The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) President and Chairman of the Board Chief Richard R. Carrizzo recently issued an email of resources for its members to consider regarding the potential for civil unrest in response to Election Day and after.
“To help fire departments provide service to their communities in uncertain environments, the IAFC has both compiled and developed the following resources,” read more here.
Every minute of every day emergency responders across the country work to help save lives at the scene of traffic incidents. Too many are struck on scene. Too many die. The goal of National Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week is, for the fourth year, to reach out to every responder, and to every driver, and to every passenger, to make it clear that every person has a role to play.
First Responders here in Virginia will always remember the ultimate sacrifice by Lieutenant Bradford Turner Clark of Hanover Fire/EMS. Lt. Clark was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer while he was outside of his fire truck responding to a crash on I-295. He was honored at the 2019 Virginia Fallen Firefighter & EMS Memorial Service on June 1, 2019 and has been recognized by a number of organizations in Virginia for his sacrifice.
Drivers are urged to move over when they see flashing blue, red or amber lights on Virginia’s highways. Please give first responders and law enforcement officers room to do their jobs; move over and slow down. Remember, it’s the law.
Virginia law states that when approaching a stationary vehicle that is displaying flashing blue, red or amber lights, drivers shall:
Additional resources are available at:
If your agency has not done so, we encourage you to participate in The FHWA -SHRP2 National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training Program. The following video contains information about the program and contact information to have the training delivered to your agency is available at the VASTIM website listed above or you may contact Briant Atkins, VDFP Chief Safety Officer at 804-249-2173 or briant.atkins@vdfp.virginia.gov.
Click here to find a course near you.
3RD SENIOR EXECUTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY SUMMIT will be Nov 14 and 15 with a ceremony commemorating National Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week with a Proclamation signing by The USDOT Secretary of Transportation.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is committed to a safe and efficient highway system. To that end, the FHWA Office of Operations, Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Program targets efforts to improve responder and motorist safety, while also advancing incident mitigation tools, techniques, and processes. To move the National TIM Program forward.
Fire Service Occupational Cancer Regional Seminar
TRAINING DATE: Saturday, Saturday March 27, 2021
LOCATION: The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen
ADDRESS: 2880 Mountain Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060
TIME: 8:00AM – 4:30PM
REGISTER HERE
October 1, 2019
The Virginia Department of Fire Programs, a leader in enhancing public safety, in conjunction with the Virginia Fire Services Board, are seeking nominations for the 2019 Governor’s Fire Service Awards, which honors and recognizes excellence in Fire Services in the Commonwealth.
The annual Governor’s Fire Service Awards is presented in eight categories during the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association Expo and Symposium held in February at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.
Nominations can be submitted through an online form on the VDFP website through December 13, 2019.
About the Governor’s Fire Service Awards
The Governor’s Fire Service Awards were established in 2002. In partnership with the Virginia Fire Services Board, the VDFP facilitates the awards. The Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security presents the Governor with award recommendations, at which the final recipients are then selected. Award categories:
Among the 2018 recipients were Hanover County Fire-EMS Department and the Central Virginia Firefighters Association, who were recognized for Excellence in Virginia Fire Services and Outstanding Fire Department Response, respectively. Read more about the 2018 Governor’s Fire Service awards recipients
About the Virginia Department of Fire Programs
The Virginia Department of Fire Programs provides training, support services, and resources to more than 700 fire and emergency service organizations, and approximately 44,000 fire service personnel in the Commonwealth. Support areas include funding, professional development, research, operational support, technical assistance, and fire prevention inspections through its State Fire Marshal Office.
Register for the 11th annual Women in Public Service Conference on September 19 & 20, 2019 in Portsmouth, Virginia. Registration is now available online.
Cancer risk prevention and education are critical in today’s fire service. It can mean saving the lives of personnel who put their lives at risk for others daily. Firefighter Safety Stand Down is a risk reduction program that brings awareness and attention to the harsh byproducts of a rewarding and special profession.
The Virginia Department of Fire Programs will join in participating in 2019 Firefighter Safety Stand Down, a joint initiative of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). The theme of Safety Stand Down 2019 focuses on reducing exposure risks and implementing the cancer prevention recommendations in the Lavender Ribbon Report. Many fire departments and organizations have developed training, resources, and videos related to this critical topic.
VDFP will provide topics daily through June 22, here on the VDFP website and on social media, which you may utilize for informational and training purposes to help educate members of your respective agencies. We will also include a few other current health and safety topics that are concerns within the public safety community today.
The first resource we offer is the Lavender Ribbon Report, which was jointly released by The International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (VCOS) and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). This report outlines actions that firefighters can take to reduce risk factors of cancer in the fire service.
In 2018, HB1170 was passed, allowing fire companies as defined in §27-6-01 or volunteer emergency medical services agencies as defined in §32.1-111.1 that is recognized by an ordinance to be part of the safety program of a county, city, or town to utilize state contracts to directly purchase motor fuel from the Virginia Department of General Services without seeking approval from the governing body of such county, city or town.
For more information regarding the benefits of these contracts and how to purchase from them, please contact your Local Government Account Executive. Learn more.
June 2-8, 2019 is recognized as Fire and Emergency Medical Services Memorial Week in Virginia. Take a moment this week to acknowledge Virginia’s fire and EMS personnel who devoted their lives and careers to protecting the Commonwealth.
WHEREAS, firefighters and emergency medical services personnel play essential roles in saving lives and protecting property in communities throughout Virginia; and
WHEREAS, the safety and well-being of Virginians is important to the prosperity of Virginia’s families and communities; and
WHEREAS, Virginians value the courage and devotion of our Commonwealth’s fire and emergency medical services professionals who put their lives in danger in order to safeguard the lives and property of Virginians; and
WHEREAS, on the first Saturday of June, a statewide memorial service is held to pay tribute to firefighters and emergency medical services personnel who have paid the ultimate sacrifice; and
WHEREAS, seven valiant individuals who gave their lives to protect the people of the Commonwealth in 2018 will be recognized at the 2019 Virginia Fallen Firefighters and Emergency Medical Services Memorial Service; and
WHEREAS, Fire and Emergency Medical Services Memorial Week is an opportunity for Virginians to stand with firefighters and emergency medical services personnel, honor their tremendous sacrifices, and continued devotion to serving the Commonwealth;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize June 2-8, 2019, as FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES MEMORIAL WEEK in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.
