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news

CA fire injures one, causes $1 million in damage
Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif. (January 5, 2009)
2008 was rough year for firefighters in CT city
The Stamford Advocate, Stamford, Conn. (January 5, 2009)
PA crews battled row house fire for three hours
York Daily Record, Pa. (January 5, 2009)
Temporary fire station helps with VA insurance rates
The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Va. (January 5, 2009)
TX city settles retaliation lawsuit with firefighter
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services -- Unrestricted (January 5, 2009)
Paramedics give FL emergency doc a rare honor
South Florida Sun-Sentinel (January 5, 2009)
Three dead, three detained in English arson fire
United Press International (January 5, 2009)
Eight dead in Upstate NY fire
Associated Press (January 4, 2009)
NC firefighters hurt after car drives into wreck scene
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News (January 4, 2009)
St. Paul chief faces more challenges in 2009
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services -- Unrestricted (January 4, 2009)
Firefighters finally bring IN corncob blaze under control
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services -- Unrestricted (January 4, 2009)
Vigil marks memorial of fatal Graniteville train accident
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News (January 4, 2009)
OK firefighter dies when truck collides with son's vehicle
Tulsa World, Okla. (January 4, 2009)
Firefighters save former one-room school house in NY
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News (January 4, 2009)
Man struck, pinned in mishap near CA fire station
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News (January 4, 2009)

operations

Delaware firefighter killed in hit-and-run
Delaware City (DE) Fire Company Firefighter Michelle Smith, age 29, died from injuries sustained while assisting with patient care at the scene of a motorcycle accident on the side of a highway in New Castle, Delaware.

National Firefighter Near Miss Featured Report: How much are those doggies on the ledge...?
Sometimes, the reasoning aspect of firefighters' duty to act is lacking. In this week's report, first-arriving crews get into a situation that requires them to be removed by a better-equipped technical rescue team.

National Firefighter Near Miss Featured Report: What was that bang?
This week's Report of the Week is one of twelve on our site that describes the hazards of exploding lift struts.

ISO: Departments face challenges in staffing, recruiting, training, and accessing water
A recent independent survey of fire chiefs conducted by Opinion Research Corporation find most departments use mutual aid for additional personnel and nearly one in six departments have trouble with water access.

National Firefighter Near Miss Featured Report: In us they trust...
This week's highlighted report deals with communcations and staffing issues, describing a response by rural departments to a motor vehicle accident.

Entering Through the Door, Falling Through the Floor: Catastrophic Structural Collapse
A review of recent LODD incidents as well as some independent studies confirm the danger posed by lightweight construction. For fire service leaders, it's time to step up and confront this issue.

National Firefighter Near Miss Featured Report: Step one, fall two
This week's featured report from firefighternearmiss.com focuses on where equipment is located on an apparatus and the behavioral effect the location has on accessing the equipment.

government

Revised National Incident Management System announced
The Federal Emergency Management Agency released a revised National Incident Management System, expanding on the original version released in March 2004 by clarifying existing concepts, better incorporating preparedness and planning, and more.

Application deadline for NFA second semester classes looms
It's not too late to get your application in for National Fire Academy classes scheduled for April 1-September 30, 2009. Applications must be postmarked by December 31, 2008, in order to be considered for placement in second semester classes.

Dr. Denis Onieal to serve as acting deputy director of the United States Fire Administration
Dr. Denis Onieal, superintendent of the National Fire Academy, on January 20 will assume the duties as the acting deputy director of the United States Fire Administration.

USFA and IAFF release Voice Radio Communications Guide for the Fire Service
This joint USFA and IAFF manual provides updated information on communications technology and discusses critical homeland security issues and concepts, such as SAFECOM, that did not exist when the original USFA manual was first published.

NIOSH seeks input on revision of SCBA low-air indicator requirement
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is asking stakeholders for input on a revision of SCBA End of Service Time Indicator performance requirement. The deadline for comments is January 16, 2009.

NIST releases Final WTC 7 Report
Strengthened by clarifications and supplemental text suggested by organizations and individuals worldwide, the final report on the collapse of the ry World Trade Center building 7 on 9/11 was released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

National Fire Academy second semester application period is open
The National Fire Academy's Fiscal Year 2009 second semester application period opened on November 1 and runs through December 31.

health & safety

Exit lighting, emergency communication requirements in new International Fire Code
New requirements in the 2009 International Fire Code, such as seamless coverage of emergency radios inside and outside buildings and the requirement for special markings for emergency exits and stairwells, provide added protection to building occupants and emergency responders.

New anhydrous ammonia awareness campaign to launch in Canada
A training and awareness campaign directed at Canada's first responders has been created by the Fertilizer Safety and Security Council (FSSC) to support the reclassification of the well-known fertilizer anhydrous ammonia.

International Association of Fire Fighters launches high blood pressure awareness program
The initiative is designed to increase awareness of high blood pressure among IAFF members and encourage them to take action to manage their high blood pressure

National Firefighter Near Miss Featured Report: Firefighter down! This is no drill!
The attention focused on firefighter wellness is met with resistance in many areas of the fire service. This week's featured report discusses the impact that health and wellness play in every aspect of emergency service work

International Code Council codes and standards available via Web portal
Citation Technologies, Inc. and the International Code Council have joined forces to create a Web portal that allows efficient access to the Code Council's collection of international, state, and legacy codes and standard.

December 1 marks 50th anniversary of Our Lady of Angels School Fire
This fire, which left 95 dead and many others seriously injured and underscored inadequate building design in schools, is still one of the deadliest school fires in the history of the United States.

FAA and NTSB react to air medical crashes
The Federal Aviation Administration issues proposed changes to helicopter emergency medical services rules and the National Transportation Safety Board plans a three-day public hearing on EMS transportation safety.

did you know?

Well-known trauma surgeon, EMS pioneer killed on Christmas Day in Iraq
Dr. John P. Pryor, 42, a trauma surgeon and chief of critical care trauma at University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, died when a single mortar round fired blindly into the Mosul Air Base struck his sleeping quarters shortly after he attended Christmas Day mass.

New fire safety blog launched for public educators
Launched in October 2008, Firesafetyeducator.com provides fire and life safety educators a venue to share ideas with each other.

Dunkin' Brands Community Foundation awards grant to NVFC youth program
The Dunkin' Brands Community Foundation announced that it is awarding a grant to the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to support its National Junior Firefighter Program.

Sprinkler advocate Bill Corbin receives 2008 Henry S. Parmelee Award
Through industry, company and association work, Bill Corbin has proven to be a true advocate of fire protection and the fire sprinkler industry and was presented the American Fire Sprinkler Association's highest honor, the Henry S. Parmelee Award.

Firewise Leadership Awards for 2008 handed out
Throughout the country, the National Firewise Communities Program is recognizing outstanding individuals and organizations for their leadership in reducing wildfire risk.

Chiefs attend NFPA's Urban Fire Forum
Twenty fire chiefs from around the world participated in the National Fire Protection Association Urban Fire Forum in Quincy, Massachusetts, from October 23-26, 2008.

Beer company that benefits firefighters to debut in New York City
The mission-based Hook & Ladder Brewing Company gives back a portion of all sales to improve the care, treatment, and quality of life for burned firefighters and burn survivors and will make its NYC debut at the Brewtopia Festival (Pier 92, Oct. 31st - Nov. 1st).

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Corbett's Trivia

Corbett's Trivia
In what part of the school did the Our Lady of the Angels Fire (Chicago, 1958) begin?
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FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES

John C. Myers of the Union Chapel Volunteer Fire Department in Pittsburg, OK has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-01-03.
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