Command Post: A Year in Review

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December 28, 2007	SUBSCRIBE	UNSUBSCRIBE	PREFERENCES

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Table Of Contents

	A Year in Review
	DHS, Fire Grants Funded
	Fed Agency Applauds N.Y. Fire Code
	Diesel Exhaust Linked with Heart Attack, Stroke in Men
	Survey: States Want to Work Better with Feds
	Kan. Asst. Chief Retires, N.Y.911 Head Resigns
	UL: Light Strings may be Hazardous
	Ohio Fire Department Taken Under Village Wing
	Missouri Fire Chief Dies
	Send Holiday Greetings Overseas
	Full Calendar at FireChief.com

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From Janet's Notebook

A Year in Review

The last week of the year is a good time to look back and acknowledge lessons learned from the past 12 months. Recently I looked through the 51 Command Post editorials I had written this year and I found a few questions for you to ponder when you have a quiet moment.

In January, I wrote about a meeting of departments in Illinois' Mutual Aid Box Alarm System and departments from seven surrounding states. The meeting was designed to be a step forward for interstate mutual aid response systems.

So what progress has your department made in 2007 to advance mutual aid response both intra- and interstate? 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

DHS, Fire Grants Funded

This legislation includes a number of successes for America's fire service; it includes an increase of more than $75 million for the SAFER grant program, an increase of $13 million for the FIRE grant program. Click here for more ...

Fed Agency Applauds N.Y. Fire Code

U.S. Chemical Safety Board Investigations Manager Stephen Selk applauded New York City officials' and the fire department's efforts to revise the city's nearly 90-year-old fire code. Click here for more ...

Diesel Exhaust Linked with Heart Attack, Stroke in Men

Increased roadway pollution produced by diesel fuel in vehicles is leading to a cascade of conditions that could result in heart attack or stroke. Click here for more ...

Survey: States Want to Work Better with Feds

States are working more closely and more effectively with federal agencies than ever before to share information that could prevent terrorist attacks, but their relationship with the federal government in a number of other key security areas remains a work in progress. Click here for more ...

Kan. Asst. Chief Retires, N.Y.911 Head Resigns

Manhattan, Kan., assistant fire chief retires after 28 years, and in Albany, N.Y., the Emergency 911 director resigns. Click here for more ...

UL: Light Strings may be Hazardous

Underwriters Laboratories says that decorative lighting strings manufactured by Weinace Decorative Co. Ltd. may pose a shock or fire hazard. Click here for more ...

Ohio Fire Department Taken Under Village Wing

The News Democrat reports that the Mt. Orab (Ohio) Fire Department will begin 2008 under municipal control. The department was established in 1896 and has operated as a private, volunteer department for 35 years. Click here for more ...

Missouri Fire Chief Dies

Philip Sayer, fire chief of the Galt (Mo.) Fire Protection District and Fire Chief's 2003 Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year died Dec. 14. He was 67. In 1966, Sayer used donations from the Lion's Club to start the department. It ran on donations until 1991 when a fire protection tax was passed. He also served as a former FIRE grant peer reviewer and spent 25 years as an instructor at the University of Missouri's Fire & Rescue Training Institute. In 1979, he became the National Volunteer Fire Council's Missouri director, and continued as an active leader in the organization.

"We have lost a truly extraordinary member of the fire service community," said Philip C. Stittleburg, chairman of the NVFC. "Phil Sayer made a difference not only in his community, but also in his state and across the nation. His service and his memory will live on through the great things he accomplished."

Take the Fire Chief and Mountain State University Pop Quiz.

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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 ...

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.

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.

JANUARY 2008

Firefighter Life-Safety Initiatives Program Facilitators Forum
12, Rockville, Md., or
19, Brighton, Mich.
Contact: 609-397-1370;
www.everyonegoeshome.com

Firefighter Life-Safety Initiatives Implementation Workshop
13, Rockville, Md., or
20, Brighton, Mich.
Contact: 609-397-1370;
www.everyonegoeshome.com

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

APRIL 2008

Technical Large-Animal Rescue Training
18-20 or 22-24, Lexington, Ky.
Contact: Eastern Kentucky University Loss Prevention and Safety Department, 859-622-1009

Hazmat Decontamination of Large Animals
25, Lexington, Ky.
Contact: Eastern Kentucky University Loss Prevention and Safety Department, 859-622-1009

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