Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge met informally in Fairfax, Va., with the International Association of Fire Chiefs board of directors on Jan. 30. “It's rare just to sit down and just have a conversation, no speech,” Ridge said.

Ridge told board members, chaired by IAFC President Chief Ernest Mitchell, that they had “made their point” concerning the FIRE Act grant program. DHS is consolidating the management of its first responder grant programs, including those managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Transportation Security Administration and the Office for Domestic Preparedness, but Ridge stressed it was a consolidation of process, not of the grants. The Office for Domestic Preparedness and the Office for State and Local Programs will be merged under the direction of Sue Mencer, the current head of ODP, he said. Mencer had met with the board earlier in the day.

According to the IAFC, “The board had a lively discussion with the secretary about federal homeland security funding making it to the local level. Ridge said his office is working with state and local governments to develop a better distribution program and asked the chiefs in the room if they had been included in the process in their home states. Many responded affirmatively.”

Ridge said he would ask state governors to assist in designing a distribution strategy and template for those dollars. “Governors must take the lead, but they must be inclusive,” he said.

Ridge acknowledged problems with the process, particularly with the pre-purchase of equipment. Many chiefs don't know they can order equipment and may be reimbursed prior to receiving the equipment without cash layout.

The IAFC board and Ridge also discussed placards on rail cars. The secretary acknowledged the concerns of the fire service and said he would engage the first responder community in discussions on this issue.

Mitchell said, “This was a valuable meeting with Secretary Ridge, one we hope paves the way for future meetings of this kind.”