As part of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)’s year-long celebration of Sparky the Fire Dog®’s 60thbirthday, a new educational matching game which teaches preschoolers about smoke alarms is now available on Sparky’s website, www.sparky.org. The game, designed for children ages three to five, was created by NFPA and WGBH Kids Interactive, makers of PBS websites like Curious George and Martha Speaks.
There are two words that should never be in the same sentence: Facebook and Privacy. The exceptions, of course, are if in the same sentence are other words like “don’t bet on it”, “not a chance” or “aint happenin’”. This post isn’t about slamming Facebook. I wouldn’t do that, I’m a Facebook fan. Nor is this a post about the stupid things some cops have done on Facebook which have caused embarrassment to their department, the compromising of a case, disciplinary action taken against them or even dismissal from their jobs. This post is about being a cop, being on Facebook and not compromising your safety or that of your family members or co-workers in the process.
The history of organized firefighting dates back at least to Ancient Egypt, where hand-operated pumps may have been employed to extinguish fires.
The first Roman fire brigade was a group of slaves who were hired by an aedile Marcus Egnatius Rufus.
Augustus took this idea from Rufus and then built on it to form the (Vigiles) in AD 6 to combat fires using bucket brigades and pumps, as well as poles, hooks and even ballistae to tear down buildings in advance of the flames. The Vigiles patrolled the streets of Rome to watch for fires and served as the police force.
Click here to read the entire article posted on FireLink that includes pictures of historic firefighting tools.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) issued a special report today examining the details of firefighter injuries sustained on the fireground or while responding to or returning from a fire incident. The report, Fire-Related Firefighter Injuries Reported to NFIRS (PDF, 945 Kb), was developed by USFA’s National Fire Data Center and is further evidence of FEMA’s effort to reduce the number of firefighter injuries through an increased awareness and understanding of their causes and how they might be prevented.
The following information was released by Prince William County (Virginia):
On Friday, Feb. 18, Prince William County issued a fire ban due to dry conditions and expected high winds. Even with the ban, six major fires managed to rise up on Saturday, Feb. 19, which sparked the most extensive fire and rescue response in more than 30 years. The six fires consumed approximately 300 acres of land in the County, forced the temporary evacuation of I-95, lead to the temporary evacuation of 60 residents in the Occoquan Forest community, and required the deployment of career and volunteer units for every Prince William Fire station.
“This was the busiest day I have experienced in my 31-year career with Prince William County,” said Chief Kevin McGee, Prince William Department of Fire and Rescue. “We had the support of so many people on this from Chief Hickerson of the Nokesville Volunteer Fire Department recalling off-duty volunteers and available fire and rescue units to Prince William County Police working traffic issues and road closures. We also had support from our colleagues in Fairfax County, Arlington County and the City of Alexandria. I am especially proud of all the men and women who were able to bring these fires under control with no loss of life and minimal structural damage. This was a team effort, and I am proud of everyone involved.”
Wisconsin has proven to be ground zero in a brewing national debate about union wages and collective bargaining. Many states, in an effort to balance out-of-control budgets, are attempting to marginalize the power wielded by unions that have already been weakened by decades of declining membership. Some states have already barred collective bargaining in the form of strikes and walkouts, the last recourses for organized labor.
On Friday, a video was posted to YouTube showing uniformed Wisconsin firefighters parading into the capitol building with bagpipes:
Currently, Congress has two separate budget proposals for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and SAFER grant. The first proposal is centered around the current fiscal year 2011 in continuing funding for the balance of the FY11 year, ending September 30, 2011. The second budget proposal is for FY 2012 to the AFG and SAFER grant programs. Below is the e-news alert released on February 14, 2011 from FAMA/FEMA depicting the each grant budget proposal.
FY 2011 Current Year Funding
Over the weekend the House Appropriations Committee released its Continuing Resolution (CR) appropriations bill for the current fiscal year, FY 2011. The Committee is seeking to make cuts in addition to those announced earlier last week. The Committee’s appropriations bill would fund the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) equipment program at $300 million, a cut of $90 million from the FY 2010 level of $390 million. The SAFER hiring program would receive no funding for FY 2011 under the House bill, compared to its $420 million level in FY 2010. The House plans to take their appropriations bill to the House floor this week.
The President’s FY 2012 (Next Year) Budget
The President released today his FY 2012 budget proposal to Congress. The President would fund the AFG equipment program at $250 million (a cut of $140 million over FY 2010 levels) and the SAFER program at $420 million.
Firefighters learn early in their careers that it is never a good idea to draw too much individual attention to themselves. Being part of the team, fitting in — these are the goals of most new firefighters, not standing out in any way.
Even when something really good is achieved, the cultural norm of the fire service demands that credit be given to the group rather than the individual. Some departments even codify this norm in a joking way by demanding that any firefighter who gets his or her picture in the paper must buy ice cream or doughnuts for the entire crew.
Click here to check out the entire article at FireRescue1.
The usual perception of a Fire/EMS Department is one comprised of professional firefighters riding fire trucks and putting out fires coupled with medics riding ambulances and providing emergency medical service. Although firefighters and medics often find themselves together on the scene of a traffic accident or summoned by police to a call for service where victims of crime may be injured, most don’t realize that some Fire/EMS departments have professionals on board who are actually performing law enforcement duties. One such department is the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department in Prince George’s County, Md.
According to a recent IAFF article, smoking is the number-one cause of premature death and a significant contributor to heart disease, lung disease and cancer. It is also the leading cause of fires, including fires that have claimed the lives of IAFF members. The good news is, some health benefits of quitting are immediate. The IAFF and Pfizer are working together to help the IAFF become the first smoke-free union in North America. This initiative to encourage IAFF members and their families to take on healthier lifestyles by quitting smoking includes:
Information on the health risks of smoking and the benefits of quitting
Tips on how friends and family can help a smoker quit
Information on how to encourage health insurance plans to make sure they cover smoking cessation
Click here to read the entire article at www.iaff.org
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