By Kelly Spencer
FireRescue1 Staff
The fire service is the “foundation of Homeland Security’s infrastructure,” the Congressional Fire Services Institute Dinner was told.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano made the comment during her keynote address to the annual event in Washington, DC, which is now in its 22nd year.
She told the audience that having an accurate picture of what is going on in every community across the country is her goal.
The National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner and Seminars is billed by CFSI as an “extraordinary day of opportunities for fire service leaders to engage Congressional leaders and Administration officials in discussions about federal programs and legislation addressing the needs of local first responders.”
CFSI hosted a series of seminars addressing issues that directly relate to the safety of first responders, while more than 4,000 fire service professionals and politicians attended the dinner on April 29, with Napolitano opening her speech by declaring, “Firefighters rock!”
She went on to speak of her efforts to install people in leadership positions who understand the problems firefighters face and the importance of having an accurate picture of what is going on in every community. The core of her speech stressed the importance of Fusion Centers for obtaining useable, actionable assessments.
Awards presented
During the course of the dinner, which had the theme of “Making the Right Decisions,” several awards were presented:
The CFSI/Motorola Fire Service Leadership Award was presented to Kevin O’Connor, of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. The award recognizes individuals who have been proactive at the local, state, or federal government level to improve fire/emergency services and life safety issues.
O’Connor was selected for his “labors to translate issues into legislature,” the key roles he played with FEMA during Katrina and his “fervent belief in the old adage: strength in numbers.”
In supporting the award to O’Connor, Congressman Steny Hoyer said, “From Democrats to Republicans, we respect you and your willingness to see other people’s point of view.”
The 2010 Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award was given at three different levels this year. The National Award went to the National Volunteer Fire Council for its commitment to provide policies and goals for volunteers and was accepted by Kenn Fontenot.
On behalf of the Virginia State Fire Chiefs Association, James Gray accepted the State Award. It was recognized for the Virginia Fire Officer Academy, a program VFCA established in 2007 to enforce the 16 life safety initiatives of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. To date, the program has graduated 120 students from all parts Virginia and other states.
The Local Award went to the FDNY, which reduced burn injuries to firefighters by 29 percent in the past year. It was also selected for its commitment to enhance the safety programs within the agency and to work at the implementation of the Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives through the use of a tailored video program portraying an FDNY version of the “Everyone Goes Home” Program.
The Dr. Anne W. Phillips Award for Leadership in Fire Safety Education went to Sharon Gamache. The NFPA public education team member spearheaded programs like “Learn Not to Burn” focusing on child education in English, Spanish and French and Solutions 2000, which provides fire safety education in accessible formats for people with disabilities.
Congressman Rob Andrews, co-chairman of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, closed the evening by asking the audience, “How much better would America be if it ran like a fire company?”
He highlighted the ways firefighters make the right decisions to go above and beyond even when it’s not in the budget or something that they are being paid for. Referencing the words of former Congressman Curt Weldon, who founded the Caucus in 1987, Rep. Andrews said, “You do not have to hold public office to be a public servant and firefighters know that.”
Entertainment during the evening was sponsored by sponsored by FEMSA/FAMA and next year’s dinner will be held at the Washington Hilton on April 8, 2011.