Scan any day's headlines and you'll see in vivid detail the pressures on the nation's firefighters: wildfires rage, buildings burn, babies are born on the sides of freeways, terrorism exercises are held, and arsonists imperil communities and those committed to protect them. In any given year, 1.2 million U.S. firefighters respond to some 2 million fire calls. And every year an average of nearly 100 firefighters die doing their job — a job where they run toward dangerous situations everyone else runs away from. In some years, we know, the total is grievously higher.

We at the U.S. Fire Administration read those headlines and hear the calls from the nation's firefighters to do something about them. Increasingly, as the USFA has become part of the larger Department of Homeland Security, the calls for action are being heeded at the highest levels of government. The result is a renewed and re-energized commitment to the first-responder community that is a cornerstone of the nation's homeland security in a post — Sept. 11 world. The result is also support to fire departments in the billions of dollars; it's support in public education, training, technology and data initiatives. It's an ongoing commitment to strengthen our first line of defense against threats to our neighborhoods and to our way of life, whether that threat is from fire and natural disaster or from nuclear, biological or chemical weapons.

This spring and summer have seen a demonstration of the funding support the nation's fire departments and first-responder community are receiving. In the first two weeks of the 2003 Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program distribution, 337 departments received more than $20 million dollars to support their role as first responders in the neighborhoods and communities they serve. In all, $750 million in grants to more than 7,000 departments will be awarded over the next year, and President George W. Bush has asked for millions more for the grant program in FY 2004.

Additional money has been funneled to states and localities, with some of the money going directly or indirectly to firefighter training and equipment. All told, some $4.4 billion has been distributed since March 1, when DHS first stood up. For example:

• In March $566 million was made available to states and cities to fund first responder equipment, training, planning and exercises.
• In April $100 million was made available to the New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle and Houston areas, as well as the national capital region, as part of the urban area security initiative.
• In May $700 million was allocated as part of the urban area security initiative for 30 cities and their contiguous counties and mutual aid partners to enhance the security of urban areas with high-density populations and critical infrastructure, ports and mass-transit systems.

The dollar figures are large, the zeroes in the sums are many and the number of departments benefiting is growing, yet it never seems enough. In truth, it never will be. As much as we at the USFA and DHS will continue to fight on your behalf for funding to offset increasing responsibilities and priorities in an ever-dangerous world, there is a limit to the money available. Despite your needs, money is not the answer to all the problems facing fire services.

To that end, the USFA this summer is unveiling a new public education campaign aimed at the caregivers of infants and toddlers, who are at high risk of death and injury from fire. Public service announcements and a brochure with information will highlight the vulnerability of that population and what can be done in the home to protect the smallest victims.

USFA also is developing a national residential sprinkler strategy that advocates localized fire suppression in high-risk areas of the home — such as the kitchen — and residential sprinklers in buildings supported by the federal government. The proposed strategy also provides advocacy and informational support among stakeholders and ensures that research and development in residential fire sprinkler technology continues.

In addition, USFA is continuing to offer state-of-the-art training at its Emmitsburg, Md., campus that advances the professional development of fire service personnel and others who participate in fire prevention and control activities. Nearly 100,000 participate in National Fire Academy or state-sponsored outreach courses each year. Fire service personnel also can earn an academic degree through independent study, thanks to our Degrees at a Distance Program and a network partnership with seven colleges and universities. The number of Web-based independent study courses also continues to grow, with 195,000 expected to take such courses this year.

The bottom line is that education is priceless. One cannot put a value on the knowledge and skills that can be obtained through USFA educational opportunities. Such education saves lives, protects property, enhances planning and helps departments think smarter in their quest to maximize their success. Are you taking advantage of the training opportunities USFA offers? Have you taken a course or done independent study? Have you even taken the time to scan a class schedule (available at www.usfa.fema.gov/fire-service/nfa.shtm) to see what is offered? My guess is that many of you have not. The NFA and the Emergency Management Institute, both of which are part of the USFA, are your resource. They can be as equally valuable to your professional development and the success of your department as grant programs.

Finally, the USFA uses technology and data to analyze the reality of firefighting in the United States, to identify program areas that need attention and to raise possible solutions. The National Fire Data Center collects information through the National Fire Incident Reporting System. It's the largest annual national collection of fire data in the world, but it depends primarily on data voluntarily submitted by local departments through participating state fire marshals. And to make it useful, departments must take the time to study the Fire Data Analysis Handbook and turn the data into solutions and improvements.

Much more is happening to benefit the fire service directly or indirectly. FEMA has distributed $100 million to update state and local all-hazard emergency operations plans and $81 million for state and local emergency operations centers. Congress also has appropriated $75 million for FEMA to begin addressing the interoperable communications issues. And, not to be given short shrift, there's the USFA and DHS advocating on your behalf now and in the future.

It's not in your make-up to say no in a time of need. We are working hard to ensure you don't have to say no to any request you receive or any challenge you face in a complicated post — Sept. 11 world.