an “R” on the name plate are not involved in the recall. The units were sold nationwide in home center and hardware stores from December 2001 through November 2006. Contact DeWalt at (888) 742-9108 or visit www.DeWalt.com.●
FDA makes “safety” changes in drug labeling
Among the changes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved for label changes on pharmaceutical products are the following.
Metoprolol tartrate tablets and injection (Lopressor, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Corp.) Contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to this or other beta-blockers and those with sick-sinus syndrome, severe peripheral arterial disease, or pheochromocytoma. Linked to a paradoxical increase in blood pressure; some inhalation anesthetics may enhance the cardiodepressant effects of metoprolol and other beta-blockers. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/549932, Dec. 27, 2006
Lamotrigine tablets and chewable dispersible tablets (Lamictal and Lamictal CD, GlaxoSmithKline) Indication: adjunctive therapy for partial seizures, generalized seizures of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in adults and pediatric patients ages 2 years and older. Risks for hypersensitivity reactions and multiorgan failure. Serious rashes requiring hospitalization reported. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/549932, Dec. 27, 2006
Levetiracetam tablets and oral solution (Keppra, UCB, Inc.) Indication: adjunctive therapy for treating partial onset seizures in epileptic patients ages 4 years and older and as adjunctive therapy for myoclonic seizures in patients ages 12 years and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Risks may include hematologic abnormalities, somnolence, and behavior abnormalities.www.medscape.com/viewarticle/549821, Jan. 3, 2007
Ropivacaine HCI injection (Naropin, Abraxis BioScience, Inc.) Indication: epidural block for surgery, including cesarean delivery, major nerve block, and local infiltration, acute pain management (epidural continuous infusion or intermittent bolus). Risk for cardiac arrest associated with its use for anesthesia or peripheral nerve blockade. Majority of reported incidents have occurred after unintentional accidental intravascular administration in elderly patients and those with concomitant heart disease. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/549821, Jan. 3, 2007
Ribavirin capsules and oral solution (Rebetol, Schering Corp.) Indicated for use in combination with recombinant interferon alfa-2b injection for treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Risk for dental and periodontal disorders. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/549821, Jan. 3, 2007
