January 11, 2011 – The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Fire Safety Educational Memorial Fund Committee has selected the Western Wayne County Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT) from Livonia, Mich., as the recipient of the 2011 Warren E. Isman Educational Grant.
“The Western Wayne County HMRT has demonstrated the leadership, communication and training skills needed to effectively mitigate a wide range of hazmat incidents within their region,” said Ken Isman, chair of the Warren E. Isman Task Force, a subcommittee of the Fire Safety Educational Memorial Fund Committee and son of the late Chief Warren Isman. “We are very pleased to support their achievements, and help further their efforts in protecting the public.”
Award recipients select a conference where they can attend specialized hazardous materials training and education sessions. The selected team has the opportunity to gain knowledge and enhance their ability to excel in this specialized field. The funds from the 2011 Isman Grant will make it possible for the Western Wayne County HMRT to attend the IAFC International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference in Baltimore, Md., May 2011. The Western Wayne County HMRT is comprised of 45 members from Mutual Aid Associations fire departments within the Detroit metropolitan area, collectively protecting more than 2.9 million residents. Since becoming one of Michigan’s 18 Regional Response Teams (RRT) in 2005, the Western Wayne County HMRT is also responsible for responding to larger incidents, including those involving weapons of mass destruction, with a response area that incorporates the entire state.
The $5000 grant is available to any established incident response team from a fire department, police department or other public-funded program. Qualified applicants are evaluated on leadership qualities, communication abilities, and must have been trained in accordance with NFPA 472, Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents, and NFPA 473, Standard for Competencies for EMS Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents. The closing date for 2012 applications is September 15, 2011.
Established by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) following Isman’s death in 1991, the grant is named in honor of a man who was known to value training and education. He was the former fire chief in Fairfax County, Virginia, a senior instructor for the University of Maryland Fire Service Extension Program, and author of three fire-related textbooks. Isman served on the IAFC board of directors and was chair of both NFPA’s Technical Committee on Hazardous Materials Response Personnel and IAFC’s Committee on Hazardous Materials. NFPA’s Fire Safety Educational Memorial Fund was established in 1992. Upon request of IAFC, NFPA assumed administrative responsibilities of the Isman Grant in 1993.
To make a contribution to the Fire Safety Educational Memorial Fund or for more information regarding the application process, visit NFPA’s website at www.nfpa.org or contact Christine Ellis at 617-984-7244.
About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
NFPA is a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. Visit NFPA’s website at www.nfpa.org
