Command Post: Common-Sense Symposium

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January 11, 2008	SUBSCRIBE	UNSUBSCRIBE	PREFERENCES

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Table Of Contents

	Common-Sense Symposium
	Fire Administration Warns of Smoking Dangers
	Canadian Fire Chief Resigns
	Emergency Director, Fire Chief Hired
	FEMA Aid to Iowa, Calif.
	Fire Engineers Develop Chemistry Learning Program
	Iowa Fire Chief Goes Full Time
	A New Resolution
	Waiting to Exhale
	Full Calendar at FireChief.com

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From Janet's Notebook

Common-Sense Symposium

By Janet Wilmoth, Editorial Director

This week, a Missouri volunteer firefighter was sentenced to three years in prison for voluntary manslaughter for a fatal crash that killed a 17-year-old boy. In November 2006, the volunteer was responding to a brush fire in his private vehicle — no lights or sirens — at an estimated 84 mph. While passing one car on a blind hill, he hit another car head-on, killing the high-school junior.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration's provisional report on 2007 firefighter fatalities, two of every 10 firefighter fatalities occurred while responding to or returning from an incident. While seatbelts and speed were not necessarily factors in all of these fatalities, they were contributing factors for most of them.

I sit on the program committee for the Fire Department Safety Officers Association's 20th Annual Apparatus Specification and Maintenance Symposium. We discussed including a program on driver safety. I pushed hard for the committee to bring in a speaker on the Smith System, which trains drivers and instructors for a number of large commercial fleets. I learned about the Smith System when I worked for United Parcel Service as a customer-service manager. I was required to take the same driver-training class as all UPS package car drivers, and the Smith System's five keys to safe driving remain with me to this day. Click Here for More ...

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Top Story

Fire Administration Warns of Smoking Dangers

The U.S. Fire Administration began a public-education campaign about the dangers of smoking and home fires. The campaign is designed to alert smokers and those who live with smokers about simple steps they can take to prevent fires in their home. Click Here for More ...

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In the News

Canadian Fire Chief Resigns

Metchosin Fire Chief Steen Skou has resigned amid complaints from firefighters regarding his management style. Click Here for More ...

Emergency Director, Fire Chief Hired

In Florida, Sally Bishop was promoted from interim director to director of the Pinellas County Emergency Management Department. And in Waynesboro, Pa., Dave Martin was hired as fire chief of the volunteer fire department. Click Here for More ...

FEMA Aid to Iowa, Calif.

The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency said that federal disaster aid has been made available for Iowa to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm Dec. 10 and 11. FEMA also expanded the disaster declaration for the Southern California wildfires. Click Here for More ...

Fire Engineers Develop Chemistry Learning Program

The Society of Fire Protection Engineers has partnered with Discovery Education to create a new in-school program called The Chemistry of Fire. The program is geared to high-school chemistry students and will teach the science behind fire as a way for students to fully understand the dangers of fire. Click Here for More ...

Iowa Fire Chief Goes Full Time

Clint Robinson had been a volunteer chief putting in up to 20 hours per week in Waukee, Iowa. But the Waukee City Council voted unanimously to hire the 34-year-old out of 47 candidates for the full-time job as fire chief. Click Here for More ...

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From Mutual Aid, a FIRE CHIEF Blog

A New Resolution

By Robert Rielage

The Jan. 7 edition of U.S. News and World Report offered "50 Ways to Improve Your Life in 2008." The collection of articles suggests New Year resolutions that will help improve both individuals and their communities. My wife, Diana, who is a classically trained dance teacher, was immediately drawn to the article on learning to ballroom dance for both fitness and recreation. I was drawn to the article urging folks to join their local volunteer fire departments and serve their communities in an organized and time-honored fashion. Click Here for More ...

Waiting to Exhale

By Donny Jackson MRT Bulletin

With the 700-MHz auction less than three weeks away, speculation is rampant regarding which operators will secure valuable spectrum, particularly for the 10-MHz D Block that will be paired with public safety's 10-MHz in the band to provide the foundation for a nationwide broadband wireless network. Click Here for More ...

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

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