E-Update Archive
December 5, 2007
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December 5, 2007 | |
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In this issue:
NVFC Moves to New Offices New address takes effect December 8 The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is moving to new offices in Greenbelt, MD, on December 8. Members are advised to update their address books accordingly. The phone and fax numbers will remain the same. The new mailing address is: National Volunteer Fire Council The new office space is located just outside of Washington, DC, and is still accessible to the nation’s capital and the Metro transit system. The NVFC has been growing, and additional staff has lead to the need for expanded office space. At the same time, the cost for office space is much more affordable outside of the DC city limits. Please be aware that there potentially could be brief periods of interrupted phone and email service in the days surrounding the move. We apologize for any inconvenience you may encounter during this period and appreciate your patience. Please direct any questions to 888-ASK-NVFC (275-6832) or nvfcoffice@nvfc.org. Special Member Update: NVFC Receives Grant from Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation Grant Will Support the National Junior Firefighter Program The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) received a $389,000 grant from the Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation to support the National Junior Firefighter Program. The NVFC was one of three organizations to receive a grant from the Foundation this year. Read full article. Nation’s First Responders Unite for Safer, Quicker Clearance of Traffic Incidents In an unprecedented show of unity among highway agencies, emergency medical professionals, firefighters, tow truck operators, and 9-1-1 call centers, nineteen national organizations announced the launch of the National Unified Goal (NUG) for Traffic Incident Management on November 20. The major objectives of the NUG are to address responder safety; safe, quick clearance; and prompt, reliable, interoperable communications. The NUG was developed by the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition (NTIMC), of which the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is a member. The NVFC Board of Directors adopted the NUG for Traffic Incident Management at its Spring Meeting on March 31. “The safety of our nation’s first responders is paramount to our mission,” said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. “Every year firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and other traffic incident responders are killed or injured during roadside emergency scenes. The National Unified Goal is a move in the right direction to improve communication and coordination among responders, as well as urge drivers to slow down and move over when they pass emergency scenes.” Through the NUG, the leading national responder organizations pledged to work together to improve communication and coordination at crash scenes in order to minimize factors that can delay road clearance. In turn, the responders are asking motorists to slow down and move over when they approach traffic incident scenes, in order to reduce the number of responders injured and killed from being struck by passing vehicles while working at crash scenes, and to enable the responders to re-open travel lanes quicker. Federal Highway Administrator J. Richard Capka congratulated NTIMC on its leadership in developing the National Unified Goal, and underscored the importance of safe, quick crash clearance. "Traffic congestion is one of the single largest threats to the nation's economic prosperity and way of life, and costs the United States an estimated $200 billion per year," Capka said. “Traffic incidents account for about one-quarter of all congestion on U.S. roadways. For every minute that a freeway travel lane is blocked during a peak travel period, four minutes of travel delay results after the incident is cleared. More efficient traffic incident management will reduce congestion and protect travelers and responders.” Learn more about the National Unified Goal at http://nvfc.org/files/documents/2007proposednug207.pdf. Reynolds American Inc. Announces Product-wide Switch to “Fire-Safe” Cigarettes R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company recently announced that it will manufacture all of its cigarette brands using “fire-safe” technology, a move applauded by the Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes, of which the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is a member. Cigarette-ignited fires are the leading cause of residential fire deaths. Each year in the U.S., 700 to 900 people die in cigarette-ignited fires. One quarter of those people killed – often including children and the elderly – are not the smoker. “Fire-safe” cigarettes are designed to self-extinguish if dropped or left unattended, reducing the chance of starting a fire. They are less likely to ignite clothing, bedding, or other material. “Fire-safe cigarettes save lives,” said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. “While I am glad this step has finally been taken by R.J. Reynolds, all cigarette manufacturers should be producing only fire-safe cigarettes. We urge manufacturers to switch to this technology and we continue our campaign to encourage states to pass laws requiring these standards.” Since its launch in March 2006 by the National Fire Protection Association, the Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes has called for cigarette manufacturers to produce and market only cigarettes that adhere to established cigarette fire safety performance standards. The Coalition is also working to see that these standards for fire-safe cigarettes are required in every state in the country. To date, 22 states have passed fire-safe cigarette laws. The Coalition includes fire service members; medical and public health practitioners; advocates for consumers, the elderly, and people with disabilities; and other groups. For more information, visit www.firesafecigarettes.org. Apply Now for USSTC Operation Ranger Program Applications Deadline is December 28 The U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company’s (USSTC) is now accepting applications for 2008 Polaris Ranger 6x6 utility vehicles through its Operation Ranger program. Applications and supporting materials must be postmarked by December 28 to be considered. Download the application at www.ustinc.com/corp_giving/operation.asp. Entering its sixth year as USSTC’s signature community relations initiative, Operation Ranger assists America’s emergency first responders by donating versatile utility vehicles to worthy organizations across the country. USSTC provided nearly 70 Rangers to fire-rescue, police, emergency medical services, emergency management, and wildlife law enforcement organizations in 2007, and has awarded more than 330 off-road vehicles nationwide since late 2002. In the past year, USSTC-donated vehicles have helped battle wildfires in Georgia and California and provide tornado relief in Florida and Kansas, among hundreds of other uses. The company hopes to award at least 60 vehicles throughout 2008. Learn more and download the application. Law Firm Serves as Resource for Fire and Emergency Services Venable LLP, a law firm that specializes in providing legal counsel to nonprofit organizations, including fire departments and state fire associations, has strengthened its commitment to the emergency services by joining the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) as an Advocate level Corporate Member. Venable provides legal counsel to the NVFC and also has provided legal services to other national fire service organizations, including the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Congressional Fire Services Institute. “We are excited to welcome Venable as a Corporate Member to our organization,” said Heather Schafer, Executive Director of the NVFC. “Their support, along with all of our corporate partners, allows us to continue to effectively empower firefighters and EMS personnel.” With more than 600 nonprofit clients nationwide, Venable has one of the largest concentrations of attorneys providing counseling and advocacy for trade associations, professional societies, and other nonprofit organizations. They offer assistance in matters of general nonprofit law, as well as in matters unique to the firefighting and emergency medical service industry. Venable’s lawyers are also deeply immersed in the nonprofit industry they represent, serving as frequent authors, speakers and commentators on nonprofit legal issues, and serving on scores of industry boards and committees. For more information on Venable’s nonprofit practice, including how to contact the group for legal advice, visit www.venable.com/associations. For an index of 150+ articles on a wide array of nonprofit legal topics, visit www.venable.com/associations/publications. Third Edition of Propane Emergencies Textbook and Facilitator’s Guide Now Available The Propane Emergencies (PE) program has grown significantly since its inception in 1998, from a single textbook to a comprehensive training program adopted by 27 state firefighter training agencies and propane marketers. It continues to be the benchmark by which many other hazardous materials training programs are measured. The third edition Propane Emergencies textbook and Facilitator’s Guide are now available. “Providing firefighters with the tools and knowledge base to do their jobs safely and effectively is a goal of the propane industry,” said Carlton Revere, Vice President, Revere Gas & Appliance (Hartsfield, VA). “The third edition of Propane Emergencies is a continuation of the industry’s efforts to reach this goal. The new edition provides improved tools, such as a section on mitigating rollover incidents and container damage assessment, to name a few. The text has also for the first time been printed in color to increase the learning experience. We encourage the firefighter community to use this new material and partner with a local propane marketer to get their personnel trained.” Written by Michael S. Hildebrand and Gregory G. Noll, the textbook is targeted to firefighters and members of Hazardous Materials Response Teams, propane marketers, propane industry product and container specialists, and private or emergency response contractors. The textbook describes how to safely respond to propane emergencies and covers standards, codes, and regulations; physical properties and characteristics of propane; non-bulk and bulk container design and construction features; bulk transportation design and construction features; bulk plants and bulk storage tanks; general emergency response procedures; tactical response guidelines for propane emergencies; product removal; and transfer and recovery operations. The companion Propane Emergencies 3rd Edition Facilitator Guide is in a CD/DVD format that, among other things, includes information and tips on how to provide propane emergencies training; power point program; and emergency response scenarios. The DVD provides video instruction on hazard and risk evaluation, selection of personal protective equipment, implementing response objectives, and more. 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. Fire Corps National Advisory Committee Meeting Annual Apparatus Specification and Vehicle Maintenance Symposium NVFC Spring Meeting CFSI Dinner FDIC Firehouse Expo Fire-Rescue International 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. Join the NVFC and support the voice of the volunteer. Find out more and join online at www.nvfc.org. 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