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JOURNAL Fire & Rescue A publication of the North Carolina Department of Insurance Office of State Fire Marshal OSFM’s Steve Sloan Makes Second Trip to Oman Advises Country’s Leadership About Fire Service Training Programs Spring 2007 What’s Hot Inside Last fall, Deputy Director of the Fire and Rescue Commission Steve Sloan received an invitation he couldn’t pass up — to travel to the Middle Eastern country of Oman, at the expense of the country’s Fire Safety Engineering College (FSEC), to provide the school’s management team with a North American perspective on their operations. This would be Sloan’s second trip to Oman to assist the country’s leaders with improving their fire service. He traveled with one other Westerner, Rick McCullough, the fire commissioner of Saskatchewan, Canada. Together they offered a detailed review of Oman’s Fire Officer development program, which recently underwent extensive faculty changes and a significant increase in attendance levels. Oman, a Sultanate of the Southeast Arabian Peninsula and an ally of the United States, is located on the Gulf of Oman. The Fire Safety Engineering College is located in the country’s capital of Muscat, a city of some three million. The college management team wants to continue to develop a North American influence in their curriculum and delivery process, and while this was not an official site visit, Sloan’s experience with the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) earned him the invitation. In fact, it was during last year’s September meeting of IFSAC that T. Madhaven Kutty, managing director of College, invited Sloan and McCullogh for a visit. Sloan’s expertise was particularly valued because of his involvement with Unified Command and Control, his certification experience and his frequent trips representing IFSAC as a Site Team Leader conducting site visits both nationally and internationally. Sloan first visited Oman as the IFSAC Site Team Leader in 2003, when the FSEC first applied for accreditation for Firefighter I and II, Airport Firefighter, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Hazardous Materials Operations. All of those programs were recommended for approval and later approved by the Certificate Assembly Board of Governors. FSEC’s Kutty wanted more of Sloan’s input on their facility and training programs. Some of the agenda items for the trip were vocational training/certification training, fire officer development and training, the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and four-year degree programs. The vocational training/ certification training issues were numerous and offered interesting options, including fire and rescue certification and degree issues that impacted their four-year degree program. The degree program is a collaborative arrangement between the University of Central Lancashire and Oman’s Fire Safety Engineering College. This arrangement allows students from the Gulf region to earn a four-year degree locally. Fire officer development and training was another area of interest. The FSEC has accepted the challenge of training firefighters from the entire Gulf area. This includes not only Oman, but Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Iraq. Iraq, for example, had to almost totally rebuild their fire service. Firefighter level training was implemented about a year ago and officer training has now begun continued on page 4... Awards of Excellence at 2007 FLSE Conference....................3.......................................................2007 Calendar of Events N.C. Weekend at National Fire Academy................................5..........................................................................Gateway VII OSFM Welcomes Four New Employees...................................6.......... Inspection Tips: Preparing for a Water Haul Inspection The Draper Inn Fire of 2006...................................................8 Life Fire Qualification Classes.............................................. 11..............................Notify OSFM of Life Fire Training Events Shown is the entrance to the Fire Safety Engineering College Administration Building in the capital city of Muscat. The FSEC Management Team lead by Director T. Madhaven Kutty (pictured second from the left). To the right of Kutty are Rick McCullough and Steve Sloan. The Fire & Rescue Journal From the Commissioner’s Desk I hope you had a chance to read the article in the Fall 2006 issue of the Journal that discussed the new Autism Recognition and Response course now offered by OSFM. The coursework, which was reviewed and approved by the Autism Society of North Carolina, will teach students how to recognize the characteristics of autism in the event that they encounter an autistic person while responding to an incident. The Fall article discussed some of the difficulties emergency responders may face when dealing with a person who has autism or a related condition — often unbeknownst to the responder. It said, “Due to the widely varying behaviors and sensory processes, it is difficult to know exactly how someone with autism will react or respond in an emergency situation. That is why training first responders is vital in today’s society.” The article went on to explain how the new class will “educate the responder on recognizing a person with autism and, in turn, help them discern between an autistic person and someone who has had too much alcohol or has been using drugs. It will explain the best approaches to use in emergency situations in order to alleviate risks to both the responder and the autistic individual.” I am pleased that OSFM has taken a proactive role by providing this important class to emergency responders. Autism is the second most common development disability following mental retardation, and it’s estimated that one out of every 166 people born today has some form of Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD). As an emergency responder, it’s imperative for your safety and the safety of others in an emergency situation that you know how to handle victims with special needs. The class will teach you a basic understanding of autism and how to identify the different behavioral symptoms and characteristics of a child or an adult who has autism. Each person affected with autism is an individual and has a unique personality and combination of characteristics — this is a critical point to understand because no two autistic individuals will act the same or display the same characteristics and capabilities. The class will also detail response techniques and considerations such as the environmental and rescue considerations of autistic individuals as well as the basic response techniques to employ. I encourage you to take this new course, and just like with other training programs, the autism course will better equip you for responding to emergency situations. Autism Class Provides Valuable Insight by Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Jim Long I am pleased that OSFM has taken a proactive role by providing this important class to emergency responders. JOURNAL Fire & Rescue A publication of the North Carolina Department of Insurance Office of State Fire Marshal Published by the North Carolina Department of Insurance Office of State Fire Marshal, funded by a grant from the North Carolina Association of Insurance Agents, Inc. Jim Long, Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Wayne Goodwin, Assistant Commissioner Tim Bradley, Senior Deputy State Fire Marshal Chrissy Pearson, Editor Chris Best and Kristin Milam, Contributing Editors NCDOI OSFM 1202 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1202 (919) 661-5880 www.ncdoi.com/osfm Spring 2007 In an effort to recognize individuals, organizations and programs making a difference in preventing devastating fire and burn injuries and deaths within North Carolina, the Fire and Life Safety Educators have reinstated the annual Awards of Excellence. The award winners were announced during a banquet at the 31st Annual Fire and Life Safety Education Conference held at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville. Each region was responsible for selecting the winners based on involvement in the region and magnitude of the program nominated. New to the awards was the Lifetime Achievement Award. The first person to receive this award was B.T. Fowler. Fowler has been a fixture in the Fire and Life Safety community since the inception of these programs. Though he was unable to attend this year’s conference due to illness in the family, he was presented with a clock engraved with “Lifetime Achievement Award, B.T. Fowler, 50 Years of Dedication and Achievement in Fire & Life Safety Education, February 5, 2007.” An engraved Lifetime Achievement plaque will also be displayed in the lobby of the North Carolina Department of Insurance Office of State Fire Marshal office. This plaque will be updated yearly with the Lifetime Achievement recipient names. Dolly Hulin with Thomasville Fire Department received the Central Region Award of Excellence. Hulin is always willing to teach, and she touches the lives of the people in Thomasville while on- and off-duty. Thomasville citizens have said that Hulin is more than an educator to their community — she is a part of the Thomasville family. Not only is Hulin active in her community, but also in programs and projects across the state. Those who know her say that when Hulin talks about life safety education, her eyes sparkle with a passion that comes from the heart. It is obvious that Hulin loves her work. Terri Byers and Terry Malone were awarded the Western Regional Award of Excellence. Terri Byers with Hickory Fire Department is once again showing why she is a leader in education. After being asked to work on this year’s conference committee, Byers took a leadership role and has worked many long hours on getting classes and workshops scheduled. She continues to be an advocate for changes and innovations in fire and life safety education and has demonstrated a great knack for fund raising. Byers uses this experience while mentoring others who need help. Terry Malone with Weaverville Fire Department also received the award in recognition of his work rewriting lesson plans with OSFM. Malone’s wealth of knowledge proved to be a great inspiration to educators in this state, and he shared that knowledge with the OSFM staff. He spent many hours rewriting lesson plans for the Fire and Life Education Certification program. The Eastern Regional Award of Excellence was awarded to Greenville Fire/Rescue for implementing a new program. The new “Clown Brigade” was initiated this year. “Bunkerz,” “Squirt” and “Safe-T” are characters that have taught updated fire and life safety messages to the children and adults in Greenville. The Clown Brigade has conducted countless hours training and preparing to be effective in this new mission, most of which spilled into their personal time. They are enthusiastic, committed and hardworking in their mission of making sure no topic is left out when it comes to fire and life safety. Congratulations to these deserving individuals and groups who have worked hard to make a difference in their community and across the state. Awards of Excellence Return During 31st Annual Fire and Life Safety Education Conference in Asheville From left, Charlie Ray Peaden, Frank Conklin, and Donnie Hardee of the Greenville Clown Troop – Central Region Award of Excellence winners; Ryan Merrill, chair of Eastern Region FLSE Council. From left, Terry Malone – Western Region Award of Excellence winner; Ryan Cole, chair of Western Region FLSE Council; Terri Byers – Western Region Award of Excellence winner. From left, Dolly Hulin – Central Region Award of Excellence winner; Tommy Curry, chair of Central Region FLSE Council. June 21–23 North Carolina Association of Rescue Squads and EMS Annual Conference Hickory Metro Convention Center Hickory August 23–25 South Atlantic Fire Expo Winston Salem September 14–16 and 21–23 Rescue College Central Carolina Community College Sanford October 15–19 Breathing Equipment School Gaston College Dallas November 2–4 High Angle Rescue School - Level II and III Pilot Mountain State Park Pinnacle 2007 Calendar of Events The Fire & Rescue Journal Legislative Changes Impact Volunteer Fire Department Fund and Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund The North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation in an effort to ensure that tax dollars are being utilized as intended. Organizations that receive grants from any state agency must adhere to new reporting requirements. The new reporting requirements will impact recipients of the Department of Insurance Volunteer Fire Department Fund and Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund. All state agencies disbursing grant monies must report to the North Carolina State Auditor’s office that the new reporting requirements have been met by each grant recipient. Failure by a grant recipient to file the new required forms will result in the recipient being suspended from receiving future grant funds from any state agency. When a grant recipient receives their Volunteer Fire Department Fund or Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund approval package, a new sample form called the “State Grant Certification — No Over Due Tax Debts” will be enclosed. The grant recipient must obtain this form from the state auditor’s Web site at www.ncauditor.net. The form must be completed and printed on the recipient’s letterhead and returned with the invoices to the Department of Insurance, Office of State Fire Marshal, 1202 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1202, Attn: Grant Programs. Checks will not be issued without first receiving this new form. Additionally, there are other forms that the grant recipients will be required to complete and submit. The “State Grant Certification — Sworn Statement” and the “State Grants Compliance Reporting: Receipt of $25,000 or less.” Please note, the State Grant Certification — No Over Due Tax Debt form and the State Grant Certification — Sworn Statement form look very similar, but they are two separate forms, and both must be filled out. The Department of Insurance’s Controller’s office will mail the Sworn Statement and Compliance forms to each grant recipient after the grant recipient receives their matching grant funds. These forms should be returned to the Department of Insurance, Controller’s Office, 1201 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1201, Attn: Trina Moore. Failure by a grant recipient to file these reports after receipt of the grant check will result in the grant recipient being suspended from receiving future grant funds from any state agency. Volunteer Fire Department Fund: January — Applications are mailed to all rated fire departments March 1 — Postmark deadline date for application submission to DOI May 15 — Announcement of grant recipients Sept. 30 — Postmark deadline date for invoice submission to DOI Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund: Aug. 1 — Applications are mailed to all known rescue & EMS providers Oct. 1 — Postmark deadline date for application submission to DOI Dec. 15 — Announcement of grant recipients April 30 — Postmark deadline date for invoice submission to DOI Firemen’s Relief Fund: Aug. 15 — Report of Fire Conditions mailed to City and/or County Clerk/Finance Officers Oct. 31 — Postmark deadline for Report of Fire Conditions submission to DOI Jan. 31 — Postmark deadline for Report of Fire Conditions grace period Important Grant Application Dates If you are thinking about applying for one of OSFM’s grants, these dates are essential to the application process. Please note them on your calendar. To find out more information, including eligibility requirements, about the Volunteer Fire Department Fund, Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund or the Firemen’s Relief Fund, visit www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/FRGrants/FRG_home.asp. ...continued from page 1 for Iraq at FSEC. Early indications are that actual on-scene incident experience is lacking in Oman’s curriculum. Sloan and McCullogh suggested the use of simulation as a training technique. Sloan also shared North Carolina’s Unified Command and Control format and NIMS programs with them. The majority of their lead instruction staff is from the United Kingdom, which emphasizes the application of Incident Management. (NIMS materials and a quick overview of the concept were provided.) In the evenings and on the weekend, Kutty’s staff provided tours of the region. “The city areas appeared very westernized and the rocky coastline was beautiful,” said Sloan. “Their highway system was modern, four lanes with integrated roundabouts. But by far the most impressive sight was the Grand Mosque. The beauty and craftsmanship were magnificent.” Traveling in the Omani interior was more different than in the cities. “The terrain is rocky with very little vegetation. The secondary roads were adequate, but we were glad to be in a four-wheel drive vehicle. The major obstacle was the open range of livestock. Small herds of goats and donkeys were everywhere,” Sloan said. As the visit came to a close, the gentlemen met for an hour with General Zedjali, Minister of Civil Defense for Oman (the American equivalent would be Director of Homeland Security). Discussions became so involved that General Zedjali cancelled all of his morning commitments to continue the visit. Said Sloan, “He was intrigued with our NIMS Process Area/Complex Command and EOC operations. It was an honor that he presented us with a plaque, thanked us for coming and invited us to return and continue the sharing of information. In his final statement to us, he addressed us as North American Ambassadors of the Fire Service.” A view of Oman’s rocky coastline near the capitol of Muscat. Spring 2007 Safety was on everyone’s minds during the Gateway VII on Jan. 17 in Mooresville at the Charles Mack Citizen’s Center. By the end of the emergency service leadership conference, participants had found a renewed commitment to safety for our brothers and sisters in the fire and rescue services. While other issues were discussed, the primary focus was on the commitment to safety. The second year in Gateway’s “Twenty-five in Five!” campaign, which aims to reduce emergency service personnel injuries and deaths by 25 percent in five years, will focus on emergency vehicle operation. While 2006 emphasized vehicle rollover prevention, in 2007 we will focus on intersection safety and privately owned vehicle operations. In addition to vehicle safety, 2007 will also incorporate lifting safety for rescue/EMS. The action plan for accomplishing these goals involves education, training and regulation, with education and training being the main focus. During October 2007, a series of train-the-trainer courses will be offered across North Carolina on intersection safety and privately owned vehicle operations. The two-hour training classes will provide each participant with the materials to deliver this course in their communities. Course locations and times will be announced during the North Carolina Sate Firemen’s Association and North Association of Fire Chief ’s Conference in August, but most of the locations that offered courses in 2006 will again host the classes in 2007. We all realize that in order to reverse the trend of emergency services injuries, the culture in which we work on a daily basis must change — safety is a mindset, not a concept. This view must be adopted by current leadership to influence the tomorrow’s leaders. The unsafe work environment shows no difference between the career, the volunteer, fire or rescue, male or female employee; it is something that affects us all, and we all must adopt the safety mindset. As one member of the Gateway Meeting, I am proud to be a part of a group of dedicated persons involved in the protection of life and property with the realization that the first priority is the safety and protection our own. Mike Hill is a Risk Manager with the Volunteer Safety Worker’s Compensation Fund. Safety was Priority Issue at Gateway VII: “Twenty–Five in Five!” The North Carolina State Weekend at the National Fire Academy was held Jan. 5-7 in Emmitsburg, Maryland and was hosted by the Department of Insurance Office of State Fire Marshal. More than 240 students arrived and participated in courses during the weekend. Students also had the opportunity to network with colleagues in a unique learning environment. In addition to the coursework, students could attend social events where OSFM provided door prizes. Lodging, meals and classroom materials were provided by the National Fire Academy. Courses available included: Shaping the Future, Managing in a Changing Environment, Leadership I: Strategies for Company Success, Leadership II: Strategies for Personal Success, Leadership III: Strategies for Supervisory Success and Juvenile Fire-Setter Intervention Specialist I and II. Those interested in attending the North Carolina Weekend in 2008 can attain more information after Sept. 1 on the OSFM Web site, www.ncdoi.com/osfm. David Moore is a training specialist with OSFM. He can be reached at (919) 609-4794 or dmoore@ncdoi.net. North Carolina State Weekend at the National Fire Academy A group of students work to solve a problem during a small group session in the NFA Shaping the Future leadership class. Approximately 240 emergency personnel from across our state attended the N.C. State Weekend at the National Fire Academy during the first weekend in January. Pictured from left to right: Erik Schneider (Alamance Community FD), William Harrell (Fayetteville FD), Michael Bradshaw (Guil-Rand FD), Joseph Layne (Guil-Rand FD), Tony Holsclaw (Mountain View FD), Brad Faulk (Pleasant Garden FD). Two Receive Awards During Mid-Winter Chief’s Conference At the Mid-Winter Chief ’s Conference held in Atlantic Beach, Chief Jeffery C. Cash from the Cherryville Fire Department received the North Carolina Association of Fire Chief ’s Fire Chief of the Year Award. Chief Cash has been employed with the Cherryville Fire Department for 25 years and has served as chief for the past 21 years. He has an associate’s degree in fire protection technology and is currently enrolled at Gardner Webb University. In addition, this year Chief Cash will begin the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md. Chief Cash currently serves as North Carolina’s State Director to the National Volunteer Fire Council. He also serves on the NVFC executive committee and the NVFC Foundation board of directors. He was the founder of the North Carolina Gateway Project. He is on the NFPA 1001 committee and the NFPA technical correlation committee. Chief L. Glenn Jernigan of the Faison Fire Department received the North Carolina Association of Fire Chief ’s Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year award. Glenn exemplifies an outstanding record of involvement in the fire, rescue and police service since 1959, covering a span of 48 years. In 1968, the department broadened its scope of service to include a rescue division and was one of the first departments in the county to respond to medical emergencies. Glenn was elected assistant chief of the rescue division during the charter year. By the mid 1970’s, Glenn had gained the respect of his peers and developed as a seasoned leader in the department. He was elected fire chief and president of Faison Fire and Rescue Incorporated. Glenn recently retired on Jan. 1. He is a graduate of North Duplin High School and of James Sprunt Community College. Glenn is certified as an EMT, Firefighter I and II, Hazardous Materials Operations, Wildland Fire Suppression, Helicopter Safety, and Engineer. Congratulations to Chief Cash and Chief Jernigan! The Fire & Rescue Journal Q: Our department is a Class 9S with no fire hydrants. What can we do to prepare for a water haul inspection? A: There are still many areas in the state that have to “haul” water to fire sites due to the lack of available and/or accessible water sources nearby. Other reasons to haul may be a lack of sufficient equipment, apparatus and/or manpower to perform the duties associated with a water shuttle operation needed to gain credit on the water supply portion of the survey. For a department to successfully undergo a “water shuttle” survey, there are numerous requirements that must be met. We’ll briefly cover the highlights in this article and provide you with locations of additional information. In the NCRRS (North Carolina Response Rating System) process, four methods exist by which a department may attain a lower than 9S rating. Two of these methods require the movement of water from a creditable source by using tankers to transport water to the fire suppression apparatus on scene. We would first recommend that you review the water supply needs of your fire insurance district to determine what type and size flows you must protect. Next, determine if there are resources (apparatus, manpower, water supplies, etc.) available in you area and neighboring departments that better meet those needs through a water shuttle operation. Then, decide if you can develop a water shuttle operation that will suit the needs of your department in providing that protection. The following items should be considered when making this determination: • the number of tankers available in-house or from neighboring departments; • any automatic aid agreements with neighboring departments to supply needed resources for the operation; • whether or not adequate communications capabilities exist to handle the needs of the operation; • the availability of sufficient reliable water sources, such as pressure hydrants, dry hydrants and suction water points; • completion of Certification of Water Point, Verification of Water Point, and Agreements to Use Water Point forms; • the availability and accessibility of water supply points for use 24 hours a day, every day; • requirements for engines supplying water to arriving OSFM Welcomes Four New Employees Derrick S. Clouston, fire/rescue training specialist, Fire and Rescue Training and Inspections — Derrick Clouston started his career in the fire service in 1987 as a volunteer at Stoney Point Fire Department, and worked for five years with the City of Fayetteville Fire Department assigned to the Haz Mat team. He is currently an assistant chief with East Side Fire Department in Randolph County. His education includes an associate’s applied science degree in fire protection; a bachelor’s degree in public administration; state certification as an Instructor IV, Fire Officer III, and Haz Mat Specialist and several specialty instructor certifications. Clouston completed the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer course in January 2005 and is now enrolled in an MPA program. Clouston lives in Asheboro with his wife, Heather, and young son, Baron. Trisha Jogodka, administrative assistant, Engineering Division/ North Carolina Building Code Council — Before joining OSFM last November, Trisha Jogodka worked with the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. Her previous experience included customer service, purchasing, scheduling and corporate account management. Jogodka is a native North Carolinian. She lives in Zebulon with her husband Pete and their two children, Briana and Aidan. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, scrapbooking and reading. Jonathan Sowers, fire/rescue training specialist, Fire and Rescue Training and Inspections — Jonathan Sowers first joined the fire service in 1984 with the Welcome Fire Department, where he is still a member today. Prior to coming to OSFM, Sowers was a captain with the City of Lexington Fire Department where he worked since 1985. He has been an instructor since 1990. Sowers is a history buff, with a special interest in the Civil War era, and he also likes to play golf and bike. Bryant Waters, fire rating inspector, Ratings and Inspections — Bryant Waters started his career in the fire service as a volunteer at age 16. He has a total of eight years of career and volunteer fire and EMS experience, which he gained while working as a firefighter/paramedic with Greenville Fire and Rescue for five years and as a paramedic supervisor with Pitt County Emergency Management. Waters is currently a lieutenant with the Winterville Fire Department as well as an assistant chief with the Winterville EMS Department. He holds certifications as an EMT-Paramedic, NC Level II Firefighter and NC Level II Instructor, and has his associate’s applied science degree in fire protection technology from Wilson Technical Community College. Waters enjoys hunting, fishing, playing paintball and watching college football and basketball. Derrick Clouston Bryant Waters Trisha Jogodka Preparing for a Water Haul Inspection Inspection Tips Jonathan Sowers Spring 2007 tankers at the site, logistics for engine’s location, size, etc.; • the feasibility of putting this operation into place within a limited time; • the ability to provide minimum water flow of 250 GPM for two hours; • the ability to train regularly with agencies involved in maintaining efficiency of the operation. This is not an all-inclusive list of requirements needed to perform a successful water shuttle operation, for survey water supply credit; however, it should be the beginning of the list of issues your department should consider. Remember, the foremost consideration is safety — can the department provide this service safely while continuing to provide the best possible protection to the district? This question must be reevaluated continuously for the safety and well-being of all involved. If there is a department in your area currently using tankers and a water shuttle operation for grading credit, it might be valuable to contact that department and schedule a visit during a training evolution. Also, the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) regularly presents classes explaining the NCRRS process which includes water haul operations grading information. Another resource that OSFM can provide is its training DVD that depicts various methods of performing the required scenarios, which must be successfully demonstrated during a survey visit where a department attempts to receive water supply credit from a tanker and water shuttle operation. OSFM currently provides a copy of the video to county fire marshals; contact your county fire marshal to arrange to view the video. If your county fire marshal does not already have a copy, OSFM will provide one to the county office. Also, if you are unable to gain access to one of these DVDs through your county agency, contact OSFM’s Raleigh office for additional information at 919-661-5880. You can also find more information online at www.ncdoi. com/osfm. Once on OSFM’s Web site, select “What do I need to know about Fire Department Inspections and Ratings,” and then select “PreSurvey Package Formats” under the Forms section. Another helpful Web site for determining if a tanker water shuttle operation (for survey grading credit) may benefit your department is www.southern-fire. com/tankergpm. Chet Hill is a Fire Ratings Inspector with OSFM. He can be National News Organization Reports Malfunction of Personal Alert Safety Systems Used by Fire Service A recent article on MSNBC’s Web site shed light on an important issue that affects firefighters across the country. According to Bill Dedman’s investigative report, personal alert safety systems (PASS) that firefighters wear while responding to incidents have been malfunctioning, and PASS failures have caused an alarming 15 deaths since 1998. The MSNBC report highlighted a Center for Disease Control (CDC) investigation where high temperatures were revealed as impairing PASS performance and causing devastating malfunctions. While the MSNBC report brought the issue to the mainstream news, NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) has been working to educate firefighters about this issue since late 2005 when they published an alert notice entitled “PASS alarm signals can fail at high temperatures” on their Web site, www.nfpa.org. That’s when NFPA learned from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program that tests performed on PASS devices placed in a convection oven found the volume was substantially decreased in temperatures as low as 300° F — roughly the temperature a firefighter would face in the room next door to a room containing fire. While NIOSH tested only two models, the researchers believe that the results would be similar in other PASS systems. In a correctly working PASS device, a high-pitched signal will sound anytime a firefighter stops moving or anytime the emergency button is activated. Tests showed that the alarms did not activate or the volume was so low that they were not heard over the activity on scene. Tests also revealed that alarms could be muffled by a firefighter laying on the alarm. The 2007 edition of NFPA 1982 is now available and contains revisions providing for strengthened performance requirements and testing to address the alarm signal degradation issue identified in the alert notice. The new edition also addresses other issues that have been brought forth by NIOSH and others, including problems caused by vibration, probably during transportation, and water leakage into the electronic and power supply compartments. New NFPA 1982 standards state that during testing, the PASS must: 1. Be exposed to temperatures of 350° F for 15 minutes and then submersed 4.9 feet under water for 15 minutes for each of six cycles, examined for water ingress and operability, re-immersed for five minutes with power source compartment open. The device should then be removed and wiped dry, then the electronic compartment opened and examined for leaks. 2. Be exposed to temperatures of 500° F for five minutes in a hot air oven. The PASS must function at or above 95 decibels and electronic data logging must function. No part of the PASS can show signs of dripping, melting or igniting. 3. Be tumbled and/or vibrated in a rotating drum for three hours and must function at 95 decibels and electronic data logging must function properly. 4. Be attached to a test subject and evaluated in five positions (lying face down with arms extended, lying face up with body turned to the left, lying face up with body turned to the right, fetal right with knees drawn to chest and fetal left with knees drawn to chest) and the alarm signal must function at or above the required 95 decibels. The new testing requirements incorporate every problem identified in the investigations of all 15 deaths. While responding to fire incidents is always dangerous, and sometimes deadly, all firefighters deserve to have properly functioning PASS devices. The PASS testing requirements, along with other NFPA standards, strive to provide firefighters with the best possible protection and skills to safely protect their communities and themselves. The Fire & Rescue Journal Broken glass and shattered screen windows told a frightening story on the morning of March 28, 2006, at the Draper Inn Boarding House in Eden. Tenants living on the second floor dangled out of windows before jumping to safety as a fire in the building raged out of control. The blaze left more than 25 people homeless, several injured and one woman dead. Jada Nicholson was among the first residents to get out of the boarding house after she heard another resident yelling from the lobby at approximately 8:30 a.m. When Nicholson opened her door she saw a couch on fire in the lobby, and by the time she got out of the building, the fire had blocked the stairwell to the second floor. “I just knew there wasn’t any way anybody upstairs was going to get down that hall,” Nicholson said. Once outside, Nicholson’s fears were realized as six or more tenants hung out of windows and some began jumping. “I held on to the ledge and he sat in the window,” Amy Hooker said, describing how she and Billy Agee hung out of an apartment window trying to escape the fire. “There was just so much smoke, you couldn’t do anything,” Agee said. Hooker and Agee were lucky, neighbors and employees at Draper Lumber Company, directly across from the apartments, grabbed ladders and rushed to their aid. Witnesses said others weren’t as lucky. By 8:30 a.m. 15 calls to 911 had come into the Eden Police Department, some from neighbors but others from frantic tenants inside, Eden Police Captain Reece Pyrtle said. The first firefighters on scene were faced with heavy fire and dense, blinding smoke conditions, but they began rescue operations by placing a ladder to a second floor window to rescue occupants seeking escape and fresh air at upstairs windows. They also launched an aggressive interior search for known victims trapped. Entering the house on the first floor, fire attack and search crews were met with the same heavy smoke and heat conditions. While initial crews sought out residents and battled the blaze, the Eden Communications Center dispatched a second and third alarm bringing surrounding departments to the scene. As other crews and equipment from the Leaksville, Draper, Oregon Hill, Reidsville and Rockingham County fire departments along with the Eden Rescue Squad and Rockingham County Emergency Services arrived on scene, multi-level operations began with entry made from the exterior to the second floor. Crews searched for victims while navigating not only blinding smoke and intense heat, but also the complicated layout of 29 different apartments. Helping the search and rescue mission, attack crews placed a mechanical exhaust fan in the building’s stairway window. Determining how many victims remained inside the burning boarding house proved difficult since several jumped from windows, others were scattered throughout the scene and an occupant list was not forthcoming immediately. When emergency personnel arrived, Pyrtle said there were already several “walking wounded,” and the building was fully engulfed with pushing smoke and visible flames. Wayne Dunn was inside Draper Lumber Company when he saw a woman hanging from a blanket outside a second floor window. Dunn said a few people had gathered underneath to catch the woman but when she let go of the blanket she bounced off of an awning and hit the ground. “She hit the ground hard, I mean hard,” Dunn said. Officials said the woman was rushed to Morehead Memorial Hospital in Eden. According to Shirley Barber, the apartment manager, tenants had two exits — the front door and a side door. There were no fire continued on page 10... Looking Back: The Draper Inn Fire of 2006 Two colors of smoke indicate the two levels of fire progression during the Draper Inn Boarding House Fire. The brown smoke indicates structural components are involved on the first floor, while the dark black smoke tells crews that contents were involved on the second floor. Smoke analysis aided firefighters in establishing an operation strategy. Crews first on the scene faced blinding smoke conditions in the rush to begin rescue operations, while others attacking the fire itself found conditions to be no better . Spring 2007 Six Decades of Service: A Closer Look at the Winterville Fire Department About Winterville Fire Department Led by Chief Danny Coward, the Winterville Fire Department has a corps of 60 volunteer members and 15 junior firefighters. In addition, part-time employees cover one seat from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The department enthusiastically promotes training activities and is constantly seeking new members. Winterville firefighters currently respond to more than 450 alarms every year, and the department anticipates that this response will continue to increase by 15 to 20 percent each year for the next several years. The department not only responds to fire emergencies, but it also focuses on prevention through an aggressive fire prevention program that reaches out to nearly 1,800 school age children each school year. The department is also developing a program that reaches older adults. Since the beginnings of the Winterville Fire Department in the 1940s, its jurisdiction has changed dramatically. The majority of responses are to residential occupancies, although a growing number of responses are to motor vehicle collisions due to the continued growth of the community and increase in the volume of local traffic. Pitt Community College is also located within the department’s district, and over the years its enrollment has drastically increased, adding to the number of people on the roads. The members of the Winterville Fire Department pride themselves on several notable administrative accomplishments including their fundraising efforts and grant awards. Most recently, Winterville received the 2005 FEMA FIREACT grant worth more than $235,000 for firefighter safety. This grant provided funding to replace the department’s self-contained breathing apparatus, turnout gear, portable radios, training materials and rapid intervention equipment. Also in 2005, the department received the FEMA fire prevention and safety grant in excess of $26,000 and a non-matching grant of more than $5,000from the Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention program for fire prevention materials. Notable Incident Response The Winterville Fire Department has responded to several major incidents over the years. The first major fire occurred in 1973 at the Eastern Lumber warehouse, in which the response required drained the town’s water supply. The fire department requested that the police department ride through town and ask citizens not to use any water or flush toilets as the only elevated storage tank was pumped empty. Another well-known fire occurred in 1978 at the Coastal Chemical facility in Greenville. The fire originated in the office area and soon spread to what would be by current standards a large HAZMAT incident. During the 1999 hurricane season, Winterville conducted numerous rescue operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd; in fact, the Discovery Channel featured several of Winterville’s incident responses during this disaster. History of Winterville’s Apparatus During the early days of the department, Winterville firefighters responded to calls bringing a 30 gallon soda acid extinguisher. Members transported the extinguisher by actually pulling it by hand, carrying it in the trunk of a car or in a pickup truck With two swinging front doors for the trucks, Winterville’s first station was located on Railroad Street in a building that was originally a cannery. The second station was located nearby on the corner of Railroad and Main Streets. This is also the site of the newest station, which has six drive-through bays, sleeping quarters, EMS facilities as well as additional office space. During the last 60 years, Winterville has seen several generations of apparatus come and go. The first apparatus was a Chevrolet pumper with a Waterous mid-ship pump with a capacity of 500 gpm. The Winterville Rural Community Fire Association (WRCRF) raised funds for the truck and was able to purchase it in 1951 from American Fire Apparatus. Shortly thereafter, the Town of Winterville purchased a second truck. The next generation of apparatus began when the town bought a 1968 Howe 1,000 gpm pumper mounted on a Chevrolet chassis and the WRCRF added a 1970-1971 Howe 750 gpm pumper that was mounted on a Ford chassis. While the earlier trucks were red, the second generation began Winterville’s tradition of white fire trucks. The third generation of Winterville Fire Department apparatus began with the purchase of a 1991 E-One tanker. It carries 1,500 gallons of water and has a pump capacity of 450 gpm. The department still uses this truck today, and it effectively replaced two “water wagons” that had been with the department since the 1970s. Four years later, the department received two more E-One pumpers with a 1,250 gpm hale pump and a 1,000 gallon booster tank — one from the town and one from the WRCRF. The next additions came in 1998, when the WRCRF purchased a new Chevrolet Brush truck with a 150 gpm pump as well as class A foam capabilities and the town purchased a 1998 Hackney equipment truck that responds to structure fires and motor vehicle collisions. Most recently, the town placed into service a 2006 Sutphen engine that has a 1,500 gpm pump, 1,000-gallon booster tank, rescue style body, and an onboard foam system. David Moore is a training specialist with OSFM. He can be reached at (919) 609-4794 or dmoore@ncdoi.net. From time to time the Fire and Rescue Journal highlights various departments across the state. This issue, we will take a closer look at the Winterville Fire Department in eastern North Carolina. 10 The Fire & Rescue Journal ... continued from page 9. escapes outside of the building. Search crews were able to rescue four residents, while an additional eight residents jumped from second floor windows to safety. Tragically, after the primary search concluded and the residents were believed to be accounted for, the fire and smoke claimed the life of one resident. According to family members, Dorothy Grogan Southern moved into the apartment about three weeks prior to the fire. She lived in a first floor apartment, but according to survivors, the fire chased her up the stairwell into a second story apartment. Another victim in the apartment with Southern was able to jump to safety, but despite attempts to convince her to follow suit, Southern was too scared to jump. Casualties were not limited to residents. As the operation continued and support services arrived from the Eden Rescue Squad, Rockingham County Emergency Medical Services, Rockingham County Emergency Management and the Eden Fire Department Auxiliary, a rehabilitation and medical evaluation center was set up in the Rockingham County’s mobile rehab unit. Because the initial firefighters executed multiple entries into the structure before relief arrived from the second and third alarm companies, four firefighters required medical care beyond what they received on scene. Even before the flames were extinguished the City of Eden’s Police Department began its investigation into the fire by interviewing residents on scene — before information could be shared and/or tainted. Because of the extent of the fire and the fatality involved, the Arson Task Force Investigation Team was called in to assist. In conjunction with the State Bureau of Investigation, a thorough investigation was completed, and the probable cause of the blaze was determined to be improperly discarded smoking materials. The couch inside the main hallway was identified as the point of origin. The Draper Inn Boarding House fire taught the fire service several valuable lessons including the need for a more advanced accountability system and the importance of established automatic mutual aid. Although responders to the Draper Inn fire were well-trained and prepared, for many it was their first experience responding to a large scale fire, the magnitude of which highlighted the need for aggressive and specialized training for all departments, not just those located in a large city. The need for specialized equipment was also realized, including thermal imaging cameras to aid with searches in low- or no-visibility areas. Douglas Cline has been in the fire service since 1980 currently serving as chief of the Eden Fire Department and an adjunct faculty for Great Oaks Institute of Technology Public Safety Services Division in Cincinnati. He can be reached at dcline@townofchapelhill.org. At least nine residents of the home jumped from windows to safety, while rescuers found four others. Sadly, one resident perished in the blaze. Warrenton Rural VFD Holds Dedication Ceremony On Oct. 22, 2006, Warrenton Rural Volunteer Fire Department’s Chief Walter Gardner dedicated the department’s new fire station to “the loyal volunteers that have given their time and energy for the past 50 years as well as to our community and the citizens that we serve.” In addition to remarks made by Warrenton’s members, the following state and local officials also participated in the ceremony: North Carolina Senator Doug Berger, on behalf of Senate Leader Marc Basnight; North Carolina Representative Michael Wray; Dollie Burwell, on behalf of Congressman G. K. Butterfield; the Town of Warrenton’s Mayor Pro-Tem, Margaret Brit; Commissioner Barry Richardson, who also serves as Fire Commissioner; Pat Leroy, the American Red Cross; and Larry Hughes from the Office of State Fire Marshal. Soon after the ceremony’s opening remarks and dedication, people in attendance toured the facility for a firsthand look. More than just offices and storage rooms, the fire station houses a kitchen, bunk room and recreation room for firefighters’ use while on duty. The facility also has a conference room that is available for any organization to use. And while the engine companies and impressive state-of-the-art bays command attention, anyone who drives past the station after dark is sure to be inspired by the stained glass window made and donated by Warrenton artist David Guarducci. To defray some of the $1.6 million spent building the new facility, Warrenton’s Capital Campaign Committee plans to raise some $500,000, according to Dr. James E. Crenshaw, Jr., the committee’s leader. Although $1.6 million is a considerable amount of debt, the new station could have cost more — the furniture, equipment and other necessities were all donated. Warrenton Rural Volunteer Fire Department responded to 274 emergency calls in 2005. The department has 30 volunteer members who respond to incidents in the district’s 70-mile radius. Information excerpted from “Warrenton Rural VFD Holds Dedication Ceremony” by Peggy R. Shearin, Littleton Observer. Photo courtesy of The Warren Record. Spring 2007 11 Any structural live fire training event held across the state must now be reported to the Department of Insurance Office of State Fire Marshal. At the requests of the Fire and Rescue Commission and Certification Board, the Research and Program Development Section and the training and certification staff are conducting audits of each structural live fire training. As of Jan. 1, 2007, OSFM staff have performed nine audits and received notification of 76 live fires in the state. Many of the audits have turned up minor infractions, most of which dealt with water flow calculations. The auditors have taken the time to inform instructors of the correct calculations and are checking to make sure that the proper amount of water is on the ground both in supply and in available flow. It is the delivery agency’s responsibility to notify Scott Hackler at shackler@ncdoi.net or Kim Williams at kdorman@ncdoi.net at least 15 days prior to any live fire training if the burn is being run through a school. It is the responsibility of the lead live fire instructor to notify us at least 15 days in advance if there is not a delivery agency involved in the burn. Scott Hackler is a certification specialist for the central region with OSFM. He can be reached at (919) 661-5880 or shackler@ncdoi.net. Notification Required Prior to Live Fire Training Events Without a doubt, one of the highlights of my job with the Office of State Fire Marshal is having the opportunity to deliver the Live Fire Qualification class. I thoroughly enjoy getting the chance to meet firefighters and instructors from across the state and discuss not only issues concerning live fire training, but also the fire service in general. It is no exaggeration that the Live Fire Qualification is one of the most sought after courses delivered by our office. The time frame from the initial request for the class to the actual delivery of the LF course can often be nearly a year. This creates understandable frustration for instructors seeking this qualification. This issue is often compounded by classes that do not have the maximum number of students. It is disheartening to conduct a class that has several vacancies, knowing that these were available slots that others could have possibly utilized. Remember, we pre-test up to eight students, with six being the most allowed to sit for the class. Often, we see individuals take a chance, traveling a significant distance from their homes to sit for the pre-test, given no promise that they will be accepted into the class even if they secure a passing grade. More often than not, these folks end up making it into the class due to one of the other students that had been guaranteed a spot backing out or failing the pre-test. Of course, there are no guarantees for someone who takes the pre-test as an alternate, but they definitely have a much better chance of being in the class than the guy sitting at home. Of course there are two sides to this matter. The student must take the initiative to research the instructor training schedule found on the OSFM Web site at www.ncdoi.com/OSFM. This requires a little extra leg work on the part of the prospective student. Every scheduled live fire qualification is listed, along with the phone number of the respective contact person for that agency. A persistent individual will contact these agencies to inquire about vacancies in the class, either a student slot or as an alternate. Just because there are no slots available six months prior to the class does not mean that this will necessarily be the case three months or even three days out. The other side of this matter is the hosting agency. With the issues involved with securing the LF qualification course, the person in charge of arranging the class, whether the training officer, community college coordinator or the fire chief, tends to be extremely protective of his/her class slots. They are often hesitant to give a spot to an outsider until they are absolutely positive that they have satisfied their local needs. This is not at all a negative behavior as it is the coordinator’s duty to take care of his/her people. It only becomes an issue when the coordinator fails to notify prospective students of openings in the class. These openings often come about at the last minute, within days or even hours of the class starting. This does not mean that a determined and flexible individual could not be available to attend the class with minimum notification. There are coordinators that will not attempt to place alternates for the pre-test for a variety of reasons, again leaving a strong opportunity to conduct a class that is not full. The simple fact is that Live Fire Qualification is a very demanding class. The amount of work involved, both physically and mentally, coupled with the time constraints placed upon the class make this a difficult week, even with six students sharing the workload. Reducing the number of students not only leaves prospective participants missing an opportunity, but greatly increases the responsibilities of those students in the class. Let’s all make the effort to fill these qualification classes by placing the maximum number of students for the pre-test. Simply put, the more instructors that we can qualify, the safer live fire training will be in the state of North Carolina. Kevin McArthur is a training specialist with OSFM. He can be reached at (919) 609-4794 or kmcarthur@ncdoi.net. Live Fire Qualification Class – Perseverance Gets You in the Class, but Call Ahead for Reservations 1202 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1202 (919) 661-5880 www.ncdoi.com/osfm The Fire & Rescue Journal Mosques, rocky coastlines, four-wheel drives... and a major fire college. Where did one OSFM employee experience grand architecture, palm covered coasts and arid deserts all while on an official visit with Middle Eastern dignitaries? Read the front page article for details on Steve Sloan’s trip to Oman, where he provided a Western perspective on fire safety instruction to officials there.
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Title | Fire & rescue journal |
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Full Text | JOURNAL Fire & Rescue A publication of the North Carolina Department of Insurance Office of State Fire Marshal OSFM’s Steve Sloan Makes Second Trip to Oman Advises Country’s Leadership About Fire Service Training Programs Spring 2007 What’s Hot Inside Last fall, Deputy Director of the Fire and Rescue Commission Steve Sloan received an invitation he couldn’t pass up — to travel to the Middle Eastern country of Oman, at the expense of the country’s Fire Safety Engineering College (FSEC), to provide the school’s management team with a North American perspective on their operations. This would be Sloan’s second trip to Oman to assist the country’s leaders with improving their fire service. He traveled with one other Westerner, Rick McCullough, the fire commissioner of Saskatchewan, Canada. Together they offered a detailed review of Oman’s Fire Officer development program, which recently underwent extensive faculty changes and a significant increase in attendance levels. Oman, a Sultanate of the Southeast Arabian Peninsula and an ally of the United States, is located on the Gulf of Oman. The Fire Safety Engineering College is located in the country’s capital of Muscat, a city of some three million. The college management team wants to continue to develop a North American influence in their curriculum and delivery process, and while this was not an official site visit, Sloan’s experience with the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) earned him the invitation. In fact, it was during last year’s September meeting of IFSAC that T. Madhaven Kutty, managing director of College, invited Sloan and McCullogh for a visit. Sloan’s expertise was particularly valued because of his involvement with Unified Command and Control, his certification experience and his frequent trips representing IFSAC as a Site Team Leader conducting site visits both nationally and internationally. Sloan first visited Oman as the IFSAC Site Team Leader in 2003, when the FSEC first applied for accreditation for Firefighter I and II, Airport Firefighter, Hazardous Materials Awareness and Hazardous Materials Operations. All of those programs were recommended for approval and later approved by the Certificate Assembly Board of Governors. FSEC’s Kutty wanted more of Sloan’s input on their facility and training programs. Some of the agenda items for the trip were vocational training/certification training, fire officer development and training, the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and four-year degree programs. The vocational training/ certification training issues were numerous and offered interesting options, including fire and rescue certification and degree issues that impacted their four-year degree program. The degree program is a collaborative arrangement between the University of Central Lancashire and Oman’s Fire Safety Engineering College. This arrangement allows students from the Gulf region to earn a four-year degree locally. Fire officer development and training was another area of interest. The FSEC has accepted the challenge of training firefighters from the entire Gulf area. This includes not only Oman, but Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Iraq. Iraq, for example, had to almost totally rebuild their fire service. Firefighter level training was implemented about a year ago and officer training has now begun continued on page 4... Awards of Excellence at 2007 FLSE Conference....................3.......................................................2007 Calendar of Events N.C. Weekend at National Fire Academy................................5..........................................................................Gateway VII OSFM Welcomes Four New Employees...................................6.......... Inspection Tips: Preparing for a Water Haul Inspection The Draper Inn Fire of 2006...................................................8 Life Fire Qualification Classes.............................................. 11..............................Notify OSFM of Life Fire Training Events Shown is the entrance to the Fire Safety Engineering College Administration Building in the capital city of Muscat. The FSEC Management Team lead by Director T. Madhaven Kutty (pictured second from the left). To the right of Kutty are Rick McCullough and Steve Sloan. The Fire & Rescue Journal From the Commissioner’s Desk I hope you had a chance to read the article in the Fall 2006 issue of the Journal that discussed the new Autism Recognition and Response course now offered by OSFM. The coursework, which was reviewed and approved by the Autism Society of North Carolina, will teach students how to recognize the characteristics of autism in the event that they encounter an autistic person while responding to an incident. The Fall article discussed some of the difficulties emergency responders may face when dealing with a person who has autism or a related condition — often unbeknownst to the responder. It said, “Due to the widely varying behaviors and sensory processes, it is difficult to know exactly how someone with autism will react or respond in an emergency situation. That is why training first responders is vital in today’s society.” The article went on to explain how the new class will “educate the responder on recognizing a person with autism and, in turn, help them discern between an autistic person and someone who has had too much alcohol or has been using drugs. It will explain the best approaches to use in emergency situations in order to alleviate risks to both the responder and the autistic individual.” I am pleased that OSFM has taken a proactive role by providing this important class to emergency responders. Autism is the second most common development disability following mental retardation, and it’s estimated that one out of every 166 people born today has some form of Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD). As an emergency responder, it’s imperative for your safety and the safety of others in an emergency situation that you know how to handle victims with special needs. The class will teach you a basic understanding of autism and how to identify the different behavioral symptoms and characteristics of a child or an adult who has autism. Each person affected with autism is an individual and has a unique personality and combination of characteristics — this is a critical point to understand because no two autistic individuals will act the same or display the same characteristics and capabilities. The class will also detail response techniques and considerations such as the environmental and rescue considerations of autistic individuals as well as the basic response techniques to employ. I encourage you to take this new course, and just like with other training programs, the autism course will better equip you for responding to emergency situations. Autism Class Provides Valuable Insight by Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Jim Long I am pleased that OSFM has taken a proactive role by providing this important class to emergency responders. JOURNAL Fire & Rescue A publication of the North Carolina Department of Insurance Office of State Fire Marshal Published by the North Carolina Department of Insurance Office of State Fire Marshal, funded by a grant from the North Carolina Association of Insurance Agents, Inc. Jim Long, Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Wayne Goodwin, Assistant Commissioner Tim Bradley, Senior Deputy State Fire Marshal Chrissy Pearson, Editor Chris Best and Kristin Milam, Contributing Editors NCDOI OSFM 1202 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1202 (919) 661-5880 www.ncdoi.com/osfm Spring 2007 In an effort to recognize individuals, organizations and programs making a difference in preventing devastating fire and burn injuries and deaths within North Carolina, the Fire and Life Safety Educators have reinstated the annual Awards of Excellence. The award winners were announced during a banquet at the 31st Annual Fire and Life Safety Education Conference held at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville. Each region was responsible for selecting the winners based on involvement in the region and magnitude of the program nominated. New to the awards was the Lifetime Achievement Award. The first person to receive this award was B.T. Fowler. Fowler has been a fixture in the Fire and Life Safety community since the inception of these programs. Though he was unable to attend this year’s conference due to illness in the family, he was presented with a clock engraved with “Lifetime Achievement Award, B.T. Fowler, 50 Years of Dedication and Achievement in Fire & Life Safety Education, February 5, 2007.” An engraved Lifetime Achievement plaque will also be displayed in the lobby of the North Carolina Department of Insurance Office of State Fire Marshal office. This plaque will be updated yearly with the Lifetime Achievement recipient names. Dolly Hulin with Thomasville Fire Department received the Central Region Award of Excellence. Hulin is always willing to teach, and she touches the lives of the people in Thomasville while on- and off-duty. Thomasville citizens have said that Hulin is more than an educator to their community — she is a part of the Thomasville family. Not only is Hulin active in her community, but also in programs and projects across the state. Those who know her say that when Hulin talks about life safety education, her eyes sparkle with a passion that comes from the heart. It is obvious that Hulin loves her work. Terri Byers and Terry Malone were awarded the Western Regional Award of Excellence. Terri Byers with Hickory Fire Department is once again showing why she is a leader in education. After being asked to work on this year’s conference committee, Byers took a leadership role and has worked many long hours on getting classes and workshops scheduled. She continues to be an advocate for changes and innovations in fire and life safety education and has demonstrated a great knack for fund raising. Byers uses this experience while mentoring others who need help. Terry Malone with Weaverville Fire Department also received the award in recognition of his work rewriting lesson plans with OSFM. Malone’s wealth of knowledge proved to be a great inspiration to educators in this state, and he shared that knowledge with the OSFM staff. He spent many hours rewriting lesson plans for the Fire and Life Education Certification program. The Eastern Regional Award of Excellence was awarded to Greenville Fire/Rescue for implementing a new program. The new “Clown Brigade” was initiated this year. “Bunkerz,” “Squirt” and “Safe-T” are characters that have taught updated fire and life safety messages to the children and adults in Greenville. The Clown Brigade has conducted countless hours training and preparing to be effective in this new mission, most of which spilled into their personal time. They are enthusiastic, committed and hardworking in their mission of making sure no topic is left out when it comes to fire and life safety. Congratulations to these deserving individuals and groups who have worked hard to make a difference in their community and across the state. Awards of Excellence Return During 31st Annual Fire and Life Safety Education Conference in Asheville From left, Charlie Ray Peaden, Frank Conklin, and Donnie Hardee of the Greenville Clown Troop – Central Region Award of Excellence winners; Ryan Merrill, chair of Eastern Region FLSE Council. From left, Terry Malone – Western Region Award of Excellence winner; Ryan Cole, chair of Western Region FLSE Council; Terri Byers – Western Region Award of Excellence winner. From left, Dolly Hulin – Central Region Award of Excellence winner; Tommy Curry, chair of Central Region FLSE Council. June 21–23 North Carolina Association of Rescue Squads and EMS Annual Conference Hickory Metro Convention Center Hickory August 23–25 South Atlantic Fire Expo Winston Salem September 14–16 and 21–23 Rescue College Central Carolina Community College Sanford October 15–19 Breathing Equipment School Gaston College Dallas November 2–4 High Angle Rescue School - Level II and III Pilot Mountain State Park Pinnacle 2007 Calendar of Events The Fire & Rescue Journal Legislative Changes Impact Volunteer Fire Department Fund and Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund The North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation in an effort to ensure that tax dollars are being utilized as intended. Organizations that receive grants from any state agency must adhere to new reporting requirements. The new reporting requirements will impact recipients of the Department of Insurance Volunteer Fire Department Fund and Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund. All state agencies disbursing grant monies must report to the North Carolina State Auditor’s office that the new reporting requirements have been met by each grant recipient. Failure by a grant recipient to file the new required forms will result in the recipient being suspended from receiving future grant funds from any state agency. When a grant recipient receives their Volunteer Fire Department Fund or Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund approval package, a new sample form called the “State Grant Certification — No Over Due Tax Debts” will be enclosed. The grant recipient must obtain this form from the state auditor’s Web site at www.ncauditor.net. The form must be completed and printed on the recipient’s letterhead and returned with the invoices to the Department of Insurance, Office of State Fire Marshal, 1202 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1202, Attn: Grant Programs. Checks will not be issued without first receiving this new form. Additionally, there are other forms that the grant recipients will be required to complete and submit. The “State Grant Certification — Sworn Statement” and the “State Grants Compliance Reporting: Receipt of $25,000 or less.” Please note, the State Grant Certification — No Over Due Tax Debt form and the State Grant Certification — Sworn Statement form look very similar, but they are two separate forms, and both must be filled out. The Department of Insurance’s Controller’s office will mail the Sworn Statement and Compliance forms to each grant recipient after the grant recipient receives their matching grant funds. These forms should be returned to the Department of Insurance, Controller’s Office, 1201 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1201, Attn: Trina Moore. Failure by a grant recipient to file these reports after receipt of the grant check will result in the grant recipient being suspended from receiving future grant funds from any state agency. Volunteer Fire Department Fund: January — Applications are mailed to all rated fire departments March 1 — Postmark deadline date for application submission to DOI May 15 — Announcement of grant recipients Sept. 30 — Postmark deadline date for invoice submission to DOI Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund: Aug. 1 — Applications are mailed to all known rescue & EMS providers Oct. 1 — Postmark deadline date for application submission to DOI Dec. 15 — Announcement of grant recipients April 30 — Postmark deadline date for invoice submission to DOI Firemen’s Relief Fund: Aug. 15 — Report of Fire Conditions mailed to City and/or County Clerk/Finance Officers Oct. 31 — Postmark deadline for Report of Fire Conditions submission to DOI Jan. 31 — Postmark deadline for Report of Fire Conditions grace period Important Grant Application Dates If you are thinking about applying for one of OSFM’s grants, these dates are essential to the application process. Please note them on your calendar. To find out more information, including eligibility requirements, about the Volunteer Fire Department Fund, Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund or the Firemen’s Relief Fund, visit www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/FRGrants/FRG_home.asp. ...continued from page 1 for Iraq at FSEC. Early indications are that actual on-scene incident experience is lacking in Oman’s curriculum. Sloan and McCullogh suggested the use of simulation as a training technique. Sloan also shared North Carolina’s Unified Command and Control format and NIMS programs with them. The majority of their lead instruction staff is from the United Kingdom, which emphasizes the application of Incident Management. (NIMS materials and a quick overview of the concept were provided.) In the evenings and on the weekend, Kutty’s staff provided tours of the region. “The city areas appeared very westernized and the rocky coastline was beautiful,” said Sloan. “Their highway system was modern, four lanes with integrated roundabouts. But by far the most impressive sight was the Grand Mosque. The beauty and craftsmanship were magnificent.” Traveling in the Omani interior was more different than in the cities. “The terrain is rocky with very little vegetation. The secondary roads were adequate, but we were glad to be in a four-wheel drive vehicle. The major obstacle was the open range of livestock. Small herds of goats and donkeys were everywhere,” Sloan said. As the visit came to a close, the gentlemen met for an hour with General Zedjali, Minister of Civil Defense for Oman (the American equivalent would be Director of Homeland Security). Discussions became so involved that General Zedjali cancelled all of his morning commitments to continue the visit. Said Sloan, “He was intrigued with our NIMS Process Area/Complex Command and EOC operations. It was an honor that he presented us with a plaque, thanked us for coming and invited us to return and continue the sharing of information. In his final statement to us, he addressed us as North American Ambassadors of the Fire Service.” A view of Oman’s rocky coastline near the capitol of Muscat. Spring 2007 Safety was on everyone’s minds during the Gateway VII on Jan. 17 in Mooresville at the Charles Mack Citizen’s Center. By the end of the emergency service leadership conference, participants had found a renewed commitment to safety for our brothers and sisters in the fire and rescue services. While other issues were discussed, the primary focus was on the commitment to safety. The second year in Gateway’s “Twenty-five in Five!” campaign, which aims to reduce emergency service personnel injuries and deaths by 25 percent in five years, will focus on emergency vehicle operation. While 2006 emphasized vehicle rollover prevention, in 2007 we will focus on intersection safety and privately owned vehicle operations. In addition to vehicle safety, 2007 will also incorporate lifting safety for rescue/EMS. The action plan for accomplishing these goals involves education, training and regulation, with education and training being the main focus. During October 2007, a series of train-the-trainer courses will be offered across North Carolina on intersection safety and privately owned vehicle operations. The two-hour training classes will provide each participant with the materials to deliver this course in their communities. Course locations and times will be announced during the North Carolina Sate Firemen’s Association and North Association of Fire Chief ’s Conference in August, but most of the locations that offered courses in 2006 will again host the classes in 2007. We all realize that in order to reverse the trend of emergency services injuries, the culture in which we work on a daily basis must change — safety is a mindset, not a concept. This view must be adopted by current leadership to influence the tomorrow’s leaders. The unsafe work environment shows no difference between the career, the volunteer, fire or rescue, male or female employee; it is something that affects us all, and we all must adopt the safety mindset. As one member of the Gateway Meeting, I am proud to be a part of a group of dedicated persons involved in the protection of life and property with the realization that the first priority is the safety and protection our own. Mike Hill is a Risk Manager with the Volunteer Safety Worker’s Compensation Fund. Safety was Priority Issue at Gateway VII: “Twenty–Five in Five!” The North Carolina State Weekend at the National Fire Academy was held Jan. 5-7 in Emmitsburg, Maryland and was hosted by the Department of Insurance Office of State Fire Marshal. More than 240 students arrived and participated in courses during the weekend. Students also had the opportunity to network with colleagues in a unique learning environment. In addition to the coursework, students could attend social events where OSFM provided door prizes. Lodging, meals and classroom materials were provided by the National Fire Academy. Courses available included: Shaping the Future, Managing in a Changing Environment, Leadership I: Strategies for Company Success, Leadership II: Strategies for Personal Success, Leadership III: Strategies for Supervisory Success and Juvenile Fire-Setter Intervention Specialist I and II. Those interested in attending the North Carolina Weekend in 2008 can attain more information after Sept. 1 on the OSFM Web site, www.ncdoi.com/osfm. David Moore is a training specialist with OSFM. He can be reached at (919) 609-4794 or dmoore@ncdoi.net. North Carolina State Weekend at the National Fire Academy A group of students work to solve a problem during a small group session in the NFA Shaping the Future leadership class. Approximately 240 emergency personnel from across our state attended the N.C. State Weekend at the National Fire Academy during the first weekend in January. Pictured from left to right: Erik Schneider (Alamance Community FD), William Harrell (Fayetteville FD), Michael Bradshaw (Guil-Rand FD), Joseph Layne (Guil-Rand FD), Tony Holsclaw (Mountain View FD), Brad Faulk (Pleasant Garden FD). Two Receive Awards During Mid-Winter Chief’s Conference At the Mid-Winter Chief ’s Conference held in Atlantic Beach, Chief Jeffery C. Cash from the Cherryville Fire Department received the North Carolina Association of Fire Chief ’s Fire Chief of the Year Award. Chief Cash has been employed with the Cherryville Fire Department for 25 years and has served as chief for the past 21 years. He has an associate’s degree in fire protection technology and is currently enrolled at Gardner Webb University. In addition, this year Chief Cash will begin the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md. Chief Cash currently serves as North Carolina’s State Director to the National Volunteer Fire Council. He also serves on the NVFC executive committee and the NVFC Foundation board of directors. He was the founder of the North Carolina Gateway Project. He is on the NFPA 1001 committee and the NFPA technical correlation committee. Chief L. Glenn Jernigan of the Faison Fire Department received the North Carolina Association of Fire Chief ’s Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year award. Glenn exemplifies an outstanding record of involvement in the fire, rescue and police service since 1959, covering a span of 48 years. In 1968, the department broadened its scope of service to include a rescue division and was one of the first departments in the county to respond to medical emergencies. Glenn was elected assistant chief of the rescue division during the charter year. By the mid 1970’s, Glenn had gained the respect of his peers and developed as a seasoned leader in the department. He was elected fire chief and president of Faison Fire and Rescue Incorporated. Glenn recently retired on Jan. 1. He is a graduate of North Duplin High School and of James Sprunt Community College. Glenn is certified as an EMT, Firefighter I and II, Hazardous Materials Operations, Wildland Fire Suppression, Helicopter Safety, and Engineer. Congratulations to Chief Cash and Chief Jernigan! The Fire & Rescue Journal Q: Our department is a Class 9S with no fire hydrants. What can we do to prepare for a water haul inspection? A: There are still many areas in the state that have to “haul” water to fire sites due to the lack of available and/or accessible water sources nearby. Other reasons to haul may be a lack of sufficient equipment, apparatus and/or manpower to perform the duties associated with a water shuttle operation needed to gain credit on the water supply portion of the survey. For a department to successfully undergo a “water shuttle” survey, there are numerous requirements that must be met. We’ll briefly cover the highlights in this article and provide you with locations of additional information. In the NCRRS (North Carolina Response Rating System) process, four methods exist by which a department may attain a lower than 9S rating. Two of these methods require the movement of water from a creditable source by using tankers to transport water to the fire suppression apparatus on scene. We would first recommend that you review the water supply needs of your fire insurance district to determine what type and size flows you must protect. Next, determine if there are resources (apparatus, manpower, water supplies, etc.) available in you area and neighboring departments that better meet those needs through a water shuttle operation. Then, decide if you can develop a water shuttle operation that will suit the needs of your department in providing that protection. The following items should be considered when making this determination: • the number of tankers available in-house or from neighboring departments; • any automatic aid agreements with neighboring departments to supply needed resources for the operation; • whether or not adequate communications capabilities exist to handle the needs of the operation; • the availability of sufficient reliable water sources, such as pressure hydrants, dry hydrants and suction water points; • completion of Certification of Water Point, Verification of Water Point, and Agreements to Use Water Point forms; • the availability and accessibility of water supply points for use 24 hours a day, every day; • requirements for engines supplying water to arriving OSFM Welcomes Four New Employees Derrick S. Clouston, fire/rescue training specialist, Fire and Rescue Training and Inspections — Derrick Clouston started his career in the fire service in 1987 as a volunteer at Stoney Point Fire Department, and worked for five years with the City of Fayetteville Fire Department assigned to the Haz Mat team. He is currently an assistant chief with East Side Fire Department in Randolph County. His education includes an associate’s applied science degree in fire protection; a bachelor’s degree in public administration; state certification as an Instructor IV, Fire Officer III, and Haz Mat Specialist and several specialty instructor certifications. Clouston completed the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer course in January 2005 and is now enrolled in an MPA program. Clouston lives in Asheboro with his wife, Heather, and young son, Baron. Trisha Jogodka, administrative assistant, Engineering Division/ North Carolina Building Code Council — Before joining OSFM last November, Trisha Jogodka worked with the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. Her previous experience included customer service, purchasing, scheduling and corporate account management. Jogodka is a native North Carolinian. She lives in Zebulon with her husband Pete and their two children, Briana and Aidan. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, scrapbooking and reading. Jonathan Sowers, fire/rescue training specialist, Fire and Rescue Training and Inspections — Jonathan Sowers first joined the fire service in 1984 with the Welcome Fire Department, where he is still a member today. Prior to coming to OSFM, Sowers was a captain with the City of Lexington Fire Department where he worked since 1985. He has been an instructor since 1990. Sowers is a history buff, with a special interest in the Civil War era, and he also likes to play golf and bike. Bryant Waters, fire rating inspector, Ratings and Inspections — Bryant Waters started his career in the fire service as a volunteer at age 16. He has a total of eight years of career and volunteer fire and EMS experience, which he gained while working as a firefighter/paramedic with Greenville Fire and Rescue for five years and as a paramedic supervisor with Pitt County Emergency Management. Waters is currently a lieutenant with the Winterville Fire Department as well as an assistant chief with the Winterville EMS Department. He holds certifications as an EMT-Paramedic, NC Level II Firefighter and NC Level II Instructor, and has his associate’s applied science degree in fire protection technology from Wilson Technical Community College. Waters enjoys hunting, fishing, playing paintball and watching college football and basketball. Derrick Clouston Bryant Waters Trisha Jogodka Preparing for a Water Haul Inspection Inspection Tips Jonathan Sowers Spring 2007 tankers at the site, logistics for engine’s location, size, etc.; • the feasibility of putting this operation into place within a limited time; • the ability to provide minimum water flow of 250 GPM for two hours; • the ability to train regularly with agencies involved in maintaining efficiency of the operation. This is not an all-inclusive list of requirements needed to perform a successful water shuttle operation, for survey water supply credit; however, it should be the beginning of the list of issues your department should consider. Remember, the foremost consideration is safety — can the department provide this service safely while continuing to provide the best possible protection to the district? This question must be reevaluated continuously for the safety and well-being of all involved. If there is a department in your area currently using tankers and a water shuttle operation for grading credit, it might be valuable to contact that department and schedule a visit during a training evolution. Also, the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) regularly presents classes explaining the NCRRS process which includes water haul operations grading information. Another resource that OSFM can provide is its training DVD that depicts various methods of performing the required scenarios, which must be successfully demonstrated during a survey visit where a department attempts to receive water supply credit from a tanker and water shuttle operation. OSFM currently provides a copy of the video to county fire marshals; contact your county fire marshal to arrange to view the video. If your county fire marshal does not already have a copy, OSFM will provide one to the county office. Also, if you are unable to gain access to one of these DVDs through your county agency, contact OSFM’s Raleigh office for additional information at 919-661-5880. You can also find more information online at www.ncdoi. com/osfm. Once on OSFM’s Web site, select “What do I need to know about Fire Department Inspections and Ratings,” and then select “PreSurvey Package Formats” under the Forms section. Another helpful Web site for determining if a tanker water shuttle operation (for survey grading credit) may benefit your department is www.southern-fire. com/tankergpm. Chet Hill is a Fire Ratings Inspector with OSFM. He can be National News Organization Reports Malfunction of Personal Alert Safety Systems Used by Fire Service A recent article on MSNBC’s Web site shed light on an important issue that affects firefighters across the country. According to Bill Dedman’s investigative report, personal alert safety systems (PASS) that firefighters wear while responding to incidents have been malfunctioning, and PASS failures have caused an alarming 15 deaths since 1998. The MSNBC report highlighted a Center for Disease Control (CDC) investigation where high temperatures were revealed as impairing PASS performance and causing devastating malfunctions. While the MSNBC report brought the issue to the mainstream news, NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) has been working to educate firefighters about this issue since late 2005 when they published an alert notice entitled “PASS alarm signals can fail at high temperatures” on their Web site, www.nfpa.org. That’s when NFPA learned from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program that tests performed on PASS devices placed in a convection oven found the volume was substantially decreased in temperatures as low as 300° F — roughly the temperature a firefighter would face in the room next door to a room containing fire. While NIOSH tested only two models, the researchers believe that the results would be similar in other PASS systems. In a correctly working PASS device, a high-pitched signal will sound anytime a firefighter stops moving or anytime the emergency button is activated. Tests showed that the alarms did not activate or the volume was so low that they were not heard over the activity on scene. Tests also revealed that alarms could be muffled by a firefighter laying on the alarm. The 2007 edition of NFPA 1982 is now available and contains revisions providing for strengthened performance requirements and testing to address the alarm signal degradation issue identified in the alert notice. The new edition also addresses other issues that have been brought forth by NIOSH and others, including problems caused by vibration, probably during transportation, and water leakage into the electronic and power supply compartments. New NFPA 1982 standards state that during testing, the PASS must: 1. Be exposed to temperatures of 350° F for 15 minutes and then submersed 4.9 feet under water for 15 minutes for each of six cycles, examined for water ingress and operability, re-immersed for five minutes with power source compartment open. The device should then be removed and wiped dry, then the electronic compartment opened and examined for leaks. 2. Be exposed to temperatures of 500° F for five minutes in a hot air oven. The PASS must function at or above 95 decibels and electronic data logging must function. No part of the PASS can show signs of dripping, melting or igniting. 3. Be tumbled and/or vibrated in a rotating drum for three hours and must function at 95 decibels and electronic data logging must function properly. 4. Be attached to a test subject and evaluated in five positions (lying face down with arms extended, lying face up with body turned to the left, lying face up with body turned to the right, fetal right with knees drawn to chest and fetal left with knees drawn to chest) and the alarm signal must function at or above the required 95 decibels. The new testing requirements incorporate every problem identified in the investigations of all 15 deaths. While responding to fire incidents is always dangerous, and sometimes deadly, all firefighters deserve to have properly functioning PASS devices. The PASS testing requirements, along with other NFPA standards, strive to provide firefighters with the best possible protection and skills to safely protect their communities and themselves. The Fire & Rescue Journal Broken glass and shattered screen windows told a frightening story on the morning of March 28, 2006, at the Draper Inn Boarding House in Eden. Tenants living on the second floor dangled out of windows before jumping to safety as a fire in the building raged out of control. The blaze left more than 25 people homeless, several injured and one woman dead. Jada Nicholson was among the first residents to get out of the boarding house after she heard another resident yelling from the lobby at approximately 8:30 a.m. When Nicholson opened her door she saw a couch on fire in the lobby, and by the time she got out of the building, the fire had blocked the stairwell to the second floor. “I just knew there wasn’t any way anybody upstairs was going to get down that hall,” Nicholson said. Once outside, Nicholson’s fears were realized as six or more tenants hung out of windows and some began jumping. “I held on to the ledge and he sat in the window,” Amy Hooker said, describing how she and Billy Agee hung out of an apartment window trying to escape the fire. “There was just so much smoke, you couldn’t do anything,” Agee said. Hooker and Agee were lucky, neighbors and employees at Draper Lumber Company, directly across from the apartments, grabbed ladders and rushed to their aid. Witnesses said others weren’t as lucky. By 8:30 a.m. 15 calls to 911 had come into the Eden Police Department, some from neighbors but others from frantic tenants inside, Eden Police Captain Reece Pyrtle said. The first firefighters on scene were faced with heavy fire and dense, blinding smoke conditions, but they began rescue operations by placing a ladder to a second floor window to rescue occupants seeking escape and fresh air at upstairs windows. They also launched an aggressive interior search for known victims trapped. Entering the house on the first floor, fire attack and search crews were met with the same heavy smoke and heat conditions. While initial crews sought out residents and battled the blaze, the Eden Communications Center dispatched a second and third alarm bringing surrounding departments to the scene. As other crews and equipment from the Leaksville, Draper, Oregon Hill, Reidsville and Rockingham County fire departments along with the Eden Rescue Squad and Rockingham County Emergency Services arrived on scene, multi-level operations began with entry made from the exterior to the second floor. Crews searched for victims while navigating not only blinding smoke and intense heat, but also the complicated layout of 29 different apartments. Helping the search and rescue mission, attack crews placed a mechanical exhaust fan in the building’s stairway window. Determining how many victims remained inside the burning boarding house proved difficult since several jumped from windows, others were scattered throughout the scene and an occupant list was not forthcoming immediately. When emergency personnel arrived, Pyrtle said there were already several “walking wounded,” and the building was fully engulfed with pushing smoke and visible flames. Wayne Dunn was inside Draper Lumber Company when he saw a woman hanging from a blanket outside a second floor window. Dunn said a few people had gathered underneath to catch the woman but when she let go of the blanket she bounced off of an awning and hit the ground. “She hit the ground hard, I mean hard,” Dunn said. Officials said the woman was rushed to Morehead Memorial Hospital in Eden. According to Shirley Barber, the apartment manager, tenants had two exits — the front door and a side door. There were no fire continued on page 10... Looking Back: The Draper Inn Fire of 2006 Two colors of smoke indicate the two levels of fire progression during the Draper Inn Boarding House Fire. The brown smoke indicates structural components are involved on the first floor, while the dark black smoke tells crews that contents were involved on the second floor. Smoke analysis aided firefighters in establishing an operation strategy. Crews first on the scene faced blinding smoke conditions in the rush to begin rescue operations, while others attacking the fire itself found conditions to be no better . Spring 2007 Six Decades of Service: A Closer Look at the Winterville Fire Department About Winterville Fire Department Led by Chief Danny Coward, the Winterville Fire Department has a corps of 60 volunteer members and 15 junior firefighters. In addition, part-time employees cover one seat from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The department enthusiastically promotes training activities and is constantly seeking new members. Winterville firefighters currently respond to more than 450 alarms every year, and the department anticipates that this response will continue to increase by 15 to 20 percent each year for the next several years. The department not only responds to fire emergencies, but it also focuses on prevention through an aggressive fire prevention program that reaches out to nearly 1,800 school age children each school year. The department is also developing a program that reaches older adults. Since the beginnings of the Winterville Fire Department in the 1940s, its jurisdiction has changed dramatically. The majority of responses are to residential occupancies, although a growing number of responses are to motor vehicle collisions due to the continued growth of the community and increase in the volume of local traffic. Pitt Community College is also located within the department’s district, and over the years its enrollment has drastically increased, adding to the number of people on the roads. The members of the Winterville Fire Department pride themselves on several notable administrative accomplishments including their fundraising efforts and grant awards. Most recently, Winterville received the 2005 FEMA FIREACT grant worth more than $235,000 for firefighter safety. This grant provided funding to replace the department’s self-contained breathing apparatus, turnout gear, portable radios, training materials and rapid intervention equipment. Also in 2005, the department received the FEMA fire prevention and safety grant in excess of $26,000 and a non-matching grant of more than $5,000from the Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention program for fire prevention materials. Notable Incident Response The Winterville Fire Department has responded to several major incidents over the years. The first major fire occurred in 1973 at the Eastern Lumber warehouse, in which the response required drained the town’s water supply. The fire department requested that the police department ride through town and ask citizens not to use any water or flush toilets as the only elevated storage tank was pumped empty. Another well-known fire occurred in 1978 at the Coastal Chemical facility in Greenville. The fire originated in the office area and soon spread to what would be by current standards a large HAZMAT incident. During the 1999 hurricane season, Winterville conducted numerous rescue operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd; in fact, the Discovery Channel featured several of Winterville’s incident responses during this disaster. History of Winterville’s Apparatus During the early days of the department, Winterville firefighters responded to calls bringing a 30 gallon soda acid extinguisher. Members transported the extinguisher by actually pulling it by hand, carrying it in the trunk of a car or in a pickup truck With two swinging front doors for the trucks, Winterville’s first station was located on Railroad Street in a building that was originally a cannery. The second station was located nearby on the corner of Railroad and Main Streets. This is also the site of the newest station, which has six drive-through bays, sleeping quarters, EMS facilities as well as additional office space. During the last 60 years, Winterville has seen several generations of apparatus come and go. The first apparatus was a Chevrolet pumper with a Waterous mid-ship pump with a capacity of 500 gpm. The Winterville Rural Community Fire Association (WRCRF) raised funds for the truck and was able to purchase it in 1951 from American Fire Apparatus. Shortly thereafter, the Town of Winterville purchased a second truck. The next generation of apparatus began when the town bought a 1968 Howe 1,000 gpm pumper mounted on a Chevrolet chassis and the WRCRF added a 1970-1971 Howe 750 gpm pumper that was mounted on a Ford chassis. While the earlier trucks were red, the second generation began Winterville’s tradition of white fire trucks. The third generation of Winterville Fire Department apparatus began with the purchase of a 1991 E-One tanker. It carries 1,500 gallons of water and has a pump capacity of 450 gpm. The department still uses this truck today, and it effectively replaced two “water wagons” that had been with the department since the 1970s. Four years later, the department received two more E-One pumpers with a 1,250 gpm hale pump and a 1,000 gallon booster tank — one from the town and one from the WRCRF. The next additions came in 1998, when the WRCRF purchased a new Chevrolet Brush truck with a 150 gpm pump as well as class A foam capabilities and the town purchased a 1998 Hackney equipment truck that responds to structure fires and motor vehicle collisions. Most recently, the town placed into service a 2006 Sutphen engine that has a 1,500 gpm pump, 1,000-gallon booster tank, rescue style body, and an onboard foam system. David Moore is a training specialist with OSFM. He can be reached at (919) 609-4794 or dmoore@ncdoi.net. From time to time the Fire and Rescue Journal highlights various departments across the state. This issue, we will take a closer look at the Winterville Fire Department in eastern North Carolina. 10 The Fire & Rescue Journal ... continued from page 9. escapes outside of the building. Search crews were able to rescue four residents, while an additional eight residents jumped from second floor windows to safety. Tragically, after the primary search concluded and the residents were believed to be accounted for, the fire and smoke claimed the life of one resident. According to family members, Dorothy Grogan Southern moved into the apartment about three weeks prior to the fire. She lived in a first floor apartment, but according to survivors, the fire chased her up the stairwell into a second story apartment. Another victim in the apartment with Southern was able to jump to safety, but despite attempts to convince her to follow suit, Southern was too scared to jump. Casualties were not limited to residents. As the operation continued and support services arrived from the Eden Rescue Squad, Rockingham County Emergency Medical Services, Rockingham County Emergency Management and the Eden Fire Department Auxiliary, a rehabilitation and medical evaluation center was set up in the Rockingham County’s mobile rehab unit. Because the initial firefighters executed multiple entries into the structure before relief arrived from the second and third alarm companies, four firefighters required medical care beyond what they received on scene. Even before the flames were extinguished the City of Eden’s Police Department began its investigation into the fire by interviewing residents on scene — before information could be shared and/or tainted. Because of the extent of the fire and the fatality involved, the Arson Task Force Investigation Team was called in to assist. In conjunction with the State Bureau of Investigation, a thorough investigation was completed, and the probable cause of the blaze was determined to be improperly discarded smoking materials. The couch inside the main hallway was identified as the point of origin. The Draper Inn Boarding House fire taught the fire service several valuable lessons including the need for a more advanced accountability system and the importance of established automatic mutual aid. Although responders to the Draper Inn fire were well-trained and prepared, for many it was their first experience responding to a large scale fire, the magnitude of which highlighted the need for aggressive and specialized training for all departments, not just those located in a large city. The need for specialized equipment was also realized, including thermal imaging cameras to aid with searches in low- or no-visibility areas. Douglas Cline has been in the fire service since 1980 currently serving as chief of the Eden Fire Department and an adjunct faculty for Great Oaks Institute of Technology Public Safety Services Division in Cincinnati. He can be reached at dcline@townofchapelhill.org. At least nine residents of the home jumped from windows to safety, while rescuers found four others. Sadly, one resident perished in the blaze. Warrenton Rural VFD Holds Dedication Ceremony On Oct. 22, 2006, Warrenton Rural Volunteer Fire Department’s Chief Walter Gardner dedicated the department’s new fire station to “the loyal volunteers that have given their time and energy for the past 50 years as well as to our community and the citizens that we serve.” In addition to remarks made by Warrenton’s members, the following state and local officials also participated in the ceremony: North Carolina Senator Doug Berger, on behalf of Senate Leader Marc Basnight; North Carolina Representative Michael Wray; Dollie Burwell, on behalf of Congressman G. K. Butterfield; the Town of Warrenton’s Mayor Pro-Tem, Margaret Brit; Commissioner Barry Richardson, who also serves as Fire Commissioner; Pat Leroy, the American Red Cross; and Larry Hughes from the Office of State Fire Marshal. Soon after the ceremony’s opening remarks and dedication, people in attendance toured the facility for a firsthand look. More than just offices and storage rooms, the fire station houses a kitchen, bunk room and recreation room for firefighters’ use while on duty. The facility also has a conference room that is available for any organization to use. And while the engine companies and impressive state-of-the-art bays command attention, anyone who drives past the station after dark is sure to be inspired by the stained glass window made and donated by Warrenton artist David Guarducci. To defray some of the $1.6 million spent building the new facility, Warrenton’s Capital Campaign Committee plans to raise some $500,000, according to Dr. James E. Crenshaw, Jr., the committee’s leader. Although $1.6 million is a considerable amount of debt, the new station could have cost more — the furniture, equipment and other necessities were all donated. Warrenton Rural Volunteer Fire Department responded to 274 emergency calls in 2005. The department has 30 volunteer members who respond to incidents in the district’s 70-mile radius. Information excerpted from “Warrenton Rural VFD Holds Dedication Ceremony” by Peggy R. Shearin, Littleton Observer. Photo courtesy of The Warren Record. Spring 2007 11 Any structural live fire training event held across the state must now be reported to the Department of Insurance Office of State Fire Marshal. At the requests of the Fire and Rescue Commission and Certification Board, the Research and Program Development Section and the training and certification staff are conducting audits of each structural live fire training. As of Jan. 1, 2007, OSFM staff have performed nine audits and received notification of 76 live fires in the state. Many of the audits have turned up minor infractions, most of which dealt with water flow calculations. The auditors have taken the time to inform instructors of the correct calculations and are checking to make sure that the proper amount of water is on the ground both in supply and in available flow. It is the delivery agency’s responsibility to notify Scott Hackler at shackler@ncdoi.net or Kim Williams at kdorman@ncdoi.net at least 15 days prior to any live fire training if the burn is being run through a school. It is the responsibility of the lead live fire instructor to notify us at least 15 days in advance if there is not a delivery agency involved in the burn. Scott Hackler is a certification specialist for the central region with OSFM. He can be reached at (919) 661-5880 or shackler@ncdoi.net. Notification Required Prior to Live Fire Training Events Without a doubt, one of the highlights of my job with the Office of State Fire Marshal is having the opportunity to deliver the Live Fire Qualification class. I thoroughly enjoy getting the chance to meet firefighters and instructors from across the state and discuss not only issues concerning live fire training, but also the fire service in general. It is no exaggeration that the Live Fire Qualification is one of the most sought after courses delivered by our office. The time frame from the initial request for the class to the actual delivery of the LF course can often be nearly a year. This creates understandable frustration for instructors seeking this qualification. This issue is often compounded by classes that do not have the maximum number of students. It is disheartening to conduct a class that has several vacancies, knowing that these were available slots that others could have possibly utilized. Remember, we pre-test up to eight students, with six being the most allowed to sit for the class. Often, we see individuals take a chance, traveling a significant distance from their homes to sit for the pre-test, given no promise that they will be accepted into the class even if they secure a passing grade. More often than not, these folks end up making it into the class due to one of the other students that had been guaranteed a spot backing out or failing the pre-test. Of course, there are no guarantees for someone who takes the pre-test as an alternate, but they definitely have a much better chance of being in the class than the guy sitting at home. Of course there are two sides to this matter. The student must take the initiative to research the instructor training schedule found on the OSFM Web site at www.ncdoi.com/OSFM. This requires a little extra leg work on the part of the prospective student. Every scheduled live fire qualification is listed, along with the phone number of the respective contact person for that agency. A persistent individual will contact these agencies to inquire about vacancies in the class, either a student slot or as an alternate. Just because there are no slots available six months prior to the class does not mean that this will necessarily be the case three months or even three days out. The other side of this matter is the hosting agency. With the issues involved with securing the LF qualification course, the person in charge of arranging the class, whether the training officer, community college coordinator or the fire chief, tends to be extremely protective of his/her class slots. They are often hesitant to give a spot to an outsider until they are absolutely positive that they have satisfied their local needs. This is not at all a negative behavior as it is the coordinator’s duty to take care of his/her people. It only becomes an issue when the coordinator fails to notify prospective students of openings in the class. These openings often come about at the last minute, within days or even hours of the class starting. This does not mean that a determined and flexible individual could not be available to attend the class with minimum notification. There are coordinators that will not attempt to place alternates for the pre-test for a variety of reasons, again leaving a strong opportunity to conduct a class that is not full. The simple fact is that Live Fire Qualification is a very demanding class. The amount of work involved, both physically and mentally, coupled with the time constraints placed upon the class make this a difficult week, even with six students sharing the workload. Reducing the number of students not only leaves prospective participants missing an opportunity, but greatly increases the responsibilities of those students in the class. Let’s all make the effort to fill these qualification classes by placing the maximum number of students for the pre-test. Simply put, the more instructors that we can qualify, the safer live fire training will be in the state of North Carolina. Kevin McArthur is a training specialist with OSFM. He can be reached at (919) 609-4794 or kmcarthur@ncdoi.net. Live Fire Qualification Class – Perseverance Gets You in the Class, but Call Ahead for Reservations 1202 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1202 (919) 661-5880 www.ncdoi.com/osfm The Fire & Rescue Journal Mosques, rocky coastlines, four-wheel drives... and a major fire college. Where did one OSFM employee experience grand architecture, palm covered coasts and arid deserts all while on an official visit with Middle Eastern dignitaries? Read the front page article for details on Steve Sloan’s trip to Oman, where he provided a Western perspective on fire safety instruction to officials there. |
OCLC number | 18621903 |