The International Association of Fire Chiefs has announced the seven finalists for its 2006 Fire Service Award for Excellence. The award, cosponsored by the IAFC and U.S. Safety Fire Technologies, recognizes innovation and achievement in managing resources to reduce the loss of life and property from fire and other emergencies.

The finalists include six emergency services organizations and one individual. The recipient of the award will be announced Sept. 14 at Fire-Rescue International in Dallas.

The Colorado Sprints (Colo.) Fire Department and Traffic Management Center was selected as a finalist based on a project being used by the City of Colorado Springs to improve the delivery of public safety services. It is a combination of GPS/AVL technology, traffic signal control and preemption, wireless communication, interactive GIS mapping, and single-touch access to emergency responder information about buildings and inspections.

The Fairfax County (Va.) Fire and Rescue Department has been nominated for its development of a set of comprehensive manuals that deal with significant aspects of firefighting operations. The content of these manuals have served to unify firefighting command operations and have been adopted throughout the Northern Virginia region.

Gresham (Ore.) Fire and Emergency Services is being recognized for its Compartment Fire Behavior Training Program. The program provided 50 hours of in-depth structural fire behavior training, including classroom instruction, case study, live-fire exercises and simulations. This initial training was delivered over a two-year period and has been followed up with integrated live-fire training, structure-fire case studies and tactical simulations on a quarterly basis.

The Hebron (Ky.) Fire Protection District received its nomination for developing and implementing its Facility Liaison Program. The program is designed to expand relationships between the HFPD and targeted potentially hazardous facilities within the rapidly growing district. The program has two primary aspects. The first includes the acquisition of specific and detailed information from selected facilities that is then used to develop a multimedia presentation for all district employees. The second establishes a single point of contact at the HFPD for each facility to use to access the district’s services.

Tualatin Valley (Ore.) Fire and Rescue was selected as a finalist for its Multi-Family Housing Fire Reduction Program, an innovative and action-oriented approach to minimizing the potential for fire-related deaths and property loss in multi-family housing. The program offers education, materials and motivation to landlords and property managers. The program also offers quarterly landlord-training workshops and educational resources, including a comprehensive Web site, smoke alarm posters, handouts for new tenants and a monthly safety newsletter.

The Westmont (Ill.) Fire Department was selected as an award finalist for the the Children’s Safety Day Camp it cosponsored with the Westmont Police Department. This camp provides an opportunity for children to spend time with their local heroes and learn much more than just the usual safety lessons covered in a one-hour school presentation. During two fun-focused days of learning, participants increase their knowledge and awareness of all aspects of safety. The camp includes sessions on bike safety, fire safety, 911 procedures, water safety, personal safety, outdoor safety and first aid, all in a fun and informative atmosphere.

The individual finalist is Firefighter Shane Ferguson of the Winnipeg (Manitoba) Fire Paramedic Service. Ferguson was selected for The Great Escape, an animated, interactive fire-safety game targeted at children under 10. The game teaches them how to make their way out of their homes safely when a smoke alarm sounds.

The IAFC Fire Service Award for Excellence was established by longtime FIRE CHIEF contributor Chief Ronny Coleman and U.S. Safety Fire Technologies President H. Wayne Boyd to recognize the fire service's creative solutions to community problems. Past award-winning programs have focused on such issues as fire prevention, emergency preparedness and management, drowning prevention, arson, EMS, fire-victim assistance, recruitment, public relations, community outreach and training.