FC_Command Post_: Determined Spirit

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July 11, 2008	SUBSCRIBE	UNSUBSCRIBE	PREFERENCES

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Table Of Contents

	Determined Spirit
	Homeland Security Bills in House
	IAFC Reports on Radio Noise
	NVFC Health Week Plans in Place
	NVFC Launches Health and Fitness Program
	Investigation Revokes Firefighters' Raises
	Pa. Close to Safe-Cigarette Law
	Crawford New Chief in Shreveport
	NEAFC Names 2008 Directors and Officers
	Illinois Chief Sworn in
	Texas Chief Dies
	Kidde, Danger Rangers Offer Discounts
	Criminal Case Means More Conservative Chiefs
	Feinstein Seeks Emergency Fire Funds
	National Guard Aids California Fire Crews
	Pelosi, Foresters Back FLAME Act
	Measure of Success
	What Did You Do?
	Making Sense of It
	Charleston's Lessons
	A Look Back at Steps to Move Forward
	Full Calendar at FireChief.com

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From Janet's Notebook

Determined Spirit

By Janet Wilmoth, Editorial Director

One of the things I really admire about volunteer fire departments is their spirit and determination to make do with few resources. While the FIRE Grants have helped a good many departments across the country, there's more need — and there always will be — particularly for those departments that can’t quite compete with experienced grant writers.

If you want to see spirit and determination, you should get to know Monte Egherman. He is a retired battalion chief out of Peoria, Ariz., and assistant chief for Buckeye, Ariz. He also is the firefighter fitness and CPAT director for the Glendale Community College Fire Science Program and author of Fitness for Firefighters: Enduro-Strength Training. Former Phoenix Fire Chief Alan Brunacini wrote the book's forward, and Bruno doesn’t throw his endorsements around lightly.

During his career, Egherman has won numerous state and national competitions in power lifting and bodybuilding. He also is certified as a strength and conditioning specialist, public manager and fire officer. Egherman believes that firefighters are “industrial athletes” who need to “train the way they play.”

“You’re buying into a good 35 years of fitness training,” Egherman told cadets in a fitness class. “Training never stops. It all still has to come down to working with turnout gear on, pulling hose and carrying heavy objects.” Click Here for More ...

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Top Story

Homeland Security Bills in House

House members introduce these three bills to enhance the nation's preparedness and response capabilities. Click Here for More ...

NEW From READY RACK

Groves incorporated, manufacturers of the READY RACK announces NEW SCBA/ Rescue bags. SCBA Bags hold 2 cylinders, Rescue bags hold 3 mini lifting bags, 1 SCBA cylinder, Controller & Regulator and 3, 50’ coils of hose.

Also available: Sling-link Multiple Application Service Tool (MAST). Sling-Link products meet NFPA 1983 (06 ED) as a Personal Use or General Use Auxiliary Harness.

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In the News

IAFC Reports on Radio Noise

The International Association of Fire Chiefs' digital project working group released its "Interim Report and Recommendations: Fireground Noise and Digital Radio Transmissions." Click Here for More ...

NVFC Health Week Plans in Place

National Firefighter Health Week will create awareness around important emergency service–specific health issues, such as heart attacks, lung conditions, diabetes and mental well-being. Click Here for More ...

NVFC Launches Health and Fitness Program

National Volunteer Fire Council's heart-healthy firefighter program partnered with L&T Health and Fitness to launch a new health and fitness advocate initiative. Click Here for More ...

Investigation Revokes Firefighters' Raises

American Canyon, Calif., stopped payment of $36,465 in raises paid to seven firefighters based on questionable degrees from an unaccredited university. Click Here for More ...

Pa. Close to Safe-Cigarette Law

A Pennsylvania bill would require all cigarettes sold in the state to be fire safe. Click Here for More ...

Crawford New Chief in Shreveport

Brian Crawford is the next fire chief in Shreveport, La. Click Here for More ...

NEAFC Names 2008 Directors and Officers

The New England Association of Fire Chiefs has elected its 2008 board of directors. Click Here for More ...

Illinois Chief Sworn in

The Dixon, Ill., city council swore in new fire chief Tim Shipman this week. Shipman replaces Dean Rhodes, who retired after 22 years of service. Click Here for More ...

Texas Chief Dies

Robert Leland Knight, chief of the Teague (Texas) Volunteer Fire Department, was killed July 5, while battling a fire at an upholstery and auto body shop. Click Here for More ...

Kidde, Danger Rangers Offer Discounts

Kidde and Danger Rangers are offering a special discount during July on fire safety products and educational materials to help fire departments prepare for Fire Prevention Month in October. 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!

2008 Wildfire Season

Criminal Case Means More Conservative Chiefs

Fire commander Ellreese Daniels, who was charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter after the deaths of four people under his command, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of making false statements to investigators. Click Here for More ...

Feinstein Seeks Emergency Fire Funds

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) will seek $910 million in emergency federal funding for fire suppression, hazardous fuels reduction and rehabilitation projects across the United States. Click Here for More ...

National Guard Aids California Fire Crews

The National Guard will help firefighters battling wildfires in northern and central California. Click Here for More ...

Pelosi, Foresters Back FLAME Act

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) spoke on the floor this week in support of H.R. 5541, the Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act, which passed by voice vote. A forester association is backing the bill, but calls for different revenue source. Click Here for More ...

The IAWF is accepting nominations for its Wildland Fire Safety Award, which will be presented at “The Fires of ’88: Yellowstone and Beyond” in Jackson, Wyo., Sept. 22–27. The award honors a person in the international wildland firefighting community who has made a significant contribution to wildland firefighter safety, either directly on the fireline or indirectly through management, cultural changes or wildland-fire research. For more information, click here.

From Mutual Aid, a FIRE CHIEF Blog

Measure of Success

By Robert Rielage

Can a fire chief be successful without being successful in both personal and professional areas? Certainly a successful fire chief can get firefighters, medics and equipment to an emergency scene safely and quickly. But success is difficult to quantify. Click Here for More ...

What Did You Do?

By Rick Markley, Editor

The situation at the Charleston furniture store overwhelmed that department and revealed flaws in its incident command, culture, equipment, water supply and communications. It also revealed flaws in how structures are inspected and permits issued. The report is the industry's leading topic of conversation, and rightly so. Click Here for More ...

Charleston Reactions

Making Sense of It

Industry experts weigh in on the Charleston Post-Incident Assessment and Review Team's Phase II Report. Click Here for More ...

Charleston's Lessons

By Janet Wilmoth, Editorial Director

J. Gordon Routley says there are important lessons every ﬁre department can take from the Charleston tragedy. Click Here for More ...

A Look Back at Steps to Move Forward

By Brian A. Crawford

It is the hope and sincere desire of the Charleston team that other ﬁre departments make the critical changes in their own organizations … as a result of the Phase II report and not after they lose a ﬁreﬁghter needlessly. 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

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.

JULY

32-Hour Industrial Fire Team Leader
14-17, 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
15, 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

Off-Shore Rig Rescue
14-18, Baton Rouge, La.
Contact: Roco Rescue, 800-647-7626; www.rocorescue.com

FFCA Annual Meeting and Executive Development Conference
25-30, Pointe Vedra Beach, Fla.
Contact: Florida Fire Chiefs Association

8-Hour Hazardous Material for First Responders-Awareness Level
25, 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
29, 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

15th Annual NFPA Americas' Fire & Security Expo 2008
29-31, Miami Beach, Fla.
Contact: National Fire Protection Association

AUGUST

8-Hour Industrial Fire Training
11, 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

Third Annual Indiana WMD Preparedness and Anti-Terrorism Conference Comprehensive Intergrated Training Exercise
11-15, Indianapolis
Contact: Gary Ashenfelter, Training Director, IDEA, 800-558-6620; training@indianadea.com

8-Hour Foam Operations
12, 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
12-14, Baton Rouge, La.
Contact: Roco Rescue, 800-647-7626; www.rocorescue.com

Fire-Rescue International
14-16, Denver
Contact: International Association of Fire Chiefs, 800-934-1957; www.iafc.org

Fast-Track 80 Confined-Space Rescue Certification
19-22 and 25-28, Baton Rouge, La.
Contact: Roco Rescue, 800-647-7626; www.rocorescue.com

8-Hour Firefighter Survival Skills-Flashover
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

Fire & Rescue 2008
27-29, Liverpool, England
Contact: Fire & Security Portfolio