LVFR Honors Fallen Firefighters
Las Vegas Fire & Rescue (LVFR) Engineer John Banks created the sculpture at the center of Firefighters Memorial Park located at 1668 Redwood Street, just one block west of Fire Station 6. The sculpture, which features a firefighter’s helmet atop an ax into a straight bore tip nozzle, is surrounded by six monuments with the names of fallen firefighters of southern Nevada. There is also one monument dedicated to the fallen 343 FDNY firefighters of 9/11. The monuments are connected by a metal “large-diameter hose.”
IAFF Goes Passionately Pink
Throughout October, firefighters across the country sported the color pink in campaigns to fight breast and other cancers. As part of this effort, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) went Passionately Pink during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to support Susan G. Komen in its mission to end breast cancer.
Now in its third year, this breast cancer awareness campaign was launched after the IAFF passed a resolution that encourages IAFF members to support breast cancer awareness and fundraising. Passionately Pink provides an easy and fun framework to contribute and engage communities in the cause. In 2012, IAFF affiliates were the number-one fundraisers for Susan G. Komen Passionately Pink, raising more than $54,000 (plus an additional $54,000 for the IAFF Charitable Foundation). This year, the goal was to increase donations to a total of $150,000.
“IAFF members have a long history of giving selflessly, on and off the job,” said IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “Because their communities hold them in such high esteem, firefighters can have a profound effect in the fight against breast cancer and other cancers.” Funds raised are split equally between Komen to help support national breast cancer research and support, and local, screening and treatment programs, and the IAFF Charitable Foundation to support IAFF members and their families battling cancer.
NFPA Announces National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has announced its first national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day (Wildfire Preparedness Day) will take place on Saturday, May 3, 2014.
This year, the U.S. has seen more than 65,000 wildfires burn more than nine million acres, affect thousands of lives and create millions of dollars of damage to homes and structures, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. During national Wildfire Preparedness Day, communities across the U.S. are encouraged to participate in mitigation projects to help reduce the risk of wildfire damage to their homes and neighborhoods.
Projects on May 3 can range from a short time commitment up to an entire day and can be undertaken by individuals or groups. Potential projects include hosting a chipping day, distributing wildfire safety information to neighbors, organizing brush clean up and more. Residents of all ages are invited to join in the effort. A list of project ideas is available at www.nfpa.org/wildfirepreparednessday.
The 2014 Wildfire Preparedness Day comes on the heels of NFPA’s Colorado Wildfire Preparedness Day of Service that was piloted in May 2013 where nearly 600 volunteers participated in more than 16 projects across the state.
Learn more about the 2014 national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day at www.nfpa.org/wildfirepreparednessday.
The FireStore.com, NASCAR Driver Support NFFF
TheFireStore.com was the primary sponsor of T.J. Bell’s No. 40 Chevrolet Camaro fielded by The Motorsports Group during the 5-Hour ENERGY 200 at Dover International Speedway. TheFireStore.com joined forces with Hero Energy Shot to draw attention to the Memorial Weekend where the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation honored 81 Fallen Firefighters at the National Memorial on Sunday, October 6.
“I was really excited to have TheFireStore.com as my sponsor,” said Bell. “I have always supported our men and women in uniform and I couldn’t be more proud to have the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, TheFireStore.com and Hero Energy Shot all together on my car. Starting October 1, Hero Energy Shot will be donating 10 cents from every bottle sold via TheFireStore.com for 12 months with the goal of selling one million bottles in order to raise $100,000 for NFFF.”
“For more than a decade TheFireStore.com has answered the call to support the fundraising efforts of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation,” said James A. Witmer, Chairman of Witmer Public Safety Group, Inc. “We have continued to deepen our relationship and support as the company itself continues to grow. This unique partnership with Hero Energy Shot and our sponsorship of T.J. Bell’s No. 40 Chevrolet Camaro reflects a new level in our efforts on behalf of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.”
Firefighter Receives Prestigious Air Force Award
Senior Master Sergeant Timothy Nicholson was one of 10 airmen from the 167th Airlift Wing, Martinsburg, WV, who received one of the Air National Guard’s most prestigious awards for actions during an in-flight incident while overseas. Nicholson, who is also a lieutenant in the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, and his crew received the 2013 Earl T. Ricks Award for Outstanding Airmanship for their actions during an emergency incident on April 19, 2013.
The crew’s quick thinking and exemplary teamwork allowed all of its members to return safely to base after their C-5 Galaxy aircraft suffered multiple bird strikes during takeoff that severely damaged two of its engines. While airborne, the crew quickly assessed the situation and was able to land and safely evacuate the aircraft.
The Earl T. Ricks award, a national award for Air National Guard personnel, was established in 1954 in honor of Maj. Gen. Earl T. Ricks who served as chief of the Air Force Division, National Guard Bureau.
This Month in Fire History
December 1, 1958, Chicago, IL
Our Lady of the Angels school fire kills 95
December 2, 1913, Boston, MA
Arcadia Hotel fire kills 28
December 5, 1876, Brooklyn, NY
Brooklyn Theater fire kills 295
December 7, 1946, Atlanta, GA
Winecoff Hotel fire kills 119
December 16, 1835, New York, NY
Great New York fire destroys New York Stock Exchange
December 18, 1964, Fountaintown, IN
Nursing home fire kills 20
December 20, 1970, Tucson, AZ
Pioneer Hotel fire kills 28
December 22, 1910, Chicago, IL
Stockyard cold storage fire kills 21 firefighters
December 30, 1903, Chicago, IL
Iroquois Theater fire kills 602
Courtesy of NFPA
For details on fires that occurred 100 years ago this month, turn to Paul Hashagen’s “Rekindles” on page XXX.
