In spite of all the training, technology and adequate staffing provided to safely manage structure fires today; interior structural firefighting is still a hazardous activity that far too often results in the serious injury or fatality of excellent firefighters. And things are not improving.

How do you Mitigate, Prepare, Respond, and Recover in an area that provides emergency services to an extremely large tourist community? That is the challenge faced everyday in several locations around the world. I have firsthand knowledge regarding one district/agency in Central Florida and will discuss several aspects of our Emergency Management (EM) process. Due to privacy constraints I can not disclose the specific district we protect, however I believe that we offer a unique prospective on EM.

In 2006, the Institution of Fire Engineers (US Branch) was awarded a Fire Prevention and Safety Grant to develop a comprehensive national strategy for fire prevention. In October of 2008, a document entitled Vision 20/20: National Strategies for Fire Loss Prevention was published. In it, five strategies were presented as providing a way for the United States to address its troubling fire loss record.

Major fire service organizations have historically worked to prevent firefighter line of duty deaths. The International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), United States Fire Administration (USFA), along with many other fire service organizations, associations, media, etc. have a rich history of promoting the health, wellness, and safety of firefighters.

When most of us think of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program, we think of fire departments across the country applying for grants to buy "stuff." In fact, the Fire Act Grant was conceived in 2001 as "an important component of the Administration's larger, coordinated effort to strengthen the Nation's overall level of preparedness and ability to respond to fire and fire-related hazards." As it was originally conceived, the monies from Washington were awarded to departments as a means to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment and vehicles. Since 2001, 43,000 grants have been awarded, totaling $3.8 billion.

The Shawnee Kansas Fire Department is pleased to announce that every member is compliant with the national seat belt pledge. The campaign began as a "grass roots" effort by Firefighter Jeff Salmon.
» Also: NIOSH Supports Seat Belt Use by Firefighters

Over two dozen academic, military and fire service leaders met in Baltimore on December 4-5 to launch a series of strategic steps toward implementation of the 13th Firefighter Life Safety Initiative-Firefighters and their families must have access to psychological support and counseling. Drawing upon the White Paper commissioned for the 2nd Firefighters Life Safety Initiatives Summit (Novato, CA, March 2007) and the output from the Summit, this group met to determine specific projects and products for enhancement of behavioral health in the fire service.

In the October 2008 Everyone Goes Home® newsletter I discussed the resources available at firefighterveteran.com and the educational information available on the subjects of stress, job stress, job burnout, Acute Stress Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress. I also wrote about the past, present and future needs of the fire service in managing stress and about occupational operational stress injuries caused by firefighter traumatic stress exposure and line of duty injuries.

Do you have photos of your crew doing all the right things? Now you can share your firefighter life safety practices with other fire departments through the Everyone Goes Home® Program. » Find out more!