For the Record 11/17

UL FSRI Launches Safety Campaign

UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute (UL FSRI) has launched a national program aimed at enlisting fire service professionals in its “Close Before You Doze” campaign, which educates consumers about the importance of closing doors inside their home at night.  

UL FSRI research reveals that during a fire in the home, closed doors serve as valuable barriers against fire, decreasing the levels of smoke, heat, flames and carbon monoxide, providing trapped occupants with better chances of survival while waiting for first responders. According to the research, people once had an average of 17 minutes to escape a burning home after the activation of a smoke detector. Today, that time has dropped to 3 minutes or less due, in large part, to open floor plans and synthetic materials used to build and furnish homes that burn more quickly than traditional materials.

To help fire departments share this important message, UL FSRI has developed a portal with materials that they can download and share with schools and others in the community. Fire professionals can access the portal at fireservice.closeyourdoor.org.

As part of the program, UL FSRI established a $100,000 national fund to help departments pay for printing of the materials. Fire departments can order the materials they need from the portal and FSRI will subsidize the first $250 of materials and shipping costs.

“Beyond the life-saving work fire service professionals do every day in fighting fires, they are the most important educators in teaching the public how to protect against fire,” said Steve Kerber, director of the UL FSRI. “We think ‘close your door’ should be an important part of their message. Research clearly proves to us that when people go to sleep at night, closed doors in all rooms in the house could help save their lives in the event of a fire.”

NFPA Introduces Fire & Life Safety Policy Institute

The NFPA has launched the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Policy Institute. The Policy Institute will study a range of issues and provide guidance and information to policymakers on the best approaches governments can take to improve safety for the citizens they serve.

“We have made tremendous progress in reducing loss from fire since NFPA’s inception, but we are painfully reminded every day that there is more to be done,” said NFPA President Jim Pauley.

According to the NFPA, in 2016, U.S. fire departments responded to a fire every 24 seconds; one structure fire was reported every 60 seconds. While the number of civilian fire deaths in the U.S. has decreased by 54 percent from 7,395 in 1977 to 3,390 in 2016, fire still claimed nine lives a day and caused almost $11 billion in direct property damage.

There have been recent situations where some combination of code adoption, enforcement and awareness efforts were woefully inadequate for one reason or another, resulting in tragedy. These include the Oakland Ghost Ship fire, which killed 36 people; the London Grenfell apartment fire, which took the lives of nearly 80 people; and a number of recent fires in buildings under construction.

“It takes a full fire prevention and protection system to reduce loss, and either intentionally or unintentionally that system has been broken,” Pauley said. “And the public, who believes this system exists and relies on it, has been let down. We can do better.”

Pauley said policymakers are key to reducing loss from fire and other hazards, and the purpose of the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Policy Institute is to help policymakers keep their communities safe by providing recommended practices, proposed solutions and other guidance to support and sustain strong fire prevention and protection systems.

The Policy Institute will be led by Meghan Housewright, who has served in the NFPA’s government affairs office since March 2011.

Scott Safety Enters Partnership with CAL FIRE

Scott Safety is preparing to launch its $12.5 million partnership with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). The company is readying its support of the nation’s third-largest firefighting organization and its 5,600 full-time firefighters through equipment production and in-service training. As part of the multimillion-dollar agreement, Scott Safety will provide 2,400 Air-Pak X3 SCBA to 237 fire stations in California.

“We’re looking forward to equipping CAL FIRE with the tools they need for success,” said Trent Smith, global director of sales, Scott Safety, which was recently awarded the new statewide contract for SCBA. “Our focus now is on delivering the highest level of quality equipment, training and customer service, offering CAL FIRE peace of mind and comfort in getting the job done.”

Under this new partnership, CAL FIRE will have easy and quick access to Scott Safety’s continued innovation through Scott Safety’s distribution partner, ALLSTAR Fire Equipment, headquartered in Arcadia, CA.

“The members of CAL FIRE carry out a critical mission of protecting people and property throughout the State of California,” said Scott Safety President Mike Ryan. “Scott Safety is ready to begin supporting this mission with world-class support and durable, cutting-edge protection.”

“America Burning” Author Louis J. Amabili Dies

Louis J. Amabili, one of the foremost authorities on fire prevention and the author of the "America Burning" report, died on Sept. 28.

In 1970, President Richard Nixon appointed Amabili to serve on the National Commission for Fire Prevention and Control. That committee, under Amabili's leadership, produced the 1973 "America Burning" report that focused on fire deaths, injuries and loses in the U.S.

Amabili served in a number of roles in the fire service, including serving on the NFPA Board of Directors, being a charter member of the National Fire Academy Board of Visitors and he was the president of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors. Amabili became a member of the CFSI Board of Directors in 1994.

“Throughout his entire career, Lou Amabili was fully committed to the health and safety of the men and women who have served in the fire service," CFSI President William F. Jenaway said in a statement. "He was always willing and eager to share his knowledge with both aspiring and veteran firefighters and cared deeply about preserving the fire service’s rich heritage. His contributions to our organization and to the nation’s fire service will preserve his legacy as a legendary leader for many years to come."

"The fire service has lost a true gentlemen and a tireless leader," said Firehouse Editor-in-Chief Tim Sendelbach. "Lou's dedication and passion have helped shape the American fire service for more than 50 years and his contributions will continue to serve many generations to come. Thank you for your tireless service Lou, you will forever be remembered."

Line-of-Duty Deaths

4 U.S. firefighters recently died in the line of duty. Three deaths were health-related and one was the result of complications from a motor vehicle accident 14 years ago. This edition of Firehouse is dedicated to these firefighters.

BATTALION CHIEF TERRY SMERDEL, 59, of the San Francisco Fire Department, died on Sept. 10. Smerdel had returned from an early morning fire alarm call, and was later found by coworkers in his office, unresponsive. Advanced life support measures were immediately initiated, but he was pronounced deceased at the station.

LT. KENNETH GREENE, SR., 60, of the Philadelphia Fire Department, died on Sept. 14. Greene became ill while on-duty and was transported to the hospital from the fire station on Sept. 3. He passed away the following week from a nature and cause of fatal injury still to be reported.

FIREFIGHTER/EMT MATTHEW MARK DEICHER, 47, of the Mosinee, WI, Fire Department, died on Sept. 23. Deicher was paralyzed from a July 31, 2003, ambulance crash while located in the patient compartment of the vehicle. He passed away from complications due to his injuries and related medical condition.

CAPT. ERIC J. BALLIET, 41, of the Fort Wayne, IN, Fire Department, died Sept. 27. Balliet died during a training exercise at a commercial structure while leading a crew during physically demanding maneuvers. The nature and cause of fatal injury are still to be determined and reported.