FirefighterNation.com and FireRescue Magazine are pleased to offer you online viewing of the 2009 National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Fire Administration announce that the 28th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend will be held October 2-4, 2009. A plaque with the names of 103 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2008 will be added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, located here on the National Fire Academy campus.

The names of 19 firefighters who died in previous years will also be added. The plaques surrounding the Memorial, which was established in 1981, will contain the names of more than 3,300 firefighters.

The video feed can be found HERE

Washington D.C.-With the first deliveries of the H1N1 vaccine already underway, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as part of its mission to support first responders joins the United States Fire Administration (USFA) in recommending that firefighters who provide emergency medical services and EMS workers receive the H1N1vaccination as soon as it becomes available in their local jurisdiction.

The Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC’s) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended that certain groups of the population receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine when it first becomes available. These target groups include pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old, and people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

“Given that firefighters and EMS personnel who provide direct patient care are eligible for early vaccination, their first responder agencies should be contacting their local doctors offices, clinics, local health department or other agencies to make arrangements now for their workforces to be vaccinated as soon as supplies of the H1N1 vaccine are received in their jurisdictions,” said U.S. Fire Administrator Kelvin J. Cochran.

The DuBois Volunteer Fire Department was honored by State Rep. Matt Gabler on behalf of the House of Representatives Monday at a meeting of the DuBois City council.

In 2008, the department reachieved a number one ISO (Insurance Services Organization) rating, a public protection classification rating.

"I understand repeating a number one rating for the second time is a very difficult achievement," Gabler said. "To maintain that commitment over 10 years -throughout maintaining your membership, maintaining your commitment and achieving the number one rating a second time is really quite an amazing feat. I congratulate all of you as well as your members."

The DuBois department is the only department in the state that has received a PPC (Public Protection Classification) rating of one and is the second volunteer fire department in the nation to receive this rating.

How old is your smoke detector? Did you know that you should replace your smoke detector after 10 years? That's right, because the ionization element in the detector degrades over time and after about 10 years your smoke detector may no longer function. So in order to make sure that you are properly protected you should check your detector regularly and if it fails to activate or is getting close to being 10 years old you should replace it immeadiately.

The Tri-Town Junior Firefighters are selling smoke detectors to raise money for their projects. Cost of the smoke detectors is $10 and it even includes the battery. If you need assistance installing your new smoke detector we can even help you with that as well. You can purchase a smoke detector by seeing one of the Tri-Town Junior Firefighters, or by sending an E-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it They will also be on sale at many of the upcoming department events such as the fire prevention week open house on Oct. 11th, the sportsman show on Nov. 20th & 21st, and the upcoming fish fries.

And remember - Change your clock - change your battery in your smoke detector!

Local Organizations Urged To Contact Local Representatives

Volunteer Fire Companies & Social Organizations are facing a 20% tax on small games of chance including punch boards, raffle tickets, pull tabs and other small games of chance under a budget agreement that could soon be voted on by the Legislature. 

The legislation, Senate Bill 211, could serve as a vehicle for approving the potential 20% tax on small games of chance that is said to be contained in the $27.945 billion budget agreement proposed last week.  That addition would mean proceeds from fundraisers held by private, social organizations and fire halls would be assessed a levy.  The tax would be paid by the licensee, not the gamblers.  Senate staff did point out that the tax is applicable to non-profits with liquor licenses but churches and church-related functions would not be affected by the tax, nor would bingo games.

Details on the tax are vague.  Prize limits are expected to be raised from $5,000 per week to $20,000 per week.  Small clubs, whose memberships are dwindling, will never reach the $20,000 limit.

This is the fourth article in this series designed to help Potter County citizens to prepare for emergencies.  September is National Preparedness Month sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

If a large winter storm or other disaster strikes Potter County, you might not have access to food, water, and electricity for days or even weeks.   By taking some time now to store emergency food and water supplies, you can be READY to provide for your family.

For years the government has recommended storing at least a three-DAY supply of food.  After numerous disasters in the last few years, this recommendation has changed to at least a two- or even three-WEEK supply.  Some people prefer to be prepared for two or three MONTHS or more.

A Firefighter from the Clearfield Fire Department (PA) was struck by a passing motorist in Clearfield Borough this evening around 2000 Hours.  The Firefighter is being transported by medical helicopter to Altoona Hospital for a serious but non-life threatening head injury. Details will follow.

5" HOSE FAILS IN PA DURING LIVE FIRE TRAINING:
During a live fire evolution last Friday at the PA. State Fire Academy, they experienced a failure of a section 5" hose. The hose separated from the coupling. Fortunately, there was no one was injured after the failure occurred. Post incident investigation revealed no signs as to why the failure may have occurred.

How the funding of Fire Departments works in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Most fire departments, and some ambulance services, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania receive tax money in some form from the municipalities that they serve in order to provide protection to those municipalities. Although it seems that most people involved on both the part of the municipalities as well as the emergency services fail to understand how the system works.

In the spring of 2008 Gov. Rendell signed three bills into law. These were House Bill 1131, which modified the Second Class Township code, House Bill 1133 which modified the Borough code, and House Bill 1134 which modified the First Class Township code. Once signed by the Governor these bills became law 60 days after the date they were signed (March 17, 2008). These bills then became Acts 7, 8 and 9 of 2008 respectively.

What did these laws do? The original municipal codes of the Commonwealth stated that a Township or Borough “may” provide funding for the provision of fire protection for the citizenry of their municipality. The operative word here being “may”. Acts 7, 8 and 9 changed that so that the municipal codes now state that a First or Second Class Township or a Borough “shall” provide funding not only for the provision of fire protection but also for the provision of Emergency Medical Services as well. At the time that the original municipal codes relating to fire protection were written in the 1930’s EMS wasn’t even thought of yet. So rather than the law stating that a municipality had the ability to fund fire protection in the community if it so desired, the law now states that a municipality is now required to fund fire and EMS services for their community.