Center for Public Safety Excellence - Community News

Week of August 30 - September 3, 2010

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 23:55:44 GMT

Transfer of Command In Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue

Aloha, OR - "It was critical that our next fire chief would ensure continuity of leadership, and take TVF&R to the next level of excellence and innovation"

Academy Firefighters Win DoD Awards

Chicago, IL - Two Air Force Academy firefighters received Department of Defense awards during the Defense Fire and Emergency Services Annual Awards Banquet in Chicago, IL

Anaheim, CA - City of Anaheim Names Randy R. Bruegman New Fire Chief

Anaheim, CA - The City of Anaheim today named Randy R. Bruegman as City's next Fire Chief. Bruegman will officially start his duties with Anaheim on Oct. 11

Yocha Dehe Fire Department Gains Rare Accreditation Status

Brooks, CA - It is the first Native American fire department to earn Accreditation Status

LAFD Garners International Accredited Status

Los Alamos, NM - The Los Alamos Fire Department was one of only five such departments in the world when it achieved international accreditation 15 years ago.

San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District Achieves International Accreditation

San Ramon, CA - After a unanimous vote of approval by the seven member Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District became the first agency in Contra Cost County and only the sixth fire department in the State of California to achieve international accreditation.

Roseville Fire Department is Reaccredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International

Roseville, CA - By unanimous vote of approval by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI); The Roseville Fire Department has achieved Reaccredited Status, allowing the Department ot retain an important status which is recognized as a worldwide measure of excellence in the Fire Service.

Ridge Road Achieves Reaccreditation

Ridge Road, NY - The team lead by retired Deputy Chief Bill Rickman and designated Accreditation Manager, Battalion Chief Any Paradiso, along with the support of the Board of the Fire Commission and the entire organization worked tirelessly to ensure the District was ready.

Fargo Fire Department Receives Accreditation

Fargo, ND - Fargo Fire Chief Bruce Hoover states, "The agency's achievement of Accredited Agency status demonstrates the Fire Departments commitment to provide the highest quality of service to our citizens."

Tampa Fire Rescue Receives Accreditation

Tampa, FL - "It's easy for you to consider you're pretty good," said Chief Forward. "But to get a true picture, you want to measure yourself by a standard your profession recognizes."

Week of August 23-28, 2010

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:06:04 GMT

CPSE Board President Takes New Position

It was released on Friday, August 27, 2010 that CPSE Board President Randy Bruegman is leaving Fresno, CA and taking the fire chief position in Anaheim, CA.

CPSE and IAS Announce Fire Prevention and Life Safety Department Accreditation

CPSE and the International Accreditation Service (IAS), a subsidiary of the International Code Council (ICC), have partnered to develop a new accreditation program for Fire Prevention and Life Safety Departments and which is target primarily towards state, county, and local fire marshal's offices who are are independent of a traditional fire department.

Houston Announces New Fire Chief

On Wednesday, August 25, 2010, Houston Mayor Annise Parker announced her choice of Terry Garrison for Houston's next fire chief.

Week of August 9-13, 2010

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:41:51 GMT

Where is the Science for Fuel Loading in Live Fire Training?

Chantilly, VA - We should never see a firefighter die or suffer serious injury in a live fire training evolution because we let the fire get too large.

Houston's hunt for a new fire chief in final stages

Houston, TX - Houston Mayor Annise Parker will begin interviewing applications for the city's next fire chief in the next few days, nearing the end of a eight-month search to fill the job.

Accreditation renewed for KU's Fire and Rescue Training Institute

Lawrence, KS - University of Kansas Continuing Education's Kansas Fire and Rescue Training Institute has renewed its accreditation from the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress following a three-day site visit in May.

Week of August 2-6, 2010

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:03:06 GMT

Firefighters Rescue Motorists Trapped by Flood Waters

CHARLOTTE, NC - Firefighters had to rescue motorists at northern Charlotte locations whose cars were overwhelmed by quick-rising storm waters Friday night.

Charlotte Fire Chief Jon Hannan Earns Designation

CHARLOTTE, NC - Jon B. Hannan was awarded designation as a Chief Fire Officer by CPC. Hannan is the Fire Chief and Homeland Security Director for Charlotte, NC. Charlotte is an accredited agency.

Seabrook, VA Fire Chief Receives Designation

SEABROOK, VA - Fire Chief Jeff Brown, a 30-year member of the Seabrook Fire Department, was awarded the professional designation of Chief Fire Officer (CFO) by the Commission on Professional Credentialing at a meeting held in June.

One of the Few

GLOUCESTER, MA - There are only a few more than 700 in the world, and one, Deputy Fire Chief Miles J. Schlichte, lives right here in Gloucester.

Rogers, AR Assistant Chief Receives Designation

ROGERS, AR - Jake Rhoades, a deputy fire chief with the Rogers Fire Department, was awarded professional designation of Chief Fire Officer.

Week of July 26 - 30, 2010

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:43:54 GMT

Passing of a Friend and Commissioner

Our good friend and CFAI Commissioner Frank Florence passed away Tuesday night. Frank will be sorely missed by all of us. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Why Fire Departments Should Get Accredited

Fire Chief Magazine - Gaining international accreditation for a fire department requires some work. Read how Tempe (AZ) Fire Department found the operational and administrative benefits are worth the effort. Tempe Fire Department served as the CFAI Alpha test site.

Fire Service Award for Excellence

San Ramon, CA - The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District is one of seven finalists for the prestigious International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) US Safety Engineering Award for Excellence. San Ramon Valley FPD, led by Fire Chief Richard Price, CFO, is a Candidate Agency in the CFAI process.

Palm Harbor Fire Chief Honored

Palm Harbor, FL - Palm Harbor Fire Chief James Angle, CFO, receives Florida Fire Chief of the Year Award. Chief Angle's department became accredited in 2004 and he has been a CFO designee since 2001. Congratulations!

Fewer Firefighters Will Respond to Calls

El Paso, TX - El Paso Fire Department to implement a new call system, Priority Dispatch. According to Fire Chief Otto Drozd, CFO, "the system will help dispatchers send the appropriat amount of manpower to fire and emergency calls". El Paso plans to implement the new system by January 2011.

Wasting Time Productively

Fire Chief Magazine - In this Fire Chief blog, Chief David Bullins, CFO, discusses how "wasting time productively" will help you become a better fire service leader.

Week of July 19 - 23, 2010

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:13:33 GMT

Opportunity's Knocking: Will You Open the Door?

IAFC FireRescue Journal - Are there people in your organization who are professionally limited by their resistance to change, confined to their comfort zone? Such people fail to understand the concept of "accept, adapt and accelerate - or atrophy." Chief Marc Revere, CFO and Accredited Agency Head, explains why continuing education isn't discretionary, it's mandatory.

County Deputy Fire Chief Completes International Professional Designation Process

Prince George County, MD - Acting Lt. Colonel Steven L. Hess of the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department has successfully completed the process that awards him the professional designation of "Chief Fire Officer" (CFO).

Survivability Profiling: How Long Can Victims Survive in a Fire?

By Stephen Marsar. Fire Engineering/Survival Zone - If it is probable that victims are un-savable, firefighters must learn to put out the fire first and then perform searches when it is relatively safe to do so. A significant amount of research is cited in this article. One additional piece, just recently released is the "NIST Report on Residential Fireground Field Experiments." The NIST report is based upon research conducted under a DHS grant awarded to CFAI-Risk.

Week of July 12-16, 2010

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 04:00:00 GMT

County Fire Rescue Chief Earns Credential

Burnell, FL - Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Don Petito was recently recognized as a "Chief Fire Officer" by the internationally recognized Commission on Professional Credentialing with the Center for Public Safety Excellence.

The Size Factor

NFPA Journal - Jason Averill of the National Institute of Standards and Technology talks about the landmark study linking firefighter crew size with fireground performance. An additional study that should be of interest to CFOs and accredited agencies is the NFPA Research Foundation report entitled "Quantitative Evaluation of Fire and EMS Mobilization Times."

Week of July 5-9, 2010

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:43:30 GMT

Why Department Accreditation Matters

FireRescue Magazine, July 2010 edition, Read "3 Perspectives on the Process of Gaining Department Accreditation"

Tempe Fire Department Takes Delivery on Fuel Efficient Custom Pumper

Tempe, AZ - The Tempe Fire Department places in service a new custom pumper designed to save fuel, reduce maintenance cost, and have less impact on the environment.

Tempe Fire Department served as the Alpha test site and has been accredited since August 1997.

West Manatee Fire Captain Receives Fire Officer (FO) Designation

Bradenton, FL - Captain Richard Jasinski awarded Fire Officer (FO) designation through the Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC). Captain Jasinski is one of only 13 FO designees.

Brentwood Undertakes Community-Driven Strategic Planning Process

Brentwood, TN - Brentwood Fire & Rescue recently contracted through the CPSE Technical Advisor Program to facilitate their Strategic Planning Process. Brentwood is a registered agency in the CFAI accreditation process.

Week of June 28-July 2, 2010

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:17:22 GMT

Brentwood Fire Department, TN

Brentwood Fire Department, TN strives for Excellence as an Organization and with Personnel.

Henrico County Station Demolition Begins

Richmond, VA (WWBT) - Demolition begins Friday on an old Henrico County firehouse. Henrico is an accredited agency and was the first Metro department to earn accreditation.

Father and Son Compete in Combat Challenge

Air Force Academy - CFAI Chairman Ernst Piercy, who serves as the Fire Chief at the Air Force Academy, joined his Son and others competing in the Combat Challenge. Go to page 10 of the news paper for the full story.

Roseville, CA Completes Self Assessment for Reaccredit

Roseville, CA - The Roseville, CA Fire Department has recently hosted a peer assessment site visit as they pursue reaccreditation.

Colorodo Fire Chief's Association Website adds site for Statewide Accreditation Consortium

Colorodo - The Colorodo Fire Chief's Association has added to their website, the Consortium Accreditation Knoweldge Base that allows member agencies to stay connection on issues related to Accreditation.

Fort Drum’s fire department, fire prevention best in Northeast

Fort Drum, NY - Of 28 Army installations in the Northeast, Fort Drum was awarded top prize in two of the Installation Management Command’s Fire and Emergency Services categories for the Northeast Region – Best 2009 Fire Department (medium) and Best Fire Prevention Program.

Nashville Chief Shares EOC Strategies from Great May Flood

Nashville, TN - Listen to this podcast by Fire Chief Magazine and gain insight to the recent flood emergencies expierienced in Nashville.

Week of June 14-19, 2010

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:49:53 GMT

Fire Chief Walter Groman Receives CFO Designation

Austin, TX – Fire Chief Walter Groman awarded Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation by the Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC).

CFAI Commissioner Jeff Pomeranz to Become City Manager of Cedar Rapids

West Des Moines – CFAI Commissioner Jeff Pomeranz has been selected as the new City Manager of Cedar Rapids, IA. Mr. Pomeranz will leave West Des Moines after twelve years as City Manager. In addition to serving on the CFAI Commission, he is an executive board member of the Iowa League of Cities and president of the Iowa City Management Association. He also serves on the Board of Choose Des Moines Communities, the United Way Campaign Cabinet, and the adjunct faculty of Drake University’s masters of public administration program.

Greensboro Fire Department Responds to Major Petroleum Storage Tank Farm Fire

Greensboro, NC – An 80 Ft. storage tank containing approximately 20,000 gallons of fuel, struck by lightning burst into flames, surrounded by even larger storage tanks located in the largest tank farm east of the Mississippi River. The fire was brought under control quickly and completely extinguished in approximately five and one-half hours. Although the fire was at a junction on the major pipe lines bringing gasoline and other fuel oil products to the Mid Atlantic and Northeast, there was no interruption of product to markets or users (which include the nation’s capital and the US Atlantic Fleet). There was no catastrophic environmental damage from the event, and the majority of the community was not impacted, or else returned to normal circumstances with the rising of the sun. Greensboro Fire Department was the first department to be awarded CFAI accredited agency status.