December 27, 2007
Welcome to the Fire Corps E-Update. Fire Corps is a locally-driven Citizen Corps program that allows community members to offer their time and talents to their local fire and EMS departments in non-operational roles. Fire Corps serves as a gateway to information for and about fire and EMS department programs and meets a citizen's desire to serve as well as a department's need for support.In this issue:
- Brian Williams Fire Corps PSA Available Online
- Fire Corps National Advisory Committee Meets
- Fire Corps Moves to New Offices
- Resolve to Be Ready 2008
- Grant Information Updated on Fire Corps Web Site
- Fire Corps Internship Opportunity
- Department Profile: Charlottesville Fire Corps
- Calendar of Events
Brian Williams Fire Corps PSA Available Online
Brian Williams, Anchor and Managing Editor of NBC Nightly News, recorded a video public service announcement (PSA) for Fire Corps. The 30-second spot informs the public that they can help their local fire and EMS departments by performing important non-emergency tasks.
“As a former volunteer firefighter, I know fire departments around this country need your help with fundraising, education, promotions, and other non-emergency tasks,” Williams says in the message. He then refers listeners to the Fire Corps web site at www.firecorps.org to learn more and to find a local program.
Williams donated his time and resources to develop the PSA, which is currently running on TV stations across the country. The PSA can also be viewed online on the Fire Corps web site at www.firecorps.org/files/documents/Brian-Williams-PSA-Only-One.mpg and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/NVFCCommunications. Consider linking your department or Fire Corps program web site to the PSA or submitting the PSA to your local television stations to help spread this important message.
Fire Corps National Advisory Committee Meets
The Fire Corps National Advisory Committee (NAC) met on December 7 in Washington, DC. Representatives from over 20 national fire and emergency service organizations as well as other prominent leaders in the industry came together to provide expertise and guidance for Fire Corps’ future activities and discuss the direction of the program.
Special guest speakers included Gregory Cade, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistant Administrator for the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), and Brock Bierman, Director of FEMA’s National Preparedness Directorate’s Community Preparedness Division and Small State and Rural Advocate. Cade thanked Fire Corps for its initiative to get community members involved in local fire and EMS departments and stressed USFA’s continued commitment to work with Fire Corps in order to reach the common goal of decreasing fire-related deaths and injuries across the nation. Bierman provided an update of Citizen Corps’ ongoing and future initiatives, emphasizing how important it is that emergency service leaders, like the Fire Corps NAC, are brought together to discuss preparedness and response issues so local communities may be better equipped for any emergency situation.
Melissa Speed, Fire Corps Director, updated the NAC of the progress Fire Corps has made since its last meeting. Melissa Hebert of the International Association of Fire Chiefs reported on the Fire Corps State Advocate Network. Currently Fire Corps has a Division Advocate for all seven divisions across the U.S. and 52 State Advocates covering 28 states. Lori Moon, Fire Corps Program Coordinator, spoke on new and future program resources; Steve Austin, NAC representative from the International Association of Arson Investigators and program manager for the Goshen Fire Company Traffic Control Assistant Program, discussed successful Fire Corps activities at the local level; and Nancy Kolb of Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS), provided an overview of the VIPS program.
“This has been a great year for Fire Corps and we anticipate 2008 being even stronger for the program,” said Speed. “The meeting was very beneficial and allowed the national office, the NAC, and other esteemed professionals the opportunity to communicate and network about Fire Corps and complement the program both locally and nationally,” she added.
Click here to view a list of organizations that comprise the Fire Corps NAC. Fire Corps is administered through a partnership between the National Volunteer Fire Council and the International Association of Fire Chiefs and is supported by several affiliate organizations including the United States Fire Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and Citizen Corps. For more information about Fire Corps, visit www.firecorps.org or email info@firecorps.org.
Fire Corps Moves to New Offices
New address takes effect immediately
Fire Corps has moved to new offices in Greenbelt, MD. Please update address books accordingly. Phone and fax numbers will remain the same. The new mailing address is:
Fire Corps
7852 Walker Drive
Suite 450
Greenbelt, MD 20770
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. Please direct any questions to 1-888-FC-INFO1 (324-6361) or info@firecorps.org.
Resolve to Be Ready 2008
U.S. residents have endured several tragedies over the past year, including the California wildfires and the Minneapolis Bridge Collapse. Disasters, natural or man-made, can strike at anytime and without warning. As the new year approaches, Fire Corps would like to encourage local programs and volunteers to make your 2008 resolution to be prepared for any unexpected situation.
There are many preparedness steps Fire Corps programs can take to ensure the safety and security of individuals in the community. Visit the Fire Corps web site at www.firecorps.org for free resources and information such as a Fire Prevention Module, National Preparedness Month Resource Center, Pandemic Influenza Resource Center, and more. Also visit the Ready Campaign web site at www.ready.gov or call 1-800-BE-READY for information on how to get a preparedness kit, make a plan, and stay informed on what to do in an emergency.
Grant Information Updated on Fire Corps Web Site
According to the Independent Sector, a leadership forum for charities, foundations, and corporate giving programs, the estimated dollar value of volunteer time was $18.77 per hour in 2006. Today almost 12,000 community members donate thousands of hours to volunteer in their local Fire Corps program, saving departments across the nation millions of dollars annually.
While Fire Corps is intended to be a low-cost program, there may be some costs associated with developing, implementing, and marketing your program - depending on the activities and initiatives you choose. Several grants and other funding resources are available to fire and EMS departments that can help you begin, support, and expand your Fire Corps efforts. Visit the Grant Information section on the Fire Corps web site at www.firecorps.org for updated information about funding ideas that may benefit your program and allow the department to provide supplemental services to the community.
Fire Corps Internship Opportunity Available
Fire Corps offers internship opportunities at the Fire Corps national office in Greenbelt, MD, located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Fire Corps seeks motivated students to work with and assist the Fire Corps Director in a variety of tasks. Responsibilities may include drafting letters or press releases, performing research, developing web site content, writing articles for the monthly e-newsletter, and assisting with special projects as needed. Interns will also be required to assist with administrative tasks such as making copies, helping with mailing/shipping of material, answering phones, and other assigned tasks.
Interning with Fire Corps has many benefits. While the internships are unpaid, students may be eligible to receive credit through their college or university. As part of a productive work environment, interns gain valuable, hands-on work experience while developing and refining skills necessary to advance their chosen career. Interns receive a commuting stipend of up to $100 per month.
Qualifications: Candidate must be a college student with sophomore status or above with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Excellent written and oral communications skills are required. Previous job or internship experience is preferred but not mandatory. Candidates do not have to be a Fire Corps member in a local program to apply.
For more information regarding Fire Corps internship opportunities, email info@firecorps.org or call 1-888-FC-INFO1. This internship opportunity is provided through the National Volunteer Fire Council, a non-profit membership association serving the interests of volunteer fire, rescue, and EMS personnel. Visit www.nvfc.org for more information.
Department Profile: Charlottesville Fire Corps, Charlottesville, VA
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| The Charlottesville Fire Corps hosted Las Posada at the Charlottesville Fire Department. |
Populations across the U.S. practice a variety of customs during the holiday season. While traditions may differ, a commonality among them is the gathering of friends and families to celebrate and appreciate one another. With this in mind, the Charlottesville Fire Corps decided to reach out to their community’s Spanish-speaking population and host Las Posada at their department, which is a Latin American fiesta translated as ‘inn’ or a place to take shelter.
Felipe Mendoza, a member of the Charlottesville Fire Corps Leadership Council, suggested Las Posada as a way to bring the Latino community into the fire station to familiarize them with the department, its apparatus, gear, and fire safety information. The event was organized entirely by Fire Corps members. The purpose of Las Posada was to build a better relationship between community members and department personnel. Linda Seaman, Charlottesville Fire Corps Director said, "We have a growing Hispanic community here in Charlottesville and it's important for our firefighters to become more familiar with the Hispanic culture and language so that they can better serve those citizens."
Sixty-five members of the Latino community, firefighters, and Fire Corps members attended Las Posada. The group was welcomed by Charlottesville Fire Chief Charles Werner. The night included singing, refreshments, piñatas, and Santa Claus, who was escorted by Chief Werner on a fire department vehicle. To make Las Posada possible, the Charlottesville community made many in-kind donations, including refreshments and the piñatas, for this event. Seaman said, “As our first event, we were pleased by the community support, press coverage, and great attendance. Next year we hope for even more participation.”
The Charlottesville Fire Department kick-started their program earlier this fall and registered with Fire Corps on October 18. Members provide a wide variety of non-emergency services to promote fire safety, support department operations, and advance community awareness. In a recent interview with reporters, Fire Chief Charles Werner said, “Fire Corps volunteers will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our firefighters. It is a great way for people to support our work and make a real difference in the community.”
With the program in its early stages, Chief Werner has appointed a six-member Leadership Council to assess the needs of the department and community and plan the group’s activities accordingly. Fire Corps will help with educational programming to promote fire safety for senior citizens and children, increase awareness of a smoke detector program, recruit foreign language translators, write grants, and perform other special projects. In the coming months, Charlottesville Fire Corps hopes to recruit more members to provide additional support and expand the department’s services. Seaman added that Fire Corps is seeking volunteers with a wide variety of skills. “We will match the volunteers’ skills and time availability to the needs of the fire department. Our goal is to provide outreach, education, and communication to the Charlottesville community and support for the city’s firefighters.”
For more information on the Charlottesville Fire Corps, email Linda Seaman at Linda@LindaSeaman.net or visit the Fire Corps web site at www.firecorps.org.
Calendar of Events
Below is a list of events, conferences, conventions, and shows that Fire Corps staff will be attending, as well as nationally recognized dates which Fire Corps would like to acknowledge.
Fire Department Instructor’s Conference (FDIC)
April 7-12, 2008
Indianapolis, IN
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) World Safety Conference and Exposition
June 2-5, 2008
Las Vegas, NV
Firehouse Expo
July 22-27, 2008
Baltimore, MD
Fire Rescue International (FRI)
August 14-16, 2008
Denver, CO
