The International Association of Fire Chiefs’ (IAFC) Terrorism and Homeland Security Committee has released Homeland Security: Intelligence Guide for Fire Chiefs, a new resource to help fire and emergency service personnel navigate national, state and local intelligence and information sharing networks.
Homeland Security: Intelligence Guide for Fire Chiefs discusses important concepts, such as intelligence, security clearances, and suspicious activity reporting. It also provides an overview of various sources of information including intelligence fusion centers, online resources, and the National Terrorism Advisory System.
“In the decade since the September 11 terrorist attacks, the fire and emergency service has continued to struggle to identify sources of reliable information,” said Chief Hank Clemmensen, IAFC president and chairman of the board. “While clearly some progress has been made, the multi-layered and multi-faceted nature of information sharing creates a complex environment that many chiefs still have difficulty navigating.”
Intelligence is essential for effective preparedness efforts; without good, timely information fire chiefs cannot effectively train or equip their members and develop the capabilities necessary to prevent or respond to terrorist acts.
“It’s critical for leaders of the fire and emergency service to receive intelligence about terrorism trends and threats to critical infrastructure and special events in their areas,” continued Clemmensen. “What’s frustrating for many chiefs is that we know the information is out there, but we may not know where it is or how to get to it. This guide provides a roadmap for what’s available today and may help provide direction on where the road will lead tomorrow. “
For more information on IAFC’s homeland security-related programs and resources, please visit the the IAFC Terrorism and Homeland Security web page.