USFA Quick Response E-Bulletin - January 2009

 

USFA and City Fire Service Leaders Urge Residents to Install and Test Smoke Alarms

 

On January 7, 2009, USFA Administrator Gregory Cade and Fire Service leaders come together after one of the deadliest holiday fire seasons in recent memory

 

"The 2008 holiday season and the start of 2009 may be recorded as one of the deadliest for residential fires in recent memory of the Fire Service," said Administrator Cade. "Not only have there been a significant number of preventable fires, but the occurrences of multiple fatalities resulting from these fires are simply unacceptable within our nation. There should be a smoke alarm protecting every person in this nation today, particularly as we sleep."

 

 

Pictured from left to right are: Fire Team USA Member Vicki Pritchert; Baltimore Fire Chief James Clack; Washington, D.C. Fire Chief Dennis Rubin; U.S. Fire Administrator Gregory Cade; Montgomery County (MD) Fire Division Chief Mike Love; Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers; and U.S. Fire Administration staff member Dr. Burt Clark.

 

To view the whole story and for links to smoke alarm fact sheets and video of the press conference, click HERE.

 

USFA Conducts First Public Education Webinar on Smoking & Home Fires Campaign

 

In November, USFA Smoking & Home Fires Campaign partners and members of the Fire Service from across the country came together online for the administration's first public education Webinar.  Attendees watched the presentation on their computers, while listening to USFA Administrator Cade and other presenters explain why the Smoking & Home Fires Campaign is so important.  Background about the campaign was provided and attendees were shown how they could easily integrate the campaign into existing community events.

 

To see how you can obtain free information, and quickly and easily take this campaign into your community, CLICK HERE to go to the campaign materials page. Select "How to Use the USFA Smoking & Home Fires Campaign Toolkit."  A CD of the toolkit with over 20 easy-to-use resources can be ordered online or each document can be downloaded  from the campaign Web site.

 

USFA Has a Blog!

 

In October 2008, the USFA created a blog on its Web site (www.usfa.dhs.gov).  The purpose of the blog is to facilitate an ongoing dialogue with the Fire Service that contributes to fostering a solid foundation in prevention, preparedness, and response with respect to fire and related emergencies.

 

Users read and post comments, as well as subscribe and share blog entries on Facebook.  Visit the blog by going to http://blog.usfa.dhs.gov/.