Fire Headlines

Responsibility for Wildfire Damage Costs

Fighting wildfires is expensive, as firefighters work around the clock to contain huge blazes, but it is not always clear who should pay for these services. Parents of two children who caused a wildfire near San Deigo, California, during a family camping trip in 2020 have been ordered to pay over half a million dollars in damages, according to an article shared by the Daily Dispatch. Another article shared by the Daily Dispatch describes the role PacifiCorp, a power utility company, played in the Labor Day wildfires that ravaged parts of Oregon in 2020, which resulted in tens of millions of dollars in damages. Chiefs Bob Horton and Jeff Buchanan speak with Fire Headlines host Inanna Hencke about liability and accountability when it comes to wildfires.

A Culture of Safety

A recent article shared in the Daily Dispatch examines an incident in 2020 where a firefighter was endangered when responding to a call in Harrisonburg, Virginia. A short documentary video that came out in June 2023 shares more about the incident, including footage captured by a civilian driver. Chiefs Bob Horton and Jeff Buchanan spoke with the chief of Harrisonburg Fire Department, Matt Tobia, about the incident, the subsequent investigation, and how to support a work environment that keeps emergency responders safe.

Encouraging Women in Fire Service

A recent article shared in the Daily Dispatch explored a specialized firefighting role in Indiana: the Indianapolis 500 Track Rescue teams, who respond to wrecks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). Of the 120 firefighters on the at the IMS Track Rescue team, nine are women. The women interviewed in the article addressed their journey in fire service and the surprised responses they receive when people realize they are part of Track Rescue. To discuss strategies to recruit and encourage more women in the fire service, Chief Jeff Buchanan and Fire Headlines host Inanna Hencke connected with Captain Adrianne Ziyad and Deputy Chief Khalilah Yancey of Women in Fire, an advocacy group for female firefighters.

Biophilic Design

A fire station in Marion, Iowa, has been designed using a sustainability consultant’s biophilic design principles to reduce post-traumatic stress disorder in firefighters. The article, shared by the Daily Dispatch, notes the 14 biophilic design principles and how they are reflected in the fire station building. Chiefs Bob Horton and Jeff Buchanan speak with Fire Headlines host Inanna Hencke about investing in these kinds of new strategies for mental health, as well as the role of a fire station in the community.

Female Firefighter Support Organizations

Women in the fire service are rare, but support organizations are working to raise the number of women in this career field. Fire Headlines connected with a female firefighter advocacy group to discuss the experiences of women in the fire service and how these associations can help support them. Chief Jeff Buchanan and Fire Headlines host Inanna Hencke speak with Captain Adrianne Ziyad and Deputy Chief Khalilah Yancey of Women in Fire about their career journeys in the fire service industry and the value that workplace advocacy groups offer.

Conflict & Collaboration in Community Safety

In Washington state, the Kittitas County Fire Chiefs Association has raised their concerns about existing road variance procedures. A road variance is an administrative process where someone seeks exemptions or relief from existing road standards. Fire chiefs are asking that, when a variance is proposed within a fire district and outside a city, the fire chief for that district be consulted to ensure that the variance mitigation meets or exceeds fire code intent prior to approval. An article sent out by the Daily Dispatch explores this issue, and Chiefs Bob Horton and Jeff Buchanan address the article’s tone and the importance of working together to protect and support a community.

Mental Health Training for First Responders

Early retirements, employee retention difficulties, and increasing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnoses are all indicators of escalating mental health struggles among first responders. In response, 11 fire agencies in South King County, WA, are in the process of creating a behavioral health unit for its crews. Guest expert Dr. Kelly Morgan joins Chiefs Bob Horton and Jeff Buchanan to discuss the science of trauma and the importance of policies that support first responders’ mental health.
You can email Fire Headlines at fireheadlines@wfca.com
Visit wfca.com/fire-headlines-podcast/. Sign up for the Daily Dispatch to get the FREE daily newsletter of articles like these in your area, as well as industry developments and trends, at www.dailydispatch.com.

Female Firefighters & Pregnancy

An article from the Daily Dispatch shares one Washington state fire department’s impetus for establishing new policies; two employees gave birth during the same month. Organizational psychologist Dr. Andrew Holter joins Chiefs Bob Horton and Jeff Buchanan to discuss the importance of inclusive workplaces and supportive work environments.
You can email Fire Headlines at fireheadlines@wfca.com
Visit wfca.com/fire-headlines-podcast/ . Sign up for the Daily Dispatch to get the FREE daily newsletter of articles like these in your area, as well as industry developments and trends, at www.dailydispatch.com.

Narcan Availability Requirements

There has been a push from Maine lawmakers to require emergency personnel, including police and firefighters, to carry Narcan, which rapidly reverses opioid overdose in emergency situations. Chiefs Bob Horton and Jeff Buchanan talk with Dr. Kelly Morgan about the value of carrying Narcan, as well as the importance destigmatizing addiction plays in treatment and recovery.
You can email Fire Headlines at fireheadlines@wfca.com
Visit wfca.com/fire-headlines-podcast/. Sign up for the Daily Dispatch to get the FREE daily newsletter of articles like these in your area, as well as industry developments and trends, at www.dailydispatch.com.

Building Fire Safety Codes

The Firefighters Association of the State of New York is working on legislation to decrease residential fire deaths in the state, as New York is leading the nation with 45 home fire fatalities in the first three months of 2023. An article shared by the Daily Dispatch notes steps that the Firefighters Association is taking to encourage fire safety, including increased building inspections and strategies to encourage people to invest in smoke alarms. Chiefs Bob Horton and Jeff Buchanan discuss these incentives for fire safety.
You can email Fire Headlines at fireheadlines@wfca.com
Visit wfca.com/fire-headlines-podcast/ . Sign up for the Daily Dispatch to get the FREE daily newsletter of articles like these in your area, as well as industry developments and trends, at www.dailydispatch.com.