U.S. Senate confirms Paulison as USFA administrator
R. David Paulison, chief of the Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue Department and past president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the head of the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) in December.
Paulison, who has 30 years of fire rescue service experience, has been fire chief in Miami-Dade since 1992. He also oversaw the county’s emergency management office. He is a certified paramedic and a member of the Miami-Date Urban Search and Rescue Task Force.
Paulison began his career as a rescue firefighter and rose through the ranks to rescue lieutenant, battalion commander, district chief of operations, division chief, assistant chief, and then deputy director for administration before becoming chief. His emergency management experience includes Hurricane Andrew and the crash of ValuJet Flight 592.
Paulison has a bachelor of arts degree from Florida Atlantic University and has completed the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He was Florida’s Fire Chief of the Year in 1993 and holds positions in several professional associations.
Conference Committee approves $150 million for FY 2002 FIRE Grant Program; other proposals ask for larger appropriations
In early November 2001, House and Senate conferees approved by voice vote the Fiscal Year (FY) 2002 VA/HUD appropriations bill that included $150 million to continue the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The House and Senate must approve the Conference report before it is sent to President George W. Bush for his signature.
Earlier this year, the House had included $100 million for the program, whereas the Senate had included $150 million. The Conference Committee was to work out the differences between the two versions.
The Conference Report also includes language that allows up to five percent of the funding to be used for administrative expenses associated with establishing a grant office at FEMA. In addition, the bill includes a recommendation that FEMA consider the circumstances of smaller departments with limited resources as it evaluates the program’s effectiveness.
Fire service organizations and some members of Congress are working toward bringing the 2002 funding up to the $300 million that had been authorized previously.
At press time, the International Association of Fire Chiefs was anticipating that Representative David Obey (D-WI) would offer an amendment to the Defense Supplemental Appropriations bill proposing that an additional $150 million be appropriated for the FIRE Act grant program for FY 2002. The IAFC was urging members of the fire service to contact their representatives to ask support for the amendment.
As reported in News in Brief last month, the Senate had approved the Defense Spending Bill, which contains an amendment introduced by Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) to authorize $600 million in 2002, $800 million in 2003, and $1 billion in 2004. The Defense measure was passed by voice; however, no monies have yet been specifically allocated for the fire service.
Nearly 20,000 fire departments applied for about $3 billion in grants in 2001; $100 million had been appropriated. There were 1,855 total awards amounting to $91,996,439.96 [not including awards under Sec. 1701.2(b)(4), Fire Prevention Programs]. Following is the breakdown of awards by category:
- Training, 160 awards, $5,199,356.48;
- Wellness & Fitness, 168 awards, $8,256,720.15;
- Vehicles, 208 awards, $20,412,605.57;
- Fire Prevention, 209 awards, $9,071,484.60;
- Firefighting Equipment, 404 awards, $14,919,463.89;
- Personal Protection Equipment, 706 awards, $34,136,809.27.
A state-by-state breakdown of award recipients under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is posted at http:// www.usfa.fema.gov/grants/01awards.htm/.
U.S. Government to buy 155 million doses of smallpox vaccine
The U.S. Government has ordered 155 million doses of smallpox vaccine for a stockpile to be used if the smallpox virus should be used as part of a bioterrorism attack. The vaccine is expected to be available in Fall 2002, according to Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. Thompson said the nation’s stockpile would contain 286 million doses of smallpox vaccine, which, he said, should be sufficient to protect all Americans. Giving the vaccine in the days immediately following exposure can prevent illness.
Even though the probability of an intentional release of the smallpox virus is low, the threat still exists and, therefore, we must be prepared, Thompson explained. Clinical trials of the vaccine are expected to start early in 2002. For additional information, contact the HHS Press Office at (202) 690-6343.
CalOSHA standards now apply to volunteer firefighters
Legislation (SB1207) signed into law in October stipulates that the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (CalOSHA) safety standards apply to the state’s volunteer firefighters as well as its career firefighters, according to the California State Firefighters’ Association.
The CalOSHA designation of “employment” now includes volunteer firefighting, and the designation “employees” applies to volunteer firefighters registered as active firefighting members of any officially recognized volunteer fire department that is fully or partially supported by the government of the county, city, town, or district in which the volunteer fire department is located.
CalOSHA sets minimum standards for safety equipment for publicly employed firefighters and safety mandates such as the two-in/two-out rule.
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program report available
A report on the initiation and awards phase of the FY 2001 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)/U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). It includes a summary of the following: legislative history, establishment of the grant program, the application and evaluation process, the grant awards, and FY 2001 closeout activities. The report is available in both Microsoft Word and Portable Document Format (PDF) at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/grants/01report-affgp.htm/.
Health of FDNY firefighters on WTC Ground Zero duty monitored
Fire Department of New York firefighters who have been working at Ground Zero at the World Trade Center (WTC) site have been reporting symptoms such as chronic coughs, chest pain, and various other respiratory conditions, according to various media and city sources. It is estimated that up to two-fifths of the 11,000 firefighters who worked at the site of the WTC towers that collapsed on September 11 after terrorists’ attacks may be affected. The chief pulmonary physician for FDNY noted at the end of October that 370 firefighters had been given full examinations and chest X-rays and that as many as 10,000 firefighters might be scheduled for checkups by the end of November (after press time).
There is also concern about what rescuers may have inhaled during the early stages of operations. Firefighters will be tested for exposures to PCBs, dioxin, asbestos, and other hazardous materials. An area hotel used for rest and rehabilitation by firefighters during the WTC early rescue operations was recently found to contain asbestos and now has a sign posted that warns of its presence.
In addition, it has been reported that hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil were lost at the WTC on September 11 as a result of the destruction of two utility substations. Transformers and high-voltage lines were the sources of oils the utility says contained low levels of PCBs. Also, thousands of gallons of diesel and fuel oil stored in tanks under the WTC complex were not accounted for at press time. They may have been absorbed by soil, burned off, or become part of the Hudson River. The Environmental Protection Agency has voiced concern over contaminants that may be present at the site, including dioxins.
(For a complete report on this subject, see “Major Oil Spills at Ground Zero,” News and Views/City Beat, New York Daily News, or www.newyorkdailynewsonline.com, Nov. 29, 2001)
Boston Fire Department Chief Christian named new fire commissioner
Boston (MA) Fire Department Chief Paul Christian, a 33-year veteran of the department, will succeed Martin Pierce as fire commissioner. Pierce resigned in late 1999. Mayor Thomas M. Menino made the appointment.
Source: David Arnold, The Boston Globe, Nov. 10, 2001)
USFA offers fire/arson investigation studies
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)/U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) is offering technical assistance to state, county, and city fire investigation agencies meeting the following criteria:
- The agency should have a sincere interest in ascertaining the strengths and problem areas of their fire investigation and arson control programs and operations.
- The organization should investigate a minimum of 200 fires per year, a significant number of them determined to be incendiary.
- The agency should be willing to provide the necessary application materials and background information and must cooperate with the designated technical assistance team in scheduling the field work.
- The organization should implement as many of the recommendations as feasible.
Case prioritization and management, arson data collection and analysis, investigation reports, training, and time-of-day staffing coverage are key components of the site reviews. The program’s objective is to improve arrest and conviction rates and promote arson prevention by highlighting the positive features of a jurisdiction’s arson control operations, recommending options for resolving problem areas, and identifying potential interagency and community antiarson partnerships. The program’s three phases are (1) Information collection and preparation, (2) site visit and field work, and (3) preparation of draft and final report.
After the site visit, the USFA will prepare an evaluation report describing the jurisdiction’s arson-control measures. The report will include recommendations for any areas in need of improvement. The jurisdiction will have three weeks to review the draft report. The USFA will then issue a final report. Local officials will be expected to implement as many of the recommendations as feasible.
For information on how to apply for this program, contact: USFA-Arson Investigation Technical Assistance Project, Joseph Ockershausen, project manager, TriData Corporation, 1000 Wilson Boulevard, 30th Floor, Arlington, VA 22209; Phone: (703) 351-8300, Fax: (703) 351-8383, E-mail: jockershausen@tridatacorp.com. The application may be downloaded from the USFA Web page at www.usfa.fema.gov/.
IAFC and USFA release RHAVE software program
Working cooperatively, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)/U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has released the Risk, Hazard and Value Evaluation (RHAVE) software-based program. RHAVE enables local public policy makers to collect useful data pertaining to identifying and assessing fire and related risks within their communities.
Community leaders can use the information obtained through the RHAVE model to develop objective, quantifiable risk-reduction policies such as the deployment of emergency service resources.
For more information, contact the FEMA/ USFA Web site at www.usfa.fema.gov/.
NVFC and Operation Respond team up to promote state-level projects
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and the Operation Respond Institute (ORI) have launched a pilot program directed at making OREIS software accessible to firefighters and emergency dispatchers in the states of Alaska, Alabama, Delaware, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, Texas, Utah, Washington and West Virginia.
The OREIS program connects operators to railroad and motor carrier databases so that emergency responders can quickly and accurately identify hazardous materials and methods for handling them safely and efficiently in different situations. The system also provides detailed diagrammatic schematics that highlight interior and exterior views, seat configuration, emergency exit doors and windows, and the locations of electric and fuel sources. Having this information available at an emergency can save time in the critical early stages. Working with the NVFC state directors in the pilot states, ORI and the NVFC will also attempt to identify ways for emergency agencies to obtain funding for OREIS through existing programs or by establishing new ones. They will also work to integrate OREIS into the curriculum of state and regional training centers throughout the United States.
In 2001, 10 copies of OREIS were donated to the University of Maryland Fire Training Academy. Four sets of the software were installed at the school; the others were sent to six regional training schools in Maryland. For more information, contact Adam Marton at (202) 548-0935.
NFPA documents free on Web
First responders can download the following information relative to hazardous-materials response standards and other relevant information from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Web site at http://www.nfpa.org/Codes/ CodesandStandards/Offer/Offer.asp:
- NFPA 471, Recommended Practice for Responding to Hazardous Materials Incidents;
- NFPA 472, Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents;
- NFPA 473, Professional Competence of Emergency Medical Responders to Haz Mat Incidents;
- NFPA 1951, Protective Ensemble for USAR Operations; and
- NFPA 1994, Protective Ensembles for Chemical/Biological Terrorism Incidents.
Congress moves to ensure housing safety for homeless veterans
The Heather French Henry Homeless Veterans Assistance Act, approved by Congress in November, requires that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Life Safety CodeT be among the criteria for securing grants for transitional housing assistance. Senator Paul David Wellstone (D-MN) sponsored the legislation in the Senate; he had the support of Veterans’ Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV). Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, sponsored the bill in the House; Congressman Lane Evans (D-IL), a ranking minority member of the committee, supported it.
According to the NFPA, an annual average of 1,400 fires occur in rooming, boarding, and lodging homes. Some of these buildings serve as housing primarily for long-term transient occupants. They cause an annual average of 13 civilian deaths, 103 injuries, and more than $15 million in direct property damage.
The code provides minimum building design, construction, operation, and maintenance requirements necessary to protect building occupants from the dangers of fire, including smoke, fumes, and panic.
U.S. DOT launches major campaign to promote tire safety
The U.S. Department of Transportation has launched the “Tire Safety: Everything Rides on It,” campaign in response to agency research that shows that many motorists are driving on bald and underinflated tires, putting themselves and others at risk for injury or death.
The campaign will feature radio public service announcements, print ads, and brochures that stress the importance of proper tire inflation and vehicle load limits and encourage motorists to check their tires monthly and before a long trip to make sure the tires have adequate tread.
For tire safety information, call (888) 327-4236 or visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov/.
NFPA to work with HUD on manufactured home standards
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) will recommend to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through a voluntary consensus process, ways to enhance federal manufactured home construction and safety standards and their related enforcement regulations, construction, and safety standards.
The NFPA will administer all phases of the project as part of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 and will submit to HUD the names of candidates to serve on the consensus committee. The NFPA will also provide technical and administrative support tot he committee and will work with the committee to develop recommendations for installing manufactured homes and enforcing regulations. The recommendations will be sent to the Secretary for consideration and action. HUD guidelines provide that the consensus code committee reflect a broad but equal representation of interest areas including producers and manufacturers, consumer advocates, and public officials.
NFPA 5000 to include FEMA’s recommendations on seismic loads
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 5000, Building Codetrademark will directly reference the seismic provisions in the latest edition of ASCE-7, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures. In addition, ASCE-7 addresses building design loads for snow, wind, flood, and other conditions. The NFPA building code will comply with the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program 2000 design provisions, according to Jerry Wooldridge, chair of NFPA’s Building Code Technical Correlation Committee.
The NFPA released the Report on Proposals for NFPA 5000 for public comment in August. The NFPA Building Code Technical Committees will act on the comments received this fall; a Report on Comments will be published for review in April 2002. Interested parties may comment on the NFPA Building Code throughout its development process-through May 2002, when the document will be presented to the NFPA membership for a vote. For additional information, contact Julie Reynolds or Margie Coloian at (617) 984-7275.
An early-morning fire on November 1 destroyed the building housing Company 13 of the Summit Park Volunteer Fire Department in Clarksburg, West Virginia, and all equipment therein. The company has served the Despard, Summit Park, Glen Falls, and Arlington communities for the past 30 years. Company 13 now is serving its first-due areas with the help of neighboring fire departments. Monetary and equipment contributions are needed. The former may be sent to Wesbanco c/o Summit Park Volunteer Fire Department, 1130 Johnson Ave., Bridgeport, WV 26330. For a location for donated items, call (304) 622-3363, or e-mail Captain Danny Swiger, Sr., at dannyswiger@hotmail.com.
Line-of-Duty Deaths, 2001
October 25: Firefighter William Howzdy, 71, of the Glenn Dale (MD) Fire Association, died of an apparent heart attack at the fire station.
November 2: Senior Firefighter Dennis “Denny” Dart, 62, of the Sugar Camp Volunteer Fire Department, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, died after suffering a heart attack while at the scene of a vehicle fire.
November 2: Firefighter Harold Strode, 46, of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry in Nashville, was killed while working a wildland fireline. He was overcome by a firestorm in the densely wooded and steep terrain of the Upper Cumberland Region of Tennessee.
November 9: Firefighter George F. Danielson Jr., 78, of the Mine Hill (NJ) Fire Department, died of injuries sustained from being struck by a private vehicle while directing traffic in front of the fire station as the engines were returning from the scene of a fire.
November 19: Firefighter Clifford White Jr., 21, of the Cameron (WV) Volunteer Fire Department, was killed when the tanker in which he was a passenger left the roadway and overturned while en route to a woodland fire.
Source: National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Database, United States Fire Administration.
