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| Wildfires and the Pandemic – What’s Ahead
Author: Bob Roper, Senior Policy Advisor, Western Fire Chiefs Association
The COVID-19 virus is presenting a unique challenge to our communities and first responders. Historically, communities and first responders prepare for a wildfire and then respond to the fire’s complexities. This has been a rather localized practice with a localized involvement. As wildfires have grown in size and scale, we are much more reliant on neighboring resources and in some cases multi-state/international response. History has shown that there has always been some type of “reserve capacity” available in the system to combat the challenges. read more |
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| Alaska records 14 more COVID-19 cases as governor takes steps to stabilize economy As state officials announced some of the first steps to stabilize Alaska's stumbling economy Tuesday, they also announced another 14 new confirmed COVID-19 cases. That number includes a worker at BP Alaska's Prudhoe Bay oil field who tested positive for the infectious disease caused by the novel coronavirus, according to Dr. Anne Zink, the state's chief medical officer. The new cases bring Alaska's total to 133. They include five new cases in Fairbanks, four in Juneau, two in Anchorage, two in Eagle River/Chugiak and the first confirmed case in Kenai. Two are older than 60, 10 between the ages of 30 and 59, and two between 19 and 29. Three Alaskans have died of the virus. Nine have been hospitalized, a slight increase from Monday. The state is trying to build its own epidemiological model that takes into account the unique way Alaskans move within such a large state to predict the virus's peak, Zink said during a press briefing Tuesday evening. ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS PREVIOUS STATE NEWS |
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| Colorado fire department says it's developed a way to sterilize, reuse N95 masks amid shortage VIDEO: N95 masks are ideally single-use, which contributes to the shortage felt by first responders amid the COVID-19 pandemic. That's why one southern Colorado fire department sought out a way to extend the life of each mask. South Fork Fire Rescue in the San Luis Valley says it's developed a way to safely reuse a mask up to 10 times. "This UVC Chamber allows the use of an N95 to be extended to 10 times vs a single-use," said Captain Tyler Schmidt with SFFR in a Facebook post. "It doesn't cure the current shortage being experienced during the COVID-19 Pandemic, but it will help us stretch our masks a little longer until the factories can keep up with demand." Schmidt posted a video explaining how to build the UV light chamber and the department's calculations. KRDO-TV ABC 13 COLORADO SPRINGS Ambulances from across U.S. to aid heavily-burdened FDNY EMS system amid coronavirus crisis A partnership between FEMA and New York City is aiming to bring aid to an overburdened FDNY EMS system that has received an "unprecedented" influx of calls due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Mayor Bill de Blasio, FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro, NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Deanne Criswell and FEMA Region II Administrator Tom Van Essen announced the partnership, which will bring more than 250 ambulances and approximately 500 more EMTs to the city. "When I heard that this was actually a real thing, that people would come from around the country and help us out with ambulances, I almost didn't believe it — but, seeing is believing" said Nigro. "All I can say is thank you so much for the people of the city of New York," said Nigro, at Fort Totten in Queens — where EMTs from across the U.S. were gathered on Tuesday. SILIVE.COM Police, fire departments in Massachusetts town employ new weapon against spread of coronavirus The police and fire departments have gone full Star Wars on battling the coronavirus. Cops and firefighters are using electrostatic guns to disinfect cruisers, cells, fire apparatus and equipment. "It looks like something out of Star Wars," Police Chief Brian Clark said Tuesday, adding that the gun quickly and evenly coats a surface with a chlorine solution. The applicator gives a negative charge to the disinfecting solution as it exits the nozzle. It allows the sanitizer to wrap around and evenly coat all types of surfaces for a better cleaning job, Clark said. In addition, the surfaces that are already covered repel the spray, making the method extremely efficient. "It cleans more. It's more efficient and you don't have to touch the surface," Clark said. THE SUN CHRONICLE Michigan lawmaker floats income tax holiday for first responders, hospital workers As lawmakers prepare a fourth round of stimulus relief in response to the coronavirus pandemic, a Michigan lawmaker plans to introduce a bill this week calling for a federal income tax holiday for doctors, nurses and first responders. Rep. Bill Huizenga, a Zeeland Republican, said the proposed tax holiday for three months is modeled after how the federal government excludes income taxes from members of the military serving on the front lines in combat zones. It's targeted at first responders like police, firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians. The holiday also would cover hospital staffers such as nurses, doctors, physicians assistants and nurse practitioners who work in a county with at least one case of COVID-19 or are providing direct services to COVID patients in a hospital. "If we're viewing this as sort of a war-like footing, then let's try to treat it that way," Huizenga said. THE DETROIT NEWS 1st responders line up outside California hospital to honor doctors, nurses, staff amid coronavirus outbreak VIDEO: A group of first responders in Palmdale expressed their appreciation to those on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic Monday night. The salute to doctors, nurses and medical staff at Palmdale Regional Medical Center took place around 7:30 p.m., coinciding with the setting sun, according to a post on the Palmdale sheriff's staton's Facebook page. Sheriff's deputies, as well as personnel from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and California Highway Patrol, took part in the salute. They parked their patrol cars and fire engines outside the hospital, located at 38600 Medical Center Drive, then turned their emergency lights on. Numerous first responder vehicles were lined up at the curb outside the facility, and many had their sirens turned on, video of the demonstration showed. The bright, flashing lights, as well as the many sirens blaring, caught the attention of the emergency room staff. KTLA-TV WB 5 LOS ANGELES PREVIOUS NATIONAL NEWS |
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| | | Rosenbauer Touts WFCA and Sourcewell Partnership Rosenbauer America congratulates the Western Fire Chief Association’s recently announced partnership with Sourcewell. The WFCA-Sourcewell partnership will provide members the ability to maximize their department budgets. Rosenbauer is the most experienced Sourcewell vendor in the fire-rescue sector |
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| | | FireRescue GPO - is now partnering with Sourcewell, one of the largest cooperative purchasing organizations in North America. Sourcewell (formerly NJPA) - is a government organization providing cooperative purchasing solutions across the United States and Canada to over 50,000 public-agency members. Membership is free with no obligation to purchase. With over 400 competitively awarded vendors - members have access to contracts for fire apparatus, ambulances, fleet vehicles and products, facilities (MRO), furniture, office supplies, leasing services, and more. Learn more about the new partnership. |
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| Fire Chief - City of Casa Grande - Casa Grande, AZ Division Chief - Whatcom County Fire District 1 - Everson, WA Firefighter/EMT and Firefighter/Paramedic - Klamath County Fire District No.1 - Klamath Falls, OR Fire Chief - City of Rocklin - Rocklin, CA Recruit Firefighter - Fairbanks Fire Department - Fairbanks, AK Fire Captain - Schell Vista Fire Protection District - Sonoma, CA Fire-EMS College Student Live-In Program - Southern Maine Community College - South Portland, ME Firefighter/Paramedic - City of La Grande - La Grande, OR 3M Eastern Zone-Field Service Specialist - MD, NJ, PA, DE or New York EMS Director - Meeker Volunteer Fire & Rescue - Meeker, CO (closes: Apr 05, 2020) Assistant Fire Chief - City of Savannah - Savannah, GA (closes: Apr 10, 2020) Crew Fire Captain - North Lake Tahoe FPD - Incline Village, NV (closes: Apr 10, 2020) Fire Chief - Templeton Community Services District - Templeton, CA (closes: Apr 13, 2020) Fire Chief - Alameda County Fire Department - Dublin, CA (closes: Apr 13, 2020) Entry Level Firefighter & Firefighter-Paramedic - City of Walla Walla - Walla Walla, WA (closes: Apr 13, 2020) Fire Chief - Lake Valley Fire Protection District - South Lake Tahoe, CA (closes: Apr 17, 2020) Deputy Fire Chief - Consolidated Municipality of Carson City - Carson City, NV (closes: Apr 24, 2020) Training/Safety Captain - North Whidbey Fire and Rescue - Oak Harbor, WA (closes: Apr 30, 2020) Firefighter IV/III/II - City of Thornton - Thornton, CO (closes: May 04, 2020) POST JOB MORE JOBS |
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| Available for Donation: Five Dell MDC Docks, Three Lind Electronics Power Supply Modules - Reno, NV Bauer Fill Stations - Asking $7,995 / $8,995 - Arlington, WA 1999 Ford F550 Rescue - Bids due by 4/23/20, Minimum bid $20,000 - Grass Valley, OR 1989 American Eagle Tender - Asking $20,000 - Yakima, WA 2012 Freightliner Ambulance for Sale - Asking $39,000 - Carol Stream, IL Ferno stretcher, Ferno stair chairs, Hose drying rack and CPR training manikins - Duvall, WA 2001 Ford Excursion Command Vehicle - Asking $7,000 - Murphys, CA 1984 International S2500 Diesel - Minimum bid $30,000, Bids due by April 8, 2020 - Hood River, OR MSA M7 FireHawk SCBA'S / Carbon Fiber Bottles / MSA Rescue RIT Kits /Ultra Elite Masks - Asking $30,000 - Corbett, OR 2000 Pierce Engine - Asking $150,000 - Cody, WY POST EQUIPMENT MORE EQUIPMENT |
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| 2020 IFE-USA AGM And Educational Conference - Indianapolis, IN - April 20, 2020 Decision-Making & Financial Management for Fire/EMS Organizations - NFA - Online-mediated - May 10 - July 26, 2020 International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference - IAFC - Baltimore, MD - June 4-7, 2020 NFPA Conference & Expo - Orlando, FL - June 15-18, 2020 Water Rescue Instructor Academy - Lifesaving Resources, LLC - Portland, ME - June 25-28, 2020 TEEX Municipal Fire School - College Station, TX - July 19-24, 2020 Canceled: FFABCs Diversity Workshop - 50th Convention IABPFF - Hartford, CT - August 2-7, 2020 Fire-Rescue Med Conference - IAFC - Phoenix, AZ - August 17-18, 2020 Fire-Rescue International Conference and Expo - IAFC - Phoenix, AZ - August 19-21, 2020 American Fire Sprinkler Association to host AFSA39 - Orlando, FL - September 13-16, 2020 Wildland-Urban Interface - IAFC - Reno, NV - November 2-6, 2020 VCOS Symposium in the Sun - IAFC - Clearwater, FL - November 12-15, 2020 POST EVENT MORE EVENTS |
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