Friday, November 20, 2009
Online News
News Articles
House Passes AFG Reauthorization
The House-approved version of the bill provides $1 billion per fiscal year from FY 2010 to FY 2014. ...
USFA Releases University-Housing Fires Topical Report
University-housing fires peak in September and October and are most frequent between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., when students prepare snacks or cook meals. ...
SuperCritical Air Pack Lightens Firefighters' Load
Colorado State University researchers will use an existing device from Niwot Technologies that can cool firefighters as they work....
Send Season’s Greetings to Firefighters Overseas
During this holiday season, many American firefighters are doing double-duty for their country, serving as soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan and other nations abroad. Readers of Command Post, FIRE CHIEF's weekly e-mail newsletter, have contributed the names of the soldiers on this list; these are sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, colleagues and friends, fathers and mothers in the fire-service family. To add a name, send an e-mail....
ReconRobotics Unveils Rescue Robot
ReconRobotics introduced the Recon Scout Rescue, a 1.3-pound reconnaissance robot that can be used to locate victims, explosive devices or hazardous materials. Once deployed, the robot transmits real-time video to operators working the incident, said David Gustafson, the company’s director of commercial sales. ...
Memorial Fund Calls for Swiftwater-Rescue Nominations
The Higgins & Langley Memorial and Education Fund, working in conjunction with the Swiftwater Rescue Committee of the National Association for Search and Rescue, is seeking nominations for its 2010 memorial awards. ...
Ohio Chief Commits Suicide in Station
Nelsonville (Ohio) Fire Chief Tim Carr was found dead last Friday of an apparent suicide. ...
IAWF Looks for New Board Members
The International Association of Wildland Fire will be accepting applications for its board of directors through Nov. 24. Successful candidates will begin their three-year terms on Jan. 1, 2010. ...
Coleman Receives ICC President's Award
Ronny J. Coleman receives President's Award during the 2009 International Code Council Annual Conference and Code Development Hearings....
NIST to Determine Face-Mask Weaknesses
The U.S. Fire Administration and NIST have begun researching the potential weaknesses in the thermal performance of SCBA face pieces....
DHS to Open SAFER Application Period
DHS will begin accepting applications for FY 2009 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Services, or SAFER, Grants beginning Nov. 16...
Generator Safety Tips for Firefighters
NIST researchers recently conducted simulations to determine ways to prevent potentially dangerous levels of carbon monoxide from gas-powered generators seeping into structures....
ICC Retains Residential Sprinkler Requirements
ICC members voted during the ICC code development hearings to retain residential fire sprinkler requirements in the International Residential Code....
California State Fire Association Addresses Bandwidth Issues
The California State Fire Association (CSFA) recently addressed a nagging problem. The association’s computer network had plenty of throughput, but lacked reliability and available bandwidth. Specifically, there was a lack of Internet link redundancy, and the association needed an affordable network connection larger than 1.5 Mb/s, said Monty Gearhart, director of CSFA information systems. ...
National Guard Trains Botswana Fire Officers
In the first civil-to-civil exchange of the State Partnership for Peace Program, a team of fire officers from North Carolina traveled to Gaborone, Botswana...
IAFC Announces Scholarship Recipients
The International Association of Fire Chiefs Foundation's board members awarded $30,000 to 33 first responders representing a range of departments and ranks to further advance their fire-service education....
NIST, USFA Launch SCBA Study
The initial phase of this study will examine documented on-duty injuries and fatalities of firefighters due to thermal exposure of SCBA face pieces. ...
2010 Station Style Conference Looking for Presenters
Submit a proposal to participate as a presenter at the Fifth Annual Station Style Design Conference, which will be held April 10–13, 2010, in Kansas City. ...
Firefighters Divided Over H1N1 Vaccine
Nearly three out of four firefighters in Chandler, Ariz., have refused the H1N1 vaccine, according to news reports. The department delivered the nasal mist to only 50 firefighters and will return the remaining doses to Maricopa County health officials for redistribution....
House Approves SAFER Appropriation
HR 2892 increases the SAFER appropriation to $420 million. The bill passed the House by a vote of 307-114, and is scheduled for a final vote in the Senate. President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law. ...
Pierce Delivers Interactive Cab to Children's Hospital
The cab is custom-painted to duplicate Chicago's Engine 98 and will feature educational interactive games and activities for patients staying in the hospital....
Fort Wayne's Ridley Appointed IAFF Hazmat Director
James Ridley has been named director of the IAFF's Hazardous Materials and Weapons of Mass Destruction Training Department....
NVFC Launches Web Site to Help 'Two-Hatters'
The page features a confidential form that volunteers can use to communicate directly with the committee about problems that they are experiencing, as well as links to articles, reports and other information related to...
FP&S Grants Applications Due Oct. 23
Fire Corps encourages departments to apply for the grants, especially for those areas related to public-safety education initiatives. ...
Icomera’s Bridge Connects Minnesota Emergency Vehicles
The Maple Grove (Minn.) Fire Department is custom building a communications-infrastructure truck to serve the needs of its response area, including two nuclear plants....
