DISPATCHES
Fire Forces Mobilization Act introduced
Rep. Claude Harris (D-AL) has introduced the National Fire Forces Mobilization Act, which would provide federal funding to help state forestry agencies and rural fire departments respond to forest fire emergencies. The bill has 108 original sponsors.
The act would authorize $100 million through the U.S. Forest Service to be distributed equally between state forestry agencies and rural volunteer departments. Funding would require matching Hinds but would include inkind matches—matching with services and equipment. “The bill is written to make it as easy as possible for volunteer departments to match funds,” explains Sam Taylor, Harris’ legislative aide for agriculture.
The act’s funding would go toward training, equipment, and mobilizing rural departments that participate in the Fire Mobilization Network, a network used to fight fires that threaten public land. “The network is a loose agreement between state forestry agencies and rural volunteer departments,” explains Taylor. “However, it has been overused in the past and has become unprepared, resulting in military groups and volunteers having to be called in to help fight the fires. This bill would upgrade the network. It is unique in that it provides funds directly to volunteer fire departments.”
A number of factors contribute to the need for such a bill. For one, the U.S. Department of Agriculture used S500 million in fiscal year 1990 to fight wildfires, according to Harris. Then there is the threat of losing entire resources, evidenced by fires in Yellowstone National Park. Also, President Bush has placed a new emphasis on growing and planting trees, trees that must be protected. Most of the timber resources will not come from public land but rather from trees planted on private land. Finally, demographics are changing: “People are moving from urban areas to urbanrural interfaces, where their only protection is the rural volunteer fire department,” Harris says.
While Harris has not heard arguments against the bill, he says, “We expect the fire service to have concerns that will have to be addressed. For example, there probably will be disapproval that the entire appropriation will go to the state level —none to the national level—as well as concern as to how the money will be divided.” The bill could be passed, if successful, as early as June.
Budget proposal increases USFA funding
The Bush Administration’s budget for fiscal year 1991 proposes a 21 percent increase in funding for the U.S. Fire Administration and no change in funding levels at the National Fire Academy. It also calls for a S25 per week user’s fee for all students attending the NFA and the Emergency Management Institute. The proposal would mean a S6.998 million budget for the USFA and a S 10.874 million budget for the NFA, a total of S 17.872 million for fire service programs.
In the past, Administration budgets have proposed serious cuts in fire service programs and even no funding in 1983. “This proposal shows that the climate is very different,” according to Joanna Hamilton, director of governmental affairs for the Congressional Fire Services Institute. “It shows the Administration’s awareness of the importance of fire service programs to the country.”
The user’s fee could be a bone of contention among fire service members. “With the user’s fee the Administration is saying that it is providing a quality service not available elsewhere, so a small fee will help offset the cost,” explains Hamilton. “Some will argue, however, that while the cost is only S25 now, it will go up later. Others do not like the idea of the money going into the general treasury to offset the debt. They would rather see the money go back into the fire service.”
Revised PSOB program guide available
The revised National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) publication A Procedural Guide. In the Event of Death in the Line of Duty of a Member of the Volunteer Fire Service is available from the NVFC Resource Center.
The publication was updated to reflect changes in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Public Safety Officers’ Benefit (PSOB) program. The program provides benefits to eligible survivors of public safety officers (including volunteer and career firefighters and rescue squad and ambulance crew members) who have died as a result of a traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty. The 100th Congress voted last year to increase the level of benefits available, almost doubling the amount, according to Carolyn A. Perroni, manager of die Resource Center. Even though the benefits are not new, “a lot of people are still unaware of their availability,” Perroni says.
The updated guide focuses on procedures for filing claims and the postmortem tests required to substantiate such claims. It also contains a revised federal form for filing.
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To obtain copies of the guide, send a letter on fire department or business letterhead to PSOB Guide, NVFC Resource Center, P.O. Box 25215, Alexandria, VA 22313-5215, or call Carolyn Perroni at (703) 823-1593. The cost is S7.50 per copy for NVFC members, S8.25 for nonmembers (Virginia residents add 4½ percent sales tax). All orders must be prepaid. Make checks or money orders payable to NVFC Resource Center.
Hotel/motel associations launch anti-arson program
The Greater Boston Hotel Association and the Massachusetts Hotel-Motel Association are launching a statewide anti-arson campaign to train industrypersonnel to recognize and control potential fire hazards, materials, and equipment common to arson incidents.
The program consists of a slide presentation and training tape from the National Fire Protection Association that will be shown at regional meetings to those responsible for fire safety in hotels. Additional educational materials will be provided by Factor)’ Mutual Engineering Association. The associations will bring in local arson investigation personnel to meet with the hotel personnel and provide them with additional information. The program information will then be formulated into a kit that hotels can borrow to train their entire staffs.
“We expect to reach 225 people with the initial training session, representing 75 to 100 hotels,” explains Ronald Balmer, director of research and special projects tor the two associations. “Our motivation is to be proactive rather than reactive. W’e don’t see arson as a growing problem. It’s just important for anyone in any industry to take proactive steps when dealing with an issue as important as fire safety.”*
