For the Record 2/21

DHS Tests New Firefighter Tracking Technology

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) joined forces with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA JPL) to develop and test critical technology that will allow first responders to more accurately locate their team members in burning buildings.

The Precision Outdoor and Indoor Navigation and Training for Emergency Responders (POINTER) command station, transmitters, and receivers were deployed in a five-level, 8,000-square-foot structure that’s meant to represent a residential home. The system tracked multiple first responders from a standoff distance of up to 70 meters and was able to accurately locate the responders in 3D within 1 meter—in many cases, within just centimeters—throughout all levels of the building.

S&T and NASA JPL plan operational field testing in Spring/Summer 2021.

For more information, visit dhs.gov/science-and-technology/pointer.

NFPA Replaces 2021 Conference & Expo with Virtual Series

With the continued uncertainty of live events stretching well into 2021, the NFPA canceled its 2021 NFPA Conference & Expo and will replace it with the 125th Anniversary Conference Series, which will be a year-long, targeted, virtual experience.

The conference series will feature education sessions for specific areas of expertise, networking events and product showcases. The series will culminate with the return of an in-person event in Boston in 2022. That event will serve to recognize the 125th anniversary of the NFPA.

The NFPA also announced that the organization’s annual business meeting will take place virtually this year, too. It will convene during the week of June 21, 2021.

For more information and the latest updates, visit nfpa.org/conference.

UL FSRI Launches Fire Pattern Course for Fire Investigators

To aid fire investigators in recognizing and explaining the effect of fixed ventilation on fire damage patterns in residential structures, UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute (FSRI) released the new “Impact of Ventilation on Fire Damage Patterns” course. The free course, which includes a review of fire dynamics in structures that addresses ventilation-limited fires and why they are so prevalent, now is available via the UL FSRI Fire Safety Academy.

After taking this course, fire investigators will be able to:

Explain how fires start, spread and interact with a structure using the basic principles of fire dynamics
Recognize the effect of ventilation on the fire damage and fire patterns within a structure
Analyze fire damage and fire patterns within a structure to determine the fire’s origin

For more information on the new course, visit ULFirefighterSafety.org

Murkowski to Chair Congressional Fire Service Caucus

The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) announced that Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska will serve as the chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus for the 117^th Congress. Since joining the U.S. Senate in 2002, Murkowski has been a strong advocate for the nation’s fire and emergency services. In 2019, Murkowski was named CFSI’s Legislator of the Year in recognition of her work on behalf of the nation’s firefighters and emergency services personnel.

Bill Webb, who is the executive director of the CFSI, said, “Senator Murkowski has worked tirelessly in the Senate in support of initiatives to help the fire and emergency services. Her commitment to advancing public safety through bipartisanship makes her well-prepared to lead the Congressional Fire Services Caucus in the 117th Congress.”

For more information, visit cfsi.org.

IAFF Launches Financial Fitness Toolkit

The IAFF Financial Corporation introduced a Financial Fitness toolkit for firefighters. The educational resource includes advice and tips for managing finances.

The five modules are part of a planned series that will cover financial topics that are relevant for members, whether they are starting their career or nearing retirement.

For more information, visit iaff.org.

Line-of-Duty Deaths

22 U.S. firefighters recently died in the line of duty. Twenty firefighters died after contracting COVID-19, one died from a health-related issue and one died during fireground operations. This issue of Firehouse is dedicated to these firefighters. For the latest on COVID-19-related LODDs, visit firehouse.com/covid-19.

LT. DONALD BEAUCHENE, 54, of the Warren, OH, Fire Department, died on Nov. 17. He was hospitalized on Nov. 10 after believing that he was suffering from symptoms of a cold for the week before contracting COVID-19.

FIREFIGHTER/FIRE INSPECTOR DAVID JERALD TOMLINSON, 71, of the Poynette Dekorra, WI, Fire Department, died on Dec. 6. Tomlinson contracted COVID-19 on Nov. 11 while performing fire inspections for the department.

FIREFIGHTER DONALD DOWNS, 69, of the Saragossa Volunteer Fire Department in Nauvoo, AL, died on Dec. 8. While attending mandatory training on Nov. 17, Downs contracted COVID-19 from attendees at the exercise.

CAPT. LEO W. WERNER, 67, of the Scales Mound, IL, Fire Protection District, died on Dec. 10. Werner responded to a medical call at a residence on the evening of Dec. 9. After returning home, he suffered an apparent heart attack and died shortly after midnight.

CHIEF ROBERT “ROB” ORKIES, 55, of the Zoneton Fire protection District in Shepherdsville, KY, died on Dec. 11. Orkies contracted COVID-19 while on duty while attending mandated fire department meetings and other fire department functions on Nov. 9.

CHIEF EMERITUS LEE WITMAN, 88, of the Colonial Park Fire Company in Harrisburg, PA, died on Dec. 11. While performing in-station duties on Dec. 6, Witman contracted COVID-19.

FIREFIGHTER EDWARD HINE, 79, of the Colonial Park Fire Company in Harrisburg, PA, died on Dec. 16. While performing in-station duties on Dec. 13, Hine contracted COVID-19.

FIREFIGHTER RONALD STEVEN PERRY, 57, of the East Sullivan County Volunteer Fire Department in Bristol, TN, died on Dec. 17. Perry responded to a mutual aid call of a building fire on Nov. 15. He and two other firefighters subsequently contracted COVID-19.

CAPT. RANDY ROBINSON, 64, of the Fort Worth, TX, Fire Department, died on Dec. 17. Robinson contracted COVID-19 while on duty at the fire station on Nov. 15.

CHIEF ROLAND BROOKS, 82, of the Grant Township Fire Department in Rothbury, MI, died on Dec. 20. Brooks contracted COVID-19 while on-duty on Nov. 28. He was admitted to the hospital on Dec. 5.

MAJOR ANDREW “ANDY” P. DAVIS, 45, of the Oklahoma City Fire Department, died on Dec. 24. On Dec. 9, Davis contracted COVID-19 while providing emergency medical care to a patient who tested positive for the virus.

SENIOR AIRMAN/FIREFIGHTER LOGAN YOUNG, 30, of the 167^th Airlift Wing Fire Department of the West Virginia Air National Guard, died on Dec. 27. Young responded as mutual aid to a barn fire in Kearneysville, WV. He was killed while battling the blaze when a beam fell on him. The cause of the fire was determined to be arson.

FIREFIGHTER STEPHEN SUNDAY, 28, of the Scranton, PA, Fire Department, died on Dec. 29. Sunday contracted COVID-19 while on duty on Dec. 20.

CHIEF DARRELL WOODARD, 66, of the Savannah Volunteer Fire Department in Sylva, NC, died on Dec. 29. Woodard responded to a call for a smell of smoke in a building on Dec. 3. All four firefighters who responded to this incident, including Woodard, tested positive for COVID-19.

FIREFIGHTER/EMT BRYAN “HAMMY” P. HAMILTON, 42, of the Naval District of Washington Fire and Emergency Services in Indian Head, MD, died on Jan. 1. Hamilton contracted COVID-19 while on duty on Dec. 14. He died at the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center from complications of the virus.

CAPT. GEORGE A. ROQUE, 57, of the Los Angeles Fire Department, died on Jan. 1. While on duty on Dec. 2, Roque contracted COVID-19 from a patient who was known to have the virus.

FIREFIGHTER JOHN HOWELL CLIFT, 64, of the Rural Metro Fire Department in Knoxville, TN, died on Jan. 2. Clift contracted COVID-19 while on-duty on Nov. 21. He was hospitalized in early December and died from the virus one month later.

FIREFIGHTER MARK “DEWEY” E. KULP, 52, of the Reading, PA, Department of Fire and Rescue Services, died on Jan. 5. On Dec. 8, Kulp transported at least two patients who tested positive for COVID-19 to hospitals. He also evaluated a patient on scene who possibly had the virus. He subsequently contracted the disease.

FIREFIGHTER LEONARD L. CONEY, 41, of the Shreveport, LA, Fire Department, died on Jan. 6. Coney treated and transported a COVID-19 patient on Dec. 23 and another on Dec. 25. He subsequently contracted the virus.

CAPT. LLOYD LOSINGER, 60, of the Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District, died on Jan. 6. While performing fire inspections on Dec. 4, Losinger contracted COVID-19.

CHIEF DANNY WATKINS, 67, of the San Benito, TX, Fire Department, died on Jan. 12. Watkins contracted COVID-19 while on duty on Dec. 14.

CHIEF RONALD “RONNIE” GENE SPITZER, 65, of the Rocky Top, TN, Fire Department, died on Jan. 13. Spitzer responded to a medical call on Dec. 11. It later was determined that the patient had COVID-19. Spitzer subsequently contracted the virus.