FDSOA Presents Safety Professional with Lifetime Achievement Award
John (Jack) Sullivan, director of training for the Emergency Responder Safety Institute, was presented with the 2018 Dave Dodson Lifetime Service Award at the Fire Department Safety Officer Association’s Apparatus Symposium and Safety Forum in Scottsdale, AZ.
When announcing the award, Richard Maddox, chairman of the Fire Department Safety Officer Association (FDSOA) board of directors, said, “Jack Sullivan has been a member of the FDSOA for many years and served as trainer and instructor in highway incident safety to thousands and thousands of fire and EMS personnel across the country. He is passionate and committed to keeping emergency personnel safe while operating at highway incidents.”
Sullivan is a career safety professional and subject-matter expert on roadway incident operations and emergency responder safety. In 1972, he became a firefighter and EMS provider and over the course of 25 years served with fire departments in Paoli, PA, Chesterfield County, VA, and Lionville, PA.
In 2001, Sullivan joined MC Innovations (MCI) and is the managing partner of Loss Control Innovations, a division of MCI. He also serves as director of training for the Emergency Responder Safety Institute. A frequent speaker at national and regional conferences, Sullivan shares specific, proactive strategies and tactics for protecting emergency workers from being struck by vehicles while working on or near roadways.
In accepting his award, Sullivan stated the biggest hazards on roadways today are what he calls “D” drivers—drunk, distracted and drowsy. “Our training never included the fact that drivers would not be looking out the windshield,” he said.
New York Knicks Salute Firefighters with Special Jerseys and Stair Climb
The New York Knicks unveiled their City Edition alternate jersey, honoring firefighters and their families. The Knicks debuted these uniforms on Jan. 30, when the team played the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden, and will continue to wear the jerseys at all remaining weekend home games this season. At each of these games, the Knicks will donate tickets enabling local firefighters to attend and provide a special game night experience.
These special uniforms were designed as a collaborative effort between the New York Knicks, Nike, the NBA and the Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA). The uniforms feature a dark navy color as a nod to firefighter’s dress uniforms, reflective piping evoking the working uniforms of firefighters everywhere and the UFA logo on the City Edition shorts. The Knicks’ traditional orange, also included, highlights the team’s colors and identity. The jerseys are available for purchase at the MSG Team Store inside Madison Square Garden and on NYKnicks.com.
The Knicks also announced that prior to their game on Saturday, March 31, vs. Detroit, the team will hold the first-ever New York Knicks 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. This event will be open to 343 participants to climb or walk the equivalent to 110 flights of stairs, paying tribute to the 343 FDNY firefighters who died on Sept. 11, 2001. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) organizes and executes 9/11 Memorial Stair Climbs all over the country.
Through the proceeds from the Knicks City Edition merchandise line and the Knicks 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Event, the Knicks will donate to the UFA Widows and Children’s Fund, the NFFF and other charities affiliated with firefighters.
If you would like to donate to the UFA or NFFF, please visit UFANYC.org or Firehero.org.
Darley, Key Fire Hose Bring Aid to Puerto Rico
W.S Darley & Company and Key Fire Hose successfully donated 1,840 Darley Safe Water Boxes to Puerto Rico through the organization United for Puerto Rico. Each box contained 2.64 gallons of Premium Drinking Water and provides a person 2–3 days of fresh drinking water. Since the hurricane, locals have not had access to clean water, causing a nationwide crisis. With their donation, Darley and Key Fire Hose have provided over 600 people with fresh water.
“The ongoing struggle to obtain safe drinking water in Puerto Rico is something we cannot ignore,” said Burke Genthner, president of Key Fire Hose. “We are honored to work with United for Puerto Rico to help those in need of the most basic resource: water.”
In addition to donating the Safe Water Boxes, Key Fire Hose and Darley are also working with H2OpenDoors to install decentralized water treatment systems in Puerto Rico. The systems will provide a sustainable source of water for locals and are capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions. The water treatment system allows locals to bottle safe water and sell it at a lower price than bottled water. This new enterprise will help stabilize the local economy and further aid the rebuilding process.
People in Puerto Rico are still struggling to find fresh water. If you or your company wants to join the movement to help Puerto Rico, please email [email protected] or visit darley.com/water/humanitarian for more information.
Wildfire Mitigation Awards Winners Announced
The Wildfire Mitigation Awards committee has announced the 2018 Wildfire Mitigation Award winners. Established in 2014, the awards are the highest commendation for innovation and leadership displayed by individuals and organizations committed to wildfire mitigation.
The Wildfire Mitigation Awards are sponsored by the National Association of State Foresters (NASF), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the USDA Forest Service (USFS).
Recognizing the comprehensive challenge posed by wildfires, these awards applaud the outstanding dedication to wildfire mitigation across a broad spectrum of activities and among a variety of individuals and organizations. By honoring their achievements, the award sponsors seek to increase public recognition and awareness of the value of wildfire mitigation efforts.
The winners of the 2018 national Wildfire Mitigation Awards are:
- Abby Watkins of Newaygo County Emergency Services – White Cloud, MI
- Blue Mountain Forest Stewardship Initiative – Golden, CO
- Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad – Durango, CO
- Grizzly Flats Fire Safe Council – Grizzly Flats, CA
- Jeff Dunning of Allstate Insurance – Grass Valley, CA
- Jesse Cox of Trinity County Fire Safe Council – Weaverville, CA
- Pat McKelvey of Tri-County Firesafe Working Group – Helena, MT
- Project Wildfire – Bend, OR
- Rincon Fire Department – Valley Center, CA
For more information, visit stateforesters.org/mitigation.
This Month in Fire History
March 1, 1911—The Weeks Act authorizes federal and state cooperation in forest fire protection
March 2, 1970—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration bans tetrachloride fire extinguishers
March 5, 1770, Boston, MA—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 passed
March 18, 1951—Sparky the Fire Dog is “born”
March 19, 1896, New York, NY—Insurance groups form a committee to design what will become the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
March 25, 1911, New York, NY—The Triangle Shirtwaist fire kills 145
March 25, 1990, New York, NY—The Happy Land Social Club fire kills 87
March 29, 1929—Michigan passes the first state law banning the public use of fireworks
Courtesy of NFPA
About the Author
Firehouse Staff
Content written and created by Firehouse Magazine editors.