The 482nd meeting of the Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors was held in Merrimac on January 26, 2005.  Our meeting was hosted by out-going MIFDI President Michael McLeieer, courtesy of Merrimac Fire Chief Ralph Spencer.  Amesbury Fire Chief Bill Shute presented the program to our members.  The topic was Technical Rescue Awareness.  Chief Shute, a long-time MIFDI member informed MIFDI members that Amesbury and Newburyport FD are a “joint team” in Technical Rescue operations.  The two departments have purchased a vehicle and all the equipment necessary for Technical rescue operations that they mutually share.

Shute said that two particular incidents occurred which caused him and others to realize that they needed better training in this area.  One was a trench collapse in which a DPW worker in town was injured and the other was a concrete company worker who became engulfed in a concrete hopper mishap.  The worker died as a result of becoming engulfed in pea stone at that incident.  Both incidents took place many years ago.

It was at that time that -around 1997 - Chief Shute and others, decided to enroll in the Technical Rescue course at the Barnstable County Fire Academy.  The seven-day course included training on Trench Rescue as well as Confined Space Rescue.  Shute’s power- point presentation centered on firefighter safety when responding to technical rescue calls. Among many other things, Shute discussed the following:
 

Trench Awareness

• Definitions
• Trench – An excavation that is deeper than it is wide and as long or longer than it is deep.
• Confined Space – A trench that is over four feet deep or less than 28 inches wide

Contributors to Collapse

• Previously disturbed soil, Vibration, Water seepage, Intersecting trenches, Narrow right of way, Layering of different soils, Exposure to air, Time, Weight (machinery, rescuers), Gravity.

How to Stay Safe

• Recognize your training level

• S.O.G.
• Predetermined response - (Shute said to remember the Clint Eastwood’s saying, “A man has to know his limitations”).
• Be proactive, not reactive
• Be aware of "tunnel vision"
• Stop and look before you attack

New Business:
Outgoing President Michael McLeieer was presented with a plaque from incoming President Mark Roche.  The award thanked Michael for his two years of service in leading MIFDI.  Pictures of this plaque will be posted on the website in the near future.

Old Business:
Nothing to report

                                                                 Bills paid February 2005
Beginning Balances for 1/2005                    Feb 05 Newsletter         $105.00 Mike
Checking       $    172.36
Savings         $ 1,327.88
Total             $ 1,500.24

50/50 Raffle = Collected $
Winner =  $
Deposit from 50/50 Raffle = $

Owed to treasurer for Mailings  $  27.00 - thru February 4, 2005
                              Labels         $  10.00
                                                $   37.00

Total members = 105                                                       Mailings
     Dues paid thru 2006 = 3
     Dues paid thru 2005 = 53                                   E-Mail - 24         Home - 70
     Dues paid thru 2004 = 49                                                              Work - 11
                                                                                                                       81
 

Balances as of 02/4/05                             Membership Totals
Checking          729.86                             73 - Active - 28 Retired - 4 Associate
Savings          1,328.44
Total            $2,058.30

Respectfully submitted   2/4/2005
David M. Jardin
MIFDI Treasurer
Fire Chief – Stoughton

• Captain Persson discussed updates at the MFTC and MFA.

The 483rd meeting of M.I.F.D.I. will be held in Lynn at the Function Room of the award winning Porthole Restaurant, 98 Lynnway.  The meeting will be held on Wednesday February 23rd, 2005.  Lynn Fire Chief Edward F. Higgins, Jr. and MIFDI Secretary Lieutenant Thomas Bogart will host the meeting.  Our speaker will be Lynn Fire Lieutenant Joseph Zukas.

Lt. Zukas will give our members an overview of his Juvenile Firesetters Intervention program.  Zukas, a highly regarded Public Fire Safety Education instructor from the Lynn Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau, has had a tremendous amount of success with area juvenile firesetters over the years.  His "fire school" is aimed at juveniles in need of court ordered counseling for firesetting behavior.

DIRECTIONS:
From Rte 128 - Take exit 44B - Route 129 East.  Follow Rt. 129 East for about 5 miles toward Downtown Lynn.  This will lead you to North Shore Community College/Central Square.  Take a right on Union Street.  At next light, turn left (in front of NSCC and Commuter Rail Station).  Turn left at next light onto the Lynnway – toward Nahant.  Porthole is on the right after Seaport Landing and Lynn Heritage State Park.

From Boston area – take Ted Williams Tunnel or Callahan Tunnel to Route 1A North toward Revere and Lynn.  At Bell Circle, Revere, bear right toward North Shore Road.  Go over the General Edwards Bridge.  This is now the Lynnway.  Go about 1.5 miles on Lynnway toward Nahant.  Porthole Pun is on the right just after Seaport Landing and Lynn Heritage State Park.
 

SCHEDULE:
0900 - 1000 Coffee & Pastry
1000 - 1200 Program presentation
1130 - 1200 Luncheon

Luncheon:
The Porthole Pub will provide lunch.  Limited selections from the menu.  Coffee and assorted pastries, muffins, etc. will also be provided.  The cost is $20.00 per person for both breakfast and lunch.

CANCELLATIONS:
During the winter months or hurricane season, check the MIFDI website for cancellations @ www.mifdi.org

Thanks to the die-hard members who made the trip to Merrimac in the snow for our January meeting. We debated over cancellation of the meeting due to the weather knowing that many of our members travel a long way to attend our meetings, however, as a consideration to the amount of preparation by both the presenter and the host, we decided to continue with the meeting and hope for the best. As a rule, MIFDI meeting weather cancellations are based upon cancellation of classes at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. Cancellations are posted on the MIFDI website at www.MIFDI.org as soon as a decision is made. For those who do not have access to a computer or are on the road early, you can call the "MFA Severe Weather Cancellation Number" at 978-567-3248. Thanks once again to Amesbury Chief and MIFDI member Bill Shute for his presentation at our January meeting on Firefighter Safety.

In March we will return to the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy for our semi-annual meeting and visitation at the facility. Our meeting topic will be on the subject of "Oil Burner Equipment" provided by a representative from the Division of Fire Services. As an added feature, who hope to introduce the new Director of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy and have him address our membership.

I am happy to report that the Fire Safety Bill has been passed by the House and Senate and was expected to be signed by the Governor. The Bill will provide more than  $11 million in funding for fire safety equipment, programs, and training as part of the new Sprinkler Law.

I hope that everyone had a chance to read the two part series in the Boston Globe, "DEADLY DELAYS The Decline Of Fire Response" which was published in the January 30 and January 31 editions. The article shed light on what we in the fire service have been saying since the tax cutting measure Proposition  2 1/2 which has continuously eroded the Massachusetts fire service along with the recent reductions in local aid to cities and towns. Lets hope that the unacceptable delays pointed out in the article serves as a wake up call for the communities considering further cutbacks of their fire department in July.

Finally, the local fire service lost two good guys during the month of January.  Boston Fire Lieutenant Richard Powers passed away January 2 after a fight with
cancer. Dick represented the BFD well not only as the Public Relations Officer, but also as a member of the Boston Fire Department Acappella Quartet. The death of Chelsea Deputy Chief Joseph VonHandorf on January 11 was a shock and huge loss for the Chelsea Fire Department. Joe's sudden death at such a young age of only 52 is very difficult for us to comprehend. The fire service is now much emptier with the loss of these two good men.

I hope to see you all in Lynn on the 23rd. Until then, stay safe.

Mark

February 10, 2005, Firefighter 2005 MDA Ski Muster  Wachusett Mountain, Princeton, MA.  Contact: MDA 508-870-1687

February 11, 2005, DFS/MFA Firefighter Recruit Graduation (New location for the ceremony to be announced)

February 17-19, 2005, Firefighter Rescue & Survival School  Clearwater Beach, FL   Contact www.firehouse.com

March 6, 2005, 14th Annual SCOTT Firefighter Stairclimb  Bank of America Tower, Seattle, WA    Contact www.tlls.org

March 13-16, 2005, I.A.F.F. Legislative Conference  Washington D.C.    Contact www.iaff.org

March 18-22, 2005, EMS TODAY Conference & Exposition  Philadelphia, PA     Contact www.jems.com/emstoday

March 19, 2005, Statewide Exam for Fire Chief, Deputy Chief, District Chief  GOOD LUCK!

March 29-April 3, 2005, International Conference of Fire Service Women  Bethesda, MA  Contact: www.wfsi.org

April 2-3, 2005, Line-Of-Duty-Death Pre-Planning Workshop  NYS Fire Academy  Contact: www.dos.state.ny.us/fire/academy.html

April 3, 2005, Daylight Savings Time "Change your clock, change your battery"

April 3, 2005, Connecticut Fire Photographers Association Show  Windsor, CT  Contact: www.cfpa.freesavers.com

April 10, 2005, Spring Melt Fire Memorabilia Marketplace  Allentown, PA Agricultural Hall Fairgrounds @ 17th Street & Chew Street

April 11-16, 2005, FDIC (Fire Department Instructors Conference) 2005, Indianapolis, IN - Contact: www.fdic.org

April 16, 2005, Honor Guard Competition  Indianapolis, IN - Contact:  508-881-3543

April 20-22, 2005, Fire-Rescue Med 2005  Las Vegas, NV - Contact:  www.iafc.org

Despite continued advances in firefighting equipment, Incident  Command System training, operations and safety training and improved communications, 107 firefighters died in the line of duty in the United States in 2004. This according to figures released on January 5, 2005 by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency  Management Agency (FEMA).

Also, more firefighters died in the line of duty in 2003 than the preceding year according to a report from the U.S. Fire Administration.  The USFA report found 111 firefighter fatalities in 2003, up 11 percent vs. 100 deaths in 2002.  The annual survey also contained special reports on alcohol use in the fire service, risk management, and information on diesel exhaust emissions and fires in which firefighters become disoriented inside of buildings.

In addition to the 107 firefighter deaths that occurred in association with incidents that took place in 2004, the USFA has learned of an additional firefighter fatality in 2003 and a firefighter death in 2004 as the result of an incident in 2002. These fatality statistics for 2004 are provisional and subject to change as the USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify the names of firefighters reported to have died on-duty during 2004. The final annual firefighter fatality report for 2004 is expected to be available by early June 2005.

There were a total of 104 incidents that took the life of a firefighter in 2004:
 

• Career firefighters, those who are employed full-time as firefighters, comprised 29 deaths (27%) in 2004.
• Volunteer, seasonal, and part-time firefighters accounted for 78 deaths.
• Half of the firefighters that died in 2004 died from traumatic injuries such as asphyxiation, burns, drowning, vehicle crashes, and other physical injuries.
• The balance of firefighter deaths in 2004 were attributed to non-traumatic injuries, such as heart attacks and strokes. Heart attacks caused the deaths of 49 on-duty firefighters.
• Firefighter deaths took place in 40 states. Pennsylvania had the highest number of deaths with 17 firefighters killed.
• Twenty firefighters died in vehicle collisions.
• A Massachusetts firefighter died when he fell from a responding engine company, this   department also suffered a fatal fall injury involving fire apparatus in 1984.
• The average age of firefighters killed while on-duty in 2004 was 47 & the average age of firefighters that died of a heart attack or stroke was 52, while the average age of firefighters who died of traumatic injuries was 42.

For additional information on firefighter fatalities, including the annual fatality reports from 1986 through 2003, please visit the USFA website at www.usfa.fema.gov/fatalities/statistics/.

The Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors regrets to report the death of the following;
 
• Lt. Richard L. Powers, a member of the Boston Fire Department who served as the Public Information Officer passed away on January 2, 2005 at age 62 from cancer.
• Deputy Chief Joseph E. VonHandorf, a member of the Chelsea Fire Department for over 30 years died suddenly on January 11, 2005 at age 52 after suffering a heart attack at his home in Saugus.
• Lt. Christopher DeWolf, a member of the Newington, NH Fire Department, was killed on January 6, 2005 from injuries received in an auto accident on Rt.95 in Portsmouth while enroute to work early due to extreme weather conditions. Chris was very active with the Fire & Emergency Training Network (FETN) authoring several "American Heat" training videos.
• January 23, 2005 was the most tragic day for the FDNY since 9/11 due to the loss of 3 members from two separate fires. Lt. Curtis W. Meyran, covering L-27, F.F. John G. Bellew, L-27, both died from injuries received from a fire in the Bronx. F.F. Richard T. Sclafani, L-103 died from injuries received from a fire in Brooklyn later the same day.


NATIONAL L.O.D.D.

Name                         Department             Date          Cause        Age
Lt. Richard L. Powers         Boston, MA        (C)       1-2-05           Cancer            62
Capt. Ornell E. Fuller          Dexter, NM         (V)      1-3-05            Heart              40
Lt. Christopher DeWolfe     Newington, NH   (C)      1-6-05             MVA             41
F.F. Martin R. Dewey         Bostic, NC          (V)      1-9-05            Heart              26
D.C. Joseph VonHandorf    Chelsea, MA       (C)      1-11-05          Heart              52
F.F. James Fugate               Collinsville, OK   (V)      1-11-05          MVA              20
F.F. Mark Noble                Olympia, WA       (C)     1-15-05          Cancer            47
F.F. Walter M. Sarnoski      Dubois, PA          (V)     1-20-05          MVA             19
Capt. Scott Thornton           Summit, MI          (C)     1-20-05          Smoke            39
F.F. Tim Young                   Columbia, SC      (C)      1-20-05          Heart              41
Lt. Curtis W. Meyran           New York, NY   (C)      1-23-05          Fall                 46
F.F. John G. Bellew             New York, NY   (C)      1-23-05          Fall                 37
F.F. Richard T. Sclafani       New York, NY   (C)       1-23-05         Smoke            37
A.C. Michael Falkouski       Rensselaer, NY    (C)       1-23-05        Heart              59
F.F. Donald Conner             Stigler, OK          (V)       1-26-05        Heart              74

MAY THEY ALL REST IN PEACE

• Michael Greeley - Retired

We have received word that Art Hallowell, a longtime member of MIFDI and very active until he moved to Florida, has suffered a stroke and has been placed in a nursing home. We will attempt to obtain more information, including an address in order to send get well wishes. Information will be posted as we receive it in future issues of ‘The MIFDI Bulletin’.

• The officers and members of the Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors offers our congratulations to the new Director of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy John Nadeau. Director Nadeau, formerly from East Derry New Hampshire, was appointed as of February 1, 2005. We offer the new Director our full support and look forward to working with him regarding issues of firefighter training and safety.

MIFDI
Attn: David Jardin, Treasurer           If you have not already done so, it's time to renew your dues.  Due Jan. 1st.
52 Willow Street
Stoughton, MA 02072-1027

*Dues are $25.00 per year for Active Members - Please review your bulletin label for the date your dues will expire.

*$100.00 per year for Associate members (which includes a 1/4 page of advertising in the MIFDI Bulletin and on the MIFDI website).

*Retired members dues are $12.50 for one calendar year (January 1 through December 31).

This forum is an extension of the Guest Book on the MIFDI Web-site, and provides our members a way to ask questions and get answers about problems encountered in the Fire and EMS service. If you would like to reply to a question, pose your own question or submit an article for publication in the MIFDI bulletin, but have no internet capabilities, you may do so in writing to: Michael McLeieer, President - MIFDI, PO Box 507, Merrimac, MA 01860-0510.  Fax # (877) 327-4353.  Faxing or e-mailing of articles is preferred.  Please e-mail articles in MS Word format to michael.mcLeieer@merrimacfire.com

#                 DATE                      LOCATION                                                                                    TOPIC_______________
483 - February 23, 2005:             Lynn                                                                   Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Program

484 - March 23, 2005:                 Stow - MFA/DFS                                                              Oil Fired Equipment

485 - April 27, 2005:                    Billerica                                                                                     TBA
 

CANCELLATIONS:  During the winter months or hurricane season, please check the MIFDI website for severe weather cancellations at www.mifdi.org.