Thousands of Fire and Emergency Service Professionals to Meet in Dallas at Fire-Rescue International

Dallas, Texas -- More than 15,000 fire service professionals will gather in Dallas August 22-25, 2003, for the annual Fire-Rescue International Conference and Exhibition (FRI), presented by the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Registration is available on site at the Dallas Convention Center. IAFC member registration is $475; IAFC life member registration is $275; non-member registration is $575. One-day exhibit hall passes are $25 per day. On Sunday, August 24, admission to the exhibit hall is free for anyone wearing a fire department uniform or carrying a current fire department identification card.

Attendees at Fire-Rescue International 2003 will include chief fire officers, fire fighters, company level officers, arson investigators, training officers, EMS chiefs, EMS directors, EMS providers, special rescue team personnel and military fire officers.

FRI 2003 will feature a number of dynamic and inspiring speakers. Presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (via satellite), one of the earliest supporters of the FIRE Act and longtime friend of the fire service, will discuss current issues facing the fire and emergency service (via satellite), and Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Lynn Scarlett, will discuss the National Fire Plan. In addition, former commander of the U.S.S. Benfold, Captain Mike Abrashoff, will discuss grassroots leadership, and author Amanda Gore will present an entertaining twist on stress and balancing your life.

FRI also offers many unique and informative conference sessions designed to educate attendees in all facets of fire service leadership, management and operations, including suicide bombing response, leading combination departments, the political environment, fire chief survival, staffing, diversity and more.

The exhibit floor, with more than 550 exhibits, will display the latest innovations in the fire and emergency services industry, and FRI exhibitors will offer new classes to demonstrate the latest in technology, equipment and services.

Chief Ernie Mitchell of the Pasadena (Calif.) Fire Department will be installed as the 2003-2004 president of the IAFC at the Presidential Celebration Monday, August 25. Mitchell has more than 30 years of fire service experience and has been a member of the IAFC since 1987. He has served on both the Diversity and Program Planning Committees and was a member of the Fire Chief Designation Task Force. A recipient of the 1999 IAFC President's Award for service, Mitchell earned bachelor's and master's degrees in public administration and is past president of the Foothill Chiefs, Los Angeles Area Fire Chiefs and League of California Cities Fire Chiefs associations.

Other highlights:

• The IAFC will present the Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Award for Valor to fire fighter Jasen Brown of the City of Alhambra (Calif.) Fire Department. Brown will receive the award for an act of bravery and heroism at the scene of a major traffic collision. The award is co-sponsored by Motorola.
• Pre-conference workshops will take place Wednesday, August 20 and Thursday, August 21. Topics include fire station planning, apparatus maintenance, risk assessment and a new chiefs seminar.
• Co-located events include the Department of Defense Fire and Emergency Services Training Conference, the Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Working Group the Fire Museum Network, the Transportation Emergency Rescue Committee, the International Fire Photographers Association and Command School 2003.
• IAFC committees, sections and divisions will conduct meetings during the conference. In addition, representatives of many international fire departments, including Belgium, Belize, Israel, Japan and New Zealand, also will be in attendance.

About the International Association of Fire Chiefs The International Association of Fire Chiefs is the professional association for senior fire and emergency service leaders around the world with a membership of more than 12,600 fire chiefs and associated officials. A truly international organization, the IAFC counts among its members representatives from more than 30 foreign countries including Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia and Ghana.

The mission of the IAFC is to provide leadership to career and volunteer chiefs, chief fire officers and managers of emergency service organizations throughout the international community through vision, information, education, services and representation to enhance their professionalism and capabilities.