For the Record 11/16

Pfeifer & Greaser Named Outstanding Leadership Award Recipients

FDNY Firefighter Ray Pfeifer and Flower Mound, TX, Fire Department Fire Chief Eric Greaser were named recipients of the 2016 Fire News Outstanding Leadership Award. The awards were presented at Firehouse Expo at Music City Center in Nashville, TN. 

Both fire service veterans were nominated by their colleagues who indicated that they have gone the extra mile to make a difference in the lives of others. Their efforts have not only helped improve the fire departments they serve, but also the future of the fire service. 

“These leaders have continued to give selflessly of themselves by putting the needs of others first,” stated Tim Edwards, Editor of Fire News. They are representatives of the men and women of our nation that go the extra step to make a difference in the lives of others.”

Pfeifer has demonstrated courage, dedication and tenacity while battling stage-four cancer that resulted from his tireless efforts at Ground Zero—and he is still advocating for his colleagues in the fire service. Pfeifer was instrumental in getting legislation enacted to help all firefighters suffering from 9/11-related illnesses, and on Dec. 18, 2015, saw President Barack Obama sign the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. This reopened the Victim Compensation Fund for those who suffered injuries or death as a result of 9/11 and its aftereffects.

Greaser has been pivotal in transforming the Flower Mound Fire Department, both organizationally and operationally. His leadership has forged meaningful relationships within the city and across other public safety agencies in the region. He is dedicated to the development of all fire department personnel and has brought the pride of being a firefighter into the department.

NVFC Releases Newest Behavioral Health Newsletter

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has released the second edition of “The Helpletter,” the newsletter of the NVFC’s Share the Load behavioral health program. This publication, available both in print and online, provides information, tips and resources to proactively address firefighter and EMT behavioral health.

Firefighters, EMTs and rescue workers are at a high risk for many behavioral health issues, including PTSD, stress, addiction, depression and more. If left unaddressed, these issues can have tragic consequences, and even result in suicide. The Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance has received reports of 91 firefighter and EMT suicides so far this year, and 131 last year.

The second edition covers a variety of topics, including:

• How to talk to a fellow firefighter or EMT who is in need
• A firsthand account of a firefighter who survived PTSD, addiction and a suicide attempt
• Information about the Fire/EMS Helpline, a free hotline available to all firefighters, EMTs and their families 24/7 for help with behavioral health issues
• Resources for dealing with a line-of-duty death
• Dealing with mass-casualty incidents

All NVFC members can request print copies from the NVFC office by emailing [email protected]. Include the mailing address and the quantity requested. An online copy can be downloaded at http://tinyurl.com/z6c7tor.

Learn more about the Share the Load program and access additional resources, including the first edition of “The Helpletter,” at www.nvfc.org/help.

International Fire Chiefs Endorse NFPA Position Papers

Fire chiefs from the United States, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom recently participated in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Urban Fire Forum (UFF) at NFPA headquarters in Quincy, MA. NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley welcomed the chiefs and provided an overview of the association’s strategic plans, reinforcing the critical role urban fire service leaders play in reaching those goals and initiatives.

Special guests at the Forum included Albrecht Broemme, president of Germany’s Technisches Hilfswerk Federal Agency for Technical Relief; Peter Holland, United Kingdom Chief Fire & Rescue Advisor; Dave Etheridge, president of the UK Chief Fire Officers Association; and Chief Mark Light, CEO and executive director of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

The group endorsed three important documents as official UFF-Metro Chiefs position papers:

•  Civil Unrest White Paper and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
•  Behavioral Health Programs and Policies
•  Fire Service Application for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

“Today’s firefighters respond to a broad range of emergencies and catastrophic events that have become commonplace in the United States and throughout the world,” said NFPA Metro Chiefs Executive Secretary Russ Sanders, who coordinated the event. “To adequately handle these crises, fire chiefs must understand and embrace the latest research, and have access to quality and timely data. The position papers endorsed by the Forum provide the information and resources needed to effectively address the challenges facing today’s fire service.”

Sanders points to the timeliness of the Civil Unrest White Paper and SOP in particular, which can be used as a comprehensive resource for responding to incidents like the civil unrest that has occurred in cities across the U.S. over the past several months.

The UFF brings together fire chiefs who are responsible for protecting some of the largest urban centers in the world. The program objectives are to provide the chiefs an opportunity to learn from their peers and expert speakers, and for NFPA to stay abreast of current trends and needs in the fire service. As part of the overall mission of the UFF, chief officers share UFF position papers and associated information with fire officers from all over the world.

Line-of-Duty Deaths

10 U.S. firefighters recently died in the line of duty. Four deaths were the result of accidents, three were health-related and three occurred during firefighting operations. This edition of Firehouse is dedicated to these firefighters.

FIREFIGHTER COLBY SLAUGHTER, 36, of the Wink, TX, Volunteer Fire Department was killed on Sept. 7 when the fire apparatus he was driving was struck head-on by a semi-water hauler on State Highway 302. Reports indicate that it was raining at the time of the crash.

FIREFIGHTER LOWELL SATTERWHITE, 68, of the Dakota City, NE, Fire Department died at home of an apparent heart attack in the early morning hours of Sept. 11 after responding to an emergency call late the previous night.

SENIOR FIREFIGHTER ERIC GUSTAFSON, 40, of the Meridian, MS, Fire Department was killed on Sept. 9. He was driving a fire truck in response to a trailer fire when the apparatus clipped a bridge, ran off the road and rolled over. Gustafson was pronounced dead at the scene.

CHIEF ENGINEER DANIEL  P. MCCANN, III, 51, of Manasquan, NJ, Hook & Ladder Company 1 died at home on Sept. 16 after participating in a scheduled firematic training drill with his company. An autopsy is pending.

FIRE ENGINEER RYAN OSLER, 38, of the Ventura County, CA, Fire Department was killed on Sept. 21 when the water tender truck he was riding in struck a curb in the roundabout of a traffic circle and overturned. The apparatus was loaded with 2,000 gallons of water and was en route to the Canyon Fire on Vandenberg Air Force Base.

FIRE SAFETY OFFICER CHARLES E. HORAN, 61, of the North Belle Vernon, PA, Volunteer Fire Department died on Sept. 21. While responding to call to assist law enforcement gain access to the roof of a building, he suffered a severe injury in a fall. Horan was treated by fellow responders and transported to the hospital where, despite all efforts, he succumbed to his injuries several days later.

Lt. CHRISTOPHER M. LEACH, 41, and SENIOR FIREFIGHTER JERRY W. FICKES, 51, of the Wilmington, DE, Fire Department were killed on Sept. 24 while battling a fire in a brick row home. While searching the interior, several firefighters fell through a collapsing floor. Leach and Fickes did not survive. Two firefighters were critically injured but reported to be in stable condition.

FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC SEAN MCMULLIN, 46, of the West County, MO, EMS & Fire Protection District was found unresponsive while on-duty at Station 2 on Sept. 24. Fellow responders initiated lifesaving efforts, but were unsuccessful. The nature and cause of McMullin's fatal injury have not been reported.

BATTALION CHIEF MICHAEL J. FAHY, 44, of the FDNY was killed on Sept. 27 when he was struck by debris when a two-story private residence under investigation for an illicit drug manufacturing operation exploded. Firefighters had first responded to a report of a gas smell at the location and found the drug lab, notifying police, but the house exploded before the situation could be fully assessed and mitigated.