NEEDA - National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association

The guidelines for the matching grants for 2005 fire departments are available on http://www.firegrantsupport.com/guidance.aspx
This year, you can apply beginning March 7, but must apply by April 8, 2005. There is "tutorial" help in filling out the application.

HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT GRANT PROGRAM AGROUND, MISSES STRETEGIC PORT SECURITY GOALS
Originally Posted: February 21, 2005 12:42 AM
Last Updated: February 21, 2005 12:42 AM

Because you have read about the possible terrorist threat to US ports, you'll be surprised to learn that the new Department of Homeland Security is being criticized for making port awards to in Oklahoma, Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Tennessee. Small ports such as St. Croix (Virgin Islands), Martha's Vineyard MA, Ludington MI and a half dozen in Arkansas have been grant winners in the $2.5 billion program.

But 80% of imports to the US come through Oakland CA, Los Angeles CA, Long Beach CA, and New York. So why aren't these big volume ports getting most of the attention in this early phase of the Homeland Security grant program?

The criticism is being lodged in a new report by the inspector general for the Homeland Security Department. Some of the inspector general's recommendations will be adopted by the Department which at the same time defends its issuance of grants. But the inspector general was not impressed by a $130,000 grant for closed circuit television which was ranked 27th out of 29 funding requests and many similar grants. Nor was the inspector general impressed by the amount of grant funds received by Wyoming (with no ocean) vs New York, when the two are compared on a per capita basis, not to mention the much higher threat in New York than in Wyoming.

The inspector general also citicized the grant program because while Congress said the grants are to be used within one year -- emphasizing the urgency of strengthening the nation's ports -- many of the grant funds are not meeting the one year deadline.

The US has 360 public and private ports, but the inspector general feels that the funds should be targeted at the big volume ports where the most damage could be done by a terrorist attack.

According to the New York Times (Feb 20 2005) the Homeland Security grant program issued $517 million for part security in 2002 and 2003, but less than 25% of the money had been used by the Fall of 2004. The inspector general said "the program has not yet achieved its intended results in the form of actual improvement in port security."

The money was supposed to be used by state and local governments to "help prevent attacks and to help equip rescue personnel and other public safety crews in the event that they need to respond to an attack." (Press Telegram, February 20, 2005)

FIRE SERVICES CAUCUS FOUNDER WINS HOUSE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE VICE CHAIRMAN'S JOB
Originally Posted: February 11, 2005 10:26 PM
Last Updated: February 11, 2005 10:26 PM

On Thursday, February 10th, 2005, Congressman Curt Weldon R-PA, founder of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, was named Vice Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.

Vice Chairman Weldon has worked for years on intelligence, national security, weapons of mass destruction proliferation, first responder issues, and is one of the foremost national leaders on homeland security. He was instrumental in the creation of this committee, Chairman Chris Cox said.

"He understands the importance of a strong legislative and oversight Committee on Homeland Security. I am confident that he will be an outstanding leader of our national efforts to prevent terrorism, and to deal with it if it occurs.

Rep. Weldon represents the Seventh Congressional District of Pennsylvania. Currently serving his ninth term, he is the senior Republican in the Pennsylvania delegation. A Member of the House of Representatives since 1987, Rep. Weldon has taken leadership roles on a wide variety of issues, ranging from national security to the environment.

INFRARED SENSORS DETECT WILDFIRES BEFORE SMOKE IS SEEN
Originally Posted: February 11, 2005 9:20 PM
Last Updated: February 11, 2005 9:23 PM

by Kenton Pattie
NEEDA Executive Director

In February, 2005 while in Southern California, an area hit frequently by devestating wildfires, I learned about a system of infrared sensors which are placed in areas which have a potential for fire. The sensors are placed in a network through a highly sensitive zone. The sensors use sunlight for energy rather than batteries, and the power is stored without the use of batteries resulting in 10-20 years of battery-free operation.

The infrared sensors are placed throughout an area and can detect fire up to six miles away. Once fire is detected, the unit transmits a signal through GPS via satellite to the nearest fire department.

I was told that the unit detects carbon dioxide cloud, and does not need flame or smoke before sending an alarm signal to the fire department.

Prior to this $12,000 each unit foot-high sensor, fire departments here in Southern California relied mostly on line of sight monitoring.

The company involved with these infrared sensors is Ambient Control Systems. Other ideas for wildfire prevention came from the North County Fire Protection District and the Fallbrook Fire Safety Council, all in California.

For other NEEDA NEWSLETTER stories about wildfire use the "Search" application in the upper right of your NEEDA screen.

FEMA: MOST FIRES AROUND JULY 4, HALLOWEEN, THANKSGIVING, AND THE CHRISTMAS-NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY PERIOD
Originally Posted: February 10, 2005 8:17 PM
Last Updated: February 10, 2005 8:17 PM

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued a special report examining the causes and severity of seasonal fires attributed to changes in weather patterns and human activities.

According to the report, the incidence of daily fires increases during and around four holiday periods: Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the winter holiday period that includes Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's. More fires are reported on July 4th than any other day of the year.

The report, The Seasonal Nature of Fires, was developed by the National Fire Data Center, part of FEMA's U.S. Fire Administration. The report explores fire patterns by each season of the year, including changes in incidence and causes of fires. Daily fire incidence is at its highest during the spring months - with a seasonal average of nearly 5,000 fires each day. The findings in this report are based primarily on National Fire Incident Reporting System data averaged over the 2001-2002 period.

FIRE ACT GRANTS AWARDED TO PENNSYLVANIA FIRE DEPARTMENTS
Originally Posted: February 10, 2005 6:44 PM
Last Updated: February 10, 2005 6:44 PM

Pennsylvania Fire Departments receive $690,242 in Federal matching grants under the Fire Act program. Funding helps purchase of firefighting apparatus and other important goals in Pennsylvania.

Click on the headline above for the complete story. For more info on the Fire Act grant program, use the "Search" feature in the uper right of your NEEDA Newsleter sceedn.

FEMA ISSUES REPORTS INCLUDING RISK OF DEATH AND INJURY FROM FIRE
Originally Posted: February 10, 2005 6:08 PM
Last Updated: February 10, 2005 6:08 PM

The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued three special reports, part of its Topical Fire Research Series, examining the risk of death or injury from fire by various demographic, geographic, and socio-economic characteristics.

Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response "Children and older adults face a dramatically increased risk of dying in a home fire due to limited cognitive and physical abilities. Because the young and elderly are some of the nation's most
vulnerable residents, it's important that we take steps to reduce this fire problem."

The three reports, Fire Risk, The Fire Risk to Children, and The Fire Risk to Older Adults, were developed by the National Fire Data Center, part of FEMA's U.S. Fire Administration. The reports explore factors that influence risk and are based on 2001 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), and U.S. Census Bureau data.

U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison: "The U.S. Fire Administration has developed fire safety campaigns specifically targeted at these high risk populations. Through these campaigns, and working with the nation's fire departments, we are able to provide awareness to parents and caregivers and aid in reducing the risk of fire death and injury."

According to the reports, children under the age of 5 and the population over the age of 54 are at the greatest risk of death in fires. The risk of fire injury is highest for the 20-44 and the 85+ age ranges.

MILITARY ALL-TERRAIN EQUALIZER OFFERED AS WILDFIRE VECHICLE STARTING AT $398,000: FIRST DISPLAY IN ALBUQUERQUE WILDLAND FIRE CONFERENCE FEB 16-18
Originally Posted: February 10, 2005 5:15 PM
Last Updated: February 10, 2005 5:15 PM

The Equalizer Fire Truck, made by Homeland Specialty (Newton TX)is an all-terrain military truck now being offered as a wildfire fighting vechicle.

The Equalizer Fire Truck will make its debut at the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Wildland Fire Conference in Albuquerque, NM, Feb. 16-18, 2005.

Originally manufactured as a medium tactical vehicle by Stewart & Stevenson, Sealy, TX, for the U.S. Army, the Equalizer has been turned into a fire truck by Homeland Specialty Vehicles, in partnership with Boise Mobile Equipment.

With the push of a button, a fire crew can also purposefully deflate the tires to provide more traction. The truck offers 22 inches of ground clearance and is capable of climbing grades as steep as 60 percent and can travel through water 30 inches to 60 inches deep. Even though it is large, the truck is able to travel 70 miles per hour, which means firefighters can move quickly into position.

With all of these features, the Equalizer starts at $398,000.

For more info on the Equalizer or on wildfires, click the "Search" appliction in the upper right of your NEEDA NEWSLETTER screen.

AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE AND EMCARE BOUGHT BY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FOR $820 MILLION
Originally Posted: February 10, 2005 4:57 PM
Last Updated: February 10, 2005 4:57 PM

Laidlaw International, Inc. (Naperville IL) sold its healthcare companies, American Medical Response and EmCare, to Emergency Medical Services L.P., an affiliate of Onex Corporation for $820 million and net cash proceeds of $775 million.

Proceeds from the transactions were used to retire approximately $573 million of outstanding borrowings under the company's Term B senior secured term facility. Laidlaw International intends to use a portion of the remaining proceeds to purchase all or some of the approximately 3.8 million shares of Laidlaw International common stock held in trust for the benefit of the Greyhound U.S. Pension Plans. Laidlaw is very big in manufacturing school buses.

BUSH ADMINISTRATION BUDGET CUTS FIRE ACT GRANT PROGRAM
Originally Posted: February 7, 2005 11:18 PM
Last Updated: February 7, 2005 11:31 PM

The International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO/CLC, criticizes the Bush Administration's plan to cut the Federal funding for the Fire Act Grant Program.

The IAFF, headquartered in Washington, DC, represents more than 267,000 professional fire fighters and paramedics who protect 80 percent of the nation's population. The IAFF has 2,900 affiliates in 6,000 communities in Canada and in every state in the U.S.

The FY '06 budget proposal that the president sent to Congress contained a 30 percent cut -- $215 million -- in funding to the FIRE Act, the federal program that provides equipment, apparatus, training and staffing to local fire departments. These reductions represent a continuing pattern in which President Bush has either not included any funding for the FIRE Act or substantially reduced funding below what Congress appropriated the prior year.

For the full story on the President's Budget, click on the headline to this NEEDA NEWSLETTER story. For more information on the Fire Act grant program, use the "Search" application in the upper right of your NEEDA screen.

BILL CURTIS, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF L.N. CURTIS, LEADING EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT DEALER IN CA DIES FEBRUARY 6, 2005
Originally Posted: February 7, 2005 10:38 PM
Last Updated: February 7, 2005 10:38 PM

NEEDA regrets to report that Roger William (Bill) Curtis died Sunday February 6th 2005.

Bill Curtis was Chairman of the Board of L.N. Curtis & Sons and Secretary of the Corporation. He served as Secretary since the firm was established in 1929. He was an employee of the firm for 69 years and was the Chief Executive Officer for over 60 years.

For the full NEEDA Newsletter story about Bill Curtis, click on the headline above.