For the Record 8/20

Virtual Event Replaces 2020 Station Design Conference

Endeavor Business Media and the Firehouse Station Design Conference team will present Station Design Direct, which is a new virtual experience. It will take the place of the 2020 Firehouse Station Design Conference, which was scheduled for Aug. 10–13, 2020. The 2021 Station Design Conference is scheduled for May 10–13, 2021, in Rosemont, IL.

Station Design Direct is a 100 percent online virtual experience that’s designed to inspire and connect in an interactive format the fire and law enforcement communities that are involved in the planning and designing of facilities. Sessions will provide an important learning platform. They will be led by experts in the field of public safety facilities and will include Q&A opportunities to allow for information-exchange and idea-sharing.

Find the latest plans for Station Design Direct at fhstationdesign.com.

NFFF Postpones 2020 Weekend Memorial Events

With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging across the country, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) cancelled all public events surrounding the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, which was scheduled to be held Oct. 3–4, 2020, in Emmitsburg, MD.

Although the events were postponed, the nation’s fallen firefighters won’t be forgotten. On Oct. 4, the NFFF will broadcast a National Tribute to honor America’s fallen firefighters. NFFF Chairman Troy Markel announced that the Fire Hero Families will be invited to attend a ceremony in Emmitsburg in 2021. For more information, visit firehero.org.

UL FSRI Releases Research Report on Coordinated Fire Attack in Multi-Family Structures

The UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute (UL FSRI) released “Analysis of the Coordination of Suppression and Ventilation in Multi-Family Dwellings,” which is based on a series of experiments that were conducted as part of the “Study of Coordinated Fire Attack Utilizing Acquired Structures.”

Experiments occurred in four three-story apartment buildings that included garden-style apartments; each building had 10 apartments where the main entry/egress path was a common enclosed stairwell. The experiments included bedroom, kitchen and living room fires in one-bedroom apartment units on different levels in the buildings. This report provides fire dynamics analysis of each experiment, a discussion of the different control strategies that were examined and tactical considerations that were developed with the project technical panel.

To access this report, click here.

Siarnicki Elected Chairman of CFSI NAC

Chief Ronald J. Siarnicki, who is the executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), was elected chairman of the Congressional Fire Services Institute National Advisory Committee (CFSI NAC). He replaces Chief Greg Cade of the NFPA, who served as chairman for three years. Siarnicki, who served as the vice chair for two terms, will be succeeded in that position by Chief Craig Hannan of the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA).

Siarnicki has been leading the NFFF for the past 19 years. Under his governance, the NFFF was awarded its fifth consecutive 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, which is one of America’s largest independent charity evaluators.

For more information, visit firehero.org.

Line-of-Duty Deaths

5 U.S. firefighters recently died in the line of duty. Two firefighters died from health-related issues, one died of injuries that were sustained several years earlier, one died of COVID-19 and one firefighter died of gunshot wounds. This issue of Firehouse is dedicated to these firefighters. For the latest on COVID-19-related LODDs, visit firehouse.com/covid-19.

FIRE INVESTIGATOR JOSHUA MACDONALD, 34, of the Berthoud, CO, Fire District, died on April 17. On March 25, 2016, MacDonald responded to a residential fire, where he performed EMS care on an occupant of the home. When he returned to investigate the scene of the fire, he fell through the floor, and his leg got caught in electrical wiring. Since that time, MacDonald underwent numerous surgeries, including the amputation of his leg.

FIREFIGHTER ERIC GORE, 49, of the Philadelphia Fire Department, died on June 2. On April 27, Gore responded to an emergency at a residence, where he came into contact with a person with a known case of COVID-19. He died five weeks later.

FIREFIGHTER KLAYTON MANNING, 18, of the Southeast Caldwell County Volunteer Fire Department in Luling, TX, died on June 9. Manning, who was driving the fire department’s ATV, responded to reports of smoke in the area. While on scene, he was approached by a man with a gun and was shot and killed. Manning’s cousin, who was with him, also died from gunshot wounds. The assailant is in custody.

FIREFIGHTER RUSSELL K. ROBERSON, 42, of the Iaeger, WV, Volunteer Fire Department, died on June 21. Roberson responded to the scene of a residential fire on June 20. He returned to the same residence the next day for a possible rekindle. While on scene, Roberson evacuated a homeowner from a second residence that had started to burn. Roberson soon became ill and died while being transported to the hospital. The cause of his death wasn’t determined at press time.

LIEUTENANT/FIRE MARSHAL RON WEHLAGE, JR., 40, of the De Soto, MO, Rural Fire Protection District, died on June 30. Wehlage responded to a residential fire on June 27 and returned home early the next morning when his shift ended. He didn’t show up for his next shift on June 30. After repeated calls went unanswered, a crewmember was sent to Wehlage’s home, where Wehlage was found deceased from an apparent heart attack .