Command Post: The Bedrock of the Fire Service

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November 9, 2007	SUBSCRIBE	UNSUBSCRIBE	PREFERENCES

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Table Of Contents

	The Bedrock of the Fire Service
	House Passes Tax Relief for Volunteers
	IAFC, DOT Create Hazmat Fusion Center
	Former Giant Treks for 9/11 Rescuers
	NSEFO Elects Officers
	New Fire Chiefs Hired
	Illinois Fire Chief Dies
	How My Body Survived My Career
	Fire & EMS in the Post-9/11 World
	Full Calendar at FireChief.com

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From Janet's Notebook

The Bedrock of the Fire Service

By Janet Wilmoth, Editorial Director

Recently, I spoke at the Peoria Regional Battalion Chief Academy in Arizona, which is designed to examine the many roles and responsibilities required of a chief officer. The academy was run in conjunction with the Maricopa County Community College District and participation is worth three credit hours toward an associate's degree.

Approximately 56 captains who aspire to be battalion chiefs and several current battalion chiefs participated in the program, which was held on Thursdays and Fridays over five consecutive weeks. The sessions were divided into operations and leadership, each taught by officers and chiefs. A number of the instructors were local experts in communication and media.

In the course's introduction, Peoria Chief Robert McKibben said, "The position of chief officer is a complex role that requires leadership, management, supervision and participant activities. These different roles are not always clearly defined, and overlaps do occur." Click Here for More ...

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Top Story

House Passes Tax Relief for Volunteers

The U.S. House passed the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act, which excludes from taxable income all property tax benefits and up to $360 per year of any other benefit paid to volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel by state and local units of government. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, passage of the HEART Act (H.R. 3997) will result in $994 million in tax savings for volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel over the next 10 years.

Volunteer firefighters save American taxpayers more than $37.2 billion every year, the National Volunteer Fire Council said. Unfortunately, statistics show that the number of volunteer firefighters in the country have decreased over the last 20 years even as the average age of volunteer firefighters has gone up. Many communities have discovered that providing benefits to their volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel has a positive impact on retention and recruitment. Taxing these benefits reduces their value as an incentive and creates a significant administrative burden on small municipalities and townships.

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

IAFC, DOT Create Hazmat Fusion Center

The International Association of Fire Chiefs and the Department of Transportation will develope a new data center that will collect and analyze hazmat incident data to enhance first-responder tactics, operations, policy and training. Click Here for More ...

Former Giant Treks for 9/11 Rescuers

Retired New York Giants football player George Martin passed the 500th mile of his 3,200-mile walk across the United States to benefit seriously ill Ground Zero rescue and recovery workers. Click Here for More ...

NSEFO Elects Officers

The National Society of Executive Fire Officers elected its officers and regional representatives at the NSEFO annual Leadership Conference. Click Here for More ...

New Fire Chiefs Hired

Virginia Beach, Va., searched for four months before hiring Steve Cover as its new fire chief. Also, Kim Howell was hired as deputy fire chief in Richmond, B.C., Canada. Click Here for More ...

Illinois Fire Chief Dies

Clinton, Ill., Fire Chief Jeff Pearl, 50, died Nov. 5, of natural causes. He had served as fire chief for four years; he also served on the county board and was an EMT. 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. 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.

From Mutual Aid, a FIRE CHIEF Blog

How My Body Survived My Career

By Robert Avsec

Despite the technology that has made the job safer and less punishing, fighting fires still involves people lugging hose into burning buildings and carrying Mrs. Smith down two flights of stairs at 3 a.m. Over the course of a 25- or 30-year career, the small aches and pains can accumulate into larger health issues. Click Here for More ...

Fire & EMS in the Post-9/11 World

By Robert Rielage

Recently I was asked at one of our area hospital's quarterly employee meeting. The hospital's CEO gave a "state of the hospital" briefing, and I followed with my presentation on fire and EMS response in the post-9/11 world. Click Here for More ...

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Wildfire Magazine is the resource chief and wildland managers use in their efforts against urban-interface and wildland fires. Each issue of Wildfire focuses on the demands of leaders responsible for managing and controlling wildland fires. Wildfire addresses issues at the local, state and federal levels and provides a unique international perspective.
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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.

NOVEMBER 2007

TEEX Combined (Basic & Advanced) Marine Firefighting
12-16, College Station, Texas
Contact: TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute, 866-878-8900; www.teex.org/fire

TEEX Advanced Marine Firefighting
13-16, College Station, Texas
Contact: TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute, 866-878-8900; www.teex.org/fire

TEEX 40-Hour NFPA 1081 Industrial Interior Fire Brigade Certification
12-16, College Station, Texas
Contact: TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute, 866-878-8900; www.teex.org/fire

Smoke Characterization Seminar
14-15, Lombard, Ill.
Contact: UL University

Mexico Fire & Safety Expo
14-16, Mexico City
Contact: National Fire Protection Association

TEEX 40-Hour NFPA 1081 Industrial Exterior Fire Brigade Certification
26-30, College Station, Texas
Contact: TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute, 866-878-8900; www.teex.org/fire

DoD Personal Protective Equipment Conference
28-30, Fort. Lauderdale, Fla.
Contact: www.tswg.gov

DECEMBER 2007

TEEX 16-Hour NFPA 1081 Leadership
3-4, College Station, Texas
Contact: TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute, 866-878-8900; www.teex.org/fire

TEEX Basic Marine Firefighting
3-4, College Station, Texas
Contact: TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute, 866-878-8900; www.teex.org/fire

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

TEEX Combined (Basic & Advanced) Marine Firefighting
10-14, College Station, Texas
Contact: TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute, 866-878-8900; www.teex.org/fire

TEEX Advanced Marine Firefighting
11-14, College Station, Texas
Contact: TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute, 866-878-8900; www.teex.org/fire