Grant program for Pennsylvania volunteer fire companies proposed
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge has proposed a $15 million grant program for the state’s volunteer fire departments. The move was lauded by Congressional Fire Services Institute Executive Director Bill Webb as “an ambitious program to help fire companies.” Webb added that five other states offer loan programs but that none is as large as this one proposed for Pennsylvania.
If approved, the grants, according to a spokesperson for Governor Ridge, would be restricted to equipment purchases (not apparatus because of their high cost) and building maintenance. They would not be for department operations. The funds likely would be awarded by the State Fire Commissioner’s office.
Quoting from a 1996 survey, John Brenner, executive director of the Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Services Institute, says, “Pennsylvania’s volunteer firefighters in some cases spend up to 80 percent of their time raising money.”
Source: NVFC Legislative Update, Feb. 4, 2000; “Fire companies embrace Ridge plan for grants. Volunteers spend as much as 80% of their time raising funds,” Joe McDermott, The Morning Call, Jan. 31, 2000.
IAFF announces priorities in national legislation
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has identified a number of important issues it expects Congress to vote on during the current session. Its first priority is H.R. 1093, the IAFF’s national collective bargaining bill. The proposed legislation had 233 cosponsors at press time. The IAFF is working toward getting hearings in the House Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations, chaired by Rep. John Boehner (R-OH). The Senate bill (S. 1016), at press time, was in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee, chaired by Sen. Jim Jeffords (R-VT).
The IAFF also will be focusing on the Fire Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) Act, which will give to fire departments $5 billion, over five years, in competitive grants for improving firefighter health and safety. The bill was introduced in the House (H.R. 1168) by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA). Senators Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Mike DeWine (R-OH) introduced the Senate bill (S. 1941). The House bill was referred to the Committee on Science; the Senate version was submitted to the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. The House bill had 219 cosponsors at press time. According to the IAFF, Committee Chairmen Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Rep. Nick Smith (R-MI) reportedly have refused to hold hearings on the bill up to press time. The Senate bill was introduced just before the Congressional recess; attempts were underway at press time to get cosponsors for the Senate bill.
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has been urging fire service members to petition Reps. Sensenbrenner and Smith to schedule hearings on this legislation.
Another IAFF priority is getting public sector pension portability provisions included in the tax bills, which are expected to move this year. The IAFF will also closely monitor several other bills.
Congress returned to Washington from its recess on January 21, 2000.
OSHA revises bloodborne pathogens directive
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued late last year its directives for bloodborne pathogens in an effort to help minimize serious health risks to workers exposed to blood and other potentially infectious materials, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
Under the updated provisions, employers’ bloodborne pathogens programs must be reviewed annually, and safer medical devices must be used to help reduce the number of needlesticks and other sharps injuries. Basic work practices, personal protective equipment, and administrative controls also are highlighted.
Also included in the directives are detailed instructions for compliance officers relative to inspections of multiemployer work sites, such as home health services, employment agencies, personnel services, physicians and health care professionals in independent practices, and independent contractors. Decontamination requirements, guidelines on hepatitis vaccinations and postexposure treatments, and employee training are also covered. The directive may be accessed from the OSHA home page at www.osha.goc. A copy may also be obtained by calling the agency’s Publications Office at (202) 693-1888.
ICC releases 2000 International Fire Code®
The International Code Council (ICC) has released the 2000 International Fire Code® (IFC). Many regional and national fire service organizations participated in the development of the IFC, explains Building Officials and Code Administrators International (BOCA) Chief Executive Officer Paul Heilstedt. He added that 600 of 900 code changes submitted during the code hearings are included in the new product. To complement the IFC, the ICC has begun to create a national certification program for fire code enforcement professionals. Fire service representatives of the three model code organizations are developing a nationally recognized certification exam for the IFC, which is expected to be available in the Fall in all 50 states. A copy of the 2000 IFC may be purchased through BOCA International by calling Customer Service at (800) 214-4321, ext. 371.
NFPA AND WFCA develop joint fire code
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) recently have signed an agreement to jointly develop a harmonized fire code that integrates NFPA 1, Fire Prevention Code® and the Uniform Fire Code.
Under the agreement, the NFPA and the WFCA will work together to develop a harmonized fire code for release in the year 2003, using the NFPA/ANSI open consensus process. For additional information, contact Susan McKelvey, NFPA, at (617) 984-7275, or Andy Vanderlaan, WFCA, at (670) 723-6911.
2000 congressional calendar
For fire service members who would like to speak to their federal legislators concerning fire service issues, the following congressional calendar was prepared by the National Volunteer Fire Council.
The House will observe Spring recess from April 17-28; the Senate, from April 17-24. Both branches will observe the following recesses: Memorial Day, May 29-June 2; Independence Day, July 3-7; and Summer, July 31-September 5.
The Republican convention will be held from July 31-August 4, and the Democratic convention from August 14-17. The target adjournment date for Congress is October 6.
Note: Keep in mind that most members of Congress are back home in the district during recess periods. This is the best time to contact them regarding fire service issues.
Line-of-Duty Deaths, 2000
- January 22: Firefighter Brian K. Burnett, 23, of the Scipio (IN) Volunteer Fire Department, died of injuries sustained after the apparatus in which he was responding to an alarm overturned on October 28, 1999.
- January 27: Captain Walter Gass, 74, of the Sealy (TX) Volunteer Fire Department, died as a result of burns he received while fighting a house fire.
- February 6: Firefighter Doug Stevens, 42, of the Story City (IA) Volunteer Fire Department, died after suffering a heart attack while overhauling at the scene of a small house fire.
- February 13: Lt. Richard Spink, 48, a 24-year veteran of the Fort Campbell (KY) Fire Department, died after suffering a massive heart attack during a live training burn.
- February 13: Firefighter Christopher Whelan, 30, a 10-month member of the Norfolk (VA) Fire Department, died after suffering a heart attack while on duty.
- February 14: Engineer/Operator Lewis E. Mayo III, 44, a 19-year veteran of the Houston (TX) Fire Department, died after becoming trapped in the collapse of a fast food restaurant during an early morning fire.
- February 14: Firefighter Kimberly A. Smith, 30, a five-year member of the Houston (TX) Fire Department, died after becoming trapped in the collapse of a fast food restaurant during an early morning fire.
