Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Workshop Schedule Released for FY 2006
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), a competitive grant opportunity for local fire departments and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) organizations not affiliated with a hospital, releases its workshop schedule for the year.MORE

Apology
We were remiss in February in not getting an update to the Texas Fire World (TFW) web site in a timely manner so we are increasing our content for this "double issue" for February and March. MORE

Texas Forest Service Burning Ban Flags
Have you seen red and white flags flying at fire departments and courthouses? The Texas Forest Service is distributing these flags in hopes that they become a recognizable image to the public, a signal to stop outdoor burning and begin conserving water. MORE

Defective Sprinklers Spur Fire Officials to Push for Backups
Recent recalls have prompted marshals to re-examine safety 'trade-offs'. Building codes around the nation rest heavily on the theory that sprinkler systems provide the best protection against fire. Now, with millions of defective sprinklers being recalled, fire officials face a new question: What if a sprinkler fails? MORE

DHS Releases Hurricane Katrina Report
We must implement a comprehensive National Preparedness System to make certain that we have a fully national system that ensures unity of effort in preparing for and responding to natural and man-made disasters, states a federal report in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. MORE

Dodge Jones Foundation Emergency Grant Benefits Big Country VFDsg
Overtaxed volunteer firefighters in the Big Country region of West Texas are receiving a welcome boost, to their funding base that is thanks to the generosity of the Dodge Jones Foundation, based in Abilene.MORE

Firefighter Fatality Investigation Reports
Sudden cardiac death claims firefighters in separate incidents, NIOSH reports. MORE

Federal Disaster Monies Available for Texas Wildfires
IFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) acting director R. David Paulison announces thaty federal funding in the form of grants and reimbursements has been made available for Texas to supplement state and local recovery efforts. MORE

DHS Announces Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Programs
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the awarding of 39 grants to fire departments throughout the United States worth nearly $32 million to focus on preventing fire-related injuries to children. MORE

GSA Offers Free Web Based Fire Service Training
The US General Services Administration has a free website for emergency services providers to learn about how to deal with some of the post Oklahoma City Bombing upgrades to many federal buildings. MORE

Deadline for Several IAFC Awards Approaching
Nominations for the HeartSafe Community Award and the Safety, Health & Survival Awards are being sought by the IAFC.MORE

New Blast Injury Website
A new website concerned with blast injuries has been established by by an academic group of University-based emergency physicians with a special interest in blast-related issues. MORE

Federal Disaster Monies Available for Texas Wildfires
Federal disaster aid has been made available to all of the State of Texas for responses to the major grass and wild land fires emergencies through out the state since late December.MORE

Vacancies at the National Fire Academy (NFA)
Numerous acancies are reported in National Fire Academy (NFA) courses at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland.MORE

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Receives $1 Million Federal Grant
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) in Emmitsburg, Maryland will receive a federal grant of $999,963 to create new programs and support existing programs for survivors and coworkers of fallen firefighters, U.S. Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett announced today. MORE

Comments Requested On NFPA 1981
The National Fire Protection Association has issued a Report on Proposals (ROP) concerning the 2006 fall revision cycle of NFPA 1981: Standard on Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus for Fire and Emergency Services for public review and comment. MORE

More NIMS Resources Now Online
FEMA and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Integration Center have recently added a number of NIMS-related resources.MORE

NIOSH Launches National Survey of U.S. Fire Departments
NIOSH is conducting a survey to understand how effective the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program has been and what can be improved to meet the needs of the fire service. MORE

Texas Fire Chief Takes FEMA Job
Plano Fire Chief William Peterson is stepping down to become the Regional Director for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).MORE

Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program
NIOSH will be holding a stakeholders' meeting on March 22, 2006, in Washington, D.C. to ensure that the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program is meeting the needs of stakeholders, and to identify ways NIOSH might improve upon the program to increase its impact on the safety and health of fire fighters across the United States.MORE

Texas Wildfire Department Fire Reporting System
Most of wild land fires in Texas go unreported at the state and national levels, resulting in missed opportunities for significant federal funding. Texas Forest Service has developed and launched a new online fire reporting system for fire departments. MORE

USFA Releases National Fire Department Census Summary Data Update
Only 24,300 fire departments registered with the National Fire Department Census, about 81 percent of the total number of fire departments estimated to be in the United States.MORE

Texas Forest Service Fire Department Fire Reporting System
Using the new computerized reporting system is relatively simple. MORE

Texas Forest Service Reporting System Helps FEMA Gather Wildfire Disaster Data
The Texas Forest Service is helping FEMA acquire information from fire departments in 254 eligible counties seeking wildfire disaster reimbursement.MORE