ADT Donates $100,000 to NVFC
ADT Inc. announced a $100,000 contribution to the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) during National Fire Prevention Month to help raise awareness for recruitment of volunteer firefighters.
According to the NVFC, volunteers comprise 70 percent of all firefighters in the U.S. and collectively donate an estimated $47 billion in services to their communities every year. Those communities depend on volunteers to be their first line of defense for many emergencies. Unfortunately, many local fire departments are struggling to meet staffing levels. More awareness about the benefits of being a volunteer firefighter can increase recruitment.
“Emergency calls have more than tripled over the past few decades and volunteer firefighters are needed to meet the increasing call volume and demand,” said Heather Schafer, CEO, NVFC. “We are grateful ADT is partnering with us and sharing its resources to help volunteer fire departments across America.”
“It was the perfect time to recognize these brave men and women who selflessly save lives by rushing into burning buildings,” said Jochen Koedijk, chief marketing officer at ADT, a provider of monitored security and interactive home and business automation solutions. “Millions of ADT customers rely on first responders during emergencies, and we believe our partnership in protection with the NVFC can showcase these unsung heroes and enhance fire department recruitment.”
Learn more at makemeafirefighter.org/ADT.
Nest, Leary Foundation Name Grant Winners
Google’s Nest brand and the Leary Firefighter Foundation have announced that the Hobart, IN, Fire Department and the Dunkirk, MD, Fire Department are the winners of the Thank You Grant. The maker of the Nest Protect Smoke + CO Alarm and the Leary Firefighter Foundation have teamed up for the third time to award $25,000 worth of new technology and equipment to two fire departments in need.
To qualify for the grant, fire departments had to be nominated by members of their community. This year, we saw over 14,000 deserving nominations and ultimately chose the Hobart and Dunkrik departments for their dedication and service. These local first responders don’t have access to the newest lifesaving tools that their counterparts in big cities might have.
With the grant, the Hobart Fire Department will be able to purchase new software and tablets to help streamline reporting systems and allow for smooth transitions between calls and investigations. The Dunkirk Fire Department, a 100 percent volunteer department, will use its $25,000 to add three thermal imaging cameras to its arsenal that will aid in searches of trapped occupants on emergency calls.
Nest is the maker of the Nest Protect Smoke + CO Alarm. The Leary Firefighters Foundation was established in 2000 by actor Denis Leary in response to a tragic fire in Worcester, MA, that claimed the lives of Denis’ cousin, a childhood friend, and four other firefighters.
Google Grants $1 Million to FRSN
Google is granting $1 million to help the First Responder Support Network (FRSN). The mission of FRSN is to provide educational treatment programs to promote recovery from stress and critical incidents experienced by first responders and their families.
The key components of FRSN are the six-day residential treatment for first responders, also known as the West Coast Post-trauma Retreat (WCPR), and the six-day program for significant others and spouses (SOS). The residential programs offer first responders access to counselors attuned to their unique experiences with a 2:1 ratio of volunteer peers who can share how they coped with similar situations. The waiting list for these programs is up to six months long. This grant will help expand its operations in Missouri, Arizona and Oregon, as well as help them open in at least two new locations by 2020. In addition, Google will fund 80 scholarships for first responders who might not otherwise be able to attend the program.
For more information, visit frsn.org.
Columbia Southern Names Fire Service Professional of the Year
The Columbia Southern University (CSU) fire administration faculty has selected Stephanie Humberd as the 2018 Outstanding Fire Service Professional of the Year.
In recognition of her commitment and community efforts, Humberd, who is seeking a bachelor’s degree in fire administration, decided to go into the fire service after earning her EMT license in 2003. She is currently a firefighter with the Burkburnett, TX, Volunteer Fire Department.
Since 2016, she has worked with the department and its various community programs such as the Fire Explorers, which she was a member of as a youth. It is one of the career-oriented programs offered by Learning for Life, a branch of the Boy Scouts of America, that exposes the major aspects of the fire service to young adults ages 14-21.
Humberd also supervises fire prevention programs and all community visits for the volunteer fire department. Recently, she joined the Sheppard Air Force Base Fire Department and hopes to expand her career and efforts to help the community.
“It’s a great accomplishment for me to know we make a difference,” Humberd said. “I had a child tell me one day after a fire that she remembered what we taught her and she was able to get her family out of the house and to their safe meeting place.”
The award was established as part of National Fire Prevention Month and to recognize CSU fire service students and graduates for their commitment to safety, professionalism and their accomplishments in the industry.
For more information, visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu.
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 2, 2016, Oakland, CA—Ghost Ship fire kills 36
December 3, 1999, Worcester, MA—Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse fire kills 6 firefighters
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 21, 1910, Philadelphia, PA—Philadelphia Leather Factory fire kills 13 firefighters
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
Firehouse Staff
Content written and created by Firehouse Magazine editors.
