Fire & Life Safety Section

Sprinkler Ordinance passed in Celina, Texas
On Monday, September 8th, the City Council of the City of Celina Texas passed a comprehensive sprinkler ordinance that will include all one and two family dwellings.  Effective immediately, any structure built, or moved into the City of Celina will be required to be fitted with a fire sprinkler system, regardless of the square footage of the structure. (Read more)

2008 Section Election
The FLSS election took place at FRI in Denver on August 14 and the results of the election are as follows:

• Chair:  Chief Tom Lariviere
• Vice Chair:  Chief Joe Pierce
• At-Large Board Members with 3-year term:  Fire Inspector Ken Kraus, Chief Adolf Zubia
• At-Large Board Members with 1-year term:  Fire Marshal Tony Apfelbeck, Chief William Timmons

September is National Campus Fire Safety Month
Campus fire safety has become an important issue across the nation. Now in its fourth year, a number of governors have signed proclamations designating September as Campus Fire Safety Month in their states and resolutions have been passed by both the U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives. Schools across the country will be holding events to educate and inform students about what they can do to help ensure they are not the victim of a preventable fire. The launch of National Campus Fire Safety Month took place on Tuesday, September 9, on Capitol Hill.  A contingent of students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of South Carolina took part along with parent advocates, fire chiefs and others.

New "Vision" for Prevention Described at FRI
The Federal government needs to take a more active role in supporting fire prevention efforts (read more). 

Sprinklers in Long-Term Care Facilities
A new ruling went into effect on June 18, 2008, requiring that ALL long-term care facilities must install fire sprinkler systems by 2013 if they want to serve Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. This is a great win for three million elderly and disabled Americans in the nation's 16,000 nursing home. There is no more exclusion for existing nursing homes.  Read the full press release. 

Home Fire Sprinklers:  A Firefighter's New Best Friend!
Come join us at Fire Rescue International in Denver CO August 14-16 and get your free shirt and decals at our section booth. Learn how you can help us win the battle to get residential fire sprinklers in the building codes.  Register NOW before the price increases on July 15 ~

IAFC Resolution in Support of a change to the IRC to require fire sprinklers in new one and two-family dwellings and townhouses

Read the Final Action Hearing Schedule for the September Meeting in Minneapolis

Manufactured Home Structure Fire
Read full report on a modular (manufactured) home structure fire from Massachusetts State Public Safety Website with full details and analysis of components of the home which contributed to the complete loss of the house. 

Engineered Floor & Roof Joists
When fighting a fire in a home built with engineered floor or roof joists, every first responder should be aware of these "red flags" for emergency responders.