United States Fire Administration (USFA) News

NFA is going to modernise some of its popular courses to meet emerging issues in fire and EMS Located on the campus of the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland, the NFA has trained more than 120,000 students in 2009. The United States Fire Administration's (USFA) National Fire Academy (NFA) has completed a top-to-bottom review and update of its Management Science curriculum. This comprehensive review includes new course content, addressing emerging issue...

An online tutuorial provides information on firefighters grant applications About $390 million will be distributed through the current AFG grant cycle. The application period for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) opened on April 26, and applications must be received by May 28. AFG meets the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations by funding critically needed equipment, protective gear, em...

Residential properties suffer major losses due to fire accidents involving grills and barbeques Grills, hibachis, and barbecues in residential properties continue to carry a high fire accident risk. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) United States Fire Administration (USFA) issued a special report today examining the characteristics of grill fires on residential properties. The report, Grill Fires on Residential Properties (PDF, 663 Kb), was...

NIOSH and USFA have joined to study cancer-related issues among fire service professionals The United States Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are partnering on a study to examine the potential for increased risk of cancer among firefighters due to exposures from smoke, soot, and other contaminants in the line of duty. This multi-year USFA supported NIOSH study will include over 18,000 current and retire...

Arson fire in Lebanon, in February of 2009. Photo Credit: Jonathan Paul, Fire Inspector Lebanon Fire Department The focus of Arson Awareness Week will be on the horrific crime of arson, and provide communities with tools and strategies to combat arson in their neighborhoods, businesses, schools, and places of worship. The United States Fire Administration (USFA) announces this year's Arson Awareness Week (AAW) theme Community Arson Prevention. The USFA will partner w...

  A wide range of natural disasters occurs within the United States every year A wide range of natural disasters occurs within the United States every year. Natural disasters can have a devastating effect on you and your home. The U.S. Fire Administration encourages you to use the following safety tips to help protect yourself, your family and your home from the potential threat of fire during or after a flood. Types of Fire Related Hazards Present During and After a Fl...

USFA says there are simple steps you can take to prevent the loss of life and property due to home fires Electrical fires at homes claim the lives of 485 Americans each year and injure 2,305 more. Some of these fires are caused by electrical system failures and appliance defects, but many more are caused by the misuse and poor maintenance of electrical appliances, incorrectly installed wiring, and overloaded circuits and extension cords. The United States Fire Adm...

The USFA report examines the causes and characteristics of winter residential building fires The report, "Winter Residential Building Fires", was developed by USFA's National Fire Data Center and is further evidence of FEMA's commitment to share information with fire departments and first responders around the country to help them keep their communities safe.The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) United States Fire Administration (USFA) issued a special report exam...

The month of March celebrates the contributions made by women in fire fighting industry and EMS Message from USFA:"Since 1981, this nation has recognized the month of March as an opportunity to celebrate the contributions made by all women to this great nation of ours. I am honored to join with many others in recognizing the countless and unselfish acts of so many women serving their communities in fire and emergency medical services (EMS) organizations as firefighters...

Portable generators are useful when temporary or remote electric power is needed, but they can be hazardous Portable generators are useful when temporary or remote electric power is needed, but they can be hazardous. The primary hazards to avoid when using portable generators are carbon monoxide poisoning, electric shock or electrocution, and fire. The United States Fire Administration (USFA) would like you to know that there are simple steps you can take to prevent th...

Appliance fire safety is a matter of keeping your appliances in good working order A fire and safety checklist for home appiances from FEMA. Most homes have a multitude of electrical appliances ranging from small kitchen items such as toasters and microwaves to major appliances like clothes dryers and dishwashers. While appliances make our lives much easier, they also pose significant risks - including fire - if not maintained properly. Appliance fire safety is a matte...

Ten states have passed laws limiting or outright proscribing sales of novelty lighters On February 2, Maryland's House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on House Bill 191, which would prohibit novelty lighter sales in that state.Toy-like or novelty lighters have been responsible for injuries, deaths, and accidents across the country. Children are attracted to novelty lighters because they look like toys. A number of accidents involving novelty lighters have been documented,...

FEMA has issued a special report, as part of its Topical Fire Report Series The report is based on 2005 to 2007 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued a special report, part of its Topical Fire Report Series, examining the causes and characteristics of fires in hotels and motels. An estimated average of 3,900 fires occur each year in hotels and motels, which are...

About 300,000 Powerheart and CardioVive AEDs devices have malfunctioned worldwide FDA has alerted users of certain malfunctioning Powerheart and CardioVive automated external defibrillators. FDA is alerting users of certain Powerheart and CardioVive automated external defibrillators that these devices may malfunction unexpectedly.This can cause a failure to deliver the electric shocks that are needed to treat sudden cardiac arrest or arrhythmias. The manufactur...

USFA release two special reports regarding heating fires and portable heater fires in residential buildings The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has announced the release of two special reports regarding heating fires and portable heater fires in residential buildings. An estimated average of 54,500 heating fires in residential buildings occurs each year in the United States. Annually, these fires are responsible for an estimated 190 civilian fire deaths, 625 civili...

Prince George's County recorded no deaths in fires in any homes protected by home sprinklers Recent findings from a key study show the overwhelming effectiveness of mandatory home fire sprinklers in saving lives in municipalities with mandatory fire sprinkler codes for homes. Prince George's County, Md., the first county in the nation to require residential fire sprinklers in its building code, has reported that since 1992, when the code was first adopted, there...

All new one- and two- family dwellings in the US are to have residential fire sprinklers starting 2011   American homes are one step closer to being more fire-safe, following an October 28 vote at the International Code Council (ICC) hearings in Baltimore, Md. The vote reaffirmed national building codes making it mandatory for all new one- and two- family dwellings to have residential fire sprinklers starting in 2011. American homes are one step closer to b...

An estimated average of 3,800 fires occurs each year in university dwellings The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) United States Fire Administration (USFA) has issued a special report examining the causes and characteristics of fires in college and university residential buildings that include dormitories, fraternity, and sorority houses.  Thef report, University Housing Fires, was developed by the National Fire Data Center and is a part of the USFA's Topi...

USFA launched an effort to encourage everyone to install and maintain home smoke alarms and sprinklers The nationwide ‘Install. Inspect. Protect. Campaign' will emphasise how important smoke alarms are to the saving of lives. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has launched an effort to encourage everyone to install and maintain home smoke alarms and, if possible, sprinklers. More than 3,000 people die in home fires each year, and the majority of them have...

A firefighter adjusting her SCBA. USFA and NIST are investigating whether SCBA facepieces can be made safer Study follows incidents of SCBA face piece failure The United States Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have started a research study to examine the enhancement of thermal performance of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) face pieces to increase the protection of firefighters. "There have been incidents o...

The deadline for applications for the FP&S Grants is October 23, 2009 Submissions still open for FY 2009 Fire Prevention and Safety Grants There is still time to submit an application for the Department of Homeland Security, FY 09 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants! Applications for FP&S grants must be received by October 23, 2009 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time. Fire Prevention and Safety Grants projects can include arson prevention, sprinkler awareness, smoke a...

Firefighters who give emergency medical care should receive the H1N1 vaccination, say FEMA, USFA First responder agencies should receive treatment in first wave of vaccine With the first deliveries of the H1N1 vaccine already underway, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as part of its mission to support first responders, joins the United States Fire Administration (USFA) in recommending that firefighters who provide emergency medical services (EMS...

Members of the crowd at the Candlelight Service, part of the Memorial Weekend Memorial weekend events will be broadcast online live The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced today that two of the major events taking place during the 2009 Memorial Weekend (October 3 - 4, 2009) will be available live via satellite and Internet, for easy viewing. The URL for this broadcast is http://mfile.akamai.com/22330/live...

USFA is urging the US fire service to support fire-safe cigarette initiatives Fire-safe cigarettes lessen risk of home fire deaths Smoking is the leading cause of home fire fatalities in the United States, despite the fact that the numbers of smokers continue to decline. The victims of the fires are not only the smokers but their children, spouses or partners, and even neighbors or friends. On top of the human tragedy, millions of dollars of property is damaged or d...

USFA has released a report into US firefighter fatalities in 2008 Heart attacks the most common cause of US firefighter death in 2008 The United States Fire Administration (USFA) today released the report Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2008. The report continues a series of annual studies by the USFA of on-duty firefighter fatalities. The USFA is the single public agency source of information for all on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States each...

The application period for FY2009 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants begins on September 21, 2009 Primary goal of grants is to target high-risk populations The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has posted the FY2009 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants Program Guidance on the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program website. The application period is scheduled to begin on September 21, 2009 at 8:00 am Eastern Standard Time (EST). Applications f...

The NVFC has released guidelines to improve health and safety procedures amongst volunteer firefighters New guidelines aim to improve volunteer firefighter health and safety 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 em...

The 28th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend will be held October 2-4, 2009 Annual fallen firefighter memorial event date announced The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Fire Administration announce that the 28th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend will be held October 2-4, 2009. A plaque with the names of 103 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2008 will be added to the...

Rochester, NY Fire Department have bought thirteen Bullard Eclipse imagers Rochester, NY Fire Dept purchase thirteen Eclipse imagers The Bullard Eclipse thermal imager made headline news on 13WHAM TV in Rochester, New York when the city’s fire department purchased thirteen of the new cameras. The Eclipse debuted at FDIC in April and since then is quickly changing the way firefighters navigate in and out of a burning building. This low-cost, lightweight, perso...

A flare on an offshore oil rig: a new USFA report addresses fire dept operations in maritime areas Report highlights fire dept preparedness for maritime incidents The United States Fire Administration (USFA) released today, as part of the Technical Report Series, a new report entitled Fire Departments and Maritime Interface Area Preparedness. This report addresses fire department preparedness for incidents in maritime areas and the importance of establishing a multiagency r...