Saturday, May 17, 2008

Still No Certification Standard in Emergency Preparedness Plans 

The majority of U.S. companies have a formal, written plan for emergency preparedness, according to a report released by The Conference Board. But a widely adopted certification standard for such plans does not exist yet....

Contentious Past Calls Discipline into Question 

[ Philip Stittleburg ]

If disciplinary action involves an employee with a disciplinary record, be prepared to show why your action is justified based on the infraction at hand. ...

Higher Calling 

By Glen Mayhew & David Hoback

A Virginia department partnered with an allied-health college to create a degree and internship program for firefighter/paramedics....

Custom Frame 

By Elizabeth Enos

Dissecting a city’s EOP with a strategic frame analysis shows areas in need of improvement. ...

OIG: Hometown Heroes Benefits Improperly Denied 

The Office of the Inspector General has conducted a review of the Office of Justice Programs' implementation of the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act of 2003 in response to concerns expressed by several members of Congress that OJP was taking too long to process claims submitted under the act and that OJP's narrow interpretation of terms found in the act — in particular the phrases "non-routine stressful or strenuous physical activity" and "competent medical evidence to the contrary" might be resulting in a high rate of claims denials....

Firefighter Safety Bill Introduced in Senate 

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) introduced legislation that would promote compliance with consensus safety standards to reduce the number of firefighter fatalities. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) is the bill's cosponsor....

Four Fire Chiefs on the Move 

Two are named fire chief, one retires and one moves to another department....

Garry Briese Named FEMA's Region VIII Administrator 

Garry L. Briese joines the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as regional administrator for region VIII....

IAFF Publishes Recession Guide 

To help its affiliates prepare for and prevent proposed cuts in staffing, health care benefits, compensation, pension plans and other areas as a result of an economic downturn, the International Association of Fire Fighters has revised and published its Surviving An Economic Crisis guide. ...

A Fair Shake 

By Marc Bendick

A new study paints an unflattering picture of how women are treated in the fire service. ...

Mixing FIRE AND WATER 

By Nancy J. Rigg

Volunteer chiefs from around the country talk about building and sustaining water-rescue teams....

Find Balance Without the Quixotic Struggle 

[ Jim Wilson ]

Learn to choose battles wisely, commit to organizing each day, become skilled at making lists, become aware of modular time frames and, most of all, quit tilting at every spinning windmill. ...

Fireworks Rule no Dud 

By Rick Markley

The NFPA will consider dropping its five-year-old fireworks storage standard; this man is trying to keep it on the books. ...

County Group Plans to Restore Local/Federal Partnership 

Source: American City and County

The Washington-based National Association of Counties, in response to the high number of proposals it received during its recent legislative conference for legislative policies aimed at easing problems caused for local governments by some federal laws, has begun an initiative to repair the federal/local partnership....

Fire Engineers Draw Expert Speakers 

The Society of Fire Protection Engineers has lined up fire-protection experts from across the globe for its Annual Professional Development Conference and Exposition Oct. 12-17, in Charlotte, N.C....

Survey: Foreclosures Hurt City Revenue 

Source: American City and County

The increasing number of foreclosures across the country has led to a decline in revenue for one-third of cities responding to a recent poll by the Washington, D.C.-based National League of Cities. ...

National Grants Provide Turnout Gear 

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company and Morning Pride, a firefighting equipment manufacturer, announced will provide turnout gear to local fire departments through a new grant program....

Virtual Access To Executive Fire Officer Applied Research Projects 

The National Fire Academy is making available on the Internet more than 2,000 of its research projects from its Executive Fire Officer Program....

Wisconsin Adopts Latest NFPA Uniform Fire Code 

The National Fire Protection Association's NFPA 1 Uniform Fire Code was put into practice in Wisconsin on March 1....

Grant Application Period Open 

The Department of Homeland Security's Grant Programs Directorate is accepting applications for FY2008 Assistance to Firefighters Grants. ...

Speech Protected for Public Concern Matters 

[ David Comstock Jr. ]

Even the worst employee occasionally will come up with a great idea or an accurate observation that may involve constructive criticism. Chiefs must try to eliminate personalities from the equation and address issues on merit....

If Tradition Lacks, Create New Ones 

[ Bob Kolva ]

The department wasn’t finding new recruits. For a while, the department chalked the losses up to the national trend of declining volunteerism; then it took action....

Career Road Map 

By Hadden Culp

Having officers with résumés that show diversity provides organizations the opportunity to advance personnel into vacated positions....

Actual Savings 

By Philip Schaenman

Dollars saved measures a fire department’s effectiveness, but is hard to measure directly. The Navy can show you how....

Staffing Choices 

By Bruce Martin

Paying overtime is one of the ways to fill the seats without emptying the department’s pockets....

Fire Chief TV

Video Equipment
Demo Area