For the Record 3/18

Members of the department will be able to witness first-hand the research burns, furthering their knowledge in fire behavior at the same time interacting with the researchers one-on-one. This will provide invaluable training/experience to the department’s leaders and members, helping them understand why things happen, and allowing them to make more effective choices on the fireground.

UL FSRI is looking for the following acquired structures:

• Single-Family Homes—Eight two-story, wood-frame, single-family homes at least 1,600 sq. ft. with similar floor plans and with limited exposure challenges.
• Garden Style Apartments—An apartment building of a minimum of three stories in height, with apartments accessed via a common stairway; typically the stairway is enclosed. A minimum of 12 units in at least three buildings, preferably more.
• Strip Mall—A single-story commercial building with multiple storefronts, ideally a minimum of two buildings with at least four units per building for a total of eight units.

UL FSRI understands this may come with some financial burden, and although they may not be able to reimburse all costs, UL FSRI has included money in the project budget to help with these costs.

If your department can help, fill out the form at ulfirefightersafety.org/posts/request-for-aquired-structures.html.

NFFF Accepting 2018–2019 Sarbanes Scholarship Applications

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s (NFFF) is accepting applications through April 1, 2018, for the 2018–2019 Sarbanes Scholarship Program, which provides assistance to spouses, life partners, children and stepchildren of firefighters honored at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. 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.

To be eligible, children must be under age 30 presently and have been under age 22 at the time of the firefighter’s death. All applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalency or must be in their final year of high school. Applicants must also be pursuing or planning to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies, a certification program or job skills training at an accredited institution and must be enrolled or planning to enroll as a full- or part-time student.

In 1992, the U.S. Congress created the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The Foundation’s scholarship program began in 1997 and is named in honor of U.S. Senator Paul S. Sarbanes of Maryland, a strong supporter of education and America’s fire service family who authored the legislation creating the Foundation. Since 1997, the Foundation has awarded scholarships totaling more than $2,941,362 to families of fallen firefighters.

To download an application, visit tinyurl.com/y85unpee.

Line-of-Duty Deaths

3 U.S. firefighters recently died in the line of duty. Two deaths were health-related and one was the result of being struck by a vehicle while on an accident scene. This edition of Firehouse is dedicated to these firefighters.

DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF RUSSELL ACHORD, 48, of West Feliciana Parish, LA, Fire Protection District #1, died on Jan. 17. While at the scene of a motor vehicle collision involving a tractor-trailer that had run off the side of a highway due to icy conditions, Achord was struck by the driver of a second vehicle, a pickup truck pulling a trailer that lost control and crashed into the scene. Several people were struck and injured, including Achord, who was pinned under a vehicle. Fellow responders rushed to extract him and provided medical aid measures while he was transported to the West Feliciana Hospital where he died from his injuries.

FIREFIGHTER DERRICK RYAN WEBB, 31, of the Hardy’s Chapel, TN, Volunteer Fire Department, died on Jan. 17. Webb fell ill while preparing a training drill at the fire station. He was found unresponsive in the apparatus bay beside his turnout gear and SCBA. The PASS device on the SCBA was still sounding. CPR was initiated, but Webb was pronounced deceased at the hospital from a nature and cause of fatal injury still to be reported.

FIREFIGHTER/DRIVER-OPERATOR DWAYNE "YOGI" THOMAS, 57, of the U.S. Virgin Islands Fire Service, died on Jan. 24. Shortly after driving a tanker to the scene of a structure fire, Thomas assisted with forced entry of the burning building. He then returned to his apparatus as other fire engines arrived on scene to set up water supply. Soon thereafter, Thomas was found unresponsive by fellow responders. He was attended to immediately, but succumbed to his injury, a reported heart attack, while being transported to the hospital.