Cigarettes are the leading cause of home fire fatalities in the U.S., killing 700-900 people – smokers and non-smokers alike- every year. Property losses total hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

The Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes (CFSC) is a national group of fire service members, consumer and disabled rights advocates, medical and public health practitioners, and others, coordinated by the NFPA, who are committed to saving lives and preventing injuries by reducing the threat of cigarette-ignited fires.

The FAFLSE and the FFMIA have joined the Coalition to support their efforts. The mission of the Coalition is to save lives and prevent injuries from this type of fire by calling on cigarette manufacturers to immediately produce and market only cigarettes that adhere to an established cigarette fire safety performance standard and working to see that these standards for fire-safe cigarettes are required in every state in the country.

How this will be accomplished is for cigarette manufacturers to use technology to make a cigarette with a reduced propensity to burn when left unattended. The most common technology is to make the paper thicker in places to act as “speed bumps” to slow down a burning cigarette, causing it to self-extinguish.

This technology has been available for many years, however tobacco companies have not made it widely available. We hope, as an Association, joining with others of common interest, that our voices will be heard, and will ultimately reduce the numbers of injuries and lives and property lost.


Article Provided By:

Victoria Yeakley, Chair
Florida Assn. of Fire and Life Safety Educators
yeakleyv@hillsboroughcounty.org

It’s a typical movie scene. The bad guy is holed up in a house with hostages. Officers have the place surrounded. Suddenly the SWAT truck pulls up and out jumps a firefighter? Okay, maybe it’s not a typical movie scene, but in real life, some firefighters are teaming up with officers, trading hoses for guns and bunker coats for bullet-proof vests. Meet the SWAT Medics; a group of medically and tactically trained firefighters who can provide immediate care to officers or victims wounded during a hostage situation, stand-off, or other special mission. Instead of waiting a few blocks away at a staging area, these medics are part of the team and can react immediately to life threatening situations.

Pinellas Park Fire Department embraced the SWAT Medic concept last year at the suggestion of Fire Chief Doug Lewis. Tryouts were held in October, with members of the Pinellas Park Police SWAT team putting firefighters through extensive exercises, obstacle courses, and scenarios that pushed them mentally and physically. EMS Lt. Mike Elder, Firefighter/Paramedic Shawn Conrad, and Firefighter/Paramedic Ryan Mitchell qualified and went on to attend Basic SWAT School and SWAT Medic School before being placed on the team.

High stress and physical fitness are part of the job, and a SWAT medic must be able to function and give accurate medical care in hostile situations that traditionally trained medics may never encounter. In addition to treating injuries on scene, medics are responsible for keeping each SWAT team member healthy by making sure they take breaks and drink plenty of fluids during training and special operations to prevent over-heating and de-hydration. Pinellas Park SWAT Medics are weapons certified and train often at the shooting range, but are not armed. Their role when treating a downed officer or armed civilian is to know how to locate and remove the weapon and safely holster it. In some cases though, they may have to use a firearm to protect themselves or their patient.

The Pinellas Park Police SWAT team and the SWAT Medics train side by side ten hours a month. They are planning another tryout session for medics in October.


Article Provided By:
Suzanne Boisvert
Public Education Specialist

In the late 1970’s we all listened to and sang these words, “In these changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes, nothing remains quite the same, with all of our running and all of our cunning, if we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane.” No doubt Parrot- heads recognize those words by Jimmy Buffett.

What does that have to do with an article in the FFMIA newsletter? Well as I look around our state, visit with people and travel from place to place with FFMIA, I’ve continually seen little “changes in latitudes or attitudes” although there’s been plenty of “running and cunning”, and now I fear I’m going insane!

A good friend of mine in the business routinely mentions that, “this job just ain’t that hard.” I agree. But, it is that hard for many who can’t or won’t change their latitudes or attitudes and instead resort to “running and cunning”. I’ve traveled around this state and have seen some fairly strange things – dollar bills for interior finish, for example. What is the flame spread of U.S. currency? Fire lanes marked where fire apparatus isn’t going to park anyway because it’s too close to the building. What about applying the exemptions?

Improperly adopted local ordinances. How many local officials have actually read the adoption language for local amendments in 633 and complied with the statutory mandates? Have those same officials read the SFMO directive regarding adoption of local amendments? And finally in one case, I was told of an AHJ that crafted a case for dismissing a 19 year employee because he didn’t routinely conduct 17 inspections per day! Space in this journal would fail us if we tried to take up the inappropriateness of that issue.

But the thing I hear about most is dealing with non-conforming issues in existing buildings. For example, there’s one recent change in the 2003 edition of the LSC (ch. 31.3.4.3.5) that is rather troublesome. For some lame reason the consensus committee has seen fit to require existing apartment buildings to now require the formerly unmonitored local, or that is protected premises alarm system, to be monitored. O.K. new buildings, I can live with that, but existing, hardly! It seems that proponents of this new provision found justification in saying that occupants delay leaving apartment buildings and so monitoring them will get earlier notification to emergency forces so they can arrive on scene and coerce evacuation. And oh yes, then the local authority will better be able to meet NFPA 1710. Talk about attitudes without latitudes!

Had enough? Oh, no! Some of our peers are conducting inspections at existing apartments and demanding that this monitoring provision be instituted within one year. Industry sources tell me that a “rule-of-thumb” cost estimate for this retro-fit averages some $25,000 per complex. Those same sources suggest that that figure is modest.

What happened to reason? What’s the attitude there? Where’s the latitude or demonstration of reasonable discretionary decision making? These unyielding approaches would hardly demonstrate consideration of both the LSC (A.4.6.4) and §633.025 (8) dealing with existing buildings. “In existing buildings, it is not always practical to strictly apply the provisions of this Code. Physical limitations can cause the need for disproportionate effort or expense with little increase in life safety.” Isn’t it true that the “authority having jurisdiction shall determine whether the provisions of [the] code are met”? (LSC 4.6.1.1) Yes, it is the local authority, not the code per se’ or code committee that determines compliance!

Have we lost site of our charge? What is that charge anyway? Is it not to simply provide “minimum requirements for safety to life from fire?” (LSC 1.2; 4.1.1) Reading the LSC committee’s commentaries, we learn that the intent of the code (see chapter 1.3) is that a building meets the code requirements it was built under for the life of the building. The requirements for existing buildings in the current code need only be met if those are more restrictive than those of the preceding edition. Aha, you say! See, there you have it. You must install the components to monitor that existing, but previously non- monitored local protective fire alarm system in the existing apartment building. Could that be right? Perhaps it could, but why not consider the property owner as our customer instead of our adversary, over whom we must rule? And too, reconsider our charge. Mull over some other points of order.

NFPA has been at this “rodeo” for much longer than most of us have been alive. What they write is designed to be applied in a broad way to occupancies on several continents. But in spite of that, the Code is still not a “one-size-fits-all” document. NFPA pretty much has this “customer concept” thing figured out, especially when dealing with existing occupancies. They don’t call it “customer concept”, they call it exceptions to, or exemptions from code mandates. And there is a plethora of them.

For example: Chapter 4.6.10 tells us, “No new construction or existing building shall be occupied in whole or in part in violation of the provisions of this Code, unless the following conditions exist: (1) A plan of correction has been approved; (2) The occupancy classification remains the same; (3) No serious life safety hazard exists as judged by the authority having jurisdiction.” Here, NFPA uses the phrase “unless the following conditions exist;” Chapter 4.6.3 further points out that even the specific requirements of the code can be modified by the AHJ if there is evidence of a reasonable degree of lifesafety being provided. Here the AHJ gets to set the exceptions, exemptions and modifications.

So then, what about that latitude and attitude? While not trying to set policy for anyone or offering any indictment of strict application of code, could not our industry be more customer-friendly and still be doing what’s expected of us? I’m convinced the answer is yes, we could! How?

Couldn’t we all consider becoming more adept at applying the code and use the code discretion we have in a better and more proactive customer friendly manner? In the case of the apartment alarm system being monitored in the existing building, isn’t it feasible to simply find that the building is acceptable “as is”, in so much as it’s been that way for “X”-number of years and compliant with former code? After all, the example considered herein wasn’t considered non-compliant until the 2003 edition was adopted, was it?

Is the fact that the building is not monitored REALLY a serious threat to life safety, or is it a problem because of the new code edition? Some would say the latter and they would not necessarily be correct. Wouldn’t the serious threat be if the alarm system didn’t work correctly or if the exit capacity was inadequate? The failure to sound an evacuation signal is the real threat, not the absence of monitoring. If not monitoring a system constitutes a real threat to life safety, then should we not monitor every alarm system in every occupancy?

Can we not then say that an existing building is acceptable based upon the intent of the code, the latitude it gives, and the lack of a serious threat, when it complies with the concept highlighted in ch. 4.6.10? I’m inclined to say yes. Call it acceptable and put the matter to bed. Put the owner on notice that provided the building remains exactly as is, unchanged in any way in the area of [state the conditions your agency deems appropriate on a case- by-case basis] (see §633.025(4)), and allow it to continue “as is”. Cite the code references for this finding, put the owner on notice that if it is determined those conditions have changed, prior approvals are negated. Make it clear that changes will invoke compliance with the provisions of the “existing” chapter of code.

By doing this we demonstrate our attitude as being one that recognizes the partnership we have with the community and we have used reason in establishing the time frames for and approaches to code minimum, but reasonable code compliance (see LSC 4.6.5).

Remember we are leaders and “Leadership is an opportunity to serve, not a bugle call to self- importance.” And so by considering these things, we show deference to the words in the opening of this article, “In these changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes, nothing remains quite the same, with all of our running and all of our cunning, if we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane.”



http://www.fldfs.com/sfm/bfpr/localamend/AmendsTo FFPC_05_0930.pdf

Article Provided by:
Bart Wright, FFMIA East/Central Director
BWright@ci.maitland.fl.us

The Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa opened, “Disasterville”, on August 5, 2006. MOSI’s newest permanent exhibit, “Disasterville” is a 10,000- square-foot dramatic and engaging public exhibition where guests are able to walk through interactive towns and experience the impact of a variety of simulated natural disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, floods and forest fires. Visitors will leave able to walk away prepared to take action and minimize the effects of nature’s fury in their lives.

With that in mind, the Emergency Safety Educators Association of Tampa Bay held its July meeting at MOSI. Andy Owens, Director of Public and Interpretive programs for MOSI, led members on a “sneak preview” tour of “Disasterville”. Members then got the opportunity to provide feedback and brainstorm ways in which they could partner with MOSI to present fire and life safety programs.

MOSI also will present the original multi-media, dramatic production “Voices of Disaster”. The script for “Voices” is taken from actual survivor testimony and chronicles the human side of natural disasters. It also features live music and over 200 images from disasters throughout the U.S. The script was written by FFMIA member, Myndee Washington, Fire and Life Safety Educator from Hillsborough County Fire Rescue.

MOSI is open 365 days a year from 9am to 6pm. Find more information at: www.mosi.org

Article Provided by:
Mydee Washington
Education Specialist
Hillsborough County
washingtonm@hillsboroughcounty.org

Fire Inspector Brennan displayed the Citrus County Fire Rescue ModelTech Hazard House for the first time at the Citrus Memorial Health Pediatric Center Fundraiser at Dr. Irving’s office in Crystal River, Florida. Jordan and Keeley Shields (left to right) participated in the table top presentation using the Hazard House. They listened intently as Inspector Brennan talked about hazards in the home and how to prevent them. The Hazard House is a recent addition to the Citrus County Fire Rescue Fire Prevention Section’s menagerie of tools to bring fire safety education to our citizens and visitors in a fun and exiting format.

Article Provided by:
Tom McLean, PIO
Citrus County Fire Rescue
352-527-7621

Saturday, February 10, 2007 has been designated as “Florida State Fire Clown Day” at the Florida State Fair in Tampa.
Mark your calendars.

If you are interested in making this a weekend, please email Myndee Washington at washingtonm@hillsboroughcounty.org and let me know, so we can get discount hotel rates and start planning some activities.

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We're happy you are enjoying the newsletter. We send out reminders for articles on the Alist, but you are welcome to send one at any time during the month. Please put NEWSLETTER ARTICLE in the subject line to avoid deletion. If you would like to send and article or have a suggestion, contact:

Puddin Race, St. Lucie County
puddin@slcfd.org
Telephone: 772-462-8337

Cedar Hammock Fire Chief Randall Stulce is pleased to announce the promotion of Paul Reda to First Class Firefighter. Firefighter Reda was presented his First Class badge at the Cedar Hammock Fire Board of Commission meeting.

Paul grew up in Daytona Florida and after graduating High School in 1990 joined the Army. While serving our country he spent 8 years as a Forward Observer and achieved the rank of Sergeant. Paul has been with Cedar Hammock Fire Department for three years and previously volunteered with Sarasota Fire Department for almost two years. Paul is an EMT and recently earned his certificate as a Fire Safety Inspector. Paul is also a member of the Urban Search and Rescue Team. Paul and his wife, Melanie, have been married for twelve years and have two boys. Nathan who is five and Alexander who is three years old.

Article Provided By:
George Ellington
Deputy Fire Marshal
Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue
5200 26 St. West
Bradenton, FL 34207
941-751-7090

The St. Lucie County Fire District has a new addition in its fleet to protect the local international airport in the form of a new Oshkosh Striker1500 Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle. This 58,000 lb. custom engineered, all-terrain vehicle has the ability to produce a quick and simultaneous “triple agent” fire attack in the form of water, foam and dry chemical. The Striker 1500 also has the ability to apply extinguishing agents while continuing to maneuver, known as “pump and roll.” Other accoutrements on the Striker 1500 include: 1,500 gallon water tank, 1,950 gpm Waterous pump, 210 gallon foam tank, 500 lb. dry chemical capacity, roof and front bumper mounted turrets with joystick operation. In addition, the Fire District will soon begin construction of a new airport fire station to replace the existing 42 year old station. The new station will be strategically located at the St. Lucie County International Airport to house the Striker 1500 and allow easy access for emergency vehicles to airport emergencies. Funding was achieved through a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Grant submitted by the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). St. Lucie County Administrator Doug Anderson and Fire Chief Jay Sizemore partnered to develop an inter-local agreement specifying Fire District operations, maintenance and funding for the new fire station and ARFF vehicle. The FDOT Grant funding covers 80% of the total cost for both projects. As part of the agreement, the Fire District will provide the remaining 20%. According to Car and Driver magazine; “Think of the Striker as the Porsche 959 of fire trucks.”

Article Provided By:
Brian Blizzard, PIO
St. Lucie County Fire District
bblizzard@slcfd.org

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