Saturday, May 17, 2008
Fire Research Foundation Receives FEMA Grant
The Fire Protection Research Foundation's $990,000 grant will support research in fire safety code compliance, firefighting tactics under wind-driven conditions and thermal capacity of firefighter protective clothing....
Clinton Introduces Recruitment, Retention Act
The bill would clarify the treatment of length of service award programs in the federal tax code. ...
Command Malpractice Fails Standard of Care
By Kim Ross Houser
The legal definition of fire department malpractice is the standard by which the performance of a fire command officer will be judged by the standard of ordinary care used by a reasonable person possessing the sills used by a person in the fire service profession."...
Personality Puzzle
By Timothy S. Curtis
Wisconsin firefighters give themselves over to a test designed to improve communication through personality recognition....
Tremendous Trivials
By Mark Burdick
If not handled properly, new officers' behaviors and department's unmet expectations can add up to an imperfect union....
Master Plan
By Chris DeChant
A comprehensive strategy that aligns with an agency's five-year accreditation review can increase cooperation and aid in budget requests....
Parting Ways
By Kelvin J. Cochran
The transition from predecessor to successor is made easier by planning ahead, paying respect and knowing when to let go. ...
Budget Battles Signal the Honeymoon's Over
By Ronny J. Coleman
The longer you’ve been in office, the further you are from the day you were received with open arms. You either will gain the confidence and trust of members, or the relationship will begin to deteriorate....
King Reintroduces Volunteer Recruitment & Retention Act
U.S. Rep. Peter King recently reintroduced the Volunteer Emergency Services Recruitment and Retention Act, a bill that would clarify the treatment of length-of-service award programs in the federal tax code....
Public Safety Workers Closer to Collective Bargaining
By a bipartisan vote of 42–1, the House Education and Labor Committee has approved legislation to guarantee the rights of firefighters, police officers, and EMS workers in all 50 states to collectively bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions. ...
USFA, NVFC Update Recruitment & Retention Guide
The U.S. Fire Administration, in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council, has released an in-depth guide on two of the biggest challenges facing the volunteer fire and emergency services: retention and recruitment. The guide outlines proven solutions to overcome these challenges to retention and recruitment of volunteer first responders....
IFE-US to Host Forum at FRI
The U.S. Branch of the Institution of Fire Engineers is hosting an International Forum at Fire-Rescue International on Thursday, Aug. 24. Fire-Rescue International attendees will have a first-person look at some solutions being used in other fire service organizations as they address the common enemy of fire. ...
NVFC Asks Congress to Authorize Corps
National Volunteer Fire Council Chairman and La Farge (Wis.) Fire Department Chief Philip C. Stittleburg testified on June 13 before the House Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response. Stittleburg’s testimony focused on the Fire Corps program...
FEMA Awards $1 Million in Fire-Prevention Grants
FEMA awarded 25 grants totaling over $1.2 million to fire departments and fire prevention organizations....
House Passes Volunteer Job Protection Bill
The amendment would grant job security to volunteer firefighters and EMTs responding to a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency for up to 14 days per calendar year. ...
FIRE Grant Applications Due Friday
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program office is reminding fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical organizations that the FY 2007 FIRE Grant application period will end at 5 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 4. ...
Plan to Enact
By Buddy Dewar
Communities understand the benefits of residential fire sprinklers, but these resources will help you get them to accept the costs. ...
Credibility Check
By Cliff Jones
The work that’s expected from the self-assessment process will go a long way toward proving your agency’s worth. ...
A New Breed
By Janet Wilmoth
Fire chiefs of this new breed are more likely to run their departments like a business rather than a typical government agency....
Look Beyond Buildings in Preplanning Process
By Ronny J. Coleman
Social vulnerability is behaviorally driven and every bit as important to the fire department planning process as the structural conditions in a response area....
To Die For
By Brian A. Crawford
To discover why firefighters feel a duty to die, look beyond the obvious....
CHEMTREC Rolls Out Response Network
Douglas Page, Correspondent
Last August, rail giant CSX Transportation and CHEMTREC, the 24-hour emergency call center, launched an effort to improve the information provided to...
Firefighting Near Top of Job Satisfaction Survey
Firefighting ranked second in the overall occupations for satisfaction, with 80% of firefighters responding that they were "very satisfied." ...
Volunteer Job Protection Act Introduced
The Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Personnel Job Protection Act of 2007 (H.R. 1643) would provide up to 14 days per calendar year of job protection for volunteer emergency services personnel who respond to a presidentially declared disaster in an official capacity. ...
At Your Discretion
Fire service leaders have a responsibility to guard the safety of firefighters. Failure of that duty can mean legal trouble, says attorney Jim Juneau. ...
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