NEWS IN BRIEF
Judge upholds numerical hiring goals
Birmingham, Alabama, Federal District Court Chief Judge Sam C. Pointer, Jr., recently upheld an affirmative action plan for the city that includes numerical hiring goals. The ruling applies to firefighters, police officers, and other city employees.
The plan, according to a published New York Times report, had been attacked by the Reagan Administration and by white employees of the city of Birmingham. Judge Pointer ruled, however, that the hiring goals were legally justified since blacks had been excluded from city jobs in the past.
An attorney for Birmingham’s white city employees, plaintiffs in the case, said the decision would be appealed, stating that the manner of implementing the quotas established in a consent decree signed by the Justice Department and approved by Judge Pointer in May 1981 violated the constitutional rights of the white firefighters.
Under the original decree, for example, one black firefighter was to be promoted for each white promoted to lieutenant in the Birmingham Fire Department. The decree stipulated that the people promoted must be qualified for their new jobs.
The decision will have no significant effect on the Birmingham Fire Department, according to Acting Chief Fuel Liughlin. “It’s nothing new to us,” he says. “We have been operating under the consent decree since 1981.”
The Birmingham case began in 1975 when the Justice Department sued the city, charging that there was a pervasive pattern of illegal job discrimination against black men and all women. After a long trial, the Justice Department helped negotiate the consent decree, which set up an extensive plan of affirmative action, including numerical goals for hiring and promoting women.
The Justice Department later challenged actions taken by the city under the decree and in 1984 sided with white city employees who said their rights had been violated by the preferences given to blacks.
Judge Pointer, in his new ruling, rejected the arguments of white city employees who challenged the broad scope of the decree, calling the decree a “limited and tailored” approach to overcoming the effects of employment discrimination by the city in the past. He made his ruling on the basis of his assessment of evidence presented to him at an October 1991 trial, required by a June 1989 SupremeCourt decision which said that white city employees had not had an adequate opportunity to present their objections in the consent decree during a 1985 trial held by Judge Pointer.
Dow Corning withdraws Wrap Strip 2002
Citing the inconsistent performance of aged Fire Stop Intumescent Wrap Strip 2002, Dow Corning Corporation is withdrawing the product from the market. The company is requesting that all remaining inventories of the product, used to maintain the fireresistance rating of assemblies penetrated by plastic and insulated pipes, be returned. For more information, contact the company at (517) 4968777.
Vehicles cited as possible fire hazards
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has begun investigating allegations involving several brands of trucks and cars. The vehicles involved, according to a recent newspaper report, are the following:
- Chrysler Corporation’s Jeep Wranglers. The agency has received five complaints alleging that overheated catalytic converters caused the rear seat or carpet to catch fire. About 99,000 vehicles manufactured from 1987 through 1989 are involved.
IAFC establishes Hurricane Relief Fund
The International Association of Fire Chiefs and the Florida Fire Chiefs Association have established the “Fire Fighters Hurricane Relief Fund” to support the nearly 200 firefighters and EMS personnel in the southern Florida area who lost their homes to Hurricane Andrew. The goal is to raise SI00,000. Contributions should be sent to the address below:
Fire Fighters Hurricane Relief Fund
Account number 99191771
do International Association of Fire Chiefs
PC). Box 18102
Merrifield, VA 22118-0102
Additional information is available from Tony McDowell, IAFC, (703) 273-0911, ext. 316, or Chief Tom Siegfried at (407) 830-3845. Departments wishing to donate food, supplies, or clothing should contact Chief Henry’ Sheffield, Braden River (FL) Fire Control and Rescue District, at (813) 746-7675.
- Chevrolet Camaros and Pontiac Firebirds. Four complaints allege fueltank leaks in 1991 models.
- Ford Motor Trucks, F-Series. Allegations pertain to fuel expulsion in 1990-1992 models.
- Mazda Motor Corporation’s 626s and 929s. The agency is accelerating its investigation into reported problems involving door-handle mechanisms in 1988-1991 models.
No deaths or injuries have been reported in connection with these alleged problems.
UL lists smoke detector for hearing impaired
Two models of smoke detectors for the hearing impaired recently have been listed by Underwriters Laboratories, The detectors incorporate, in addition to the features of conventional detectors, a strobe light intense enough to wake most sleeping occupants.
Manufactured by Ventek, Inc. of Birmingham, Alabama, the devices were evaluated by UL engineers in accordance with the requirements of Standard UL 1971, Signaling Devices for the Hearing impaired, issued in June 1992. The bases for the safety and performance requirements stipulated in UL 1971 were data acquired in a two-year, three-phase research project on signaling devices for the hearing impaired sponsored by UL, Soroptomist International of Americas, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Kelp touted as fire suppressant
In addition to its uses as a food additive, a health aid, and a beauty enhancer, the seaweed kelp also is a fire suppressant. Inventors John J. Renaker, Jr., Michael R. Bustamante, and Donald A. Magley of Damscosur S.A., in Chula Vista, California, have a patent that permits them to dry out kelp sludge and process it into a firesuppressant product, according to a recent New York Titties report.
The inventors originally sought to use the kelp waste (kelp devoid of algin, the gelatinous compound used in food processing) as soundproofing material in their noisy shop but found that its fishy odor made it unacceptable for that purpose. Inadvertently, they discovered that the kelp material was effective for soaking up oil spills and snuffing out flames and was especially useful for oil fires and chemical explosions where water may be ineffective or produce a hazardous runoff.
The company homogenizes the kelp sludge into an even consistency, dries it out, and packs it into large bricks, which can be used as a fire barrier, or into flakes or powder, which can be poured over a fire. The kelp product sells for about S15 a cubic foot and is light in weight —it also smells of fish.
NFA symposium stresses consumer service
The 90 graduates of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program who attended the Fourth Executive Fire Officer Graduate Symposium held in May were challenged by keynote speaker Larry Venable, retired training director of the 3M Corporation “to be more customer responsive and to seek excellence in all organizational efforts” and by NFA Superintendent Albert G. Kirchner, Jr., to be identified as “agents of change within the fire service.”
The three-day event featured presentations from faculty members, external speakers, and the Applied Research award winners.
Alan Brunacini, chief of the Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department, discussed the importance of a fire department’s developing and adopting an “accepted doctrine.”
Dr. Ron Stupak of the Washington Public Affairs Center at the University of Southern California reminded attendees that they have the responsibility to “prioritize, plan, and treat their publics as customers.”
Marty Linsky, lecturer at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, drew on his many years of experience in dealing with the media, using examples from the fire service to demonstrate how each event should be handled, stressing the message that “fire executives who expect positive media relations must cultivate this relationship over the long term.”
Ellen Schmidt, chief of the Division of Injury Prevention at the Life and Family Health Administration for the state of Maryland, addressed “Injury Prevention as a Fire Service Role and Responsibility,” challenging EMS members present to educate the community in ways to prevent trauma and injuries.
Dr. Robert Bass, director of emergency medical services for the District of Columbia Fire Department, and Thomas Hoey, city administrator for the District of Columbia, discussed delivering EMS within the District of Columbia from historical and future perspectives.
NFA faculty presentation topics included “Higher Education in the Fire Service” (Dr. Burton Clark) and “SelfDirected Work Teams” (Charles J. Burkell). Don Manno conducted a case-study analysis-based on “Wood Roofing: What Price Public Safety?” developed by the Harvard/Kennedy School of Government. He urged the audience to examine the “pervasive nature of the wood roofing fire problem as part of a cultural situation that has been long tolerated despite its relationship to fire spread.” The topic also was explored in relation to other fire protection/code enforcement-related issues.
The event culminated in a banquet at which the NFA “1991 Outstanding Applied Research Awards” were presented; and speaker Edward Wall, USA deputy administrator, remarked that “today’s executive fire office must have a sense of the political landscape and how to work positively within that system.”
The next symposium will be held May 14-16, 1993For more information, contact Charles J. Burkell, program chairperson for executive development, NFA, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD 21727.
1991 fallen firefighters memorialized
The U.S. National Fire Academy campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland, was the site of an October memorial service for 105 firefighters. The service was televised through the efforts of the Volunteer Firemen’s Insurance Services, Inc. in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration, the National Fire Academy, and the Emergency Education Network of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
VHS videotapes (about 2½ hours long) are available through VFIS. The cost is S25, which includes shipping and handling. Only mail orders accompanied by check or money order payable to VFIS will be honored. Send orders to VFIS, F.O. Box 2726, York, PA 17405. For more information, contact Tamela Bourne at (800) 233-1957.
IAFC introduces “OLS Affiliate Program”
The “OLS Affiliate Program,” the recently introduced fund-raising activity of Operation Life Safety, the flagship program of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, makes it possible for individual companies and fire and industry organizations to become affiliates of OLS by donating from $500 to S2,000. Affiliates will receive a certificate plaque designating them affiliates of the OLS program (not to be construed as a product endorsement).
For more information or to become an affiliate, contact Operation Life Safety Program, OLS Affiliate Program, 4025 Fair Ridge Drive, Suite 300, Fairfax, VA 22033.
Anaheim hotels cited for commit^ ment to fire safety
The Fire Sprinkler Advisory Boards of Puget Sound, Washington; Southern California; and Northern California presented plaques of appreciation to the Anaheim Marriott, Anaheim Hilton & Towers, Quality Inn, Pan Pacific Hotel, and Desert Palm Suites for their participation in the FSAB’s “Rest Assured” program. ‘Hie citations were given during the International Association of Fire Chiefs convention in Anaheim in November.
As part of the program, the hotels displayed in their lobbies and guest rooms fire sprinkler materials urging travelers to ask about fire sprinklers whenever they stay at a hotel/motel.
NFPA restructures
Under the new restructuring plan recently announced by George D. Miller, president of the National Fire Protection Association, three vice presidents will serve as officers and report directly to the president.
Authur E. Cote, P.E., is vice president of codes and standards and chief engineer. He will oversee engineering, fire analysis and research, member services, and public fire protection in addition to codes and standards administration. He also will serve as secretary to the 13-member Standards Council.
Richard O. Griesel is vice president for revenue-producing activities. He remains in charge of product development, marketing, and other business activities.
As vice president of administration and general counsel, James M. Shannon is responsible for office and building services, meetings, and travel.
Anthony R. O’Neill, former vice president of operations, will relocate to the Washington, DC, area to serve as vice president of government affairs and will be the association’s Washington liaison for government affairs.
The new organizational structure, Miller explains, will eliminate redundant management layers and reduce management costs while improving staff cooperation and operational efficiency.
Demo bum teaches the value of sprinklers
Hundreds of onlookers witnessed the effectiveness of sprinkler systems in extinguishing residential fires during the Northern Illinois Chapter of the National Fire Sprinkler Association’s third annual Bum Trailer Event at the Daley Plaza in Chicago. The event, the highlight of the city’s Fire Prevention Week program, created a scenario in which a smoldering fire in a wastepaper basket in a functional “living room” complete with drapes and furniture developed into flames. The fire quickly spread throughout the trailer, crawling along the draperies to the ceiling, at which time the sprinklers, automatically activated by the heat, extinguished the fire.
