Fire & rescue journal

              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.