| Stand Down for Firefighter Safety |
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Updated On: May 145, 2005
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Fairfax, Va., May 25, 2005. The International Association of Fire Chiefs
(IAFC) and 14 partnering fire service organizations are calling for all fire
departments in the nation to conduct a "stand down" for firefighter safety
beginning Tuesday, June 21. As of May 1, there have been 50 line-of-duty
firefighter deaths - that is 10 more than at this same time last year.
A stand down is a method used by the military to correct an issue that has
been identified as a problem throughout its ranks. The IAFC and its
partners* are urging fire departments to suspend all non-emergency activity
on June 21 and instead focus entirely on firefighter safety.
"Firefighters are being killed at an alarming rate. The fire service simply
cannot continue to do business as usual when so many of its own are dying,"
said IAFC President Chief Bob DiPoli. "We are conducting the stand down to
raise awareness of the need for increased vigilance toward fire fighter
safety."
The IAFC and its partners are urging you and all fire departments throughout
the country to suspend all non-emergency activity and focus entirely on
firefighter safety. If you are a career or combination department, please
stand down beginning Tuesday, June 21 until all personnel and duty nights
have been covered. If you are a volunteer department, please conduct a
special safety meeting the evening of June 21 or as near to that date as
possible.
Use the recommended "daily activity schedule" below. Take the 21st to talk
about the causes of line-of-duty deaths; check all apparatus and equipment;
discuss health and safety regulations; review fire ground safety issues; and
take stock of training exercises and fitness goals. An entire Web page at
the IAFC Web site www.iafc.org/standdown has been devoted to this important
issue. Go to that site and use those resources to plan your activities for
the stand down.
"We must call attention to the unacceptable number of line-of-duty deaths
and injuries plaguing our fire departments," DiPoli continued. "During the
Safety Stand Down, fire departments all around the nation will have
thorough, honest conversations about firefighter health and safety and maybe
we can do something to stop these deaths."
After your department has stood down, please email the IAFC with a summary
of the activities you conducted and your comments at standdown@iafc.org. If
you have questions, please call the IAFC at 703/273-0911.
Partnering Organizations
National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
United States Fire Administration
International Association of Fire Fighters
National Volunteer Fire Council
National Fire Protection Association
International City/County Management Association
National Association of State Fire Marshals
North American Fire Training Directors
Canadian Fire Chiefs Association
Congressional Fire Service Institute
International Association of Arson Investigators
Fire &Emergency Manufacturers Services Association
International Fire Service Training Association
Fire Department Safety Officers' Association
Recommended Daily Schedule of Events may be downloaded by visiting:
http://www.iafc.org/standdown/
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