Fairfax, VA — The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) has announced the seven finalists of the 2006 Fire Service Award for Excellence. Co-sponsored by the IAFC and U.S. Safety Fire Technologies, the award recognizes innovation and achievement in managing resources to reduce the loss of life and property from fire and other emergencies.
The 2006 finalists are:
Gresham (Ore.) Fire and Emergency Services – Gresham’s Compartment Fire Behavior Training (CFBT) Program provided 50 hours of in-depth structural fire behavior training, including classroom instruction, case study, live-fire exercises and simulation. This initial training was delivered over a two-year period and has been followed up with integration of quarterly live-fire training, structure-fire case studies and tactical simulations on a quarterly basis.
Fairfax County (Va.) Fire and Rescue Department – The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department has developed a set of comprehensive manuals to deal with significant aspects of fire fighting operations. The content of these manuals have served to unify fire fighting command operations and have been adopted throughout the Northern Virginia region.
Firefighter Shane Ferguson, Winnipeg (Canada) Fire Paramedic Service – The Great Escape is an animated, interactive fire-safety game targeted at children aged 3–10 years old. This game teaches children how to make their way out of their home safely when the smoke alarm sounds.
Colorado Springs (Colo.) Fire Department and Traffic Management Center – This project is being used by the City of Colorado Springs to improve the delivery of public safety services. It is a combination of GPS/AVL technology, traffic signal control and preemption, wireless communication, interactive GIS mapping and single-touch access to emergency responder information about buildings and inspections.
Tualatin Valley (Ore.) Fire & Rescue – Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue’s Multi-Family Housing Fire Reduction Program is an innovative and action-oriented approach to minimizing the potential of deaths and property loss in multi-family housing. The program offers education, materials and motivation to landlords and property managers unlike any other fire service program. The program offers quarterly landlord-training workshops and educational resources, including a comprehensive Web site, pictorial smoke-alarm posters, handouts for new tenants and a monthly safety newsletter.
Hebron (Ky.) Fire Protection District (HFPD) – The HFPD has developed and implemented the Facility Liaison Program (FLP) to increase its relationship with target-hazard facilities within its rapidly growing district. The FLP consists of two primary components. The first includes the acquisition of specific and detailed information from selected facilities. This information is used to develop a multimedia presentation that is delivered to all district employees. The second component involves establishing a single point of contact for the facility to access the services of the HFPD.
Westmont (Ill.) Fire Department – The Children’s Safety Day Camp is cosponsored by the Westmont Fire and Police Departments, which are committed to providing quality safety education. This camp provides an opportunity for 8-, 9- and 10-year-old children to spend time with their local heroes and learn much more than just the usual safety lessons covered in a one-hour school presentation. During two fun-focused days of learning, participants increase their knowledge and awareness of all aspects of safety. The camp includes sessions on bike safety, fire safety,
9-1-1 procedures, water safety, personal safety, outdoor safety and first aid, all in a fun and informative atmosphere.
The overall winner of the Excellence Award will be announced September 14, 2006, at Fire-Rescue International in Dallas, Tex., during the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and Chief Fire Officer Designation (CFOD) Awards reception and dinner. The dinner will be held at the Hyatt Regency Dallas, Regency Ballroom.
Chief Ronny Coleman, IAFC President 1988-1989, and U.S. Safety Fire Technologies President H. Wayne Boyd created the award to recognize the fire service’s creative solutions to community problems. Award-winning programs have focused on such issues as fire prevention, emergency preparedness and management, drowning prevention, arson, EMS, fire-victim assistance, recruitment, public relations, community outreach and training.
