Firehouse to Partner with RFA
Firehouse, the nation’s leading fire service brand in print, online and with its live events, has announced a strategic partnership with the Rural Firefighting Academy (RFA). This new alliance and learning initiative allows the RFA to leverage the marketing reach and content of Firehouse to broaden its delivery of top-quality online training and education programs to small-community fire departments through its new website, LiveFireTraining.com.
“We’re very excited by Firehouse’s commitment to support us, helping us to realize the full potential of our online training program,” said Dominic Colletti, chief training officer at RFA. “The Rural Firefighting Operations online course provides a unique solution to small-community fire department training problems of tight budgets, travel obstacles and member availability.”
The LiveFireTraining.com website and Rural Firefighting Operations online course are available for immediate use. The 17 module online course and chalkboard presentation include the newly revised workbook, The Rural Firefighting Handbook, and offer the flexibility volunteer firefighters need to learn at their own pace and receive a certificate from RFA upon successful completion of course module tests.
“First responders require ongoing training and we’re excited to help bring new and affordable educational opportunities to rural firefighting departments, where they need it most,” said Firehouse Group Publisher Greg Toritto.
This partnership will include collaborative efforts in the development of online education with new courses and training by award-winning instructors with experience in many facets of safety and rescue.
“It’s part of a larger training mission we plan to offer over the next year and beyond,” said Toritto.
Marinucci Named Chief Executive of FDSOA
Richard Marinucci has been named Chief Executive of the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA). Marinucci, who has served for 24 years as chief of the Farmington Hills (MI) Fire Department, replaces Bob Finley, who retired on Sept. 30.
Marinucci said he is looking forward to working with the FDSOA Board of Directors and membership to promote the role of safety officers and “make sure the firefighters go home at the end of the day.”
Marinucci’s wife, Linda Stone, will serve as administrative assistant. Together Marinucci and Stone will oversee the FDSOA’s membership benefits and certification programs and two conferences, including the 26th annual Apparatus Symposium to be held in January. Marinucci and Stone previously worked together managing the Everyone Goes Home program for three years.
Marinucci also is an adjunct instructor at the Eastern Michigan University Fire Staff and Command program and has served as the chairman of the Regional Alliance for Firefighter Training. He is a past president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, serving 1997-98.
The FDSOA was established in 1989 as a non-profit association. Its mission is to promote safety standards and practices in the fire, rescue and emergency services community. The FDSOA is dedicated to the issues that affect Safety Officers in protecting and promoting the safety and health responsibilities in fire departments across North America.
World Rescue Challenge
The 2013 World Rescue Challenge was held in Clearwater, FL, October 27 through November 2. The North American Vehicle Rescue Association in partnership with the City of Clearwater hosted the Challenge, which marked the first time the prestigious international event was held in the United States.
Clearwater’s Harborview Center and Coachman Park were transformed into a multi-staged disaster site as firefighters and medical rescuers from all over the world took part in the week-long training event that included the “World Auto Extrication Challenge” and the “World Trauma Challenge.” Spectators were also treated to a water-rescue demonstration from the United States Coast Guard and a swift water marine rescue demonstration by units from various local fire departments. A high-angle rope rescue and below-ground victim evacuation demonstration were performed by various elite Urban Search & Rescue units from all around the world.
The team from Royal Berkshire took home the overall top honors with South Wales taking the runner-up spot and Catalunya Terrassa placing third. Miami Dade, FL, was the top U.S. team finishing in sixth place. Royal Berkshire won the Technical Award competition, while South Wales took home the Command and Medical awards.
Line-of-Duty Deaths
Nine U.S. firefighters recently died in the line of duty. Three career firefighters, one paid-on-call and five volunteer firefighters died in nine separate incidents. Two deaths were the result of accidents, six deaths were health related and one death was the result of direct fireground operations.
CAPTAIN RICHARD FLOERSCH, 59, of the Milan, TN, Fire Department died on Oct. 2. Floersch suffered an apparent heart attack while on duty at the fire station.
CHIEF JOHN ALLISON, 51, of the Custer, MI, Fire Department died on Oct. 14. On Oct. 7, Allison responded on a mutual aid request for assistance at vehicle accident. The following day, Allison suffered a heart attack at home. He was transported to Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital and later transferred to a hospital in Grand Rapids, where he died.
CAPTAIN DAVID HEATH, 48, of the New Hanover County Fire Rescue Department in Wilmington, NC, died on Oct. 14 after suffering an apparent heart attack during department training.
FIREFIGHTER JANTZEN MURRELL FRAZIER, 28, of the Oden Ridge Fire and Rescue Department in Eva, AL, died on Oct. 17. While responding to a structure fire, the apparatus Frazier was operating left the roadway, overturned and struck a utility pole. Frazier was the only occupant of the apparatus and was killed instantly.
FIREFIGHTER LEROY MURPHY JR., 56, of the Gettysburg, OH, rural Fire Department died on Oct. 20. On Oct. 18, Murphy responded to a farm equipment fire. The following day, Murphy became ill while teaching at the local fire academy. Fellow firefighters provided immediate care and transported him to a hospital, where he died.
LIEUTENANT ARLIE HILL, III, 37, of the Whitley City, KY, Fire Department died on Oct. 27. On Aug. 30, Hill and another firefighter observed a fire at residential structure. The two initiated an interior search of the residence and were caught by a rapidly progressing fire. The other firefighter rescued Hill from the burning residence. Hill suffered severe burns and was transported to a hospital, where he died.
FIREFIGHTER BLAINE E. WILDNAUER JR., 58, of the Fox Township Volunteer fire Department in Kersey, PA, died on Nov. 2. Wildnauer suffered an apparent heart attack while assisting with patient loading at the scene of a two-car accident. Immediate aid was rendered and he was transported to a hospital, where he died.
LIEUTENANT JAMES MICHAEL HILL, 52, of the Sycamore Township Fire and EMS Department in Cincinnati, OH, died on Nov. 5 at home of apparent cardiac arrest less than 24 hours of responding to an incident.
FIRE POLICE CAPTAIN DAVID ROLAND BARR JR., 64, of the Community Fire Company of Perryville, MD, died on Nov. 7. On Oct. 25, Barr was directing traffic at the scene of a vehicle accident on Pulaski Highway when he was struck by another car. He was treated at the scene and transported to a hospital, where he later died.
—Jay K. Bradish
New Jersey Uses CDP training to prepare for Super Bowl XLVIII
If past Super Bowls are any indication, Super Bowl XLVIII stands to pack more than 70,000 fans into MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on Feb. 2, 2014. With memories of the bombings at the Boston Marathon still fresh in everyone’s minds, New Jersey emergency responders are being vigilant in preparation for the big game. Recently, more than 100 firefighters, medical staff members, law enforcement officers, hazardous materials members and radiological responders joined together at FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) in Anniston, AL, in preparation for one of the largest sporting events of the year.
“This training is part of our preparation plans,” said Kelley Esposito, regional director of safety for Barnabas Health, Toms River, N.J. “We’ve already developed a Medical Coordination Center (MCC) and have a staffing plan ready for the Super Bowl. This training helps us that much more and activation of the MCC will have a smoother flow.”
The emergency workers each attended one of four CDP courses during the week – each having a focus on a catastrophic event resulting in mass casualties. At the end of training, the students were introduced to the CDP’s Integrated Capstone Event (ICE) where students from individual courses join forces in a single exercise; all of the students working together in a single response.
“If a large-scale event occurs during the Super Bowl, a portion of the resources that would respond are here,” said Jim Rapp, emergency response specialist from the New Jersey State Police Hazardous Material Response Unit. “Having the possibility for our agencies to work together to fine tune and hone our response capabilities is an opportunity to prepare and perfect our plan.”
“Without preparedness you can’t respond and preparedness involves training and planning,” said Rapp. “Once the plan is put down on paper you have to make sure it is going to work. That is all part of the preparedness process. Training like this brings together the different players so they can see if their individual agency plans mesh with other agencies.”
In addition to the training received in Anniston, the CDP provided non-resident training to nearly 100 other law enforcement officers in the Garden State earlier this year. These emergency responders all have the ability to respond confidently and safely in the event of an incident during the Super Bowl. As the state prepares for the February gridiron showdown, they continue to plan and prepare others on their staffs, using CDP training, techniques and course materials in an effort to save lives and respond appropriately.
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