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Arson Awareness Week

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This week is Arson Awareness Week, and the theme is Prevent Youth Firesetting. Fire departments across the country are encouraged to use this time to educate the public and raise awarenss to the issue of youth firesetting.

The NVFC is one of several organizations partnering with the U.S. Fire Administration to help focus public attention on the importance of a collaborative effort with fire and emergency service departments, law enforcement, mental health, social services, schools, and juvenile justice to help reduce the occurance of youth engaged with fire.

Fires started by children plyaing accounted for 56,300 fires between 2005-2009. These fires resulted in 110 civilian deaths, 880 civilian injuries, and $286 million in direct property damage.

In addition, statistics from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program show that about 46 percent of arson arrests between 2005 and 2010 were youth under the age of 18.

It is critical that parents teach young children that fire is not a toy. Parents also need to be diligent about keeping matches and lighters out of reach in high, ideally locked, cabinets.

Help spread these messages in your community and emphasize to parents that they need to take an active role in making sure their children know the dangers of fire. If we all work together, we can help prevent youth firesetting.

Find resources for Arson Awareness week at www.usfa.fema.gov/aaw.

Posted by on May 7, 2012 • Filed under: Fire Corps, fire-prevention-education, Health and Safety, News

NVFC’s Annual Report Now Online

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Check out the National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) Annual Report for 2011 to find out all of the ways the organization has been working for you over the past year. The report includes a year-end wrap-up including legislative activities, membership, international outreach, EMS, health and safety, partnerships, training, Fire Corps, the National Junior Firefighter Program, and more. Since 2011 marked the NVFC’s 35th anniversary, there are also photos that take you on a nostalgic look back at the organization throughout the years. Download the Annual Report: http://www.nvfc.org/files/documents/NVFC_AnnualReport_2011.pdf

Posted by on February 6, 2012 • Filed under: Advocacy, EMS, Fire Corps, Health and Safety, Junior Firefighters, Leadership, News, Training and Education

The Extreme Home Makeover in Texas

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By Jeanie Fossati, Fire Corps Texas State Advocate

The following is the firsthand account of Fire Corps Texas State Advocate Jeanie Fossati’s experience helping the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition crew to build a new house for volunteer firefighter Mizzy Zdroj and her family, who lost their home in the devastating Bastrop wildfire. The Heart of Pines Volunteer Fire Department also received a makeover. Click here for additional information and photos from the event.

It was quite an experience …

On the first day…not knowing what to expect, Fire Corps shirts and caps in hand…Richard Castillo, the Fire Corps Texas Regional Advocate and I drove to the staging area between Bastrop and Smithville, in Bastrop County, Texas. Volunteers from around the state were already there, and we were all anxious and ready to begin our task.

Immediately we were handed hard hats and a blue “Extreme Makeover” tee-shirt, a prerequisite attire before boarding a yellow school bus full of other volunteers, all looking just like us…full of anticipation  and excitement as we rode the bouncing bus 5 miles to the home site. Then, there it was, we had arrived, the big bus proved it, the big bright tinsel-covered “EXTREME MAKEOVER BUS” that is, right there in front of us, but there was also a mind altering reminder on the other side of the road as to why we were there.

When we got off the bus, we were standing in front of an empty lot full of debris and burned objects among acres of fire blackened pine tree trunks. This used to be someone’s home, the Zdroj’s family home to be exact, and all their possessions were at the edge of the street reduced to ruins, except for one thing…in the middle of this empty lot was a 10’x20’ shed that had been painted with artistic designs. Mizzy Zdroj was an artist, when she wasn’t fighting fires for the Heart of Pines Volunteer Fire Department,  and even though her surroundings were full of devastation, and she had lost everything , including all her art, she had still managed to paint some beauty in what was going to be her family’s home.  This shed was where the Zdroj family was planning to live, all four of them, as there were 4 beds inside….until they got the knock on the door by Ty and the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition cast.

We didn’t have time to dwell on that image as we were hurried off and all escorted to the end of the street where we rehearsed over and over. “The Texas Calvary” was coming to help build the house. Leading the volunteers was Santa on a big longhorn bull, of course a BULL… after all it is TEXAS. We all shouted and hooped and hollered as we were filmed coming down the road to the build site all dressed in our blue shirts and red and green hard hats. This gave me a quick indication of what was to come in the days ahead.

Richard was not able to come back again until the reveal day, but I kept him posted on the progress, with a different adventure to tell every day. Sometimes working with the production crew and designers as an “extra,” or working in the “Art World,” assisting the carpenters, landscaping, and then the staging and decorating. I handed out Fire Corps shirts and material to everyone including the Project Manager, the Producer, the Designers, and of course the Zdroj family, as I explained that Fire Corps was all about… “Citizens helping Fire and EMS Departments.”

The build was during the holiday season so the build and the whole production took on a Christmas theme. It was quite interesting, seeing how much goes on behind the scene of this ABC production. The field across from the build site was packed with travel trailers, and 18 wheeled trucks that held tools, building supplies, lighting and sound equipment. Even in the late hours of the night, the scene was lit up like daylight. It amazed me how organized the chaos was. Volunteers had 24 hour shifts, there was always someone working. Mother Nature didn’t care…we had rain the whole week, but nothing stopped the progress.  The build site and all the roads were slippery with mud, and I took that mud home with me every night, sometimes working til 2 in the morning.

After only one week, 106 hours to be exact, the ABC Extreme Makeover team, along with 3,000 volunteer citizens made this life changing event happen…

…“Move That Bus! Move That Bus!  Everyone was ready for the reveal. You could see Mizzy’s sincere appreciation to have been selected, but her complete joy when she saw the newly remodeled fire station that had been kept a total surprise was quite emotional. She and all the firefighters were not just given a new home and equipment, but a new sense of hope for the future of the community.

I am glad I was able to help represent Fire Corps and be a part of this new beginning for the entire “Lost Pines” family in Bastrop County, Texas.

…I’ll say it again… It was quite an experience!!

Posted by on January 19, 2012 • Filed under: Fire Corps, News

Nominate FFs for National Awards

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Is there an outstanding volunteer firefighter, fire prevention officer, or junior firefighter in your department? Then recognize their achievements by nominating them for one of four prestigious national awards from the National Volunteer Fire Council.

The Lifetime Achievement Award honors a volunteer firefighter who has served at least 20 years and has made a major contribution or achieved significant accomplishments in the volunteer fire service at the local, state, and/or national level. The nominee must have demonstrated superior dedication to the volunteer fire service, been active in their state firefighters’ association, and have positively impacted the community through the fire service or other volunteer activities. Nominations are due March 1.

The Fire Prevention Award, sponsored by First Alert, honors a volunteer firefighter for remarkable efforts made in the area of fire prevention. The award was established in the memory of volunteer firefighter and NVFC board member Marc Mueller, who energetically promoted the causes of volunteer firefighters and supported all efforts to elevate the volunteer fire and emergency services to their highest level. Nominees must have made a major contribution or played a key role in a significant accomplishment in the field of fire prevention, demonstrated innovation in establishing and enacting goals and/or obtaining funding for the protection of the public through fire prevention and life safety programs, and have demonstrated success in the area of fire prevention. Nominations are due March 1.

The Junior Firefighter of the Year Award honors a junior firefighter or Explorer who has shown extraordinary dedication, commitment, and achievements as a youth member of the fire service. Nominees must have been a junior firefighter or Explorer for at least one year and have gone above and beyond in their participation and accomplishments as a junior firefighter. Two letters of recommendation are also required. Nominations are due February 15.

The Junior Firefighter Program of the Year Award recognizes a department that has an outstanding junior firefighter program. The program must have been in operation for at least one year, and departments must demonstrate creativity and community impact for the program. Nominations are due February 15.

Learn more about all of these awards and submit your nominations today at www.nvfc.org/about-us/awards.

Award Sponsors

If you are interested in sponsoring the Lifetime Achievement Award, contact Heather Schafer at hschafer@nvfc.org or 202-887-5700.

First Alert
BRK Brands, Inc. (Aurora, IL), is a fully owned subsidiary of Jarden Corporation (Rye, NY) NYSE:JAH, a leading provider of niche consumer products used in and around the home. For 50 years, BRK Brands, Inc. has been the manufacturer of First Alert®-branded home-safety products, the most trusted and recognized safety brands in America. BRK® Brands designs and develops innovative safety solutions including Tundra® Fire Extinguishing Spray, ONELINK® wireless alarms, and a comprehensive line of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, and escape ladders to protect what matters most. Such products are also marketed under the BRK Electronics® brand, The Professional Standard for the builder and contractor audiences. BRK Brands, Inc. products are found in more than 30 countries worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.firstalert.com, http://www.brkelectronics.com, or http://www.jarden.com.

Tyco International
Tyco International (NYSE: TYC) is a diversified, global company that provides vital products and services to customers in more than 60 countries and has 113,000 employees worldwide. Tyco is a leading provider of security products and services, fire protection and detection products and services, valves and controls, and other industrial products. Internationally recognized Tyco product brands include Scott, Ansul, Simplex, Sensormatic, and Software House. More information about Tyco can be found at www.tyco.com.

Posted by on January 5, 2012 • Filed under: Fire Corps, fire-prevention-education, fire-rescue-topics, Junior Firefighters, Leadership, News

Change Clock, Change Smoke Alarm Batteries

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From the U.S. Fire Administration 

As our nation moves back to Standard Time beginning this weekend, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) encourages you to mark the occasion as a time to test your home smoke alarms and replace the batteries if more than one year old.

Every day in the United States, needless home fire deaths occur. Working smoke alarms significantly increase your chance of surviving a deadly home fire. A properly installed and maintained smoke alarm is the only thing in your home that can alert you and your family to a fire 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether you’re awake or asleep, a working smoke alarm is constantly on alert scanning the air for fire and smoke.

In addition to changing your smoke alarm batteries this weekend, the USFA recommends following these simple steps to protect your life, your loved ones, and your home:

  • Dust or vacuum smoke alarms when you change the batteries.
  • Test alarms once a month using the test button.
  • Replace the entire alarm if it’s more than 10 years old or doesn’t work properly when tested.
  • Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, and both inside and outside of sleeping areas.
  • For the best protection, equip your home with a combination of ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms or dual sensor alarms.
  • Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout your home so that when one sounds, they all sound. Interconnected alarms are available at most stores that sell smoke alarms.
  • Make sure everyone in your home understands the warning of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond.

Finally, prepare and practice an escape plan so that you and your loved ones can get out of your home safely should there be a fire. Plan to meet in a place a safe distance from the fire and where first responders can easily see you.

For more information on smoke alarms, fire escape planning, and fire prevention, visit the USFA web site at www.usfa.fema.gov/smokealarms.

Posted by on October 31, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Corps, fire-prevention-education

Keep Fire Prevention Messages Alive All Year

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Fire Prevention Week 2011 may be over, but it is important for fire departments to emphasize fire prevention in the community all year long. Fire departments and Fire Corps programs are encouraged to continue to strengthen their prevention and safety campaigns and spread community awareness to help keep residents safe and prevent tragedy throughout the year.

Fire Corps provides many tools and resources to help your department and Fire Corps team organize fire prevention programs throughout your community. These include:

  • All-Ways Fire Safe at Home module, which includes programs that can be used to promote fire and life safety to community members in different stages of life, from preschool to older adult.
  • Home Safety Checklist, which provides a basic step-by-step approach to conducting home safety checks in your community and ensuring residents are safer and more secure.
  • First Alert Smoke Alarm Donation Program, which provides free smoke alarms to registered Fire Corps teams to install in their communities (limitations and restrictions apply).
  • Getting Started with Firewise, which provides information about building and maintaining communities in a way that is compatible with the natural surroundings to help protect property and natural resources from the threat of wildfires.
  • Links to fire prevention programs and resources, such as the USFA Smoking and Home Fires Campaign, Fire Safety for Children, Firefacts.org, and the Ready Responder Toolkit.
  • Tips sheets you can use to distribute in your community all year long.

Find all these resources and more at http://firecorps.org/prevention.

You can also find more tools and information about Fire Prevention Week that can be applied all year at www.firepreventionweek.org.

Posted by on October 17, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Corps, fire-prevention-education • Tagged:

Fire Prevention Week Starts Today

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It’s Fire Prevention Week, and this is a great opportunity to spread important fire prevention and safety messages and information in your community. This year’s theme is “It’s Fire Prevention Week! Protect Your Family From Fire!” Use this time to motivate your community to take an active role in preventing home fires and protecting their families with life-saving tools and planning.

The National Fire Protection Association reports that there were more than 360,000 home fires reported in the U.S. in 2009. The best way people can protect their family and homes from fire is to be ahead of the game. National Fire Prevention Week is a time to educate your community about what they can do to prevent the leading causes of home fires – cooking, heating and electrical equipment, candles, and smoking.

Fire Corps provides many tools and resources at www.firecorps.org/prevention to help your department and Fire Corps team conduct fire prevention programs in your community. These include the All-Ways Fire Safe at Home fire and life safety public education module, the Home Safety Checklist, the First Alert Smoke Alarm Donation program, links to fire prevention programs and resources, and much more. In addition, Fire Corps has compiled tips sheets you can use to distribute in your community as part of your Fire Prevention Week campaign and all year long.

For more information about Fire Prevention Week, including outreach materials, safety tips, statistical information, and other resources that can be used by fire departments, Fire Corps teams, and teachers, visit www.firepreventionweek.org.

Posted by on October 9, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Corps, fire-prevention-education • Tagged: ,

Training Opportunities through NVFC

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The National Volunteer Fire Council offers on-site and online training opportunities through the NVFC Academy. Courses cover a range of topics of critical importance to the fire and emergency services, including health and safety, recruitment and retention, grant-writing, leadership, reputation management, Fire Corps, and junior firefighter programs.

For the on-site training, the NVFC will deliver the program or programs you choose at your fire department, fire academy, or other location. Twelve different courses are available to meet the needs of your department. Length and pricing vary. Click here to view a full list of on-site training opportunities.

The online training consists of both recorded and live webinars. Click here to view a listing of courses as well as the live webinar schedule.

Check out the Training and Education section of the NVFC web site at www.nvfc.org/trainingeducation for more information about training opportunities.

Posted by on September 28, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Corps, Health and Safety, Junior Firefighters, Recruitment and Retention, Training and Education, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics

Dispatch: Get Support

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It’s National Firefighter Health Week and each day this week the NVFC is providing tips and tools to help you and your department take the steps needed to get and stay healthy. Today’s topic focuses on getting support. 

The hardest part of keeping on the right track towards better health is staying motivated. Once you have identified the areas of your health that need improvement, you need to build a support system. Whether your health initiatives are department-wide or personal, there is no better motivation to keep your goals in sight than a good support system. For firefighters and EMS personnel, the strength of a support system is maximized when it includes involvement of department leadership, department members, family and friends, and the community.

Here are just a few things you can do today to begin creating a support system for your department and for yourself:

  • Encourage family members to get involved in your health initiatives. By teaching your children and spouse about your nutrition, exercise, and other health efforts and encouraging them to join you, you’ll be keeping your family healthy while developing a solid support system that extends outside of the fire department.
  • Establish a Fire Corps program that can aid your department in achieving its health and fitness goals in many ways. You can have your Fire Corps volunteers develop and find funding for your health programs, or have them complete other non-emergency tasks that would otherwise take up the time that your members could spend working on their fitness and health.
  • Learn how to be the motivator and support for your department’s health initiatives by becoming a Health and Wellness Advocate. The NVFC’s free Health and Wellness Advocate Workshop will give you the necessary tools and knowledge to support and motivate your department’s members.
  • Research local businesses that may have something to contribute your department’s health initiatives, and use the NVFC’s guide Securing Sponsors for your Health and Wellness Program to explain to them why their support for your program would be so vital.
  • Apply for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant to support your departments wellness and fitness program. Grant applications are due September 9.

Resources for August 16:

“DISPATCH: Get Support” Tools and Resources (NVFC)
Health and Wellness Advocate Program (NVFC)
Grant Writing Guide (NVFC)
FireGrantsHelp.com

Find more resources and tools in the National Firefighter Health Week Resource Center at www.healthy-firefighter.org/healthweek. New nutrition and fitness videos have just been added. Also remember to register for Friday’s webinar on Obesity in the Fire Service – go to  https://nvfc.webex.com/ and click on Upcoming Sessions.

National Firefighter Health Week 2011 is supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through a Fire Prevention and Safety Grant. It is sponsored by Georgia-Pacific, Six Flags, and TECGEN.

Posted by on August 16, 2011 • Filed under: ems-health-safety, Fire Corps, firefighter-safety-health, Health and Safety • Tagged: ,