Fire Politics: Stick Together

The fire service presence on Capitol Hill works together and the difference it makes was obvious in 2017. The reauthorization of the FIRE Act grants, the inclusion of tax incentives for fire protection upgrades and retrofit of fire sprinklers, the doubling of the amount for Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) that is tax free in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are proof that engaging in politics daily at the local, state and federal level all makes a positive difference in fire and life safety in America.

Showing up

These successes require a top-down and grassroots-up approach. Your fire service groups that have a full-time presence in Washington, DC, work daily to ensure the grassroots issues are heard at the federal level. You allow us to take it to the top. Whether it is the top officials at local and state government, or senators, representatives or even the president, you, your actions, and your relationships make a difference. Every year there are 46 state legislatures in session, and every other year, all 50 are making laws that impact all of us. We have to stick together so the impact isn’t negative. Rejection of presumptive cancer legislation, failure to address adequate staffing, or weakening building and fire codes seem to be an annual battle! We need to put all our energy into the big picture and win each battle so we can also win the war.

As an example at the federal level, the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act—introduced in 2003 by Congressman Jim Langevin and pushed by former Congressman Curt Weldon—intended to provide a tax incentive to retrofit high-risk occupancies, like The Station nightclub, with fire sprinklers. This was a local incident that should impact the country. Jim Dalton, former Montgomery County, MD, Fire Rescue assistant chief and NFSA director of Public Fire Protection, led this effort at all levels. He knew that he needed you, and you delivered every time you were asked for 14 years. From the first press event in the frigid cold on the lawn of the Capitol to midnight at the final hour of tax reform on the Senate floor, you delivered.

Fire officials of all ranks from Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maine, Massachusetts and Texas showed up to verify the need. The Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB) towed a fire sprinkler demonstration unit from Chicago for a live burn for the kick-off event. You came to CFSI dinners and shared the importance of federal legislation helping at the state and local level. You came to special legislative days to support Common Voices by escorting family members who lost loved ones, to accompany burn survivors from the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors of The Station nightclub fire and other tragic events, and to show the strength of your message and the power of the uniform to the cause. You gained access to the senator and representatives on the committees that would take up the bills impacting fire protection and firefighter safety. You, as fire chiefs, got meetings with every chair of the Ways and Means Committee since 2003, and you shared the message. You, as firefighters, marched the halls of Congress to show unity and strength in representation of those you serve. You, as fire marshals, met with your senators to ensure that the message was clear on the needed fire protection improvements.

Your efforts in every state through the codes and standards processes to the legislative processes made a difference. The fire service in America and the fire protection in the built environment and the wildland environment are improving because of YOU. As they say where I came from and across the land where I am proud to call home and to serve you, “You get ’er done!”

Keep working

As we celebrate the improvements, we realize that there remains a great deal of work to do. Let’s get to work and keep championing for fire and life safety in America! As you battle to make improvements in Indiana, Connecticut, New Jersey, and to maintain what you have in Florida, Tennessee and other states, while 25 other states work to get back their rights to adopt fire sprinkler requirements for one- and two-family dwellings, the calls for help keep coming and you keep serving. With all of it, you keep improving fire protection in America.