As of April 1, the Assistance to Fire Fighters Grants (AFG) Program Web site address was changed to www.fema.gov/firegrants. All applications for Federal Emergency Management Agency’s fire grant programs, including AFG, Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants, and Fire Prevention and Safety Grants, as well as information on the Assistance to Firefighters Station Construction Grants are now at this new Web site.
Line-of-Duty Deaths
April 7. Firefighter David Hunsinger Jr., 24, Tar Heel (NC) Rural Volunteer Fire Department: vehicle collision while responding to a brush fire.
Source: USFA Firefighters Memorial Database
NFPA issues new safety alert: antifreeze in sprinklers
The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Standard Council has issued four Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) relative to the use of antifreeze in fire sprinkler systems. The TIAs provide new requirements for the use of antifreeze in new and existing sprinkler systems. The NFPA has also issued a new safety alert pertaining to the use of antifreeze in sprinkler systems. These actions follow extensive research and standards development activities to address concerns raised by the combustibility of antifreeze solutions in sprinkler systems.
These new TIAs replace the previous TIAs and the Safety Alert the NFPA issued in August 2010. The entire NFPA Safety Alert and more information can be found at www.nfpa.org/antifreeze.
A general summary of the main new antifreeze requirements and additional NFPA recommendations are at emberly.fireengineering.com/index/webxtra.html.
Ocean Technology recalls diving masks
The U.S. Fire Administration has advised that Ocean Technology Systems has recalled its Guardian Full-Face diving masks because they present a drowning hazard. The purge assembly on the mask can disengage from the regulator and cause the diver to lose air. Serial numbers 9051284 through 10070954 are affected. Mask owners should stop using the masks and contact the manufacturer for instructions on how to conduct a test of the regulator and return the masks for free repair. Call toll-free at (877) 270-1984 anytime, visit the firm’s Web site at www.otscomm.com, or e-mail the firm at recall@otscomm.com.
TRANSCAER® offers ammonia safety training
Emergency responders and others affected by the transportation of anhydrous ammonia will have an opportunity to receive free hands-on training. A program will be offered nationwide by TRANSCAER® (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Responses), a voluntary outreach effort that helps communities prepare for and respond to hazardous material transportation incidents. The program is sponsored by the American Chemistry Council, the Association of American Railroads, CHEMTREC®, The Chlorine Institute, Inc., the Fertilizer Institute, the National Tank Truck Carriers, Inc., the Renewable Fuels Association, and the National Association of Chemical Distributors.
The training tour will focus on safety topics that include the following: the physical and chemical properties of anhydrous ammonia and its basic health effects, initial first aid in the case of exposures, transporting ammonia safely, hands-on training involving the proper transport of equipment, and the emergency response.
Another segment of the training program covers the types of ammonia releases that could occur, defensive and offensive approaches to ammonia release incidences, flammability concerns, where and when to use water in dealing with an ammonia release, and control/containment measures.
The tour will cover regions of the country where anhydrous ammonia is most prevalently used in agriculture applications. A list of the cities and states included in the tour is at www.TRANSCAER.com/events. Locations will be added throughout the year. Training documents and videos used in the tour will be online this spring at www.transcaer.com/aa-tour.
DHS’s ICBRNE Web cast available on demand
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate’s Integrated Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosive (ICBRNE) Detection Demonstration program was established to help local, regional, and federal first responder and emergency management communities integrate and share information from fixed and portable chemical, biological, nuclear, and explosive sensors during routine and emergency events. The ICBRNE program was successfully implemented in the Los Angeles (CA) region with the result that sensor information is shared across multiple agencies using each agency’s existing information systems.
Emergency managers and responders and other interested parties can now view, at www.ConferenceOn.TV, a Web cast hosted by DHS/S&T, along with the Los Angeles County sheriff, fire, and health departments; the Los Angeles City fire, police, and emergency management communities; and the California State National Guard. There is open access, and no registration or sign-in is required. For additional information, e-mail info@itsallon.tv.
NIOSH releases Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation reports
The following are the most recent Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation reports issued by the National Institute for Occupational and Safety Health Administration (NIOSH):
- F2010-21, “Volunteer fire fighter suffers a fatal cardiac event after fire suppression training – Pennsylvania,” May 01, 2010; http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face201021.html.
- F2010-13,“Career fire fighter dies while conducting a search in a residential house fire – Kansas,” May 22, 2010; http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face201013.html.
- F2010-09, “Volunteer fire fighter drowns after being thrown from his swift water rescue boat – West Virginia,” Mar 13, 2010; http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face201009.html.
- F2010-06, “Volunteer fire police captain dies after being struck by a motor vehicle at a controlled roadway – Pennsylvania,” Feb 12, 2010; http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face201006.html.
- F2010-19, “Volunteer chief and fire fighter die after being ejected during a rollover crash – Virginia,” Jul 26, 2010; http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face201019.html.
Life Safety Code® required in veteran nursing homes
The 2009 edition of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101, Life Safety Code®, became mandatory in all U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs homes that receive a per diem for providing nursing care to eligible veterans effective April 1. Previously, these state home facilities followed the 2006 edition of NFPA 101. The next edition of the code will be available in 2012.
IAFC wildland fire program available to fire departments
The Ready, Set, Go!Program, introduced at Wildland Urban Interface 2011, offers tools and resources local responders can use to teach individuals who live in high-risk areas how to protect themselves and their properties against wildland fire threats. It was developed by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) with support from the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fire Administration, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Firewise, and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. The program complements Firewise and other existing wildland fire public education efforts.
The program’s online portal, www.wildlandfireRSG.org, offers local program participants educational resources, tools to manage the program, news, and connections with other program participants and partners.
Nine fire departments tested the program last year, among them the Pigeon Forge (TN) Fire Department. Pigeon Forge Chief Tony Watson describes some of the department’s activities: “Through public-service announcements, informational packets, and community outreach, we prepared the public for the threat of wildland fire. Through wildland training with state and federal resources, we prepared our firefighters to be the ambassadors of this program. Community stakeholders have partnered with fire department resources, and their involvement continues to shape the structure of our area.”
IAFC President Chief Jack Parow is encouraging fire departments to lead the implementation of the program in their communities. “The fire service is uniquely positioned to understand the fire-risk environment,” he explains, “and is typically a trusted voice that resonates with community members.”
IAFC’s Parow testifies on public safety communications hearing
At the end of March, Chief Jack Parow, International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) president and chairman of the board, testified before the House Committee on Homeland Security at a hearing on the Broadband for First Responders Act of 2011 (H.R. 607).
Parow said there is an urgent need to establish a nationwide public safety wireless interoperable broadband network. He cited the need for a “network with sufficient capacity under public safety control, built mission-critical at the outset, with federal funding to assist.” Congress, he said, “must pass a bill directing the FCC [Federal Communications Commission] to allocate the D Block of spectrum to public safety.”
The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which has jurisdiction. A similar bill, which had a hearing last month, was introduced in the Senate.
CDC and ASTHO toolkit aims at preventing infection
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released Eliminating Healthcare-Associated Infections: State Policy Options. Its objective is to help eliminate healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) by providing guidance and examples to senior policy makers in the use of legal and policy interventions in a comprehensive HAI prevention program. You can view the toolkit at www.cdc.gov/HAI/prevent/astho-policy-toolkit.html?source=govdelivery.
CFSI announces Fire Service-Based EMS Awards
The Congressional Fire Services Institute and the MedicAlert Foundation presented the 1st Annual Excellence in Fire Service-Based EMS Awards at the 23rd Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner in Washington, DC, in April. The recipients were cited for “championing unique practices to enhance the quality of emergency medical care to their local communities.” The winners were the following: Odessa (DE) Fire Company, Volunteer category; Friends-wood (TX) Volunteer Fire Department, Combination category; and Northwest Fire/Rescue District, Tucson, Arizona, Career category.
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