United States Fire Administration (USFA) News

The U.S. Fire Administration is hosting a webinar on April 10 2024 on Battery Fires: Before, During, and After the Incident. With the continued growth in the use and sale of battery-powered devices, members of the fire service need to know how to mitigate and respond to battery fire incidents.

The U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Executive Summary is now available. This report provides highlights from the Summit that took place on October 11, 2022, and brought together government officials, fire service leaders, and scientists to address America’s fire problem. Included in the report are fact sheets detailing the recommendations covered in the Fire Service National Strategy.

The National EMS Education Standards (the Standards) PDF have been updated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Standards are a core element of a nationwide integrated system approach to developing emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians who are competent in the appropriate knowledge, skills, and abilities for their licensure level. They define the competencies, clinical behaviors, and judgments required of EMS personnel to perform their roles. 1996 EMS Agend...

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs) released a joint statement PDF warning firefighters that synthetic chemicals in their protective gear are associated with various health risks, including an increased risk of liver and kidney cancer. The chemicals responsible are a group of fluorinated compounds called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances commonly referred to as PFAS. They are used in firefighter turnout gear to incr...

Community members and business owners must understand the importance of protecting their structures from ember and fire exposures (radiant, conductive, and convective heat). Preparing for all fire exposures, not picking and choosing only one, is vital for improving home and building survival chances. Information for the community Wildfires spread primarily by: Ember generation and deposition: Burning or smoldering pieces of material generated during a wildfire event can land on combustible...

Get a 2-page Checklist for Communications Technology in Training and Exercises PDF that provides planning and evaluation considerations for statewide interoperability coordinators and other emergency preparedness personnel when incorporating new communications technology into a training or exercise. The checklist Offered by the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators' Planning, Training and Exercise committee, the checklist, developed directly from emergency communications...

Landing a medical helicopter is a delicate operation that requires skilled flight crews and trained personnel on the ground following well-rehearsed, pre-planned procedures for the safety of all involved. Fire and emergency medical services agencies can access free resources to review their procedures for establishing a safe air medical transport landing zone: A June 2022 FirefighterCloseCalls.com article provides tips and links to training videos on landing zone safety. Responder Safety Le...

Integrations will enable alerting authorities to disseminate wireless emergency alerts to the public in near real-time through vehicle navigation and entertainment systems. The Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate concluded a proof-of-concept demonstration of the wildland urban interface (WUI) integration model that integrates next-generation technologies with FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) and GPS navigation applications and cutting-ed...

To use the fluorine-free foams currently on the market safely and effectively, fire departments will need to adopt different tactics and new training on how to select, use and dispose of these new foams. Fire Service Roadmap outlines the transition from the fluorinated aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) currently used to extinguish flammable liquid (Class B) fires to fluorine-free foams (FFFs). AFFFs going away AFFFs use of a class of chemicals containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances,...

As those first on the scene to respond to disasters and emergency events, first responders prioritize the safety and well-being of the communities they serve. This often means first responders are facing dangerous and challenging situations, to high-stress levels, and possible development of burnout, compassion fatigue, or unhealthy coping mechanisms. The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently featured 2 behavioral health resources for first responders. Disast...

The Food and Drug Administration is currently reporting shortages of dextrose in 5%, 10%, 25%, and 50% solutions. The manufacturing capacity to support these dextrose products is not expected to improve for some time. There is potential for shortages of these products to worsen if anything else disrupts the supply. Dextrose solutions are a staple in the EMS drug box and are commonly used to treat hypoglycemia. Dextrose administration can restore blood sugar levels quickly. Glucagon as an&...

An International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) study has reclassified the occupation of firefighting to the highest hazard category: Group 1, “carcinogenic to humans.” The previous study, conducted by IARC in 2007, had classified firefighting as Group 2B, “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” Group 1 classification of the firefighting occupation applies to men and women, career and volunteer personnel, and both structural and wildland firefighting occupations around...

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) has posted 2 user notices that may impact certain respirators used by fire and emergency medical services providers. 3M Scott SCBA The NPPTL issued a May 2022 notice PDF for 3M Scott SCBA Air-Pak models manufactured between Nov. 1, 2019 and April 12, 2022. 3M Scott has received reports on the Air-Pak X3, Air-Pak X3 Pro, and X3-21 Pro models referencing the primary and/...

The DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced the successful completion of the second phase of S&T's wildland-urban interface wildfire sensor technology program, part of the Smart Cities Internet of Things Innovation (SCITI) Labs initiative. On average, 60,000 wildfires occur across the U.S. each year, burning millions of acres. Providing early warnings of these fire events is critical to response and recovery efforts, both for communities and public safety. fire sens...

One of the most important aspects of firefighter post-incident rehabilitation is mitigating heat stress. Firefighters work in high-heat conditions and personal protective equipment (PPE) carries a high-heat burden. Exposure to extreme heat situations usually occurs in limited, short doses for most firefighters but the effects of high heat on personnel are cumulative. Extreme heat from environmental conditions adds significantly to the risk of heat-related health emergencies. Acute risks The l...

Recent research from Duke University involved firefighters wearing silicon wristbands on and off the job. The silicon absorbs any semi-volatile organic compounds the firefighters may have been exposed to. The wristbands worn by firefighters were analyzed for 134 different chemical compounds, including phthalates, brominated flame retardants, organophosphate esters, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), all of which have been linked to increased...

Over 2,300 first responders have taken an online instructor-led live course from the National Fire Academy (NFA), and the number is growing. The NFA suspended its on-campus and field courses in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By June 2020, the NFA and USFA’s partners from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives launched the first online instructor-led live 2-day course, “Fire Investigation: First Responders,” using the Zoom video conferencing app. Ad...

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) EMS Safety Practices manual provides information to enhance the health and safety of the emergency medical services (EMS) practitioner and support the reduction of occupational illness and on-duty injuries and fatalities. This 146-page manual outlines how to develop a safety program that covers all aspects of EMS operations to prepare for, prevent, mitigate and respond to all hazards. It covers safety regulations and guidelines while also emphasizing the impo...

The unique set of stressors encountered on the job by first responders can create mental health challenges for them and their families. To address this reality, first responders must learn how to take care of their mental health and they need a support network tailored to their individual requirements. 3 agencies' programs 3 agencies' programs have recently been updated with new resources to help first responders take care of their mental health and support the mental health of their families...

Available now, these Underwriters Laboratories' (UL) Fire Safety Research Institute courses are focused on coordinated ventilation and suppression tactics for structure fires. Each course focuses on a unique occupancy type, covering: The findings from the experiments in the Study of Coordinated Fire Attack Utilizing Acquired Structures (Coordinated Fire Attack Study), a UL research study supported by an Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The courses The 3 courses are: Impact of Ventilation...

When people store and charge their mobility devices inside their homes, garages, or businesses, there is the potential for battery fires to lead to structure fires. Just one example is a recent apartment fire in New York City that resulted in injuries to 12 citizens and a Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) firefighter. Best practice tips Motivated by the surge of fires started by batteries in mobility devices, the FDNY has created best practice tips for firefighters confronted by...

NIST released the WUI Structure/Parcel/Community Fire Hazard Mitigation Methodology (HMM) PDF to provide guidance for homeowners and communities to protect themselves from wildfires. Integrating the latest post-fire field observations and fire science research, this report defines dozens of clear, measurable, and cost-effective protective actions homeowners can take to defend their homes. Wildfires can spread through a community very quickly, especially one with dense housing. Often, the progr...

CISA has designated April as Emergency Communications Month to recognize the critical role of emergency communications personnel in public safety. Emergency communications have evolved to be so much more than just dialing 911. It is a complex ecosystem that allows people to share critical information in real time during an emergency. Today, emergency communicators include 911 telecommunicators, first responders and even cyber professionals. Throughout the month, CISA will highlight emergency c...

16 emergency responders have been killed in struck-by incidents in the first 3 months of 2022. Last year, 65 emergency responders were struck and killed while assisting others on roadways. An unknown number of others were injured. One can help reduce these tragic incidents by sharing the “In Our Boots” public service announcements (PSAs) widely with the public in the community, through social media, local news outlets, and community events. Public education on safe driving practice...

Even if budgets are drastically reduced, state, local, tribal and territorial public safety agencies need reliable and interoperable communications to respond effectively when events disrupt normal operations. To help address these critical requirements, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), has published the Contingency Planning Guide for Emergency Communications Funding, in partnership with SAFECOM and the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators. Co...

A new study suggests that the presence of very highly reflective markings may decrease drivers’ ability to see first responders working adjacent to their vehicles. Traffic incident scenes are a dangerous place. Secondary crashes, including struck-by incidents, are a leading cause of line-of-duty deaths among emergency responders. One significant variable impacting the safety of responders operating along a roadway is their visibility to approaching and passing motorists, especially at ni...

Wildland urban interface (WUI) areas — where structures and other human development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland — are vulnerable to wildfires. The destruction caused by wildfires can be exploited by criminals and, because of the minimal resources required and the potential for widespread damage, foreign terrorist organizations encourage arson attacks in WUI areas. First Responder's Toolbox The National Counterterrorism Center's Joint Counterterrorism Assessment T...

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) has released its fourth National Fire Service Research Agenda with over 300 research recommendations broken down into 3 topical domains: hiring, retention and advancement; effective operations; and health and safety. Enhancing abilities With a goal of enhancing the ability of all fire service members (career, volunteer, wildland, industrial, etc.) to protect their communities, while protecting their own health and safety, these recommendations...

The Emergency Responder Safety Institute (ERSI) has launched a new nationwide platform that collects detailed information directly from first responders about incidents on the roadway where responders or their equipment were struck by a vehicle while operating at a scene. By improving first responder reporting, this new tool will help ERSI track and analyze struck-by incident data, gain a better understanding of exactly how and why these incidents are happening, and help prevent future incident...

Passed in January 2022, New York's new Family and Firefighter Protection Act regulates the use of flame retardant chemicals. New York joins 4 other US states (Delaware, Georgia, Iowa and West Virginia) in passing this type of regulation according to Safer States, a network of diverse environmental health coalitions and organizations. New York's legislation regulates specific chemicals in upholstered furniture, mattresses and electronic enclosures. Reasons behind the legislation These che...