New Web Page Focuses on Challenges of the Volunteer Fire Service

New USFA Web Page Focuses on Challenges of the Rural and Volunteer Fire Service

There are fundamental differences in the nature of the rural fire problem compared to the U.S. fire problem as a whole. Additionally, the volunteer rural fire service has unique challenges not faced by their counterparts, such as large minimally populated areas to provide protection and service, often no guarantee of staffing levels, water supply challenges, lack of population to provide a revenue or tax base to support service, etc.

What are the major the challenges you as a rural volunteer fire department are facing?

• Funding?
• Retention of your current volunteer firefighters and support staff?
• Recruitment of new members for both active firefighting and support?
• Training?
• Fire prevention and public education?

And have you developed any innovative ways on how you have overcome them?

To support you, USFA has developed a dedicated web page on Rural and Volunteer Fire Department Resources: www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/subjects/rural/index.shtm

This page focuses on the numerous resources developed to deal with the unique fire challenges faced by fire departments operating in rural communities. It provides statistics and fire reports dealing with rural fires; public fire education and prevention programs targeted at the rural fire problem and community; critical firefighter health and safety issues impacting rural and volunteer firefighters; and National Fire Academy training opportunities focusing on the rural and volunteer fire service that include a wildland firefighting skills crosswalk for structural firefighters.

In addition, USFA is currently working with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) on a revision to the Health and Wellness Guide for the Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services that will provide the most up to date information in this area. Look for this document in the near future.

Other resources include the NVFC, http://www.nvfc.org/, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Volunteer & Combination Officers Section (VCOS), www.vcos.org/.

FEEDBACK: Officers List Update Needed

Please complete the Officers Contact List for 2009 and return it to the Fire Safety Office ASAP. Thanks in advance for your assistance in this important project. The form can be downloaded from www.erie.gov/fire.

FEEDBACK: Training Needs

URGENT: Feedback Needed - 2009-2010 Training Needs

We are asking all Erie County Fire Departments to submit their 2009 Training Course Requests by February 9, 2009 so that we can begin the process of scheduling courses to start after April 1, 2009.

Thanks to your commitment to training, we delivered and exceeded the 2,400 State training hours alloted to us in FY-2008-2009.

Although we have not yet received our training allotment from the NY State Office of Fire Prevention & Control for their 2009-2010 fiscal year, we hope to receive at least as many hours as we did in 2008-2009. As in past years, we requested more than 5,000 training hours from the State. The more course requests we receive now - the more additional hours we can request be assigned to our county throughout the year as necessary. The State's fiscal year runs from April 1-March 31.

Please remember that Courses 05-Fire Police; 1Y-Apparatus Operator-EVOC and 505-Fire Radio Communications are typically available year round as they are also taught by County Instructors. While our State training hours were cut by 500 last year, our County training budget was increased by approximately 400 hours and should remain constant this year.

The standard training course request form can be downloaded from http://www.blogger.com/www.erie.gov/fire. It must be completed and submitted by an authorized chief or training officer.

A complete listing of available State courses can be found at: http://www.dos.state.ny.us/fire/residential.html. Please note that outreach courses available for field delivery are indicated by an "O" designation next to their description.

Please also note that certain courses have pre-requisites. Specifically, 1Y-Apparatus Operator-EVOC is the pre-requisite for 78-Apparatus Operator-Pump and 79-Apparatus Operator-Aerial Devices.

FIREFIGHTER 1:
In addition to these course requests, we need to know how many new recruits your fire department has who need Firefighter 1 training. We will prioritize class locations and allocation accordingly. Please reply to the Fire Safety Office ASAP via e-mail with this information and your contact information for follow-up.

Thanks in advance for your cooperation in this important matter. As always, please do not hesitate to contact our office should you have any questions or require further information.

2009 Safety, Health and Survival Week Theme Announced

IAFC MEMBER ALERT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: IAFC Communications Department703–293–0911 • http://www.iafc.org/

2009 Safety, Health and Survival Week Theme Announced:Protect Yourself: Your Safety, Health and Survival Are Your Responsibility

Fairfax, Va., Feb. 3, 2009... The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) are pleased to announce the theme Protect Yourself: Your Safety, Health and Survival Are Your Responsibility for the 2009 Safety, Health and Survival Week, scheduled for June 14-20.

We encourage all fire/EMS departments to devote this week to reviewing safety policies, evaluating the progress of existing initiatives and discussing health and fitness. Fire/EMS departments should make a concerted effort during the week to correct safety deficiencies and to provide training as needed. An entire week is provided to ensure that each shift and volunteer duty crew can spend one day focusing on fire fighter safety, health and survival.

Protect Yourself: Your Safety, Health and Survival Are Your Responsibility encourages chiefs and fire/EMS personnel to focus on what they personally can do to manage risk and enhance their health and safety. This year’s theme reflects the need for personal responsibility and accountability within a strong safety culture.

“Fire fighter safety is a full-time job for all of us, all of the time. We can’t rely on someone else to do it for us. It takes personal commitment,” said IAFC President Chief Larry Grorud, CFO, MIFireE.

“The Safety, Health and Survival Week is an opportunity for IAFF members and their fire chiefs to take defensive action against dangers that can be controlled or prevented and make a long-term commitment to staying safe and healthy,” said IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger.

Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder, chair of the IAFC’s Safety, Health and Survival (SHS) Section said, “While some fire fighter injury and death cannot be avoided, so much of it can be, and it so often falls to each of us taking responsibility for ourselves and each other. A very critical factor in success is the role of fire officers and chiefs developing policy, providing training and enforcing the policy based on training to each and every member. The IAFC SHS Section proactively leads and supports any department, anywhere, in accomplishing these goals.”

Recommended activities and materials will incorporate four key areas where standard operating procedures, policies and initiatives—along with the training and enforcement that support them—can limit fire/EMS personnel’s risk of injury or death:

• Safety – Emergency Driving (Enough is Enough—End Senseless Death)
• Lower speeds—stop racing to the scene. Drive safely and arrive alive to help others.
• Utilize seat belts—never drive or ride without them.
• Stop at every intersection—look in all directions and then proceed in a safe manner.
• Health – Fire Fighter Heart Disease and Cancer Education and Prevention
• Don't smoke or use tobacco products.
• Get active.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Get regular health screenings.
• Survival – Structural Size-Up and Situational Awareness
• Keep apprised of different types of building materials and construction used in your community.
• Develop a comprehensive size-up checklist.
• Always complete a 360° walk of the structure to collect valuable, operational decision-making information.
• Learn the practice of reading smoke.
• Be familiar with the accepted rules of engagement.
• Learn your accountability system and use it.
• Master your tools and equipment.
• Remain calm and concentrate.
• Chiefs – Be the Leader in Safety
• Become personally engaged in safety and make it part of your strategic vision for the department.
• Be willing to make the tough decisions regarding safety policies and practices and their implementation.
• Hold members of the organization accountable for their safety and the safety of those with whom they work.
• Ensure that resources are available to accomplish activities safely and effectively.
  

Keep watching www.iafc.org/safetyweek for more information on this year’s program and planning resources developed by the IAFC Safety, Health and Survival Section.