By U.S. Senator Susan M. Collins
Firefighters stand among the ranks of our nation’s bravest first responders, constantly putting themselves in harm’s way to keep our communities safe. Sadly, these heroes’ efforts sometimes end in tragedy as they make the ultimate sacrifice while fighting to save the lives of others.
Across the nation, firefighters face not only the ancient enemy of fire but newer challenges like terrorism and hazardous materials. America’s firefighters deserve our respect and our gratitude.
They also deserve federal support for their efforts to prevent fires, to rescue and care for victims, to promote fire safety, and to improve skills and techniques. That is why Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut and I recently introduced a bill to reauthorize the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and provide additional resources to help the agency meet its growing responsibilities and our communities’ needs. As co-chairs of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, Senator Dodd and I welcome our fellow Caucus co-chairs, Senators John McCain of Arizona and Joe Biden of Delaware, as co-sponsors in this effort.
Since its creation in 1974, the USFA and the National Fire Academy (NFA) have helped prevent fires, protect property, and save lives among firefighters and the public. Today, the USFA is also integrated into our national, all-hazards system and our homeland security efforts.
January marked the fifth anniversary of the USFA’s transfer to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and as a co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I believe it’s noteworthy that this bill does much more than reauthorize the USFA.
For example, the bill designates $5 million to support necessary technology upgrades to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). This important system helps state and local governments report and analyze fires, and it allows nationwide data sharing in standardized formats. The NFIRS databasethe world’s largest collection of fire incident informationhelps all levels of government to probe the nature and causes of injuries, deaths, and property loss resulting from fires. That information will benefit firefighters and the public.
Another vital component of this bill establishes a rotating position at the DHS National Operations Center (NOC) to be filled by a state or local fire service official. In our comprehensive, all-hazards approach to major disasters, it is critically important to have fire service representation at the NOC during a catastrophic event.
The bill has other important provisions, including an initial $70 million authorization for the USFA that would be increased each year through 2012. In addition, the bill expands NFA training programs to include such topics as hazardous-materials fires and fire-based emergency medical services. It authorizes expanded research on fires in urban-wildland interfaces and in rural areas. It encourages the USFA to adopt national voluntary consensus standards on firefighter health and safetyan important topic, considering that about 100 brave firefighters lose their lives in the line of duty each year, with many more suffering serious injuries.
My home state of Maine is keenly aware of the dangers of fire and the importance of effective fire services. Maine is one of the most rural states in the nation, and most of its housing is wood frame. Some households rely on woodstoves for primary or supplemental heat. According to the Maine Department of Public Safety, nearly 50 Mainers died in fires every year through the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. The average so far for this decade is 18, and 2007 produced only 12 fire-related deathsstill too many but a considerable improvement.
Maine public safety officials attribute the decline to factors such as wider use of smoke detectors and improved building codes, as well as to fire prevention efforts. As our national resource and clearinghouse for fire research, education, and training, the USFA certainly deserves a share of the credit for my state’s progress in reducing the loss, devastation, and death caused by fires.
I have no doubt that the USFA’s influence will continue to grow. Its new campaign for preventing smoking-related home fires is a worthy effort. And its expanding curriculum of online courses on topics such as incident command for nursing home fires, emergency medical service at multicasualty incidents, and emergency response to terrorism is a valuable resource for firefighters.
The USFA is a fine example of the good that can result from federal, state, and local collaboration to counter the danger of fire and to address new threats that firefighters face. I will continue to work with my Senate colleagues to reauthorize and improve this valuable component of the DHS.
I also have worked for years to secure homeland security grant funding to help states and localities procure equipment, training, and other valuable resources for firefighters through the FIRE Act and SAFER Act grant programs. It’s a double-dividend investment that protects our communities and the firefighters who serve them. Reinforcing the work of the USFA is another way to honor our local firefighters and to ensure that they are able to develop and maintain the capabilities necessary to respond to any emergency, natural or man-made.
I offer my sincere gratitude and best wishes to all of our country’s firefighters, with a special greeting to those of you attending this year’s Fire Department Instructors Conference in Indianapolis. You are all part of a noble effort aimed at saving lives.
U.S. SENATOR SUSAN M. COLLINS, R-ME, is a ranking member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and a co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.
