For the Record 8/21

Online Course on Ventilating Strip Malls

UL Fire Safety Research Institute’s new “Impact of Ventilation on Strip Malls” online training course explores the results of the fire experiments that were conducted in a multi-unit strip mall as part of the “Study of Coordinated Fire Attack Utilizing Acquired Structures.” The experiments were conducted in collaboration with the Fairborn, OH, Fire Department to explore the effect of ventilation on the fire dynamics of large, open-volume commercial structures. After taking the course, attendees will be able to:

Describe the effect of horizontal and vertical ventilation on the fire dynamics in large-volume compartments
Identify the effect of pressure on fire dynamics in large-volume compartments
Identify the hazards that are associated with fires in large-volume compartments

For more information, visit fsri.org.

Safety Professional of the Year

Columbia Southern University (CSU) awarded its annual Outstanding Safety Professional of the Year Award to Shawna Fraser Nagle, who is vice president of safety and a co-owner at Fraser Engineering Co. Nagle holds a master’s degree in occupational safety and health from CSU.

Nagle also serves on the board of the Certified Safety Professionals Foundation and is in a leadership position with the Greater Boston chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals. She also is a member of the Burn Survivors of New England.

The Outstanding Safety Professional Award was established by CSU to recognize National Safety Month and to celebrate the university’s occupational safety and health students and graduates for their commitment to safety and professionalism and their accomplishments.

For more information, visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu.

Triple F’s Newest Outreach Effort

In conjunction with its efforts to help to build stronger, more resilient women firefighters, Triple F (Fierce Female Firefighters) created the Triple F Firefighter doll.

“We want little girls to know they can grow up to be anything they want to be, even a firefighter,” Tina Guiler, who is the CEO of Triple F, tells

Firehouse Magazine.

The doll comes in two versions: “Molly” has darker skin and black hair and was named to honor the first known female fighter in the United States, Molly Williams; Ember has medium skin tone and brown hair.

“Triple F helps so many women around the world by coming together in one place and talking about issues, how we train differently, how to cope with things, what to do when you get pregnant and just dealing with the job.”

Triple F’s Facebook group page is home to some 6,400 women firefighters.

For more information on the dolls, go to triplefrescue.com.

Alert-All: Stay Out Front with Fire Prevention Messages

The theme of Fire Prevention Week 2021, which takes place Oct. 3–9, is “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety!” This year’s campaign grew out of the increased attention that’s received by alarm notifications that are heard in the background of people’s homes during remote learning and work. With more families staying home during the pandemic, knowing what to do when an alarm sounds is key to keeping families safe.

“We’re all coming out of a tough year, but fire prevention is just as important now, if not more so, as it was before the pandemic,” Alert-All President Chad Hanna tells Firehouse Magazine. “I know fire prevention budgets are tight, but it is important to keep staying in front of people in your community with life-saving fire prevention messages. You never know when that handout ends up saving an entire family.”

Hanna adds that departments should start to plan for Fire Prevention Week immediately after the last one. “Fire Prevention is more than just a week in October and should be taught all year long,” he stresses. “If you are trying to plan for an event in October, then I would suggest looking at your budget in June and start making a wish list of items.”

That said, it isn’t too late to get items for this year from the NFPA and fire prevention companies. For example, Alert-All has an entire section of its website dedicated to this year’s theme.

For more information, visit alertall.com.

Line-of-Duty Deaths

10 U.S. firefighters recently died in the line of duty. Six firefighters died from a health-related incident, two died of COVID-19, one was killed in an automobile accident and one committed suicide at the station. This issue of Firehouse is dedicated to these firefighters. For the latest on COVID-19-related LODDs, visit firehouse.com/covid-19.

FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC MATTHEW MICHAEL “BEAR” ROMINGER, 48, of the Mountain Warfare Fire Department in Bridgeport, CA, died on May 16. On April 4, 2021, Rominger contracted COVID-19 while he was on a medical call that involved a patient who had a known case of the virus.

CAPT. THOMAS M. BARBER, 51, of the Jacksonville, FL, Fire and Rescue Department, died on June 14. On June 13, Barber responded to a medical call at a residence. Early the next morning, Barber went into cardiac arrest at his home. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died shortly after arrival.

FIREFIGHTER RODNEY L. HEARD, 56, of the St. Louis Fire Department, died on June 15. Heard worked in the Support Services Division and was in contact with numerous fire stations and firefighters. He contracted COVID-19 while on duty on May 5.

CHIEF DOUGLAS DUGAN, 62, of the Tiltonsville, OH, Volunteer Fire Department, died on June 16. After returning from a boat fire, Dugan became short of breath and collapsed. During transport to the hospital, he suffered a cardiac arrest. He died from a pulmonary embolism shortly after arrival.

FIREFIGHTER DENNIS SHENNARD, 70, of the Kingston, NJ, Volunteer Fire Company #1, died on June 26. Shennard went into cardiac arrest during live burn training at the Middlesex County Fire Academy. He was transported to Raritan Bay Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.

FIREFIGHTER MEHDI MOURAD, 21, of the Wabash Fire Protection District in Mattoon, IL, died on June 27. While responding to a multiple vehicle accident, Mourad lost control of the vehicle that he was driving and rear-ended another vehicle that was stopped on the side of the interstate because of severe weather. Mourad was trapped in his vehicle and had to be extricated. He was taken to Carle Foundation Hospital where he died during surgery. Mourad had served with the Wabash Fire Protection District for only five days.

FIREFIGHTER RECRUIT TYVAUGHN ELDRIDGE, 26, of Chesterfield County, VA, Fire and EMS, died on July 3. On July 1, Eldridge suffered a medical emergency during mandatory physical fitness training at the fire department. He died two days later. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

FIREFIGHTER SEAN W. DEMUYNCK, 35, of the Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hills Fire Company in Wynnewood, PA, died on July 5. On July 4, DeMuynck was operating on scene of a residential fire when he was found unresponsive on the third floor of the single-family dwelling. He was rushed to nearby Lankenau Hospital, where he died the next morning.

FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC JOSEPH DELTERGO, 45, of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue in West Palm Beach, FL, died on July 12. Deltergo took his own life while on duty at the fire station.

ASST. CHIEF WILLIAM “BILLY” SHAFFER, 53, of Hillsborough, NJ, Volunteer Fire Company #2, died on July 14. Shaffer responded to a vehicle fire. While on scene, he was found unresponsive by other first responders. He was treated and rushed to Robert Wood Johnson Somerset Hospital, where he died.