NFFF releases Cancer Alliance report
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) report summarizing the meetings of the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance stresses the need for the fire service and affiliated organizations to work together to reduce exposures, illnesses, and deaths related to cancer in firefighters and to support those affected by cancer. A summary of the actions taken at the Alliance meetings, goals set and their time frames, and other important issues are contained in the report, which is available at http://www.everyonegoeshome.com/2016/06/16/cancer-alliance/.
NFPA updates evacuation planning guide
The second edition of the National Fire Protection Association’s Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities is available free and can be downloaded at https://community.nfpa.org/docs/DOC-1872.
13 earn ISFSI training officer credential designation
Thirteen candidates from 10 departments were the first to be credentialed as training officers under the new International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI) Training Officer Credential designation program. The ceremony took place at the Central Arizona Regional Training Academy in Prescott in June. “This credential is designed to elevate the standards of instructor professionalism,” explains Leigh Hubbard, executive director of the ISFSI.
ISFSI President Steve Pegram adds, “The ISFSI credential designation provides instructors with a direct pathway to develop and advance as professional educators and will bridge the gap among fire service professional development, the professional credentialing of instructors, and the accreditation of emerging training curriculums and eLearning platforms and programs.”
The designation is for a three-year period. Credentialed instructors are eligible for 32 hours of continuing education credit by Columbia Southern University. For additional information, contact Leigh.Hubbard@isfsi.org.
National Mitigation Investment Act Introduced in House
On May 10, 2016, H.R. 5177, the National Mitigation Investment Act, was introduced. The legislation would provide a federal incentive (not a mandate) to encourage states to build more resiliently ahead of disasters and reward those that do with an additional four percent in post-disaster mitigation funds awarded through the Stafford Act. It creates within the Federal Emergency Management Agency opportunities for states and localities to apply for grants to defray the cost of implementing and enforcing strong building codes and authorizes a study that analyzes costs and losses from natural disasters, identifies how disaster assistance is being used, and determines ways to best mitigate ahead of catastrophes. H.R. 5177 was referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Congress and fiscal year 2017 DHS funding
On June 9, the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Homeland Security approved the draft of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security. The $47.8 billion spending bill contains $6.7 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), $432 million above the White House’s requested funding level.
The bill proposes funding for the following fire service-related programs:
- The Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE) grant program, funded at $345 million, the same level as the current fiscal year.
- Staffing for the Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, funded at $345 million, the same level as the current fiscal year.
- United States Fire Administration (USFA), $42.5 million.
- U.S. Fire Academy campus, Emmitsburg, Maryland, an additional $1.5 million for infrastructure improvements.
- The Urban Search and Rescue System (USAR), funded at $36.28 million, an increase of $1.1 million over the current fiscal year.
In May, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved S. 3001, its version of the FY17 Homeland Security spending measure. It proposes $680 million combined for the FIRE and SAFER programs, $44 million for the USFA, and $35.18 million for USAR.
LINE-OF-DUTY DEATHS
May 12. Firefighter Prentice “Jay” Tyndall, 45, Hugo Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Grifton, NC: injury from cerebrovascular accident suffered on May 8.
June 6. Captain Bradley Long, 28, Sherrills Ford-Terrell (NC) Fire and Rescue: drowned in a water rescue operation.
June 14. Firefighter/AEMT Douglas A. Clement, 43, New Hampton (NH) Fire Department: heart attack.
June 16. Firefighter Joshua Warren, 34, Alexis (NC) Volunteer Fire Department: cause unknown.
June 16. Firefighter III Clifford M. Rigsbee, 63, Honolulu (HI) Fire Department: spinal column injury incurred while participating in a rescue watercraft training exercise on June 14.
June 18. Chief David K. Britt, 54, Severn (NC) Fire Department: medical emergency suffered on June 17; cause to be reported.
Source: USFA Firefighters Memorial Database
Fire Engineering Archives
