Our nation’s firefighters are among our bravest first responders, constantly putting themselves in harm’s way to help keep our communities safe. Sadly, these heroes’ efforts too often end in tragedy as they make the ultimate sacrifice while fighting to save the lives of others.
Across the nation, firefighters not only face the ancient enemy of fire, but newer challenges like terrorist threats and dangerous chemicals. Whether career or volunteer, America’s firefighters deserve our respect and our gratitude.
They also deserve federal support for their efforts to prevent fires, to rescue and care for victims, to promote fire safety, and to improve skills and techniques. That is why Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) and I recently introduced a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the U.S. Fire Administration and provide additional resources to help the agency meet its growing responsibilities and the growing demands of our communities. Senator Dodd and I co chair the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. Our fellow co-chairs of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, Senators John McCain of Arizona and Joe Biden of Delaware, have joined us as cosponsors in this effort.
Since its creation in 1974, the Fire Administration and its Fire Academy have helped prevent fires, protect property, and save lives among firefighters and the public. Today, the Fire Administration is also integrated into our national, all-hazards system and our homeland- security efforts.
January marked the fifth anniversary of the Fire Administration’s transfer to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As both Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and as a co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I believe it’s noteworthy that this bill does much more than provide legal reauthorization for the Fire Administration.
For example, the bill designates $5 million to support necessary technology upgrades to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). This important system helps state and local governments report and analyze fires, and it allows nationwide data sharing in standardized formats. The NFIRS database – the world’s largest collection of fire-incident information – helps all levels of government to probe the nature and causes of injuries, deaths, and property loss resulting from fires. That information will benefit both firefighters and the public.
Another vital component of this bill establishes a rotating position at the DHS National Operations Center (NOC) to be filled by a state or local fire-service official. In our comprehensive, all-hazards approach to major disasters, it is critically important to have fire-service representation at the NOC during a catastrophic event.
The bill has other important provisions, including a 1.3 percent annual increase through 2012 in the initial $70 million authorization for the Fire Administration. In addition, the bill expands National Fire Academy training programs to include topics like hazardous-material fires and fire-based emergency medical services. It authorizes expanded research on fires in urban-wildland interfaces and in rural areas. It encourages the Fire Administration to adopt national voluntary standards on firefighter health and safety – an important topic, considering that about 100 brave firefighters lose their lives in the line of duty each year, with many more suffering serious injuries.
Here in Maine, we are keenly aware of the dangers of fire and the importance of effective fire services. Maine is one of the most rural states in the nation and most of our housing stock is wood framed. Many households rely on woodstoves for primary or supplemental heat. According to the Maine Department of Public Safety, nearly 50 Mainers died in fires every year through the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s. The average so far for this decade is 18, and 2007 produced only 12 fire-related deaths – still too many, but a considerable improvement.
Maine public safety officials attribute the decline to factors like wider use of smoke detectors and improved building codes, and to increased fire-prevention efforts. As our national resource and clearinghouse for fire research, education, and training, the Fire Administration certainly deserves a share of the credit for our state’s progress in reducing the loss, devastation, and death wrought by fires.
I have no doubt the Fire Administration’s beneficial effects will continue to grow. Its new campaign for preventing smoking-related home fires is a worthy effort. And its expanding curriculum of online courses on topics like incident command for nursing-home fires, emergency medical service at multi-casualty incidents, and emergency response to terrorism is a valuable resource for firefighters.
The Fire Administration is a fine example of the good that can result from federal, state, and local collaboration to counter the danger of fire and to address new threats that firefighters face. I urge my Senate colleagues to join us in reauthorizing and improving this valuable component of DHS.
I have also worked for years to secure homeland-security grant funding to help states and localities procure equipment and training for firefighters through the FIRE and SAFER Act grant program. It’s a double-dividend investment that protects both our communities and the firefighters who serve them. Reinforcing the work of the Fire Administration is another way to honor our local firefighters, and to ensure that they are able to develop and maintain the capabilities necessary to respond to any emergency, natural or man-made.
###
U.S. Senator Susan M. Collins, R-ME, is Ranking Member of Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and a co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.