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Newletters From January, 2010
HOUSE FIRE SERVICE ADVOCATE EXPRESSES FRUTRATION AND CRITICISM AS CONGRESS DIGS IN FOR THE 2010 SESSION
Originally Posted: January 27, 2010 6:32 PM
Last Updated: January 27, 2010 6:32 PM
A leading Congressional advocate for the fire service and for Federal grants for local fire departments has been outspoken and apparently frustrated in his role in the US House of Representatives.
Rep. Bill Pascrell has called fellow Democrats “arrogant” and referred to a key party talking point as “BS.” He slammed deals cut by leadership and special interests and said, “We’re not going to accept that any longer.”
Agitated and unfiltered, Pascrell has become the guy who’s not afraid to go public with what many rank-and-file House Democrats have been saying behind closed doors.
“The people in Massachusetts sent a clear message,” he said. “If we didn’t get it in New Jersey or Virginia, we should’ve gotten it, certainly, Tuesday.”
The white-haired New Jersey Democrat isn’t known for taking on his own leaders. His past high-profile causes have focused on entertainment. He blasted the HBO hit show “The Sopranos” for degrading Italians. He took on Ticketmaster for allegedly withholding tickets and redirecting buyers to a pricier subsidiary during Bruce Springsteen’s 2009 tour.
But now he’s turning his fire on his own party.
In a front-page POLITICO story Friday, he said he’d like to see White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel “come out from behind his desk” to talk to the common folk more.
Everyone knew there were cracks in Democratic unity, but Pascrell’s attacks — delivered to a handful of reporters late last week — reveal that the cracks are closer to a gaping hole.
Democratic aides will chalk up this kind of talk to frustration with a process that’s slogged on for way too long. But Pascrell is not the only Democrat expressing ire and angst. Establishment senators like Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) are saying that Congress should take a month off from health care. House leadership is “whistling past the graveyard,” added Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.).
Pascrell can get away with being the tough guy. Since 1998, he hasn’t won an election with less than 62 percent of the vote. He is a relatively safe Democrat who is trying to grab hold of a process that he sees as having gone awry.
“It’s so complex; we made it complex,” Pascrell said of the health care debate. “And we knew this from the very beginning.”
Pascrell is not a disloyal Democrat — he voted for the House health care bill, public option and all. After the bill passed in November, he was seen on the floor hugging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and exchanging pleasantries with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).
MORE INFO? www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31934.html#ixzz0drHShZnS
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FEMA WILL PAY $474.7 MILLION TO REPLACE NEW ORLEANS HOSPITAL RUINED BY FLOOD
Originally Posted: January 27, 2010 6:21 PM
Last Updated: January 27, 2010 6:21 PM
FEMA's Arbitration Panel has awarded the state of Louisiana $474,750,898 to pay for the replacement of Charity Hospital in New Orleans through FEMA's Public Assistance program, FEMA said January 27, 2010.
Damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Charity Hospital was a source of healthcare for many uninsured or underinsured Louisianans. The reconstruction of the hospital has been viewed by many in the city as a necessary component to rebuilding New Orleans.
The FEMA’s Arbitration Panel, consisting of three specially appointed Administrative Law Judges, determined the proportion of damage caused by the disasters and the estimated cost to repair that damage. Under FEMA regulations, the cost of repair must be compared with the cost of replacing the structure. These cost comparisons had been the source of dispute between FEMA and the state since Hurricane Katrina.
Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security: “I congratulate FEMA on completing this open, transparent, and comprehensive process and am pleased with the results. The People of Louisiana can now move forward with the necessary rebuilding effort.
"However, I am concerned that the Arbitration Panel found that FEMA representatives who performed the damage estimates did not have the necessary experience and expertise to perform costs and repair assessments. Unfortunately, this is not a new problem. FEMA must ensure that the proper personnel are trained and in place to review claims during future disasters.”
MORE INFO? Dena Graziano or Adam Comis (202) 225-9978
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LA TIMES REPORTS RECENT PREPARATIONS IN WILDLANDS EAST OF THE CITY HELPED PREVENT HUGE FLOOD DISASTER CAUSED BY REPEATED WILDFIRE DESTRUCTION
Originally Posted: January 24, 2010 11:40 AM
Last Updated: January 24, 2010 11:42 AM
Giant mud flows through landscape left by the largest brush fire in Southern California history drained quickly and the firescorched mountains held up, the Los Angeles Times reports. The slopes were swept by 2009 summer's Station fire, leaving them bare. The times quotes conclusions drawn by officials from the U.S. Geological Survey.
Kenton Pattie (NEEDA Executive Director) who is a proponent of a national White House Conference on Wildfires praised the LA County 2003-2009 preparations. "These results are exciting -- just the thing that should be shared with other communities trying to preserve wildlands, prevent fires, and save nearby populated areas from the horror of wildfires. California's leadership on this issue is impressive."
Officials told the Times: ". . .Preparations won't be enough if heavier rains soak the mountains."
"We want to prevent a sense of complacency. It's not like crying wolf. It wasn't worse, because the rainfall intensity and its duration was not as high as forecasted. If we had gotten what was forecasted, it would have been a lot worse."
Hector Becerra and Rong-Gong Lin II write in the Times: "Ever since the Station fire swept through the Angeles National Forest (in 2009), many residents of the foothill communities below the burn area have lived with the fear of destructive mudslides that could come with winter's heavy storms.
"But geologists who have studied this week's downpours now offer a guardedly optimistic forecast.
"Mudslide danger remains but their observations indicate that the mountains have held up remarkably well despite the naked landscape left by the largest brush fire in Los Angeles County history."
"For the fire-related runoff, the danger has pretty much passed," said Kevin Schmidt, a scientist with the USGS, although he emphasized that additional rain could bring new risks.
Geologists told the Times: The San Gabriel Mountains are composed largely of granite and metamorphic, coarse-grained rock that filters water almost like gravel, helping to flush out moisture quickly without producing damaging debris flows."
The Times reviewed the long history of flooding through Los Angeles County's eastern hills and forests:
Times: "One difference from previous major mudslides is the aggressive efforts by local and county officials to protect foothill neighborhoods. Authorities installed miles of concrete barriers to divert mud flows away from homes, cleared debris basins and deployed an army of tractors to canyons from Acton to La Cañada Flintridge. Tractor operators cleared many minor mud flows and debris basins were largely able to handle the mud and rocks that did tumble down."
In 2009-2010 "Officials also decided to evacuate about 1,200 homes."
Debris flows have caused dozens of disasters in Southern California in the last century. One of the worst happened early New Year's Day in 1934, when a 20-foot-high wall of rocks and mud swept over La Crescenta and Montrose, killing 49 people.
That disaster occurred before the creation of LA's modern flood-control system.
On Christmas Day in 2003, a flash flood triggered a debris flow in the wildfire-ravaged San Bernardino Mountains, killing 12 people -- including several children -- at a church retreat in Waterman Canyon.
Some have cited this tragedy in preparing for this week's storms, but it happened in a remote forest location far from neighborhoods.
Another often-cited comparison is the Ventura County coastal hamlet of La Conchita, which Schmidt described as the "poster child" for large landslides.
But the history of that slide differs considerably from the current situation. In January 2005, during the second-wettest rain year documented in Southern California's history, heavy rains unleashed 400,000 tons of mud in La Conchita, killing 10 people. A jury later determined that a lack of proper drainage from an avocado ranch at the top of the slope above the community also contributed to the collapse.
La Conchita is also different from the San Gabriel foothills because the town had a well-known history of landslides, with homes that had been built directly in the path of a historically unstable hillside.
Six months after the La Conchita disaster, another landslide hit Bluebird Canyon in Laguna Beach, destroying 17 homes and seriously damaging 11. But Bluebird Canyon has homes built directly atop land with a history of landslides.
Officials prepping the Station fire area said they have learned from past landslides.
"The flood-control system is holding up. It's working exactly the way it was designed to do," said Bob Spencer, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.
MORE INFO? hector.becerra@latimes.com and ron.lin@latimes.com
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FEMA FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM
Originally Posted: January 20, 2010 9:18 AM
Last Updated: January 20, 2010 9:18 AM
When the Governor of your State submits request for a fire management assistance declaration to the FEMA Regional Director while the fire is burning uncontrolled the FEMA Regional Director gathers State's information, calls upon the Principal Advisor for an assessment, and develops a Regional summary and recommendation to be forwarded to the Under Secretary.
The Under Secretary approves or denies Federal assistance requests for your state based on:
The conditions that existed at the time of the request;
Whether or not the fire or fire complex threatens such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.
There are four criteria that the Under Secretary, or designee, evaluates the threat posed by a fire or fire complex:
Threat to lives and improved property, including threats to critical facilities/infrastructure, and critical watershed areas;
Availability of State and local firefighting resources;
High fire danger conditions, as indicated by nationally accepted indices such as the National Fire Danger Ratings System;
Potential major economic impact.
After making a determination, the Under Secretary notifies the Regional Director who in turn notifies the State. A State has one opportunity to appeal any FEMA declaration turn down. The Recovery Division Director will render the determination on the appeal, which will be the final administrative decision for FEMA.
If you get one of these grants the FMAGP provides a 75 percent Federal cost share for actual eligible costs incurred.
Before an initial grant award to the State under a FMAGP declaration can be approved, the State must demonstrate that total eligible costs for the declared fire meet or exceed either the individual fire cost threshold, which is applied to a single fire, or the cumulative fire cost threshold, which recognizes numerous smaller fires burning throughout a State.
Under the cumulative fire cost threshold, assistance will only be provided for the declared fire responsible for meeting or exceeding the cumulative fire cost threshold and any future declared fires for that calendar year.
The individual fire cost threshold for a State is the greater of:
$100,000, or
Five percent x $1.14* x the State population.
This dollar amount is adjusted annually for inflation using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Department of Labor.
The cumulative fire cost threshold for a State is the greater of the following:
$500,000; or
Three times the five percent x $1.14* x the State population.
*FY 2005. This dollar amount is adjusted annually for inflation using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Department of
Eligible Entities
States and Indian tribal governments may act as the Grantee
State, Indian tribal, and local entities may apply to the Grantee for subgrants
Costs for equipment and supplies (less insurance proceeds);
Costs for emergency work (evacuations and sheltering, police barricading and traffic control, arson investigation);
Costs for State emergency operations center (when used as a Unified Command Center);
Costs for the pre-positioning of Federal, out-of State, and international resources for up to 21 days;
Cost of personal comfort and safety items for firefighter health and safety;
Costs for field camps and meals in lieu of per diem;
Costs for mobilization and demobilization costs;
Costs for the temporary repair of damage cause by firefighting activities;
Costs for the mitigation, management, and control of declared fires burning on co-mingled Federal land, when such costs are not reimbursable by another Federal agency.
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SPARTAN IS KEY COMPANY IN BUILDING VEHICLES THAT WITHSTAND IEDS IN MIDEAST CONFLICT ZONES
Originally Posted: January 20, 2010 8:57 AM
Last Updated: January 20, 2010 9:08 AM
Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc., Charlotte, Michigan, has been awarded subcontract orders from defense contractor BAE Systems for advanced tactical vehicles under the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP), Iraqi Light Armored Vehicle (ILAV) and Medium Mine Protected (MMPV) or Panther programs. Total value of the combined awards is $14 million.
Spartan is known to NEEDA members for its production of fire response vehicles. For other stories about Spartan Motors, use the "Search" application in the upper right of your NEEDA Newsletter screen.
John Sztykiel, president and CEO of Spartan Motors: "Improvised explosive devices - IEDs - continue to be the number one threat to American troops serving overseas. Spartan is proud to continue its work in support of protecting our service men and women against this powerful enemy."
Spartan will supply and integrate key chassis components, including independent suspension systems, for eight United States Special Operations Command, or SOCOM, MRAP vehicles. The Category 1 RG33s are scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2010.
Spartan Chassis will produce 109 ILAVs in three different configurations. These mine protected vehicles, provided to the United States Government as part of a Foreign Military Sales contract with BAE Systems, are scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2010.
Spartan has been building these vehicles since 2006. Spartan will deliver two additional MMPVs in the Prophet vehicle variant. In the MMPV program, Spartan provides automotive integration kits to BAE Systems' assembly operations at Letterkenny Army Depot.
Spartan also continues its ongoing support of MRAP prime contractors and the U.S. Government by providing spare/replacement parts for many of the vehicles built at Spartan during the MRAP program.
Letterkenny can be reached from the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania International Airport, Interstate 81, roads near Carlisle, PA, or two hours from the Baltimore-Washington Airport.
MORE INFO? www.spartanmotors.com
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SIX CHURCH FIRES IN EAST TEXAS FOCUS OF US BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES (ATF) INVESTIGATION
Originally Posted: January 20, 2010 5:43 AM
Last Updated: January 20, 2010 5:43 AM
The National Response Team (NRT) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with ATF special agents from Tyler have entered the investigation into two church fires in Tyler. There have been six church fires in the East Texas area since January 1st 2010.
On Jan. 16, at approximately 6:30 p.m., fire destroyed the Tyland Baptist Church, 2818 Silver Creek Drive. Damage is estimated at one million dollars. On Sunday, Jan. 17, at approximately 6:30 p.m., fire destroyed the First Church of Christ, 106 East Second Street. Damage is estimated at $750,000.
Ken Chisholm, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of ATF's Dallas Field Division: "ATF is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons involved. Anyone with information should call the ATF Tyler office at (903) 590-1475. ATF is working with the Tyler Police and Fire Departments as well as the Tyler Fire Marshal's Office in the joint investigation."
In 1978, ATF developed the NRT to bring its expertise to federal, state and local investigators in meeting the challenges faced at the scenes of significant arson and explosives incidents. The NRT consists of four teams organized geographically to cover the United States. Each team can respond within 24 hours to assist state and local law enforcement/fire service personnel in onsite investigations.
MORE INFO www.atf.gov or Tom Crowley, Special Agent, PIO Cell: (214) 435-5226
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FEDERAL SIGNAL ACQUIRES RADIO FREQUENCY ID COMPANY SIRIT OF TORONTO, CANADA: ADDS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY SYSTEMS GROUP
Originally Posted: January 18, 2010 5:51 PM
Last Updated: January 18, 2010 5:51 PM
Sirit Inc. a provider of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and Federal Signal Corporation say Federal Signal will acquire common shares of Sirit for$48 million. Federal Signal operates three groups: Safety and Security Systems, Environmental Solutions and Fire Rescue.
Sirit will operate as part of Federal Signal's Safety and Security Systems Group.
Sirit develops and makes RFID technology for industries such as road tolls, Electronic Vehicle Registration, Parking and Access Control, Asset Management, Cashless Payments and Supply Chain Systems.
In December 2009 Federal Signal acquired detection and classification technology business Diamond Consulting Services and PIPS automated license plate recognition technology.
William Osborne, Federal Signal's President and Chief Executive Officer: "We are excited about this transaction with Sirit, as it further strengthens Federal Signal's best-in-class product portfolio and advances our stated strategy of driving growth through our Public Safety Systems platform."
Osborne: "We are confident Federal Signal will be better positioned to help customers capitalize on road-user charging technologies."
Sirit has 16 years of RF domain expertise addressing multiple frequencies (LF/HF/UHF), multiple protocols and are compliant with global standards.
Federal Signal Corporation enhances the safety, security and well-being of communities and workplaces around the world. Founded in 1901, Federal Signal is a leading global designer and manufacturer of products and total solutions that serve municipal, governmental, industrial and institutional customers. Federal Signal's headquarters are in Oak Brook, Ill.
MORE INFO? http://www.federalsignal.com visit www.sirit.com
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SEARCH DOG HUNTER FINDS SURVIVORS IN HAITI: PARTNERS WITH FIREFIGHTERS
Originally Posted: January 18, 2010 5:31 PM
Last Updated: January 18, 2010 5:31 PM
A firefighter and his Search Dog located three girls trapped alive since Tuesday, January 12, 2010 in the rubble of Haiti's devastating earthquake. SDF is a non-profit organization whose mission is to strengthen America's emergency response network by producing the most highly-trained canine-firefighter disaster search teams in the nation.
Bill Monahan and his Border Collie, Hunter, were searching a neighborhood near the Presidential Palace, concentrating on a large bowl-shaped area of rubble which was all that remained of a 4-story building.
After criss-crossing the area, Hunter pin-pointed the survivors' scent under 4 feet of broken concrete and did a sustained "bark alert" to let Bill know where the victims were. Bill spoke with the survivors, then passed them bottles of water tied to the end of a stick. As they reached for the water one of the girls said, "Thank you."
Highly trained rescue crews from California Task Force 2 pulled the girls from the wreckage and provided first aid.
Bill and Hunter were trained by the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation -- the only non-profit in the nation that recruits rescued dogs, partners them with firefighters, and trains them to find survivors buried in the aftermath of disasters. The teams and their ongoing training are provided at no cost to Fire Departments throughout the country.
In his report this morning from Haiti, SDF Handler Bill Monahan: "It would have been a reward to find one person alive. Finding multiple survivors is a huge victory for everyone on the Task Force. It's a giant team effort. From the canines, to the logistics team, to communications, everyone is working at full capacity, using everything we've been trained to do to find survivors. It's an honor to be here."
At Search Dog Foundation headquarters in Ojai, CA, SDF Founder Wilma Melville: "This moment is what SDF Search Teams train for -- week in and week out -- throughout their careers together. When one SDF team succeeds, ALL of our teams succeed. Our thoughts are with our teams in Haiti, who continue to comb the rubble into the night. Their perseverance, skill, and strength in the face of extreme challenges make us all proud, and give us hope."
SDF Executive Director Debra Tosch: "All our handlers are experts in reading their canines, pacing them throughout their shift to ensure the dogs are kept safe, healthy, happy and motivated. The canines are literally the Task Force's most precious tool in the hunt for survivors: their well-being is mission-critical."
Bill and Hunter continue to search, as do all seven SDF Search Teams on the ground in Haiti with California Task Force 2 and Florida Task Force 1.
SDF is a non-profit organization which recruits rescued dogs and partners them with firefighters, providing the canines and the training at no cost to their departments.
SDF recruits rescued dogs and partners them with firefighters, providing the canines and the training at no cost to their departments. The organization receives no government funding and relies solely on support from individuals, private foundations and companies to produce these highly-skilled teams.
Since its founding in 1996, SDF has rescued hundreds of dogs, many on the brink of euthanasia. They have trained 105 Search Teams, 72 of which are currently active. SDF Teams have been deployed to 66 disasters including the World Trade Center attacks and Hurricane Katrina and state and local emergencies such as earthquakes, mudslides, building collapses, train derailments and missing person searches.
Eight of SDF's teams are members of CA-TF2 ready for immediate deployment overseas when called upon by the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.
The organization receives no government funding and relies solely on support from individuals, private foundations and companies to produce these highly-skilled teams.
MORE INFO? http://www.SearchDogFoundation.org
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DRIVERS IN 20 STATES FACE NEW LAWS PROHIBITING CELL PHONE, TEXT MESSAGING AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS
Originally Posted: January 18, 2010 1:36 PM
Last Updated: January 18, 2010 1:36 PM
20 states ban all drivers from sending or receiving cell phone text messages while behind the wheel. Another 10 impose restrictions on certain drivers, from teens to school bus operators. From requiring hands-free devices to banning teens from using their cell phone at all while driving, watch for numerous new measures in 2010.
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DEREK ROWAN REPORTS FAIRFAX COUNTY'S VIRGINIA TASK FORCE 1 HAS COMPLETED 8 UNASSISTED RESCUES AND 5 ASSISTED RESCUES IN HAITI
Originally Posted: January 16, 2010 5:25 PM
Last Updated: January 16, 2010 5:25 PM
Derek Rowan reports on US work following Haiti Earthquake:
Right now, Fairfax County’s Virginia Task Force 1 (which I was a member of for 9 years) as of last night had completed 8 unassisted rescues and 5 assisted rescues.
Derek is a highly trained first responder, instructor, and strong friend of NEEDA. He has spoken at NEEDA events and supports the NEEDA website. He has won many awards and received many citations and high recognitions for his exceptional contributions to US fire and emergency response.
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Public Safety Leadership Call on Congress and the Obama Administration to Reallocate Broadband Spectrum for Public Safety
Originally Posted: January 16, 2010 4:31 PM
Last Updated: January 16, 2010 4:31 PM
National public safety leaders are urging the US Congress and the Obama Administration to immediately reallocate 10MHz of the 700 MHz band (D Block) of spectrum for public safety. This block would double the current size dedicated to public safety.
The message delivered at a January 12th, 2010 press conference was that our country's state, local, and federal government agencies need this additional D block to build a robust mobile wireless broadband network that will greatly improve our nation's homeland security and provide first responders with new interoperable communications technologies that are urgently needed.
Once built, the new broadband network will be able to support a broad range of public safety, government, critical infrastructure and consumer applications such as voice, video, and internet services. Some of the initial benefits would be:
Current tasks, which require considerable radio talk time such as database lookups and dispatch messaging, would now be off-loaded to broadband applications providing information to first responders quickly.
It will enhance day-to-day operations providing remote access to databases, remote form entry, and remote reporting.
It will allow mission-critical information to be exchanged in real-time, anytime anywhere.
It will enhance task force operations by allowing secure, easy, interoperable sharing of information such as voice, video, and multi-media data among various members of a task force
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CANINES FROM VIRGINIA BEACH FIRE AND RESCUE AND NEW YORK FIRE AND POLICE ARRIVED IN HAITI: SEND NEEDA NAMES AND INFO ON ANY UNITS FROM YOUR AREA WHO ARE RESPONDING TO DESTRUCTION IN HAITI
Originally Posted: January 16, 2010 2:31 PM
Last Updated: January 16, 2010 2:31 PM
A few days ago, I mentioned in NEEDA NEWSLETTER some of the fire teams headed to help in Haiti. Here are two more: Two heavy USAR teams, comprising 160 rescue personnel and eight rescue canines from the Virginia Beach Fire and Rescue Department and the New York City Fire and Police departments, arrived in Haiti on January 15.
Also, a huge hospital ship left Baltimore harbor with doctors, medical experts,
and a completely outfitted hospital. The ship will arrive late next week in Haiti.
If you have driven north or south on Interstate 95, you have seen the US hospital ship docted in the Baltimore Harbor (near the Baltimore tunnel entrance) -- this is the one en route today for Haiti! This is a wonderful US
asset capable of up to date medical care for several thousand victims.
If you know of any other spcial emergency units from your area who are part of the US response to Haiti, please forward their names and contact info or a news story from your newspaper or the internet.
NEEDA would like to salute all the awesome contributions US fire fire rescue teams are making to resolve the devastation which has pulverized Haiti. I spent a week in Haiti a few years ago and having seen the living conditions there I can completely appreciate how horrible the post earthquake situation is. Even when I was there, conditions were dangerously close to chaos as so many structures were poorly assembled, utilities were unrelaiable and roads were often dirt. There can't be a place on earth with more poverty and deprivation than Haiti -- my opinion!
Kenton Pattie
Executive Director
National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association
PO Box 220
Annandale VA 22003
703 850 8552
KentonP1@aol.com
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FEMA URGES LOCAL RESPONDERS TO SUPPORT US SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS RATHER THAN ACT INDEPENDENTLY
Originally Posted: January 16, 2010 2:10 PM
Last Updated: January 16, 2010 2:10 PM
Deputy FEMA Administrator Richard Serino: I’d like remind you that FEMA is supporting USAID’s efforts in Haiti with search and rescue teams, communications and coordination support, and relief supplies and commodities. As you well know, state, local, and tribal responders are the foundation of our nation’s search and rescue teams.
I know the President and Secretary Napolitano share my gratitude for the commitment and dedication shown by these responders.
State, local, and tribal governments with goods and services to offer to the relief effort in Haiti should direct their offers to helphaiti@state.gov. Responders are reminded to please not attempt self-dispatch to Haiti; USAID and the State Department are coordinating the deployment of resources to Haiti and responders should deploy only if tasked to do so.
The most urgent need that we can all fulfill at this time is to support ongoing disaster relief fundraising efforts.
MORE INFO? http://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti to find relief organizations supporting the response in Haiti and make a contribution to support the disaster relief efforts.
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HAITI GETS US HELP FROM GOVERNMENT, CLINTON FOUNDATION, RED CROSS AND OTHERS
Originally Posted: January 15, 2010 6:41 PM
Last Updated: January 15, 2010 6:41 PM
On January 12, 2010, a massive earthquake struck the nation of Haiti, causing catastrophic damage inside and around the capital city of Port-au-Prince. President Obama has promised the people of Haiti that "you will not be forsaken; you will not be forgotten."
The United States Government has mobilized resources and manpower to aid in the relief effort. Here are some ways that you can get involved.
Learn more about the William J. Clinton Foundation's Haiti Earthquake Relief efforts.
Donate $10 to the American Red Cross – charged to your cell phone bill – by texting "HAITI" to "90999."
Contribute online to the Red Cross
Find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information.
The State Department Operations Center has set up the following phone number for Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti: 1-888-407-4747 (due to heavy volume, some callers may receive a recording). You can also send an email to the State Department.
Communications within Haiti are very difficult at this time.
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SOUTHWEST FIRE RESCUE CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW MEETS IN GALVESTON, TX FEB 20-25, 2010
Originally Posted: January 15, 2010 6:34 PM
Last Updated: January 15, 2010 6:34 PM
February 20-25, 2010
Moody Gardens Hotel and Convention Center, Galveston, Texas
SATURDAY, February 20
8:00am - 5:00pm (Saturday & Sunday)
NFA Course: Incident Command System for Structural Collapse Incidents
Tom Phillips
8:00am - 5:00pm (Saturday & Sunday)
NFA Course: Managing and Leading Change
Chief John Cook, John Lee Cook Associates
8:00am - 5:00pm (Saturday, Sunday & Monday)
ICS300
Chief Mike Baker, Copperas Cove
SUNDAY, February 21
8:00am - 5:00pm
Train the Trainer: Courage to be Safe
Chief Danny Kistner, Lufkin
8:00am - 5:00pm (Saturday & Sunday)
NFA Course: Incident Command System for Structural Collapse Incidents (continued)
Tom Phillips
8:00am - 5:00pm (Saturday & Sunday)
NFA Course: Managing and Leading Change (continued)
Chief John Cook, John Lee Cook Associates
8:00am - 5:00pm (Saturday, Sunday & Monday)
ICS300 (continued)
Chief Mike Baker, Copperas Cove
5:00pm - 9:00pm
Vendor Showcase ("Around the World Buffet" provided)
MONDAY, February 22
8:00am - 9:30am
Opening Ceremony
Failure is not Final
Commander Scott Waddle, US Navy (Ret.)
9:30am - 12:30pm
Vendor Showcase (Continental breakfast provided)
8:00am - 5:00pm (Saturday, Sunday & Monday)
ICS300 (continued)
Chief Mike Baker, Copperas Cove
Breakout Sessions
1:30pm - 3:00pm
Response to Incidents Involving Suicide Bombers
Tom Phillips
1:30pm - 3:00pm
Retirement Planning
Stephen Riebe, ChFC, Citigroup
1:30pm - 3:00pm
Mutual Aid 101
Bill Bullock, IAFC Staff Liaison &
Sean Hughes, Emergency Mgt Coordinator
3:30pm - 5:00pm
Going Beyond the Status Quo!!!
Tim Sendelbach, Editor, FireRescue Magazine
3:30pm - 5:00pm
Maximizing First Alarm Response
Asst. Chief Randy McGregor, Bryan
3:30 - 5:00pm
Mutual Aid 102
Bill Bullock, IAFC Staff Liaison &
Sean Hughes, Emergency Mgt Coordinator
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Comedy Night (Dinner sponsored by Martin Apparatus and Siddons)
TUESDAY, February 23
8:00am - 9:30am
General Session
Why Aren't the Numbers Going Down?
Chief Rick Lasky. Lewisville
9:30 - 10:00am
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
10:30 - 12:00pm
TIFMAS
Chief Steve Pollock, Cedar Hill
8:00am - 5:00pm (Tuesday & Wednesday)
ICS400
Chad Berg, EMOHS Dir, Killeen
Breakout Sessions
1:00pm - 2:30pm
GEN Busters!
Pete Tokar, Miramar, Florida
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Accessing DHS Courses
Scott Terry, SHS Training Manager
3:00 - 4:30pm
Commission Update
Miles Skipper, Texas Commission on Fire Protection
3:00 - 4:30pm
Survival
Danny Vaughan, Houston
5:00pm - 6:30pm
TAFE Meeting
WEDNESDAY, February 24
8:00am - 11:30am
General Session
Anatomy & Physiology of Leadership
Chief Alan Brunacini
11:30am - 1:00pm
Awards Luncheon
8:00am - 5:00pm (Tuesday & Wednesday)
ICS400 (continued)
Chad Berg, EMOHS Dir, Killeen
Breakout Sessions
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Special Ops
Louie Havens, CFPS
1:00pm - 4:30pm
Communication One-to-One and One-to-Many
Stephen Gower, the Gower Group
3:00pm - 4:30pm
Challenges of Advanced Steels in Vehicle Rescue
Ron Moore
5:00pm - 6:30pm
TFCA Annual Business Meeting
(Reception sponsored by Wells Fargo Public Finance)
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Casino Night (Sponsored by Casco Industries)
THURSDAY, February 25
8am - 11:30am
General Session
The Remarkable Relationship
Stephen Gower, The Gower Group
12:00pm Adjourn
February 20-25, 2010
Moody Gardens Hotel and Convention Center, Galveston, Texas
SATURDAY, February 20
8:00am - 5:00pm (Saturday & Sunday)
NFA Course: Incident Command System for Structural Collapse Incidents
Tom Phillips
8:00am - 5:00pm (Saturday & Sunday)
NFA Course: Managing and Leading Change
Chief John Cook, John Lee Cook Associates
8:00am - 5:00pm (Saturday, Sunday & Monday)
ICS300
Chief Mike Baker, Copperas Cove
SUNDAY, February 21
8:00am - 5:00pm
Train the Trainer: Courage to be Safe
Chief Danny Kistner, Lufkin
8:00am - 5:00pm (Saturday & Sunday)
NFA Course: Incident Command System for Structural Collapse Incidents (continued)
Tom Phillips
8:00am - 5:00pm (Saturday & Sunday)
NFA Course: Managing and Leading Change (continued)
Chief John Cook, John Lee Cook Associates
8:00am - 5:00pm (Saturday, Sunday & Monday)
ICS300 (continued)
Chief Mike Baker, Copperas Cove
5:00pm - 9:00pm
Vendor Showcase ("Around the World Buffet" provided)
MONDAY, February 22
8:00am - 9:30am
Opening Ceremony
Failure is not Final
Commander Scott Waddle, US Navy (Ret.)
9:30am - 12:30pm
Vendor Showcase (Continental breakfast provided)
8:00am - 5:00pm (Saturday, Sunday & Monday)
ICS300 (continued)
Chief Mike Baker, Copperas Cove
Breakout Sessions
1:30pm - 3:00pm
Response to Incidents Involving Suicide Bombers
Tom Phillips
1:30pm - 3:00pm
Retirement Planning
Stephen Riebe, ChFC, Citigroup
1:30pm - 3:00pm
Mutual Aid 101
Bill Bullock, IAFC Staff Liaison &
Sean Hughes, Emergency Mgt Coordinator
3:30pm - 5:00pm
Going Beyond the Status Quo!!!
Tim Sendelbach, Editor, FireRescue Magazine
3:30pm - 5:00pm
Maximizing First Alarm Response
Asst. Chief Randy McGregor, Bryan
3:30 - 5:00pm
Mutual Aid 102
Bill Bullock, IAFC Staff Liaison &
Sean Hughes, Emergency Mgt Coordinator
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Comedy Night (Dinner sponsored by Martin Apparatus and Siddons)
TUESDAY, February 23
8:00am - 9:30am
General Session
Why Aren't the Numbers Going Down?
Chief Rick Lasky. Lewisville
9:30 - 10:00am
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
10:30 - 12:00pm
TIFMAS
Chief Steve Pollock, Cedar Hill
8:00am - 5:00pm (Tuesday & Wednesday)
ICS400
Chad Berg, EMOHS Dir, Killeen
Breakout Sessions
1:00pm - 2:30pm
GEN Busters!
Pete Tokar, Miramar, Florida
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Accessing DHS Courses
Scott Terry, SHS Training Manager
3:00 - 4:30pm
Commission Update
Miles Skipper, Texas Commission on Fire Protection
3:00 - 4:30pm
Survival
Danny Vaughan, Houston
5:00pm - 6:30pm
TAFE Meeting
WEDNESDAY, February 24
8:00am - 11:30am
General Session
Anatomy & Physiology of Leadership
Chief Alan Brunacini
11:30am - 1:00pm
Awards Luncheon
8:00am - 5:00pm (Tuesday & Wednesday)
ICS400 (continued)
Chad Berg, EMOHS Dir, Killeen
Breakout Sessions
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Special Ops
Louie Havens, CFPS
1:00pm - 4:30pm
Communication One-to-One and One-to-Many
Stephen Gower, the Gower Group
3:00pm - 4:30pm
Challenges of Advanced Steels in Vehicle Rescue
Ron Moore
5:00pm - 6:30pm
TFCA Annual Business Meeting
(Reception sponsored by Wells Fargo Public Finance)
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Casino Night (Sponsored by Casco Industries)
THURSDAY, February 25
8am - 11:30am
General Session
The Remarkable Relationship
Stephen Gower, The Gower Group
12:00pm Adjourn
MORE INFO? www.southwestfirerescue.netwer Group
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MADRID, SPAIN GETS WATER BOMBER FLIGHT TRAINER TO HELP SPANISH PILOTS FIGHT WILDFIRES FROM THE AIR
Originally Posted: January 15, 2010 7:15 AM
Last Updated: January 15, 2010 7:15 AM
Mechtronix Systems Inc. Montreal, Canada, a division of Mechtronix World Corp. (MWC), a manufacturer of Flight Simulation Training Devices, delivered a Bombardier 415 FTD in Madrid, Spain.
The Flight Training Device will be used by the Spanish Ministry of Defense to prepare pilots for their growing fleet of forest firefighter aircraft.
The FTD is the second of its type in the world, the first having been manufactured by Mechtronix. The unit doubles the Spanish MoD's flight training capabilities and enables them to save flight hours while pilots practice in a realistic yet safer environment.
The CL 415 FTD, manufactured by Mechtronix with the collaboration of Indra Sistemas, will be used for enabling pilots to acquire the expertise needed to master the aircraft when it is operated regularly in challenging situations as wildfire fighting.
The pilots can gain skills in a safer and forgiving virtual setting, better preparing them for real life operations.
The FTD was equipped with Indra's visual system and went through In Plant Acceptance at their premises successfully.
It will be deployed at the Spanish MoD's facilities on the Torrejon base in the first quarter of 2010.
Mechtronix Systems Inc. (Mechtronix Systems), a division of MWC, specializes in the design and manufacturing of Flight Simulation Training Devices for general, business and commercial aviation.
Mechtronix Systems offers a full range of products from full flight simulators to flight training devices. The company offers technical support centers located around the globe.
MORE INFO? www.mechtronix.com.
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FAIRFAX, VA, MIAMI-DADE, LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENTS AMONG LEADERS RESPONDING TO DISASTER IN HAITI
Originally Posted: January 15, 2010 7:01 AM
Last Updated: January 15, 2010 7:01 AM
The 13 USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) members in Haiti are helping with priority humanitarian needs and identify emergency relief supplies for immediate delivery to Port-au-Prince from the USAID/OFDA warehouse in Miami.
The USAID/DART works with U.N. representatives regarding humanitarian coordination, and the USAID/DART team leader continues to coordinate with international donors until the full U.N. Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team arrives in Port-au-Prince.
U.S. urban search and rescue (USAR) personnel on arrival quickly rescued or assisted in rescuing nine individuals trapped under rubble. As of January 14, more than 300 USAR personnel had arrived in country, including a 72-person team from the Fairfax County Fire Department, a 72-person team from Los Angeles County Fire Department, an 80-person team from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, and an 80-person team from Miami City.
An additional 42-person team from Fairfax County is expected to arrived in Haiti early January 15.
As of the morning of January 14, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was coordinating the deployment of six additional U.S. USAR teams.
With $13 million in USAID/OFDA assistance, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will deploy a 35-person Incident Response Coordination Team (IRCT), five 35-member Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs), and a Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) of experts in victim identification and mortuary services. The HHS response includes the provision of four medical equipment caches.
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FIRST RESPONDER MOBILE USES GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION BASED IN FIRE TRUCK OR AMBULANCE TO GIVE FIRST RESPONDERS INFORMATION WHEN RESPONDING TO FIRE OR EMERGENCY
Originally Posted: January 15, 2010 6:53 AM
Last Updated: January 15, 2010 6:53 AM
First Responder Mobile (FRM) is a mobile GIS navigation, operations and intelligence product for fire, EMS and other public safety professionals. It is based on the geospatial industry’s scalable In-Vehicle GIS platform BA-Mobile.
FRM fuses basic GIS data with disparate data sources, such as, real-time 911 incident data, voice-directed navigation, building layouts, tactical plans and safe schools information.
Combining the functions and ease of use in portable navigation devices (PNDs) mobile GIS provides first responders with the ability to analyze and respond to events as they unfold by using a common, map-based view of operations.
First Responder Mobile’s features:
An ESRI-based First Responder Mobile GIS solution with routing capabilities not dependent on an internet connection.
Real-time GPS and routing from existing ambulance or fire truck location to call for service location
ArcLogistics Navigator technology for turn-by-turn directions, voice
prompts, navigation and address lookups
Integration with existing Computer Aided Dispatch software for real-time
addressing information while in the field
Display custom base maps and points of interest information
Integration with orthoimagery and Pictometry obilique imagery
Integration with hazardous waste databases
Integration with building floor plans and documents
Mobile common operating picture (COP) for all First Responders (Fire, Police, EMS)
Integration with school safety resource information to enhance pre-planning and emergency response
In summary, FRM is a public safety application based on Bergmann Associates’ In-Vehicle GIS platform, BA-Mobile, that is customized to the specific needs of each client- it is not a stand-alone product that a dealer or fire deprtment simply installs.
The buyer would need the underlying ESRI software products- ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Mobile or ArcGIS Engine as well as ArcLogistics Navigator.
FRM runs on top of that and is customized to use your specific supporting datasets, such as, street centerlines, address points, points of interest, imagery, building floor plans, etc.
FRM was developed this way because it helps public safety clients (you license the underlying source code- it is not locked up as binaries) that makes better use of their existing ESRI GIS infrastructure (no need to buy supporting data unless you want to or need to, FRM told NEEDA).
Using this open platform, the client is not tied to a specific GIS product or datasets, other than your investment in the underlying ESRI technology.
A user is not tied to a specific application integrator to update the solution in the future, as new ESRI technology is released. With the source code available to you, you may update the application in-house.
MORE INFO? Pete Rothfuss,??Bergmann Associates? 585.232.5137 x432, fax: 585.325.8405?prothfuss@bergmannpc.com; www.bergmannpc.com
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TEMPE FIREFIGHTERS UNION SEEKS IMPROVED RELATIONS WITH CITY MANAGER
Originally Posted: January 12, 2010 8:09 AM
Last Updated: January 12, 2010 8:11 AM
Tempe, Arizona Firefighters are critical of Tempe City Manager, Charlie Meyer.
Rich Woerth, president of Tempe Firefighters: "Tempe's current city manager has chosen to abandon the approach of mutual respect and productivity by refusing to recognize representatives of the Union and circumventing its processes."
City Manager Meyer was appointed by Tempe City Council in December 2007. He is responsible for implementing all City Council policy decisions. Local 493 alleges Meyer has undermined the protections and processes afforded by Union membership, forcing mandatory meetings at stations to discuss issues while firefighters are on duty.
"The City Manager has had two years to meet with firefighters. "If he wants to do a station tour to learn about the service we provide that is great. We wish to have Union representatives represent us on all fire related issues. As a result, we are asking the Mayor and City Council of Tempe to take immediate action to address the problems."
The Tempe Fire Department is a professional career fire department of six fire stations housing eight engine companies, two ladder companies, one scene support and one battalion chief. Each engine and ladder company is staffed with four firefighters 24-hours a day. Fire department services include emergency medical, fire suppression, hazardous materials response, fire prevention, public education, and organization-wide disaster preparedness activities.
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NEW FIRE TRUCK IN COLD FLORIDA GETS $2000 OF DAMAGE CIRCULATING THE ANTIFREEZE
Originally Posted: January 12, 2010 7:28 AM
Last Updated: January 12, 2010 7:28 AM
The mayor of a Florida town ran into a pine tree with its newest fire truck, causing an estimated $2,000 worth of damage.
Grand Ridge mayor Chris Wright, also a volunteer firefighter, took the fire engine out on a non-emergency call, a story by JCFloridian.com said. Wright was attempting to turn the truck around in a private driveway when of the fire truck’s rear tires slid off the road and into a ditch, and then fell over into a pine tree, the story said.
Although emergency vehicles are not allowed to be taken out when there's no emergency, Wright told JCFloridian.com that he needed to let the truck warm up. "With it being so cold, we had just put some antifreeze in the truck. But (the antifreeze) doesn’t do any good without running the vehicle and letting it circulate.”
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COLLINS ADS TRACTOR TO ITS AMBULANCE, FIRE VEHICLE LINES
Originally Posted: January 8, 2010 9:34 PM
Last Updated: January 8, 2010 9:34 PM
Collins Industries, Inc., a subsidiary of BNS Holding, Inc., a manufacturer of ambulances (including medical attack vehicles, rescue vehicles and fire emergency vehicles), is offering a new tractor with hydrogen fuel cell/plug-in electric drive sysem. The company also makes small school buses, road construction and industrial sweepers. Since 1971, Collins Industries, Inc. has grown to 900 employees in three plants comprising eight-hundred thousand combined square feet of manufacturing space. Collins Industries, Inc. sells its products throughout North America and abroad.
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PENNSYLVANIA FIRE VICTIMS TO RECEIVE FEDERAL HELP IN BLAIR, HUNTINGDON, MIFFLIN, CLEARFIELD, UNION AND CLINTON COUNTIES
Originally Posted: January 8, 2010 9:25 PM
Last Updated: January 8, 2010 9:25 PM
Governor Edward G. Rendell (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) says the U.S. Small Business Administration approved disaster assistance for damages caused by a fire on Dec. 22, 2009 in Bellefonte, Centre County, PA.
The disaster funds go to fire victims in Blair, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Clearfield, Union, and Clinton counties.
Funding comes from the Small Business Administration consisting of low-interest loans of up to $200,000 available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Federal SBA loans go up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property.
Interest rates are 4 percent for businesses, with terms up to 30 years.
The SBA disaster loan info can be obtained at the Willowbank County Office Building, 420 Holmes St., Bellefonte, PA 16823.
The outreach center will be open Tuesday, Jan. 12-Jan 14.
Individuals and businesses unable to visit the center in person may obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center.
MORE INFO? 1-800-659-2955 or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.vania or www.pema.state.pa.us "Disaster Assistance" in the left-hand column.
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