Fairfax, Va. - In light of acts of terror in recent months, the IAFC recommends our members maintain a high level of vigilance and situational awareness. The IAFC recommends the following actions:
- Make sure your staff is educated about your department’s suspicious activity reporting policy. The IAFC’s Terrorism and Homeland Security Committee recommends that all fire departments have suspicious activity reporting policies.
- Ask your staff to be on the lookout for suspicious activity and report it per your suspicious activity reporting policy. If you don’t have a policy, please report suspicious activity to your local law enforcement, Joint Terrorism Task Force or regional fusion center. The IAFC has a draft suspicious activity reporting procedure and form online for your use.
- Maintain situational awareness at the incident scene to ensure firefighter safety.
- Remind your staff to carry their department identification card at all times while on duty. In the event of an actual event, identification of first responders may be verified.
The IAFC has a number of resources for your use on the Disaster Management/Homeland Security Resources page (some resources require IAFC membership and login):
- Training Trigger: Integrated Response Operations in Active shooter/hostile events
- Active Shooter and Complex Events Resources (DHS/OHA)
- Improving Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response (IAB)
- Terrorism Response: A Checklist and Guide
- JCAT 2015 Intelligence Guide for First Responders
- IAFC Homeland Security Intelligence Guide for Fire Chiefs
- U.S. Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative
- Draft Suspicious Activity Reporting Procedure for Fire Departments
- Draft Suspicious Activity Report
Disaster Management/Homeland Security Resources
Video: Chief Kevin McGee, chair of the Terrorism and Homeland Security Committee, discusses disaster management/homeland security resources available to IAFC members and lessons learned from a recent federally-funded fact-finding trip to France in the aftermath of the November 2015 terrorist attacks on Paris.
About the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
The IAFC represents the leadership of firefighters and emergency responders worldwide. IAFC members are the world's leading experts in firefighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters, search and rescue, and public safety legislation. Since 1873, the IAFC has provided a forum for its members to exchange ideas, develop professionally and uncover the latest products and services available to first responders.
Learn more