Wednesday, April 25th thru Friday, April 27th

Indian River Delegation Attends 24th Annual Congressional Fire Service Institute.

During the period of Wednesday April 25th thru Friday, April 27th, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company permitted six (6) officers or members to attend a premier training opportunity in Washington, DC for fire service practitioners whose responsibilities include enhancing the volunteer fire service in and for the State of Delaware as well as obtaining some professional development courses.

The six member delegation will obtain and/or enhance their knowledge, skills and abilities to train and assist our organization in further operational needs.

Below is an example of the courses and activities attended:

• TReC: THE NEXT FRONTIER IS COLLABORATION

Emergencies, both man--?made and natural, do not respect the borders of any one jurisdiction. Complex Incidents show the ever--?growing need for collaboration among responders before, during, and after an Emergency event.

• ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE FIRES

• RESPONDING TO THE CALL DURING THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

Even though many fire departments have been forced to reduce their budgets because of the poor economy, the fire service is expected to perform its mission without compromising its level of service. This seminar will feature a frank discussion about the chronic fiscal challenges facing the nation’s fire and emergency services and how some departments are responding.

• PROTECTING OUR OWN: Firefighter Roadside Safety

Firefighters are increasingly falling victim to incidents that occur as they respond to emergency situations.

• STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: Working Together on Capitol Hill

On average, Congress considers 4,000 pieces of legislation each session and only about 200 are signed into law. This is why building coalitions is so important for any legislative initiative. The fire service has prevailed on a number of issues in recent years because of the willingness on the part of the national organizations to work together.

http://www.wgmd.com/?p=55151  

US Representative Carney and US Senator Coons Discusses Emergency Response Services with Delaware Firefighters

Prior to the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) Annual Dinner in Washington Thursday, leaders of the Delaware Volunteer Firefighter’s Association (DVFA) met with United States Representative John Carey and United States Senator Chris Coons to discuss issues related to emergency-response services.

DVFA and many Delaware fire company representatives were visiting Capitol Hill to meet with members of the Delaware Congressional delegation in the morning and afternoon hours as well as attending their annual Congressional Fire Service Institute dinner.

Represntative Carney believes his discussions with the Delaware firefighters was informational for all parties and included a tour of the Capitol facilities’ including House of Representative Chambers and brief photo sessions.

Senator Coons said his meeting with Delaware’s volunteer firefighters allowed for a constructive conversation on issues important to our state’s public safety, including new technology and appropriate funding levels. Coons said :...it’s imperative that first responders are equipped with the resources they need to respond to a wide range of emergencies...".

US Senator Thomas R. Carper (Delaware) was a speaker at the dinner event.

The primary objective of CFSI was taken from their website and illustrated below:

http://www.cfsi.org/mission.cfm

"....to educate Members of Congress about fire and life safety issues."

Whether you are a firefighter, emergency services responder, manufacturer or fire service leader, the United States Congress is more aware of your concerns because of the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI).

Established in 1989 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy institute, CFSI is designed to educate members of Congress about the needs and challenges of our nation's fire and emergency services so that the federal government provides the types of training and funding needed by our first responders.

Members of Congress often turn to CFSI for its knowledge that penetrates the inner workings of Capitol Hill and the various facets of the fire and emergency services - from culture of the fire service and various associations that represents different disciplines to the technology and training being developed by industry. Because of our nonpartisan nature, CFSI is a proven source for accurate and objective information on fire service issues. That is why CFSI has achieved unparalleled success in consensus building...not only on Capitol Hill, but among fire service organizations as well.

For CFSI, success is built around education.

Each year, we provide a series of educational activities, mostly through hands-on training programs, to sensitize Congress about the challenges facing the fire service.

We offer basic training programs in structural and wildland firefighting and special briefing to discuss pending fire service legislation. We publish white papers for Congress to share with them the consensus position of the fire service on federal fire programs and legislation.

Our motto is simple: "So That First Responders Never Stand Alone."

Although you often find yourself alone performing dangerous work, CFSI stands in your place on Capitol Hill working to insure that your actions and needs are being heard by federal legislators

Attached is a link to the Delaware Volunteer Firefighter’s Association for reference purposes:  

http://www.dvfassn.com/