Home of the
Idaho Fire Chief's Association, Inc.Our VISION is to improve career and volunteer emergency services in the state of Idaho through leadership, collaboration, education, safety, information and representation.
Our MISSION is to provide and enhance leadership to career and volunteer emergency services in Idaho.
NOTICE: Effective August 1, 2010 Doug & Diana Brown and the IFCA Office will begin using a new email address, phone and fax number. The new phone number will be (208) 890-9397 and fax number will be (208) 459-2843. The Office will also start using a new email address of idahofirechiefs@gmail.com.
All regular (USPS) mail delivery will remain the same at:
IFCA, ATTN: V.P. of Ops. Doug Brown, c/o Caldwell Fire Department, 310 S. 7th Ave., Caldwell, ID 83605.
Please note and make these changes to your lists and directories. Thank you!
IFCA Fall Board of Directors Meeting (8-25-10)
The IFCA Fall Board of Director's Meeting will be held in Pocatello on Monday and Tuesday, October 11 and 12 (corrected dates). The exact location is still being determined and will be posted as soon as it is known. Any agenda items should be routed to the District Directors or other Board Members. More info to follow.
3rd Wildland Fire Conference -
Oct. 6 & 7 in Boise (7-22-10)
For conference details, registration forms and contact information please see the "Scheduled Events" link in the left column.
In Memory of 9-11 . . .
Dress Cap Chinstrap Program (6-27-10)
UPDATE: The IFCA Board has agreed to pass-through all proceeds from this program to the Idaho Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Fund. By being a part of this program, you will be helping support the memorial dedicated to our fallen firefighters in Idaho.
The IFCA has partnered with Corporate Member, Lighthouse Uniform, on a commemorative dress uniform cap chinstrap program. The purpose is to continually honor the memory of 9-11 victims and survivors. The IFCA receives a dividend on sales of these straps in Idaho. In May we received our first dividend check for $70. The IFCA Board encourages all departments with dress uniforms and caps to consider becoming a part of this worthy program. Please read the details on this at: www.lighthouseuniform.com/commemorative
IFCA Donates to 1910 Memorial (8-4-10)
Recently the IFCA donated $500 toward the 1910 Fire Memorial in Wallace, ID. The memorial is intended to honor those who perished in the fires of 1910 in northern Idaho. Pictured below making the presentation are from left to right: Len Young (IDL), Lynn Borders (IFCA - VP), Shawn Pearson (USFS) and Kjell Truesdell (IDL).
Fire Levy Bond Passes in Middleton (8-4-10)
Persistance paid off for the Middleton Rural FD in Canyon County. On 8-3-10 a crucial fire levy bond passed on a 1209 to 775 vote according to MRFD Captain Marty Ogan. This will keep the department staffed with career personnel in addition to their volunteer forces for the next two years. Congratulations to MRFD Chief Brad Trosky and his personnel for their efforts to educate and inform the community of the value of career staffing for better response times.
SFM 2009 Annual Report (8-4-10)
The 2009 annual report from the State Fire Marshal has been prepared and is available on their website, under "publications" or here on the IFCA website (below). The document will be going to the printer soon and will then be mailed to each Idaho fire department as soon as they are available. Along with the report will be the SFM's ANNUAL FIRE DEPARTMENT SURVEY. SFM Mark Larson and his team ask that each department take a few moments to complete the form and send it in. If nothing has changed, just note that, and send the form. The form can also be filled out and submitted online using the following link: http://www.doi.idaho.gov/sfm/FireSurvey.aspx Click on the following link to view and/or to download and print a copy of the 2009 SFM Annual Report: http://www.doi.idaho.gov/SFM/09annualreport.pdf SFM Larson would appreciate any feedback you have on the report and its contents.
Outsourcing of Fire Services? (8-10-10)
Like a boomerrang, its coming back for discussion again. "Privatization" of fire departments is a renewed hot topic of budget strapped jurisdictions. See this in-depth article from Fire Engineering magazine for a current point of view on this hot button item:
http://www.hg.org/article.asp?id=19529
Mutual Aid Project Renewed. (7-18-10)
In 2006 Idaho was one of the original states selected by the International Asssociation of Fire Chief's (IAFC) to participate in an interstate (state to state)mutual aid project called Interstate Mutual Aid System (IMAS). This was a post-Hurricane Katrina response to build and strengthen mutual aid plans between state lines. Much work was completed but the project got sidelined when Bill Bishop left BHS and no agreements on funding could be reached with the State of Idaho. President Ellis recently attended a meeting in St. Louis (MO) to see if the project can still be completed as it has in most other states. An IFCA committee has been formed and will be meeting in mid-August seeking to complete what remains to be accomplished. Stay tuned . . .
Mountain Home Fireworks Blast (7-7-10)
After a fireworks accident Saturday, July 3, that injured three, the Mountain Home Fire Department plans to take extra care next year when it prepares for the community fireworks show - including the clothes they wear when setting up. "Safety is our concern. We know what we're dealing with. We will definitely use this and learn from it," said Ron Nicolosi, one of three fighters injured in the mishap, which wiped out Mountain Home's annual fireworks show. Mountain Home Fire Chief Phil Gridley said a shell exploded in a volunteer firefighter's hands because of static electricity caused by the two shirts he was wearing and exacerbated by humidity above 35 percent. Ty Larsen wore a long-sleeved Under Armor shirt beneath a long-sleeved fire-retarding Nomex shirt. Larsen is a detective with the Mountain Home Police Department, and it's not uncommon for officers to wear Under Armor shirts during the summer to keep cool, Gridley said. Fireworks experts warn against wearing synthetic fabrics - like the Under Armor shirt - because they can produce static electricity. "I can't even tell you how lucky that there weren't three or four guys killed in this," Gridley said. The Mountain Home Fire Department has been setting up the community fireworks show since 1992. The funding for the $30,000 fireworks show comes primarily from community donations, though the city contributes $2,500 and the Mountain Home Air Force Base contributes $3,000. Gridley said some of his firefighters have received specialized training to set up fireworks shows. Mountain Home firefighters will be meeting with explosives experts at the base to discuss safety procedures, and they plan to set up next year's show.
Source: Idaho Statesman - Katy Moeller: 377-6413
Multiple Fatalitiy Fire - 2nd Worst (6-27-10)
On June 7, 2010 a tragic early morning fire in Bonneville County near Idaho Falls took the lives of five people in a house trailer. According to State Fire Marshal Mark Larson, this was the second most loss of life in a single fire in Idaho since records have been kept. The worst case was in September 1997 when a mobile home in rural Madison County, near Archer, ID, killed six children. The children had been left unattended and the fire is believed to have started from a candle in a bedroom. According to SFMO records, between 1982 and 2009 there have been 501 fire deaths in Idaho, an average of 18.5 deaths per year. In response to the recent multiple fatality fire in Idaho Falls, the FPO Division is expected to apply for a FFLP grant to fund a mobile home and trailer fire safety program. With the deepening recession that the USA and Idaho are experiencing there is an increasing number of people losing their homes through foreclosure. This is resulting in an increase in the number of people who are living in mobile homes and trailers. More emphasis needs to be put on fire safety in these "mobile" hazards, most of which are exempt from local and state building and fire codes.
State Fire Plan Annual Report Available (5-20-10)
The Idaho State Fire Plan Working Group, which administers the National Fire Plan for Idaho, has released its 2009 Annual Report. That report is now available online at the Working Group's website:
http://www.idahofireplan.org/images/2009%20Annual%20Report.pdf
President Dean Ellis represents the IFCA on the Working Group which provides grant management for Federal wildfire mitigation funds.
Job Offerings: None posted at this time - check the Daily Dispatch.
IFCA 2009-2010 Strategic Plan Available To view a copy of the plan click here: IFCA Strategic Plan
This plan will be evaluated at the IFCA's annual conference in May and revised in January 2011.
HELP! Donations Needed for Idaho's Fallen Firefighter Memorial. The Idaho Fallen Firefighter Memorial is seeking donations and are selling personalized bricks to go around the memorial walkways to raise funds. All IFCA members, fire departments, fire service members and the public are encouraged to "buy a brick" to show your support. Bricks start at $100. To make a donation to "buy a brick" or for more information please visit the Memorial website at: www.idahofff.org
FREE subscription to the Idaho Daily Dispatch. Receive email news briefs on state and national fire/EMS news, job openings, used fire equipment, courses and more delivered to your desktop every weekday. This is an excellent way to stay "in the know" and to improve your situaltional awareness. To subscribe just use this link: www.dailydispatch.com , or to place an ad go to: support@dailydispatch.com
Credit for the accident photo in the IFCA home page banner goes to Sylvia's Photography of Middleton (ID). Thanks David & Sylvia!
Other IFCA News . . .
(For daily news reports from Idaho and around the Nation please subscribe to the Idaho Daily Dispatch - see link above - and also in top right of this home page under Quick Links.)
8/17/2010 |
SAFER Grant Period Opens |
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8/16/2010 |
The Great Fire of 1910 History |
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8/10/2010 |
Senate Bill Reduces AFG Funding |
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QUICK LINKS
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You receive a 5% discount, and the IFCA receives a commission on the profit. The IFCA Bookstore is your one-stop shopping source for IFSTA, ICC, NFPA, Delmar and many, many other publications. Call the IFCA Bookstore and ask for Clare at 800-342-2314, or, click on the following link:
Fire Service Books
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ARSON TIPLINE:
877-75-ARSON
Use this number to report suspected arson fires or suspects! Callers may remain anonymous. There is a $5,000 Award Fund available. Sponsored by the State Fire Marshal's Office and the N.W. Insurance Council.
