NEWS IN BRIEF
Witt nominated to head FEMA
President Bill Clinton nominated James Lee Witt, director of the Arkansas Office of Emergency Services, to head the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Witt, 49, has directed Arkansas’ Emergency Services since 1988, during which time he revitalized the state’s emergency management structure, pioneered programs for the transportation of hazardous wastes, and served as the Governor’s representative during more than 30 major disasters. He also has served on various national committees and boards involved with emergency management, including the Central United States Earthquake Consortium, the Governor’s Task Force on Flood Prevention, the Nuclear Response Advisory Board, and the National Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program. Witt previously had served as county judge for Yell County, Arkansas.
In making the nomination, President Clinton noted that FEMA “is one of the most important areas of government, one that people look to for leadership and expertise when their lives and property are at risk
Missouri initiates Interstate Highway Water Supply Location System
Fire departments responding to fires and spills on Missouri’s interstate highways immediately will be able to locate hydrants and draft locations not visible from the road its a result of the recently adopted Highway Water Supply Location System. The system, which uses signs, maps, and log books, has been approved by the State Highway Department for statewide use.
The 30by 24-inch signs have a blue background and white border and are spaced one-quarter of a mile apart on alternate sides of the highway. On the front is a large, white silhouette of a fire hydrant, which has a blue rectangle in its center to accommodate the four-digit identification number that identifies the fire department or district (digits 1 and 2) and the hydrant or draft location (digits 3 and 4) (see photo). The numbering for the marking system was devised to make it possible for all 42 involved fire departments or districts in the state to participate.
The numbered signs are recorded in a log book along with a map indicating the locations of the sign and the nearest hydrant or water supply. All firefighting apparatus and dispatching agencies will have a log book so that units immediately can be directed to the water supply corresponding to the sign number given by the on-scene officer calling in the incident.
The first signs were installed along a four-and-a-half-mile stretch of Interstate Highway 270, which runs through the Florissant Valley (MO) Fire Protection District, according to the district’s chief, William S. Bogue. He and Firefighter John Sherman of the Manchester Fire Protection District had been appointed by Chief I.arrv House of the Manchester Fire District and the chairman of the St. Louis Area Fire Chiefs Association to the committee charged with devising a system for identify ing the locations of water sources for emergencies occurring on the interstate highways.
The policy governing the new marking system includes the following stipulations:
- The fire department must provide
- and install the signs.
- The signs are to be installed at the right of way, or at the best possible locations, for visibility in fill sections.
- The signs are to be installed with the face of the sign parallel to the roadway.
- •Districts are to approve locations based on the following criteria:
— the fire hydrant or other water source must be feasibly accessible from the interstate,
— the hydrant is to be one-quarter mile or less from the interstate centerline,
— the linear distance between signs is to be at least one-half mile, and
— the signs are to be numbered in a sequence of ascending order from west to east and north to south.
The fire department/district is to compile a code book of each sign by county, route, hydrant number, cross street, exit number, and log mile. The book is to be placed on all apparatus and made available to all dispatchers.
Bogue anticipates that “the vast majority of the state’s 42 departments responding to interstate emergencies will be on line by the end of the year.”
For more information, contact Chief Bogue at (314) 837-4894.
Apparatus recall campaigns announced
Beck Fire Apparatus has filed a recall campaign in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, according to the National Institute of Emergency Vehicle Safety (EVS). The recall involves about 75 vehicles that have drive line angles beyond the manufacturer’s recommended tolerances.
In a letter filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on February 16, 1993, Joseph R. Colantuono, legal representative for Beck, reported that Beck had completed a portion of the first stage recall campaign by identifying the suspect vehicles. The letter further stated that if Beck did not receive a written or verbal response to its notification to agencies within 15 days after the notification was mailed, it would send a follow-up notice; if a response was not received within 10 days after forwarding the notice, Beck would contact the original purchaser by telephone.
The second stage of the campaign, scheduled to begin no later than April 1, 1993 (after press time), would include an on-site examination conducted by an independent engineer with vehicle manufacturing experience and no previous connection to Beck other than with regard to the recall.
The third stage of the campaign involves the actual repair. EVS says the manufacturer anticipates that some vehicles may be corrected during the initial inspection and that others will need more significant repairs, scheduled for April or May 1993, which could involve adjusting the height of the water pump.
For more information, call EVS at (510) 276-4300 or the NHTSA Auto Safety Hotline at (800) 424-9393.
EVS also has reported that Rockwell International filed with the NHTSA an amended Defect Information Report in connection with Rockwell steering arms that have cracked. According to the letter, dated December 10, 1992, from B. E. Ketchum, Rockwell’s manager of product compliance, “Rockwell will provide reasonable reimbursement for actual material and labor expenses associated with the replacement of steering arms that are determined to be cracked.” Reimbursement is contingent on inspection and verification by Rockwell personnel.
The letter amended the original Defect Information Report dated June 4, 1991.
Rockwell will issue supplemental notice to all original equipment manufacturers of firefighting equipment of any type (aerial, snorkel, crash-firerescue vehicles, and so forth) using the EL, EDS-1800 series or other Rockwell series front axle.
Rescue Truck Sweepstakes
This Emergency One (E-One) rescue truck, the prize in the “Fire Truck for Your Town” Sweepstakes, will be given away during the International Association of Fire Chiefs Convention, which will be held August 2931 in Dallas, Texas. Youngsters up to 12 years of age (as of July 1) who reside in the United States and a parent or guardian are eligible to participate; entry deadline is July 9, 1993. The winner’s parent or guardian will be awarded a three-day /two-night trip to Dallas—for the IAFC Convention—for two (the winner and parent/guardian). The truck will be given to the fire department in the community in which the winner resides. The truck, mounted on an International 4900 six-passenger crew-cab chassis with a 226-inch wheelbase, has an approximate retail value of $150,000. Contest sponsors are Navistar International Transportation Corporation and E-One. Contest details are available from John McDonald, Navistar, (312) 836-3666 and Mary Brooks, E-One, (904) 854-3525.
For more information, contact Rockwell at (313) 435-9205.
Pizza Hut Inc. pulls ads in response to fire service protest
Under criticism from the fire service, Pizza Hut Inc. has pulled a controversial advertisement depicting a basketball net in flames. The caption on the ad read: “I know your mama told you never to play with fire. But maybe she’ll let you just this once.”
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, messages leading companies convey through their advertising in local communities influence thousands of men, women, and children. The ad, the IJSFA notes, “works against the fire service’s efforts to educate and change public attitudes toward fire.” In promptly pulling the ad, says the USFA, Pizza Hut “confirms its commitment to promoting socially responsible behavior ….”
Public information officers schedule September conference
The National Information Officers Association (NIOA), a nonprofit organization for public information and media relations representatives in the fire service, emergency medical services, and law enforcement, will hold its 1993 conference in Augusta, Georgia, September 8-10.
Founded in 1989, NIOA publishes a monthly newsletter. Its objectives, according to Executive Director Robin Deitesfeld, EMT/firefighter (Loveland Fire/Boulder Community Hospital EMS in Colorado), are to help its members increase their professionalism, exchange ideas and techniques, and enhance media relations. Yearly membership is $25. For more information, contact NIOA, P.O. Box 456, Longmont, CO 80502, (303) 4444573.
IFSAC approves international accreditation system
The International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) has announced that it will be developing an international system of specialized accreditation for fire science degree programs. The system would be similar to that used by the IFSAC to accredit National Fire Protection Association standards-based certification programs.
Representatives of institutions currently offering a fire science degree at the associate, baccalaureate, or master’s level have been invited to attend a special conference on May 4 and 5 (after press time) at the Waterford Hotel in Oklahoma City to discuss the accreditation project.
Developing a specialized accreditation system for fire science degrees is part of a long-range IFSAC plan to apply for recognition from the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA), a national umbrella organization for higher education composed of regional, institutional, and specialized accrediting bodies.
For more information, contact Bill Westhoff at the IFSAC, Oklahoma State University, Fire Publications Building, Stillwater, OK 74078-0118, (405) 744-8303.
Halon alternatives conference agenda announced
Halon replacements and alternatives; environmental problems; regulatory activities; needs; and action plans on research, development, and implementation for halon substitutes are among the topics that will be addressed at the 1993 Halon Alternatives Technical Working Conference, sponsored by the Center for Global Environmental Technologies and the New Mexico Engineering Research Institute. The event is scheduled for May 11-13 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
For more information, contact Dr. Robert Tapscott at (505) 272-7252, fax: (505) 272-7203.
NVFC seeks research proposals
Individuals or organizations interested in conducting research, educational, or communications projects in areas that would benefit the volunteer fire service are asked to submit proposals to the National Volunteer Fire Council Foundation, a 501(c) (3) organization affiliated with the National Volunteer Fire Council. The Foundation is interested especially in projects involving firefighter health and safety.
For more information or a copy of “Guidelines for Funding Requests,” contact the NVFCF at 1325 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., Suite 500, Washington, DC 20004.
