Hey...
As you may or may not be aware, there is a fire service related press release that was sent out by an organization, the Heritage Foundation, that impacts you. The "Heritage Foundation" has an opinion that urges
CONGRESS TO ELIMINATE THE FIRE ACT GRANT/SAFER PROGRAMS. Nice.
And to be clear, and to those that asked us, this report was NOT done by Tri-Data. To make sure you are not confused, Tri-Data recently released a report that stated that their
"Study Fails to Establish Link between Cancer and Firefighting".
It would be easy for you to be confused since both reports provide
very misleading and agenda driven information.
FACT:
There are clear and proven links between firefighting and cancer just like there are "links" between smoking and cancer.
http://www.iafcsafety.org/fullstory.php?85292
And...while the Heritage Foundation is urging CONGRESS to eliminate all funding to support Firefighters and those we protect (because they claim that Fire Act and SAFER grants have not lead to safer firefighters or civilians)....they too, are wrong.
FACT:
The Fire Act and SAFER program funding HAS lead to safer firefighting and citizens being better served...and we don't need any funding or months of WTF research to prove it. Simply put, if SAFER funding can provide additional firefighters on a first alarm assignment, we are absolutely able to get water on the fire and save the stuff or the people inside that much quicker. It is a fact and can be proven and is proven daily.
See that. How about THAT for a study?
And additionally, if a FD had out of date SCBA's without integral PASS alarms prior to getting their grant, and now have state of the art SCBA's the citizens and the firefighters are clearly better served. 4 door apparatus with seat belts are a clear and measurable improvement over 2 doors with FF's riding the tailboard. Radios that work as opposed to older un-operable radios are an improvement leading to a safer fireground. If a VFD received a SAFER grant for volunteer recruiting and recruited new members: there are now MORE available firefighters-which has been proven to lead to a safer and more survivable fireground.
It IS just THAT simple. It takes well TRAINED, well EQUIPPED and well STAFFED fire companies to make a difference to citizens who need us. And the FIRE ACT and SAFER Grant programs DO JUST THAT:
$ = TRAINING = Safer and more effective fireground.
$ = EQUIPMENT = Safer and more effective fireground.
$ = PEOPLE = Safer and more effective fireground.
But the Heritage Foundations report claims that fire grants, including SAFER grants have no impact on fire casualties and that AFG $ used to purchase firefighting equipment, vehicles, and fitness equipment does NOT reduce firefighter deaths, firefighter injuries, civilian deaths, and civilian injuries. INCREDIBLE.
Just like smoking doesn't cause cancer.
Just like there is no links between firefighting and cancer.
Absolutely Incredible.
The Heritage Foundation further insists that grants that funded fire prevention and safety projects failed to reduce firefighter deaths, firefighter injuries, civilian deaths, and civilian injuries; and that SAFER grants for firefighting positions failed to reduce firefighter deaths, firefighter injuries, civilian deaths, and civilian injuries.
So ALL the Universities and Fire Service Organizations that received related and research funding made no difference. None. A total waste of money....according to the heritage folks.
The bottom line from The Heritage Foundation:
Congress should eliminate funding for the fire grant program.
A friend wrote me the other day on this and said (calmly) that essentially every year Heritage or some other group suggests dropping the program etc. My concern and my response (not calmly) is the fact that THIS YEAR IS NOT "EVERY YEAR". THIS YEAR we, our Nation, have some very significant fiscal issues driven by the economy. It is NOT business as usual.
Over 5,000 Firefighters being impacted by job cuts is NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL. FD's and VFD's NOT being able to get FF survival related training, equipment and people is NOT business as usual.
SO...should we assume THE POSITION? The THE MISSIONARY POSITION?
Take a moment to read Harry Carters take on this issue, in his article entitled: "The Missionary Position"....
http://cms.firehouse.com/web/online/Leadership-and-Command/The-Missionary-Position/5$64295
HERE is the Heritage Foundation information and overview:
http://www.heritage.org/research/economy/wm2499.cfm
BUDGET CUTS & STAFFING REDUCTION INFORMATION:
We have received e-mails asking about the updates to our STAFFING page, which focuses on budget cuts, brownouts, layoffs and the related crisis so many FD's are experiencing.
The page is generally updated every weekend, and the most recent update has been done and is available
HERE: http://www.firefighterclosecalls.com/staffing.php
For corrections, updates or to
SUBMIT information about fire department cuts, send them to us
HERE: staffing@FireFighterCloseCalls.com . The information is if significant value to many FD's, IAFF locals and others in understanding just how serious the issue is...and how lessons learned by one FD can be of value to another.
Take Care-BE CAREFUL.
BillyG
The Secret List 6-30-09 / 1300 Hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com 
