News In Brief

Local emergency responders being drastically underfunded, report says

The “Emergency Responders: Drastically Underfunded, Dangerously Unprepared” report released by the Council on Foreign Relations at the end of June says U.S. local emergency responders are being “drastically underfunded” and are dangerously unprepared to handle a catastrophic attack on American soil, especially one involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-impact conventional weapons.

The Council, a private world affairs advocacy organization based in New York, says the federal government should spend an additional $98 billion over the next five years beyond the $27 billion it plans to spend. An additional $36.8 billion should be appropriated for the fire service to strengthen hazardous materials preparation and response, including equipment and training, the report suggests.

National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg, who represented the NVFC in the Council’s Emergency Responders Action Group, said most communities in the United States are ill prepared to deal with terrorist incidents. The council’s task force was led by former Sen. Warren Rudman (R-NH). Jamie Metzl, a former National Security Council and Senate Foreign Relations Committee official, directed the project.

The Council made additional recommendations, including that Congress require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and state and local agencies and officials and emergency responder professional associations to work together to establish clearly defined standards and guidelines for emergency preparedness. It also recommended that Congress require that the DHS and Department of Health and Human Services submit a coordinated plan for meeting identified national preparedness standards by the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2007.

Also, the report made several recommendations pertaining to funding: (1) Congress should make emergency responder grants in FY 2004 and thereafter on a multiyear basis to facilitate long-term planning and training. (2) The states should develop a prioritized list of requirements to ensure that federal funding is allocated to achieve the best possible return on investments. (3) Congress should ensure that all future appropriations bills for emergency responders include strict distribution timelines.

View the 62-page report at www.cfr.org/ publication.php?id=6086.

House approves Homeland Security 2004 appropriations bill

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a $29.4 billion fiscal year (FY) 2004 Homeland Security appropriations bill on June 24. It provides $750 million for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, the same as for FY 2003.

Fire service organizations, although grateful for the bill’s passage, have noted that some of the appropriations are not adequate. National Volunteer Fire Council’s Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg, for example, points to the difference between the $750 million appropriated for the AFG program and the $900 million that previously had been fully authorized. Stittleburg says the NFVC will work with the Senate to see the $750 million figure increased.

International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Harold Schaitberger has expressed concern that the appropriations for the fire service are not enough and that much of the money will be used at state and regional levels to bolster bureaucracies at the expense of line firefighters and local police.

Other provisions of the FY 2004 House Homeland Security Appropriations bill include the following:

$1.9 billion—Office for Domestic Preparedness’ basic formula grant program;
$500 million—state and local law enforcement terrorism prevention grants;
$500 million—high-threat, high-density urban areas;
$200 million—infrastructure grants;
$168 million—Emergency Management Performance Grants;
$35 million—a new competitive grant program for Centers for Emergency Preparedness;
$125 million—National Domestic Preparedness Consortium; and
$134 million—technical assistance, national exercises, standards, and testing.

Rhode Island adopts new fire safety code for places of assembly

The state of Rhode Island, in the aftermath of the fire that killed 100 patrons at The Station nightclub, has adopted a code that bans the use of pyrotechnics in facilities with a capacity of under 1,000 people. The code in effect at the time of the fire at The Station allowed the use of pyrotechnics in smaller facilities if a permit were obtained; however, The Station did not have a permit for their use at the time the fire occurred.

The new code also will require nightclubs that can accommodate more than 150 patrons to install sprinklers by July 1, 2006. Clubs with a capacity of more than 300 must install sprinklers by July 1, 2005. By 2006, all clubs will have to install exit signs near the floor to make the exitway visible to people crawling through smoke.

The new law eliminates a “grandfather clause” that exempted buildings constructed before the state fire code was written in 1968 from complying with any revisions.

The state code had been updated to require that new buildings with 300-person capacities install sprinklers. The building in which the Station was located did not have sprinklers; it was old enough to be exempt.

Under the new legislation, local fire marshals have the authority to visit nightclubs during operating hours and to immediately close down those in violation of the code. (New York Times, July 8)

CPSC, Central Sprinkler Company update voluntary recall to replace O-ring fire sprinklers

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Central Sprinkler Company, an affiliate of Tyco Fire Products LP, of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, have an-nounced that consumers can now hire contractors to replace recalled sprinklers with O-ring seals instead of using Central Sprinkler Company contractors. This is a modification to the voluntary replacement program an-nounced on July 19, 2001. In all, about 167,000 sprinkler heads with O-ring seals (sold by Gem Sprinkler Company and Star Sprinkler, Inc.) will be replaced as part of the program. Consumers choosing their own contractors are to notify Central in advance and fill out a specified form; they will be reimbursed for all or some of the labor charges.

Over time, it was found that O-ring sprinkler heads can corrode or the rubber seals can be affected by minerals, salts, and other contaminants in the water, which may cause the heads to fail to activate in a fire. The replacement sprinkler units do not use O-ring seals.

For information on how to identify sprinklers subject to this program, call (800) 871-3492, or go to www.SprinklerReplacement.com.

USFA and NVFC join efforts to prevent volunteer firefighter deaths

The U.S. Fire Administration and the National Volunteer Fire Council have initiated the Volunteer Fire Service Fitness and Wellness Project with the objective of reducing volunteer firefighter deaths from heart attack and stress.

The project will include researching and developing effective examples of health and wellness programs designed to meet the firefighters’ needs and will address fitness and exercise, diet, not smoking, and other lifestyle characteristics that can positively affect health and well-being. The initiative will also explore ways in which volunteer fire departments can enhance compliance with relevant firefighter health and safety standards such as NFPA 1583, Health Related Fitness Programs for Fire Fighters.

The project complements the USFA partnerships with the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Association of Fire Fighters. Information is available at www.usfa. fema.gov/dhtml/inside-usfa/fitness.cfm/.

NVFC receives FEMA grant for Heart Attack Prevention program

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has received a 2002 Fire Prevention and Safety grant for its Firefighter Heart Attack Prevention Program. In making the announcement, United States Fire Administrator R. David Paulison noted: “The leading cause of death for this nation’s firefighters is heart attacks …. Through programs like this, we will reduce the unacceptable loss of these American heroes.”

The United States Fire Administration and the NVFC will launch a major national campaign to increase awareness of this serious health problem within the fire service. In addition, a Medical Advisory Panel will provide guidance in the areas of proper nutrition, physical fitness, and cardiology. The panel and the NVFC will develop a Heart Attack Indicator Kit that will include information related to preventing heart attacks and in-depth resources and recommendations. The kit will be distributed at national fire service trade shows and made available through an exclusive Web site.

A list of all current 2002 Fire Prevention and Safety grant award recipients is at www. usfa.fema.gov. Future grant recipients will be listed as awards are made.

Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program 2001 report

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has passed on to the U.S. Fire Administration the following recommendations based on an on-line survey it completed among fire departments that received grants under the 2001 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

Provide additional training in the grant application process to ensure all eligible and interested parties are afforded the opportunity to submit a complete and comprehensive application.
Consider seeking out those departments with survey responses that indicate a need for further training (if appropriate training could be offered by teleconference or other venue).
Continue to survey program participants. Initial findings from grant recipients are extremely positive. Ongoing collection and analysis are likely to further support program goals and provide continued insight into fire department needs and program modification requirements.
Review the matching funds requirements. Differing needs and budgets among rural vs. urban and large vs. small fire departments may be placing an undue burden on some departments and could inhibit participation.
Consider directing funds toward specific programs or equipment that will assist in bringing more departments into compliance.
Consider following up with respondents that indicated the grant funds did not affect their department.

Overall, survey and analysis reflect that the USFA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program was highly effective in improving the readiness and capabilities of firefighters across the nation. Many positive comments on the program’s value and success were received.

A complete report of the findings and supporting documentation is at www.usfa.fema. gov, as is the most current information regarding the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program for years 2001, 2002, and 2003.

TSA, US DOT rules secure transport of hazardous goods

An interim final rule of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requires background checks on commercial drivers certified to transport hazardous items. Under the rule, the roughly 3.5 million commercial drivers with hazardous-materials endorsements will be required to undergo routine background records checks that include a review of criminal, immigration, and FBI records. The checks also will verify that the driver is a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident as required by the USA PATRIOT Act.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) companion rule amends the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to prohibit states from issuing, renewing, transferring, or upgrading a commercial driver’s license (CDL) with a haz-mat endorsement, unless the TSA has first checked the individual’s background and determined that the applicant does not pose a security risk. The FMCSA is also requiring states to establish a haz-mat endorsement renewal period of at least five years to ensure that each holder of a hazardous-materials endorsement routinely and uniformly receives a security screening. The rule does not apply to applicants for CDLs without a haz-mat endorsement.

The Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) companion rule clarifies the regulatory authority for haz mat, including explosives in transportation, to make clear that DOT regulations address security risks associated with such transportation. Shippers and transporters of hazardous materials must comply with the security regulations of TSA, FMCSA, and the U.S. Coast Guard, which are being incorporated into DOT’s Hazardous Materials Regulations. The RSPA recently issued a final rule that requires shippers and transporters of hazardous materials to implement plans and training to enhance security.

The TSA’s interim final rule was effective Monday, May 5, on publication in the Federal Register. Applicants will be subject to a name-based FBI criminal history records check and a check of federal databases. Beginning in 180 days or less, current drivers applying to renew or transfer their haz-mat endorsement and all new applicants must provide fingerprints. Under both the FMCSA and TSA rules, after 180 days, no state may issue, renew, or transfer a hazardous-materials license unless the TSA has notified the state that the individual holding the endorsement does not pose a security threat.

Individuals and operators with questions about the new rule should contact TSA at patriotact@dhs.gov.

“When fire strikes: Get out! Stay out!” is Fire Prevention Week theme

Th theme of Fire Prevention Week (FPW), October 5-11, is “When fire strikes: Get out! Stay out!”

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has announced that Pella Corporation, manufacturer of windows and doors, and the nonprofit Home Safety Council will underwrite the NFPA’s annual classroom campaign for Weekly Reader/Lifetime Learning Systems.

Fire departments may download free FPW materials and activities at www. firepreventionweek.org. Classroom activities, take-home materials, articles, fact sheets, public service announcements, guides on how to conduct local media events, and a step-by-step media primer are available.

Line-of-Duty Deaths

May 22. Fire Explorer Anndee Huber, 16, Newcastle (WY) Volunteer Fire Department: Ejected from the cab of the tanker truck in which she was riding en route to a grass fire when the driver lost control and the vehicle rolled over and crushed her.

May 24. Firefighter Jason Lee Ellis, 29, Loretto (TN) Fire Department: Head injuries from a fall from a pickup truck while en route from the training ground to the front of the campus after participating in a weekend training exercise at the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy.

May 26. Lieutenant David L. Carbonneau Sr., 49, Maytown (PA) East Donegal Township Fire Department: An apparent heart attack while riding a fire department vehicle in the annual Memorial Day parade.

June 14. Fire Police Officer Donald Schreckengast, 55, Logan Fire Company, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania: Collapsed while directing traffic at the annual Bellefonte Cruise Parade and later died at the hospital.

June 15. Lieutenant Trent A. Kirk, 39, City of Memphis (TN) Fire Department: Injuries sustained when he became trapped inside a burning Family Dollar store.

June 15. Private Charles Zachary, 39, City of Memphis (TN) Fire Department: Injuries sustained when he became trapped inside a burning Family Dollar store.

June 16. Firefighter/EMT Randy G. Utley, 30, Grayson (KY) Fire Department: Injuries sustained while en route to an emergency call in his private vehicle.

June 19. Firefighter/Fuels Management Supervisor Rick Lupe, 43, Fort Apache Agency, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, White River, Arizona: Serious burns suffered on May 14, when he was overcome by fire in a prescribed burn project.

June 26 Assistant Chief/EMT/SAR Coordinator Ralph Dawdy, 47, Animas (NM) Volunteer Fire and Rescue: Injuries sustained when ejected during the rollover of the water tanker he was operating while en route to a fire in Gila National Forest.

Source: National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Database, United States Fire Administration.

ERT program uses technology to improve first responder health and safety

Do you believe that a new device, piece of equipment, or special application can improve your safety when responding to fires, medical emergencies, haz-mat incidents, and special operations? If so, the Emergency Response Technology (ERT) program at the Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC) would like to hear from you. Located on the campus of Wheeling Jesuit University, the NTTC is a full-service technology management center established by Congress in 1989. It provides access to federal technology information; training in assessing, commercializing, and marketing technology; and assistance in finding strategic partners and developing electronic business services.

Members of the ERT Group, the program’s advisory body, are experienced advisors who represent major emergency responder associations. Through the use of focus groups and technology-specific meetings, the group determines the industry’s most urgent needs and tries to match technological solutions with off-the-shelf technologies to meet those needs. The solutions are to be affordable and suitable for applications identified as priority needs by senior representatives of the emergency services community.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have worked together to identify the needs in more than 40 areas of technology, including fire, public safety, haz-mat, and terrorism response. Among the priority areas that have been cited for technological improvement are three-dimensional personnel tracking, chemical and biological identification, communications interoperability systems, and physiological monitoring.

The Inter-Agency Board on Standardization and Interoperability and the Oklahoma City Memorial Institute Project Responder Program provide the DHS with the expertise to support the development of the new technologies.

When existing technologies and products cannot solve the identified problems, the ERT program works with federal laboratories, universities, and private industry to find emergency solutions that had been developed through research and development projects. The ERT has developed collaborative relationships with the Natick Army Research Center, the Naval Research Laboratory, and the Federal Interagency Technical Support Working Group on Combating Terrorism. FEMA and NASA fund the projects.

The ERT has reviewed and evaluated funding proposals from developers for the commercialization of a number of technologies in the areas of biological detectors, three-dimensional personnel tracking, location tracking, and physiological monitoring.

Top Off II National Exercise

In May, the ERT was part of the Top Off II (for Top Officials) nationwide crisis management exercise. It united FEMA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Labor, and other agencies in an effort to assess the nation’s capability through federal, state, and local responses in a challenging series of simulated, no-notice, integrated, geographically dispersed terrorism threats and acts.

In Chicago on May 15, a statewide response plan was tested and a number of new procedures were challenged. Some cutting-edge technology was realistically applied, according to Jay Reardon, fire chief, Northbrook (IL) Fire Department and Top Off II organizer for the Chicago exercise.

ERT program officials provided resources and staff and assisted in evaluating and field-testing the technologies and performances of participating emergency responders. Among the highlights of the exercise was the successful testing and evaluation of the TerraSIRch SIRT 3000 Barrier Penetrating Radar, a casualty location and assessment system. A building exploded in the Chicago Top Off II scenario, resulting in a large pile of masonry and steel. Actors within the pile represented entrapped victims; manikins served as deceased victims. The TerraSIRch SIRT system helped rescuers locate live victims in the rubble.

Other products evaluated and tested in the Top Off II scenario were the Haz Mat Smart Strip (see photos) and the Incident Commanders Radio Interface portable system, which offers radio interoperability for emergency responders and their commanders.

The Haz Mat Strip, a baseball-card sized strip made of vinyl and paper, changes colors when exposed to various agents. It was inspired by decades-old military technology, is in production at a West Virginia print shop, and sells for $19. It can detect chlorine, pH, fluoride, nerve agents, oxidizers, arsenic, sulfides, and cyanide in liquid or aerosol form. The strip is in use by fire departments, law enforcement officers, and branches of the military, Olympic committees, consumers, and towns near chemical plants. The Miami Dade (FL) Haz Mat Team used the strip to identify the contents of a leaking dithiophosphate container during a response at Port of Miami.

Safety Solutions Inc, of Boynton Beach, Florida, developed the strip. Inventor Mike Reimer, a firefighter and haz mat technician in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, conceived the idea after years of watching his haz-mat colleagues tape pieces of pH paper and a military litmus paper, called MB, to their uniforms. ERT assisted Safety Solutions from the concept stage of the strip through its commercialization. ERT built the prototype. (See www. smart-strip.com for additional information.)

At press time, the NTTC signed an agreement with the National Institute for Chemical Studies (NICS) in Charleston, West Virginia, to establish a commercialization framework for developing Shelter in Place kits and related materials. The kits would contain information and quality materials needed to protect people at home, school, and work. The NICS will serve as technical advisor to the NTTC for product development.

According to the NTTC, research has shown that a well-sealed structure can protect from exposure to a toxic vapor cloud until the concentration within the vapor cloud outside the structure has decreased to a safe level. The Shelter in Place concept would provide a central location for accurate information and training, kits to be used when sheltering, customized guidance to meet individual needs, and an outreach tool for emergency responders.

Other Technologies

Other new technologies that are under varying stages of investigation/market development include the following:

A personnel locator/monitor with 3D graphics and the ability to monitor the vital signs of first responders in real time. It is lightweight, and the wireless transmitter will be integrated into the personal protective equipment (PPE) ensemble.
A portable; shock-, water-, and dust-resistant; intrinsically safe casualty locator.
Enhanced multimission structural firefighting PPE that can be used to protect against multiple hazards.
One-piece fire protective clothing with improved closures enhancement and locking or integrated gloves/boots and a breathable head.
A radio-activated, reasonably priced personal alert safety system (PASS) that allows for two-way emergency alerting: manual activation by the incident commander and a visible and audible warning with an audible sound distinct from the normal sound of the PASS device.
An extended mission or deduced mass mission air supply respirator that is rechargeable with easily obtained sources such as standard air supply equipment or an existing LOX system.
A reasonably priced firefighter warning device that can be manually activated by the incident commander and passively activated by remote sensors, issues visible and audible warnings, and stands alone (does not depend on a radio or cell phone).
A first responder water-resistant, breathable NIOSH-compliant work uniform that is capable of being interfaced with current respiratory protection devices so as to limit exposure to the user.
An individual personal alarm monitor that issues an audible and a visual alarm to the wearer and the incident commander by wireless link and provides real-time monitoring for the presence of an immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) chemical or biological environment.
FDA-formatted hazard recognition and emergency response decision support documents for first responders that are compatible with palm, power PC, and Macintosh systems; are available on the Web site for downloading; and may have a bar code interface.
A Patient Care Data System that is durable, waterproof, and wristband-mounted; has adjustable data levels for confidentiality and on/off capability; and can be updated.

The ERT has recently submitted a report to Congress highlighting the significant successes and accomplishments of the national initiative that identifies and develops technologies needed by America’s emergency responders. Lucey says the program has made “great strides within the past six months,” focusing heavily on providing technological support to the Department of Homeland Security.

Additional information on the program is available at www.ertprogram.com, or from Mike Lucey, program director, at Mlucey@NTTC.edu.

GATED communities present access problems: Gated communities have been appearing in many communities across the nation. As John Jenkins, Washington County, Arkansas, fire marshal has observed, accessing these areas should be preplanned. For his part, Jenkins is anticipating working with developers to institute a standard so responders would know where a manual override or gate-disable switch would be and then placing a procedure in place before a problem arises. In one incident involving the Fayetteville Fire Department, traffic-blocking gates on the University of Arkansas campus necessitated that the fire trucks detour almost a mile to reach the incident scene. Fortunately, the call was a false alarm. Had the gates been opened, the distance would have been less than 200 yards. University officials later issued remote-control openers to the fire department so they will be able to open the gates when necessary. Jenkins says some sort of plan needs to be in place. “Emergency Responders Consider Access Issues,” The Morning News/NWAonline.net June 9, 2003.
NHTSA tightens performance requirements for new tires: The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has strengthened requirements for high-speed and endurance tests for tires used on vehicles up to 10,000 pounds. A low-pressure performance test was also added. These tire performance requirements apply also to light trucks (load range C, D, and E used on light trucks (sport utility vehicles, pickups, vans). Manufacturers have been given four years to comply. All covered tires and vehicles must meet the new standards by November 1, 2006. Upgraded tire standards were required under the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation Act of 2000.
NYC Mayor and union reach engine staffing agreement: New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Uniformed Firefighters Association President Stephen Cassidy agreed in June on modified staffing arrangements on the city’s fire engines. There will now be 40 five-firefighter engine companies instead of 63. Bloomberg said all agencies, regardless of their function, had to cut their budgets to help resolve the city’s fiscal crisis. Cassidy noted the agreement was reached with firefighter and public safety in mind and expressed hope that as firefighter medical leaves resulting from the World Trade Center attacks decline, five-firefighter staffing will be restored.