For the Record 2/23

Mobile Cancer Awareness/Prevention Program

A nationwide effort to educate firefighters to cancer threats that they face and the ways that they can mitigate their risk is underway. The Go Green Clean campaign’s first of many Green Fire Trucks began its journey to firehouses to deliver a multipronged initiative that educates and trains.

Seeking 501(c)(3) charitable organization status, Go Green Clean is the brainchild of the Illinois Firefighter’s Association. During stops at fire stations, Go Green Clean will promote the 11 Best Practices for Preventing Firefighter Cancer that were developed by the Volunteer and Combination Officers Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the National Volunteer Fire Council. That said, the focus of the Green Fire Truck’s visits is decontamination after a fire. This includes video presentations on monitors that are installed on the apparatus and training on decontamination procedures. Decon equipment and supplies will be provided at no charge to each department that the Green Fire Truck visits.

Alexis Fire Equipment Company donated the apparatus that was converted into the Green Fire Truck. The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, the Illinois Fire Service Institute and MABAS Illinois provided training and equipment distribution to the program. The Firefighter Cancer Support Network assisted in the training of the campaign’s instructors in awareness and prevention measures.

The campaign seeks to partner with other foundations to put a fleet of Green Fire Trucks on the road and to get decontamination kits into every firehouse.

For more information, contact John Swan at [email protected].

Daytona Speedway, Charlotte F.D. Go Electric

Daytona International Speedway (DIS), which is home to the NASCAR Cup Series’ Daytona 500, added REV Fire Group’s all-electric Vector pumper to its fleet for 2023. The rig, which will be used at the 500 as well as at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Coke Zero Sugar 400, is said to align with DIS’ sustainability initiatives.

The Charlotte, NC, Fire Department ordered a Vector in conjunction with the development of its all-electric Station 30. The new firehouse is set to open in 2024.

For more information, go to revgroup.com.

Inaugural NVFC Wildland Symposium

The National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) inaugural Regional Wildland Symposium (March 17–18, 2023, Box Elder, SD) will be wildland fire-focused and provide breakout sessions that will cover wildland fire mitigation and response and two days of training. Wildland firefighters and other stakeholders from across the Plains region will share best practices.

To register for the symposium, go to nvfc.org/symposium.

Folds of Honor Scholarships to Firefighter/EMS Families

Building on its custom of providing scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen and disabled U.S. service members, Folds of Honor now includes families of first responders, including firefighters, EMTs, paramedics and police.

“This decision to launch our first responder scholarships is in reverence to those who paid the ultimate price on Sept. 11, 2001,” Folds of Honor Founder and CEO Lt. Col. Dan Rooney says. “Without question, it will let first responders and their families know that they are

not alone.”

Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 44,000 scholarships that totaled nearly $200 million since the organization’s inception in 2007. Minority recipients represent 41 percent of all scholarships awarded.

All applications must be completed and submitted using the online application portal, which can be accessed at foldsofhonor.org/scholarships.

Folds of Honors needs corporate partners. Corporations that are interested can contact the foundation at [email protected].

U.S. Police & Fire Championships

Registration is open for the 56th U.S. Police & Fire Championships, which will be held June 10–17, 2023, in San Diego. The sports that will be featured include baseball, bench press, bowling, CrossFit, dodgeball, golf, pickleball, tennis and water polo. Firefighters, EMTs, members of law enforcement, customs and correctional officers and full-time employees (active and retired) of any eligible agency or organization in the capacity of 9-1-1 dispatchers, detention-custodial officers, crime scene investigators and lifeguards can participate.

To learn more and to register, go to cpaf.org/register-for-events.

Kinney Elected to NREMT Board

Kraig Kinney, who is Indiana’s state EMS director, was elected to the board of directors for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). He began his four-year term on Jan. 1, 2023. Kinney replaces Kyle Thornton, who is EMS bureau chief for the New Mexico Department of Health and who served on the NREMT board since January 2015.

Kinney was named Indiana’s state EMS director in 2020 after serving as the deputy general counsel for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security for two years. Kinney has been a certified EMT since 1991, a paramedic since 1994 and an EMS instructor since 1996. He was named Indiana’s 2008 EMS Instructor of the Year.

Line-of-Duty Deaths

11 U.S. firefighters died in the line of duty. Five died from health-related incidents, three died during fireground operations, two died during training and one died during a water/ice rescue. This issue of Firehouse is dedicated to these firefighters

CHIEF TROY DETTINGER, 55, of the Union Fire & Hose Co. #1 of Dover, PA, died on Nov. 30. At approximately 1:23 a.m., Dettinger responded to an EMS call at a residence. After the call, he returned home. At approximately 9:30 a.m., police performed a welfare check after Dettinger didn’t report to work. He was found deceased in his home from an apparent heart attack.

CAPT. ROBERT MOORE, 56, of the Kennett, MO, Fire Department, died on Dec. 4. On Dec. 3, Moore responded to a residential fire. At 6:30 a.m. the next day, while at home, he suffered an apparent heart attack and passed away.

ASSISTANT CHIEF ZACHARY PARIS, 36, and FIREFIGHTER MARVIN GRUBER, 59, of the Community Fire Company of New Tripoli, PA, died on Dec. 7. Paris and Gruber responded to a residential fire with possible entrapment. Approximately one hour into the fire, maydays were received from the two men. Rapid intervention teams went to rescue them. Paris and Gruber were removed and immediately transported to St. Luke’s Hospital-Miners Campus. Both firefighters were pronounced dead a short time later. Paris also was a career member of the Frederick County, MD, Division of Fire and Rescue Services.

FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC CHARLES SWANK, 39, of the Washington Township, OH, Fire Department, died on Dec. 8. While attending department-mandated training, Swank reportedly suffered a heart attack. He was transported immediately to the local hospital, where he passed away a short time later.

TRAINING OFFICER BRUCE LANG, 68, of the Pine Haven, WY, Volunteer Fire Department, died on Dec. 15. After being paged to respond, Lang arrived in his private vehicle at the scene of where an individual who had been driving an ATV fell through the ice of a lake. While attempting to rescue the victim, the vehicle that Lang was in also broke through the ice. The initial victim was rescued by fellow firefighters, but Lang didn’t survive

CAPT. WALKER HILL, 48, of the Baton Rouge, LA, Fire Department, died on Dec. 17. While on duty on Dec. 15, Hill suffered a medical emergency. He was treated immediately and then transported to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. A cerebrovascular accident was suspected. He passed away two days later.

FIREFIGHTER WILLIAM MOON II, 47, of FDNY, died on Dec. 19. On Dec. 12, Moon was preparing for a drill inside of the firehouse when he fell approximately 20 feet and suffered a serious head injury. He was treated immediately by his fellow firefighters and then rushed to NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County in critical condition. On Dec. 16, he was declared brain-dead.

FIREFIGHTER/EMT BRIAN REHNBERG, 50, of the North Park Fire Protection District in Machesney Park, IL, died on Dec. 25. Rehnberg responded to an activated alarm with carbon monoxide present. After the incident, he returned home. At approximately 2:30 p.m., he was found unresponsive by his wife. He was transported immediately to the local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased from an apparent heart attack.

FIREFIGHTER MATTHIAS WIRTZ, 46, of the North Haven, CT, Fire Department, died on Dec. 26. Wirtz responded to a reported structure fire at a house. While working on the exterior of the house operating the engine pump, he became ill and was transported immediately to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he passed away from an apparent heart attack.

CHIEF LARRY PEASLEY, 76, of the Maroa Countryside Fire Protection District in Maroa, IL, died on Jan. 4. On Dec. 7, Peasley reported to the fire station and began to don his gear to respond as mutual aid at a structure fire that was reported by the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department. He collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. CPR was performed immediately, and Peasley was rushed to the hospital, where he remained until he passed.