USFA Releases Fire Risk Reports

Emmitsburg, MD – The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has issued three special reports, as part of its Topical Fire Report Series, examining the risk of death or injury from fire by various demographics, such as age, race, and gender.

Fire Risk in 2007 (PDF, 542 Kb)

Fire Risk to Children in 2007 (PDF, 371 Kb)

Fire Risk to Older Adults in 2007 (PDF, 478 Kb)

The three reports were developed by the National Fire Data Center, part of USFA. The reports explore factors that influence risk and are based on data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), and the U.S. Census Bureau. These reports are an update of the previous fire risk reports issued in April 2008 (Volume 7, Issues 5, 6, and 7).

These short topical reports are designed to explore facets of the U.S. fire problem as depicted through data collected in NFIRS. Each topical report briefly addresses the nature of the specific fire or fire-related topic, highlights important findings from the data, and may suggest other resources to consider for further information.

For further information regarding other topical reports or any programs and training available from the United States Fire Administration, visit www.usfa.fema.gov.

NFPA REPORT ON MERCANTILE FIRES

Funeral Procedures Guide

Grant Writing Guide

Sound the alarm today Website

NASFM GUIDE TO BUILDING GREEN AND FIRE SAFETY

Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2009

RITs And How To Avoid Using Them"

"Personnel Accountability System Technology"

From: FIRESCOPE CALIFORNIA,

Firescope California ICS System

FROM: The New Jersey Center for Public Health Preparedness

"Essental Elements of Respiratory Protection"

HOLIDAY RADIO SAFETY PSAs

UTILITY RESPONSE TRAINING

SOLAR POWER SAFETY:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oaF9GV3pIU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd-5aJ1X6fI

RESPONDING TO NATURAL GAS EMERGENCIES

Digital Edition

The Everyday Text Book Publisher

Red Hat Publishing

PIPELINE ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS SITE

PAPA Web Site

RESPONDING TO UTILITY EMERGENCIES

XCEL Energy WEB SITE

SPECIAL RESEARCH REPORT

Hydrogen Sulfide Suicides

Latest Technique Hazards to First Responders

CLICK HERE

"SLOW DOWN AND MOVE OVER !"

Public Service Announcement Unveiled

A national Public Service Announcement (PSA) urging motorists to “slow down and move over” premiered yesterday at the Delaware City (DE) Fire Company. The PSA is a joint venture between the Delaware City Fire Company and the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association (CVVFA) to educate the public about dangers associated with passing responders working on the roadways.

The project was launched at the request of the Delaware City Fire Company following the tragic death of Firefighter/EMT Michelle Smith, who was struck while rendering aid at an accident in December of 2008. The CVVFA produced the PSA under a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), with funding from the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. USFA Acting Deputy Fire Administrator Denis Onieal and Bill Troup from the USFA’s National Fire Programs Division attended the ceremony.

Delaware Senate Bill 205 increases the penalty for a violation of the Move Over Law if a driver violates the statute and strikes a roadway responder. The change places the Delaware law closer to the model Move Over legislation adopted in most other states. Move Over laws require motorists, if possible, to move at least a lane away from firefighters, law enforcement, ambulances, tow trucks, and transportation workers. If that is not possible, drivers must slow down and proceed with caution.

NEW EMERGENCY VEHICLE AND ROADWAY OPERATIONS SAFETY GUIDE !!

Best Practices for Emergency Vehicle and Roadway Operations Safety Guide released by USFA in partnership with IAFF as part of an initiative to improve emergency vehicle and roadway operations safety for firefighters and law enforcement officers. (Free Download)

http://www.iaff.org/hs/EVSP/guides.html

USFA Releases Vacant Residential Building Fires Report

August 19, 2010

USFA Media Contact: (301) 447-1853

Washington, DC — The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) United States Fire Administration (USFA) issued a special report today examining the characteristics of fires in vacant residential buildings. The report, Vacant Residential Building Fires (PDF, 744 Kb), was developed by USFA's National Fire Data Center and is further evidence of FEMA's commitment to sharing information with fire departments and first responders around the country to help them keep their communities safe.

The report is part of the Topical Fire Report Series and is based on 2006 to 2008 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). According to the report, an estimated 28,000 vacant residential building fires occur annually in the United States, resulting in an estimated average of 45 deaths, 225 injuries, and $900 million in property loss. Vacant residential fires are considered part of the residential fire problem as they comprise approximately 7 percent of residential building fires. In addition, intentional is the leading cause of vacant residential building fires which are more prevalent in July (9 percent), due in part to an increase in intentional fires on July 4 and 5. Finally, almost all vacant residential building fires are nonconfined and half spread to involve the entire building.

The topical reports are designed to explore facets of the U.S. fire problem as depicted through data collected in NFIRS. Each topical report briefly addresses the nature of the specific fire or fire-related topic, highlights important findings from the data, and may suggest other resources to consider for further information. Also included are recent examples of fire incidents that demonstrate some of the issues addressed in the report or that put the report topic in context.

For further information regarding other topical reports or any programs and training available at the United States Fire Administration, visit www.usfa.fema.gov.

The United States Fire Administration recommends everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing a home fire escape plan.

USFA Releases Fatal Fires in Residential Buildings Report

August 19, 2010

USFA Media Contact: (301) 447-1853

Washington, DC — The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) United States Fire Administration (USFA) issued a special report today examining the characteristics of fatal fires in residential buildings. The report, Fatal Fires in Residential Buildings (PDF, 708 Kb), was developed by USFA's National Fire Data Center and is further evidence of FEMA's commitment to sharing information with fire departments and first responders around the country to help them keep their communities safe.

The report is part of the Topical Fire Report Series and is based on 2006 to 2008 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). According to the report, an estimated 1,800 fatal residential building fires occur annually in the United States, resulting in an estimated average of 2,635 deaths, 725 injuries, and $196 million in property loss. The leading cause of fatal residential fires is smoking (19 percent) and the leading areas of fire origin are bedrooms (27 percent) and common areas such as living and family rooms (23 percent). In addition, fatal residential fires, which tend to be larger, cause more damage, and have higher injury rates than nonfatal residential fires, occur most frequently in the late evening and early morning hours, peaking from midnight to 5 a.m. Finally, these types of fires are more prevalent in the cooler months, peaking in January (13 percent).

For further information regarding other topical reports or any programs and training available at the United States Fire Administration, visit www.usfa.fema.gov.

The United States Fire Administration recommends everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing a home fire escape plan.

READ THE FOLLOWING REPORT:

Mandatory Public Safety Employee Collective Bargaining Bill (PSEECA)

National Junior Firefighter Academy a Great Success

The National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) National Junior Firefighter Program, in partnership with Spartan Motors, Inc., California Casualty, and Firehouse Expo, presented the inaugural National Junior Firefighter Academy on July 24 as part of Firehouse Expo in Baltimore, MD. The Academy, which was held from 9am-12pm, consisted of two sessions that ran concurrently - one junior firefighters and one for advisors. A lunch reception was held afterwards, courtesy of MSA.

“The National Junior Firefighter Academy brought together a wide range of youth and adult members of the fire service interested in building and strengthening their department’s junior firefighter program,” said Rachel Higginbotham, NVFC Director of the National Junior Firefighter Program. “The feedback we have received from the attendees has been very positive. We are pleased at the success of this inaugural Academy and grateful to our sponsors for supporting this important initiative.”

Dozens of youth from the mid-Atlantic area attended the junior firefighter session, which was open to youth ages 13-18. Presentations included:

2010 National Junior Firefighter of the Year Michelle Carilli of the Coventry (CT) Volunteer Fire Association and Jay Stanton, junior firefighter at Elkridge (MD) Volunteer Fire Department, led a youth leadership panel in which junior firefighters shared ideas and best practices from their own programs and departments.
Mike Barnett, Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department Junior Firefighter Program Coordinator, shared activity ideas with the youth.
NVFC Director of Government Relations Dave Finger presented information on how youth can get involved in fire service legislation.
Bob Timko, NVFC Executive Committee member, and Steve Carter, University of Maryland-University College Academic Director of Emergency Management, Fire Science, and Homeland Security, led sessions on future career and educational paths in fire science.
Higginbotham provided an overview of the Program and its history.

Over thirty program advisors, chiefs, and parents of junior firefighters took part in the Academy. Attendees of the adult session learned about the following topics:

Heather Schafer, NVFC Executive Director, provided an overview of the Program and its history and highlighted the resources for departments.
Barnett presented information on building youth leaders as well as activity ideas for advisors to take back to their own departments.
Timko led a session on applying for grants to fund youth programs.
Finger instructed advisors on how to get their youth involved in the legislative process and the importance of educating the future of the fire service on legislative issues that pertain to the fire service.

Timko, who began his time in the fire service as a junior firefighter, said the knowledge provided at the Academy assists departments with setting goals for what each program wants to accomplish. "They get to hear from experienced leaders and connect with other programs from across the country," he said.

The National Junior Firefighter Program serves as an umbrella for junior firefighter programs nationwide to promote youth participation within the fire and emergency services community. In addition, youth can use the program to locate a local junior firefighter program, keep track of their hours of service, and learn what it means to be a firefighter. The National Junior Firefighter Program promotes the future of the fire service by encouraging youth to form a connection with their emergency service department so that hopefully as adults they will either join the fire service or become a community supporter of the fire service. The National Junior Firefighter Program is part of the National Volunteer Fire Council and supported by Spartan Motors, Inc. and Tyco International. Find out more about the National Junior Firefighter Program at www.nvfc.org/juniors.

NFPA receives grant to develop electric vehicle training program for emergency responders

The (NFPA) has received a grant to develop a safety training program to help emergency first responders prepare for the growing number of electric vehicles on the road in the United States. The Obama Administration has established a goal of one million electric vehicles in the U.S. by 2015. The NFPA initiative, funded by a $4.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, will include a series of electric vehicle emergency response safety programs available to emergency first responders. The training programs will provide emergency first responders with information they need to most effectively deal with emergency situations involving these alternative-fuel vehicles.

"Alternative-fuel vehicles bring new challenges for emergency first responders,” said Andrew Klock, NFPA’s senior project manager for this initiative. "We are building on NFPA’s long history as a leader in fire safety to provide critical information about the unique characteristics of these vehicles. Our goal is to make sure that first responders have all the information they need to deal with emergency situations involving these vehicles."

The training program will include NFPA-developed classroom training courses, handbooks, simulations, webinars, videos and other computer-based training tools.

“We want to make this training accessible for any emergency first responder,” says Klock.

Already, the NFPA, has begun to study some of the safety issues raised by electric vehicles. Last year, NFPA was awarded a grant from the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to identify and help facilitate best practices and guidelines for first responders related to electric- and hybrid-electric vehicles. Issues examined in the report include the potential for electric shock, vehicle movement, and fire extinguishment and overhaul as key areas of concern for emergency responders.

For more information and resources about NFPA’s U.S. Emergency Responder Safety Training Program for Advanced Electric Drive Vehicles, visit

wthe ww.nfpa.org/