LODD Conference in Texas Will Engage All Firefighters

Firefighters are invited to attend a unique conference that focuses on the challenges confronting the fire service when it comes to line-of-duty deaths. 

The LODD Conference -- "Different Fire Departments, Same Outcomes" -- will be held Oct. 13-15 at the Hurst Convention Center in Hurst, Texas. 

The first-of-its-kind conference is for firefighters at all levels, who can make a difference. They will be encouraged to take what they learn and make changes to save lives. 

They will review LODD case studies, and learn that data shows many share similar contributing factors.

At the 2004 Life Safety Summit in Tampa, Fla, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) set a goal to reduce line-of-duty deaths by 25% within the first five years and 50% within 10 years.

"Today, the goal is to reduce LODDs to a number below 50. Yet, unlike in years past, the low-hanging fruit and the quick-fix opportunities are no longer," says Firehouse Editor-in-Chief Timothy Sendelbach. "To achieve this goal, we must be willing to take on the highly complex and very personal issues of firefighter health and fitness, human error and decision-making."

Billy Goldfeder will open the conference with "Firefighter Death & Injury: Fire Officers And Chiefs: We Own This."

Brian Crawford, Shreveport, La., City Administrator and San Marcos Chief Les Stephens will present share the investigation of the deadly fertilizer blast in West, Texas.

Worcester, Ma. Deputy Chief of Operations John Sullivan will share how his department has changed since it lost six firefighters in 1999.
 
Organizers say the conference is an opportunity for the fire service to learn so that deadly mistakes can be prevented. 

Register today at: http://loddconference.org.