THE CAPITAL BULLETIN THE CAPITAL BULLETIN INFORMATION FOR FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS, SECRETARIES, TREASURERS & CHIEFSINFORMATION FOR FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS, SECRETARIES, TREASURERS & CHIEFS

EDITOR, TOM RINALDIEDITOR, TOM RINALDI APRIL 20, 2019APRIL 20, 2019What is going to destroy the volunteer fire service is apathy.

CAPITAL SHORTS:CAPITAL SHORTS: The Capital Area’s own Joyce Petkus, Treasurer of the Greenfield Fire District and Director for the

Capital Area Association of Fire Districts is running for Statewide Election, the position of Secretary-Treasurer. She has one opponent, Kevin Frank from the North Massapequa Fire District, Nassau County. Each fire district has one vote and to get Joyce elected we need one Fire District Officer (commissioner, treasurer or deputy treasurer) from every fire district in the Capital Area (approx 93 districts) to cast their vote on May 3rd - 4PM at the Albany Marriott Grand Ballroom on Wolf Road in Colonie. We need mutual aid assistance to elect Joyce!! You do not need to register for the conference to vote, come cast your ballot – one vote per district!

We have several toxic bills which play with the dates of fire district elections, these legislators have no clue that fire districts, school districts and towns do not have contiguous boundaries and that verification of voters would be a nightmare and another unfunded mandate. There are also other toxic bills that you don’t want to see passed, get involved; make your voice heard or live with a bad law!!!!

Congratulations to the Hudson Fire Department celebrating 225 years of service. One of the largest recruitment events in the country is coming April 27-28 and you can be a part of it. Close to

500 departments have already signed up to participate in the statewide open house. Fire Service Legislative Day is quickly approaching. On Monday, May 20th we expect to see many fire service

representatives visiting their local elected officials in Albany. Please sign up to participate; go to the last page.A wise person participates, others are just observers…don’t be just an observer!!!!

The Halfmoon-Waterford Fire district is going back to the voters for approval of a new multi-million dollar fire station on Middletown Road. The original $12.3 million project, which was rejected in November, will return for a referendum on Tuesday, May 7, at a reduced price tag of $10.7 million.

CAPITAL AREA ASSOCIATION NEWS:CAPITAL AREA ASSOCIATION NEWS:WWW.AFDCA.ORGWWW.AFDCA.ORG

The Capital Area Association wants to take this opportunity to thank all of the Fire Districts who continue to support your local Association.

Dues not paid for 2019, its getting shorter: Berne, Coeymans, East Glenville #3, Eastern Pittstown, Elsmere, Guilderland, Guilderland Center, Hoags Corners, Hoosick Falls Joint, Pleasantdale, Quaker Street, Rotterdam #1, Rotterdam #3, Rotterdam #6, & Town of Mohawk.

Remit payments to AFDCA 596 Boght Road Cohoes, NY 12047 [Dues remitted to our previous Treasurer at the Troy address may not have been applied yet]

Capital Area Dues are payable and Business Sponsors will be required to renewed for 2019!!!Ads are being updated in the Bulletin. Thank you for your continued support.

The 2019 Officers:President John Meehan1st VP Alan Hodges

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2nd VP Tom RinaldiDirectors: in addition to the 1st and 2nd VP, Les Bonesteel, Tom Wood, Joyce Petkus, Ed Woehrle and Mike PodolecSecretary – Treasurer: Jan Turcotte; Deputy Alicia HodgesSergeant at Arms: Tom Wood

Meeting Dates: May 9th, September 5th, October 10th, November 7th (elections) and January 4th, 2020 at the West Crescent Station. All are encouraged to attend!!! We don’t want to make this a club that comes under the control of one area or County, the only way to keep that from happening is to get involved, come to the meetings and participate.Meetings: Currently all meetings will be held at the West Crescent Fire Station, which is centrally located to the 8 counties represented by

the Association. Food is served for the convenience of the attendees.

The Capital Area has logo ware for sale, long and short sleeve polo shirts. Contact President John Meehan to purchase shirts.

Remember that the Capital Bulletins are archived for 6 months on the Capital Area Website – www.afdca.org see Capital Bulletin Archives.

STATE ASSOCIATION NEWS:STATE ASSOCIATION NEWS:WWW.AFDSNY.ORGWWW.AFDSNY.ORG

Next Capital Area Commissioner’s Training05/02 9am Joe Frank Annual Meeting - Albany Marriott189 Wolf Road, Albany NY 12205

Register on-line at the State Association Web Site www.afdsny.org

The Annual Meeting and workshops will again be held at the Marriott on Wolf Road on May 2nd through the 4th in 2019

The workshop program is being developed!!Key Note Speaker Chief Marc Bashoor – Highlands Co. Florida

Executive Editor FireRescue1.com and FireChief.com

Can’t make it to the Annual Meeting or Fall Leadership Summit? Your budget won’t support spring or fall training? Would you like some professional training in your area of the State? The State Association is here for you.

The State is Offering Training in your Neighborhood – Just Contact Cathy DeLuca to Scheduleo We need people in the seats, commissioners, secretaries, treasurers, chiefs.o You provide a location, we will provide the instructors.o We will work to find sponsors for the supporting food.o At Minimal cost to the attendees.

Courses available?o Introduction to Apparatus and Fleet Vehicle Evaluation & Planningo Introduction to Fire Service Conflict Resolutiono Introduction to Human Resources for the Volunteer Fire Serviceo Ask the Attorney!!o Secretary and Treasurer’s training courses.

Contact Cathy DeLuca at cdeluca@afdsny to schedule your regional training, we’re coming to YOU!.

The “New and Improved” On-Line Commissioner’s 6 hour training is available on the State Association web site. The training has been completely revamped for better and easier viewing.

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ASSOCIATION TRAINING CONTACTCathy Deluca

AFDSNY Program CoordinatorPO Box 496

Selkirk, NY 12158(C) (518) 275-6585

program.coordinator@afdsny.orgAssociation Web Site www.afdsny.org

The Fall Leadership Summit and Fire ExpoWednesday October 2 nd through Saturday October 5 th 2019 Niagara Falls Convention Center/*Sheraton Niagara Falls

*A Marriott International Property

State Association Proposed By-Laws Amendments for 2019To be Voted On at the Annual Meeting

The Board of Directors has voted to support the proposed amendments to the Bylaws of the Association as follows:

Article II. This article determines the location of the offices of the Association. The Board believes that greater flexibility should be available to establish offices for the Association. Rather than the office of the Secretary Treasurer establishing the location the Board believes that it should have the discretion to establish such location. This flexibility may enable the Board to provide for a more efficient and effective method of establishing and maintaining an office and controlling expenses.

Article III. This article covers the types of memberships and the rights and privileges of each form of membership. The Board believes that this amendment addresses the changes that have occurred over the years in the types of members which the Association has been attracting.

Article V, Section 1 covers the plan for holding the annual meeting of the Association. Presently, the article requires that the meeting be held in April or May. The Board believes that it is prudent that the Board have the flexibility to hold it in other months in order to address the best time to hold a meeting and conference when there is competition from other entities holding meetings and conventions. In addition, at some point it might be determined that it is necessary to consolidate our two annual events and the current bylaw would require the Association to hold that event in April or May. The amendment also adds the Secretary Treasurer to the list of offices voted on at the annual meeting. Article V, Section 4 still provides that the Secretary Treasurer serves a three-year term. This proposed amendment does not change that. It simply lists the office as an office that is voted on at the annual meeting when that three-year cycle or a vacancy requires it to be on the ballot.

Article V, Section 7 is being amended in order to permit a voting member of the Association to be able to vote at the annual meeting by having an officer register with the Secretary Treasurer in order to get voting credentials for any vote at the annual meeting. It eliminates the requirement to have paid a registration fee in order to be able to vote in recognition that some members may not be able to afford to pay conference registrations in addition to dues. If you pays dues you should have the right to vote.

The Board of Directors finds these proposed amendments to be in the best interests of the Association.

DON’T JUST COMPLAIN - SPEAK UP FIRE SERVICE!DON’T JUST COMPLAIN - SPEAK UP FIRE SERVICE!

US States Introduce Bills to Restrict PFAS Chemicals in Firefighting and Food Packaging ProductsSeveral US states have recently introduced legislation to prohibit the use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, often referred to as PFAS chemicals. The restrictions are jurisdiction specific but relate to firefighting foams, firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE) and/or food packaging.

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The states, products involved, and effective dates include among them:New York

Class B firefighting foams, prohibited 2 years and 90 days after bill becomes law Firefighting PPE, requires written notice stating reason for PFAS, 90 days after becoming law Food packaging largely made of paper, paperboard or plant fibers, prohibited upon enactment

Tell Congress To Act on ThisThe Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA) exempts nominal volunteer recruitment and retention incentives (including LOSAP) from being subject to federal income tax. VRIPA (H.R. 1241/S. 1210) specifically makes property tax benefits and up to $600 per year in other incentives exempt from federal income taxation and reporting requirements. Contact your U.S. Representative and Senators using the NVFC's Legislative Action Center and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 1241/S. 1210 today! Take Action or copy and paste this web site into your Browser:http://cqrcengage.com/nvfc/app/write-a-letter?0&engagementId=498853&ep=AAAAC2Flc0NpcGhlcjAxyU968pRk8t5MM0qNDP_3QSy2flPMGFZTZEsezjgCZkGbJSsI3az4PpJFSSCNwNefOVqJhKJzAVQkm92YA_TFgmSMjehRUx-IZD0FmO6uOlQ&lp=0

Tell Congress to restore AFG and SAFER grant funding!The leadership of the House Fire Services Caucus is circulating a sign-on letter asking House appropriators to restore funding for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs to $405 million each in FY 2020. Use the NVFC's Legislative Action Center to contact your U.S. Representative to tell them to co-sign the AFG/SAFER funding letter! Take Action

Tell your U.S. Representative to make nominal volunteer benefits tax-free!On February 14, 2019 Representatives John Larson, Mike Kelly, Bill Pascrell, and Peter King introduced the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (HR 1241), which exempts nominal volunteer recruitment and retention incentives from being subject to federal income tax. Contact your U.S. Representative and ask them to co-sponsor HR 1241.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATESLEGISLATIVE UPDATESEveryone is invited to participate in the Annual Fire Service legislative day scheduled for

Monday May 20 th at the Empire State Plaza Meeting Room 7 th

The state legislature is on break until April 28 th at which time there are 25 days left in the session

Cancer Benefit Program UpdatesSpeaking only from experience documented by The Hartford's program, we can speculate similar payments have been experienced by the other insurance companies offering coverage provided by General Municipal Law 205cc. Three months into the program the Hartford has unfortunately paid a death claim and a severe critical illness lump sum benefit. There have not been any reported claim disputes to date.Despite some false information being disseminated by otherwise trusted agents; the program is making payments to volunteer firefighters who have been provided access to an approved program.

2019 NYS Fire Service Alliance Issues of United Concern

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On December 8, 2018, the NYS Fire Service Alliance met in Troy, New York for the purpose of developing the list of legislative priorities for the 2019 legislative session. All the major fire service organizations were represented, and the following is a list of agreed upon major initiatives:

Chapter Amendments to GML 205cc, clarifying or modifying as appropriate the verification requirements so that benefits may be extended to intended firefighters with five years of interior service to their respective departments. (S4173 GAUGHRAN/A5957 GUNTHER)

Emergency Medical Cost Recovery, allow fire departments and districts currently unable to recover the cost of providing pre-hospital EMS service from insurers, Medicare and Medicaid in a similar manner as for-profit, not-for-profit and municipal providers are able to recover costs. (S3685A BROOKS/A1778 JONES)

Seek an increase in VFBL/VAWBL benefits temporary and total disability (corrected) and seek parity with worker’s compensation benefits for volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers in the event they are injured in the line of duty. (S4631 GAUGHRAN/A5895 MAGNARELLI)

Pursue legislative and administrative actions for building owners who perform modifications or conversions without obtaining the prescribed permits for single or multi-family occupancies which endangers the welfare of the occupants and fire or emergency responders in the pursuit of their duties. (S1714 BROOKS/A3343 ZEBROWSKI) & S4938 CARLUCCI/A2128 ZEBROWSKI & S1401 CARLUCCI/NO SAME AS)

Establish a prohibition on the sale of upholstered furniture which employs the use of carcinogenic flame-retardant chemicals. (S1367 RITCHIE/A6260 GUNTHER)

Also discussed at the December meeting were the following issues and ideas presented by the fire service organizations which will be pursued individually by the organizations. While these issues are considered important to the individual organizations, it was decided that advancing these proposals by the individual organizations may produce positive outcomes through the legislative process. These additional proposals are:Additional legislative initiatives endorsed by the members of the Fire Service Alliance:

o Work to prevent the removal of residential sprinkler protection from the building codes adopted by the State.o Insure increased transparency for the process of conducting annual fire inspections for public and private schools (S4663

CARLUCCI/A1906ZEBROWSKI).o Endorse legislation for the creation of career and technical education opportunities for both fire and EMS disciplines.o Support the increase the maximum annual contribution under defined contribution LOSAP plans from the current $700 to

$2100.o Support legislation to enable authorities having jurisdiction the option to create, form, consolidate or otherwise merge fire

companies or departments on a countywide, regional or cross-jurisdictional level to “right-size” provision of services across a broader tax base, geographical area and or population contingent upon the development and approval of a master plan by the residents affected.

State Budget Proposals endorsed by members of the Fire Service Alliance:o Advocate for the increase of an annual tax exemption from the current $400 helping incentivize becoming a member of the

volunteer fire service. (S1222 RITCHIE/A3479 ZEBROWSKI)o Advocate for a sales tax exemption on smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers to incentivize

the purchase of these safety related items. (A1229 ROSENTHAL/NO SAME AS)The order in which these proposals are presented are not relative to their importance.

The April 13th update to the 2019 Legislative Session Scorecard is NOW available here:

http://afdca.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Scorecard-APRIL-12TH-2019.doc

The 2020 NYS Fire Service Alliance Issues of United Concern meeting will be held on Saturday December 7th 2019 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy, NY and will be hosted by FASNY.

WHO’S DOING WHAT? - LOOK BEYOND YOUR OWN WALLS!WHO’S DOING WHAT? - LOOK BEYOND YOUR OWN WALLS!Moyers Corners Fire Department Seeking Bunk-ins for 2019-2020 School Year!Are you attending college in the Syracuse area? Are you a volunteer firefighter back home? Is home outside the Town of Clay? If you answered YES to these questions, how'd you like to cut down on some college expenses?! Yeah, we thought

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you'd say YES to that one! Moyers Corners is looking for students to join our Bunk-in Program for the 2019 - 2020 school year! What are the requirements? Glad you asked!

- Active volunteer firefighter outside the Town of Clay.- Must be 18 years old.- Must be enrolled full time in a college in the Greater Syracuse Area - YES, Oswego and Cortland are included!- Desire to help our community and have an appetite to learn.- Desire to make new friendships and become part of our family.

What do you get out of this? We are thrilled you asked!- Free room and board in one of our four firehouses. That's right - FREE! No rent, no utility bills, no renters

insurance - we even have a Chef in house who cooks on occasion!- Free training for the department.- Free uniforms and annual physical!

Sound interesting? Want to know more?! Do you have other questions? Drop us a line! There's no cost to check us out - there's no hidden catches! We're looking for new bunk-ins - YOU could be next! Our bunk-in coordinator, Kyle Pieper, is looking forward to speaking with you to answer all your questions. Simply email him at pieperk@mcfd.org with the subject line "Bunk-in 2019". We hope to hear soon!!!!

Kyle Pieper 1795Moyers Corners Fire Department1st Lieutenant - Station 3Department EMS CoordinatorDepartment Bunk-in Coordinator(315) 726-0225

The Academy for New York State's Local Officials Recommended Policies and Procedures Please Join Us for a Webinar on April 24 th from 10 to 11am. Online via GoToWebinar, space is limited so make your reservations now.There are many facets of government that are not covered by the legal requirements for policies and procedures. We will discuss several programmatic areas, including the use of vehicles, cell phones and computers, where “best practices” come into play and how you can address internal controls over these areas through the use of policies and procedures. Participants can submit questions throughout the presentation.Upon successful registration on the website, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to join the webinar. Audio for the webinar will be broadcast through your computer’s speakers. To achieve the best audio quality, the use of headphones is necessary.If you have any difficulty joining the webinar, please contact GoToWebinars at 1-888-259-8414. After the webinar, you will receive a brief evaluation survey to provide us with feedback on the content and format of the event.

37 TH Annual Ken Merriman Fire Police Seminar 8am, Saturday April 27th Latham Fire Department, w/lunch $10.00Early registrations: Tom With tomwith@hotmail.com or Doug Mann mr103liberty@aol.com

Announcing: The New York State Archives Spring 2019 Workshop SeasonOur workshops for the first session of 2019 have been scheduled & posted on our website! The New York State Archives offers archives and records management training statewide. All State Archives workshops are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

Paste this address: http://www.archives.nysed.gov/workshops/schedule for the workshops that have been scheduled

USING LOCAL GOVERNMENT RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULES:

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Wednesday April 3, 20199:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Town of Westville936 County Route 19Constable, NY 12926

Registration

Wednesday April 17, 20199:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Fulton County Office Building223 West Main Street

Meeting Room 1, BasementJohnstown, NY 12095

Registration

A Study of Change Following TragedyA presentation focusing on the Charleston Sofa Store fire; that claimed the lives of 9 firefighters. Dr. David Griffin who was operating the first due engine will relate the trials that he and the entire fire department endured as a result of this tragedy. Hear the first hand account, never before heard radio traffic, the initial resistance to change, the effects on Dave’s life and the incredible changes made since the deaths of the Charleston Nine. Date Saturday May 11th, 9am to 1pm at the Maple Avenue Middle School, 515 Maple Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY Pre-registration deadline May 1 st, 2019. $25.00 per person pre-registration, $30.00 per person at the door. Questions: dchandler@greenfieldfd.org

STATE CHIEF’S 2019 SEMINAR SERIES - TACTICAL TASKS AND TIPS IN TRUCK WORKStart Date: October/11/2019 7:00 PM EDT End Date: 10/11/2019 10:00 PM EDTVenue Name: Queensbury Central Fire DepartmentLocation:17 Lafayette Street Queensbury, NY United States 12804Contact: Sue Revoir,Email: srevoir@nysfirechiefs.com Phone: 800-676-3473

State Chiefs offers hands on training during FIRE 2019 in Syracuse; for Registration and Fees Check their Web SiteThe following hands on training will be offered this year, registration is required: Advanced Thermal Imaging Ops, Advanced Vehicle Extrication, Aggressive Interior Attack, Fire Behavior on the Inside, Fire Flows and Water Supply, Hoarder Fires, Machinery Rescue Ops, Multifaceted Elevator Rescue, Rapid Intervention and Truck Company Essentials.

FASNY is proud to now offer our members   online training classes. If you haven't accessed your online account yet, please visit our login page and click "Forgot your password?" to get started!Join FASNY and VFIS for Four Live Webinars designed to help your department meet the annual OSHA Training Requirements. The first session begins March 2, so sign up today! These unique one hour seminars will be offered on line three times throughout the year to maximize your opportunity to participate. They will assist you and your department in meeting the Annual OSHA Training Requirements.

Firefighter Wellness and Safety : Stay In the Game o Know your environment, The Concept of staying safe, risk management and health and fitness

Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health : SCBA o The need for PPE and overview of selection, donning and maintenance. The need for accountability and

the use of PPE as it relates to tool use and safety Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health: PPE

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o An overview of SCBA – including: Selection; Use; Maintenance; limitations; DeCon; Donning and Doffing as well as health risks of not using SCBA. Program will also address cancer concerns as well as identifying the IDLH environment and NFFF life safety initiatives

HazCom: You have a Right to Know o Identification of hazardous operations and environments, the need for situational awareness, workplace

violence Bloodborne Pathogens concerns awareness and Safety Data Sheets.The Webinars can be completed by individual firefighters at home, at the station, or you can participate as a company drill.

OFPC YEAR IN REVIEW REPORThttp://afdca.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/2018OFPCYIR-1.pdf

GRANTSGRANTSApply Now for New Turnouts through MSA’s Globe Gear Giveaway ProgramThe 2019 application period for MSA’s Globe Gear Giveaway is now open. 13 departments will each receive four sets of new gear, for a total of 52 sets. The first 500 applicants will also receive a one-year NVFC membership, courtesy of MSA.To be eligible to apply for MSA’s Globe Gear Giveaway, departments must meet the following criteria:

be all-volunteer or mostly-volunteer (over 50 percent) serve a population of 25,000 or less be located in the U.S. or Canada and legally organized under state/province law demonstrate a need for the gear department or person applying must be a member of the NVFC. To help departments meet the membership

criteria, MSA will provide a complimentary NVFC Membership to the first 500 applicants.Learn more and apply for MSA’s Globe gear at www.nvfc.org/globe-gear-giveaway. The deadline to apply is June 1, 2019. Winners will be announced monthly between July and December.

4 Things Good Grant Writers Have In CommonBy First Responder Grants

1. They all got an early start.Winning agencies don’t wait till the last minute. They tend to start their application and narrative 3-6 months ahead of the grant program’s opening date.2. They all know the NOFO backward and forward.The number one reason grants are rejected is that the applying agency committed “failure to follow directions.”Know where these directions are?Every single direction is in one document, known as the NOFO or RFP, the Notice of Funding Opportunity and Request for Proposal. This vital document spells out every detail of a grant program. Losing agencies sometimes barely open or skim the NOFO.Winning agencies read, re-read, and re-read these documents again, and keep them close at hand for further reference throughout their application process.3. They know what they need and why they need it.Winning agencies have conducted a “needs assessment” in order to identify the highest priority item not just for themselves, but that also falls into the high priority category defined by the grant funding source.In order to be competitive, you have to know the difference between a “need” and a “want.” They are distinctively different. Only seek “high” priority projects to go after in your grant.Be sure you have thoroughly vetted your project with agency administrators and command staff. That way, prior to you even starting the grant application, everyone is reading from the same page and knows exactly what you will be writing for and why.

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4. They seek out professional training, advice, and consulting.Winning agencies know that you don’t just train for incident response. You train for writing grants too. They get the professional expertise they need to understand the grant process. They seek professional advice and assistance to guide their efforts and check their work for mistakes prior to submission.As an example, the wrong answer to a single question can result in lowering your grant’s priority from a “high” to a “medium or low” priority. As such, your grant would end up rejected by the computer as not being competitive enough to go further through the vetting process. All because of one error.While no one person or no amount of preparation can guarantee a grant’s success, these 4 steps can make it far more likely that your grant will make it to the winner’s circle.

BEST PRACTICESBEST PRACTICES

DO YOU HAVE A BEST PRACTICE SUCH AS A YOUTH OR BUNK IN PROGRAM YOU WANT TO TAKE CREDIT FOR IT; SHARE YOUR STORY HERE!

FIREFIGHTER LODDS – HEALTH - SAFETYFIREFIGHTER LODDS – HEALTH - SAFETY

Cleaning Your PPE: Your Life Depends on It By Tim Pillsworth

Our personal protective equipment (PPE) is the most used firefighting/ rescue equipment we have; we don it for every alarm and drill (or, at least, we should) we attend. However, PPE is also one of our most unknown pieces of equipment. Conduct a survey of members of your department and ask them about the year, make, and model of the apparatus pump; tank sizes, ladders; and lights. Next, ask them about the age of, the materials that make up the three layers of, and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard pertaining to their PPE. Then compare their answers. You may have many more firefighters able to correctly answer questions about their apparatus than about their gear. This is very concerning.

Consider this scenario: You are doing an interior search or operating the line. Does it really matter if the engine outside is a brand new $700,000 custom engine with every bell, whistle, and light known to man or a 25-year-old commercial cab with some rust, dents, and scratches that has passed its pump test when in an emergency? Either way, water will flow through the line, but will your PPE hold up long enough to protect you? Should your PPE be “salty” for days or weeks after doing a good job? What about the contaminants that are left behind on the PPE? What about cancer? Are there cancer-causing substances (carcinogens) on the PPE after a good run? The answer is yes. We must become more knowledgeable about our PPE. This doesn’t mean we must know each little tab, rule, regulation, and test, but we must know from what it can and, more importantly, cannot protect us.

Several articles, such as “Specifying PPE: The Technical Aspects” and “Specifying PPE from A-Z” (March 2009) have appeared on fireengineering.com that discuss some of the key tests and requirements to assist in understanding the properties of PPE. With the knowledge of the PPE system, these articles describe a systematic approach on how to work through the process of specifying and purchasing PPE for your department. They also give you the background on from what your PPE can protect you, how it is constructed, tests that allow for comparison, and a smart process to allow you to purchase what you need. Take some time and read them to help improve your knowledge of PPE.

One of the largest “new” discussion topics in the fire service is the “C” word—cancer! Many studies, reports, and research have been and continue to be conducted on cancer in the fire service, including where we are most exposed and how we can reduce our risks. Although it is impossible to eliminate all the risks, if you can reduce some, you can make a world of difference to your members, your family, and your department.

TYPES OF CLEANINGWe are required by NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, to clean and inspect our PPE at least once per year. If you are a member of a department that responds to more than

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one fire a year and you are, typically, in the mix during the firefight, you and your PPE may have been exposed to such toxic materials as benzene, formaldehyde, vinyl chloride, arsenic, and benzopyrene, to name a few. These materials can cause cancers such as kidney, liver, prostate, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, bladder, lung, leukemia, and much more. So, why clean your PPE? Reread the previous sentence. Cancer can steal your health; your time; your finances; your family; and, most importantly, your life.Now that you know what you can get, how do you protect yourself, your family, and your friends? First, don’t bring your PPE home to clean! You would never bring home a level “A” hazmat suit to put into a washer with your son’s clothing, so treat your PPE the same way. Each department needs a plan to conduct a few types of cleaning, which follow.

Gross cleaning. This cleaning is completed at the fire scene prior to returning (the preferred time) or once you return to your station. Do a quick rinse with a hose; a brush; and, if available, soap to remove contaminants (as much as 50 to 75 percent, according to some reports) such as dust, debris, and soot that contaminate gear. It may not get your gear 100 percent clean, but it is a start.

Advanced cleaning. This is the normal cleaning done throughout the year when your PPE is “dirty.” Although it may or may not take place directly after an alarm, conduct it soon after the PPE has been soiled including after working fires, motor vehicle accidents, or other alarms. This cleaning should start with the gross cleaning at the scene or back at the station and be done with a proper washing machine with the approved cleaning agents recommended by your PPE manufacturer

There are two types of methods to this cleaning: in-house and service provider (ship out). Both have their pros and cons. In-house cleaning offers the fastest turnaround. In most cases, you can wash and dry your gear in just a few hours. This works well in volunteer stations where there is no set duty time and in departments where members do not have spare PPE. The con is that you own the cleaning and inspection and have a costly startup for the washing and drying system. In addition, there is no third party to make sure you complete the cleaning correctly. Service provider cleaning takes very little work (bag and send), the cleaning and repairing are done simultaneously (in many cases), and there is no up-front cost to obtain the equipment. The con is that, unless there is spare PPE, you cannot respond to any alarms.

Specialized cleaning. This cleaning is important not just for cleaning but for inspection as well. It is the level of cleaning required for any unusual contamination, any time you feel that your methods might not fully clean the PPE, or if there is a chance of damage. Most PPE manufacturers offer some level of training or certification to properly inspect and clean your PPE. This includes checking for damage, wear, and proper cleaning. Any time there’s a question, send it back to the manufacturer.

Emergency cleaning. This cleaning does not fall under NFPA guidelines, but it can be thought of when the PPE needs to be “red bagged” at the alarm. This would typically be for heavy contamination of PPE from blood or other body fluids or after responding to a fire at a garbage facility, where you must clean the PPE directly once the alarm is completed so it can be ready to use again at a moment’s notice.

Many feel the best overall method is a combination of both cleaning methods. Have the washer in-house for your routine cleaning with the proper training on how to inspect your PPE once a year, as needed. When repairs are needed or proper cleaning methods are questioned, it is required that you have a method to send out the PPE for specialized cleaning and inspection.

CLEANING METHODSFollowing are some simple methods to keep you a little safer from contamination.Clean your hood! Some departments have a “hood cleaning day” or a pail of clean hoods for members to use while the dirty hoods are cleaned.

Wash your hands, face, and neck after the fire. Soap, water, and cleaning wipes have been shown to remove 50 percent or more of the contaminants from your skin. The skin on your face and neck are full of blood vessels and absorb toxins readily. With a simple wash and wipe, you reduce your chance of illness

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Do not store dirty PPE in your vehicle. Air out and off gas your PPE after a fire because many of its contaminants are volatile. If left in an enclosed area, your gear will hold these contaminants by the time you retrieve your gear for its next use. (Consider how the truck room smells after a fire.)

Take a shower, change, and clean your clothing. This can be difficult in a volunteer department, where there are typically no shower areas and sets of clean clothing to change into. So, these departments must consider having showers installed. At a minimum, return home, shower, and wash your clothing individually right away. When you arrive home, do not come in contact with your family (who may want a hug or a kiss) until you are clean.

Firefighting is a balance between risk and reward. However, one risk that we can all reduce is the risk of illness and, possibly, cancer by properly cleaning, maintaining, and storing our PPE. The days of pride in having the most heavily damaged, soiled, and odorous PPE are a thing of the past. Extend your career, your health, and time with your department and your family by taking better care of your PPE.

Cancer Benefit Program Reporting Statistics from OFPC As of April 12th there were 924 “proof of benefit forms” entered into the OFPC database

o Data from the 924 entered forms; o 10,397 eligible firefighterso 17,567 active firefighters o 882 of the 924 have internet accesso Reminder letters to fire departments were sent last week, little response received as of 4/12/19.o There are 33 departments that have no eligible firefighters.

So far this year there have been 8 fire fighter LODDs reported nationally.

The Hartford has insured approximately 10,000 firefighters statewide, for additional information access the website at: https://www.thehartford.com/resources/gb/ny-firefighters

According to Firefighter Close Call web site there were a total of 76 LODD in 2018!!Keep all of our first responders in our great nation, their families and their extended families in your

thoughts and prayers. Pray that your agency never has a line of duty death.

THE CHIEF’S CORNER THE CHIEF’S CORNER (MUST READ THIS WEEK!!)(MUST READ THIS WEEK!!)

Finding the why: 4 ways fire chiefs can move the organization forwardBy Marc Bashoor

Why do we use CVFSS nozzles? Why do we have to put numbers on the firetrucks? Why does it matter what color the smoke is? Why do we have to exercise? Why do we have a social media policy? Why are fires in bow-string truss occupancies so dangerous?

There are many questions in the fire service. I may not always know the answer to the question, “why ... ” but I’ll find out the answer. And not all of the questions require a complex scientific explanation – so let’s get to “why.”

Looking at the fire service leadership target – our “what,” “how” and “why” – I think we can all agree that almost everyone knows what we do, most people know reasonably well how we do it, yet few people seem to understand why we do it. In an altruistic para-military organization, one might strive for this paradigm, relishing a blind faith followership.

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We’re failing our people, ourselves and our communities with the prevailing “that’s the way we’ve always done it” mantra. (Where have you heard that before??)

In the heat of the moment, sure, I’ll accept and expect that blind faith. We need to ensure our leaders and managers are properly trained and respected by the followers, who will follow those emergency orders without qualification ... and those are the truly important moments. They are, however, only moments in the hours upon hours we have together.

Focusing on effective utilization of the past will help mold a solid and productive future, while preserving history and tradition (at least the part the makes sense). I often lament that the past helps some people get to “why,” and thankfully the past also helps people question “why,” because, frankly, “that’s the way we’ve always done it” is a terrible answer to “why.” If the past was always the measure of the future, then we’d still use bucket brigades and horse-drawn steam engines to fight fires.THE EVOLVING FIRE SERVICE MISSIONWhile there was a time in my career that I asked questions and followed orders, today’s firefighting workforce is considerably more adept at finding their own answers and questioning “why” far more frequently than I would have ever considered appropriate. This doesn’t make them wrong – their frequency helps me develop, in turn helping them get to the true “why” quicker than the fight would be worth.

It is important to acknowledge the dynamic nature of our business; always evolving and constantly adapting to new standards, products and conditions, in a highly digital-savvy society. Let’s look at four things fire chiefs need to do, to explain the “why” behind the fire service mission.

1. Don’t expect blind faith. We would all like to think that everyone is fully functioning and on autopilot when they complete their initial training. The truth is, these people are sponges, ready to soak up everything you can give them. Use this sponge time to your advantage, taking ample time to explain the past, the science and the specifics at the same time you’re practicing the “what” and the “how.”

2. Cultivate a sense of accomplishment. This is critically important to get to the “what” and the “how” of our business. It is equally as important to get our folks to understand the “why” quickly, so they can practice the “what”’ and the “how” – and who knows, maybe they’ll come up with a new “why.” Include others on the journey, allowing them the opportunity to answer their own questions with your mentoring and encouragement.

3. Be the coach – crawl, walk, run. Much like an exercise program of tabletops, functional and full-scale exercises; take the time to explain, do, complete and repeat. Take all reasonable time necessary to get to “why,” then let your folks demonstrate they get it.

4. Take it personal, don’t make it personal. If you’re going to be effective at getting to “why,” you must own it and be part of it – be the mentor. It’s highly unlikely that anywhere near 100 percent of firefighters will be happy with simply following; get used to it. Understanding that, it’s also important to understand that fire chiefs are not here to make friends or excuses – you’re here to serve our communities and departments, and to move our organizations forward. Be a part of the answer to “why,” instead of being part of the question “why.”

In my 38 years in the fire service, the most consistent thing I’ve witnessed about the past has been change. I still ask “why” every day. The day I stop asking “why” is likely the day I’ll know it’s time to finally hang up the boots.

TOSS OLD EXCUSES, GOOD OL’ BOYS NETWORKSI recently lamented in an article how “this is no longer your grandfather’s fire department,” a sentiment which can provoke the proverbial pitchforks in favor of “that’s the way we’ve always done it.” Getting to “why” is part of understanding how ridiculous those pitchforks are.

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We cannot embrace a past that killed proportionally higher numbers of us, and we cannot embrace a past that amounted to a good ol’ boys network where we only helped those we like get to “why.” We need to embrace what Grandma Jones needs – service-focused departments that just do the right thing (JDTRT), at the right time, for the right reasons. Getting your people to “why” is a big step in ultimately get them to JDTRT.We’re failing our people, ourselves and our communities with the prevailing “that’s the way we’ve always done it” mantra. Challenge yourself to make a forward-looking-difference today.

DESIGNING BUILDINGS OR APPARATUSDESIGNING BUILDINGS OR APPARATUS

Click On This Site to see Some of the New Advancements Coming for Emergency Lightinghttps://www.facebook.com/WhelenEng/videos/2195511340711461/UzpfSTEwMDAwNTg5OTg2Mzk1NzoxMTA4ODY2NTc1OTg2NjYx/?id=100005899863957

Turnout Gear Decon Spaces in Fire Stations

By Alan M. Petrillo

Hot, Warm, and Cold ZonesKen Newell, principal at Stewart Cooper Newell Architects, notes that statistics show firefighter incidences of cancer at between 20 and 100 percent higher than the average United States citizen. “The chemicals they are exposed to on the fireground - arsenic, hydrocarbons, benzene, and other carcinogens - collect on their turnout gear and equipment,” Newell says. “That gear and equipment is brought back to the station, which is a significant enough impact to affect the design of stations.”Newell’s station designs identify the source of contamination and deal with it by designing a hot zone where contamination is the worst, such as apparatus bays, decontamination rooms, and tool rooms; a cold zone, which is the living space where firefighters want to keep the contamination out; and a transition or warm zone in the middle. “We’ve gotten away from designs with the apparatus bays in the middle of the building with day spaces on one side and night spaces on the other because it’s difficult to control contamination,” he says. “Now we put the hot zone on one end of the station and the cold zone at the other end.”Newell recommends having a decon room off the apparatus bays with extractors, dryers, and cleaning areas. “Firefighters can enter, strip, clean, and then store their personal protective equipment (PPE) in another room to off-gas properly,” Newell says. “Both the decon and PPE storage room should have their own separate heating, ventilating, and air conditioning and exhaust systems.”Because a firefighter’s hair and skin might have been contaminated, Newell also recommends a decon/dirty toilet room near the decon room where firefighters can strip, decon shower, and leave their contaminated clothing. “We also like to have positive pressure on the living side of the station and negative pressure in the hot zone and transition area, which makes it difficult to have air flow into the cold zone,” Newell observes. “The connection of the warm zone then serves as an airlock corridor, from 12 to 20 feet wide, that helps capture contaminants.”

Decon RoomsA few years ago, the Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department instituted protocols for dealing with contaminated PPE, says James Zwerg, Phoenix’s architect and facility manager. “We carry large heavy-duty bags like lawn/leaf bags where firefighters put their dirty gear, knot the bag, and identify it with their name on medical tape,” Zwerg says. Back at the station, a red shirt fire academy crew will take the contaminated gear to the department’s Support Services facility, which has extractor/washing machines and dryers run by civilians who decon and clean the gear. “Every firefighter has two full sets of turnouts in gear storage rooms at the station,” Zwerg points out.Phoenix’s newer stations also have decon rooms often used to clean equipment and tools that have become contaminated, Zwerg says, usually located just off the apparatus room floor. “When firefighters return to the station, they can go straight to a stainless steel sink with overhead spray nozzles and clean equipment,” he says. “There are hand sanitizers and wipes in there and extra trash bags for any contaminated PPE. Often, firefighters will do some level of equipment cleanup on the scene, or they might do it on the ramp outside of the station.”

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Keith Schrieber, principal at Schreiber Starling Whitehead Architects, says his company built turnout gear decon rooms in Station 28 and Station 38 for the Seattle (WA) Fire Department. “For both 28 and 38, the decon room is off the apparatus bay on the return side at the back of the rear apron,” Schrieber says. “The decon room has a metal floor grate with a floor drain beneath it, a handheld shower device for rinsing, and a stainless steel sink and counter to rinse and drain equipment. Turnout gear extractors and dryers are located there too, so the gear gets deconned, extracted, cleaned, and dried before going into the station house. In the meantime, firefighters use a second set of turnout gear.”Bob Mitchell, principal at Mitchell Associates Architects, says he has been designing turnout gear storage and decon rooms in both career and volunteer fire stations. “For a volunteer department, they would respond from the parking lot into the turnout gear space, grab their gear, and move to the apparatus bays,” Mitchell says. “The aisles in the gear storage room are pretty generous to accommodate people hustling in and out.”Turnout gear storage rooms in career stations typically have less generous aisles, Mitchell points out, because usually the firefighters take the gear out of the storage room when they come on shift and leave it near the apparatus they will ride. Personal gear is locked up in the gear storage room, he says.For the volunteer South River (NJ) Fire Department, Mitchell’s new firehouse design is laid out so it can be converted to a combination or career firehouse. “The decon room is off the parking area and accessible from the apparatus bays,” he says. “The first space is the gross decon area, where firefighters can use a hand sprayer to wash off turnout gear and also take a personal shower. They can exit into the apparatus bay or a decon room, where washers/extractors and drying cabinets are located. The gear storage room is adjacent and down a corridor to the decon room.”Mitchell points out that “decon and turnout gear storage rooms are almost always built into new stations these days. All of the stations we’ve designed in the last three years have separate decon and gear storage rooms, and each has its own separate exhaust system and is heated by radiant floor heat.”THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT & FAQSTHE LEGAL DEPARTMENT & FAQSPlanning on Flying Your Own Drone in the Fire Department? Read This First!!https://psflight.org/4046/flying-uas-coa-public-aircraft-operations/Click on the link or cut in paste it into your browser.

Approved Accident & Health Endorsement From ESIPAfter months of hard work, ESIP is happy to announce that the NYS Department of Financial Services has approved an endorsement for our Accident & Health policies. This non-premium bearing endorsement adds coverage to the policy, including loss of life due to cardiac malfunction and weekly indemnity for illness! This change will be effective March 22nd, 2019 to all existing policy holders. As you know, these are essential benefits to the members of emergency services organizations and we're proud to be the first insurance provider in the state to receive approval to offer loss of life due to cardiac malfunction. If your organization does not already carry an Accident & Sickness policy, please reach out to your agent or the McNeil & Co. program representative Carla West at 800.822.3747 X 138 or cwest@mcneilandcompany.com for a review of full coverages available for your organizational members.

FAQ 21.8The fire district has been approached by the members to sponsor an event which is billed as a training event but is also a fund raiser. Is the expenditure of tax payer funds for an event which is also a fund raiser ethical and proper?

If the district sponsors training and provides refreshments for the training, the cost of the refreshments as long as they are within reason, is a proper district expense.If there is a cost for the training, the training consultant is paid and then donates his consulting fees or a portion thereof to a not for profit, that action is between the donor and donee and not a concern of the district.On the other hand, if the whole event is nothing more than a fund raiser, then someone other than the district should pay for the refreshments.

There are 20 Complete Editions of FAQs on the State Association Web Page - - www.afdsny.org

14Association of Fire Districts-Capital Area

You must have a log in under the Member Center to access the FAQs, any member of a dues paying fire district can obtain an individual log on account, just request it through the web page.

Disclaimer: The legal opinions published here by the Association of Fire Districts are meant to provide guidance for fire district commissioners. The materials available are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. The opinions expressed are the opinions of the individual author at the time the facts were presented and based on the law then applicable. The information contained in these opinions is not guaranteed to be up to date. The information provided is not legal advice. Since legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, and laws are constantly changing, nothing on this site should be used as a substitute for the advice of competent legal counsel. The authors assume no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained herein and disclaim all liability in respect to such information. You should not act upon information in this publication without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted to practice in your jurisdiction.

BUILDING AND FIRE CODE STUFFBUILDING AND FIRE CODE STUFF::OPINION: Case for Sprinklers Doused Long Enough

By Peter SimpsonDuring the past 13 months, Nova Scotian families have buried 12 young children who perished in house fires. How many more youngsters will lose their lives before influential political and regulatory leaders take action?

Automatic fire sprinkler systems save lives, protect property and preserve the environment, and sprinklers likely would have saved those seven precious children — aged three months to 14 years — in Spryfield a month ago.

Sprinklers should be mandatory in all new homes, including detached homes, duplexes and townhouses. Currently, Nova Scotia only requires sprinklers in care facilities and residential buildings four storeys and higher.

I didn’t always think this way. When I headed up the country’s two largest home builders’ associations, first in Toronto, then Vancouver, I opposed sprinklers, believing they imposed an unnecessary financial burden on home builders and buyers, and that smoke alarms were the only life-safety device needed.

Well, I was wrong. Embarrassingly wrong, really.

My views on sprinklers changed markedly nearly six years ago when I joined the Dayspring and District Fire Department, participated in lots of hands-on training and became a firefighter and medical first responder.

Still a relatively raw rookie, I am truly in awe of my fellow firefighters’ skills, commitment and willingness to place themselves in harm’s way to help strangers. That’s a commitment most folks don’t fully understand.

Returning to the fire hall following a challenging structure fire can be a sombre experience. Invariably, the firefighters sit silently in the truck, exhausted, sweaty, dirty and covered with potentially deadly carcinogens.

Sadly, the cancer rate among firefighters is rising, and no wonder. Tests were conducted recently by U.S. university researchers on the condition of bunker gear (jackets, pants, flash hoods, gloves) following a fire.

Bunker gear worn by firefighters on the research scene had more than 440 times the contamination of the surrounding environment. Their gloves alone had 3,100 times the contamination prevalent in the environment.

Researchers recommended that firefighters remove bunker gear, thoroughly clean their faces, necks, hands and other exposed areas with decontamination wipes, and put on fresh gear before returning to the station. They said all structure fire calls should be considered hazardous-materials scenes.

According to a 2018 study by B.C.’s University of the Fraser Valley — co-authored by Surrey Fire Chief and UFV adjunct professor Len Garis — 50 Canadian firefighters out of 100,000 die of occupational cancer each year. A comprehensive review of health data suggests the likely cause is exposure to carcinogens.

A home protected by a fire sprinkler system is like having a firefighter already on scene, knocking down the fire, before the first pumper truck and suppression crew have even left the station. Typical response time is roughly 10 minutes, whereas a single sprinkler head can extinguish a fire in under 90 seconds — saving lives and property, and reducing firefighters’ and residents’ exposure to carcinogenic, noxious smoke, gases and fumes.

Moreover, National Fire Protection Association research underscores how fire sprinklers can reduce the risk of death or injury. The study found the civilian death rate was 81 per cent lower in homes protected by sprinklers than in homes

15Association of Fire Districts-Capital Area

without them, that the average firefighter injury rate was nearly 80 per cent lower, and fires were contained to the room of origin 97 per cent of the time when sprinklers were present.

Notably, only the sprinkler head closest to the fire activates, not the entire system.

During the past couple of decades, there’s been a sea change in the way homes are built. Yes, they include more energy-efficient and maintenance-free features, and desirable design elements and creature comforts, but the homes — and the furnishings — contain many synthetic materials: plastics, vinyls, glues, resins and laminates. All that material ignites easily, burns quickly and produces those aforementioned carcinogens.

And homes in today’s small-lot subdivisions are sited closely together. Flames can jump from one structure to the next. During the tragic Spryfield fire, vinyl siding on the adjacent homes was melted, but firefighters protected those homes by flowing steady streams of water onto them.

Twenty years ago, flashover — when a fire’s energy is suddenly radiated back to a room’s contents to produce a rapid rise in temperature and simultaneous ignition — occurred in about 21 minutes.

In today’s new homes, flashover can occur in under three minutes. And loss of life can happen well before the flashover stage in a fire’s progression.

Builder groups still oppose making sprinklers mandatory in new homes three storeys and under. They say “home buyers aren’t asking for sprinklers, and until they do, we won’t offer them” and “the cost-benefit numbers don’t add up.” I can recite those and other arguments chapter and verse, because for years I voiced similar concerns.

We live in a technology-laden era. It seems that every day the world is introduced to something new, super-efficient, more convenient, or cooler than yesterday. Tomorrow, today’s technology will be yesterday’s news.

Yet a system designed to save lives and protect property, and whose technology, appearance and performance are continually refined, still has its naysayers.

It would be wonderful if just one prominent Nova Scotia builder stepped up and announced, “I’m going to install automatic sprinkler systems in all my new single-detached homes.”

Brazilian hardwood floors, crown mouldings, Shaker-style cabinets and solid-surface countertops are great enticements to homebuyers, all combining to produce a wide-eyed wow factor — but they can’t save lives.

Depending on room layout and other considerations, a sprinkler system for a 1,300 square-foot subdivision home in HRM would cost no more than installing quality solid-surface (e.g., granite) countertops in that home.

Just as that one builder needs to be a champion for sprinklers, lawmakers need to be life-safety champions in the Nova Scotia legislature, and in municipal halls throughout the province.

And homebuyers need to start asking new-home salespeople, “How will our family be protected from fire in these homes?” Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are essential, but they won’t extinguish a sudden blaze.

It’s true builders are burdened by a range of development charges, levies, fees and taxes imposed by all levels of government. Those governments can help to mitigate or neutralize the added cost of sprinkler systems by identifying efficiencies in development and building requirements, and by eliminating outdated regulation.

A provincial home builder association leader was recently quoted as saying, “We have to get our ducks in a row before we go half-cocked and make sprinklers mandatory.”

Fowl and gun references notwithstanding, many folks have for decades tried to line up the ducks, and every time it gets close to a straight row, someone knocks the ducks off the table and sweeps them under the rug. Please, no more talk. No more stalling. No more deflections. It’s time for hard decisions on fire safety.

Former president and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association, Peter Simpson is now a firefighter and medical first responder with the Dayspring and District Fire Department.

16Association of Fire Districts-Capital Area

International Code Council – Building Safety MonthBuilding Safety Month is sponsored by the International Code Council to remind the public about the critical role of our communities’ largely unknown protectors of public safety––our local code officials––who assure us of safe, efficient and livable buildings that are essential to America’s prosperity.

“No Code. No Confidence.” the theme for Building Safety Month 2019, encourages all Americans to raise awareness of the importance of safe and resilient construction; fire prevention; disaster mitigation, and new technologies in the construction industry. Building Safety Month 2019 encourages appropriate steps everyone can take to ensure the safety of our built environment, and recognizes that the implementation of safety codes by local and state agencies has saved lives and protected homes and businesses, and,

Fire Deaths in 1 & 2 Family Dwellings without Sprinklers New York State 29

Female age 61, North Rose, NY Wayne County.Nationally 507

New York is #1 in the Country for fire related fatalities!In 2018 in New York State 87 friends, neighbors and relatives perished in fires in 1 & 2

family dwellings; nationally the total is 1466.

FINANCIALLY SPEAKINGFINANCIALLY SPEAKING[Fire Districts can request regional training by the State Association through their regional directors consult

with our web page at afdsny.org]Outside of New York StateOutside of New York StateMaine fire departments find ways to adjust amidst shortage of volunteer firefighters A number of factors have played a role in fire departments being unable to recruit as many volunteer firefighters as in past years, according to two local fire chiefs. Caribou Fire Chief Scott Susi noted that throughout the last decade, he has seen a steady decrease in the number of volunteers that his department is able to recruit and retain for long periods of time. Currently, the Caribou Fire Department has 20 volunteers who serve as firefighters on an on-call basis. Although Caribou has one of the larger departments in Aroostook, with 16 full-time firefighters, he fears a shortage of volunteers will occur as his core group of volunteers ages out of the field. "It's mostly due to the economic situation," Susi said. Employers have less people now to do the same work. So when a business owner has someone in a critical position, they're not going to let them leave to take care of a fire. We still have great relationships with employers, but their numbers have gone down and they need people at work.

New Mexico county, village talk fire station consolidation Eddy County Fire Services could take over management and operations of the Loving Volunteer Fire Department. The process could take up to two years, according to Eddy County Fire Services coordinator Joshua Mack. "They have to clear up all their financials. We have to go through the State Fire Marshal's office. We'd have to decide if we're going to take it on as a separate fire district, or if we're going to consolidate it," he said. "Both the County and the Village are going to have to come to an agreement. We're going to have a contract in place for the services and then all of the assets will have to be transferred over. There's a lot of work that needs to be done." Loving's department was placed on probation in 2018 by the New Mexico State Fire Marshal's office. Mack was approached more than a year ago by the Loving Village Council on possible consolidation.

17Association of Fire Districts-Capital Area

Florida firefighters with cancer tell emotional stories as benefits bill passes unanimously After four years in legislative purgatory, a bill that would grant firefighters cancer coverage — in a stunning reversal brought about by sustained public pressure and allegations of political vendettas — is being fast-tracked to clear the Legislature this year. The bill cleared a key hurdle Thursday morning when the House State Affairs committee agreed unanimously to advance the proposal, after more than an hour of discussion marked by teary testimony and lawmakers' vocal support. The committee bill PCB SAC 19-04 would establish cancer as an occupational hazard tied to firefighting and require full health insurance coverage for cancer for firefighters, including disability and death benefits. It would require the firefighter to meet a certain set of requirements, like not smoking in the last five years. Instead of workers' compensation, firefighters would also receive a one-time payment of $25,000 after being diagnosed with one of the 21 cancers specified in the bill.

18Association of Fire Districts-Capital Area

CAPITAL AREA 2019CAPITAL AREA 2019 BUSINESS PARTNER’S BUSINESS PARTNER’SAPPLICATIONS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE WWW.AFDCA.ORG

We appreciate your support!!Please join us at any time to be a business partner and supporter!!

The Association of Fire Districts – Capital Area would like to welcome our business partners for 2018. We will provide them exposure here and will provide space for them to provide educational commentary to help you do your job and make good decisions.

Please Support Those Who Support Us!!

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WE INVITE OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS TO SUBMIT

EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS BULLETIN FOR DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS

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This space is waiting for Your Company to become a Business Partner!!We are delighted to see these businesses who have partnered with the Capital Area Association and this message is for you! It’s

not just about paying a membership and advertising.If you have information which is educational or informative for fire districts please submit it and we will use it in this Bulletin

under the appropriate heading.We are inviting you to be a full partner and impart your knowledge to all of those who read this newsletter each week.

Explain something, define something, educate us on a standard that you deal with, explain how something works, we have over 1000 readers who want to know.

20Association of Fire Districts-Capital Area

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CLASSIFIED SECTIONCLASSIFIED SECTIONKent Fire District, Putnam CountyNote: while this PPE is no longer NFPA compliant, there may still be someone out there someplace in the lower 48 that may be interested in this used equipment: approximately 12-13 sets of bunker boots, approximately 10 bunker coats and bunker pants. Contact Commissioner Howard Carpenter at howard.carpenter1@comcast.com.

List it here! “TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN”“TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN”Manlius moving from volunteer to paid fire chief After more than 200 years of running with a volunteer fire chief, the Village of Manlius says it's time for a full-time paid person to do the job. Not only does the Manlius Fire Department serve and protect a few thousand people in the Village, but also many more in the Town of Manlius. Manlius crews run not just on fires and other emergencies but about 1,800 ambulance medical calls a year now. It is also often called to serve as 'mutual aid' to help out neighboring departments. Manlius Mayor Paul Whorrall says, "The job is more involved. I would say it's more like a business now, it's not just volunteers showing up to the firehouse when there's a call."

DID YOU KNOW??DID YOU KNOW??

76% of Americans think the ears of a chocolate bunny should be the first to be eaten.I guess they want to avoid the other end of the chocolate bunny…right?

The Capital Bulletin is reaching well over 400+ fire district members and now other members of the fire service weekly, which does not include an unknown number of people that it is subsequently shared with by you!

We have recently added the Central Region to the distribution list.

Membership in The Association of Fire Districts of the Capital AreaWould you like to join the Association of Fire Districts of the Capital Area and join 75 members in 8 counties? Both fire protection districts and

Village departments are eligible for membership.The yearly membership dues (January 1st to December 31st) shall be as follows and shall be based on the annual budget of the Fire

District/Organization;Districts/Organizations with budgets less than $300,000 $100.00 annually Districts/Organizations with budgets more than $300,000 $150.00 annuallyAssociate Members $50.00 annually

Business Partners $100.00 annually

21Association of Fire Districts-Capital Area

22Association of Fire Districts-Capital Area