SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Four firefighters were burned and one suffered a broken finger while battling a fire near Upper Onondaga Park that killed one person early this morning.

The firefighters were treated and released from Upstate University Hospital and their conditions are unknown. The fire department has not released their names.

The fire happened at 4 a.m. at 354-56 Clairmonte Avenue, a two-family home near the intersection with Crossett Street. A neighbor said the home was a rental. A body was found inside the home, but police have not identified the person. 

Full story: Five firefighters hurt battling fatal fire in Syracuse

PHOENIX — A Phoenix firefighter has died overnight after a horrific accident at a fire scene in the West Valley Saturday evening.

Phoenix police Sgt. Tommy Thompson said 23-year-old firefighter Bradley Harper was “gravely injured” when he became pinned between two fire vehicles that were getting into position to fight a mulch fire. Crews responded around 5:20 p.m. to a mulch fire near 39th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road.

Officials said the firefighter has been with the department for two years. He was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital where other firefighters have gathered.

Full story: PD; Phoenix firefighter has died after an accident at the scene of a Phoenix fire  

CLINTONVILLE, Ohio — Firefighters and medics are used to responding to shootings and violence.  Just not usually right next door.

An early-morning shootout on Wednesday between Columbus police and two people in a fleeing SUV ended in the parking lot of Fire Station 19, at Northmoor Place and N. High Street in Clintonville.

The SUV plowed through the station’s bushes and stopped in the parking lot. When the barrage of gunfire was over and a man lay handcuffed on the ground, the police turned to the medics who were watching. 

Full story: Firefighters describe Clintonville shootout

PASSAIC, N.J. — Two firefighters were injured battling a 4-alarm blaze in Passaic.

One firefighter sustained burns to his upper body and another suffered hand and leg injuries as the rooming house on Lafayette Avenue burned Thursday.  It took about 3 1/2 hours to bring the blaze under control. Live electrical wires hampered efforts.

Fire Chief Patrick Trentacost tells The Record 34 people were evacuated from the three-story building and from adjacent buildings.

Full story: 2 firefighters hurt in Passaic blaze

Firefighter James Rice, of the Peabody Fire Department, died Dec. 23, 2011, while battling a three-alarm fire at a multi-unit building. The 42-year-old entered the fire apartment while the responding lieutenant went to a different apartment, losing contact with Rice, according to the report.

The lieutenant entered the fire apartment, attempted to knock down the fire, but the apartment flashed. At this time, the location of the victim was unknown. The lieutenant returned to the fire apartment with a thermal imaging camera but the image was featureless due to the amount of heat and fire.

Several firefighters stated they heard a personal alert safety system alarm sounding but were unable to determine the location. Another engine company entered the fire apartment, located the victim, and removed him with the help of two other firefighters. Despite receiving CPR and advanced life support outside the structure, in the ambulance, and in the local hospital’s emergency room, Firefighter Rice died.

NIOSH concluded that the physical stress of interior structural firefighting triggered a cardiac arrhythmia leading to his subsequent cardiac arrest.

Because crew integrity was a key factor, NIOSH recommends fire departments ensure that crew integrity is properly maintained by voice contact or radio contact when operating in an immediately dangerous to life and health atmosphere.

Departments should also ensure the incident commander communicates the strategy and incident action plan to all members assigned to an incident.

In order to extinguish a fire, departments should also make sure all personnel are trained in the proper application of fire streams. An engine company officer should consider total flow of water needed, length of stretch of hoseline, location and access of the fire and available staffing, according to the report.

NIOSH also stress fire departments should ensure that engine companies initiate a fire attack based upon size-up and the incident commander’s defined strategy and tactics.

This will provide and ensure that the engine company officer monitors the portable radio for critical information, such as ventilation delays, water supply difficulties, collapse potential and “mayday” or “urgent “ transmission, that may affect the engine company, according to the report.

There are no real answers as to how or why this occurred, but now my community is faced with addressing the aftermath.

In addition, the impact of this tragedy has affected my local fire service as one of these young men was a member of the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department and another was the younger brother to an active member of the United Communities VFD, where I serve.

Both of these departments responded to the accident scene. Unfortunately there was nothing that the rescue crews could do, delivering a second emotional blow to our fire service members.

Call for assistance
Upon learning of the accident, an immediate response of assistance, support and comfort descended upon our community. The administrations of both departments began the process of pulling resources, reaching out to the families of these young men, and supporting our members who were impacted by the incident.

While these deaths were not a result of fire department activities, they truly affected our entire fire service family. The stressors created by this incident were very visible and if left unchecked, could possibly affect the delivery of effective fire, rescue and emergency medical services to our residents.

Departments must be ready to deal with tragedy when it strikes close to home and must have a plan as to how they will address issues as they arise.

Whether or not it is a line of duty death, the same basic principles apply: Have a plan in place, practice the components of the plan, learn from each time you administer it and make adjustments from the experiences you have. Most importantly, stick with the plan as best as possible, openly communicate all aspects of the plan and empower team members to discharge the various tasks and actions that need to be performed. 

The best learning environment is achieved when individuals are engaged in the activities being taught and mentored through the assorted steps in the process. Sharing the workload not only makes the job easier, but it provides depth within an organization by having more people who are able to get things done. 

Resources available
If your department does not have a plan for these types of occurrences, then please contact the NFFF and ask for our materials that contain sample plans, SOPs and departmental best practices. If you do have a plan, then these materials might be a great way to evaluate the overall effectiveness of your strategies against what other departments are doing.

At my department we are continuing our efforts to communicate with each other and work through issues around our firehouse kitchen table, a natural comfort zone that firefighters use to strengthen their resilience when tragedy strikes.

But some of us will need more extensive help and that is why the NFFF has been working for the past four years to develop a new Behavioral Health Model to support the first responder community. One core element of this new model, stress first aid, involves peer support and was adapted from the combat operations stress first aid model used by Marines Corps and Navy personnel.

I will close by expressing my deepest sympathies to the families of these four young men: Tyler Elzey, 19, Harrison Rhodes Smith, 18, Cory Pessagno, 18, and Michael John Ringenbach, 19, to their friends and neighbors and to the Kent Island and United Communities volunteer fire departments who were most impacted by this loss. 

They may be gone, but they will never be forgotten. May they rest in peace.

One of the more interesting items is that several studies indicated a consistent rate of attacks on fire service. In some countries, noticeably the United Kingdom, direct attacks on fire brigades are well documented. The shooting of fire service members is, unfortunately, not a new phenomenon.

The standard model of risk management travels from low frequency to high frequency from left to right, and low risk to high risk moving up the graph. Clearly, even with any national increase in violence, the phenomenon is a low-frequency event for the fire service. It is, however, just as clearly a high-risk event at the same time.

Hazard training

An argument can and should be made that OSHA/PEOSH General Duty Clause would require that employers and our industry in general are well aware of this danger in our workplace.

This knowledge leads to our general duty to provide appropriate training, equipment and protection to our members. In my home state of New York, workplace violence training is mandate for career and volunteer departments alike.

A large portion of the resources connected to Initiative 12 deal with scenarios where violence has already occurred, is continuing to occur or can be assumed to occur when public safety arrives.

However, as we've discovered when we are the initial focus on the violence there aren't quite as many resources available. The Final Report for Initiative 12 outlines preliminary checklist when confronted with a violent incident.

1. If your initial size-up assesses a threat of confrontation, wait for police assistance. Do not insert yourself into the situation.
2. If you find yourself in a confrontation where you can remove yourself to wait for police assistance, do it.
3. If confronted with non-lethal force (no weapons are involved), defend yourself and attempt to control the situation using non-lethal force.
4. If confronted with lethal force, use whatever means is necessary to eliminate the threat or get out of the way. At times, this could mean not doing anything at all that might provoke the attacker. This would be an appropriate course of action when a gun is pointed at you.

All planning is local

Our members tend to be can-do people who want to help and want to get right into the situation. Quite frankly these are not the only people who gravitate to our organizations, but we like having them.

But, that can-do attitude can clearly put them in the wrong place.

For many agencies the local police are not very local, and are responding from quite a distance. This puts firefighters at even greater risk.

Waiting until the event to talk to your police agencies about how you'll communicate and address such horrible scenarios is simply unacceptable.

No geographic area is immune to violence and resources are out there, so get out and train, talk and prepare.

Other requirements have been included to ensure that the liner, including both the moisture barrier and thermal barrier, be extended to a specific distance to the outer shell hem at the collar, the sleeve ends, and bottom hem of the coat and to the waist and pant leg ends as part of trousers.

Liquid protection had been a rising concern for the fire service even before the IAFF Project FIRES. For some departments, the idea that firefighter clothing have waterproof characteristics dates back to the coated slickers and other clothing that functioned more like rainwear than what now has come to be appreciated as bunker gear.

It was not uncommon to find the use of coated outer shells 30 years ago. Whereas in past decades, liquid exposure primarily focused on hot and cold water, concerns have extended to fireground chemicals and contaminated blood and body fluids.

Providing protection

The manner in which the moisture barrier provides liquid protection is straightforward; this material is generally a laminate of a high temperature, flame-resistant polymer film to one or more textile fabrics.

As the film is continuous over the material layer. Seams between individual pieces of the moisture barrier found in the pattern for creating the liner convey this same physical barrier.

In contrast, the overall clothing item, whether coat or pants, only keeps liquids out if specific features are included to create overlaps and coverage of the body, particularly at closures and interfaces.

For example, the front closure of all turnout clothing includes a flap. In order for liquid not to enter the front of the coat, the flap must have moisture barrier as part of its layering. In addition, the it must butt up against the edges of closure area, and the inside of the shell along the sides of the front closure area must include strips of moisture barrier to accomplish overlaps of waterproof material

Similar arrangements must be made in the trousers fly. An entirely different type of design is used in the wrist area where not only must the liner extend to near the end of the sleeve, but a wristlet must be in place to help secure the sleeve on the wearer's hand and keep all three layers in place.

The shower test

NFPA 1971 includes significant design features to accomplish the moisture and liquid protection. However, it also relies on a comprehensive test. The whole-garment liquid-penetration test, also known as the shower tests, evaluates complete coats and pants for their ability to prevent liquid penetration.

The test involves placing garments on a manikin that is already dressed in long sleeve, full leg undergarments intended to show water spots. The manikin is then placed on a rotating platform and sprayed by surfactant-treated water from five different nozzles for 20 minutes.

Three nozzles are positioned above the manikin and two are positioned to the lower sides. The test is intended to deliver a uniform spray to different portions of the clothing but in reality the majority of liquid impinging on the clothed manikin surface from the overhead nozzles and liquid runs off the manikin clothing by gravity.

A surfactant is added to the sprayed water for making the quality of water more penetrating and representative of liquids other than water such as hydrocarbons and blood, which can have surface tension values that are less than half of the value for water.

Since only the coat and pants are evaluated, the top portion of the collar is covered with a plastic bag over the manikin head and cups are placed inside the sleeve ends to prevent liquid spray from entering these areas. Thus, the evaluation of liquid-tight performance is limited to those areas of the manikin that are actually covered by the clothing.

Pass/fail performance is exclusively judged on the observation of liquid penetrating to the clothing interior. This may be in evidence by either wetness of interior layers or liquid spots on the underlying clothing worn underneath the coat and pants set.

Test shortcomings

While the test method is straightforward in principle, there is a substantial amount of criticism in the interest for its application to turnout clothing. The test is heavily dependent on how the manikin is dressed and obvious care is undertaken in how the closures are secured and the garments are oriented on the manikin.

Folds and creases in the clothing often create channels that direct liquid along various paths and sometimes into less protected areas, such as a collar area diverting liquid towards the front closure. An exposure time of 20 minutes is considered unrealistic if one considers the overall liquid exposure of test (five nozzles spraying approximately 0.8 gallon per minute).

Manufacturers that test their garments as part of the certification to NFPA 1971 often complain that the test is not reproducible and can create changes in garment features that result in overdesign that goes beyond end user expectations.

Despite the criticisms for the test, where complaints most have some validity, we are proponents of the shower test. That's because firefighters are increasingly being exposed to fireground hazards that include a variety of liquids, much of it hose spray runoff, of varying degree of health effects as well as blood-borne pathogens.

Nevertheless, we agree that changes to the test may be needed to meet the intended level of liquid protection afforded to firefighters. After all, the hood is a porous knit with no barrier performance whatsoever.

A better mousetrap

Yet, liquid protection is one of those tradeoff areas. Firefighter want and need liquid protection, but overdesign for liquid-barrier performance creates an imbalance with other garment effects, most notably thermal stress/comfort, mobility, and ease of donning.    

To this end, our company, International Personnel Protection, Inc. has undertaken a project sponsored by the Department of Defense's Technical Support Working Group, to establish an improved liquid-integrity test for first responder protective ensembles. This project is aimed at revising or replacing the existing test with equipment and procedures that are more relevant to firefighter exposures, yet still provide a characterization of overall liquid protection.

In addition, our goal is to devise liquid penetration sensors using a simple electrical principle that provides a clear determination of penetrating liquid and will establish the ability to determine when and where the liquid penetration occurs.

This activity will involve a high degree of validation, particularly to show that the proposed method is reproducible with the concurrence of those laboratories performing the tests for product design and certification. We plan to provide a short survey that assesses end user expectations relative to liquid protection to guide this effort in addition to support from the NFPA’s Fire Protection Research Foundation for providing technical advice through an advisory panel.   

Hoods are actually an interface component of the ensemble. That is, they provide protection to the gaps that are created by other parts the ensemble coming together. As it turns out, the head and face region is such an area.

Hoods are supposed to provide base protection in the potential gaps on the sides of the face and on the neck, which are not complete covered by other elements of the ensemble. In reality, the hood should never be the only area that is protecting any portion of the face or neck.

The coat collar is intended to protect the majority of the wearer's neck. Ear covers deployed from the helmet are intended to protect the back of the head and the sides of the face to the SCBA facepiece. These items in conjunction with the hood actually provide two layers of protection.

Simple piece of clothing
The protective hood itself is a relatively simple piece of clothing. Constructed similar to a ski mask, the hood's face opening is intended to surround the SCBA facepiece; its extended front, back and sides is known as the bib.

NFPA 1971 sets extensive requirements for hood design and performance for structural and proximity firefighting. For design, these requirements include the minimum length of the bib and minimum dimensions for the face opening, including the circumference for which the hood opening can be stretched. The certification organization assesses the compliance of the hood design by making some of these measurements for hoods using a standardized head form while other measurements are made with the hood lying flat.

In general, hood openings are circular or oval and the dimensions are set to accommodate industry SCBA facepieces. Some manufacturers may shape their hoods in a pattern that is more representative of the general shape of the facepiece.

Hoods also can be sized specific to certain types of SCBA facepieces and when this approach is used, NFPA 1971 requires that the face opening overlap the facepiece by at least a half an inch.

For the most part, the face opening is constructed using an internal piece of elastic that is set at the right tension to close around the facepiece but not so tight that an individual cannot put their head through the opening as most firefighters do.

Bib lengths vary. The minimum dimensions are set by NFPA 1971, but most manufacturers also provide a variety of lengths and designs. It is important for hoods to be long enough to stay under the collar when worn and during head movement. Many bib styles extend longer in the front and back than at the sides, providing a contoured appearance. The bibs may be rounded or squared off.

Building materials
Hood materials are almost exclusively knit fabrics. Common fabrics include 100 percent Nomex or similar Aramid and PBI, P-84, and Nomex blended with flame-resistant Lenzing (rayon) or Kevlar. One of the new fabrics in use is based on a carbon fiber that is typically blended with a different fiber.

All standard hoods are constructed of a two-ply or layer design, which is needed to meet fabric performance requirements. As knits, hoods possess a large degree of elasticity and come in one size. Some specialty hoods include non-knit materials similar to turnout clothing or use extra layers to create more insulation.

Protective hoods are subject to a number of performance requirements that are similar to those applied to protective garments such as coats and pants. For example, materials used in the construction of the hood must demonstrate flame resistance before and after washing.

The hood is tested on a head form in a special oven for heat resistance at 500 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes and cannot show any evidence of melting, separation or ignition and cannot shrink more than 10 percent from the extended heat exposure. The thread used in sewing the seams must be of an intrinsically flame-resistant fiber that does not melt under a temperature of 500 degrees.

The only insulation requirement that is applied to hoods is thermal protective performance testing. This is the same test applied to garments and gloves. However, for hoods a lower TPP rating of 20 calories per square centimeter is the minimum requirement as compared to a rating of 35 for garments and gloves. This is because hoods are not intended to be the principal protective layer.

Face time
A unique requirement for hoods is an evaluation of the ability for the hood face opening to retain its size after repeated use. For this purpose, sample hoods are repeatedly put on and taken off a standardized head form. The original measurements of the face opening are compared to the same measurements there taken after 50 cycles of donning in doffing.

According to NFPA 1971, the hood face opening dimensions cannot increase more than 10 percent based on this test. However, in our opinion after viewing the test, the head form is too small and does not do a good job of making this assessment. It would be rare for any hood to fail this requirement.

In the standards development arena, hoods do not get too much attention during the review of NFPA 1971. In the recent revision, some changes were made to the hood requirements, mainly to clarify test requirements but with the one notable change of setting minimum hood face opening circumference.

Unfortunately, some careless changes to one particular requirement have necessitated a series of amendments, which will forestall the availability of many hoods being certified to the 2013 edition. In most cases, certifications of hoods to the 2007 edition of NFPA are valid through the end of August.

Even though protective hoods may seem like a commodity or an accessory, they are a vital piece of your overall protective ensemble. They provide a significant level of thermal insulation in hot environments but only when the full ensemble is properly donned — collar in a raised position and ear flaps deployed.
 

However, the reality is that the vast majority of those in the fire service will never perform an actual rescue during a structure fire.

Except for self-rescue, there is likely no other event that we train for or should be training for that we likely won't face. I'm often surprised (shocked is more like it) when I find departments that don't practice this incredibly important function. 

There are lots of functions that people think fire departments will do, and the department has decided internally that it doesn't provide. Certain types of technical rescue are beyond the scope, resources and training of a fire department; the department realizes that and finds another agency to provide that support. I understand why those agencies have made a conscious decision and don't train, equip, prepare or perform those functions.

Train for the unlikely event
But, at two in the morning, when the family says that a human being they love is still in the house what do we do? Unlike the other operations, we have a bad habit of jumping into a rescue effort that we haven't been training for.

Training for these includes understanding the strategy (risk analysis) tactics (coordination of efforts) and tasks (getting in there a saving someone) and we need to do these constantly.

The rescue starts well before the fire. Solid fire prevention efforts, including code enforcement and administration help ensure that fires don't occur and when they do, they progress the way we expect them too and everyone has evacuated. A fire department that doesn't perform code enforcement still can be a fire-prevention advocate.

Understanding risk analysis, the strategic level, is a key component before our people are committed to a rescue operation. As Chief Alan Brunacini states, as we stray from our standard operating procedures, training and equipment limits, we start performing riskier behavior. We limit our risk first through equipment, training and tested and enforced SOPs. 

Predicting fire
As an incident commander, especially a first arriving company officer, we must see the fire 3 to 5 minutes from where it is now and get a grasp (from bystanders or understanding of building layout) of possible victim location. 

From these items, we must understand if we're planning to rescue a still living victim or sending in people for body recovery. Much like surface water rescue, the pace, strategy and tactics of recovery is and should be very different than rescue.

Strategically, understanding building construction and the fire load will help you understand where the fire is headed. Understanding occupancy load and type of use will help you determine the victim profile and how much reward is achievable — and therefore how much risk we can take.

There are thousands of great videos, studies and websites to watch and analyze fire progression in different size and type buildings. We can all find videos that could have been shot on our main street and learn a great deal before we face that same fire ourselves.

For the primary search team, the team leader if not the whole team, needs to do a 360 when possible. If the building is too big for a walk around, then you should be doing your 360s during drill of those buildings. 

Sizing up the building and fire conditions also allows you to assess fire progression internally during the search. I'm a big believer in confirming with the incident commander what side of the building I'm entering and who (age, size) our team is searching for prior to entering the building.

Search: why and where
As we begin our search we need to know where the fire is and where it's going. Primary search is rapid, but thorough — all in a building undergoing thermal demolition. Occupancy type and load will help us understand where victims might be. 

Moving from the most severe hazard zones to least allows the greatest chance to get to a victim in time. However sometimes, with limited staffing, we need to focus on the best chance of victim location first. Here the search begins at lower-hazard areas away from the fire and moves to exposure areas.

Primary search needs to occur at all fires simply to ensure that the fire isn't indicating some larger problem. The food might be burning on the stove because Mrs. Jones suffered a stroke in the other room. Do the primary.

During the search it is possible, if not likely, that you will encounter the need for forcible-entry equipment. Everyone needs a tool and it should be one that can strike and pry at least. This tool will not only help sound floors and open access but may be used for your own preservation should things turn ugly.

As a chief officer I want to see my crew show up at all calls with the right compliment of tools. If they don't have them, I send them back. This helps develop a habit that will serve them well at that 2 a.m. call.

Search and rescue is a key skill for all of us; practice makes perfect. So get out there and practice the strategy, tactics and task before you need them.

By Mark van der Feyst

No matter what brand of positive pressure fan your fire department has, it will have the same principle of operation. There will be a motor, either electric or gasoline powered, attached to a frame body, which turns the fan blades. The fan blades will be protected by a metal shroud, which prevents body parts or foreign objects from coming into contact with the blades.

The blades of the fan are made from a plastic material strong enough to withstand the high speed revolutions and air current production. The danger with the blades is that they can break under stress when the fan is running. Normally the fan will be set up in front of the opening, started and then measured to see if the cone of air is being produced around the opening. When it has to be adjusted, the fan will be moved either forwards or backwards to obtain the proper cone.

Moving the fan creates stresses on the shaft of the blades. The sudden jerking of the fan body can cause the shaft to break and throw the fan blades out of control. Even though there is a protective shroud around the blades, it will not guarantee containment. If you have to move the fan, shut it off, then move it.  
 

By Mark van der Feyst

Most fire departments have a positive pressure fan on one of their fire apparatus. Used properly, these fans are extremely useful for ventilating a structure. When a fan is being set up for use at the doorway, there are some safety concerns.

The first is hearing protection. The sound generated by the positive pressure fan is above acceptable levels allowed for a worker during a certain time frame. Hearing protection needs to be worn when operating these fans. The second is eye protection. The fan blades spin at a rate fast enough to pick up loose debris and project it towards the opening and sides of the fan. The firefighter standing with the fan or setting it up will at some point be exposed to flying debris. Equip a small bag or pouch with safety glasses and hearing protection and have it accompany the PPV.
 

By Mark van der Feyst

There are many hazards that we need to be aware of on the fire ground. A part of our size up is to scan the area consistently to identify any hazards that we may encounter. Sometimes this may not always be possible. Whenever we respond to a call at night, our visibility is limited to just a hand light or scene lights. One such hazard to be aware of is the in-ground pool.

One firefighter I know was assigned to go into the backyard to complete a task. As he entered through the fenced in area, he took a few steps and fell into an in-ground pool. Fortunately, he fell in the shallow end and could get out quickly. If it had been the deep end, the situation may have turned out for the worse. Most in-ground pools are secured with a fence around them, but this fence may be the perimeter fence around the property as well. Some pools will have a separate fence surrounding the pool within the backyard. The best way to avoid falling into a pool is to use your personal hand light to check ahead of you. If there is a pool on the premises, that hazard needs to be communicated to the rest of the crews.

By Mark van der Feyst

Using the tactic of vent-enter-search to locate and rescue an occupant will save time and possibly the victim's life. This proven tactic has been used for many years by many different sized fire departments with great success. Practice and training are the keys to perfecting it.

Most firefighters have been taught to locate and shut the interior door once entry has been made. This is to isolate the room from the fire to keep it from spreading to quickly towards firefighters. It essentially buys some more time. In newer homes, the bedroom door will swing shut on a set of hinges. But what about older homes or homes that have been renovated and a pocket door has been used?

This style of door will confuse the firefighter into thinking that perhaps it is just a passageway into a larger room. If no door can be felt, check the doorframe on both sides to see if there is a sliding pocket door tucked away. If there is, slide it out and isolate the room. Some older homes will also have transoms located above the doorway. This provides air movement within the home. With the bedroom door shut, the fire will still travel quickly towards the newly created window opening because the transom is still open.
 

By Mark van der Feyst

There are three main power saws used by firefighters: ventilation saw, rotary saw and a concrete chain saw. Each is gas powered and must be started by a pull chord.

There are different ways to start a chainsaw in the forestry service, but in the fire service there is one suggested safe way.

Place the saw on the ground or a surface for stability. Place one foot on the footplate by the handle to keep the saw from moving when pulling the chord Follow the appropriate process for preparing the saw before pulling the chord. This may involve pulling out the choke and then pulling the pull chord once or twice allowing the engine to turn over but stall. Then the choke would be pushed back in, the pull chord pulled again with the engine starting and running smoothly.

Globe, DuPont, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have teamed up once again to provide new gear to volunteer fire departments in need. The application period is now open for eligible departments to apply for up to four sets of gear. Up to 52 sets will be given away in 2013.

Globe has been a trusted name in the fire service since first inventing turnout gear in 1887. To celebrate the company’s 125th anniversary and say thank you to firefighters who dedicate themselves to protecting their communities, Globe partnered with DuPont and the NVFC in 2012 to launch a gear donation program. In all, 16 departments in the U.S. and Canada were awarded a total of 144 sets of gear. With the success of the program and the obvious need among volunteer departments for gear, Globe is offering an additional 52 sets of gear to NVFC members in 2013.

“We received over 2,600 applications for the gear in 2012, demonstrating the great need for this type of program,” said NVFC Executive Director Heather Schafer. “Volunteer departments across the country are facing limited or shrinking budgets and are struggling to provide their personnel with safe, compliant gear. Many are forced to make do with inadequate gear that puts their responders in danger. Globe and DuPont are great examples of companies giving back to their constituents and making a difference in our communities. We are proud to continue partnering with Globe and DuPont to implement this much-needed gear donation program.”

“At Globe, firefighter safety is not just our business – it’s our passion,” said Rob Freese, Globe Manufacturing Company Senior VP of Marketing. “We’re grateful for the service provided by volunteer firefighters across the country and glad that we can improve their safety and performance with the most advanced turnout gear.”

To be eligible to apply for a gear donation, departments must be all-volunteer, serve a population of 25,000 or less, be located in the U.S. or Canada and legally organized under state law, and must be a Department or Individual Member of the NVFC. If you are not currently a member of the NVFC, visit www.nvfc.org/membership to join.

Find full program criteria and apply at www.nvfc.org/globe-gear-donation. Applications are due by Sunday, June 30, 2013.

About Globe
Firefighters need to be prepared to perform at their peak, on every call. That’s why, when it comes to turnout gear, fit matters. Globe's turnout gear is designed to protect you, move with you, and improve your performance. It’s athletic gear for firefighters. Learn more at globeturnoutgear.com.

About DuPont
DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com.

About the NVFC
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides invaluable tools, resources, programs, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.

Join Safety Officers from across North America for a full week of education and dynamic seminars at the 2012 Annual Safety Forum!

This Year’s Speakers:

• Victor Stagnaro and Rick Mason, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
• David Ross, Chief Health & Safety Officer, Toronto Fire Service
• Lt. Steve Lane, Mt. Lebanon, (PA) Fire Department
• Chief Mark Ober, Anderson Township (OH) Fire & Rescue
• Robert Colameta, Owner, Public Safety Education Network
• Keynote Speaker Rob Clemons, Battalion Chief Prince William County
• Division Chief Gary West, Northwest Fire District, (AZ)
• Batt. Chief Stoney Bowles, Cobb County (GA) Fire Rescue
• Rob Clemons and Steve Mormino, National Firefighter Near-Miss Reporting System

Featured Topics Include:

• Understanding the New Safety Officer Certification
• Leadership, so Everyone Goes Home (LEGH)
• Winning the War against Firefighter Line of Duty Deaths – A Global Perspective
• Ambulance Safety
• The ISO Challenge – Vision, Dedication, Education Saves Lives
• War Stories with a Purpose

Other events include:

• September 24 & 25, 2012: ISO & HSO Academies
• Incident Safety Office Academy
• Health & Safety Officer Academy
• September 25, 2012: ISO and HSO Certification Exams

REGISTER TODAY!! www.fdsoa.org

FDSOA, PO Box 149, Ashland, MA 01721 ▪ Phone: 508-881-3114

Email: membership@fdsoa.org

• Determine the occupant survival profile
• Maintain continuous awareness of your air supply, situation, location and fire conditions
• Ensure accurate accountability of every firefighter’s location and status

Health:

• Take steps towards meeting NFPA health standards, such as NFPA 1500
• Set S.M.A.R.T. goals for you health action plan – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely
• Rehab after all physical activity – stay hydrated

These videos will serve as a resource to the fire service that NFPA will share with fire departments to assist them in reducing fireground injuries as part of local training efforts. NFPA, IAFC and NVFC will select finalists based on the best safety and health video content, as well as the creativity and enthusiasm they show in making the video.

The deadline for video submissions is May 11, 2012. NFPA, IAFC, and NVFA will choose four finalists and voting will be open to the public.  The contest winner will be announced on June 12, 2012 during the Fire Service Section Reception at the 2012 NFPA Conference & Expo in Las Vegas.

About the International Association of Fire Chiefs
The IAFC represents the leadership of firefighters and emergency responders worldwide. IAFC members are the world's leading experts in firefighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters, search and rescue, and public safety legislation. Since 1873, the IAFC has provided a forum for its members to exchange ideas, develop professionally and uncover the latest products and services available to first responders.

About the National Volunteer Fire Council
The NVFC is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides invaluable tools, resources, programs, and advocacy for first responders across the nation.

About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. Visit NFPA’s website at www.nfpa.org for more information.

The IAFC Board of Directors has adopted a position statement on U.S.-wide trends of fire departments and EMS agencies experiencing critical shortages of drugs that are used to save the lives of patients that may be suffering from trauma or a medical emergency. The IAFC Position Statement on the National Drug Shortage (.pdf) calls on the American fire service to make addressing the national drug shortage a top priority.

The position was brought forward to the IAFC leadership by the IAFC EMS Section following extensive research and discussions with local and national stakeholders.

"A solution must be found; paramedics must have the crucial and necessary drugs to save the lives of their patients," said Chief Gary Ludwig, chair of the IAFC EMS Section. "The ability to administer the appropriate pharmaceutical products to patients in the field can be the difference between life and death. We all know that rapid intervention is essential in these situations; waiting to administer life-saving drugs until the victim reaches an emergency room—at least 10 to 15 minutes after we have begun care—creates a serious and unnecessary risk."

The position statement draws on federal government and medical industry research, which illustrates the growing problem. The number of drug shortages have tripled in just 5-years time and shortages are becoming more severe and more frequent. Currently, there is no comprehensive data on the specific impact caused by drug shortages on fire-based EMS; however, much of the risks identified in the research (e.g. delay in care, human error, prohibitive expense, etc.) are easily extrapolated to the EMS-environment.

The position statement includes three components:

• an educational component on the national drug shortage including associated risks, identification of factors contributing to the national drug shortage and fire department impact,
• an outline of the IAFC positions on issues relating to federal investment and processes, national laws and regulations,
• and improved interagency collaborations, and suggested actions for fire and emergency service leaders.

"The national drug shortage is having a major impact on fire-based EMS, but it is also a larger public safety issue," said IAFC President Al Gillespie. "Even if your department does not provide EMS, the repercussions of shortages in your community can negatively impact your ability to successfully save lives and the ability of others to help responders in need of emergency care. I encourage every fire service leader to educate themselves on this issue and become a part of the solution."

About the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)

The IAFC represents the leadership of firefighters and emergency responders worldwide. IAFC members are the world's leading experts in firefighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters, search and rescue, and public safety legislation. Since 1873, the IAFC has provided a forum for its members to exchange ideas, develop professionally and uncover the latest products and services available to first responders.

About the IAFC Emergency Medical Services Section

The IAFC EMS Section is a forum that addresses EMS issues for the leadership of America’s fire and emergency service, provides guidance and direction to the IAFC board and membership and represents fire-based EMS issues to the federal government and other EMS partners.

QUINCY, Mass. — The National Fire Protection Association (http://www.nfpa.org/) (NFPA) and Chevrolet (http://www.chevrolet.com/) and OnStar (http://www.onstar.com/web/portal/home) are pleased to announce that more than 10,000 firefighters and first responders have completed virtual electric vehicle safety training (http://www.evsafetytraining.org/Training). The online training, hosted by NFPA, became available in April 2011 and features an inside look at the newest technology and safety systems on the all-electric 2011 Chevrolet Volt.

The collaboration with Chevrolet and OnStar is part of NFPA's Electric Vehicle Safety Training project. In addition to the online training, the nationwide project began the classroom-style, train-the-trainer sessions at fire academies across the country this summer.

"Through our work with Chevrolet and OnStar, we have been able to reach 10,000 firefighters and first responders with important information in a very short time period," said Andrew Klock, NFPA's senior project manager for the program. "The number of hybrid and electric vehicles on the road continues to increase. Whether firefighters and first responders take the online training or participate in our classroom-based electric vehicle training, we want to ensure they all are equipped with necessary information about this new vehicle technology."

"The launch of the Chevrolet Volt virtual training has continued the momentum generated by the live Chevrolet OnStar First Responder Training conducted in the classroom," said Leslie Kilgore, program manager, Chevrolet OnStar First Responder Training Tour. "In working with NFPA to create the virtual equivalent of the live training sessions, we aimed to provide technical information that was relevant, timely and met the same core learning needs of first responders in dealing with the advanced technologies present on the Chevrolet Volt. The fact that over 10,000 first responders have taken the training to date, and the numbers continue to grow daily, encourages our training team that first responders have unlimited access to the Volt information at their convenience and pace. We're proud to have led the pack advanced technology training with the Chevrolet Volt."

To date, state-level trainings have taken place in Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon and Wisconsin, and several additional trainings are on the calendar for the remainder of this year. The goal is for all 50 states to take part in the training by the end of 2012.

Months of research and development between Chevrolet and OnStar training specialists, engineers, firefighters and subject matter experts associated with NFPA went into the creation of the virtual training. Firefighters and first responders who use the online training will have access to an interactive training session, including videos, virtual trainers and a variety of downloadable resources about the technology and inner workings of the Chevrolet Volt.

To take part in the Chevrolet/OnStar online training, visit www.evsafetytraining.org/Training. For more information and resources about NFPA's Electric Vehicle Safety Training, and to sign up for upcoming trainings, visit www.evsafetytraining.org.

About NFPA's Electric Vehicle Safety Training Project
NFPA's Electric Vehicle Safety Training project (http://www.evsafetytraining.org/) is a nationwide progrm to help firefighters and other first responders prepare for the growing number of electric vehicles on the road in the United States. The NFPA project, funded by a $4.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, provides first responders with information they need to most effectively deal with potential emergency situations involving electric vehicles.

About Chevrolet
Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet (http://www.chevrolet.com/) celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 120 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high-quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars, such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs, such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers, such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers gas-friendly to gas-free solutions, including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies, including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown.