Skip to content

Archives for news

See all posts in the network tagged with news

Arson Awareness Week

No comments

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

Vol Fire Service Featured on Radio Show

No comments

US Fire Department Racing is a great supporter of the volunteer fire service. Thanks to USFD Racing, NVFC First Vice Chair Jeff Cash was featured on the April 21 episode of the radio program Full Throttle Racing with Kane to promote the volunteer fire service, how to volunteer with a local fire department, and the importance of junior firefighter programs. You can listen to the archived interview on the USFD Racing web site at http://www.usfdracing.org/usfdradio.html (archived as FTRWK Radio Show 04-21-2012; the interview starts at time 24:45). Also remember to ‘Like’ USFD Racing on Facebook to show them your support of their commitment to the volunteer fire service.

Posted by on April 24, 2012 • Filed under: fire-rescue-topics, Junior Firefighters, News, Recruitment and Retention

Operation Hellenic Expedition

No comments

Last fall, a group of firefighters from Greece spent a week of training and networking at the Union Fire District in Kingstown, RI. Now, UFD Deputy Chief Kevin Quinn and Greek volunteer firefighter Andrew Georgakopoulos provide their account of this unique training event and the impact it had on the fire services of both nations. Check it out at: http://firechief.com/blog/operation-hellenic-expedition-training-boot-camp

Posted by on April 6, 2012 • Filed under: News, Training, Training and Education, training-fire-rescue-topics

Safety and Health Week 2012

No comments

The National Volunteer Fire Council has teamed up with the International Association of Fire Chiefs for the 2012 International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week. This event brings together the IAFC’s Fire/EMS Safety, Health and Survival Week with the NVFC’s National Firefighter Health Week.

The dates for Safety and Health Week are June 17-23. The theme is Rules You Can Live By, which focuses on the IAFC’s Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Survival and The Incident Commander’s Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Safety, and the NVFC’s Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Health.

Fire departments are encouraged to suspend all non-emergency activity during Safety and Health Week to focus on safety and health training and education allowing all shifts and personnel to participate. An entire week is provided to ensure each shift and duty crew can spend at least one day focusing on these critical issues.

Learn more from the press release, and visit the Safety and Health Week web site for resources and planning tools: www.safetyandhealthweek.org.

 

Posted by on February 27, 2012 • Filed under: command-leadership, ems-health-safety, firefighter-safety-health, Health and Safety, News, Training and Education

Victory! Nationwide Broadband Network

No comments

On February 17, the House and Senate passed legislation (H.R. 3630) allocating 10 MHz of radio spectrum in the 700 MHz band (commonly referred to as the “D-Block”) to public safety for the purpose of building a nationwide broadband communications network. Specifically, the bill creates a First Responder Network Authority within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and provides seven billion dollars along with a license to use the D-Block and adjacent public safety spectrum to build the network. It also provides funding for public safety research and development activities including deployment of Next Generation 9-1-1 services, which will complement the capabilities of the new broadband public safety communications network.

The creation of a nationwide broadband public safety communications network has been a top legislative priority for the NVFC since 2010. Click here to learn more.

Posted by on February 17, 2012 • Filed under: Advocacy, Dispatch & Communications, Emergency Communications, EMS Dispatch, News, technology-communications

NVFC’s Annual Report Now Online

No comments

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

No comments

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

Take Part in the NFPA Process

No comments

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards have a significant impact on the fire service. Documents such as NFPA 1001 Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, NFPA 1403 Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions, NFPA 1500 Standard on Occupational Safety and Health, and NFPA 1901 Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus are just a few of the many standards that the fire service uses as a basis for training, certification, and the acquiring of equipment.

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) strongly encourages all members of the fire service to be active in the development and review process for the NFPA standards.  Yet you may wonder how the NFPA standards come into existence or how they are revised. NVFC Health and Safety Committee Chair Kenn Fontenot has written an article to help clarify the process, including how standards are written, by whom, and how you, the user, can influence what goes into these documents.

Click here to read the article.

Posted by on January 17, 2012 • Filed under: administration-leadership, command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighting-operations, Leadership, News, Standards and Codes, Training, Training and Education

Nominate FFs for National Awards

No comments

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

Year-End Review

No comments

The following article was written by NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg for FireRescue1.com. It was published on 12/19/11:

Work together: Overcoming volunteer challenges in 2012
We must examine which practices are working and which ones

By Philip C. Stittleburg, NVFC Chairman
Published on FireRescue1.com

As another year comes to a close, I am glad to see there have been many successes for the volunteer fire and emergency services in 2011.

At the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), we have released many new training webinars, entered into promising partnerships, strengthened international relationships, and continued expanding critical programs such as Fire Corps, the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program, and the National Junior Firefighter Program.

However, there have also been many disappointing hits to the volunteer fire and emergency services. For the second straight year, the number of volunteer firefighters has decreased.

The National Fire Protection Association’s U.S. Fire Department Profile Through 2010 shows there are 44,000 fewer volunteers in 2010 compared to 2009.

Perhaps even more troubling is that the aging trend we have seen in the volunteer fire service for the past seven years continues. In 2010, 51.2 percent of firefighters in communities under 2,500 were over 40.

The percentage of firefighters over 50 years old serving those communities has risen every year since 2000 and now stands at 28.7 percent.

Reinvigorate initiatives
While we won’t know the 2011 numbers until next fall, we must take this news seriously and reinvigorate initiatives to increase recruitment and retention.

We must examine which practices are working and which ones aren’t, identify areas where changes need to be made, and look outside the box for new approaches.

We need to focus on the root causes of these trends and work together to make the changes needed in the fire service to meet the new demands and continue to thrive.

Another challenge that faced the fire and emergency services in 2011 was in the area of legislation. The year actually started with some success.

Thanks in part to efforts from national fire service organizations including the NVFC, Congress provided $405 million each for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs in the FY 2011 appropriations. This represented a $15 million increase for AFG from the previous year.

AFG and SAFER are the most significant sources of federal assistance available to the fire and emergency services and play a critical role in ensuring that all departments meet a baseline level of readiness.

AFG awards grants to fire and EMS departments to fund basic necessities including training, equipment, vehicles, health and safety programs, and fire prevention and education programs. SAFER provides grants for the hiring of personnel and for volunteer recruitment and retention efforts.

Despite this early success, very little legislative progress benefiting the fire and emergency services has been made since.

Gridlock on Capitol Hill
One of the main obstacles to legislative advancements has been gridlock on Capitol Hill. While the NVFC has been working tirelessly to promote and advance legislation that will help keep the volunteer emergency services strong, the inability of Republicans and Democrats in Congress to put aside partisan differences and work together has made it difficult to get anything accomplished.

Unfortunately, this situation is likely to get even worse as we head into an election year.

We must unite as the nation’s first responder community to communicate with Congress regarding legislation affecting the fire and emergency services.

Ask your Representative and Senators to support legislation that will keep the emergency services strong. The NVFC provides an easy-to-use tool that enables you to take action.

Through our Capwiz alert service, you will receive a Legislative Action Alert when your involvement can make a critical difference. The alert will link you to a letter that you can send directly to your legislators from the online system.

Sign up for the NVFC’s Legislative Action Alerts and help make a difference at www.capwiz.com/nvfc. Learn more about all of the NVFC’s legislative priorities at www.nvfc.org/resources/legislativeaffairs.

Thing to remember
So what can we surmise from all of this? The critical thing to remember is that volunteers continue to be the backbone of our nation’s fire and emergency services.

What started 275 years ago with the founding of the first volunteer fire station in Philadelphia continues to be a strong tradition today. Volunteers make up 70 percent of the fire service, and communities across the U.S. depend on us to keep them safe.

Together we can work to increase our numbers, effect legislative change, and enhance the ability of the volunteer fire service to protect our communities. Let’s make 2012 a positive and successful year for the fire and emergency services.

Find tools and resources for your department and learn more about what the NVFC is doing to help the volunteer fire service thrive at www.nvfc.org.

Posted by on December 20, 2011 • Filed under: administration-leadership, Advocacy, command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, funding-staffing, Grants and Funding, Leadership, News, Recruitment and Retention

Take Action on Radio Spectrum Allocation

No comments

Tell the Senate not to take radio spectrum from emergency responders!
 
On December 13, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3630, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011, which includes language that would allocate the D Block to public safety for the purpose of creating nationwide broadband communications network.  Unfortunately, H.R. 3630 also would require public safety to relinquish 14 MHz of radio spectrum in the 700 MHz band that is currently being used for interoperable voice communications and establishes an “administrator” to oversee the creation of the broadband network that is not sufficiently accountable to public safety.

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) strongly supports the creation of a nationwide broadband communications network for public safety but opposes the proposal in H.R. 3630 because of the giveback requirement and the administrator governance model.  H.R. 3630 is now under consideration in the Senate where the bi-partisan Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act of 2011 (S. 911), which creates a nationwide broadband communications network for public safety without the unsupportable provisions in the House bill, has already been passed out of committee. 

Contact your U.S. Senators TODAY to ask them to replace the public safety broadband communications section in H.R. 3630 with the bill language in S. 911. The NVFC makes it easy for you to take action through our Capwiz advocacy tool. Simply click here and find a draft letter that you can send to your Senators just by entering your address.

Posted by on December 16, 2011 • Filed under: Advocacy, Dispatch & Communications, Emergency Communications, EMS Dispatch, fire-rescue-topics, News

UFD Hosts Greek FF Delegation

No comments

The NVFC was pleased to work with the Union Fire District (UFD) to help organize a week-long training session with 16 firefighters from the Union of Hellenic Fire Service Volunteers at the UFD’s training  facility, beginning on October 29. The event was a great success!

Check out a video from the training week at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omoPuBIGuOw. More details and photos will be posted on the NVFC web site next week, so stay tuned!

The training was part of the NVFC’s ongoing initiatives to foster dialogue, exchange ideas, and discuss issues of mutual interest with the international fire service community. In recent years, the NVFC has met with fire service leaders and volunteers from Europe, Asia, Australia, and Central and South America.

 

Posted by on November 17, 2011 • Filed under: fire-rescue-topics, News, Training and Education, videos

Scholarship Winners

No comments

The NVFC is pleased to partner with Columbia Southern University to offer scholarships to NVFC members. The two recipients of the 2011 scholarships have now been announced. Congratulations to Chief Peter Rucinski of Reno, NV, and Firefighter Dan Federico of Pittsburg, PA. Both will recieve up to two years of tuition towards the degree of their choice from CSU.

Click here to learn more about the scholarship recipients on the NVFC web site.

Posted by on November 15, 2011 • Filed under: News, Training and Education, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics

In Memorium

No comments

The NVFC is deeply saddend by the loss of two fire service leaders last week. NVFC Michigan Director William Reimann passed away on November 12 and Hal Bruno, Chairman Emeritus of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and nationally recognized authority on fire safety, passed away on November 8.

Bill and Hal were both respected and dedicated lifelong members of the fire service and will be greatly missed. 

Read more on these two fire service leaders on the NVFC web site: http://www.nvfc.org/media/news/nvfc-mourns-passing-of-two-fire-service-leaders/

Posted by on November 14, 2011 • Filed under: Leadership, News

“Field EMS” Legislation Introduced in House

No comments

On October 7, Representative Tim Walz (D-MN) introduced the “Field EMS Quality, Innovation, and Cost Effectiveness Improvements Act of 2011” (H.R. 3144) along with original co-sponsor, Representative Sue Myrick (R-NC). The bill is patterned after legislation introduced just before the 111th Congress expired at the end of last year, although there are some very substantial differences.

H.R. 3144 defines “emergency medical services” or “EMS” as “emergency medical care, trauma care, and related services provided to patients at any point in the continuum of health care services, including emergency medical dispatch and emergency medical care, trauma care, and related services provided in the field, during transport, or in a medical care facility or other clinical setting.” “Field EMS” is defined as “emergency medical services provided to patients (including transport by ground, air, or otherwise) prior to or outside a medical facility or other clinical setting.”

The bill establishes the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as the “primary Federal agency with responsibility for programs and activities relating to emergency medical services and trauma care.” The legislation from the 111th Congress had established the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) within the Department of Transportation as the primary Federal EMS agency.  H.R. 3144 cites the recommendation of “the Institute of Medicine” and states a congressional finding that making HHS the lead Federal EMS agency, “…is necessary to provide a more streamlined, cost-efficient, and comprehensive approach for field EMS and a focal point for practitioners and agencies to interface with the Federal Government.”

H.R. 3144 would establish several grant programs, including the Field EMS Excellence, Quality, Universal Access, Innovation, and Preparedness (EQUIP) program for field EMS agencies that “are licensed by or otherwise authorized in the State in which they operate” and “have medical oversight and quality improvement programs.” The bill language specifies that EQUIP grant application forms not be “unduly burdensome to smaller and volunteer field EMS agencies or other agencies with limited resources.”

The bill also establishes a grant program for State EMS offices, creates a Field EMS Medical Oversight Advisory Committee, establishes a Field EMS Education Grant program for entities “involved with the education of field EMS practitioners,” calls for the evaluation of “Innovative Models for Access and Delivery of Field EMS for Patients,” directs the Secretary of HHS to “conduct research and evaluation relating to field EMS,” and establishes a “Field EMS Evidence-Based Practice Center.” In addition, H.R. 3144 sets up an “Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund” which would be funded by designating income tax overpayments and voluntary contributions in order to pay for the activities and programs established under the bill.

Click here to view the text of H.R. 3144 and other information about the bill. H.R. 3144 has been referred to the Energy and Commerce Committee as well as the Ways and Means Committee in the House of Representatives.

Posted by on November 9, 2011 • Filed under: Advocacy, EMS, ems-topics, News

Accessing NFPA Standards

No comments

Fire departments depend on the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Codes and Standards to assist with carrying out their missions. Now it is even easier for members of the fire service to access the Codes and Standards online.

In response to requests by members of the fire service, including the National Volunteer Fire Council, the NFPA has created a short video that provides step-by-step instructions for viewing the Codes and Standards with the NFPA’s RealRead tool. View the video on YouTube:

Accessing Fire Service Standards Online

Posted by on October 31, 2011 • Filed under: fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, News, Standards and Codes, videos

Report on Firefighter Arson

No comments

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has released a report addressing the problem of firefighter arson. The Report on the Firefighter Arson Problem: Context, Considerations, and Best Practices, aims to educate members of the fire service, emphasize existing proactive approaches, and provide resources and best practices for prevention and mitigation.

Firefighter arson is a long-standing problem that impacts fire departments and communities across the nation. History suggests that firefighter arson is not a new phenomenon. In fact, the number of media reports suggests there are likely over 100 arrests per year. While this is still small in comparison to the over 1 million firefighters nationwide, the impact of these incidents is profound on the department, the community, and the fire setter.

The NVFC, with guidance from a work group comprised of arson investigators and fire service professionals, examined the issue using previous research, news stories, and through interviews with individuals directly affected by firefighter arson. Work group members provided a valuable critique of the existing literature and crafted a series of recommendations to more adequately address and prevent firefighter arson incidents.

As part of this project, the NVFC is also working on developing a toolkit for fire departments which will include prevention materials and resources for dealing with the aftermath of a firefighter arson incident.

Click here to download the Report on the Firefighter Arson Problem.

Posted by on October 25, 2011 • Filed under: News, Reputation Management

NVFC Members: Win a New Harley Davidson!

No comments

You who work hard and risk your lives to make our communities safer – and California Casualty wants to say thank you. That’s why they are giving away a new Harley Davidson motorcycle to one lucky winner. Entering is easy - just click the link below to enter today!

http://mycalcas.com/harley

 

 

Terms & Conditions
California Casualty Management Company is offering the online sweepstakes.  No purchase is necessary to enter the sweepstakes.  A purchase does not increase your chances of winning.  See full terms and conditions of this sweepstakes on the promotional site listed above.

Posted by on October 12, 2011 • Filed under: News

USFDR Track Program Created to Thank Firefighters

No comments

US Fire Department Racing (USFDR) has created the USFDR Tracks Program, a directory of race tracks in the United States that offer a discount ticket to firefighters. When you see the USFD Racing logo on a track web site, you know that they support firefighters.

The first two promoters to kick this program off are NASCAR driver Rick Crawford, promoter of Mobile International Speedway, and David Furia, promoter of Lakeport Speedway. These two tracks are also the tracks where USFDR drivers Derek Long and Jim Board have been cut out of their race cars after serious accidents. Their track safety crews are a great example why USFDR is working hard to honor first responders.

The USFD Racing team would like to thank Mobile International Speedway and Lakeport Speedway for their support, and they look forward to working with many more tracks that would follow their example by supporting the firefighters that support us every day.  Learn more about USFD Racing at http://www.usfdracing.org.

Posted by on October 11, 2011 • Filed under: News, Recruitment and Retention

Georgia-Pacific Announces 2011 Grant Recipients

No comments

Georgia-Pacific has announced the recipients of the 2011 Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade™ grants. The NVFC is proud to partner with Georgia-Pacific to help promote this program, which has provided almost $800,000 to  in support to rural and small town fire departments to date. The grants provide fire departments in communities with Georgia-Pacific facilities with funds to purchase much-needed equipment that helps protect the lives and property of residents as well as firefighters.

Click here to learn more and view this year’s recipients.

Posted by on October 11, 2011 • Filed under: funding-staffing, Grants and Funding, News • Tagged:

Tell Congress Not to Raise Taxes on Volunteer FFs and EMTs!

No comments

At the end of 2010, an exemption from income taxation on incentives that many local communities provide to volunteer firefighters and EMTs as a reward for their service expired. As a result, tens of thousands of volunteer emergency responders across the country will have to pay higher taxes this year without Congressional action. Contact your U.S. Representative and Senators now and tell them to co-sponsor the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 933/H.R. 2353), which would extend and expand a federal income tax exemption on all property tax benefits and up to $600 per calendar year of any other type of benefit that volunteers receive as a reward for their service.

If your Senator or Representative is already a co-sponsor of the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Reauthorization Act, contact them to let them know that you appreciate your support. The sponsor of S. 933 is Charles Schumer (D-NY) and the current co-sponsors are Susan Collins (R-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME). The sponsor of H.R. 2353 is John Larson (D-CT) and the current co-sponsors are Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tim Holden (D-PA), Tom Latham (R-IA), Michael Michaud (D-ME), Dave Reichert (R-WA), Laura Richardson (D-CA) and Betty Sutton (D-OH).

Click here to take action now!

Posted by on September 27, 2011 • Filed under: Advocacy, fire-rescue-topics, News • Tagged:

Cee Lo Green Says “Thank You”

No comments

Grammy Award-winning artist Cee Lo Green has re-recorded his hit song “Forget You” as “Thank You,” a tribute to volunteer firefighters everywhere. Check out the new video on YouTube, and get the free download at www.facebook.com/duracell.

Posted by on May 6, 2011 • Filed under: News, Uncategorized, videos • Tagged:

Help the Japanese Fire Service

No comments
Post by Heather Schafer, NVFC Executive Director
 
Since the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan last week, I have watched in shock and dismay as the tragedy continues to unfold. Like everyone else, I am in disbelief at the extent of the devastation – so many lives lost, people missing, people in despair, and infrastructure damaged. I also thought of all the new friends I made while I was there just three short weeks ago. Are they ok?  Did they lose family members? How is the fire service responding to the call during this crisis? All these questions raced through my mind.
 
Yes, just a few weeks ago, the Japan Firefighters Association (JFA) hosted me during their Junior Fire Brigade Summit in Tokyo. The association and its leadership were gracious hosts, enabling me to meet with fire service chiefs and leaders in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Ironically, I visited the national tsunami center and an earthquake demonstration center…thinking at the time that if these natural disasters were to occur how devastating it would be even though the Japanese were incredibly prepared as a nation. I went to Japan as part of an ongoing effort between our two countries to exchange ideas and further the advancement of the fire and emergency organizations in both of our nations. The ability to reach beyond our border and learn about other nations and how they train, prepare, and work together is a tremendous benefit to us all.
 
The JFA has been a true friend of our own fire service. In fact, just this past October they donated $5,000 to the NVFC’s Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund, which provides stipends to U.S. volunteer first responders that have been impacted by large-scale disaster. They made a previous donation to the fund in 2005, and they also donated to the relief efforts in the wake of 9/11; benefitting the families of all fallen firefighters.
 
People turn to the fire service in times of disaster; now is the time to be there to support the fire service in Japan as they provide relief and rescue operations during this unimaginable crisis. The NVFC has established a fund to support the Japan Firefighters Association in their relief and recovery efforts. 100% of all money raised will go directly to the Japan fire service. Please help by donating to this relief effort.
 
To donate, simply go to the NVFC web site at www.nvfc.org and click on the button for Japan Relief Efforts. Or click here to donate by credit card now.
 
Even once the immediate threats subside, Japan has a long road to recovery ahead. Please consider passing this information along on your personal, department, and company web sites, social media pages, listservs, etc. Let’s provide support to our fire service family in Japan during their time of great need.
Posted by on March 17, 2011 • Filed under: News, Uncategorized • Tagged:

Free Batteries for Your Department!

No comments
Duracell is currently running a donation program called “Power Those Who Protect Us.”  For each pack of specially-marked Copper Top batteries purchased, Duracell will make a battery donation to a volunteer fire department! This donation program has an eye appealing web site (http://www.duracell.com/en-US/power-those-who-protect-us/about.jspx) where anyone can enter the promotion code listed on their specially-marked Copper Top packaging and indicate the volunteer department they wish their battery donation to go to. 
 
Think about how many things we depend on at our departments that require batteries:
·         PASS Devices
·         Flashlights
·         Heads Up Display Units
·         Voice amplifiers
·         Smoke detectors
·         Gas meters
·         Garage door openers
·         Simulators
·         AED training packs 
·         Glucometer device
·         And of course the TV remote
 
This battery donation program is a perfect opportunity to help cut costs on equipment we use daily.  Here are some ideas on how to take advantage of this great promotion.
1)      Talk with your local Duracell battery vendors to see if they would post flyers and signs announcing how battery sales help the local fire department earn free batteries. Include on the flyer or poster information on how purchasers can donate to your department by entering their donation code online.
2)      Use this promotion to get FREE batteries. Stock up on batteries for your department from local vendors making sure the package is specially marked with the Maltese cross. For every 10 batteries you buy, your entered promotion codes will direct Duracell to send you one battery free.
3)      Use the promotion as a recruitment drive.  Talk with vendors to see if they would include informational flyers near their front door, check-out counters, and battery racks. Flyers could include information about supporting volunteers in your community through the Power Those Who Protect Us Program as well as signing up to volunteer.
4)      Share the promotion on your social media sites and through email asking friends and family to look for specially-marked packages and enter promotion codes online to specify a donation to your department. Of course a trash bag full of empty battery packages with promo codes that you can enter would be just as nice.
Posted by on January 26, 2011 • Filed under: News, Uncategorized • Tagged: