E-Update Archive

 In This Issue:

1. NVFC Continues Preparedness Efforts Six Years After 9/11
2. Occupational Safety and Health Administration Requests Public Comment on Emergency Response
3. Draft National Response Framework Released for Public Comment
4. FM Global's New Fire Prevention Grant Provides Support for Organizations Working to Combat Fire
5. NFPA Report Finds More Fires But Fewer Deaths in 2006
6. NVFC Welcomes New Accounting Specialist
7. Calendar of Events
8. Support Those Who Support the Voice of the Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services

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Six years have passed since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) joins with the rest of the country in commemorating the tragic events of that day. Since the 9/11 attacks, the NVFC has remained committed in its efforts to increase disaster preparedness and awareness in the United States.

"Today, we remember those who died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001," said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. "Our thoughts and prayers are with their surviving families and friends."

"Six years later, the NVFC remains committed to honoring the victims by working to improve national preparedness. We can't change the past, but we will do everything within our power to ensure that history doesn't repeat itself."

In August 2002, the NVFC released a 119-page report entitled "The Role of the Volunteer Fire Service in the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks." It was the first report that focused on the actions of thousands of volunteers who responded on that tragic day and the days afterward. Read the report.

The NVFC works closely with other emergency service groups, federal officials, and members of Congress to strengthen national preparedness. For more information on those efforts, please visit www.nvfc.org.

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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), whose mission is to assure the safety and health of America's workers, is requesting input from the public to determine what changes, if any, to make to its emergency response and preparedness standards. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is currently reviewing the request and will be submitting comments.

OSHA currently regulates certain aspects of emergency responder health and safety through seven standards. However, OSHA does not maintain a comprehensive emergency responder standard, and many of the existing standards have not been updated in years.

OSHA is specifically requesting comment on the scope of emergency response, personal protective equipment, training and qualifications, medical evaluation and health monitoring, safety, and more. Comments must be submitted by December 10. More information on the request for public comment can be found online.

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a draft of the National Response Framework (NRF) for a 30-day public comment period on September 10. The NRF is designed as the successor to the National Response Plan, which went into effect in 2004. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is reviewing the NRF and will be submitting comments.

The main NRF document, which is 84-pages long, is designed as a guide to conducting national all-hazards incident response. The Framework would establish protocols for the coordination and delivery federal resources to emergency managers in disaster areas.

The NRF can be reviewed and public comment forms can be downloaded online.

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For organizations and agencies working to prevent the frequency and severity of fire in their communities but that also face ongoing budget constraints that can hamper their best efforts, relief may be in sight. FM Global, one of the world's largest business property insurers, has created a new Fire Prevention Grant Program so fire departments - as well as national, state, regional, local, and community organizations - can more effectively prevent fire, the leading cause of commercial and industrial property damage.

Funding from the new program is available to support a wide variety of fire prevention, preparedness and control efforts including, arson prevention and investigation; pre-fire planning for commercial, industrial and institutional facilities; fire prevention education and training initiatives; and fighting fires in sprinklered buildings, to name a few.

"At FM Global, we believe the majority of fire damage can be prevented and we are dedicated to helping those who share the same philosophy," said Michael Spaziani, the manager of the program. "Working together, we can make a difference in preventing fire loss, rather than simply responding to the incident after it occurs."

For more information or to apply for a Fire Prevention Grant, please visit www.fmglobal.com/grants. The new grant program replaces FM Global's former arson grant fund, which, since 1974, has contributed millions of dollars to help fire services and related agencies prevent arson worldwide.

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Fire departments in the United States responded to an estimated 1.6 million fires during 2006. These fires caused 3,245 civilian deaths and 16,400 injuries, according to a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) report released September 10. The number of fires increased slightly by about 3% from 2005 to 2006 while fire deaths fell 12% and fire injuries were down by 8%. The total number of people that died from fires in 2006 (excluding firefighters) was the lowest since NFPA began collecting this data in 1977.

NFPA's study, Fire Loss in the United States During 2006, offers a detailed account of fire loss in 2006 and an analysis over time based on this new information. The annual snapshot of fire loss in the United States showed that every 19 seconds a fire department responded to a fire somewhere in the U.S. Someone died every two hours and 42 minutes from a fire, and someone was injured every 32 minutes. A fire occurred in a structure every minute, in a residence every minute and 16 seconds, and in a vehicle nearly every 2 minutes. Direct property loss from fires in 2006 was roughly $11 billion, an increase of 6% from 2005.

Learn more and read the full report on the NFPA web site at www.nfpa.org. NFPA has been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of this international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training and education.

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Melaku Alito has joined the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) staff as the Accounting Specialist. His position focuses on accounts payable and receivable, budget development, and audit preparation.

Alito comes to the NVFC after three years managing a $40 million budget with another nonprofit organization. He has a Masters in Finance and is well-versed in various accounting software programs.

"Melaku has tremendous accounting experience and makes a great addition to the NVFC staff," said Heather Schafer, Executive Director of the NVFC. "We are very pleased to have him join our team."

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Calendar of Events

Below is a list of events that the NVFC will be attending, as well as nationally recognized dates which the NVFC would like to acknowledge. 

Alaska State Firefighters Association Conference
September 26-28
Valdez Civic Center
Valdez, AK

National Preparedness Month
September

Fire Prevention Week
October 7-13

NVFC Fall Meeting
October 24-27
Providence, RI

FDIC
April 7-12, 2008
Indianapolis, IN

Firehouse Expo
July 22-27, 2008
Baltimore, MD

Fire-Rescue International
August 14-16, 2008
Denver, CO

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Support Those Who Support the Voice of the Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services

The NVFC relies on the assistance of its corporate and association partners to be able to provide a voice for the volunteer fire and emergency services in Washington. We encourage you to look at a list of our Corporate Members and support them with your business.

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Join the NVFC and support the voice of the volunteer. Find out more and join online at www.nvfc.org.