NVFC Announces 2012 Award Winners

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has announced the winners of its four national awards. A special banquet to honor the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Fire Prevention Award, Junior Firefighter of the Year Award, and Junior Firefighter Program of the Year Award will take place during the NVFC’s spring meeting on April 28, 2012, in Alexandria, VA.

“We are once again greatly impressed with the quality and caliber of nominations that we received for the NVFC’s annual awards,” said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. “The recipients that were chosen truly exemplify outstanding service and commitment to the fire service. We thank you for all you do to strengthen the emergency services and protect your communities.”

Award recipients receive a trip to Alexandria to attend the award ceremony, a personalized award, and complimentary one-year membership in the NVFC, among other items. The Junior Firefighter of the Year also receives a trip to a Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge.

Learn more about the NVFC’s awards program at www.nvfc.org/about-us/awards/. Stay tuned to the NVFC web site and e-newsletters in May for additional information about each award winner as well as photos from the awards banquet.

The recipients of the NVFC’s 2012 awards are as follows:

Chief Lawrence Plumer
NVFC Lifetime Achievement Award
Award sponsored by Rosenbauer America

Chief Lawrence Plumer has been a firefighter at the Durand (WI) City/Rural Fire Department for over 45 years and has been Chief for the past 29 years. Until retiring, he also served for 38 years as an EMT on the Durand Municipal Ambulance Service, including 23 years as Director. Chief Plumer was named President of the Wisconsin State Firefighters Association in 1984, a title he still holds today. Within his fire department, he has worked diligently to raise money and apply for grants to purchase equipment, including defibrillators. He was instrumental in securing and providing training on defibrillators for all Durand area first responders and Durand area schools. For over two decades, he was worked with local schools to share fire prevention information with youth. Chief Plumer was recognized as the Firefighter of the Year by the Wisconsin State Firefighter’s Association in 2004.

James Conomea
NVFC Fire Prevention Award
Award sponsored by First Alert

James Conomea has been an active firefighter for more than 15 years and currently serves with Clay County (FL) Fire Rescue. As a Fire Prevention Officer, he has coordinated over 150 fire prevention education events in the last five years. He conducts hands-on safety training in the community through neighborhood and school safety events, works with over 50 elementary and preschool classes, and provides literature to over 100 classes each year. Conomea writes articles on fire prevention for the Florida Fire Chief's Association magazine, Firehouse Online, 1st Responder News, and other online outlets and local newspapers. In addition to his work in fire prevention, Conomea is on the planning committee for a local first response training program for teens, maintains the fire department web site, is a member of the Honor Guard, and is a Senior Vice President of a global financial firm.

Cherryville Fire Department
NVFC Junior Firefighter Program of the Year
Award sponsored by Tyco International

The Cherryville (NC) Fire Department junior firefighter program was established in 1983. Approximately 90 percent of their junior firefighters continue in the fire service after high school. The Cherryville junior firefighters follow a yearly training schedule that focuses on safe, effective training through hands-on drills and classroom training. In 2011 alone, the 12 junior firefighters completed over 1,200 hours of scheduled training. Each October, the Cherryville junior firefighters play a crucial role in providing a fire prevention day for the approximately 3,500 students in the Cherryville area schools. During the event, they help with logistics as well as educate their peers about fire safety and prevention. Other community organizations, such as the town’s Little League, rely on the juniors’ assistance with running their programs. They are taught that their role as a firefighter doesn’t end with fighting fires, but also involves helping and serving their community in any way possible.

Katherine Brierley
NVFC Junior Firefighter of the Year
Award sponsored by Tyco International

Katherine (Kassie) Brierley has been a junior firefighter with the Coventry (CT) Volunteer Fire Association for over four years. She received state certification as an emergency medical responder at the age of 14 and recently became certified as an EMT. Brierley has participated in fundraising events such as a Penguin Plunge and Fill-the-Boot, as well as provided fire prevention outreach in her community. At the Connecticut Fire Academy, she has established water supply, led teams in tower ladder operations, and worn SCBA while training to fight fires. She is also a certified boat operator and has training in fighting wildfires. She serves as an active mentor to more than 20 new junior firefighters. Brierley is also a member of her school’s soccer team and is an honor roll student. She plans to study pre-medicine at college and become a pediatric doctor.

Award Sponsors

About the National Volunteer Fire Council
The NVFC is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides invaluable tools, resources, programs, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.

About First Alert
BRK Brands, Inc. (Aurora, IL), is a fully owned subsidiary of Jarden Corporation (Rye, NY) NYSE:JAH, a leading provider of niche consumer products used in and around the home. For 50 years, BRK Brands, Inc. has been the manufacturer of First Alert®-branded home-safety products, the most trusted and recognized safety brands in America. BRK® Brands designs and develops innovative safety solutions including Tundra® Fire Extinguishing Spray, ONELINK® wireless alarms and a comprehensive line of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, and escape ladders to protect what matters most. Such products are also marketed under the BRK Electronics® brand, The Professional Standard for the builder and contractor audiences. BRK Brands, Inc. products are found in more than 30 countries worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.firstalert.com, http://www.brkelectronics.com, or http://www.jarden.com.

About Rosenbauer America
Rosenbauer America is the world’s leading manufacturer of firefighting vehicles and equipment. With locations all over the globe, the North American operations are based in Lyons, South Dakota; Wyoming, Minnesota; and Fremont, Nebraska. Rosenbauer incorporates the international strength and innovation of a global company with top American manufacturing firms to build firefighters what they need to help keep their communities safe. For more information, please visit www.rosenbaueramerica.com.

About Tyco International

Tyco International is a diversified, global company that provides vital products and services to customers in more than 60 countries and has more than 100,000 employees worldwide. Tyco is a leading provider of electronic security products and services, fire protection and detection products and services, and valves and controls. For more information, visit www.tyco.com.

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NVFC Releases Junior Firefighter Recruitment Video

The National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) National Junior Firefighter Program is excited to present a new resource for junior firefighter programs nationwide. Thanks to support from Tyco International, a junior firefighter recruitment video is now available for download on the National Junior Firefighter Program web site.

 

The National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) National Junior Firefighter Program is excited to present a new resource for junior firefighter programs nationwide. Thanks to support from Tyco International, a junior firefighter recruitment video is now available for download on the National Junior Firefighter Program web site at

www.nvfc.org/juniors.

Program advisors and department leaders can use the 4-minute video, which features juniors participating and explaining their interest in junior firefighting and their plans for their future, to recruit youth for their program at the local level. The video can be downloaded and taken to schools, community organizations, or department open houses to educate youth and adults about the benefit of junior firefighter programs.

Junior firefighter programs are a valuable recruiting tool for departments. In the United States, 71% of first responders are volunteers. According to the National Fire Protection Association, since 1984 the number of volunteer firefighters has declined by more than 10% while calls for help have more than doubled. Introducing youth to the fire service creates lifelong support of the fire departments, whether as career or volunteer first responders or community supporters.

The National Junior Firefighter Program provides resources, tools, and information for fire departments and youth nationwide. Junior firefighter programs introduce youth to the fire service in a safe and fun way, while learning important fire prevention and safety, leadership, and teamwork skills. Hours spent at the station can often be counted for school community service requirements. Juniors and departments can join the Program for free at

www.nvfc.org/juniors.

Watch or download the video at

www.nvfc.org/juniors. Find out more about the National Junior Firefighter Program, including training opportunities through the National Junior Firefighter Academy, at www.nvfc.org/juniors.

About the National Volunteer Fire CouncilThe National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, emergency medical, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides invaluable tools, resources, programs, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. The NVFC National Junior Firefighter Program provides departments and youth with the resources, tools, and information they need to help develop, grow, enhance, promote, and participate in a local junior firefighter program. The program addresses retention and recruitment challenges by getting youth involved in the fire and emergency services, thus fostering a lifelong connection with the emergency services that will continue throughout their adulthood. Learn more at

www.nvfc.org.

About Tyco Internationa

 

Tyco International is a diversified, global company that provides vital products and services to customers in more than 60 countries and has more than 100,000 employees worldwide. Tyco is a leading provider of electronic security products and services, fire protection and detection products and services, and valves and controls. For more information, visit

www.tyco.com.

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January 28 2012

APPLICATION TO BE AFG PEER REVIEWER NOW ON LINE

The application for people to become entered into a pre-approved pool of candidates for AFG/SAFER/FP&S peer review is now posted online. You can access it by going to https://nvfc.wufoo.com/forms/afgsaferfps-peer-reviewer-application/. If you are interested in potentially serving as a peer reviewer for one or more of the grant programs please fill out the application

The application is open to anyone. The way that it works is that once someone fills out the application they get an automatic reply indicating that someone from NVFC will be in touch with them within 10 business days to let them know the status of their application. At the same time that the auto-reply goes out, the NVFC office receives an e-mail with all of the information submitted. They will forward that on to the Board member(s) from the state that the applicant is from to review and approve or reject.

Applicants must submit certain information about themselves but the office made it optional to submit a resume and/or cover letter.

When the office receive's a request to serve as a peer reviewer representing NVFC the office will provide people with a link to the application. Beyond that the office will leave it up to me to publicize this to whatever degree I think is appropriate within our state. Keep in mind that depending on the grant program and fiscal year we generally are only able to place 12-36 people on peer review panels. This means that we probably won’t be able to place more than one or two people per state on each panel (which translates into 3-6 people per year, since there are three grant programs).

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NVFC Establishes Volunteer Firefighter Health and Safety Priorities to Keep First Responders at their B.E.S.T.  

The health and safety of our nation’s volunteer fire service is a primary concern for the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). Each year, first responders are killed or injured due to factors that could have been avoided with the proper safety and health precautions. To help keep firefighters and emergency personnel strong and prevent tragedies, the NVFC has released a series of health and safety priorities to more effectively address the critical health and safety issues impacting the volunteer fire service.

 

The NVFC has always been active in promoting and implementing initiatives to keep first responders healthy and safe. This includes launching the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program in 2003 to proactively combat the leading cause of line-of-duty firefighter deaths – heart attack. In addition, the NVFC teamed up with the United States Fire Administration to address the second leading cause of firefighter fatalities with the Emergency Vehicle Safe Operations for Volunteer and Small Combination Emergency Service Organizations program.

 

Building on these and other efforts to protect first responders, the NVFC Board of Directors established a Health and Safety Committee in the spring of 2008 to further the NVFC’s initiatives in the areas of health and safety. The Committee produced the Volunteer Firefighter Health and Safety Priorities to provide departments with guidance on key issues that need to be addressed in order to keep department members safe and eliminate cases of preventable injury and death.

 

The Volunteer Firefighter Health and Safety Priorities are set forth in a series of B.E.S.T. practices for the volunteer fire and emergency services, divided into four main focus areas. The priorities are as follows:

 

Behavior

• Support the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of all personnel.
• Operate all emergency apparatus and privately owned vehicles to conform to the highest road safety standards and enforce the use of seatbelts.
• Develop, practice, and enforce recommended health and safety standards for all personnel.
• Monitor and ensure that all active emergency scenes maintain the utmost level of safety and fireground accountability.

Equipment

• Provide and require the proper use of full personal protective equipment.
• Maintain all equipment based on established safety recommendations.

Standards

• Encourage the use of all smoke, fire detection, and fire suppression devices, including fire sprinkler systems, in all structures.
• Vigorously enforce all fire safety codes and ordinances.
• Obtain apparatus and equipment that meet national safety standards.

Training

• Utilize fire training programs that conform to the highest professional standards.
• Operate a safe fire training ground at all times.
• Establish, maintain, and deliver fire safety programs for all age groups.

 

These priorities will guide the direction of the NVFC’s initiatives to keep first responders safe and healthy. The NVFC highly encourages departments to adopt and adhere to the B.E.S.T. Practices to protect their personnel from harm.

 

In June 2009, the NVFC conducted a national mailing, with the support of Provident Agency, to distribute posters with the Volunteer Firefighter Health and Safety Priorities to every department in the country. Departments should hang the poster up at the station to keep the priorities in the minds of their personnel and serve as a constant reminder of the B.E.S.T. practices they should be following to keep their members safe. Departments can also download the poster at www.nvfc.org/health_safety or order additional hard copies from the NVFC office at 1-888-ASK-NVFC (275-6832) or nvfcoffice@nvfc.org.

 

Further information and resources on each of the priority focus areas are available at www.nvfc.org/health_safety. In the coming months, the NVFC will also be releasing a series of articles that further explores each of the points in the B.E.S.T. practices.

 

The health and safety of our nation’s first responders is too important to ignore. Join the NVFC in promoting and adopting the Volunteer Firefighter Health and Safety Priorities so that every member of the fire service can be at their B.E.S.T.

                                                                                                                                                              

 

 

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About the National Volunteer Fire Council

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, emergency medical, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides invaluable tools, resources, programs, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.