Just what is the future of the Everyone Goes Home program?
That's one issue that a strategic planning committee of fire service officials will be discussing over the next few months.
"Is it time to stand on its own legs? That's something that's certainly been kicked around," said Ron Siarnicki, executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
Siarnicki said the NFFF would maintain involvement, but wonders if it wouldn't move forward faster under the guidance of the nation's fire service organizations such as the International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Fighters and others.
"Everyone is focused on the mission of reducing firefighter deaths and injuries. The structure is in place. The foundation will always keep its role, but we can't do it all."
Recommendations garnered during the second National Line-of Duty Death Prevention Summit held this past weekend in California are being reviewed, and a report is being generated.
Siarnicki said the foundation is pleased with the accomplishments. "We've received many e-mails. They've been very positive. People involved say they felt it was very productive."
White papers on each of the 16 Life Safety Initiatives will be available soon on the Everyone Goes Home website.
The goal of the Everyone Goes Home program is to reduce the number of firefighter deaths by 25 percent in the next five years, and 50 percent in the next 10.
A snapshot of LODDs from the end of the last summit in 2004 until the opening of the second has been compiled by Kevin Roche, Phoenix assistant fire marshal:
336 On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities 201 Volunteer 98 Career 36 Wildland 1 Industrial Hometown Heroes and Survivors Benefit Act of 2003 38 Firefighter Fatalities 2004 - 119 2005 - 115 2006 - 105 2007 - Through March 2 to 18 Median Age - 47 years, 55 days Oldest - 78 years 13 Firefighters Under Age 21 49 Firefighters Age 61+ Percent Under Age 40 - 30.4% Firefighter Fatalities in 47 States No Deaths in Hawaii, Maine, Vermont Nine States - 10 Firefighter Fatalities or More New York, Pennsylvania, California, North Carolina, Texas, Kentucky, New Jersey, Illinois, Alabama 159 - Heart Attack - 47.3% 101 - Trauma - 30.1% 28 - Asphyxiation - 8.3% 14 - Burns - 4.2% 12 - CVA - 3.6% 3 - Electrocution - .9% On-Scene Fire - 95 - 28.4% Responding/Returning - 62 - 18.4% Training - 38 - 11.3% On-Scene Non-Fire - 24 - 7.1% Other On-Duty/After - 116 - 34.5% 13 Multiple Firefighter Fatality Incidents Philadelphia, PA - Row House Fire (2) New York, NY Pittsburgh, PA - - Apartment Fire (2) Sabine National Forest, TX - Helicopter Crash (3) Pittsburgh, PA -- Church Fire (2) Chico, CA - Airtanker Crash (3) Moulton, AL - Wall Collapse (2) Evanston, WY - Condo Fire (2) Klamath National Forest, CA - Helicopter Crash (2) Payette National Forest, CA - Helicopter (4) New York, NY - Commercial Fire (2) Tulare County, CA - Wildland Aircraft (2) Esperanza Fire, CA - Wildland Burnover (5) Ghent, WV - Propane Explosion (2) 38 Training Deaths 17 Heart Attacks 3 CVA's 9 Traumatic Deaths Aircraft - 4 POV crashes enroute - 2 Fall from Roof, Fall from Pickup Airbag Incident 3 Drownings 2 Burns, PA and MD 2 Crushed, fire apparatus Heat Stress
