The National Fire Protection Association recently released the findings of the Needs Assessment Study of the U.S. Fire Service. The study is meant for the U.S. Fire Administration to establish a current understanding of problem areas within the fire service to guide future planning and initiatives.

“This study is critical to our ability to identify the current issues in fire service delivery and to guide our decisions to address the nation's fire problem,” said USFA Administrator R. David Paulison.

“The results of this study identify many areas where additional resources are needed for the fire service to operate effectively and safely, in both traditional response and the new challenges faced by homeland security,” said NFPA President James M. Shannon.

The Needs Assessment Study of the U.S. Fire Service found:

• Many of the nation's fire departments do not have enough fire stations to achieve widely recognized response-time guidelines and lack key equipment, prevention programs and a wide range of training.
• One third of all firefighters per shift are not equipped with SCBA.
• Most fire departments do not have the ability to handle unusually challenging incidents with local specialized resources and do not have written agreements to direct use of non-local response resources.
• In general, fire departments do not have enough portable radios to equip more than half of the emergency responders on a shift, and most radios lack intrinsic safety in an explosive atmosphere and are not water-resistant.

The USFA is implementing and supportive of solutions to address the findings of the assessment. Below is a list of recent activities and initiatives.

• FEMA and the USFA is about to complete the distribution of over $330 million to more than 5,000 departments through the 2002 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Funds were targeted to firefighter operations, safety initiatives, new vehicle purchases, EMS training, and equipment and fire prevention programs. Planning for the 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is under way.
• A recent memorandum of understanding has been signed to create incident management teams in large metropolitan areas for large-scale emergencies and to ensure that highly qualified personnel are available for response throughout the nation.
• The training curriculum at the National Emergency Training Center for fire and emergency management personnel continues to expand rapidly. With the number of new challenges firefighters face, these courses enhance the planning, response and recovery from emergencies of all types and scope.
• The Volunteer Incentive Program at the National Fire Academy has realized a 42% increase in enrollment. The VIP provides training opportunities in respect of a volunteer's schedule and ability to be away from home.