NFPA Issues Amendment for PASS Devices

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has issued a Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA) that requires PASS manufacturers to change the PASS alarm sound required in the current edition of NFPA 1982 (2013) for PASS devices manufactured after Dec. 21, 2016, to a new, more audible PASS alarm sound. This impacts standalone PASS devices and PASS that are integrated with SCBA.

The 2013 edition of the NFPA PASS standard implemented a standardized PASS alarm sound for all PASS devices. In 2015, the NFPA committee responsible for PASS began to hear concerns from fire departments and firefighters that the new standard alarm sound was harder to hear than the older PASS alarm sounds.

The Technical Committee on Electronic Safety Equipment has identified a more effective pattern of sound and has incorporated it into the TIA, which requires all PASS manufacturers to implement the new universal PASS alarm sound to comply with NFPA 1982 (2013). The Technical Committee believes this new sound is more audible than the current PASS alarm sound and further enhances firefighter safety.

While the TIA does not require that PASS devices or SCBA with integrated PASS devices be updated to the new alarm sound, all users of PASS devices compliant with NFPA 1982 (2013) are encouraged to consider upgrading their equipment to incorporate this new and more audible PASS alarm sound.

The proposed 2018 Edition of the NFPA 1982 includes the new PASS alarm sound.

ISFSI Launches Fireground Training for Law Enforcement

The International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI) has launched the Safe Operations for Law Enforcement on the Fireground training video.

The fireground training curriculum consists of an online training video and associated quick drill designed to be used for roll-call training, an in-depth lesson plan and PowerPoint intended to be delivered to recruit officers during extended training times or at law enforcement conferences, and an associated Law Enforcement Operations on the Fireground standard operating guideline (SOG).

“ISFSI recognized the need to establish training curriculum relevant to an officer’s actions on the fireground,” said Brian Kazmierzak, second vice-president of ISFSI. “This program ties together UL/NIST/ISFSI modern fire behavior research and the appropriate sequence of actions from arriving law enforcement officer.”

Volunteer Fire Chief and Police Officer Ed Kline added, “Police officers on patrol in their communities are in the best position to limit the oxygen available to fires inside compartments like residential and commercial structures. It makes sense to instruct them on how to control the flow path during a search or locating the fire and, in turn, limit the extent of the fire and protect any occupants prior to the fire department's arrival.”

The online training video is available at youtube.com/TheISFSI.

For more information, visit isfsi.org.

CPSE 2017 Excellence Conference

The Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) will be holding its annual Excellence Conference March 21–24 at the Hyatt Regency Orange County in Garden Grove, CA. The conference will deliver educational sessions that are targeted to fire chiefs, chief fire officers, senior command staff, accreditation managers, fire prevention officers, GIS analysts, company officers, records and data managers, and EMS personnel.

The conference is designed to promote continuous quality improvement throughout the fire and emergency service. Registration includes the keynote address, general session, accreditation and designation recognition lunches, networking opportunities and 44 education sessions. The education sessions will be divided into four tracks: Bootcamps, Progressive Leadership, Outcomes and Continuous Improvement.

For more information on the conference and to register, visit cpse.org/workshops-events/excellence-conference/conference-registration.aspx.

Line-of-Duty Deaths

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

FIREFIGHTER THOMAS GARY WALKER, 70, of the Otsego County, MI, Fire Department, died on Nov. 27. After responding with his fire department to an early morning carbon monoxide alarm, Walker later collapsed at home and was transported to hospital where he was pronounced deceased from a nature and cause of fatal injury still to be reported.

FIREFIGHTER CHARLES “DOUG” ARCHER, 49, of Spokane County, WA, Fire District 8, died on Nov. 28. After responding with his fire department to a residential fire and an aid call, Archer returned to his residence to rest where he succumbed in his sleep.

CREW BOSS/ENGINE BOSS DARRYL ELDEN “POOR BOY” VIELLE, 51, of Blackfeet Forestry and Fire Management, died on Nov. 30. While serving on the Maple Spring wildfire in North Carolina, Vielle was found deceased in his motel room. The Blackfeet Forestry and Fire Management crew had been supporting firefighters in North Carolina since Nov. 10.

DEPUTY FIRE COORDINATOR LOUIS KELLY, 70, of Union County, NJ, Fire Office of Emergency Management, died on Dec. 16. Kelly responded to a multi-alarm residential structure fire and assisted with operations at the Incident Command post. While on scene, he suffered a medical emergency and went into cardiac arrest. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment, and while still hospitalized the following week, his condition deteriorated and he passed away.

ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF JEFFERY A. WORSHAM, 45, of the Whitesville, SC, Rural Volunteer Fire Department, died on Dec. 10. After responding to a motor vehicle accident call and then returning home, Worsham was found in the morning by his spouse in cardiac arrest. The Whitesville Fire Department responded to his residence where he was treated and transported to the hospital, but succumbed to his injury several days later.

FIREFIGHTER RUBEN E. MAST, 43, of the Wayne Township, OH, Volunteer Fire Department, died on Dec. 19. Mast was responding to an alarm in his privately owned Ford F-250 pickup truck when he lost control of the vehicle and struck a guardrail before overturning. Mast was reported to have been ejected from the vehicle. He was transported to Union Hospital in Dover, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

FIREFIGHTER/SMOKEJUMPER RAY RUBIO, 52, of the Redmond, OR, Smokejumpers: Redmond Air Center, Deschutes National Forest, died on Dec. 19. Rubio had been hospitalized since Nov. 23 after suffering injuries in a fall. Rubio was reported to have been in travel status on his way home to Oregon after having been assigned to the Southeast during an outbreak of multiple large fires in the region. 

FIRE CHIEF ARTHUR “ART” BRAULT, 54, of the Cumberland Head, NY, Volunteer Fire Department, died on Dec. 20. After responding with his fire department to a structure fire earlier in the evening, Brault was discovered deceased in bed when he did not turn out for a second structure fire alarm call.

FIREFIGHTER RICHARD REHM, 55, of the McCordsville, IN, Volunteer Fire Department, died on Dec. 24. While responding to an early morning alarm call, Rehm’s privately owned vehicle became stuck on an active railroad crossing. A short time later, he was struck and killed by a passing train.

CAPTAIN FRED A. NEWTON, SR., 66, of Somerset Township, MI, Fire Department and EMS, died on Dec. 27. Upon completion of his shift, which included responses to three emergency incidents, Newton went out to the station parking lot to start and warm his car. As other members arrived at the station, they noticed Newton asleep in his car. When a firefighter knocked on a window of the vehicle there was no response. He then opened the door and noticed Newton was not breathing. Emergency dispatch was notified and the EMS crew at the station immediately began to render assistance, including ALS procedures, and transported Newton to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. 

LT. DONALD “REID” KEY II, 31, of the Whispering Pines, NC, Fire Rescue Department, died on Dec. 27. On Christmas morning, Key assisted several fellow firefighters with washing, cleaning equipment and repacking hose. Later that evening after returning home, he began experiencing a headache. The next morning the headache worsened, at which time Key’s wife drove him the hospital. After being evaluated, Key was airlifted to UNC-Chapel Hill Hospital where he died a short time later. The nature and cause of fatal injury are still to be reported.

PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTER AMY DIMMERY, 34, of the Marion, SC, Rural Fire Department, died on Jan. 2. After responding to a motor vehicle accident (MVA), Dimmery and her husband, also a firefighter, were involved in an MVA. Dimmery was entrapped and response personnel began resuscitation efforts on their arrival. She was taken to Carolinas Hospital where she died as a result of her injuries shortly after arriving. As of press time, her husband, Firefighter Freddie Dimmery, remained hospitalized in serious condition.