For the Record 9/16

Firehouse, Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs Join Forces

Firehouse has partnered with the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs to serve as its premier media partner and to further bolster professional development and benefits for its members. 

The independent collaboration ensures that Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs members will have even more abundant avenues for communicating to members via Firehouse-produced trade shows, websites and Firehouse Magazine. All members will enjoy full access to a wide array of education and networking opportunities, including a special discount to attend Firehouse Expo and Firehouse World, beginning with this year’s Firehouse Expo, being held in Nashville, Oct. 18–22. They’ll also receive a subscription to Firehouse Magazine and the opportunity to teach at conferences as well as contribute editorial content to the magazine and website. 

“We’ve taken a more strategic look at the immediate needs of our membership and the partnership with Firehouse will help us ensure our mission is realized,” said Lisa Moatts, director of Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs. “The ability to bring together the excellence in training and outreach of Firehouse with our name recognition will benefit the entire fire service.”

“Firehouse is excited to help the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs autonomously and organically grow its membership and benefit offerings,” says Tim Sendelbach, editor-in-chief of Firehouse. “This partnership will undoubtedly open the door to new opportunities for both Firehouse and the members of Southeastern, and we look forward to uncovering additional collaborative opportunities in the future.”

This year, Firehouse Expo will be held in Nashville for the first time. The five-day gathering will include a newly created Chief-to-Chief Program, 28 hands-on training classes, eight live-fire classes, a live drone demo area, a Community Risk Reduction Workshop, more than 140 interactive conference sessions, a larger exhibit floor and the induction of the 2016 Firehouse Hall of Fame class.

“We’re thrilled to have Firehouse Expo in Nashville, the heart of our Southeastern division,” says Chief Larry Williams, president of Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs. “Partnering with Firehouse is positive on so many levels and we look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship as we look for ways to give back to our membership.” 

ISFSI Launches Acquired Structure Credential Program

The International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI) has launched the second in a series of Live Fire Instructor credential designations.

The Acquired Structure credential, which follows on the heels of the Fixed Facility credential, welcomed the first credential candidates in the online training platform on Aug. 15. The ISFSI has successfully credentialed more than 800 instructors in the Fixed Facility credential designation, which was released in 2011.

The program will prepare the live-fire instructor for the roles necessary to prepare training plans, developing objectives and preparing a structure for safe and effective training in compliance with NFPA 1403 standards.

“The importance of planning, communication, execution, and documentation is paramount for live fire training in acquired structures,” said Kevin Milan, lead instructor for the program. “This environment can be deadly if an instructor is not properly prepared to deal with the nuances of the applicable standards to mitigate risk. Conversely, a well-prepared structure and a rock solid burn plan executed by professional instructors transforms an acquired structure into a learning environment without equal. The ISFSI Acquired Structure credential sets the table for success in this high stakes training environment.”

Successfully credentialed candidates are issued a three-year designation by the ISFSI.

To learn more about the ISFSI Live Fire Acquired Structure Instructor credential visit http://isfsi.org/live-fire-acquired-structure-credential.

Line-of-Duty Deaths

15 U.S. firefighters recently died in the line of duty. Eight deaths were the result of accidents and seven were health-related. This edition of Firehouse is dedicated to these firefighters.

Lieutenant Andrew “Moose” Russell, 48, with the Harrison Township, MI, Fire Department, died on July 2 from complications related to shoulder surgery following a fall on the ice while working an emergency medical call.

Firefighter Will Hawkins, 22, and Firefighter Jacob O’Malley, 27, of the Nevada Bureau of Land Management, died on July 10. While investigating lightning strikes in the area, the firefighters were killed when a tire failure caused their vehicle to overturn.

Assistant Chief Mitch Koski, 56, of the Montreal, WI, Fire Department, died on July 11. While responding to an emergency call, the private vehicle he was driving was washed into Saxon Harbor by flash flood waters.

Firefighter Tim McClanahan, 46, of Lewes, DE, Fire Department was killed on July 11 after falling from a helicopter while participating in a monthly “hoist training” exercise with the Delaware Air Rescue Team at the Delaware Coastal Airport. 

Chief Engineer Richard Zadorozny, 66, of the Eatontown, NJ, Engine, Truck and Hose Company, died on July 11 at home several hours after responding to an emergency for an odor of natural gas at a local apartment complex.

Captain Eric Kohlbauer, 52, of the Freeport, IL, Rural Fire Protection District, died on July 12. He was working with other members of his fire department on a pumper relay drill when he suddenly collapsed and died from a cardiac injury.

Firefighter Joseph T. DeMarinis, 32, of Clermont, FL Fire Department, died on July 14. Several hours after getting off of his duty shift, which included several emergency response calls, DeMarinis checked himself into the hospital where he passed away from a reported cardiac event.

Fire Coordinator John Scott, 71, of Tioga, NY, County Bureau of Fire, was struck and killed by a county vehicle on July 20 while performing maintenance on a county radio tower.

Firefighter John Ishman, 60, of the Hilltop, PA, Fire Department, was struck and killed on July 23 while he was helping to guide a tanker truck back into the firehouse. Ishman, the former fire chief of the department, was pronounced dead at the scene by the McKean County Coroner.

Firefighter Gabriel Lee, 42, of the Philadelphia Fire Department, was found unresponsive in the gym in the firehouse on July 23. He was treated by fellow responders then taken to Temple University Hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

Firefighter Ed Cosgrove, 53, of the Green Township, MO, Fire Protection District, died on July 24. Cosgrove was performing or assisting with hoseline advancement to perform fire suppression on a recreational vehicle when he suffered cardiac arrest. Emergency care was initiated at the scene, and he was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Firefighter Charles Waterbury, 56, of the Orford, NH, Fire Department, suffered a medical emergency while fighting a brush fire in Lyme, NH. Firefighter Waterbury was transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center where he was pronounced dead on July 24.

Dozer Operator Robert O. Reagan III, 35, was killed on July 26 when his vehicle overturned while operating in steep terrain battling the Soberanes Fire in the Palo Colorado Canyon vicinity of California. He was working on contract for CAL FIRE.

Captain Michael Schultz, 47, with Hoyt, KS, Rural Fire District #3, was killed on July 27 in a crash after the tanker he was driving blew a tire and overturned.