Editor's note: As well as the keynote speech outlined in the following article, National Fire Academy Superintendent Denis Onieal also spoke of his concern at an earlier session of an apparent new trend in firefighter fatalities.

 

By Jamie Thompson
FireRescue1 News Editor

INDIANAPOLIS — Today's firefighters have a commitment and dedication to public service like no generation before it, an FDIC session was told Thursday.

National Fire Academy Superintendent Denis Onieal made the comments during a keynote address to the conference in Indianapolis Thursday.

Filling in for U.S. Fire Administrator Greg Cade, who was unable to attend due to commitments in Washington, Onieal delivered an upbeat message on the state of the fire service.

"Volunteer and career firefighters are working diligently to ensure our communities are safe not just from fires but all hazards," he said. "That's our charge, that's our purpose, that's our legacy."

Onieal told the audience that Cade has been working tirelessly to bring the issues of the fire service to the attention of Washington since being appointed to the post last year.

Sprinkler position
Last month, Cade outlined the fire administration's adoption of an official position on residential fire sprinklers during a speech to graduates of the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program at a symposium.

It states that all homes should be equipped with both smoke detectors and automatic fire sprinklers.

Research shows that:

• When fire sprinklers alone are installed in a residence, the chances of dying in a fire are reduced by 69 percent.
  
• When smoke alarms alone are installed in a residence, a reduction in the death rate of 63 percent can be expected.
  
• When both smoke alarms and fire sprinklers are present in a home, the risk of dying in a fire is reduced by 82 percent, when compared to a residence without either.

"Although we protect our businesses from fire, what actions do we take to protect our families, our homes and possessions from fire?" Onieal said.

"Smoke alarms cannot diminish or contain fire — sprinklers can."

Onieal also stressed the administration's commitment to ensuring Hometown Heroes benefits are issued as they should be to families of fallen firefighters.

An audit last month showed firefighters who died of heart attacks and strokes while on the job were improperly denied survivors' death benefits after the Justice Department decided they weren't responding to emergencies.

The audit by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine responded to complaints by Congress that survivors were waiting far too long to money under the 2003 Hometown Heroes Act.

"It (the USFA) will continue to monitor the administration of this program to ensure the legislative terms 'non-routine stressful physical activity' is interpreted appropriately," Onieal said.