The Fire Protection Research Foundation has joined with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in developing a prioritized research agenda for NIST’s new structural fire resistance testing facility in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The new NIST laboratory, part of the Engineering Research Laboratory, will have the capacity to test large-scale structural elements and systems and their components under fire conditions. The laboratory is scheduled to be completed in 2012.
At a jointly hosted meeting-workshop for industry leaders at NIST’s Engineering Laboratory, 40 representatives from academia, engineering, and the materials industry shared their views on the proposed agenda designed to accelerate the implementation of performance-based fire engineering for structures post 9/11.The Foundation is scheduled to complete this project in December.
Line-of-Duty Deaths
August 28. Fire Marshal Steve Cox, 55, South Davis Metro Fire Agency, Bountiful, UT: cause still to be determined.
August 28. Firefighter Anthony Quinten “Tony” Meyers, 38, Angelina River Volunteer Fire Department, Jasper, TX: injuries sustained when, according to state police, he lost control of the ATV he was operating and crashed into the front of a Texas Parks and Wildlife pickup truck at a roadway intersection.
September 3. Firefighter Henry “Jay” Branscum, 32, Northeast R-IV Rural Fire Association, Cairo, MO: cause still to be determined.
September 3. Firefighter Christopher Peterson, 22, Ward Four Fire Protection District, Jonesboro, LA: injuries sustained when the fire department utility truck he was operating on September 2 failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway, and struck an embankment and tree.
September 15. Firefighter William Waldner, 22, Sunset Fire Department, Britton, SD: injuries sustained while attempting to extinguish a rekindled coal bin fire. He was on the roof of the structure when an explosion occurred.
September 15. Jacob Waldner, 20, Sunset Fire Department, Britton, SD: injuries sustained while attempting to extinguish a rekindled coal bin fire. He was on the roof of the structure when an explosion occurred.
September 18. Firefighter Michael Collins, 41, Shelby (IA) Fire and Rescue Department: struck and killed by a vehicle while directing traffic at a motor vehicle scene.
Source: USFA Firefighters Memorial Database
Proposed legislation would fund communication equipment
At press time, Congressman Steve Rothman (D-NJ) and House Homeland Security Chairman Peter King (R-NY) introduced the Help Emergency Responders Operate Emergency Systems (HEROES) Act. The objective of the proposal is to ensure that first responders “have the communications equipment to do their jobs and that the already overburdened local taxpayers do not have to unfairly pay for an unfunded federal mandate,” according to Rothman’s release.
The Federal Communication Commission (FCC), in 2004, issued the “Narrowband Mandate,” aimed at ensuring more efficient use of the communications spectrum and greater spectrum access for first responders. According to this Mandate, all first responders are to upgrade their communications equipment and spectrum licenses by January 1, 2013. The Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 included provisions to aid states and local governments in complying with the 2013 deadline. The funding for the FCC mandate and elements of the 9/11 Commission Act, however, have been drastically reduced—some programs were eliminated—because of budget cuts.
Among the proposed provisions of the HEROES Act of 2011 are the following:
- Establish a $400 million Narrowband Deadline Fund for local first responders to upgrade their communications infrastructure and equipment like radios to comply with the Narrowband Mandate;
- Provide federal funds to state and local municipalities by creating a competitive grant program; and
- Use the sales from the D-block auction under Chairman King’s Broadband for First Responders Act (H.R. 607) to pay for the competitive grant program for local first responders to meet the Narrowband Mandate. The complete release is at Link http://rothman.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1485&Itemid=1.
NIOSH releases reports on firefighter line-of-duty deaths
Following are the most recent fire safety reports released by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) pertaining to line-of-duty deaths:
- F2010-38, Dec 22, 2010: “Two career fire fighters die and 19 injured in roof collapse during rubbish fire at an abandoned commercial structure-Illinois”; http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face201038.html.
- F2010-30, Jul 13, 2010: “Seven career fire fighters injured at a metal recycling facility fire-California”; http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face201030.html.
- F2010-16, Jul 30, 2010: “Volunteer captain runs low on air, becomes disoriented, and dies while attempting large commercial structure-Texas,” http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face201016.html.
Gillespie elected IAFC president and board chairman
Chief Al H. Gillespie of the North Las Vegas (NV) Fire Department will be the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) president and chairman of the board for the 2011-2012 term.
Gillespie has served in full career fire departments and in combination career and volunteer fire departments. He was treasurer and vice chair for the IAFC’s Safety, Health and Survival Section and a member of the Membership Task Force. He was a board member and the secretary/treasurer of the National Society of Executive Fire Officers. He is an alternate on the National Fire Protection Association’s Technical Committee for Fire Service Occupational Safety and Health.
He received a fellowship at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and has a bachelor of science degree in fire administration, two associate degrees, a management certificate, and a certificate of completion of the Executive Fire Officer Program from the National Fire Academy. He is a designated Chief Fire Officer through the Center for Public Safety Excellence and is an MIFireE with the Institution of Fire Engineers.
Additional new officers for the 2011-2012 year are Chief Hank Clemmensen of the Palatine (IL) Rural Fire Protection District, first vice president; Chief William Metcalf of the North County (CA) Fire Protection District, second vice president; and Chief Richard Carrizzo of the Southern Platte (MO) Fire Protection District, treasurer.
Grants for rural departments for public fire safety
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety will provide grants of approximately $500 to $1,000 for Ready, Set, Go! (RSG) homeowner protection programs for small and rural volunteer fire departments. Designed by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the program provides rural and small volunteer departments with materials that will help guide community members in protecting themselves and their homes from wildfires.
The RSG program complements Firewise and other existing wildland fire public education efforts. Additional information about the RSG Program is available at www.wildlandfireRSG.org.
NIMS Guideline for credentialing personnel
The National Incident Management System (NIMS) Guideline for the Credentialing of Personnel provides guidance for federal, state, tribal, and local personnel as well as for persons affiliated with critical infrastructure and key resources, voluntary, and not-for-profit response organizations. This Guideline builds on the doctrine established in NIMS “Guide 0002 National Credentialing Definition and Criteria,” dated March 27, 2007. The Guideline addresses the full range of responders who may be called to an emergency who must establish their legitimacy through proof of identity, qualification/affiliation, and authorization to deploy. The Guideline is available at http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/ResourceMngmnt.shtm#item3. The NIMS Guide 0002 is available at http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nims/ng_0002.pdf. Information on NIMS is at www.fema.gov/emergency/nims.
NIC releases new NIMS Training Program
The National Integration Center (NIC) has developed a “National Incident Management System (NIMS) Training Program,” which supersedes the “Five-Year NIMS Training Plan” released in February 2008. The program guides NIMS training activities. It is available at www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/NIMSTrainingCourses.shtm.
ASTM: Extended Duration Surface-Burning Characteristics
ASTM International’s E2768, “Test Method for Extended Duration Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials” (30 Min. Tunnel Test), describes in detail a test protocol that has been used for more than 40 years in code requirements and specifications for fire-retardant-treated wood, according to the ASTM. This test is also used in some codes for building products that are not wood, the ASTM notes. The standard was developed by Subcommittee E05.22 on Surface Burning, part of ASTM International Committee E05 on Fire Standards.
Robert H. White, Ph.D., a scientist with the Forest Products Laboratory, said ASTM E2768 will be used in a variety of ways by writers of regulatory documents, codes, and specifications who need to make reference to the test protocol and the corresponding performance requirements (or pass/fail criteria); test laboratories in the preparation of applicable test reports; and editors who need to prepare short and concise news releases on successful test results for company product.
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