CT Firefighter Receives Downey Courage & Valor Award

(L-R): Firefighter William O'Connell, PennWell CEO Robert Biolchini, Chief Bobby Halton.
(L-R): Firefighter William O’Connell, PennWell CEO Robert Biolchini, Chief Bobby Halton.

Firefighter William J. O’Connell, of the Stamford (CT) Fire Rescue Department, was presented with the 2013 Ray Downey Courage & Valor Award during the April 24 Opening Ceremonies of the 2013 Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis. PennWell Corporation’s President and CEO Robert F. Biolchini made the presentation. In his remarks, Biolchini said O’Connell was cited for his “extraordinary act of bravery under difficult conditions that resulted in saving the lives of two individuals. Firefighter O’Connell exemplified the highest traditions of the fire service when he made a heroic effort, employed quick thinking, and executed courageous actions at risk to his life to rescue two people.”

Biolchini and Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Battalion Chiefs Chuck and Joseph Downey, sons of Chief Ray Downey, presented the details of the rescue scenario to the audience of thousands of firefighters. Robert Halton, editor-in-chief of Fire Engineering and FDIC education director; Ron Siarnicki, executive director the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation; and Ronald Kanterman, administrator, National Fire Academy Alumni Association, were also on stage for the presentation.

The rescue scenario took place on July 22, 2012. Engine 5 and Rescue 1 responded to a report of a boating accident in the Stamford harbor. A private powerboat hit the breakwall on exiting the harbor, causing the boat to flip and float upside down. The department initially dispatched two divers to the scene to make contact with the trapped individuals. Diver one was a surface-rescuer equipped with a mask and dry suit. Diver two made initial entry and contact with the two individuals trapped inside the capsized boat’s hull in 50 feet of water. Firefighter O’Connell, the third diver, was equipped with a pony bottle to aid in the removal of two trapped victims in the capsized vessel. He located the two victims, a male and a female, amid the debris within the hull. They had been trapped for approximately 45 minutes and were in danger of hypothermia. O’Connell removed his air supply to talk with the victims to assess their mental status and coach them on the use of the scuba regulator.

On two exit attempts, the female victim returned to the safety of the air pocket. After successfully removing the male victim, O’Connell removed his pony bottle and reentered the hull for the third time. Realizing the pocket of air in the cabin was becoming toxic, O’Connell knew he had to act quickly despite the reluctance of the female victim to exit. Positioning himself in front of the doorway, he grabbed her ankle and pulled her out of the hull and to the water surface.

The Courage & Valor Foundation, created by PennWell Corporation to ensure that the world would forever remember the sacrifices made by heroic FDNY members on September 11, 2001, annually presents the Ray Downey Courage & Valor Award at FDIC. The award consists of a Courage & Valor medal and a check for $35,000. In the spirit of the heroism displayed on 9/11, this award recognizes extraordinarily courageous acts of American firefighters each year. The award is named in honor of Deputy Chief Ray Downey, a 39-year FDNY veteran and the chief of rescue operations, who was the most highly decorated firefighter in the history of New York and was actively involved with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

O’Connell, an 11-year veteran of the Stamford Fire Rescue Department, has been married to his wife Corey for 14 years; they have two sons, Liam and Devin.

Line-of-Duty Deaths

March 3. Chief Scott Morrison, 45, Knotts Island (NC) Volunteer Fire Department: heart attack.

March 5. Firefighter Christopher Brown, 39, Hudson (IL) Community Fire Protection District: hit by tractor-trailer at motor vehicle accident scene.

March 6. Firefighter Cadet Donald Mize, 62, League City (TX) Volunteer Fire Department: cause to be determined.

March 7. Firefighter Lonnie Nutt, 49, Marietta (GA) Fire Department: cause to be determined.

March 8. Captain George A. Turner Jr., 60, Jericho (NY) Fire Department: apparent heart attack while responding to an incident.

March 10. Firefighter Michael L. Broz, 58, Dorchester County Fire Rescue, St. George, SC: injuries sustained in personal vehicle accident while responding to outdoor fire; accident cause under investigation.

March 28. District Forest Service Fire Warden/Firefighter Jeffrey Scheurer, 35, New Jersey Forest Fire Service, Andover: struck by vehicle driven by a civilian while fighting a forest fire.

April 6. Captain Michael R. Goodwin Sr., 53, Philadelphia (PA) Fire Department: third-floor roof collapsed beneath him while fighting a three-alarm fire.

April 6. Firefighter John M. Janos, 57, Binghamton (NY) Bureau of Fire: found deceased in bed at firehouse.

April 7. Assistant Chief Harold Hollingsworth, 47, Fort Osage Fire Protection District, Buckner, MO: vehicle accident en route to reported structure fire.

April 11. Lieutenant James B. Clark, 56, Bedford (ME) Fire Department: found dead at home; cause to be determined.

April 13: Firefighter Lawrence A. Stone, 37, West Union (IL) Community Fire Protection District: privately owned motor vehicle accident while en route to a fire call; accident under investigation.

April 17. Firefighter Robert Snokhous, 48; Firefighter Douglas Snokhous, 50; Firefighter Joseph Pustejousky; Firefighter Cody Dragoo, 50; and Firefighter Morris Bridges, 50: all are members of the West (TX) Volunteer Fire Department and were killed in an explosion while fighting a fire at the West Fertilizer Company.

April 29. Firefighter Dale Scott Queen, 37, Oak Ridge Volunteer Fire Department, Hartselle, AL: cause to be determined.

May 2. Firefighter Gene Kirchner, 24, Baltimore County Fire Department/Reisterstown Volunteer Fire Company, Towson, MD: injuries sustained at a working residential fire.

Source: USFA Firefighters Memorial Database

Corbett receives Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award

Lifetime Award recipient Glenn P. Corbett.
Lifetime Award recipient Glenn P. Corbett.

Glenn P. Corbett, an associate professor of fire science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City and a technical editor for Fire Engineering, received the Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award on April 25 at the 2013 Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis. Chief Bobby Halton, editor in chief of Fire Engineering and education director of FDIC, and Eileen Brennan Cress, daughter of the late Tom Brennan, made the presentation.

“The selection of Professor Glenn Corbett as the 2013 FDIC Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is overdue and at the same time a placeholder in the career of a fire service giant,” Halton noted in his presentation remarks. “Glenn is not only one of our most informed and eloquent spokespersons, he is also one of our most passionate leaders. Glenn has been at the tip of the spear from taking on city hall in the battle over code improvements to striving to bring recognition and respect to our fallen at the 9/11 museum and memorial, participating as a line volunteer firefighter in his hometown, and battling for justice and answers relative to the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire.

“In all these epic battles, Glenn has been a tireless warrior. His passion doesn’t end in today’s controversies. He is a keeper of our traditions and history; he is a world-class instructor; and, to firefighters across North America, he is affectionately known as ‘The Professor.’ He has earned a Lifetime Achievement Award many times over and will continue to motivate, educate, and inspire us all for many years to come.”

Corbett is a former assistant chief of the Waldwick (NJ) Fire Department, a former member of the Federal Advisory Committee of the National Construction Safety Team that investigated the World Trade Center disaster, the chief technical advisor to the Skyscraper Safety Campaign, and a former president of the New Jersey Society of Fire Service Instructors.

He was also a fire protection consultant for the Austin (TX) Fire Department, was the administrator of engineering services for the San Antonio (TX) Fire Department, and is a Texas-licensed professional engineer.

Corbett sits on the New Jersey State Fire Code Council. He is a co-author of Brannigan’s Building Construction for the Fire Service, 4th Edition. In addition, he is the editor of Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefighter I and II. Reflecting his avid interest in firefighting and history are The Great Paterson Fire of 1902, which he authored, and Historic Fires of New York City, which he coauthored.

Corbett has a master of engineering degree in fire protection engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is pursuing a Ph.D. in public administration from Rutgers University.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is named for Tom Brennan, who was the editor of Fire Engineering for eight years and a technical editor. Brennan had more than 35 years of fire service experience, including more than 20 years with the Fire Department of New York and five years as chief of the Waterbury (CT) Fire Department. He was co-editor of The Fire Chief’s Handbook, Fifth Edition (Fire Engineering Books, 1995) and the recipient of the 1998 Fire Engineering Lifetime Achievement Award.

Emery named FE/ISFSI Instructor of the Year

Instructor of the Year Mark C. Emery.
Instructor of the Year Mark C. Emery.

Chief Mark C. Emery was presented with the Fire Engineering/International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI) George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award on April 25 at the 2013 Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis. Emory was cited for his comprehensive and consistent contributions to emergency service training.

His contributions transcend traditional rank structures in the fire service-for example, comprehensive driver operator training programs are juxtaposed with far-reaching interdisciplinary emergency management training. In support of firefighter safety and survival, Emery developed an innovative program that builds on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health line-of-duty death case studies. These incredible training packages, complete with visuals, discussion guides, and learning objectives, provide a valuable training tool for training and company officers. Keeping firefighters safe and alive is at the core of his efforts. Emery continues to innovate and adopts the personal credo, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that’s important.”

Emery is the developer of the popular Command Competency Clinic and co-developer of the Integrated Tactical Accountability System (ITAC). He also designs ITAC incident management status boards for IMS Alliance and is the featured instructor in the Passport Accountability System HD-DVD training package. After a 30-year career, he retired in 2010 as an operations battalion chief. He currently is fire commissioner with Woodinville (WA) Fire & Rescue.

The award, which incorporates the Training Achievement Award previously given by Fire Engineering at the FDIC, is named for George D. Post, who was a long-time member of the ISFSI. Post was a member of the Fire Department of New York, an illustrator of fire service publications, and a developer of instructional materials and is considered by many to be the father of visual material used to train fire service personnel around the world.

IAFC releases report on departments’ public image

The International Association of Fire Chiefs’ (IAFC) Fire and Emergency Service Image Task Force’s “Taking Responsibility for a Positive Public Perception” presents a discussion of the issues surrounding public perceptions of the fire service and tools and resources to support local actions that will promote a positive public image.

“The positive image of the fire service is something we can’t take for granted anymore,” says Hank Clemmensen, IAFC president and chairman of the board. “The truth is, the only ones who can ensure we continue to enjoy a positive public perception is us.”

Fire departments may use the toolkit that comes with the document to implement initiatives that range from simple, no-cost, common-sense solutions to those that are more resource-intensive. Fire departments may also access a companion discussion group for assistance in discussing the issues in the document and building a library of resources at http://knowledge.iafc.org/iafc/communities/viewcommunities/communitydetails?CommunityKey=02ac00e7-09d7-48de-bc5a-f8deb9bcdc1e.

The members of the Image Task Force, explains Chief Steve Westermann, task force chair, wanted “to create something that moved us from talk to action … and define action steps we can take individually and collectively to ensure a positive public image.”

Westermann cautioned that some may find the discussion in the document uncomfortable and may perhaps even get angry. “But,” he adds, “that’s OK. There is nothing in this document that we don’t already know, even if we don’t want to admit it. The important thing is to get us moving in the right direction.”

“Preserving a positive public image is not something we fix and forget about,” Clemmensen notes: “It’s a daily and ongoing process by everyone on the team. This resource is meant to help get everyone pulling in the same direction.”

Regional Wildland-Fire Management Action Plans available

The Northeast, Southeast, and West regions have finalized their regional action plans and submitted them to the Wildland Fire Executive Committee (WFEC), a national-level advisory group (Cohesive Strategy) developed to support the federal interagency work on wildland fire.

The plans contain the actions and activities related to the core areas of resilient landscapes, fire adapted communities, and wildland fire response that will be executed over the next five years specific to each region’s local needs. Activity-tracking metrics, including scope, timeframes, responsibilities, and roles throughout the wildland-fire community, are also included in the plans. The action plans may be viewed at http://www.forestsandrangelands.gov/.

According to Chief Hank Clemmensen, International Association Fire Chiefs president and chairman of the board, “The collaborative input on the regional action plans from all levels of government and nongovernmental organizations, as well as from the public, is unifying efforts for the fire service to better be equipped to respond to wildland fire.”

“Prevent Kitchen Fires” theme of Fire Prevention Week

“Prevent Kitchen Fires” will be the theme of Fire Prevention Week 2013, October 6-12. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) said it selected this theme to encourage greater care when cooking and to foster an awareness of the dangers of kitchen fires.

NFPA announced the theme of Fire Prevention Week 2013 to coincide with the opening of the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC), where it introduced its new campaign materials so the “thousands of firefighters from across the globe who gathered at the conference to train, network and learn could view them at the NFPA exhibit booth.”

“On average,” points out NFPA Vice President of Communication Lorraine Carli, “firefighters respond to more than 400 kitchen fires every day.” Fire departments can request campaign materials at www.nfpa.org; click on Sparky’s Wish List. At press time, NFPA said nearly 700 fire departments had registered. Additional information is at www.firepreventionweek.org.

Coalition releases CO wildfire report and video

The Fire Adapted Communities (FAC) Coalition has released “Lessons Learned from Waldo Canyon” and a companion video, “Creating Fire Adapted Communities: A Case Study from Colorado Springs [CO] and the Waldo Canyon Fire.” The final report and video are the result of interviews, field visits, and tours of the most affected neighborhoods conducted by the Coalition’s assessment team during a three-day visit to the area in July 2012. The fire destroyed 345 homes last summer and resulted in the evacuation of more than 30,000 residents from Colorado Springs.

According to Pam Leschak, WUI/Fire Adapted Communities program for the USDA Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management, the Colorado Springs Fire Marshal’s Wildfire Mitigation Section (CSFMWMS) used mitigation tools for the past 10 years that “mirrored to a large extent” the recommendations of the Fire Adapted Communities program. “The findings of the report conclude that the damage to the city as a result of the Waldo Canyon Fire would have been far more widespread if these practices weren’t put into place,” she adds.

“Lessons Learned from Waldo Canyon” is the first post-fire field report from the FAC coalition. The mitigation assessment team, supported by the USFS and comprised of representatives from the Coalition including the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Fire Protection Association, and The Nature Conservancy, worked closely with the CSFMWMS and the Colorado State Forest Service.

NY-NJ Port Authority fined for gaps in airport safety training

In an agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PA) agreed to pay $3.5 million in fines for what Federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood called “egregious” violations. They involved the lack of a unit trained in firefighting and rescue at the airports under its jurisdiction.

The PA is to create a unit of rescue and firefighting officers to operate independently of the PA Police Department. Before the agreement, the chief of the PA Police Department oversaw these functions at PA’s four airports: Kennedy International and La Guardia in New York and Newark Liberty International and Teterboro in New Jersey.

NFFF fund to help survivors of fallen West (TX) responders

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) has established a national fund to accept donations to assist the survivors and coworkers of the fire and EMS personnel who died in the line of duty in West, Texas. Contributions may be sent to NFFF c/o West, Texas Fire and EMS Fallen Hero Fund, P.O. Drawer 498, Emmitsburg, MD 21727.

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