The Minnesota Fire Service Weekly Newsletter

August 13, 2003Keeping you up-to-date every single week!
Fire Fighter Safety in the WUI Series Released -- Available at No Charge
'Fire Fighter Safety in the WUI' Series Released -- Available at No Charge

The Fire Fighter Safety Series is a multipart instructional package developed by Firewise for small community fire departments to address the problems faced by structural and wildland firefighters when fighting fires, especially those threatening structures in the wildland/urban interface.

The complete instruction package contains 3 videos:

1. Fire Behavior in the Wildland/Urban Interface;

2. Structure Protection Strategies in the Wildland/Urban Interface; and

3. Firefighter Safety in the Wildland/Urban Interface; an Instructor Guide.

The package also contains a computer-slide presentation corresponding with the videos, and a set of overhead transparency masters to aid instruction when a computer is not available to run the computer presentations. The computer-slide presentation has been designed so that the program can be instructor-led in the classroom or self-paced for the individual student.

For more information on ordering the Firefighter Safety Video Series visit: http://www.firewise.org/catalog/audiovisual/


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Liability Fears Inhibit Fire Gear Hand-Me-Downs
Liability Fears Inhibit Fire Gear Hand-Me-Downs

Why can't Minnesota have a law like Arizona??

12-715. Donation of fire or emergency medical services equipment; exemption from civil liability; definition

A. A person, a public entity or any other legal entity that makes a good faith donation of used or excess fire control, fire rescue or emergency medical services equipment to a fire department, fire district or volunteer fire department and that at the time of making the donation believes that the equipment is serviceable is not liable for damages in any civil action for any injury or death due to the condition of the equipment unless the injury or death is a direct result of the intentional misconduct, gross or ordinary negligence of the donor. This subsection also applies to equipment that is acquired through the federal excess personal property program established by the federal property and administrative services act of 1949 (P.L. 81-152; 63 Stat. 377; 40 United States Code section 483).

B. A fire department, fire district or volunteer fire department that in good faith receives a donation of serviceable fire control, fire rescue or emergency medical services equipment and that at the time of the donation reasonably believes that the equipment is serviceable is not liable for damages in any civil action for any injury or death due to the condition of the equipment unless the injury or death is a direct result of the intentional misconduct or gross negligence of the fire department, fire district or volunteer fire department. After placing the donated equipment into service, a fire department, fire district or volunteer fire department shall maintain the donated equipment in a safe and serviceable manner.

C. For the purposes of this section, "fire control, fire rescue or emergency medical services equipment" means any vehicle, fire fighting tool, protective clothing, breathing apparatus and other supplies and tools that are used in fire fighting, fire rescue or emergency medical services.
Applications for 'Trail Gator' National Donation Program Now Being Accepted
Applications for 'Trail Gator' National Donation Program Now Being Accepted

In support of UST's commitment to be a responsible corporate citizen, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC) has established a national program to donate John Deere Trail Gator Utility Vehicles to state, county and municipal emergency organizations. Applications are now being accepted for vehicles to be awarded in 2004.

The Trail Gator is a rugged, all-terrain vehicle highly sought by police, fire and other emergency service organizations for a variety of applications, most notably off-road search and rescue as well as urban emergency utility transport.

The 6x4 version available through USSTC's program is amazingly versatile, having done yeoman's service from the scene of the World Trade Center disaster to the U.S. military's search for terrorists in Afghanistan.

Any paid or volunteer agency that would like to make a case for how a Trail Gator would improve emergency response is encouraged to apply to the program. This includes law enforcement, fire fighting, emergency medical services, search and rescue, and wildlife conservation enforcement organizations.

Applications are available either by going to http://www.ussmokeless.com/content.cfm?id=62 or by calling USSTC at 203-622-3368. Further information can also be obtained by writing to the USSTC Trail Gator Program, 100 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830.
Solve your moral problems!
Your firefighters maybe bored because of nothing to do and the public doesn't recognize them as heroes. Get them involved in public education and fire prevention activities where they are helping the public. It won't be long and they will become recognized hero’s for saving lives in a proactive way.
  
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