Command Post: Fired Up in Atlanta

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August 31, 2007	SUBSCRIBE	UNSUBSCRIBE	PREFERENCES

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Table Of Contents

	Fired Up in Atlanta
	Fire in the United States Available from USFA
	Westermann Elected New IAFC President
	New Charity Donates Thermal Cameras
	Las Vegas Chief Wins First IAFC Fire, Life-Safety Award
	Greece Forest Fires Worst Ever
	New Guidelines Help Firefighters Prevent Cancer
	Ford Named Fire Chief for Lincoln, Neb.
	24-Hour Enablers
	Leadership Reality
	Full Calendar at FireChief.com

GearGrid. American to the Core.
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From Janet's Notebook

Fired Up in Atlanta

By Janet Wilmoth, Editorial Director

When was the last time attendees raved about the general session or keynote speaker at the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Fire-Rescue International? It's been a long time, but this year was different. Really different.

The first clue was the yelps and drums heard throughout the auditorium. Before you could blink, steel trash cans, plastic buckets and flying drumsticks filled the stage. Rhythm Extreme, a group of 10 high-energy musicians pounding on steel cans, filled the atmosphere with a hypnotic beat that fired up the audience.

Their finale included musicians in turnout coats and helmets (face shields safely down) with grinders on steel for a peppy rhythm that sent sparks flying to the floor. The lead white helmet was none other than IAFC President Jim Harmes, who welcomed attendees, which included 1,500 members of the Department of Defense's fire services. Click Here for More ...

Ready Rack Fire Department Storage Specialists Since 1984
Red Rack: There's not a better value or stronger rack available. We specialize in care and maintenance of your PPE, hose, and SCBA cylinders.

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Top Story

Fire in the United States Available from USFA

This 14th edition of the report, which covers the 10-year period from 1995 to 2004, focuses on the national fire problem and provides an overview of the fire problem in structures, vehicles and other mobile properties, and outside and other properties. Click Here for More ...

WHP Trainingtowers: Customized Training Towers and Burn Rooms

WHP is the industry leader for Live-Fire Training Simulators and Burn Room Liners. Options include: rappel anchors, gas fired simulators, confined space simulators, search & rescue mazes, smoke machines, standpipes and more. 450+ projects. Buildings feature a Powder Coat paint finish. It's Time to Train! Visit us at www.trainingtowers.com or e-mail info@trainingtowers.com. FRI Booth #1530.

Report from Fire-Rescue International

Westermann Elected New IAFC President

The International Association of Fire Chiefs installed Steven Westermann, fire chief of the Central Jackson County (Mo.) Fire Protection District, as its president. As president, Westermann will provide leadership to the association's 20-member board and will serve as IAFC's primary spokesperson on matters of national and international interest. Click Here for More ...

New Charity Donates Thermal Cameras

By Rick Markley, Editor An existing program to donate thermal-imaging cameras to fire departments has gotten a shot in the arm from an Atlanta businessman. Click Here for More ...

Las Vegas Chief Wins First IAFC Fire, Life-Safety Award

The board of directors of the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Fire & Life Safety Section named Azarang Mirkhah of the Las Vegas Fire Rescue Department as the first winner of its Excellence in Fire & Life Safety Award. The award, sponsored by the International Code Council, honors individuals who have dedicated themselves to saving lives and property through the development of codes, fire-prevention practices and leadership techniques. Click Here for More ...

Polycom's Grant Assistance Program (PGAP) helps fire departments find and apply for funding sources, such as the Assistance to Firefighters grant, to buy critical communications equipment for training and distance learning. Go to www.polycom.com/pgap to learn more. We provide up to $1,500 towards the cost of grant writers to help you apply.

In the News

Greece Forest Fires Worst Ever

By Gavriil Zanthopoulos

Since Aug. 24, Greece has faced its worst forest fire disaster ever, in the size of burned area and loss of life and property. A heat wave (temperatures above 101 degrees Fahrenheit for three days) was followed by a day of winds reaching 50 to 70 kilometers per hour and extremely low relative humidity (8% to 20%). Click Here for More ...

New Guidelines Help Firefighters Prevent Cancer

The International Myeloma Foundation issued the first guidelines for firefighters for the prevention and treatment of myeloma, a cancer of cells in the bone marrow that affects production of blood cells and weakens bone. Studies have shown firefighters are at higher risk for myeloma, and the risk increases with length of service. Click Here for More ...

Ford Named Fire Chief for Lincoln, Neb.

Niles Ford, deputy fire chief in Fulton County, Ga., was named chief of Lincoln (Neb.) Fire and Rescue. He will start Oct. 1. Click Here for More ...

From Mutual Aid, a FIRE CHIEF Blog

24-Hour Enablers

By Robert Avsec

Don't those employees who are showing up too tired for work have supervisors? If so, why are these supervisors enabling such behavior? Why aren't they fulfilling their responsibilities to their other employees and to the public by allowing only those who are fit for duty to respond to fire and EMS calls? Click Here for More ...

Leadership Reality

By Robert Rielage

There are as many books on leadership as there are theories on how leadership works. One of my personal favorites is a short series that was started over 20 years ago by Dr. Wess Roberts, a former Army officer who turned his attention to leadership and motivation with such companies as Fireman's Fund Insurance and Northrop. His most interesting books are Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun and its sequel Victory Secrets of Attila the Hun. Click Here for More ...

Do you have questions? We have answers!

FireChief.com is featuring a new service where you can ask industry professionals your questions in specific categories. Panasonic Toughbook is answering questions about Rescue Computer Technology, and Rosenbauer is answering questions about Aerials. In addition, Class 1 is currently answering questions related to Electronics, and Hale is currently answering questions related to Pumps.

If you would like to be an expert on FireChief.com you can learn more about the program here.

Upcoming Events

Full Calendar at FireChief.com

Do you have an upcoming event to share with our readers? Please send information to Lisa Allegretti, Managing Editor, at lisa@firechief.com.

SEPTEMBER

Interflam 2007
3-5, London
Contact: Interscience Communications Ltd., e-mail: intercomm@dial.pipex.com; www.intercomm.dial.pipex.com/html/events/interflam07a.htm

Continuing Challenge Hazmat Emergency Response Workshop
4-7, Sacramento, Calif.
Contact: Fran Leistikow, 530-753-6934; e-mail: info@hazmat.org; www.hazmat.org

TEEX 32-Hour Advanced Tactical Leadership
10-13, College Station, Texas
Contact: TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute, 866-878-8900; www.teex.org/fire

One-Day Vehicle Fires Course with Live Burns
8, Nacogdoches, Texas
Contact: Scene Of The Accident Inc., 713-553-679; www.sceneoftheaccident.org

TEEX 36-Hour Rope Rescue Technician 1006 Certification
10-14, College Station, Texas
Contact: TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute, 866-878-8900; www.teex.org/fire

Three-Day Accident Scene Safety Train-the-Trainer
11-13, Manhattan, Kan.
Contact: Scene Of The Accident Inc. 713-553-679; www.sceneoftheaccident.org

TEEX Basic Marine Firefighting
17-18, College Station, Texas
Contact: TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute, 866-878-8900; www.teex.org/fire

TEEX 32-Hour Confined-Space Rescue 1670 (non-certification)
17-20, College Station, Texas
Contact: TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute, 866-878-8900; www.teex.org/fire

Three-Day Accident Scene Safety Train-the-Trainer
21-23, Hamlin, N.Y.
Contact: Scene Of The Accident Inc., 713-553-679; www.sceneoftheaccident.org

TEEX Combined (Basic & Advanced) Marine Firefighting
24-28, College Station, Texas
Contact: TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute, 866-878-8900; www.teex.org/fire

TEEX Advanced Marine Firefighting
25-28, College Station, Texas
Contact: TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute, 866-878-8900; www.teex.org/fire

OCTOBER

Two-Day Vechicle and Machinery Rescue Technician Certification
2-3, Houston
Contact: Scene Of The Accident Inc., 713-553-679; www.sceneoftheaccident.org

ESRI Health GIS Conference
7-10, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Contact: www.esri.com/events/health/register.html

TEEX Basic Marine Firefighting
15-16, College Station, Texas
Contact: TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute, 866-878-8900; www.teex.org/fire

The Society of Fire Protection Engineers Annual Professional Development Conference and Exposition
15-19, Las Vegas
Contact: spfe.org

TEEX Combined (Basic & Advanced) Marine Firefighting
22-26, College Station, Texas
Contact: TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute, 866-878-8900; www.teex.org/fire

Human Dimensions of Wildland Fire
23-25, Fort Collins, Colo.
Contact: Mikel Robinson, e-mail: mikel.robinson@umontana.edu; www.umt.edu/ce/cps/HumanDimensionsofWildlandFire.htm

Three-Day Accident Scene Safety Train-the-Trainer<
23-25, Forsyth, GA.
Contact: Scene Of The Accident Inc. 713-553-679; www.sceneoftheaccident.org

TEEX Advanced Marine Firefighting
23-26, College Station, Texas
Contact: TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute, 866-878-8900; www.teex.org/fire