DISPATCHES
COMPILED & WRITTEN
Congress plans to increase staff at USFA
For the first time since the U.S. Fire Administration’s establishment in 1974, Congress is likely to adopt a bill increasing the USFA’s staff by four.
“This is truly a landmark in the federal government’s involvement in fire safety,” according to Congressman Curt Weldon, chairman of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. “After 15 years, Congress has reversed the steady trend of attrition in the staff and budget of the U.S. Fire Administration. In a year of budget cuts, this is a significant policy move.”
Although the House and Senate voted earlier on the spending bill, variations in the bills required a conference committee to work out the differences. Once Congress votes on the final version, the bill goes to President Bush for his signature. The increase would take effect in fiscal year 1990.
One of the added staff members would be in coordination with the earthquake program and its development of a national database for heavy urban search and rescue. Ironically, the decision to add an earthquake liaison came before the devastating October 17 earthquake in San Francisco.
“The fire service has finally become more politically active. People are writing and complaining to their representatives about the constant cutting of fire safety programs,” says Joanna Hamilton, director of governmental affairs for the Congressional Fire Services Institute. “This bill proves that if you complain, you will get a response at the national level.”
Award promotes leadership
Yvorra Leadership Development, Inc. recently announced the recipients of the first annual Yvorra Leadership Development Scholarship Award. The award promotes leadership development and is open to all fire and emergency medical services personnel who wish to pursue training and education in that area. It is named for Jim Yvorra, deputy chief with the Berwyn Heights, ⅛ Maryland Volunteer Fire Department and nationally known author and editor, who was killed in the line of duty in January 1988.
Applicants charge reverse discrimination
Thirty-four white applicants who have not been hired as Boston firefighters despite perfect civil service scores have filed a federal lawsuit charging reverse discrimination.
According to Nicholas Foundas, an attorney for the applicants, the 34 were denied jobs because of a 15-year-old court decree giving hiring preference to blacks and Hispanics—one minority for every white on the waiting list. “So even though some minority applicants scored lower, since there were fewer of them on the list they were hired over these men,” explains Foundas.
The complainants contend that the court decree violates their constitutional rights to equal protection, that they were discriminated against because of their race. The Boston Fire Department says the decree is constitutional and it must hire by it.
“According to the decree’s own wording the hiring preference should have ended years ago,” Foundas points out. He adds that in 1974 there were fewer blacks in the department and the decree was more justifiable.
Time is running out for one applicant— Larry Mackin, founder of Citizens Against Reverse Discrimination. Mackin, age 32, has been trying unsuccessfully to get hired as a Boston firefighter for the past 12 years. Since the civil service exam is only good for two years, when this list expires in 1990, he will be past Massachusetts’ eligibilityage. He has already taken the exam eight times, scoring 98,99, and most recently 100—a perfect score.
“We were told in July that there was no chance we would be hired,” Mackin says, “that because of the quota hiring system, all available positions have been filled through 1990.”
According to Mackin, 94 people scored 100s when he took the test in 1987: “If it weren’t for the quota system, all of them could have been hired.”
Mackin currently works two jobs while he awaits the outcome of the law-suit. His two brothers are firefighters, hired in years when the quota did not affect them. “It is my lifelong dream to be a firefighter,” Mackin explains. “I am not challenged by my current jobs. I can lead a more fulfilling life and contribute more to society as a firefighter than as a clerk in a transit system token booth. Unfortunately, because of the discrimination, I do not have the opportunity to be judged as an individual, only by the color of my skin.”
Mackin is frustrated by the quota system—a system he calls “governmentsponsored discrimination.” “I’m not asking for something that I’m not qualified to do. I’m qualified by their ow n standards,” he adds.
Mackin anticipates a lengthy court battle. He and the other applicants are raising Hinds to pay for legal fees. However, he remains optimistic that the city will adopt a “color-blind” hiring policy: “In light of recent Supreme Court decisions striking down quotas. I feel our chances are good.”
Robert G. Stewart, who received a cash award of S 1,000, is fire prevention officer/driver for the Butler, Pennsylvania Fire Department and senior fire investigator with Donald B. Cypher and Associates Inc. in Saxonburg. Pennsylvania. He developed a hands-on fire service program for the blind. Stewart is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in fire protection technology.
Donald L. Cox, who received a similar cash award, is fire service education specialist with the Fire Service Institute at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. He is working toward a master’s of science degree in adult education at Iowa State.
Applications for awards can be obtained from Yvorra Leadership Development, Inc., 6914 Dartmouth Avenue, College Park, MD 20740.
Arson prevention grants
The Factory Mutual Engineering Committee Against Incendiarism has awarded nine arson prevention grants to fire service organizations in the United States and Canada. This makes a total of 27 grants—more than S48,000—awarded this year.
Recipients include:
- The Arlington, Texas Fire Department received S4,750 to purchase computer equipment that will allow city fire investigators to use Arson Information Management System (AIMS) software. The equipment will enable the department to network with other Texas investigation agencies.
- The Canadian Association of Fire Investigators was awarded S2,270 to purchase a facsimile machine to relay arson-related information.
- The Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal received S1,000 for a text scanner.
The committee, established in 1977, awards grants to nonprofit organizations to aid their fight against arson. It meets five times a year and reviews requests for grants that come through arson coordinators based at Factory Mutual Engineering district offices.
