They had a new audience, but it was a familiar refrain as Okanogan County residents still reeling from the wildfires of the past two summer argued for better forest management — in particular, through logging and grazing, but also thinning and prescribed burning — to reduce fire risk. U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse brought his congressional colleague from Pennsylvania, Glenn “GT” Thompson, to Okanogan County on Thursday (March 31) to see and hear — firsthand — the impacts of the state’s two largest wildfires in 2014 and 2015.
- PUB DATE: 4/8/2016 1:15:00 PM - SOURCE: Methow Valley News

They had a new audience, but it was a familiar refrain as Okanogan County residents still reeling from the wildfires of the past two summer argued for better forest management — in particular, through logging and grazing, but also thinning and prescribed burning — to reduce fire risk. U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse brought his congressional colleague from Pennsylvania, Glenn “GT” Thompson, to Okanogan County on Thursday (March 31) to see and hear — firsthand — the impacts of the state’s two largest wildfires in 2014 and 2015.
- PUB DATE: 4/8/2016 1:15:00 PM - SOURCE: Methow Valley News

Voters in Kent, Covington and Fire District 37 will decide on the April 26 ballot (Proposition No. 1) whether the Kent Fire Department Regional Fire Authority can continue for another six years its fire benefit charge against property owners to help pay for fire services. The fee is a variable rate based on the square footage and the amount of resources needed to provide emergency services to each house or business.
- PUB DATE: 4/8/2016 1:02:00 PM - SOURCE: Kent Reporter

Voters in Kent, Covington and Fire District 37 will decide on the April 26 ballot (Proposition No. 1) whether the Kent Fire Department Regional Fire Authority can continue for another six years its fire benefit charge against property owners to help pay for fire services. The fee is a variable rate based on the square footage and the amount of resources needed to provide emergency services to each house or business.
- PUB DATE: 4/8/2016 1:02:00 PM - SOURCE: Kent Reporter

In this series, Fire Engineering Senior Editor Mary Jane Dittmar looks at the things that motivated and inspired instructors to present on their topics at FDIC International 2016. Segments will be posted on a regular basis up to and through the conference, April 18-23.

By Christopher Feder

Rescue training coordinator, Montgomery County (PA) Public Safety Training Campus—Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

“Line-of-Duty Deaths While Training in Rope Rescue/Rappelling”

Wednesday, April 20, 10:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Noting the number of firefighter line-of-duty deaths that occurred while training on rope rescue and rappelling, I wanted to know why these firefighters were being killed in training when the fire service can control the hazards and minimize the risks. My quest was to learn how we could prevent these deaths in the future. I have thought about this issue for many years.

Then, one day I was on the Internet and came across a training fatality that involved a first responder who was rappelling. My initial research yielded alarming results. I conducted some additional research. I requested a copy of the fatality report from the investigating authority (I was surprised at just how easy and simple that process was).

After 2½ years of additional investigating, I discovered 11 cases. I compiled the results and realized that this information had to be shared with others if we were going to raise awareness and ultimately decrease the number of fatalities in this type of training.

The result was this program, which I have delivered locally. I have incorporated revisions based on feedback and now will be teaching it for the first time at FDIC International 2016.

Hopefully, firefighters will pick up even one safety lesson that will keep them safe. The more they learn, the better. If I can reach 10 firefighters, and they take that information back to their departments, that information will reach 30-plus firefighters, and so on.