Columns

CalChiefs Fire Operations Technology Summit

Author: Jeffrey D. Johnson, CEO, Western Fire Chiefs Association
Published: 1/30/2019
In 2017, the California Fire Chiefs Association (CalChiefs) Operations Section (Ops Section) completed a “needs assessment” with its membership. High on the list of immediate concern was the need to have a better understanding of emerging technology affecting the fire service. Respondents indicated that they were hesitant to adopt new technology that may not be inter-operable with their neighbors and were concerned that the technology selected wouldn’t be supported in the future. read more

Verizon Fails Public Safety Once Again

Author: Richard A. Mirgon, Next Paradigm Consulting
Published: 8/23/2018
Remember the Verizon commercial during the Super Bowl (http://allthingsfirstnet.com/the-verizon-super-bowl-ad-is-problematic-here’s-why) telling the world how much they support public safety? Many times, in the last year we at www.allthingsfirstnet.com have provided examples of how Verizon has failed public safety. Like we said in our tweet Tuesday night, “you just can’t make this up”. Verizon keeps saying to public safety “we got your back”. Well they don’t and just because a Senior Vice President says so doesn’t make that true. read more

FirstNet Contract Available on FireRescue GPO

Author: Doug Schrage, WFCA President
Published: 2/13/2018
Now that all 50 states, the District of Columbia and three U.S. territories have opted in to FirstNet as a communication provider for emergency responders, they are already looking to access FirstNet related services through AT&T. The FireRescue GPO cooperative contract allows early access to FirstNet services and is a quick and efficient way to reap the benefits of states that opted in. Being able to access these services through a publicly awarded contract with FirstNet saves time and money for everyone involved. read more

Historic Achievement: Clean Sweep of FirstNet Opt-In

Author: Thomas Jenkins, IAFC President and Chairman of the Board
Published: 1/08/2018
In case you missed our recent social media and blog posts, historic news broke over the holidays: all 50 states, the District of Columbia and three U.S. territories have officially opted into FirstNet to build a wireless broadband network exclusively for the nation's first responders. Two other territories, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands, have until March 12 to make their decision. This is a milestone achievement. The IAFC has been a fierce supporter of FirstNet since its inception in 2012. read more

Help Save the FIRE/SAFER Grant Programs

Author: Thomas Jenkins, IAFC President and Chairman of the Board
Published: 11/17/2017
I need your help saving the FIRE and SAFER Grant programs. Please contact your representative in the U.S. House of Representatives and urge him or her to save the FIRE and SAFER Grant programs by signing a letter from the House co-chairs of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. The good news is that on August 2 the Senate passed the AFG and SAFER Program Reauthorization Act (S. 829) to reauthorize the programs, which are scheduled to expire on January 2. The bad news is that the House of Representatives has failed to act, jeopardizing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal assistance to fire departments across the country. We can’t allow this to happen. read more

IAFC and IAFF Express Concerns with AAA-Backed EMS Legislation

Author: The International Association of Fire Chiefs
Published: 5/15/2017
Recently, the American Ambulance Association contacted members of the fire and emergency service in support of the Medicare Ambulance Access, Fraud Prevention, and Reform Act of 2017 (S. 967). The IAFC and IAFF have serious concerns with this legislation as it is written and we urge our members not to support it. S. 967 was drafted to propose changes in federal reimbursement for the cost of providing pre-hospital emergency care to Medicare beneficiaries. read more

CALL TO ACTION: Contact Your Senators re: FIRE/SAFER Reauthorization

Author: The International Association of Fire Chiefs
Published: 5/09/2017
Chief John Sinclair, IAFC president and chairman of the board, is urging U.S. fire and emergency service leaders to write their senators asking them to cosponsor S. 829, legislation that would reauthorize the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program (popularly known as the FIRE grant program), including the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. read more

FirstNet’s Nationwide Network: Becoming a reality for America’s First Responders

Author: Chief Jeff Johnson, CEO Western Fire Chiefs Association
Published: 4/25/2017
Communications is essential to keeping the public safe and protecting our communities. Technology can help fire fighters share information and ensure an efficient, effective response with when the call comes in. The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) was created at the urging of the fire service community to get technology into the hands of first responders through the buildout of a nationwide broadband network. The FirstNet Network will modernize first responders’ communications and deliver specialized features that are not available to them on commercial wireless networks today. read more

ICC Voting Governmental Members Vote Now to Defend Home Fire Sprinklers

Author: Daily Dispatch
Published: 11/13/2016
DEADLINE to vote November 22 - The requirement for all new homes to have home fire sprinklers has been included in the International Residential Code (IRC) for the past three editions, and because of this requirement, over 100,000 families now live in sprinklered homes. Housing markets in these areas are thriving. Nevertheless, sprinkler opponents have repeatedly tried to eliminate the sprinkler requirement from the IRC in every code cycle since initial adoption in 2009. read more

Open Letter to Fire Service Vendors and Agencies

Author: Missouri Valley Division of the IAFC
Published: 9/27/2016
Which are all of us – those who work in the fire service as well as our families and extending to those who produce products and services that enhance the mission and capabilities for serving our communities. One of the greatest concerns in the fire service today is the unprecedented occurrence of cancer in our ranks. A brief review of research conducted in cooperation with leading Fire Service organizations shows that on average firefighters are 1.5 times more likely to contract cancer than the general population; in some cases for particular types of cancer that risk more than doubles. read more