Fire Trends for 2020
Data and software company ESO predicts that the trends that will have the biggest effect on fire departments in 2020 are accountability, provider safety, real-world data for recruiting, and community-risk reduction (CRR).
“We are seeing a cultural shift across a number of areas in fire departments in 2020,” Shelley Koegler, who is vice president of fire for ESO, said. “In particular, provider safety and leveraging data for hiring and managing the workforce will become more prevalent. Additionally, an increased focus on community-risk reduction will play a key role for organizations.”
Regarding accountability, ESO says city/county governments and other similar organizations will push fire departments to report on deployment efforts and responses to emergency situations. This will focus on when and how dollars are spent and requires better documentation and tracking of responses, resources and equipment. Additionally, there will be a more in-depth evaluation of the deployment module to adhere to standards.
Provider safety encompasses numerous areas, including cancer awareness, mental health and violence against first responders. Technology and discrete data will be used to identify specific areas of concern and exposure to risk for providers. Additionally, a cultural and systemic shift by responders to track and report exposures and events that will help with retention and longevity is predicted.
Data will help departments be smarter and more efficient with recruiting to improve retention rates.
An even greater focus on CRR will include injury prevention and shared accountability through local, regional and national partnerships.
For more information, visit eso.com.
NVFC 2020 Training Summit
Registration is open for the National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) 2020 Training Summit, which will take place June 26–27 in Orlando, FL. The conference is open to all volunteer firefighters, EMS providers, department leadership and other fire department personnel from across the United States. Travel stipends are available.
The classroom-based event is an opportunity to learn from leading subject-matter experts about critical fire service topics, to share ideas and best practices and to network with responders. Attendees can select as many as seven breakout sessions to attend, including sessions that address behavioral health, recruitment and retention, leadership and roadway safety.
For more information, visit nvfc.org/summit.
CFSI Names Sarbanes, Langford Recipients
The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) selected Sioux Falls, SD, Fire Rescue, the Clayton, DE, Fire Company, and the Prince George’s County, MD, Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department as the recipients of the 2020 Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award. Named in honor of former Maryland Senator Paul Sarbanes, the award recognizes fire departments and organizations for leadership in advancing firefighter health and safety.
Representing career, volunteer and combination fire departments, the three recipients developed important health and safety programs for their personnel that are based on the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives that were established at the 2004 Tampa Summit. The initiatives form the criteria for the award.
In addition, the CFSI Board of Directors selected Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell as the recipient of the 2020 CFSI/Motorola Solutions Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award. Established in 1998, the award recognizes fire service leaders for their work in advancing the readiness and response capabilities of the country’s fire and emergency services.
Moore-Merrell began her career in the fire service in 1987 with the Memphis, TN, Fire Department, where she served as a fire-paramedic. In 1993, she began a 26-year career with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). Moore-Merrell focused much of her work in the area of data analysis, system performance measurements and staff deployment models. Her contributions in these areas of research had a significant impact in the fire service, changing practices, policies, standards and laws that advanced the health and safety of the country’s firefighters.
Moore-Merrell is respected for her contributions in fire service-based EMS, having established agendas and contributed to policy development that led to enhancements in the delivery of fire service-based EMS.
“I can say without hesitation that Dr. Moore-Merrell has dedicated her life’s work to improving the performance of the fire service and protecting our country’s first responders and citizens,” said Chief Russ Sanders (ret), who nominated her for the award. “I know of no one who has worked harder or smarter than she has on behalf of our firefighters and the citizens of both the United States and Canada.
In 2019, Moore-Merrell retired from the IAFF and founded the International Public Safety Data Institute. The nonprofit organization is dedicated exclusively for scientific purposes that provide analytical tools and information to the public-safety sector to improve how to evaluate risks, deploy resources and respond to emergencies.
The award presentations will take place at the 32nd Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner on April 30, 2020, in Washington, DC.
For more information, visit cfsi.org.
This Month in Fire History
March 1, 1911—The Weeks Act authorizes federal and state cooperation in forest fire protection
March 5, 1770, Boston—A false alarm leads to confrontations that result in the Boston Massacre
March 10, 1941, Brockton, MA—The Strand Theater fire roof collapse kills 13 firefighters
March 17, 1631, Cambridge, MA—The first fire prevention legislation was passed
March 18, 1996, Chesapeake, VA—Advance Auto Parts fire kills two firefighters
March 19, 1896, New York—Insurance groups form a committee to design what will become the NFPA
March 22, 2018, York, PA—Piano warehouse collapse kills two firefighters
March 24, 2018, Kanawha County, WV—Apparatus crash kills two volunteer firefighters
March 25, 1911, New York—The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 145
March 25, 1990, New York—The Happy Land social club fire kills 87
Courtesy of NFPA
Firehouse Staff
Content written and created by Firehouse Magazine editors.
