WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Firefighters with the International Association of Fire Fighters visited the offices of two members of Congress to voice their support of the Firefighter Fatality Reduction Act of 2009.
The measure, introduced Monday by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), calls for the creation of a task force.
They would survey the national voluntary consensus standards on safety equipment, training, and staffing levels. The bill would not mandate federal oversight of local fire departments. It would explore how the federal government should best promote firefighter safety standards and assist fire departments with compliance.
"Firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities, our homes, and our families safe," Brown said in a prepared statement. "This bill is about protecting those who protect us. It's our duty to do all we can to avoid preventable deaths and minimize injuries."
"The loss of any firefighter in the line of duty is a tragedy. Even more tragic is a preventable firefighter fatality. Every year our nation loses roughly 100 firefighters in the line of duty, many of which could be prevented by following national voluntary consensus standards. These standards will provide the framework for every fire department to be as efficient and safe as possible," stated Perlmutter. "Safer firefighters create safer communities."
IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger said of the proposal: "The continued prevalence of avoidable fire fighter fatalities is the most serious problem facing the fire service today. I applaud Senator Brown and Representative Perlmutter for tackling this problem head-on, and am proud to join with him to ensure that fire fighters nationwide have the tools and resources they need to ensure their safety and the safety of those they protect."
The bill would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to determine the rate of fire department compliance with standards for safe operations, staffing, training, and fitness among career, volunteer, and combination fire departments.
The bill also was proposed during the last session.
Legislative representatives of the Congressional Fire Service Institute, National Volunteer Fire Council and National Fallen Firefighters' Foundation had no comment on the proposed bill.
