Thursday, January 8

U.S. Fire Administration Training, Resources and Data Exchange Network (TRADENET) Update

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You are subscribed to Training, Resources and Data Exchange Network (TRADENET) for U.S. Fire Administration. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.

 

Welcome to TRADENET, TRADE's Training Network, a National Fire Academy sponsored activity.  The objective of TRADENET is to provide a forum for members of Fire Service organizations to maximize performance through quick and easy information sharing.

 

The information provided here must be non-commercial and non-copyrighted.  None of the material shared should be incorporated into any copyrighted programs.

 

The TRADENET newsletter is distributed through the USFA/FEMA server.  This allows you to control your subscription easier by allowing you to add new email addresses or delete old ones.  There are over 26,480 subscribers worldwide to the weekly newsletter, an increase of 327 subscribers over the previous week.  If you know of someone who wishes to subscribe, all they need to do is go to the following site, http://service.govdelivery.com/service/multi_subscribe.html?code=USDHSFA and enter your email address.  They will then be taken to a page which will allow them to select their choices of newsletters.

 

If you have a question or comment for inclusion in the weekly TRADENET newsletter, please send it and your contact information to robert.w.campbell@dhs.gov.  Please be sure and include your Department or Organization name, your email address and any other method you wish to receive feedback.  USFA reserves the right to edit content submitted or reject any material submitted.

 

Are you familiar with the training program called “Coffee Break Training?”  It is on the USFA website and can be found at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/nfa/coffee-break/.  Please access this training and provide any feedback to the Deputy Superintendent Robert Neale at Robert.neale@dhs.gov.  He will be happy to receive any feedback regarding this program.

 

Remember the Website for the National Fallen Firefighters program is http://www.everyonegoeshome.com/.  Also, please visit their Resources page at http://www.everyonegoeshome.com/resources.  This page contains many PowerPoint presentations and downloadable video clips available for your use.

 

Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education Program

 

Be sure to check out the new look for the model curriculum in its print-/handout-ready format. While there, view the new FESHE bachelor’s courses outlines that reflect the new Web-based formats delivered by the Degrees at a Distance Program schools. You can also download under the “Tools and Resources” section the new FESHE brochure in its DHS/FEMA configuration or take the same marketing piece without our logo and customize it with your own logo and content. You can also download the artwork for a FESHE tabletop display for conferences and classroom buildings which, again, is in both formats.

 

Visit the new page at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/nfa/higher_ed/index.shtm.

 

The link to the USFA/NFA TRADE Site is: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/nfa/trade/

 

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To enroll in NFAOnline, visit www.nfaonline.dhs.gov and browse the course catalog through the ‘New Students’ option.

 

Go to NFAOnline to see the complete COURSE CATALOG

 

Additional courses are now available on NFA Online:

 

Q494 – NFIRS Course

Q123 – Applied Research Course

 

ICS Simulation Courses: Ranch House, Mansion, Nursing Home, Town House, Wildland, and Strip Mall

 

Distance Learning Courses (1)

NFA Online Tutorial (PDF)

 

Emergency Medical Services Courses (1)

EMS Operations at Multi Casualty Incidents

 

Emergency Response to Terrorism Courses (1)

Emergency Response to Terrorism: Self-Study

 

Fire Prevention Courses (3)

Alternative Water Supply: Planning and Implementing Programs

Testing and Evaluation of Water Supplies for Fire Protection

Self-Study Course for Community Safety Educators

 

Incident Management Courses (5)

ICS-100, Introduction to ICS for Operational First Responders

ICS-200, Basic NIMS ICS for Operational First Responders

ICS-300 Intermediate All-Hazard NIMS ICS Review for Expanding Incidents

Awareness of Command and Control Decision Making at Multiple Alarm Incidents

ICS-400: Fundamentals Review for Command and General Staff  

 

Management Science Courses (1)

Fire Service Supervision

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PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Temporary Appointment as Acting Deputy US Fire Administrator

 

On behalf of U. S. Fire Administrator Gregory Cade, the following message is for your information and use.

 

Effective January 20, 2009, Dr. Denis G. Onieal will be temporarily appointed as the Acting Deputy U. S. Fire Administrator.

 

Dr. Onieal will serve in this capacity to provide the necessary continuity for the US Fire Administration during the transition period to the new Administration.  He will serve in this capacity until a new Fire Administrator and/or Deputy Administrator is appointed.

 

I would ask that you support Denis is this temporary role as the U. S. Fire Administration continues its mission.

 

 

Gregory B. Cade

United States Fire Administrator

 

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The Incident Management Systems Integration (IMSI) Division just announced the following updates:

 

1.      The finalized NIMS has been released and can be accessed at: http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/index.shtm

 

2.      The Credentialing Guideline has been posted to the Federal Register and can be accessed at: http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=09000064807e68fa

 

3.      The Intelligence/Investigation Function Guide has been posted to the Federal Register and can be accessed at: http:// www.regulations.gov.

 

 

These links have also been posted to the NIMS Working Groups Team Sites.

 

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#1

I am looking for guidelines on personal issue regulators.

 

Thank you

 

Alan Brody

Rama Fire

alanb@ramafirstnation.ca

 

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#2

The Grand Island Fire Department is seeking condition of employment agreements related to no tobacco use by all newly hired employees.  If your agency has new employees sign an agreement related to the non-use of tobacco products, I would be very interest in obtaining a copy.  I would also be interested in any policies related to tobacco use by on duty personnel.  Please email me at thughes@grand-island.com. 

 

Troy Hughes

Fire Chief

Grand Island Fire Department

(308) 385-5444 ext. 229 office

thughes@grand-island.com

 

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#3

I am looking for SOP’s and information that fire departments use to deal with structure fires in buildings that utilize solar panels.  I know that these panels can present a significant danger to firefighters.  Thanks for your time and assistance. 

 

Lieutenant George L. Thomas IV

Safety/Special Operations

Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue

Office - (301) - 600 - 9331

GThomas@fredco-md.net

 

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#4

Our fire department is currently in the process of updating and adding new SOP/SOG's.  We are currently looking for the following SOG's or Policies: firefighter injury, accident, civilian injury, civilian death, administrative incident report, air monitoring, monitoring equipment maintenance, and a request for training application and training after action report format.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Joseph M. Heim

Fire Chief

East Dubuque Fire Department

edfire18@yahoo.com

 

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#5

I am currently in the process of finishing up with my last Applied Research Project for the Executive Fire Officer Program and would like your help in answering a short survey in reference to how your department handles the vehicle maintenance of your apparatus, ambulances and other vehicles.  The survey also includes a couple of questions about your department.

 

Below is the link to this questionnaire.

 

Again, I would like to thank you in advance for your time, and be safe in this coming year.

 

 http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=UFtmZzfFyZurTXSepq6wPQ_3d_3d

 

Steve Leatherman

Bureau Chief, Logistics & Finance

Frederick County Division of Fire Rescue 340 Montevue Lane Frederick, MD  21702

301-600-2073 (Office)

240-674-4249 (Cell)

 

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#6

Our department is looking for a program and/or lesson plans for initial Awareness Level Technical Rescue. We currently have some personnel that are Rope and Confined Space technicians, but are lacking a way to teach Awareness Level for the multiple disciplines called out in NFPA 1670.

 

Thank you,

 

Mark Hill, Captain

City of SeaTac, WA

mhill@ci.seatac.wa.us

 

---------------------------------INFORMATIONAL ITEMS-------------------------------------

 

 

2009 U.S. Line of Duty Deaths                         2 LODD’s

2008 U.S. Line of Duty Deaths                         114 LODD’s

 

Visit FIREFIGHTERNEARMISS.COM and check out the Report of the Week(ROTW) for an incident description followed by review questions designed to spark discussion.  We can all learn from these.

 

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VIRTUAL TRADING POST

 

If you find the Virtual TRADEing Post useful, please send an email to Nashid Hasan mhasan1@lsu.edu.  Nash is the mastermind behind the structure of the Virtual TRADEing Post.  So, please let Nash know how much you appreciate the availability of this material and how useful you find it.

 

Several people have experienced difficulty accessing the TRADE's Virtual TRADEing Post through the address published and have contacted me for suggestions.  The system was unavailable for a short time but is back up and running.  Go to Louisiana State University Fire and Emergency Training Institute's NFA TRADE page: http://feti.lsu.edu/municipal/NFA/TRADE/   and access it there.  Look for improvement on how the material is organized very soon.

 

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LESSONS LEARNED INFORMATION SHARING

 

LLIS.gov Partners with US Fire Administration

As part of its continual effort to improve information sharing across the emergency response and homeland security communities, LLIS.gov launched a new partnership with the US Fire Administration (USFA). The USFA strives to provide national leadership to local fire and emergency services departments. To highlight the new partnership, LLIS.gov has created a new USFA Resource Page where members can access USFA technical and special reports, related LLIS.gov original content, featured documents, and valuable links. To access the resource page, log onto LLIS.gov and click on US Fire Administration under LLIS.GOV PARTNERS.

The LLIS.gov Team continues to post new Lessons Learned, Best Practices, Practice Notes, and Good Stories to the system on a regular basis. Weekly updates about new original content can be found in the NEW LLIS.GOV CONTENT box on the homepage of LLIS.gov. LLIS.gov recently posted the following original content documents drawn from USFA Technical Reports:

Lessons Learned

 

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LLIS.gov has partnered with the Emergency Management and Response – Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) to provide LLIS.gov members access to the EMR-ISAC’s free, critical infrastructure protection (CIP) information. Located at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, MD, the EMR-ISAC was developed to collect, analyze, and disseminate timely, consequential information to assist in the practice of critical infrastructure protection by the leaders, owners, and operators of the nation’s Emergency Services Sector.

 

The EMR-ISAC, a no-cost information sharing program within the Department of Homeland Security, specifically provides information necessary to protect local internal critical infrastructures (i.e., personnel, physical assets, and communication/cyber systems that must be intact and operational 24 x 7) against all hazards, from natural disasters to terrorist activities. The program’s main focus is ensuring that emergency response leadership, their organizations, and local policy leaders have both the internal and external support and resources to aid in disaster protection, prevention, and response to enhance survivability, continuity of operations, and mission success.

 

The EMR-ISAC can be contacted at emr-isac@dhs.gov or 301-447-1325. To view the EMR-ISAC page on LLIS.gov, please click here or login to LLIS.gov and click on the EMR-ISAC link on the homepage. To subscribe for the free critical infrastructure protection (CIP) information disseminated by the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC), please click on the following link: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/subjects/emr-isac/infograms/index.shtm.

 


The United States Fire Administration recommends everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing a home fire escape plan.

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support@govdelivery.com.

This service is provided to you at no charge by the U.S. Fire Administration.

Privacy Policy | GovDelivery is providing this information on behalf of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and may not use the information for any other purposes.

U.S. Fire Administration · U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Emmitsburg, MD 21727 · (301) 447-1000

Wednesday, January 7

U.S. Fire Administration Blog Update

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A Duty to Act

When does an off duty firefighter have a duty to act? Does an off duty firefighter even have a duty to act?  What if things go from bad to worse and the firefighter is injured or killed? These are important questions for each individual firefighter to answer and answer from the basis of their own local and state legal authorities.

Read More »


The United States Fire Administration recommends everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing a home fire escape plan.

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support@govdelivery.com.

This service is provided to you at no charge by the U.S. Fire Administration.

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U.S. Fire Administration · U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Emmitsburg, MD 21727 · (301) 447-1000

Coffee Break Training: InfoSearch and Web 2.0

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Get Better Results (Part 2): Google Search Advanced Techniques

Learning Objective: The student shall be able to identify and use four advanced Google search techniques.

This session builds upon the Google Search Basics (PDF, 250 Kb) we learned about in an earlier lesson. We can avoid information overload by using the following search techniques to better refine our results.

Download Google Search Advanced Techniques (PDF, 221 Kb, Adobe Acrobat PDF Help)


The United States Fire Administration recommends everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing a home fire escape plan.

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support@govdelivery.com.

This service is provided to you at no charge by the U.S. Fire Administration.

Privacy Policy | GovDelivery is providing this information on behalf of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and may not use the information for any other purposes.

U.S. Fire Administration · U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Emmitsburg, MD 21727 · (301) 447-1000

USFA Releases Provisional 2008 Firefighter Fatality Statistics

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USFA Releases Provisional 2008 Firefighter Fatality Statistics

EMMITSBURG, MD. – The United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced today there were 114 on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States as a result of incidents that occurred in 2008. During this period, there were firefighters lost from 34 states and one from the Virgin Islands. North Carolina experienced the highest number of fatalities (11), while Oregon (9), Pennsylvania (9), California ( 8), New York (7), Illinois (6), Missouri (6), and Ohio (6) each suffered more than 5 on-duty losses.

"The tragic losses of on-duty firefighters in 2008 are a reminder of the necessary commitment and efforts by firefighters in all fire departments across the United States to focus on and improve our operational safety," United States Fire Administrator Greg Cade said. "We understand all too well that many of these losses are preventable.  The USFA remains dedicated to continuing our efforts to ensure 2009 is a year where we reduce these losses so that firefighters can return home safely to their families and continue serving their communities."

As the USFA continues to collect and evaluate information regarding the 2008 on-duty firefighter deaths, here are some of the early known facts:

  • Preliminary estimates indicate that heart attacks and strokes were responsible for the deaths of 50 firefighters (43.8%) in 2008. This shows a decrease from 54 of the 118 (45.7%) firefighters in 2007.
  • In 2008, 26 on-duty firefighters died in association with wildland fires.
    • This loss is more than double the 11 wildland firefighter fatalities in 2007.
    • The 2008 toll is also above the annual average of 21 wildland fire-associated fatalities over the past 10 years, 1999-2008.
  • For 2008, 64.9% of all firefighter fatalities occurred while performing emergency duties.
  • Twenty-nine firefighters died in 2008 as the result of vehicle crashes.
    • Fourteen of these deaths involved aircraft crashes.
    • Fifteen firefighters died in motor vehicle crashes.
      • Six firefighters were killed in crashes involving their personal vehicles and three died in water tender (tanker) crashes. These two vehicle types have historically been most often involved in crashes that take the lives of firefighters.
      • Speed and a lack of seat belt use historically contribute to these incidents.

These fatality statistics for 2008 are provisional and subject to change as the USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify the names of firefighters reported to have died on-duty during 2008. The final number of firefighter fatalities will be reported in USFA’s annual firefighter fatality report and is expected to be available by early July.

For additional information on firefighter fatalities, including the annual fatality reports from 1986 through 2007 and the Firefighter Fatality Retrospective Study 1990–2000, please visit the USFA Web site.


The United States Fire Administration recommends everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing a home fire escape plan.

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support@govdelivery.com.

This service is provided to you at no charge by the U.S. Fire Administration.

Privacy Policy | GovDelivery is providing this information on behalf of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and may not use the information for any other purposes.

U.S. Fire Administration · U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Emmitsburg, MD 21727 · (301) 447-1000

Woman Charged With Murder in Burning of Sleeping Husband - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News


FOXNews.com - Woman Charged With Murder in Burning of Sleeping Husband - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News

ADELAIDE, Australia — An Australian woman accused of setting her husband's genitals on fire because she thought he was having an affair has been charged with murder.

Prosecutors said 44-year-old Rajini Narayan confessed to neighbors that she set her husband on fire on Dec. 8, 2008, after she saw him hug another woman.

She was initially charged with endangering life and arson but the charges were upgraded to murder after her 47-year-old husband, Satish Narayan, died from his injuries last week.

Prosecutor Lucy Boord said Narayan told neighbors she was a "jealous wife" but she hadn't meant to kill him when she doused the sleeping man's genitals with an alcohol-based solvent and then set him on fire.

Boord quoted Narayan allegedly saying: "I just wanted to burn his penis so it belongs to me and no one else. ... I didn't mean this to happen."

The husband jumped out of bed and knocked over the bottle of alcohol, causing the fire to spread and resulting in $711,000 of damage to their town house and an adjacent property, the Adelaide Advertiser reported.

Narayan was remanded in custody for psychological assessment and will reappear in court Friday. She has been charged with murder, arson and three counts of endangering life, as the couple's three children were at home during the incident.

Tuesday, January 6

U.S. Fire Administration Coffee Break Training Update

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FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROAD WIDTHS 

When was the last time you had trouble getting to an incident because of poor road conditions? The model fire codes provide the local code official tools to assure newly developed areas have adequate fire apparatus access. 

Today’s Coffee Break Training, “Fire Apparatus Access Road Widths,” illustrates the potential problem of streets, roads and alleys that may be too narrow for safe and effective fire fighting operations. 

Your Coffee Break can be downloaded from http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/coffee-break/cb_fp_2009_1.pdf   

Always refer to nationally recognized design and installation standards, the product manufacturer or listing details for specific information.   

Please share this Coffee Break Training segment and others with your peers. Previous Coffee Breaks may be found at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/nfa/coffee-break/

 

SPRINKLER HYDRAULIC CALCULATIONS 

Do you get intimidated by the mathematical formulas associated with fire sprinkler and standpipe hydraulic calculations?  The US National Fire Academy now has a new tool that can help you. 

The Fire Academy has developed an online tutorial to explain how to use the Windows standard and scientific calculators to perform or verify the math used in hydraulic calculations.  You can find a link to the tutorial – plus a history of automatic sprinklers – at  http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/ax/staff/anderson/p136/ .

 

 Disclaimer:

Any reference to or illustration of any specific product, code or other document is not to be considered an endorsement by any governmental agency.  Such references are used solely for illustrative purposes.


The United States Fire Administration recommends everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing a home fire escape plan.

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support@govdelivery.com.

This service is provided to you at no charge by the U.S. Fire Administration.

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U.S. Fire Administration · U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Emmitsburg, MD 21727 · (301) 447-1000

U.S. Fire Administration Civilian Fire Fatality Notification Update

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Monday, January 5

The Nation's news media is reporting the following residential fire (non-arson) fatalities:

  • 8 dead – Occurred Sunday, 1/4 – Richland, NY (Syracuse, NY):  Eight family members, including four adults, ages 41, 33, 26, and 19; as well as four boys ages 10-years-old, 6-years-old, 20-months-old, and 6-months old were killed in a home fire. The cause is still under investigation; however officials believe the fire may have been caused by a wood stove. The home had no working smoke alarms.
  • 2 dead – Occurred Saturday, 1/3 – Andrews, SC (Charleston, SC):  A 24-year-old mother and her five-year-old son were killed in a home fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
  • 1 dead – Occurred Monday, 1/5 – Everett, WA (Seattle-Tacoma, WA):  A person was killed in an apartment fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
  • 1 dead – Occurred Sunday, 1/4 – Matteson, IL (Chicago, IL):  A 93-year-old man was killed in a home fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation
  • 1 dead – Occurred Sunday, 1/4 – Walkersville, MD (Washington, DC):  A man was killed in a home fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation
  • 1 dead – Occurred Sunday, 1/4 – Marianna, FL (Panama City, FL):  A 64-year-old man was killed in a home fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
  • 1 dead – Occurred Sunday, 1/4 – Duquesne, PA (Pittsburgh, PA):  A 61-year-old woman was killed in a home fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
  • 1 dead – Occurred Saturday 1/3 – Penelope, TX (Dallas-Fort Worth, TX):  A person was killed in a home fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
  • 1 dead – Occurred Saturday, 1/3 – Beaverdale, PA (Johnstown - Altoona, PA):  A 27-year-old man was killed in an apartment fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
  • 1 dead – Occurred Saturday, 1/3 – Salisbury, NY (Utica, NY):  A six-year-old girl was killed in a home fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

To find out more about any of the reported incidents, please contact news media in the vicinity where the fatal fire occurred. USFA does not have any additional information other than what is listed here.  


The United States Fire Administration recommends everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing a home fire escape plan.

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support@govdelivery.com.

This service is provided to you at no charge by the U.S. Fire Administration.

Privacy Policy | GovDelivery is providing this information on behalf of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and may not use the information for any other purposes.

U.S. Fire Administration · U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Emmitsburg, MD 21727 · (301) 447-1000

Monday, January 5

U.S. Fire Administration Firefighter Fatality Notification - Pittsburg, OK

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The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatality:

Name: John C. Myers

Rank: Firefighter/Mechanic

Age: 61

Gender: Male

Status: Volunteer

Years of Service: 6

Date of Incident: 01/03/2009

Time of Incident: 1533hrs

Date of Death:  01/03/2009

Fire Department: Union Chapel Volunteer Fire Department

Address: HC Box 3030, Pittsburg, OK 74560 (USNG: 15STU38864478)

Map:

http://floridadisaster.org/gis/kml/viewer.htm?zoom=13&usng=15STU38864478&disp=h

Fire Department Chief: Phillip Danley

 

Incident Description:  Firefighter John C. Myers passed away from injuries received in a motor vehicle accident while working at the scene of an outdoor grass fire.

Myers was operating a fire department vehicle and traveling south on County Road Wesley, near the Pittsburg County line (OK), when his son, Firefighter Juston Myers, also working the fire and operating a privately owned vehicle heading north on CR Wesley, crossed left of center on the narrow gravel road in heavy smoke obstructed conditions and collided head on with the fire department vehicle his father was driving.

Personnel from several fire departments in the area worked for more than an hour and a half to free Firefighter John C. Myers from the wreckage.

Firefighter Juston Myers and a passenger in the privately owned vehicle were both injured in the accident. Juston was treated at the scene and his passenger, Clayton Rice, was taken to a nearby hospital with head, leg and arm injuries.

Incident Location: On County Road Wesley, USNG: 15S TU 3497 3518 (6.67km due east of US Hwy 69), Atoka County, OK.

Map View:

http://floridadisaster.org/gis/kml/viewer.htm?zoom=15&usng=15STU34973518&disp=h

Seatbelts: Equipped and not in use both vehicles.

Funeral Arrangements:  01/07/2009 @ 1100hrs, Brown’s Funeral Home (http://www.brownsfuneralserviceatokaok.com/), 800 W 13th Street, Atoka, OK 74525 (USNG: 14S QD 6266 0737), Tele: (580) 889-9339.

Memorial Fund Contact and Address:  In honor of Firefighter John C. Myers, c/o Union Chapel Volunteer Fire Department, HC Box 3030, Pittsburg, OK 74560

Tribute is being paid to Firefighter John C. Myers at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

To date, 2 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2009 as a result of incidents that occurred in 2009.    USFA does not have a Line-of-Duty-Death (LODD) criterion nor does it make LODD determinations. Please note, running totals of firefighter fatalities used on these initial notices do not necessarily reflect the number of firefighter fatalities used in totals for the (provisional) monthly year-to-date USFA firefighter fatality reports, or year-end (provisional) reports posted online (http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm). Firefighter fatalities in USFA reports are summarized by date/year-of-incident. Initial notices posted online (http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/) and distributed via USFA listserve do not represent the final on-duty firefighter fatality determination by USFA for such reports, nor LODD determination made by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (http://www.FireHero.org) for names added each subsequent year to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the National Fire Academy in  Emmitsburg, MD, they are the beginning of a research process for each firefighter fatality reported so that such determinations can be made.


The United States Fire Administration recommends everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing a home fire escape plan.

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U.S. Fire Administration Firefighter Fatality Notification - Booneville, MS

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The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatality:

Name: Richard Lee Montgomery

Rank: Firefighter

Age: 54

Gender: Male

Status: Volunteer

Years of Service: 15

Date of Incident: 12/31/2008

Time of Incident: 1759hrs

Date of Death: 12/31/2008

Fire Department: Hobo - Big V Volunteer Fire Department

Address: 633 Hwy 4 East, Booneville, MS 38829 (USNG: 16S CD 5568 3914)

Map:

http://www.fidnet.com/~jlmoore/usng/?zoom=13&usng=16SCD55683914&disp=h

Fire Department Chief: Randel Livingston

Incident Description: Firefighter Montgomery was at the scene of a working residential structure fire setting up a fan on the front porch for ventilation. After turning and stepping down off of the porch, Montgomery collapsed from an apparent heart attack. Firefighter Montgomery was rushed to Baptist Memorial Hospital – Booneville (16SCD56523615), but all efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

Incident Location: Residential structure along County Road 4040 (USNG: 16S CD 6633 2051)

Map View:

http://www.fidnet.com/~jlmoore/usng/?zoom=13&usng=16SCD66332051&disp=m

Funeral Arrangements:  A fireman's funeral was held for Firefighter Montgomery, plus services on 01/03/2009 at McMillan Funeral Home in Booneville. Burial with military and fireman honors followed at Oaklawn Memorial Park in West Booneville.

Memorial Fund Contact and Address:  In honor of Firefighter Richard Lee Montgomery, c/o Hobo - Big V Volunteer Fire Department, 633 Hwy 4 East, Booneville, MS 38829.

Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Richard Lee Montgomery at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

To date, 114 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2008 as a result of incidents that occurred in 2008 and one from a prior year incident.   USFA does not have a Line-of-Duty-Death (LODD) criterion nor does it make LODD determinations. Please note, running totals of firefighter fatalities used on these initial notices do not necessarily reflect the number of firefighter fatalities used in totals for the (provisional) monthly year-to-date USFA firefighter fatality reports, or year-end (provisional) reports posted online (http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm). Firefighter fatalities in USFA reports are summarized by date/year-of-incident. Initial notices posted online (http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/) and distributed via USFA listserve do not represent the final on-duty firefighter fatality determination by USFA for such reports, nor LODD determination made by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (http://www.FireHero.org) for names added each subsequent year to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the National Fire Academy in  Emmitsburg, MD, they are the beginning of a research process for each firefighter fatality reported so that such determinations can be made.


The United States Fire Administration recommends everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing a home fire escape plan.

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support@govdelivery.com.

This service is provided to you at no charge by the U.S. Fire Administration.

Privacy Policy | GovDelivery is providing this information on behalf of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and may not use the information for any other purposes.

U.S. Fire Administration · U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Emmitsburg, MD 21727 · (301) 447-1000

Friday, January 2

New 'Fire-Safe' Cigarettes To Be Sold In El Paso - News Story - KFOX El Paso

New 'Fire-Safe' Cigarettes To Be Sold In El Paso - News Story - KFOX El Paso
EL PASO, Texas -- A new law requiring cigarettes sold in Texas be "fire-safe" just went into effect. The goal is to prevent house fires. The so-called "fire-safe" cigarettes are marked FSC above the bar code.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed the fire-safe cigarette legislation on June 15, 2007; retailers have until Jan. 1, 2010, to to sell off their inventory and come into compliance.

"Your Nat Sherman cigarettes have the low intensity paper in them," said Brad Maynerd as he picked up a pack off his store shelf.

Kern Place Cigars is one of a few retailers in El Paso already selling "fire-safe" cigarettes.

"It's just a different paper that makes the cigarette burn slower, and it goes out," said Maynerd.

The new "fire-safe" cigarettes are designed to self-extinguish if they're dropped or left unattended, and they're less likely to ignite clothing, bedding or other material.

The new law comes as a relief for firefighters. "Cigarette fires are the leading cause of deaths in residential fires. With this new law it's hopefully going to cut down on those fires tremendously," said Lt. Mario Hernandez, spokesman for the El Paso Fire Department.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, about 1,000 people are killed in smoking-related house fires.

On Oct. 23, 2007, a fire at 1509 Honeysuckle Drive killed an 83-year-old man who didn't make it out. Fire investigators said the fire started because of smoker's carelessness. Another fire at 15449 Ryan Wesley St. proved to be deadly in 2007, and investigators also blamed an unattended cigarette.

Statistics from USFA show one in four people killed in home fires are not the smoker whose cigarette caused the fire. Thirty-four percent were children of smokers, while 25 percent were neighbors or firefighters trying to save them.

KFOX wanted to see if a smoker would notice the difference in the "fire-safe" cigarette. Isaac Vasquez, who normally smokes Marlboro Lights, gave it a try.

"It tastes good. It's really smooth. When you're not puffing it, there's less smoke," said Vasquez.

"It's taking a while (to burn)," he said as he kept smoking. The "fire-safe" cigarette didn't stop burning while Vasquez kept puffing, but had he stopped, it might have.

"That's probably a plus for someone who smokes inside or in bed, but I don't do that. As far as it going out by itself, that might raise a concern. It's not that big of a deal, but at the same time you like the cigarette, so you want it to stay on," said Vasquez.

By the end of 2009, 14 states will join the 18 that already require vendors to purchase and sell only the "fire-safe" cigarettes. Those states include: Delaware, Iowa, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Washington and Wisconsin. Six more states are set to enact laws in 2010 and seven others have proposals in the works.

2 Santa Ana College players charged with rape - International Herald Tribune

2 Santa Ana College players charged with rape - International Herald Tribune
SANTA ANA, Calif.: Two Santa Ana College football players and a friend have been charged with raping and assaulting an 18-year-old woman while she lay unconscious in an Orange County hotel room.

Freshman running back Michael Clemmons, 19, and sophomore wide receiver Luster Lewis, 20, were arrested this week after someone found a 19-minute video the players made of the assault, the Orange County district attorney's office said Friday.

John Paul Foster II, 22, is also accused of helping the players repeatedly rape the victim in July after she passed out at a party at a hotel in Tustin.

The three men each pleaded not guilty to six counts of rape and sexual assault and were being held Friday on $100,000 bail.

Foster was arrested Monday, Clemmons on Tuesday and Lewis surrendered Friday.

Attorneys for Foster and Clemmons could not be immediately reached. A message left with Lewis' attorney was not immediately returned.

Jason Kehler, sports information coordinator for Santa Ana College, said he was not aware of the charges because the school was closed for the holidays.

U.S. Fire Administration Civilian Fire Fatality Notification Update

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December 31 - January 2

The Nation's news media is reporting the following residential fire (non-arson) fatalities:

  • 6 dead – Occurred Thursday, 1/1 – Washington, DC (Washington, DC) – Three adults, ages 72, 23, and 22; as well as three children ages 11, 10, and 4-years-old were killed in a home fire. The cause of the fire was due to an electrical malfunction in the home. Investigators are still trying to determine if a short was caused by a number of overloaded surge protectors. 
  • 3 dead – Occurred Thursday, 1/1 – Victoria Township, MO (St. Louis, MO) -- A 39-year-old man and his two children, ages eleven and seven were killed in a home fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
  • 2 dead – Occurred Wednesday, 12/31 – Anderson, IN (Indianapolis, IN) – Two sisters, ages one and two-years old were killed in a home fire.  While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, officials believe the fire began in the children’s bedroom. 
  • 1 dead – Occurred Thursday, 1/1 Augusta, ME (Portland, ME) A woman was killed in an apartment fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.   
  • 1 dead – Occurred Thursday, 1/1 Camden, NJ (Philadelphia, PA) A man was killed in an abandoned home fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 
  • 1 dead – Occurred Thursday, 1/1 – Tonawanda, NY (Buffalo, NY) – A 23-year-old woman was killed in a home fire.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.
  • 1 dead – Occurred Thursday, 1/1 Philadelphia, PA (Philadelphia, PA) A 70-year-old woman was killed in an apartment fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
  • 1 dead – Occurred Thursday, 1/1 Columbia, SC (Columbia, SC) A man was killed in a mobile home fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 
  • 1 dead – Occurred Wednesday, 12/31 – Winston-Salem, NC (Greensboro – Winston-Salem, NC) – A 77-year-old woman was killed in a home fire.  The cause of the fire was due to the woman smoking in bed.  
  • 1 dead – Occurred Wednesday, 12/31 Corpus Christie, TX (Corpus Christie, TX) – A 94-year-old woman was killed in a home fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
  • 1 dead – Occurred Wednesday, 12/31 Appalachia, VA (Tri-cities, TN) A three-year-old girl was killed in a home fire. Although the cause of the fire is still under investigation, investigators believe the fire may have been caused by a candle in the living room. 
  • 1 dead – Occurred Wednesday, 12/31 Fond du Lac, WI (Green Bay, WI) – A 56-year-old man was killed in a home fire.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.
  • 1 dead – Occurred Tuesday, 12/30 Garfield Park, IL (Chicago, IL) A 55-year-old woman was killed in a home fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
  • 1 dead – Occurred Tuesday, 12/30 Harris County, TX (Houston, TX) A 50-year-old woman was killed in a mobile home fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
  • 1 dead – Occurred Wednesday, 12/31 – Fond Du Lac, WI (Green Bay, WI) – A person was killed in a home fire.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.
  • 1 dead – Occurred Tuesday, 12/30 – Aldine, TX (Houston, TX) – A 50-year-old woman was killed in a mobile home fire.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.
  • 1 dead – Occurred Tuesday, 12/30 – Mascoutah, IL (St. Louis, MO) – A 64-year-old woman was killed in a home fire.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.
  • 1 dead – Occurred Monday, 12/29 – Concord, CA (San Francisco, CA) – An 85-year-old woman was killed in an apartment fire.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.
  • 1 dead – Occurred Monday, 12/29 – Leon County, TX (Waco, TX) – A man was killed in a home fire.  While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, officials learned that a burning wood stove was in use inside the home.
  • 1 dead – Occurred Thursday, 12/25 - Lower Frederick, PA (Philadelphia, PA) – A 74-year-old man was killed in an apartment fire.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

To find out more about any of the reported incidents, please contact news media in the vicinity where the fatal fire occurred. USFA does not have any additional information other than what is listed here.  


The United States Fire Administration recommends everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing a home fire escape plan.

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U.S. Fire Administration · U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Emmitsburg, MD 21727 · (301) 447-1000

U.S. Fire Administration Firefighter Fatality Notification - Elizabeth, NJ

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The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatality:

 

Name: Gary Stephens

Rank: Firefighter

Age: 57

Gender: Male

Status: Career

Years of Service: 28

Date of Incident: 01/02/2009

Time of Incident: 0200hrs

Date of Death: 01/02/2009

 

Fire Department: Elizabeth Fire Department

Address: 411 Irvington Avenue, Elizabeth, NJ 07208-2068

Fire Department Director: Onofrio Vitullo

Incident Description: While at the scene of a house fire, Firefighter Stephens was accidentally run over by a fire truck as it backed up to lay hose to a hydrant. He was rushed to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

 

Funeral Arrangements: Pending

 

Memorial Fund Contact and Address:  Pending

 

Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Stephens at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

 

To date, 1 firefighter fatality has been reported to USFA in 2009 as a result of an incident that occurred in 2009. USFA does not have a Line-of-Duty-Death (LODD) criterion nor does it make LODD determinations. Please note, running totals of firefighter fatalities used on these initial notices do not necessarily reflect the number of firefighter fatalities used in totals for the(provisional) monthly year-to-date USFA firefighter fatality reports, or year-end (provisional) reports posted online http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm

Firefighter fatalities in USFA reports are summarized by date/year-of-incident. Initial notices posted online (http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/) and distributed via USFA listserve do not represent the final on-duty firefighter fatality determination by USFA for such reports, nor LODD determination made by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (http://www.FireHero.org) for names added each subsequent year to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the National Fire Academy in  Emmitsburg, MD, they are the beginning of a research process for each firefighter fatality reported so that such determinations can be made.

 

 


The United States Fire Administration recommends everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing a home fire escape plan.

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support@govdelivery.com.

This service is provided to you at no charge by the U.S. Fire Administration.

Privacy Policy | GovDelivery is providing this information on behalf of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and may not use the information for any other purposes.

U.S. Fire Administration · U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Emmitsburg, MD 21727 · (301) 447-1000

Focus on Fire Safety: Smoke Alarms

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You are subscribed to Focus on Fire Safety from the U.S. Fire Administration. This information has recently been updated and is now available.

In the event of a fire, a properly installed and maintained smoke alarm can save your life and those of your loved ones. Smoke alarms are a very important means of preventing home fire fatalities by providing an early warning signal so you and your family can escape.


The United States Fire Administration recommends everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing a home fire escape plan.

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support@govdelivery.com.

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U.S. Fire Administration Firefighter Fatality Notification - Rock Spring, GA

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The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatality:

Name: Jarrett Little
Rank: Firefighter
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Status: Paid-On-Call
Years of Service: 6
Date of Incident: 12/31/2008
Time of Incident: 2110hrs
Date of Death: 12/31/2008

Fire Department: Walker County Fire and Rescue
Address: 7249 N Highway 27, Rock Spring, GA 30739-2363(USNG: 16S FD 60879 54524)
Map: http://www.fidnet.com/~jlmoore/usng/?zoom=13&usng=16S%20FD%2060879%2054524
Fire Department Chief: Randy Camp

Incident Description: Firefighter Little was responding to a chimney fire.  While making a turn, the apparatus hit a pole and flipped.  Little was entrapped with two others.  He was rushed to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Funeral Arrangements:  January 5, 2009

Memorial Fund Contact and Address:  In honor of Firefighter Little, donations may be sent to the Walker County Fire and Rescue, 7249 N Highway 27, Rock Spring, GA  30739-2363

Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Little at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

To date, 113 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2008 as a result of incidents that occurred in 2008 and one from a prior year incident. USFA does not have a Line-of-Duty-Death (LODD) criterion nor does it make LODD determinations. Please note, running totals of firefighter fatalities used on these initial notices do not necessarily reflect the number of firefighter fatalities used in totals for the (provisional) monthly year-to-date USFA firefighter fatality reports, or year-end (provisional) reports posted online http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm

Firefighter fatalities in USFA reports are summarized by date/year-of-incident. Initial notices posted online(http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/) and distributed via USFA listserve do not represent the final on-duty firefighter fatality determination by USFA for such reports, nor LODD determination made by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (http://www.FireHero.org) for names added each subsequent year to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the National Fire Academy in  Emmitsburg, MD, they are the beginning of a research process for each firefighter fatality reported so that such determinations can be made.

 

 

 


The United States Fire Administration recommends everyone should have a comprehensive fire protection plan that includes smoke alarms, residential sprinklers, and practicing a home fire escape plan.

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support@govdelivery.com.

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U.S. Fire Administration · U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Emmitsburg, MD 21727 · (301) 447-1000

Thursday, January 1

More adults causing fires, Jamaican officials say - JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM


More adults causing fires, officials say - JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM
Kimmo Matthews
Thursday, January 01, 2009

FIRE officials say they continue to face major hurdles in spreading the message about fire prevention across the island as more adults - and not children, as expected - are failing to follow fire safety measures.

"It may come as a surprise but in many of the reported cases of fires it is the adults and not the children who are failing to follow safety measures," said Emeleo Ebanks, public relations officer from the Jamaica Fire Brigade Fire Prevention headquarters.

Ebanks also explained that recent assessments showed that children were not only quick learners but were often following what they were taught, hence making fewer mistakes when it came to fire prevention practices.

Fire officials said this was in contrast to adults who - despite what they were taught - were consistently failing to change their habits and kept making the same mistakes over and over.

According to representatives of the Jamaica Fire Brigade Fire Prevention, since the start of the year there have been 1,510 reported cases of structural fires and 5,667 cases of bush fires across the island.

To stem this problem the officials said they were going into the schools and communities to inform and to educate persons about how to prevent fires.

"We have been in the schools and into the communities. It may sound strange but our biggest target now is the adults and not so much the children.

"What we are seeing is that adults are making the same mistakes over and over. On the other hand children, when they are taught about the precautions, are following these guidelines and making fewer mistakes," the officials said.

Message of Fire Prevention will continue into new year in St. Kitts,


SKNVibes.com News: Message of Fire Prevention will continue into new yearBy VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THROUGHOUT the last year, the St. Kitts-Nevis Fire and Rescue Services has made great strides in educating the general public in fire prevention and safety tips, an initiative it intends on strengthening for the new year.

In a December 30 interview with SKNVibes, Fire Sub-station Officer at the St. Kitts Fire Prevention Office Clarence Hendrickson stressed the importance of understanding and observing fire safety tips.

He said once aware of the dangers involved in overlooking fire safety tips, individuals can be fully able to prevent fires, safeguard their property and know how to respond in case of fire-related casualty.

Hendrickson noted that especially during the Christmas season, persons must pay particular attention to the proper use of power strips. He urged the general public not to overload power strips and stated that Christmas trees and decorative lights should be unplugged when no one is at home.

“A common mistake people make is passing electrical cords under their rugs. Rugs are made from oil-based materials which generate heat. Applying additional heat to these cords over a period of time, the insulators will get overheated and damaged causing the live and neutral wires to touch, resulting in a fire.

“Also, in the case of lighting and extinguishing matches, many persons fail to follow fire safety tips. People have a tendency to turn on the gas before they light the match. Sometimes, excess gas vapour is emitted and igniting the match after may cause an explosion. So people must be cautious to light the match first.

Also, after using a match, it is advised that you extinguish the lighted match with water to ensure that the match does not automatically re-ignite. Some persons may also put the used match right back into the box with the other matches which is not wise at all as it too can cause fire.”

He further stated that individuals should ensure that all appliances not in use are unplugged. Hendrickson also discouraged the public from cooking when feeling tired or sleepy and said individuals should not go to bed smoking.

“We are pleased to announce that there has been a significant reduction in the cases of fires which may suggest that persons are observing the fire safety tips more.

We intend to start the Fire Awareness programmes in which we will be going around to schools, hotels and business places to have lectures on fire prevention and safety tips.”

Hendrickson said the Department has made a concerted effort to educate and sensitize people to the causes of fires and equip them with the knowledge of how to respond in the case of a fire. He said that through the Fire Summer Safety Programme, “each one is reaching one to get the message around”.

He thanked the general public for its full cooperation this year and said he is looking forward to its continued support in the upcoming year.

Fun at the car wash with a couple of idiots.


This is a just a hose at the car wash...what about a fire hose? (FYI: you will learn how to control this situation in the fire academy!)

Spending to fight California wildfires tops $1 billion - Los Angeles Times


Spending to fight California wildfires tops $1 billion - Los Angeles Times
About 1.4 million acres burned in 2008 in one of the worst fire seasons in the state's history. But no meaningful reforms are enacted at the state or federal level.
By Bettina Boxall
December 31, 2008
Wildfire spending in California continued its upward climb this year, driven by one of the worst fire seasons in the state's history.

Almost a quarter of all the wild land that burned across the country in 2008 was in California -- roughly 1.4 million acres.

The fires, fought at a huge cost to taxpayers, failed to translate into any meaningful reforms at the state or federal level despite efforts in Sacramento and Washington.

Lawmakers introduced a number of measures dealing with land use, fire prevention and protection. But the proposals stalled, or in the case of one major state bill, were vetoed.

In fiscal 2008, half of the $1.4 billion that the U.S. Forest Service spent nationally on wildfire suppression was spent in California alone. State fire expenditures topped $1 billion.

"I think we've seen unprecedented fires," said Ruben Grijalva, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Click the link/title above to read the rest of this story. The photo is of the Freeway Complex fire.

The 30,000-acre Freeway Complex fire in the vicinity of the 57 and 91 freeways destroyed nearly 200 residences in Orange and Riverside counties in November. It was among numerous California wildfires that burned roughly 1.4 million acres in 2008. State fire expenditures topped $1 billion.

Some women threaten no sex if men shoot fireworks - Yahoo! News


Some women threaten no sex if men shoot fireworks - Yahoo! News
ROME – Some women in Naples said they won't make love if their men shoot off dangerous fireworks on New Year's Eve. "Se Spari, Niente Sesso" (If you shoot, no sex), as the reported group calls itself, claims to have signed up hundreds of women in the Naples area to combat celebrations that injure or maim hundreds each year.

Carolina Staiano, a mother of two, was quoted in La Stampa daily on Wednesday as saying she was inspired to create the group because her father was partially paralyzed in a fireworks accident.

Setting off fireworks, often homemade or illegally imported, remains popular in Italy and especially in Naples, even though accidents are frequent and sometimes deadly.

Staiano said that "there are other ways to celebrate." And if men don't get the message, women should "send them to sleep on the couch."

Now here is a PubEd campaign I hadn't thought of! I am sure it is much more effective then issuing citations! lol