Command Post: A+ for Effort

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November 30, 2007	SUBSCRIBE	UNSUBSCRIBE	PREFERENCES

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Table Of Contents

	A+ for Effort
	IRS Publishes Instructions on HELPS Benefit
	IAFC Introduces Fire/EMS Safety Support System
	IAFC Reopens 2nd VP Race
	NVFC Board Meets
	Mississippi Launches Grassroots Pub-Ed Program
	Cash Wins Volunteer Award
	Two Tenneessee Stations Closed
	Send Holiday Greetings Overseas
	Exercise Your Disaster Plan
	Smart Growth
	Full Calendar at FireChief.com

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From Janet's Notebook

A+ for Effort

By Janet Wilmoth, Editorial Director

Have you ever had to re-take a course because it wasn't accepted when you changed schools or moved? Have you ever thought about going back for a degree or earning an advanced degree and wondered if that move was compatible with your career goals?

A decade ago, the U.S. Fire Administration and the National Fire Academy saw a lack of consistency among states, training facilities, and colleges and universities in their fire and emergency service curriculum and course guidelines. In 1998, the NFA invited a group of fire science coordinators to discuss the interrelationship of fire science programs and higher education. The result of that meeting was the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education Program. Click Here for More ...

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Top Story

IRS Publishes Instructions on HELPS Benefit

The Internal Revenue Service has published new instructions on how retired firefighters can take advantage of the Healthcare Enhancement for Local Public Safety benefit on their 2007 tax returns. 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

IAFC Introduces Fire/EMS Safety Support System

The Fire/EMS Safety, Health and Survival Week, formerly known as the Safety Stand Down, is now one of three components of the new comprehensive Fire/EMS Safety Support System, developed this year by the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Safety, Health and Survival Section. Click Here for More ...

IAFC Reopens 2nd VP Race

As a result of events stemming from Kelvin Cochran's resignation, there are currently no candidates running for second vice president in 2008. Those wishing to declare their candidacy for second vice president must submit formal documentation no later than Feb. 1, 2008. Click Here for More ...

NVFC Board Meets

The National Volunteer Fire Council voted to reorganize its legislative priority list and heard from key speakers, including representatives from two leading presidential campaigns, at its annual fall meeting. Click Here for More ...

Mississippi Launches Grassroots Pub-Ed Program

Safe at Home is designed to reach each community and each person in Mississippi with important messages and resources to improve fire safety. Click Here for More ...

Cash Wins Volunteer Award

The International Association of Fire Chiefs' Volunteer and Combination Officers Section gave Cherryville, N.C., Fire Chief Jeffery C. Cash its first John M. Buckman III Award for his leadership within the volunteer and combination fire service. Click Here for More ...

Two Tenneessee Stations Closed

Amid allegations that the fire chief misspent funds, both Fosterville, Tenn., fire stations were closed last week. 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.

Firefighters Abroad

Send Holiday Greetings Overseas

During this holiday season, many American firefighters are doing double-duty for their country, serving as soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan and in other nations abroad. Command Post readers have contributed the names of the soldiers on this list; these are sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, colleagues and friends, fathers and mothers in the fire service family. Click Here for More ...

From Mutual Aid, a FIRE CHIEF Blog

Exercise Your Disaster Plan

By Robert Rielage

This month Wyoming, Ohio, held its annual disaster exercise, which brings together key personnel from all city departments. Most of the department heads were fresh from NIMS training, so there was more enthusiasm. This was especially true of the directors of the public works and building departments, who recently completed NIMS 300 and 400. Click Here for More ...

Smart Growth

By Azarang "Ozzie" Mirkhah

Previously, I looked at how clusters of homes on smaller plots of land increase fire hazards. In some cases, these homes are less than 10 feet apart. But fire chiefs also must view the challenges associated with the narrow streets in cluster developments from another angle — the actual fireground operations and tactics. Apparatus placement is significant in fireground operations. The narrow streets and long dead ends present major challenges to response and further delay rescue and suppression efforts. Click Here for More ...

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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.

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

Human Error Prevention
4-5, Dallas
Contact: Ben Marguglio, 845-265-0123; www.HighTechnologySeminars.com

Public Safety Grant Writing
4-5, Nashville, Tenn.
Contact: David Furrer, Chief Grants, 800-733-9281, x 4535; www.chiefsupply.com/grants/seminars.asp

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

JANUARY 2008

20th Annual Apparatus Specification & Vehicle Maintenancy Symposium
20-23, Orlando, Fla.
Contact: Sally McCormack, FDSOA, 508-881-3114; www.fdsoa.org

Fire-Rescue East
22-26, Jacksonville, Fla.
Contact: Florida Fire Chiefs' Association, www.ffca.org

Working Together Emergency Services Midwest Conference & Exposition
30-Feb. 2, Milwaukee, Wis.
Contact: Don Hunjadi, 800-793-6820; www.wisconsinems.com/conf.htm

FEBRUARY 2008

Public Safety Grant Writing
6-7, Atlanta
Contact: David Furrer, Chief Grants, 800-733-9281, x 4535; www.chiefsupply.com/grants/seminars.asp