Friday, December 5, 2008
Good Judgment May Be Best Defense
[John Eversole]
Most incident commanders are people who have attained their positions because they have shown themselves to be intelligent, strong and determined people....
National Credentials?
Last year, Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator Charlie Dickinson was overseeing a USFA project to develop a national fire service credentialing system to improve...
Line Up Your Ducks for Federal Dollars
If you're looking for federal funding for your fire department in 2004, don't forget to look in state coffers. The ever-popular FIRE Grants program has...
Local Empowerment Key to Security
The Gilmore Commission, a federally established panel to study the nation's domestic response capabilities for terrorism, issued its fifth and final report...
CD Covers Planning for Special Needs
FEMA has a new computer-based training aid to help emergency planners ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable citizens in their communities are met...
FEMA Course in Leadership & Decision-Making for WMD Incidents Offered
FIRE CHIEF Staff
The Noble Training Center is holding a Healthcare Leadership and Administrative Decision-Making in Response to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Incidents course on Jan. 12, 2004....
DHS Releases After-Action Report on TOPOFF II
FIRE CHIEF Staff
On Friday the Department of Homeland Security released its after-action report on TOPOFF 2, the largest, most comprehensive terrorism response exercise ever held in the United States. Among its conclusions: many first responder agencies are uncertain what they should do if DHS raises the terrorism advisory to Threat Code Red....
Recommended Actions for Threat Code Orange
FIRE CHIEF Staff
The risk of terrorist acts has never been higher since Sept. 11, said Tom Ridge as he raised the terrorism threat level to "high" Sunday. Ensure your department is prepared by reviewing recommended actions for fire officials from the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the U.S. Fire Administration....
IAFC Report on Details Fire Service Response to August Blackout
FIRE CHIEF Staff
At least 20 percent of the International Association of Fire Chiefs members were affected by the blackout that darkened seven northeastern U.S. States and parts of Canada of Aug. 14, 2003. More details on the impact and the fire service response are detailed in the report, now posted online....
FEMA Introduces Online CERT Team Training
FIRE CHIEF Staff
Today the Federal Emergency Management Agency introduced an on-line, independent study course that can serve as either an introduction to those joining Community Emergency Response Teams or as a refresher to current volunteer team members ....
198 FIRE Grants Awarded in Round 26
Michael D. Brown, under secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced another 198 grants to fire departments this week in round 26 of the 2003 Assistance to Firefighter Grant program....
FEMA Offers Multihazard Building Design Summer Institute
FIRE CHIEF Staff
The Emergency Management Institute at the National Fire Academy will host four seminars on how to mitigate hazards in building design during a two-week-long institute in July 2004....
FEMA Distributes CD Training on Emergency Planning for Elderly, Special Needs
FIRE CHIEF Staff
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is distributing a new course on CD-ROM to address emergency planning for the elderly and special needs populations....
FEMA Releases Review of Texas A&M Bonfire Collapse
Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s technical review of the Texas A&M bonfire collapse provides valuable insights into the management of large-scale emergencies. Among the lessons learned: pre-incident planning and tabletop exercises do help and chief officers dealing with such challenging emergencies must “think big” in ordering additional resources immediately....
Beyond the Basics
When Congress holds hearings to discuss national policy for WMD response, John Eversole often speaks as the fire service hazmat guy. Eversole was on the...
AFFAIRS OF STATE
By Stephen L. Hermann
Arizona is somewhat unusual in that it has no county fire departments. Outside of some municipal city limits, small volunteer fire districts have been...
ARMED FORCES
By Bret Lanz & Jessica Holmes
The work of emergency responders is constantly changing. In addition to being responsible for disasters fire, industrial chemical spills, gas releases...
LOOSE LIPS
By Christopher Brennan
Our national inclination to be open about our vulnerabilities has changed since Sept. 11. In light of the threat of terrorism and the potential for weapons...
Illinois Issues TOPOFF II Report
Pat West, Senior Editor
The Illinois Mutual Aid Box Alarm System has released its final supplemental report on its participation in TOPOFF II, a weeklong full-scale weapons of mass destruction exercise last May mandated by Congress....
How the INRP Affects the Fire Service
Pat West, Senior Editor
Last week Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge unveiled the Initial National Response Plan, which will give him the authority to coordinate federal response assets and agencies reorganized under the Department of Homeland Security. How does this plan affect local fire chiefs? Leaders of the International Association of Fire Chiefs offer answers....
USAR Teams Are Ready for WMD
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces are now capable of responding to a known or suspected weapons-of-mass-destruction incident, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. As of Sept. 30, each of the 28 teams has received new personnel, new equipment and new training for WMD.
...
Ridge Approves Initial National Response Plan
Department of Homeland Security
U. S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge today announced approval of the Initial National Response Plan, an interim plan designed to...
NIST Seeks Interviews With WTC Responders & Survivors
FIRE CHIEF Staff
As part of its ongoing two-year investigation of the World Trade Center disaster, the National Institute of Standards and Technology is beginning interviews this fall with the emergency personnel on scene, WTC survivors and people who were in contact with WTC victims on Sept. 11. The information will be used to study occupant behavior, evacuation and the emergency response to the disaster....
DHS Announces Grants for EOCs and Interoperable Communications Systems
Department of Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday announced grants totalling $74 million to 19 states to improve Emergency Operations Centers and $80 million to 17 communities to develop interoperable communications systems....
Rescue teams needed to save more than victims
Bruce Evans
With both patient-care and fireground experience, versatile rescuers can bridge the gap between suppression and EMS....
| Commentary | Special Reports | Station Style |
|---|---|---|
|
Mutual Aid is a blog of news and views from FIRE CHIEF staff and industry experts — a virtual conversation about the issues important to you as a fire service leader. |
In Service provides information on fleet management, apparatus specifying and maintenance. Keep abreast of new trends and changes to emergency vehicle apparatus. |
Station Style focuses on the architectural design and needs of fire and emergency stations today. See the latest in design trends and learn about the Fire Station Design Awards. |
