Scott Firefighter Stairclimb Celebrates 25 Years
Celebrating its 25th year, the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb showcased more than 1,900 firefighters from 26 states and seven countries climbing 69 flights of Seattle’s Columbia Center, all while wearing full turnout gear, on March 6. Sponsored by Scott Safety, the event benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS; lls.org).
The first to finish the 1,356 steps was Andrew Drobeck of Missoula, MT, with a time of 10:43. Michelle Croft of Oregon won the women's division with a time of 15:28. This was Drobeck’s fifth consecutive win and Croft’s second consecutive win.
Finishing second and third for the men were Benjamin Brunsvoid of Missoula, MT, and Steve Potratz-Lee from the Lewiston, ID, Fire Department, respectively. For the women, Jessi Nemens of the Kent, WA, Fire Department took second place, and Phebe Johanson of the Richland, WA, Fire Department took third place.
Each participant raises a minimum of $300 to help further LLS’s mission to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life for patients and their families. For more details, visit firefighterstairclimb.org.
FDSOA Honored with Sarbanes Award
The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) have selected the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) as the recipient of the 2016 Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award, which recognizes organizations for their outstanding contributions to firefighter health and safety.
FDSOA is being recognized for its work to promote safety standards and practices in the fire, rescue and emergency services community. For 28 years, FDSOA has sponsored the Apparatus Specification and Maintenance Symposium that has brought together manufacturers, fire officers and emergency vehicle technicians. The results of these forums have contributed to significant improvements in apparatus safety performance.
Under new leadership, FDSOA recently completed a revision of its education and certification programs for Incident Safety Officers to reflect current best practices for ISOs. These revisions exceed the job performance requirements of the completely rewritten edition of NFPA 1521: Standard for Fire Department Incident Safety Officers Professional Qualifications.
CFSI President Bill Jenaway and NFFF Chairman Dennis Compton issued a joint statement recognizing FDSOA for its work. "Through partnerships, leadership and dedication, FDSOA recommitted itself to its core mission of education. They are developing new programs and enhancing existing programs that are providing essential training to safety officers. FDSOA is truly committed to the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives, and that is reflected in its work."
State Farm Insurance and VFIS serve as the corporate supporters of the award program.
New National Fire Service Research Agenda Released
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently teamed with the NFFF to host a symposium at which more than 100 representatives of the fire service and fire research communities identified and prioritized firefighter health and safety issues, and then created a guide for addressing them through scientific study and technology development. The new National Fire Service Research Agenda is now available for individuals and organizations that conduct and support projects that meet the “Everyone Goes Home” goals.
“Fifty-four recommendations were developed with input from the nation’s most highly trained and informed subject matter experts, who through education and experience, understand what must be accomplished to keep firefighters safe, fit, healthy and effective,” said Dennis Compton, chairman of the NFFF Board of Directors.
NIST, NFFF and the other collaborators are currently educating members of the fire service and fire research communities about the guide and urging them to use its recommendations in prioritizing research goals, designing studies that address the highest impact areas, and strengthening funding proposals to get the resources needed.
More information is available at everyonegoeshome.com.
Line-of-Duty Deaths
6 U.S. firefighters recently died in the line of duty. Three deaths were health-related, two were vehicle accidents and one is still under investigation. This edition of Firehouse is dedicated to these firefighters.
FIREFIGHTER EARL J. SHOEMAKER, 68, with the Hanover, PA, Fire Department, was driving an apparatus to an incident when he became ill and the vehicle veered out of control. He was rushed to a hospital and pronounced dead from a cardiac-related injury on March 12.
FIREFIGHTER CHRISTOPHER RAY, 42, of the Conway, SC, Fire Department, died on March 20 when he was struck by a fire engine. Preliminary reports indicate Ray fell off the apparatus and was struck as the truck reversed over him.
FIREFIGHTER MARCO DAVILA, 45, of Dallas Fire-Rescue, collapsed and died March 23 while exercising at home after a shift and response.
FIREFIGHTER KENNY RAY JR., 32, with Timken Steel Fire/Security in Canton, OH, died on March 20 while checking fire extinguishers throughout the plant. Nitrogen exposure is the suspected cause of death.
FIREFIGHTER RECRUIT STEVEN WHITFIELD II, 32, of Houston Fire Department, collapsed and died March 31 during obstacle course training at the Val Jahnke Training Facility. He was due to graduate in June.
FIREFIGHTER CHARLES TUCKER, 56, of Lynn, AL, Fire Department, was returning from a fire call when his personal truck crashed. He died of his injuries on April 2.
Firehouse Staff
Content written and created by Firehouse Magazine editors.
