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IWCE Leader of the Year: A Call to Vote
Author: Chief Jeffrey Johnson (Ret.), CEO, Western Fire Chiefs Association
It is a great honor to share my nomination for the 2020 International Wireless Community (IWCE) "Leader of the Year" award. The award recognizes an executive and thought leader whose outstanding leadership has resulted in the implementation and success of critical communications in their business and beyond. Popular vote over the course of two months ultimately decides the winner. It is a privilege to be nominated alongside many talented executives, including a great supporter and friend of the Western Fire Chiefs, TJ Kennedy, founder of The Public Safety Network. Amongst the nominees is an individual Mr. Kennedy and I believe deserves recognition, and ultimately the award ...

Plumes of smoke could be seen from the 183 frontage road, as firefighters worked to put out a blaze, located inside a homeless camp in Northeast Austin. "Upon arrival there were no residents of the camp we had to deal with and rescue," said Matthew Cox, battalion chief at the Austin Fire Department. The department said the encampment under the bridge, is about the size of three football fields. Firefighters have been called out here several times in the past for medical reasons. After they put out Monday's fire, they had to dig in the charred remains of belongings to make sure nobody was injured. What they found were sophisticated living quarters inside the city tunnel.  
KTBC-TV FOX 7 AUSTIN  
Fire officials said they had known about the homeless encampment under the US 183 frontage road near Cameron Road that caught fire Feb. 3 for years, as did homeless service providers. A day after the blaze, the director of a city department leading efforts on homeless camp cleanups said, before the fire, he had no idea the encampment existed. That disconnect needs to be fixed, City Council members said during their Feb. 4 meeting, and departments needs to better communicate on their knowledge of the city's homelessness challenges. Ken Snipes, director of Austin Resource Recovery, a lead agency on storage and cleanups around homeless camps in the city's new Homelessness Service Division, said although service providers such as Integral Care and the Homelessness Outreach Street Team as well as firefighters had thorough knowledge of the encampment, the area was "completely new" to him.  
COMMUNITY IMPACT - NORTHWEST AUSTIN  
Red Oak Fire Rescue has a new chief, city officials confirmed on Monday. "I am very pleased to announce the promotion of Deputy Chief Ben Blanton to the position of Fire Chief...," said City Manager Todd Fuller in a press release. "Ben has been an instrumental asset to the Department, the City organization and the Red Oak community, by serving as Deputy Chief and Fire Marshal for almost six years. His professionalism, character, dedication and experience throughout his tenure has made this promotion the obvious choice for Red Oak," Fuller continued. The chief position was left vacant in December following the retirement of Eric Thompson who took a fire department chief job in Oregon. Blanton has about 25 years of experience in the industry after getting started as a volunteer fireman in Red Oak in 1995.  
WAXAHACHIE DAILY LIGHT  
As Coronavirus continues to dominate headlines, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) is expanding its national training to include information on the virus. "Coronavirus is one of those new, emerging diseases that we're talking about all the variations of," said Kathy Wall, a training coordinator for EMS/Public Health programs at TEEX. TEEX's training for healthcare personnel does its best to stay up to date on the latest information that is going on around the world. "If we are not traveling, we are literally in front of a computer researching the latest information on any disease or outbreak that is going on," Wall said. With the Coronavirus becoming the latest epidemic, TEEX is including ways to teach medical and first responders how to identify the threat and care for patients. As well as dealing with ways to protect themselves from exposure.  
KAGS-LD NBC 23 BRYAN  
It was an unusual scene at a Houston fire station early Tuesday as a shooting victim walked in seeking treatment, authorities said. Firefighters at Houston Fire Department's Station 46 called for officers when someone with a gunshot wound to the shoulder showed up to the station. It happened around 2 a.m. Tuesday in the 3900 block of Corder on Houston's south side. The victim was dropped off by someone in a Mercedes sedan. The driver took off before Houston police arrived. The victim was taken to Memorial Hermann. There was no word on their condition. Just blocks away at Zollie Scales Park, a red Hummer was discovered abandoned and riddled with bullet holes. Authorities were investigating reports of a shootout between gunmen in the Hummer and a Mercedes.  
KTRK-TV ABC 13 HOUSTON  
Magnolia firefighters rescued an 84-year-old woman from her burning home Wednesday morning, officials say. Firefighters responded to reports that an elderly resident was trapped in her burning home in the 37200 block of Thistledown Lane. When paramedics, firefighters, and deputies arrived at the scene, a man told them he woke to find the home filling with smoke from a fire in the kitchen. Officials say the home was not equipped with smoke alarms and by the time he noticed the fire, it was too large. Heat and smoke prevented him from reaching the other end of the home, where his mother normally slept, he said. Firefighters were met with extreme fire conditions but were able to force their way into the home in search of the woman.  
KPRC-TV NBC 2 HOUSTON  
With climate change spurring intense and longer wildfire seasons, fire safety and preparation is no longer an option. As seen in the United States and across the world in Australia and the Amazon, wildfires are devastating and can dramatically affect the economy of a region. With the growing frequency and severity of wildfires, firefighters are needed more than ever to protect cities and communities. It's also important to note that today's firefighters do much more than fight fires. These brave men and women are often the first to be called on to respond to medical, environmental, and chemical emergencies. In 2018, there were 332,400 jobs for firefighters, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for firefighters is expected to grow by 5% over the next ten years. With so many areas in need of firefighters, where are the best cities for firefighters to work in the United States?  
ADVISORSMITH  
"Gray Death" is a particularly dangerous mixture of heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil and other synthetic opioids, and it has made its way to Indiana. Carfentanil, which is used as a tranquilizing agent for elephants and other large mammals, is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl, according to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. They say a persistent increase in opioid overdoses tied to carfentanil have been seen around the country. Carfentanil and other fentanyl-related compounds can be absorbed through the skin or accidentally inhaled, making them dangerous to first responders and other medical personnel. Indiana Department of Homeland Security reports the following: State medical personnel and responders are sounding the alarm on a continuing drug trend that could overdose, or potentially kill, Hoosiers and responders with minimal contact.  
WAVE-TV NBC 3  
York City's Fire Chief had to make a choice. So, he chose his home. But because of that decision, he could lose his job by the end of this month. Residency requirements in the city of York require the fire chief to live within the city limits. Deardorff lives in West Manchester Township with his children and wife. "I'm less than, less than 3 and a half miles outside the city," said Deardorff, who adds he's never missed a call where he was needed on scene. He adds "I don't see the difference whether or not if I'm responding from my current house or in the city." Deardorff said he told the Mayor of his decision not to move late last summer after the city granted him an extension last year to discuss a possible move with his family. But, city council claims the Mayor did not tell them of Deardorff's decision until January. At a meeting late last month, council didn't approve the waiver that would have rid Deardorff of the requirement to move within the city limits.  
WPMT-TV FOX 43 YORK  
VIDEO: According to the National Fire Protection Association, firefighters are 9 percent more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than the average American. The Toledo Fire and Rescue department is teaming up with Cancer Dogs, a Canadian company that uses dogs to detect possible cancer in someone's breath. Cancer Dogs is currently running screening trials all across the U.S. More than 100 fire departments have taken part in the screenings. The goal is to detect cancer early. Here is how it works: you put on a surgical mask and breathe into it for 10 minutes. The mask is then put into a bag and shipped off to a lab in Nova Scotia. Specially trained dogs then sniff the samples and determine if they believe cancer is present.  
WTVG-TV ABC 13 TOLEDO  
An interim report on conditions at the fire station include plenty of reasons for alarm. Consultants have documented problems with airflow. No ventilation air is being introduced into the apparatus and rescue vehicle area, and two exhaust fans "do not appear to be functional," MacRitchie Engineering, Inc., of Braintree, wrote. The presence of union-purchased exercise equipment in the same location "is leading to some serious health concerns" as the only apparent source of ventilation is opening the door, "which is not practical during the winter months." The interim report labels this "an extreme health hazard." The MacRitchie report on HVAC systems and an overall facilities analysis conducted by The Galante Architectural Studio (TGAS), Inc., of Cambridge, which were presented to the selectmen last night (Feb. 4), detail a building plagued with problems that still manages to deliver services but is too small to continue to meet modern expectations.  
THE CAPE COD CHRONICLE  
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
CPSE credentials fire and emergency service officers recognizing career excellence and accredits agencies based on an all-hazards risk-based self-assessment model.
Learn more at: www.cpse.org
20/20 Vision: The Focus of Leadership – Celebrating 51 Years! Don’t Miss the 51st Annual Northwest Leadership Seminar at the Red Lion on the River in Portland, OR. 
Register online today!
 
L-O-D-D North Carolina   - Corbin Rogers, Firefighter, Spring Lake Fire Department, Spring Lake, NC
L-O-D-D Georgia   - John Kevin Cash, Firefighter, Roswell Fire Department, Alpharetta, GA
Corsicana Fire Chief to Dance for Scholarships  
Coronavirus: Resources for Fire Chiefs   - IAFC
AFSA Announces Schedule for 2020   - Beginning Fire Sprinkler System Planning School
NFPA urges teens not to participate in trending social media challenge   - TikTok's #outletchallenge
Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response Grants   - Check for Awards
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Awards   - Check for Awards
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.  
Fire Chief   - Sni Valley Fire Protection District - Oak Grove, MO
Fire Marshal   - Weber State University - Ogden, UT
Firefighter   - South Metro Fire Rescue - Centennial, CO
Fire Chief   - Arvada Fire Protection District - Arvada, CO
Fire Chief   - City of Lincoln - Lincoln, NE
Fire Chief   - City of Redlands Fire Department - Redlands, CA (closes: Feb 07, 2020)
Fire Chief   - City of Kenai - Kenai, AK (closes: Feb 12, 2020)
Firefighter - Paramedic   - Boulder Rural Fire & Rescue - Boulder, CO (closes: Feb 14, 2020)
Fire Chief   - Village of Menomonee Falls - Menomonee Falls, WI (closes: Feb 26, 2020)
Deputy Chief   - Hoodland Fire District #74 - Welches, OR (closes: Feb 28, 2020)
Deputy Fire Chief   - City of Redmond - Redmond, WA (closes: Mar 01, 2020)
Firefighter - Entry Level   - City of Hillsboro - Hillsboro, OR (closes: Mar 01, 2020)
Training / Health & Safety Officer   - City of Harrisonburg - Harrisonburg, VA (closes: Mar 05, 2020)
Deputy Fire Chief of Operations   - City of Medford - Medford, OR (closes: Mar 09, 2020)
Surplus MSA SCBAs   - Asking $20,000 - Chelan, WA
1989 Braun Northwest Ambulance with 7.3 Liter Diesel   - Asking $12,000 - Granite Falls, WA
2000 E-One Cyclone Pumper   - Asking $19,500 - Carol Stream, IL
Model Performance in Community Risk Reduction Symposium   - Murfreesboro, TN - February 18-20, 2020
PPE symposium / HSO & ISO classes   - Mather, California - February 19-21, 2020
Ice Rescue Instructor Academy   - Lifesaving Resources, LLC - Portland, ME - February 20-23, 2020
TEEX Spring Fire School   - College Station, TX - March 1-6, 2020
Annual CPSE Excellence Conference   - Impact–Inspire–Influence - Orlando, FL - March 3-6, 2020
Northwest Leadership Seminar   - Portland, OR - March 4-6, 2020
Data Analysis and Presentation for Fire and EMS Classes   - Several Locations - March 18 - May 18, 2020
Wildland-Urban Interface Conference   - IAFC - Reno, NV - March 21-26, 2020
Texas IAAI Fire & Arson Investigators Seminar   - TEEX - Austin, TX - March 22-27, 2020
2020 IFE-USA AGM And Educational Conference   - Indianapolis, IN - April 20, 2020
Water Rescue Instructor Academy   - Lifesaving Resources, LLC - Portland, ME - May 14-17, 2020
IAFC conneXions   - Dallas, TX - May 18-20, 2020
International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference   - IAFC - Baltimore, MD - June 4-7, 2020
TEEX Municipal Fire School   - College Station, TX - July 19-24, 2020
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
All Things FirstNet.com   - Information about Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network
The Compliance Engine powered by Brycer   - Third party inspection reporting
iLearnFire.com   - Your solution for online training
Firewise USA ®   - NFPA
Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition   - Free educational material and resources
Emergency Services Consulting Int'l   - Specialized consulting for emergency service providers
Everyone Goes Home   - Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives program
Firefighter Close Calls   - Home of the "Secret List"
Vision 20/20   - National Strategies for Fire Prevention
AspiringFireOfficers.com   - Promotional and entry-level coaching
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