Legislators react to cut in FY2002 FIRE grant funds
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2002 will include $100 million for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program [grants that were made available through the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) Act], according to Joe M. Allbaugh, FEMA director. Allbaugh made the announcement at a meeting with leaders of the major fire service organizations. The grant program was inaugurated in the FY 2001 budget. Total grant program funding ($300 million) for the FY 2002 budget originally had been cut in the Bush Administration’s proposed budget plan. The proposed $100 million FY 2002 funding must be approved by Congress.
Referring to himself as a strong advocate for the fire service, Allbaugh said that he had requested that President Bush appoint him as the FEMA director. Continuing the grant program, Allbaugh said, “acknowledges the fire service community’s important role as our nation’s first responders to disasters.” Over the next few months, Allbaugh said he plans to meet with national fire service organizations and first responders.
Republican members of Congress, led by Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA), a former volunteer fire chief and founder of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, had met with Bush Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mitch Daniels to discuss funding for the firefighter assistance grant program. Congressional supporters of the fire service were troubled by the fact that the Bush Administration’s proposed budget for FY 2002 did not include funding for this newly established program. Other congressional fire service supporters present at the meeting with President Bush were Representatives Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), Fire Caucus co-chair; Robert Aderholt (R-AL); Howard Coble (R-NC); Jo Ann Davis (R-VA); Robin Hayes (R-NC); Nancy Johnson (R-CT); Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ); Todd Platts (R-PA); Nick Smith (R-MI); and Greg Walden (R-OR).
Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), author of the FIRE Act, in a press release in February, called the massive cuts the President proposed for public safety programs “totally unacceptable” and a “recipe for disaster.” He said the President would have to “answer to the hundreds of thousands of firefighters across the nation for his decision to kill this most worthy program” and that the program had “overwhelming bipartisan support.”
The fire service has been mobilizing to address this issue in a concerted manner. The news that the entire FY 2002 FIRE grant appropriation had been cut from the President’s originally proposed budget broke at the FDIC in Indianapolis. Thousands of attendees signed petitions asking the President to restore the funds. Numerous firefighters took petition forms back to their departments for signatures and forwarding to the President. Subsequently, there has been dialogue between the fire service and FEMA Director Allbaugh, who has advised of the restoration of $100 million to the budget.
Meanwhile, some fire service members and organizations are pushing for restoration of the entire $300 million. On March 4, 2001, the Board of Directors of the National Association of Counties (NACo) adopted a resolution supporting $300 million in funding for the FEMA FIRE grant program in FY 2002. The NACo is encouraging state, county, and municipal officials to contact their representatives in Congress to express their strong support for the grant program.
FEMA FY2001 grant program update
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) posted the interim final rule on the FY2001 $100 million fire service department program in the Federal Register March 21. The rule may be viewed at
FEMA, on March 30, made the complete application package for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program available for download from the USFA Web site
Evaluation panels will review applications for the six grant categories (Training, Wellness/Fitness, Vehicles, Firefighting Equipment, Personal Protective Equipment, and Fire Prevention Programs) in May and June. The grants will be awarded on a competitive basis based on demonstrated financial need for, and maximum benefit to be derived from, the grant funds. All grants must be awarded by September 30, 2001.
For additional information, visit the FEMA Web site, or call the toll-free information line at (866) 274-0960. Additional information may be obtained from Brian Cowan, director, Office of Strategic Initiatives, FEMA, Room 304, 500 “C” Street, SW, Washington, DC 20472; (1-866) 274-0960; or e-mail USFAGRANTS@ fema.gov.
New York City firefighters take over building inspections
The Fire Department of New York, not New York City’s Buildings Department, will be inspecting the city’s buildings for safety and compliance with current laws in the near future. Mayor Rudy Giuliani says the change will result in greater accountability. Buildings Department inspectors, who will be made part of the fire department, will do the inspecting under the fire department’s supervision. The fire department would also award building permits. The Buildings Department will continue to approve building plans and ensure the accuracy of the plans.
Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen welcomed the move, noting that the new plan will allow the fire department to improve public safety.
(Source: “FDNY to Take on Chunk of Buildings Department’s Work,” Michele McPhee, NY Daily News, 3/16/01)
Bill proposes federal grant program for rural EMS agencies
The Sustaining Access to Vital Emergency Medical Services Act of 2001 (S 587), introduced in Congress in March by Senators Tom Daschle (D-SD), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Pat Roberts (R-KS), and Craig Thomas (R-WY), would make $50 million in federal grants available for the years 2002 through 2007 to rural emergency medical services providers and rescue squads for training, hiring personnel, purchasing vehicles and equipment, and educating the public in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid techniques. EMS squads would have to match five percent of the grant.
The bill is supported by the Association of State Directors, the National Rural Health Association, and the American Ambulance Association.
The bill would also establish a prudent layperson standard for ambulance services for beneficiaries in traditional Medicare, Medicare+ Choice, and Medicaid managed plans. Ambulance services have not been included within the definition of emergency services under Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) regulations; payment for this service is sometimes denied.
USFA/NFA Volunteer Incentive Program application process revised
The U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy (USFA/NFA) has an-nounced the following revisions to the application process for the Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP).
- Effective immediately, all VIP applicants can submit their applications directly to the Admissions Office at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) instead of sending it through their respective state fire training office. The local fire chief must sign the application; the signature of the state fire training director is not required. All completed applications (FEMA Form 75-5, July 2000 or later) should be mailed to the following address: NETC Admissions Office, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD 21727.
The six-day VIP educational opportunity is designed specifically for the volunteer fire service officer. For additional information regarding dates and course content, consult the USFA Web page at
The NFA will continue to provide a travel stipend to/from Emmitsburg, lodging at the NETC, and instructional materials. Meals and breaks will be the responsibility of the participant and must be purchased at the NETC. Additional information about travel arrangements and meal/break costs will be provided with the confirmation letter. Applicants should not make any plans to attend this program until the NFA has notified them in writing that their application has been approved.
For further inquiries regarding these VIP application changes, contact Kirby Kiefer at (301) 447-1083 or by e-mail: Kirby.keifer @fema.gov.
Massachusetts announces fire safety grant awards
The state of Massachusetts is awarding $10 million in grants to 365 fire departments and fire districts across the state. Cities and towns may use the funds to purchase equipment in accordance with their priorities, according to Governor Paul Cellucci. The funds, taken from the state’s first Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program, created by Cellucci and Lieutenant Governor Jane Swift, may be used to purchase thermal imaging cameras and firefighter safety equipment from an approved list.
The newly created fund also provides $200,000 for the Department of Fire Services for grants and the development of a series of firefighter survival fire training programs.
The list of approved firefighter safety equipment was established by a five-member Firefighter Safety Equipment Board. The recommendations were based on board members’ evaluation of existing and emerging firefighter safety technology.
The board created a $4.8 million fund and established a base award of $13,000 to each city, town, authority, and fire district. The remaining $5 million will be distributed according to a tiered system based on population estimates for the year 2000. For additional information, contact John Birtwell at (617) 727-2759.
Legislation would guarantee grants for PA volunteer fire and ambulance companies
Pennsylvania’s volunteer fire and ambulance companies would be guaranteed annual grants under legislation proposed by State Senator Sean Logan (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland). Under Senate Bill 409, volunteer fire departments would be guaranteed $15,000 a year and volunteer ambulance companies would receive $2,500 each year.
Logan is planning to introduce additional legislation that will allow volunteer firefighters and ambulance service workers to receive education grants to accredited Pennsylvania colleges and universities. The legislation would also establish a volunteer firefighter license plate, have the state pay for volunteer firefighters to attend training seminars, and protect volunteers’ jobs while they attend the training seminars. (Source: “Pennsylvania State Sen. Logan Solicits Support for Legislation; Proposes Annual Grants for Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Companies,” PRNewswire, March 9, 2001)
NFPA’s Miller to retire
National Fire Protection Association and CEO George D. Miller has announced that he intends to retire in May 2002. The NFPA Board of Directors has appointed a search committee. The committee, coordinated by Catherine Scifres, NFPA assistant vice president for human resources, anticipates the search will take from nine to 12 months. Inquiries may be sent to Scifres’ attention at One Batterymarch Park, Quincy MA 02269-9101.
Boiler fire damages Erie Community College
Firefighters responding to an activated alarm at Spring Student Center on the North campus of Erie Community College in Amherst, New York, arrived to see fire showing in the first-floor windows and heavy black smoke coming from the large, two-story brick school building that houses the campus cafeteria, the dental clinic, the bookstore, and classrooms. The fire, which was in the boiler area of the building, was quickly extinguished. High-powered fans were used to remove the smoke from the building. No injuries were reported, but the fire caused $250,000 in damages.
James C. Lawida, chief of Main-Transit Fire Department, Inc., which responded, determined that the fire was caused by a malfunctioning boiler.
NFPA and Western Fire Chiefs release draft of Uniform Fire Code
An initial draft of the NFPA 1-Uniform Fire Code, developed by the National Fire Protection Association and the Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA), has been released for public review and comment. The document will undergo the NFPA open-consensus process that includes public review, comments, and deliberations by the Technical Committee.
The code incorporates current technical provisions from the 2000 editions of the Uniform Fire Code and NFPA 1, Fire Prevention Codetrademark. The first edition of the combined code is in the NFPA Fall 2002 cycle with a proposal closing date of June 8, 2001. The Standards Council will issue a final document in January 2003. The complete development cycle is available from the NFPA’s Web site,
Small dorm fire attributed to playing with matches
A towel that caught fire forced dorm students to evacuate Atkins dorm on the Winston-Salem (NC) State University campus. Sprinklers extinguished the fourth-floor fire. According to a student, the tower caught fire when “someone” was playing with matches. No one was injured. (Source: WXII ThePiedmontChannel.com, March 22, 2001)
