Nearly 16,000 fire service leaders converged upon Kansas City, Mo., Aug. 23-26 for the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Fire-Rescue International 2002. Attendees from the United States mingled with fire chiefs from 37 countries, including places as far away as Belize, France, Taiwan and New Zealand.

The booths of 560 exhibitors filled H. Roe Bartle Hall in the Kansas City Convention Center with the latest products and services available to fire and rescue personnel. A wide variety of educational seminars drew many attendees, and several after-hours gatherings brought everyone together to socialize and relax.

The opening general session on Friday, Aug. 23, featured Emmy-winning television journalist Deborah Norville, who spoke about overcoming depression and bearing up in the face of adversity. Lori Moore, assistant to the International Association of Fire Fighters general president, addressed the IAFC membership about upcoming memorials, NFPA 1710 and labor/management relations.

On Saturday, Aug. 24, the theme of the three-hour general session was “Salute to Heroes” and featured Admiral James Loy, head of the Transportation Security Administration; former FDNY Chief Mike Byrne, who now heads Operations and Recovery for the U.S. Office of Homeland Defense; Missouri Sens. Kit Bond and Jean Carnahan; former New York City Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen and Arlington County (Va.) Fire Chief Ed Plaugher, who both spoke about the Sept. 11, 2001, response in New York City and the Pentagon.

The USO Troupe of Metropolitan New York opened and closed the session with musical performances. Massachusetts state police officer Sgt. Dan Clark sang the national anthem early in the program and returned with “We Are Americans,” a song written by Maureen Condon of Natick, Mass.

The closing general session on Monday, Aug. 26, featured Philip Stittleburg, chairman of the National Volunteer Fire Council. Author Tom Bay gave the keynote address on how changing your attitude can change your life.

IAFC appointments

During Monday evening's Presidential Celebration, outgoing IAFC president Chief John M. Buckman III, German Township (Ind.) Fire Department, handed over his title to Chief Randy R. Bruegman, Clackamas County Fire District #1, Milwaukie, Ore.

Bruegman has served on the IAFC's Accreditation Task Force for eight years, six years as vice chairman. He served as chairman of the Commission on Fire Accreditation International from 1997-2000. He's also a member of the Institute of Fire Engineers, a Chief Fire Officer Designate and a member of the National Fire Protection Association.

In addition, Bruegman is a Fire Chief magazine editorial advisory board member and a member of the Review Panel for Building and Fire Research for the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He was elected as IAFC first vice president during FRI 2001.

Chief Ernie Mitchell, Pasadena (Calif.) Fire Department, was installed as first vice president, and Chief Bob DiPoli, Needham (Mass.) Fire Department, was installed as second vice president. DiPoli was recommended to fill a vacancy through an advisory mail ballot that went out to all IAFC members eligible to vote.

Valor award

Lt. Randy Schmelz of the Arlington (Texas) Fire Department has been selected as this year's winner of the 33rd annual International Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Award for Valor.

Schmelz was selected for his life-saving rescue of a one-year-old boy who was trapped in his bedroom during a house fire in May 2001. The award, co-sponsored by Motorola, is the highest honor bestowed by the IAFC. On behalf of the entire Arlington Fire Department, Chief Robin Paulsgrove accepted the International Benjamin Franklin Departmental Leadership Award in recognition of the department's professionalism, service to the public and contribution to the fire service.

Fire Chief of the Year awards

Fire Chief Editor Janet Wilmoth and Jay Johnson, vice president of marketing for E-One Apparatus, presented the Fire Chief Magazine Fire Chief of the Year awards during Saturday's general session.

Jay Reardon, Northbrook (Ill.) Fire Department, received the Career Fire Chief of the Year award and Chief Tim L. Holman, German Township Fire & EMS in Springfield, Ohio, was honored as the Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year. Both chiefs will be featured in next month's issue of Fire Chief.

Fire Service Award for Excellence

Hillsborough County (Fla.) Fire Rescue won the 2002 Fire Service Award for Excellence for its fire-medic summer camp program targeting economically challenged youth in the Tampa area. In its 13th year, the award is co-sponsored by the IAFC and U.S. Safety & Engineering.

The six finalists for this year's award were the City of Albany (Ore.) Fire Department, London (Ont.) Fire Services, South Jordan (Utah) Fire Department, Carteret (N.J.) Fire Department, Lakewood (Wash.) Fire Department and the Ames (Iowa) Fire Department.

President's Award

The following individuals were recognized with President's Awards for their behind-the-scenes work to improve the fire service:

• M. Tracy Boatwright, Indiana State Fire Marshal, for his support throughout the year and his courage, compassion and commitment to excellence in the fire service;
• Mike Byrne, U.S. Office of Homeland Security, Response and Recovery, for his leadership and representation of the interests of the fire service in homeland security;
• Alan Caldwell, IAFC director of government relations, for excellence in his legislative work on behalf of the membership and the U.S. fire service;
• Brian Cowan, U.S. Fire Administration, for his work on America Burning Recommissioned and for his organization of the FIRE Act Grant Program;
• Gary Scott, chief of the Campbell County (Wyo.) Fire Department, for his leadership and tenacity in resolving the Fair Labor Standards Act issues for the volunteer fire service; and
• Steve Austin, International Association of Arson Investigators, for his continued leadership on behalf of the nation's fire and emergency services.