May 16, 2008 - The following was submitted by the State Fire Marshal's Office
OLYMPIA -- Fire season is quickly approaching and homeowners in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) should begin thinking about performing a Wildfire Hazard Assessment. Hazard assessments are an important tool in fire prevention and aid in protecting homes and property. Several aspects of the home and property are evaluated and points assigned to each hazard--the higher the hazard, the higher the number of points. The points are then tallied and the level of risk is determined by the score. Hazard categories are typically low, moderate, high and extreme.
Interface homeowners have several factors to consider when mitigating the wildfire hazard to their home. Examples below are optimum to create a low-hazard "firewise" home:
Building Construction:
Landscape:
Means of Access:
For more information on Wildfire Hazard Assessments, please contact your local fire department or visit the Firewise website at www.firewise.org.
May 14, 2008 -- The following was submitted by the Department of Natural Resources
OLYMPIA -- The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is opening the application period for the Firefighter Property Program until June 30, 2008. This program provides fire departments with vehicle chassis to be converted into wildland fire engines or water tenders. Unlike the Federal Excess Property Program, vehicles obtained through Firefighter Property are not on loan, but rather titled and owned by the fire department. DNR competitively screens for these chassis on a daily basis and secures them from military installations throughout the lower 48 states. All costs associated for transport and conversion are the responsibility of the awarded fire department. Fire departments may obtain one vehicle per year and may apply again if they currently have a chassis obtained through the program that has been placed in service. Application does not guarantee that a chassis will be awarded. Fire districts that applied in the 1st round in January 2008 and did not receive a chassis are asked to contact our office to update their application and to verify that they still want to participate.
ELIGIBILITY: All publicly funded Washington Fire Protection Districts and Departments are eligible but priorities have been established by DNR for acquiring and awarding vehicles.
1. Newly formed fire districts.
2. Fire districts sharing joint protection responsibility with the DNR.
3. Fire districts having a current Fire Response Agreement with the DNR.
4. All other districts having a wildland fire responsibility.
Vehicle Allocation Priorities
1. Chassis suitable for conversion to engines ICS Type 3 through 6.
2. Chassis suitable for conversion to water tenders ICS Type 1 through 3.
3. Allocation of ICS Type 1 and 2 engines will be on a case by case basis and dependent on emergent need or new district formation.
You may download the brochure, application and program fact sheet below for further details and application information.
Brochure
Terms & Conditions
Application
May 14, 2008 - The following was submitted by the State Fire Marshal's Office
OLYMPIA -- On May 6, 2008, Deputy State Fire Marshal Lyall Smith received a "Real Heroes" award from the Red Cross. For the past 16 years Lyall has been a volunteer firefighter with the Tumwater Fire Department and manages the Tumwater Volunteer Firefighter program. Lyall combines his singing talent with firefighting to perform and educate children and adults about fire safety as the "Singing Firefighter." He also leads and organizes the Tumwater Fire Department's Santa Caroling Engine events and coordinates the delivery of cash and food donations to the Thurston County Food Bank.
"We are proud of the work Lyall has done to help his community. He serves as an example to others by demonstrating generosity and humility. He is well deserving of this award," says State Fire Marshal Mike Matlick. In addition to the work Lyall has done through the Tumwater Fire Department, he takes the lead on the annual "Adopt-a-Family" drive sponsored by the Fire Protection Bureau.
May 1, 2008 - The following is information forwarded by WFCA Region 6 Board member Mark Thompson of South King Fire & Rescue
Commissioner Thompson received the information linked below, on the value of volunteer time, from the Washington Daily Dispatch sent by the Western Fire Chiefs Association. He wanted to share this information with members who may be interested in it, since many may be planning lid lifts, etc., and they can also use the information in their annual reports:
www.independentsector.org/programs/research/volunteer_time.html
April 24, 2008 - The following was submitted by Chief Jack Andren, Central Pierce Fire & Rescue
Tacoma, WA -- We are pleased to announce that effective July 1, 2008 the Washington Survey and Rating Bureau has re-rated Central Pierce Fire & Rescue from a fire protection classification of Class 4 to a Class 3.
The Board of Fire Commissioners, administrative staff and all the members of Central Pierce have worked very hard to achieve this goal. Our greatest gains were in Fire Department operations and Water Supply. In our last rating in 2002 we had at total of 1863 deficiency points, we improved to 1479 deficiency points.
April 15, 2008 - The following was submitted by the State Fire Marshal's Office
Olympia, WA -- The 2008-09 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) Grant application period is now open. The Office of the State Fire Marshal is inviting applications for funding to support increased participation in the NFIRS program with Washington State. Total funds available are $55,000.
Application can be downloaded at http://www.wa.gov/wsp/fire/data/nfirs.htm. Application deadline is June 1, 2008.
For more information, please contact Deputy State Fire Marshal Melissa Gannie at 360.596.3917.
April 15, 2008 - The following was submitted by the State Fire Marshal's Office
Olympia, WA -- Weather conditions can sometimes increase the risk of wildland fires. The weather factors that contribute the most to starting fires and fire spread include low humidity, low precipitation, high winds, warm temperatures and lightning. The threat of summer thunderstorms often puts firefighters on the alert. Humidity can be so low that when rain falls, it evaporates before reaching the ground -- flashes of lightning can strike the ground and start fires in dry woods and ground cover with no rain to extinguish or slow the blazes.
Skywarn Weather Spotters are a team of volunteers, trained to observe and report significant weather, who support their local community and emergency managers by providing the National Weather Service (NWS) with timely and accurate severe weather reports. Spotter reports, when integrated with all available weather information sources, help forecasters detect hazardous weather and reinforce NWS warning messages. The NWS, media and emergency managers use these reports to encourage people to take proper action and get themselves, their family, their pets and livestock out of harm's way.
If you are interested in becoming a spotter, regional NWS offices and Emergency Management conduct training classes throughout the year. Volunteers are trained to recognize and report significant weather, enhancing information quality. There are many upcoming classes scheduled in the spring around the state. The class is two hours and participants will receive a training certificate upon completion. For more information and to find a local training class, go to www.weather.gov; click on your region and then the spotter training link to view the schedule.
To report fires, please call 9-1-1.
April 1, 2008 - The following was submitted by Melissa Gannie of the State Fire Marshal's Office
Olympia, WA -- The 2007 Fire in Washington Annual Report is now available on the web at www.wsp.wa.gov/fire/data/nfirs.htm.
"The Fire in Washington represents a partnership between state and local organizations working together to improve the safety in our state through the collection of fire-related incident data," says State Fire Marshal Michael Matlick. This report summarizes the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) information reported by the Washington State Fire Service. NFIRS is an all-incident reporting system that aids in identifying the fire problem.
"Collectively, we continue to improve the timeliness of the NFIRS information available to at the state level in Washington. With this information we can tailor fire prevention efforts to target the leading fire causes and arm decision makers with accurate information about the fire problems facing our communities. Each fire agency can help by submitting NFIRS data monthly to nfirs@wsp.wa.gov," adds Fire Marshal Matlick.
For more information or if you have questions about NFIRS, please contact Deputy State Fire Marshal Melissa Gannie at 360.596.3917.
March 25, 2008 - The following was submitted by the State Fire Marshal's Office
Olympia, WA -- In an effort to provide more current National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) statistical information, the Office of the State Fire Marshal has created a new webpage that will be updated monthly. You will find the reporting status for each fire agency, a summary of incident type categories, and fire fatalities as reported by the Washington State Fire Service. Visit http://www.wsp.wa.gov/fire/data/nfirs.htm and then click on the 2008 Reporting Status and Summary Reports link.
Assistance is needed by every fire agency in Washington State to make this webpage a place where the most current statewide NFIRS information can be found.
Submit Monthly to nfirs@wsp.wa.gov.
Together...we can to make Washington State's NFIRS program a premier source for reliable, accurate, and timely fire-related information. Below is how you can help:
Institute an incident report review process within your department to ensure the most accurate information is reflected in your agency's NFIRS data. Ensure fire investigation findings are incorporated into fire incident reports to include the heat source, area of origin, and cause of ignition.
Report all fire fatalities to NFIRS. If your agency did not conduct the fire investigation, it may be necessary to contact the lead organization to obtain any information needed to accurately complete the Civilian Fire Casualty Module. In addition, please complete the Fire Fatality Report Form within two business days of the incident and submit it to melissa.gannie@wsp.wa.gov.
After the state processes your data, review the results and make any necessary corrections. When records are corrected, updated, or changed, be sure to re-submit!
Support at the Office of the State Fire Marshal is just an email or phone call away. If you have questions or need assistance with any aspect of the NFIRS program, please contact Deputy State Fire Marshal Melissa Gannie, melissa.gannie@wsp.wa.gov, 360.596.3917.
By Richard Yukubousky, MRSC Executive Director
The Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) is a non-profit organization created in 1969 to continue programs established in 1934 at the University of Washington. In 1997, Washington counties joined cities in funding MRSC, and in 2007, special districts were added when the state legislature created and funded a small pilot program. Our mission is "working together for excellence in local government through professional consultation, research and information services."
The MRSC website (www.mrsc.org) is a storehouse of more than 200,000 documents relating to local government in Washington State. This site contains weekly news, sample documents, responses to common questions received by MRSC, state statutes and administrative rules, court decisions, and more! Nearly 500,000 local officials, state officials, and citizens currently visit our site every month. Many local officials tell us that the site has become their first stop for local government information.
A principal service of the Municipal Research and Services Center is to respond to inquiries by providing advice and information about local government. MRSC has been specifically directed to respond to written legal inquires on governance questions from special purpose districts. The most effective way to get started is to go to the MRSC website (www.mrsc.org) and select "Research Request" under the Research Tools heading on the main navigation menu.
All MRSC publications completed since 1993 are on the web and may be downloaded. (See http://mrsc.org/publications/mrscpubs.aspx.) While most publications have not yet been updated to address issues unique to special districts, many of them contain information that is relevant to special purpose districts. We have updated Knowing the Territory--Basic Legal Guidelines for Washington City, County and Special Purpose District Officials. It contains an overview of the key legal doctrines that apply to elected local government officials, specifically Open Public Meetings Act, Public Records Act, Conflict of Interest, Appearance of Fairness and so on.
MRSC staff is available to assist with training. These events will be scheduled in cooperation with the special district associations. The focus of this training will be key legal doctrines such as those mentioned above. Please feel free to contact us:
Municipal Research and Services Center
2601 4th Avenue, Suite 800
Seattle, WA 98121-1280
206.625.1300
206.625.1220 Fax
www.mrsc.org
February 29, 2008 - The following was submitted by the State Fire Marshal's Office
Olympia, WA -- Novelty lighters are a growing concern in the fire community due to their likeness to toys and lack of child-resistant ignition. If one of these devices gets into the wrong hands, there can be devastating consequences.
With the release of the 2008 NFIRS specification by the United States Fire Administration, fires started by novelty lighters can now be clearly documented in the program.
You will find Novelty Lighters in the Fire Module under the Equipment Involved in Ignition field: 877 Novelty Lighter.
Each fire agency is encouraged to educate their personnel on the importance of entering essential data into NFIRS and institute a review process to ensure the most accurate information is entered and reported. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission regularly reviews NFIRS data reported to the national level in an effort to identify trends. Products such as children's sleepwear and household appliances have been made safer as a result of the information made available through NFIRS.
If your fire agency has questions or needs assistance with NFIRS, please contact Deputy State Fire Marshal Melissa Gannie at melissa.gannie@wsp.wa.gov or at 360.753.0523.
January 24, 2008 - The following is information forwarded by WFCA Region 6 Board member Mark Thompson of South King Fire & Rescue
Fairfax, VA -- The U.S. Fire Administration reports that there were 116 line-of-duty deaths in 2007 and is already reporting--only shortly into the new year--11 line of duty deaths in 2008. The IAFC is committed to working with our members and other fire service organizations to reduce preventable firefighter fatalities and injuries. The IAFC offers the following tools and resources to help every member of the fire service contribute to a safer 2008.
National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System: Continues to Gain Momentum
The number of fire departments incorporating the National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System into their safety and training programs continues to grow. The Safety Command of the Fire Department of New York recently issued a memo encouraging its members to use www.firefighternearmiss.com. Assistant Chief Al Hay, Chief of Safety, said, "Familiarization with this website will help promote discussions on near-miss incidents as well as other safety concerns."
With a number of new resources available, now is the time to fully embrace this safety initiative by making this program part of your recruit schools, company-officer training, safety drills and other fire-department activities.
A limited number of the free 2008 Near-Miss Safety Calendar and accompanying training CD are still available. Email nearmiss@iafc.org to request copies. Please include the number of calendars and CDs you are requesting along with the address to where they should be shipped.
Look for the newly redesigned website being launched in February and the 2007 Annual Report in the February issue of FireRescue Magazine. The annual report features analysis of reports on maydays, PPE, traffic blocking, truss construction and flashover incidents.
Fire/EMS Safety Support System
Last month, the IAFC and the Safety, Health and Survival Section announced the launch of the new Fire/EMS Safety Support System, which includes the monthly Take 5 Safety Drills, Safety Week (formerly the Safety Stand Down) and the Priority Survival Notifications, This set of tools offers a strong foundation for you to continue building your safety program for 2008.
Take 5 for Safety: www.iafc.org/shs.
12 Steps to Reduce LODDs in 2008
The IAFC's Safety, Health and Survival Section Chair, Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder, offers 12 recommendations to reduce LODDs in 2008. According to Goldfeder, by acting on these recommendations, we can begin to reduce firefighter line of duty deaths by 75 percent or more. You can read the 12 steps at www.iafcsafety.org.
If we want to reduce the number of injuries and death in the fire and emergency service, we must change the problematic, injury-causing culture and related behaviors. Using these tools can help us accomplish this huge, but achievable, goal.
Chief Jim Shields (Poulsbo Fire Department) Retirement Celebration.
New website launched for WFCA Health Care Program.
The Chelan Seminar is May 31st!
