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April 11, 2008	SUBSCRIBE	UNSUBSCRIBE	PREFERENCES

Fire Facilities Inc.

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Study in Eastern Kentucky University's completely online programs: Bachelor of Science in Fire & Safety Engineering Technology with a concentration in Fire Administration and Certificate in Fire & Safety Engineering Technology. 1-866-277-9878 • www.firescience.eku.edu.

Table Of Contents

	Free for All
	House Passes USFA Reauthorization Bill
	House Introduces Firefighter Safety Bill
	FEMA Releases Early TOPOFF 4 Observations
	IAFC Announces Safety Week Theme
	IAFF Publishes Recession Guide
	New Certifications Test Fire Equipment Technicians
	Junior Firefighter Grant Applications Available
	Four Fire Chiefs on the Move
	Briese Named FEMA Region VIII Administrator
	FESHE Launches New Web Site
	FEMA Fire Under Investigation
	Wildfire Resource Empowers Homeowners, Aids Firefighters
	Cultural Change v. Risk Management
	FIRE CHIEF Opens 2008 Chief of the Year Nominations
	In Service Opens Nominations for EVT of the Year
	Studies Confirm Energy Savings in LEED, Energy Star Buildings
	Speaker Spotlight: Kirk Van Cleave, Mike Kritscher & Tim Ottman
	Brick by Brick
	2008 Station Style Conference Registration Open
	Full Calendar at FireChief.com

READY RACK acquires SLING-LINK

Groves Incorporated, manufacturers of READY RACK has acquired SLING-LINK rescue harness systems. Sling-link is a Multiple Application Service Tool (MAST). It will be available through Ready Rack distributors. Sling-Link products meet NFPA Standard 1983 (01 Edition) as a Personal Use or General Use Auxiliary Harness.
www.slinglink.com 800-991-2120

From Janet's Notebook

Free for All

By Janet Wilmoth, Editorial Director

How many free baseball caps, buttons or thermal cups do you really need? Trade show freebies are nice, but one company came up with a different approach to attract show attendees to their booth.

This week at the Fire Department Instructors Conference, Pierce Mfg. provided art and music that became a gift to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The company sponsored Michael Israel, an internationally famous artist and entertainer, to create original paintings during the show. The paintings were presented to NFFF Executive Director Ron Siarnicki for a fund-raising auction later that evening.

“Today in a small way we want to thank you and want to give back to you," said Pierce President Wilson Jones. "Please accept this next 20 minutes as Pierce’s gift to you. We hope it will speak to the sincerely from all the people at Pierce.”

With that introduction, artist Israel stepped onto the stage in front of an oversized black canvas and greeted close to 1,000 attendees crammed in and around the booth. Israel commented that he believes art not only educates and entertains, but it assists victims across the nation. Israel’s paintings have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities. Click Here for More ...

WHP Trainingtowers

Quality Live Fire Training Simulators. The quality built into a WHP Simulator towers above the rest. These simulators are designed to withstand the rigors of fire training. Call 800-351-2525 to discuss your next training building. If you only build one training building, build the best. FDIC Booth 2342. www.trainingtowers.com

Top Story

House Passes USFA Reauthorization Bill

On Thursday, April 3, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation reauthorizing the U.S. Fire Administration by a vote of 412–0. The U.S. Fire Administration Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4847), was introduced by Reps. Harry Mitchell (D-Ariz.) and Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) in December and was approved by the House Science and Technology Committee in February. Click Here for More ...

The 5th Annual FEMSA Fire Service survey is online now! Please click here to participate. Sign up to have your department be entered into a drawing to win $5000 worth of gear from any FEMSA member company!

In the News

House Introduces Firefighter Safety Bill

On April 2, Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.) joined with 17 original co-sponsors from both parties to introduce H.R. 5686, the Firefighter Fatality Reduction Act of 2008. Click Here for More ...

FEMA Releases Early TOPOFF 4 Observations

The Federal Emergency Management Agency met today with state homeland security advisors, state emergency management directors and participants from the Top Officials 4 exercise held in October 2007 to discuss preliminary exercise observations. During the meeting, held in Oklahoma City at the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism, officials briefed out and released preliminary exercise observations and lessons learned from TOPOFF 4. Click Here for More ...

IAFC Announces Safety Week Theme

The International Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Association of Fire Fighters have announced "Committed to Long-Term Results" as the theme for the 2008 Safety, Health and Survival Week, scheduled for June 22–28. Click Here for More ...

IAFF Publishes Recession Guide

To help its affiliates prepare for and prevent proposed cuts in staffing, health care benefits, compensation, pension plans and other areas as a result of an economic downturn, the International Association of Fire Fighters has revised and published its Surviving An Economic Crisis guide. Click Here for More ...

New Certifications Test Fire Equipment Technicians

The International Code Council and the National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors have joined forces to develop new certifications for fire equipment technicians. The Code Council/NAFED Technician Certification Program combines the organizations’ technical and exam preparation expertise to meet industry standards for testing programs. When complete, the groups will offer fire extinguisher technician and pre-engineered fire extinguishing systems technician certifications. Click Here for More ...

Junior Firefighter Grant Applications Available

The National Volunteer Fire Council’s National Junior Firefighter Program is offering $100,000 in scholarships to outstanding junior firefighters and grants to their departments. The criteria and application are now available on the NVFC Web site. Applications must be received by May 15. Click Here for More ...

Four Fire Chiefs on the Move

Two are named fire chief, one retires and one moves to another department. Click Here for More ...

Briese Named FEMA Region VIII Administrator

Garry L. Briese joines FEMA as administrator for Region VIII. In this role, he will coordinate FEMA mitigation, preparedness and disaster response and recovery activities in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. Click Here for More ...

FESHE Launches New Web Site

After years of development, the new Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education Program Web site now is live. Everything there is to know about FESHE and what you need to move forward at the state and local levels are now in place. Click Here for More ...

FEMA Fire Under Investigation

Investigators look for the cause of a fire at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s headquarters on April 3. Click Here for More ...

Wildfire Resource Empowers Homeowners, Aids Firefighters

Prepare Stay Defend, a California non-profit organization, has launched a Web site that empowers homeowners against wildfires. With this site, PSD hopes to make images of ill-prepared homeowners standing on rooftops dressed in shorts and T-shirts while spraying water with a trickling garden hose a thing of the past. Click Here for More ...

Fire Chief's Station Style Conference will focus on the changing role of fire stations and emergency response facilities. This unique conference offers attendees a personalized opportunity to experience the latest in station design technology and network with chiefs, officers and architects from across the country.

From Mutual Aid, a FIRE CHIEF Blog

Cultural Change v. Risk Management

By Quinn MacLeod

What better gift is there than to pull a structure fire on your birthday? It was a warm summer evening and I was straddling the roof peak of a single-family residence, looking out over the lights of south-suburban Denver. I cradled the saw so it wouldn’t fall off the roof and looked around for somewhere to stash it. We decided to just pull off the vent caps instead of continuing to cut, trying to minimize the damage. Damage, I thought to myself, was a joke — the place was trashed. Click Here for More ...

As Seen in FIRE CHIEF

FIRE CHIEF Opens 2008 Chief of the Year Nominations

FIRE CHIEF magazine announced a call for nominations to the annual Fire Chief of the Year Awards. Established in 1996 and sponsored by Pierce Manufacturing Inc., the awards each year recognize two fire chiefs for excellence: a volunteer fire chief and a career fire chief. Click Here for More ...

In Service Opens Nominations for EVT of the Year

FIRE CHIEF magazine is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the In Service 2008 Emergency Vehicle Technician of the Year. The award will be given to one emergency vehicle technician who has made an outstanding effort to promote a high standard of excellence in quality and safety in emergency vehicles. Click Here for More ...

Attention Wildland Fire Management Professionals
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.
Subscribe to Wildfire magazine - wildfiremag.com/subscribe_now

Station Style Conference Preview

Studies Confirm Energy Savings in LEED, Energy Star Buildings

Studies released by the New Buildings Institute and CoStar Group have validated that third party–certified buildings outperform their conventional counterparts across a variety of metrics, including energy savings, occupancy rates, sale price and rental rates. Click Here for More ...

Speaker Spotlight: Kirk Van Cleave, Mike Kritscher & Tim Ottman

What does it take to provide an accurate cost estimate for a new facility that is comprehensive, current and accurate?

Kirk Van Cleave, AIA, principal, RRM Designs, along with his colleagues plan to answer that question in their program, “Using Cost Estimation as a Design Tool: A Comparative Analysis of Building Materials, Systems and Finishes” in Monday morning’s General Session.

“We want to show that the cost estimate is not a milestone document, but a living, breathing design tool to be used throughout the course of the design process and into the bid analysis,” he said.

Van Cleave, Timothy Ottman, chief of construction and maintenance for Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Mike Kritscher, chief estimator, Leland Saylor Associates, will explain the components of an opinion of probable cost, including defining what prorates are and how the project contingency can be the owner’s best friend.

“There is always more need than budget,” said Van Cleave. “A close second tends to be finding a site to house the station — and then getting the station program and apparatus to fit onto the site.

Balancing the program, Ottman maintains 170 fire stations. He designed and constructed eight and has 10 stations planned in the next five years.

“In 1999 we created a station prototype program for new fire stations that would meet the functionality required for field operations while reducing construction time and cost,” he said. Click Here for More ...

Brick by Brick

Station Style Conference presenter Kirk Van Cleave writes that it's more than a building to the firefighters who work there, so get involved early in station planning to meet everyone’s needs. Click Here for More ...

2008 Station Style Conference Registration Open

FIRE CHIEF's third annual Station Style Conference will help attendees plan the most effective emergency response facility for their department and community. FIRE CHIEF's Station Style Conference will focus on the changing role of fire stations and emergency response facilities. The conference will be held April 26–29 in Phoenix. 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.

APRIL

8-Hour Firefighter Survival Skills-Flashover
18, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

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

8-Hour Industrial Fire Training
21, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

Fire-Rescue Med
21-23, Las Vegas
Contact: The International Association of Fire Chiefs, www.iafc.org

Eighth Biannual Leadership Training Seminar
24-27, Glendale, Ariz.
Contact: International Association of Women in Fire & Emergency Services, www.i-women.org

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

2008 Station Style Conference
26-29, Phoenix
Contact: Janet Wilmoth, 312-840-8410, or Nsenga Thompson, 312-840-8415; http://firechief.com/stationstyle/

MAY

Firefighter Escape
5-6, Baton Rouge, La.
Contact: Roco Rescue, 800-647-7626; www.rocorescue.com

Petzl EXO End-User Training
7, Baton Rouge, La.
Contact: Roco Rescue, 800-647-7626; www.rocorescue.com

16-Hour Incident Command System /Incident Management System Training
12-13, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

8-Hour Foam Operations
13, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

Illinois Fire Chiefs Association’s 2008 Annual Symposium
15-17, Peoria, Ill.
Contact: Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, 800-662-0732

8-Hour Firefighter Survival Skills-Flashover
16, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

8-Hour Hazardous Material for First Responders-Awareness Level
16, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

36th Annual Fire Expo
16-18, Harrisburg, Pa.
Contact: Tina Alexander, 717-464-3291

Second Annual Western Maine Fire Attack School
16-18, Bethel, Maine
Contact: Frandford Mutual Aid Fire Training Association

8-Hour Industrial Fire Training
19, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

Rescue from Fall Protection
21-22, Baton Rouge, La.
Contact: Roco Rescue, 800-647-7626; www.rocorescue.com

16-Hour Foam Operations & Applications
22-23, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

30-Hour Basic Industrial Exterior Fire Training
19-22, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

National EVT Training Academy
19-23, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Contact: Florida Fire Chiefs Association

20-Hour Basic Rope Rescue
22-23, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

8-Hour Pre-Emergency Planning for Industrial Facilities
27, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

84th Annual Illinois Fire College
29-June 1, Champaign, Ill.
Contact: Illinois Fire Service Institute

JUNE

NFPA World Safety Conference and Exposition
2-5, Las Vegas
Contact: National Fire Protection Association

Rescue I-Plus
2-6, Albuquerque, N.M.
Contact: Roco Rescue, 800-647-7626; www.rocorescue.com

8-Hour Foam Operations
3, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

Annual Confined-Space Refresher
4-6, Baton Rouge, La.
Contact: Roco Rescue, 800-647-7626; www.rocorescue.com

8-Hour Industrial Fire Training
9, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

NFFF's Fifth Annual Memorial Golf Tournament & 27 Regional Tournaments
9-13, Tucson, Ariz.; Fremont, Calif.; Tulare County, Calif.; College Park, Ga.; Rockford, Ill.; Jefferson Parrish, La.; Joplin, Mo.; Omaha, Neb.; Londonderry, N.H.; Jersey City, N.J.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Rochester, N.Y.; Raleigh, N.C.; Rocky Mount, N.C.; Marysville, Ohio; Hillsboro, Ore.; Erie, Pa.; Fairfield, Pa.; Lower Merion, Pa.; Philadelphia; Arlington, Texas; Salt Lake City; Fairfax, Va.; Norfolk, Va.; and Wautoma, Wis.
Contact: National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

Confined-Space Technician II
9-13, Albuquerque, N.M.
Contact: Roco Rescue, 800-647-7626; www.rocorescue.com

Rope Technician II
9-13, Albuquerque, N.M.
Contact: Roco Rescue, 800-647-7626; www.rocorescue.com

Trench & Structural Collapse
9-14, Baton Rouge, La.
Contact: Roco Rescue, 800-647-7626; www.rocorescue.com

30-Hour Basic Industrial Interior Fire Training
16-19, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

Fast-Track 80 Confined-Space Rescue Certification
17-20 and 23-26, Baton Rouge, La.
Contact: Roco Rescue, 800-647-7626; www.rocorescue.com

8-Hour Firefighter Survival Skills-Flashover
20, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

40-Hour Industrial Fire Team Leader
23-27, Beaumont, Texas
Contact: Industrial Safety Training Council, Trisha Kelley, 409-833-2378 ext. 1134 or Jim Philp, 409-833-2378 ext. 1108; www.bestcomplex.com

Tower Work & Rescue
25-27, Baton Rouge, La.
Contact: Roco Rescue, 800-647-7626; www.rocorescue.com