For the Record 7/15

Goldfeder Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

The Firehouse team would like to congratulate Deputy Chief William Goldfeder, a Firehouse Magazine contributing editor, who on May 26 received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Loveland City Council and Ott Huber, Chief of Department for the Loveland-Symmes, OH, Fire Department.

Huber notes that having Goldfeder lead the department’s health and safety efforts has been instrumental for fire personnel, both locally and regionally. “Billy’s lifetime pursuit of firefighting and firefighter survival has served our community and the greater international fire service community well,” he says. “He has brought (and continues to bring) extraordinary awareness to the issue of fire operations and survival in our profession through his leadership that spans a lifetime.”  

About the award, Goldfeder says he is more appreciative than he could ever explain: “I was deeply humbled and a bit taken back when I was told I was getting this award, as I hope, with help, that I have more ‘lifetime’ to go since I have no plans to retire. Our chief tries to make sure that our folks are appreciated while they are still active and around to enjoy it, which sets such a great example. I have a wonderful life with the best family, friends, fire department, professional successes and opportunities—all this is so much more than I ever imagined.”

Goldfeder has been a firefighter since 1973 and a chief officer since 1982. He has served on numerous NFPA and IAFC committees. He is on the board of directors of the IAFC, representing the Safety, Health and Survival Section, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, September 11^th Families Association and National Firefighter Near-Miss Reporting System.

NVFC Launches Volunteer Recruitment Portal

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has launched the department portal component of its new Make Me a Firefighter volunteer recruitment campaign. Departments can now sign up at http://portal.nvfc.org to join the campaign and showcase their volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer firefighters make up 69 percent of the nation’s fire service, yet the number of volunteers has declined by about 12 percent since 1984. At the same time, call volume has nearly tripled. In addition, the average age of the volunteer fire service is increasing as departments are finding it difficult to reach millennials—those within the 18-34 age range.

To help departments counter these trends and increase the number of volunteers, the NVFC was awarded a SAFER grant from FEMA to conduct a nationwide recruitment campaign. The first component of the Make Me a Firefighter campaign consists of a department portal where volunteer and combination fire departments can register for the campaign and post their volunteer opportunities. Starting August 1, the NVFC will launch a public website allowing potential volunteers to search for opportunities and connect with their local department.

“Recruitment is a challenge for many volunteer and combination departments across the country,” said NVFC Chairman Kevin D. Quinn. “Yet our research shows that 44 percent of millennials are interested in volunteering with their local department. Many simply don’t know the need for volunteers exists. The Make Me a Firefighter campaign will help build awareness among the public as well as provide departments with the tools and resources they need to recruit to this and other target audiences.”

Dale Named Salt Lake City Chief

Brian Dale has been appointed the new chief of the Salt Lake City Fire Department (SLCFD). Dale has served with the SLCFD for more than 25 years, and served as deputy chief of its Administrative Services Bureau under former Chief Kurt Cook since 2009.

“Our community is very fortunate to have one of the premier fire departments in the country and a team of leaders that is second to none,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker. “I’m proud to appoint Brian Dale as our next fire chief. Brian brings a stellar body of experience and knowledge to this important post and I know he will serve our residents very well.”

Firehouse Expo HOT Gear Provided by Lion Apparel

Firehouse is pleased to announce that Lion Apparel is the exclusive apparel provider for hands-on training (HOT) at the Firehouse Expo conference in Baltimore, July 14–18.

This partnership sets a new standard in training safety by allowing HOT participants to avoid the hassle of traveling with their turnout gear while still being able to participate in HOT training using fully compliant gear. This program is designed to reduce the unnecessary exposure to the contaminants by providing the students with turnout gear that can then be left behind at the training site—not taken back to their hotel room or personal vehicle.

“Exposure to smoke and other harmful contaminants is a constant threat during live-fire training, and it’s our goal to prevent it where we can,” says Firehouse Editor-in-Chief Tim Sendelbach. “With the help of Lion Apparel, we are not only reducing the risk to firefighters, we’re also preventing cross-contamination of our airports, hotels and convention center.”

For more information or to rent gear, visit http://tinyurl.com/gearrent-FH.

Dräger Earns NFPA Certification for Complete Line of TICs

Dräger has secured NFPA certification for its standard-resolution UCF 6000 and UCF 7000 thermal imaging cameras (TICs). The company is also introducing a new, NFPA-certified addition to its product line, the UCF 8000. Dräger’s UCF 9000 TIC received NFPA certification in December 2012.

“Securing NFPA compliance for our entire line of thermal imaging cameras is a significant achievement,” said Lothar Thielen, Dräger president, North America region. “Fire departments now have a range of options from which to choose when selecting an NFPA-compliant camera based on their needs and budgets.”

For more information about Dräger’s fire service solutions, go to www.draeger.com/fire.

Line-of-Duty Deaths

6 U.S. firefighters recently died in the line of duty. The six career firefighters died in six separate incidents. Five deaths were health-related and one was the result of rescue operations.

Firefighter Timothy Gunther, 54, of the Poughkeepsie, NY, Fire Department, died on May 5. Gunther was stricken while operating at a structure fire on May 4. He was treated on scene for an apparent heart attack and was transported to Vassar Brothers Medical Center where, despite all efforts, including surgery, his condition worsened and he succumbed to his injury. 

Firefighter Dwight Greer, 44, of the Philadelphia, MS, Fire Department, died on May 6 of an apparent heart attack. Greer collapsed while participating during a physical fitness exercise at his station. He was treated by fellow responders and transported to the local hospital where he later died.

Lieutenant Kevin McRae, 44, of D.C. Fire and EMS, collapsed on May 6 as he emerged from a fire in a high-rise apartment building. Despite efforts by fellow firefighters and emergency department personnel, he died of an apparent heart attack.

Captain Jason Farley, 44, of the Claremore, OK, Fire Department, was swept away by flood waters while attempting a rescue on May 23. His body was recovered in a storm drain hours later.

David Bourget, 59, a firefighter with Phippsburg, ME, Volunteer Fire Company, died on May 23. He fell ill as he began to drive a tanker to a fireworks show to work a standby detail.

Terrance M. Pryor, 48, a lieutenant with the Memphis Fire Department, fell ill several hours after responding to an emergency call. He died on May 25.