For the Record 9/23

EVT of the Year Celebrates 20 Years

This year is the 20th anniversary of the Emergency Vehicle Technician of the Year award program. The program was introduced with Fire Chief magazine in 2003, and in 2014, Firehouse and the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) continued the program.

Anyone can nominate an EVT who meets the criteria, including:

• A member in good standing of a state or local EVT association as of Jan. 1, 2023

• Working toward or passed any of the Emergency Vehicle Technician Certification Commission tests

• Fosters professionalism through participation in a local, state or provincial maintenance/emergency vehicle technician association

A letter of nomination for the EVT that explains why the individual is nominated and any supporting information should be included with the completed entry form and emailed to [email protected] by Nov. 9, 2023.

Download and complete the entry form here: firehouse.com/2023evt.

2023 Volunteer and Career Fire Chiefs of the Year

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), in partnership with Pierce Manufacturing, announced the 2023 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year honorees: volunteer Fire Chief Thomas Bell of the Greensburg, PA, Volunteer Fire Department (GVFD) and career Fire Chief Brian Fennessy of the Orange County, CA, Fire Authority (OCFA).

One of Bell’s hallmark initiatives since he took the helm at the GVFD was the implementation of the “Dignity Statement” policy, which emphasizes mutual respect and intolerance for harassment and bullying. Coupled with mandatory training, this policy not only reinforced the department’s core values but also resonated with the broader community.

Among Fennessy’s most recent accomplishments was securing substantial funding for the Wildland Hand Crew Station and for vegetation management initiatives. He also conceived the public-private Fire Integrated Real-Time Intelligence System, which involves experts from various fields and received $30 million in state funding in 2022.

For more information, go to iafc.org/about-iafc/awards/fire-chief-of-the-year.

Pierce and Dealer Celebrate 50 Years

Pierce Manufacturing and its dealer for South Carolina, Spartan Fire and Emergency Apparatus, marked the 50th anniversary of their relationship in August 2023. Among numerous happenings that are tied to the anniversary, Spartan Fire and Emergency Apparatus announced that it will open a third service facility in 2023 and will break ground on a new headquarters in 2024.

In addition to Pierce apparatus, Spartan Fire sells DBC and Holmatro products across both Carolinas. The company says the growth is largely attributable to dedication to provide top-tier service after the sale, which was an initiative of major focus starting in the early 2000s.

Visit piercemfg.com for more details.

2023 VCOS Training Officer Award Winner

Capt. Shane Metcalfe, of Irondequoit, NY, Fire District, is the winner of the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ 2023 Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (VCOS) Training Officer Award, which recognizes training excellence and innovation.

“Capt. Metcalfe demonstrates passion and commitment preparing volunteers and career members for the many public safety services his department provides,” Deputy Chief Chuck Flynn (East Granby, CT, Fire Department) who is chair of the VCOS board of directors, said.

IAFC’s VCOS and Vector Solutions have teamed up 10 years in a row to present the award.

Go to IAFC.org/VCOS to learn more about the award and Capt. Metcalfe’s career and accomplishments.

Globe Gear Giveaway Winners

The South Boundary Fire Protection District (SBFPD) in Naples, ID, and the Springfield, CO, Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) are the latest recipients of MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway. With the four sets of turnout gear and four helmets that MSA, DuPont and the National Volunteer Fire Council are providing to the SBFPD and the SVFD, a total of more than 620 sets of turnout gear/helmets have been provided to more than 130 departments since the program’s launch in 2012.

The SBFPD’s crew has been running on a bare minimum number of turnouts. When the inevitable repair or cleaning is required, the department must choose between sending fewer members to a call than needed or having some members use old, soiled or unsafe gear.

Economic downturn and inflation have made it difficult for the SVFD to cover operating costs. This has forced the department to make drastic cuts to noncritical expenditures, including the purchase of new PPE, to sustain its level of service.

Additional awards will be made monthly throughout the remainder of 2023.

Visit nvfc.org for additional information and announcements.

Line-of-Duty Deaths

9 U.S. firefighters died in the line of duty. Three died in a helicopter crash, two died from injuries that were sustained in a motor vehicle accident, one died from a health-related incident, one died at the firehouse after he was shot by an assailant, one died from injuries that were sustained during fireground operations and one died at the scene of a motor vehicle incident. This issue of Firehouse is dedicated to these firefighters.

FIREFIGHTER JORDAN MELTON, 29, of the Birmingham, AL, Fire & Rescue Service Department (BFRS), died on July 17. On July 12, Melton and Firefighter Jamal Jones were near the bay doors of BFRS Station 9 when they were shot by an assailant. Melton succumbed to his injuries five days later. Jones was released from the hospital on Aug. 10, although reports indicated that his recovery from his wounds will be long. No arrests were made as of that same date.

LT. JEFFREY NORMAN, 51, of the Memphis, TN, Fire Department, died on July 19. On July 18, Norman and three others became trapped in the interior during operations at a residential fire. The four firefighters were rescued and immediately transported to the hospital. Norman died the next day. According to reports, one of the other three firefighters remained in the hospital as of July 20, after the other two firefighters were released. Reports also noted that the fire was caused by arson.

FIREFIGHTER EVAN BROWN, 18, of the Honey Grove, TX, Volunteer Fire Department, died on July 30. On July 9, Brown and another member responded to a motor vehicle crash in Brown’s personal vehicle. Brown’s vehicle struck a cow that was in the road, and the vehicle rolled. Brown was ejected from the vehicle and sustained severe injuries. He was rushed to the hospital, where he remained in intensive care until he died. The other firefighter’s injuries were less serious.

FIREFIGHTER BENJAMIN SAPPER, 21, of the U.S. Forest Service, died on Aug. 4. Sapper and two other firefighters were en route to the Powers Ranger District in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest in Oregon when their vehicle went off of the road. Sapper suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene. The other two firefighters were taken to the hospital and released that evening.

ASSISTANT CHIEF JOSH BISCHOF, 46, CAPT. TIMOTHY RODRIGUEZ, 44, and PILOT TONY SOUSA, 55, died on Aug. 6. Bischof and Rodriguez were members of CAL FIRE. Sousa was a contract pilot. Two firefighting helicopters collided in Cabazon, CA, during operations to battle the Broadway Wildland Fire. The helicopter that carried the three men crashed. (The other landed safely.) Bischof, Rodriguez and Sousa were killed.

CHIEF EDWARD STEINES, 64, of the West Milford, NJ, Fire Department, died on Aug. 16. On Aug. 15, Steines responded to a train fire. After all units cleared the scene, he returned home. The next morning, Steines collapsed at his home from an apparent heart attack. He was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

FIREFIGHTER SHAWN GILES, 53, of the Fuller Hose Company in Erie County, PA, died on Aug. 20. Giles was directing traffic on scene of an motor vehicle incident when he was struck and killed. The driver faces multiple charges, according to reports.