2016 EVT of the Year Announced

Robert Corsi, chief mechanic, Cranston, RI, Fire Department, has been named the 2016 Emergency Vehicle Technician (EVT) of the Year by Firehouse.  

Corsi has 29 years with the Cranston Fire Department and holds 20 EVT certifications and 23 Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications. Corsi and his team support six stations, maintain 43 vehicles and two fire boats. He is a member of the New England Fire Apparatus Maintenance Association (NEFAMA) and is currently chairman of the International Association’s Emergency Vehicle Maintenance Section (EVMS).

The EVT of the Year award will be presented to Corsi at the Fire Department Safety Officers Association’s (FDSOA) 29^th annual Apparatus Specification & Vehicle Maintenance Symposium on Jan. 16, in Orlando, FL. The EVT of the Year is co-presented by Firehouse and the FDSOA and the award is sponsored by Smeal Fire Apparatus Co.

You can read Janet Wilmoth’s interview with Corsi online at firehouse.com/XXXXXXXX.

NFPA Releases “Needs Assessment” Report

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently released its 2015 “Needs Assessment Survey of the U.S. Fire Service” report. In September 2015, the Needs Assessment survey was sent out to all U.S. fire departments. The intent of the survey was to capture the level of fire department resources and staffing, identify where fire departments have the resources to meet the needs of their communities, and identify gaps.

“This survey represents the most comprehensive look at the needs of U.S. fire departments, and whether those needs are greater than they were five years ago,” said Jim Pauley, NFPA president and CEO. NFPA has been conducting this study every five years since 2001.

Following are key findings from the report:

• 49 percent of all fire departments have not formally trained all of their personnel involved in structural firefighting, up from 46 percent in 2010.
• 69 percent of departments reported that some of their SCBA equipment is at least 10 years old, up from 55 percent in 2010.
• 72 percent of departments reported that some of their PPE is at least 10 years old, up from 63 percent in 2010.
• 43 percent of fire stations are at least 40 years old, up from 32 percent in 2001, when the initial needs assessment survey was conducted.
• Only 27 percent of fire departments have a basic firefighter fitness and health program, slightly down from 30 percent in 2010.
• 43 percent of all fire department engines and pumpers are at least 15 years old, down from 51 percent in 2001.

Read the full report at nfpa.org/needsassessment.

IAFC CBL Deadline Approaching

The IAFC Constitution, Bylaws and Resolutions (CBR) Committee reminds divisions, sections and all members that proposed changes to the IAFC Constitution and Bylaws (CBL) and division and section bylaws are due no later than Feb. 1, 2017.

As per Article VII, Section 1 (A) of the CBL, members requesting amendments must submit their proposals in writing to the CEO/executive director by Feb. 1 in a form prescribed by the CBR Committee. The committee requires members to submit a track-changed Microsoft Word document, which clearly indicates the proposed changes to the CBL or division/section bylaws. Letters of explanation and justification are welcome.

Proposed amendments must be emailed to CEO/Executive Director Mark Light at [email protected]. Questions about the amendment process may be directed to CBR Committee Chair Lorrie Kalos at[email protected].

NFFF Now Accepting 2017-2018 Scholarship Applications

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) offers financial assistance for post-secondary education and training to spouses, life partners, children and stepchildren of firefighters honored at the NFFF Memorial. Children and stepchildren must be under age 30 and have been under age 22 at the time of the firefighter’s death. Scholarships are awarded for undergraduate and graduate studies, vocational-technical training, and certification and job training programs. They may be used for study at in-state or out-of-state public and private schools.

Since 1997, the Foundation and its partners have awarded 1,060 scholarships totaling over $3,071,942. Fields of study for the recipients have ranged from Accounting to Auto Mechanics, and from Fire Science to Elementary Education.

Applications for this year’s scholarships must be postmarked and received by April 1, 2017.

For more information and eligibility requirements visit the Scholarship section of NFFF website at tinyurl.com/jut94vd.

Line-of-Duty Deaths

6 U.S. firefighters recently died in the line of duty. Three deaths were health-related, two occurred soon after an injuries during firefighting operations and one is still under investigation. This edition of Firehouse is dedicated to these firefighters.

FIREFIGHTER ALFRED A. STEWART, 79, of West Milford, NJ, Volunteer Fire Company #6, died on Nov. 6. Stewart was performing maintenance duties alone at the station while other company members attended a drill. At some point, Stewart ascended a ladder inside the station. When fire department personnel returned from the drill, they found Stewart entangled in the fallen ladder. Despite lifesaving efforts, Stewart was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. It is unknown whether Stewart suffered a medical emergency while atop the ladder and then fell, or if the ladder had fallen while he was on it, causing his trauma.

CHIEF MICHAEL PAYNE, 58, of the Brookston Prairie Township, IN, Fire Department died on Nov. 8. Payne and members of his department responded to a truck fire just before midnight on Nov. 7. After the fire was extinguished, Payne fell ill and collapsed. Lifesaving efforts were initiated and he was transported to Indiana University Hospital where he passed away a few hours later.

FIREFIGHTER TED RODNEY COLLETT, 41, of Red Bird, KY, Volunteer Fire and Rescue died on Nov. 17. Collett suffered head and arm injuries on October 29 while working a wildland fire incident. While on scene, a tree limb fell and struck him and the fire apparatus he was on. Collett was airlifted to Pikeville Medical Center for treatment, but succumbed to his injuries the evening of November 17.

MASTER FIREFIGHTER MICHAEL W CURRY, 42, of Savannah, GA, Fire and Emergency Services, died on Nov. 19. Curry was involved in rescue operations at an emergency incident when he suffered an apparent medical condition. Emergency medical personnel attended to Curry on scene and transported Curry to Memorial University Medical Center, where he passed away later that evening.

FIRE POLICE CAPTAIN MERLE L. NELL, 78, of the Volunteer Fire Company of Vernon, NY, died on Nov. 26. Nell became ill while working on a mutual aid fire call with his fire department, and later passed away in the hospital from a nature and cause of fatal injury still to be reported.

SENIOR FIREFIGHTER ARDYTHE “ARDY” HOPE, 48, of the Wilmington, DE, Fire Department, died on Dec. 1. After spending two months in the hospital fighting injuries suffered while attempting to rescue fellow firefighters who were trapped after a floor collapse, Hope succumbed to those injuries. She is the third Wilmington firefighter to die as a result of this fire. A daughter of the homeowner has been charged with arson and murder for intentionally setting the fire.