January 15, 2008
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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:
Fire Corps and Firewise Communities Program Release Firewise Toolkit Fire Corps and the National Fire Protection Association’s Firewise Communities program partnered to develop a Firewise toolkit. Getting Started With Firewise provides information about building and maintaining communities in a way that is compatible with our natural surroundings and can be used by Fire Corps teams across the nation to help protect property and natural resources from the threat of wildland fires. The toolkit can be ordered free-of-charge from the Fire Corps national office at 1-888-FC-INFO1 (324-6361) or info@firecorps.org. The national Firewise Communities program is a multi-agency effort designed to reach beyond the fire service by involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, and others in the effort to protect people, property, and natural resources from the risk of wildland fire. The program emphasizes community responsibility for planning and design of a safe community as well as effective emergency response, and individual responsibility for safer home construction and design, landscaping, and maintenance. Learn more about the Firewise Communities program and Fire Corps. Honor Your First Responders as a Serving Hero Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robins are looking for stories about people who serve their communities in times of need. Through the Serving Heroes program, civilians and members of the emergency community can thank their hero through recognition and a profile on the Serving Heroes web site. This is a great way to honor an emergency responder or Fire Corps member who has gone above and beyond in their service to the community during a time of need. Dayna Hilton, volunteer firefighter and Fire Corps Coordinator for Johnson County Rural Fire District (RFD) #1 in Clarksville, AR, was recognized as a Serving Hero for her endless dedication and commitment to serving her community through her local Fire Corps program. Hilton’s profile on the Serving Heroes web site notes that when Hilton came to RFD #1, the department averaged 30 minutes a year and had zero budget for fire prevention activities. With Arkansas 7th in the nation in fire-related civilian deaths and 11th in the nation in fire-related property loss, Hilton saw a clear need for more education and put her vision into action. Hilton registered RFD #1’s fire safety program with Fire Corps in March 2005 and called on local college students from the University of the Ozarks to assist with prevention efforts. Now with more than 100 members who have volunteered over 5,500 hours, the department's firefighters and Fire Corps members have enabled the department to experience a 34% decrease in fire-related property losses. Now you can honor a first responder, Fire Corps member, or other local hero by nominating them as a Serving Hero. Winners receive a year’s worth of free Dunkin’ Donuts coffee in addition to the profile on the Serving Heroes web site. The Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation helps to support emergency response organizations so they have the capacity and leadership to respond when our communities need them most. For more information and to nominate a Serving Hero, visit www.servingheroes.com. USFA Launches Smoking & Home Fires Campaign The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) launched a national Smoking & Home Fires Campaign on January 9 in Washington, DC. The goal of the campaign is to put an end to the leading cause of preventable home fire deaths: careless smoking. The campaign urges smokers to “Put it Out. All the Way. Every Time.” and reminds smokers and those who live with smokers that they must be alert because "Cigarettes don't know when you are asleep." Nationally, 23% (46 million) of adults are smokers, and in some states that percentage is as high as 28.7%. Each year, fires caused by cigarettes kill 700 to 900 people - smokers and nonsmokers alike. The Smoking & Home Fires Campaign warns about the dangers of careless smoking and urges smokers to go outside if they need to smoke. The USFA cautions that if smoking inside the home, people should use large ashtrays with a stable base and make sure to put the cigarette all the way out, especially if they are drowsy due to medicine or alcohol. Fire Corps teams can help spread these safety messages throughout their communities by utilizing USFA’s campaign materials, which include English and Spanish posters, brochures, fact sheets, public service announcements, PowerPoint presentations, a video of a smoking home fire demonstration, and more. The materials are available online and can be ordered by visiting www.usfa.dhs.gov/smoking. Macomb Township Fire Corps Honored with President’s Volunteer Service Award Macomb, MI
The Macomb Township Fire Department, located about an hour north of Detroit, MI, has a mission to help protect and serve their community through progressive training, organization, and teamwork. To build on its mission and further protect the 78,000 residents in the area, Fire Chief Robert Phillips established a Fire Corps program, calling on local community members to help with the department’s non-emergency tasks. Since registering with Fire Corps in April 2007, Macomb Township’s Fire Corps has grown to include 25 members who have donated over 750 hours, earning them the President’s Volunteer Service Award in January 2008. This award was established by President Bush to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. "I'm impressed with their enthusiasm and really appreciate their help," Chief Phillips said of the Fire Corps team in an interview with the Macomb Township Chronicle. Members participate in a wide array of tasks including fundraising, grant writing, special events, hose testing, traffic control, and fire safety education. Volunteers also produce monthly fire safety messages, have created public service announcements, and help archive and preserve department photos and other items of historical significance. One member applies her photography skills to capture on-scene pictures which the department uses later for training purposes. Members have adopted and initiated many department projects since the program’s inception, each led by a different Fire Corps member. These include preparing kits to help residents who have suffered a tragedy, performing child safety seat inspections, educating new parents about infant safety, and overseeing the creation of an emergency translation book. Macomb’s Fire Corps works closely with the local Community Emergency Response Team, which allows members to receive free training in areas of emergency response, such as CPR and first aid. The Fire Corps volunteers also receive in-depth training in different areas of safety and preparedness. The volunteers then spread these safety messages to other Macomb residents as well as utilize the information to become better prepared to handle emergency situations in their own homes and neighborhoods. When establishing the Macomb Fire Corps, internal organization was an important factor to ensure the success of the program. Chief Phillips appointed Sergeant Dwayne Thompson to head the program. After researching and assessing department and community needs, communicating with the Fire Corps national office, and networking with other successful Fire Corps programs across the nation, the department was ready to kick-start their program. Thompson established enrollment qualifications, background checks, and identification criteria and procedures to ensure safety for both the Fire Corps and department members. To recruit volunteers for the program, the department aired a video public service announcement on local television stations and released articles to local newspapers. Thompson recently obtained additional funding for the program and department from the Urban Area Security Initiative: Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides funding support to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk for an international terrorist attack. The money will be used to provide uniforms and training systems for Fire Corps members as well as purchase additional equipment for the department and township. Thompson is thrilled that Macomb’s Fire Corps members are being recognized for their dedication to the program through the President’s Volunteer Service Award. “Both the department and community have benefited from the work of our Fire Corps members. We are very thankful for the time they donate and the additional skills they bring to the department,” he said. To view Macomb Township’s Fire Corps and fire safety PSAs, visit www.macomb-mi.gov/Fire/FireHomePage.html. For more information on the Macomb Township Fire Corps program, contact Sgt. Dwayne Thompson at thompsond@macomb-mi.gov . 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. CFSI Showcase & Dinner Fire Department Instructor’s Conference (FDIC)
Firehouse Expo Fire Rescue International (FRI) NFPA’s Backyards and Beyond To be removed from this list please enter your email on the unsubscribe page. ^ Back to Top |
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