West Virginia State Firemen's Association

NOTE: If you want to send in a comment, please email comments to: anthony.w.carrico@wv.gov. Please copy the Association (wvsfa-webmaster@wvsfa.org) on the email so we can keep track of the communications.

Attention all Members:

The West Virginia State Fire Commission has filed two (2) Legislative Rules with the Secretary of State’s Office that will have a significant impact on the West Virginia Fire Service. One relates to training and operations of volunteer fire departments and the other is the State Fire Code. The Rules are currently our for public comment and there is a Public Hearing scheduled on the Fire Code Only on Friday, August 24th, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Charleston Civic Center Parlor “D”, Charleston, WV. The training rules are limited to written comments only.

First, as you know, the WV SFA was successful in getting HB 4107 passed unanimously which addressed training and operations of volunteer fire departments. The proposed Legislative Rule is not too bad but does need a little “tweaking” to make sure that there isn’t an undue burden placed on our members. If you would please refer to the attached DRAFT Comment letter you will see that all we are asking for are a couple of minor changes that will allow existing equivalencies to continue to be recognized.

Secondly, there is the State Fire Code which is much more controversial. The Fire Commission, by verbal amendment offered at the very last minute, decided to strike through language in a section of the old code that, by reference, now forces the adoption of over ninety (90) NFPA Standards in their entirety and without exception or modification. Included in these Standards are approximately fifty-seven (57) NFPA Standards that directly relate to the operation of volunteer fire departments. This proposal is absolutely absurd, the state fire code was never intended to be used to regulate fire departments in any way. Since it’s inception, over thirty years ago, the fire code has always exempted the adoption of any standards applicable to the operation of local fire departments. The fire commission is way out of line in attempting to change the scope and applicability of this document without any legislative authorization or a compelling reason for doing so. This action must be stopped by any and all means necessary. The WVSFA and other organizations are prepared to do so but we need your help.

These referenced Standards include, but are certainly not limited to: NFPA 1500, NFPA 1911, NFPA 1021, NFPA 1041, NFPA 1720, NFPA 1000, NFPA 1001, NFPA 1002, NFPA 1003 and NFPA 1006 . Further, as any violation of the State Fire Code is, by statute, a criminal offense, it would become a criminal offense if you or your department doesn’t meet the Standard(s). Let me give you a few examples:

• a. NFPA 1001 requires all firefighters to be Haz Mat Operations level at a minimum – many WV volunteer firefighters are currently just Awareness Level. Keep in mind, all Operations Level personnel are to be supervised by a Technician.
• b. NFPA 1002 would require that all apparatus drivers be certified to the Driver/Operator level for any apparatus they drive – not just the current EVOC course.
• c. NFPA 1500 requires all firefighters to have a comprehensive annual physical and would exclude members from service who have certain pre-existing medical conditions. Cost projections of what this would cost individual departments vary widely from $250.00 per member per year to as much as $500.00 per member per year with a much higher initial cost due to baseline establishment.
• d. NFPA 1911 requires that all fire apparatus maintenance and inspections be performed by a person who is fully certified in NFPA 1071 (Level II) and NFPA 1002 as a Driver/Operator for that piece. I doubt that there are five (5) people that meet these qualifications in the whole State, e.g. have both certifications.
• e. NFPA 1021 would require that all fire line officers – from lieutenants to fire chiefs – would have to be fire instructors as well. Chief Officers would have to be Fire Officer III and Fire Chiefs would have to meet Fire Officer IV.
• f. NFPA 1720, establishes requirements for the organization, deployment, operations of volunteer fire departments. Includes health and safety programs, risk management programs, record keeping requirements, etc….. All of these extensive programs cost more money.
• g. And you, and your fire line officers and Board of Directors could be charged criminally if your department doesn’t meet any of the referenced Standards.
• h. The Re-certification rules require all fire departments to meet all the requirements promulgated by the fire commission as part of the recertification process, so we would have to meet these standards in order to maintain certification/recognition.
• i. We could go on and on……

The Association is asking that all member departments, their individual members and their county associations submit written comments ASAP. Please consider the use of the attached DRAFT Comment letters as a template for filing comments with the Commission. Remember, the comment period ends August 24th at 4:00 pm so your immediate action is needed. Please feel free to add any additional comments that you feel are appropriate or to write your own letter(s) of comment. We encourage you to become involved in the process as these rules impact how you will operate. You can also email written comments to: anthony.w.carrico@wv.gov. Please copy the Association (wvsfa-webmaster@wvsfa.org) on the email so we can keep track of the communications. We will present printed copies of the e-mailed comments at the public hearing.

The WV SFA Officers, Executive Committee, Legislative Committee, our Lobbyist, and our representatives on the Fire Commission have fought long and hard to stop this nonsense. Even the West Virginia Municipal League has joined the fight in agreement with us because they realize even the cities cannot afford to implement these Standards in their entirety. It is now time for the Fire Commission and those in the Legislature to hear from you as the end user. They need to see that there are real people on real volunteer fire departments behind our protests. We are asking you to send in your comments – either by use of our suggested template or on your own. We are also asking for you to show up at the Fire Commission public hearing on the Fire Code on Friday, August 24 th at 10:00 am and sign up to speak. Please do not miss on your last chance to be heard…

Respectfully submitted,

James L. Oldaker, President

Attachments: Training Rule Comment Template, Fire Code Comment Template

NOTE: If you want to send in a comment, please email comments to: anthony.w.carrico@wv.gov. Please copy the Association (wvsfa-webmaster@wvsfa.org) on the email so we can keep track of the communications.

http://www.register-herald.com/todaysfrontpage/x241727101/Voters-OK-fire-levy

By Mannix PorterfieldRegister-Herald Reporter

Raleigh County voters heard the distress call from the hills and hollows and came to the rescue Tuesday of 13 struggling volunteer fire departments, approving a special fire levy with a little room to spare.

With all 87 precincts in, the levy attracted 7,447 votes, or 63.36 percent, while 4,306 other voters, or 36.64 votes, opposed it. All levy issues require a 60 percent majority.

“Happy, relieved — just a gamut of emotions,” exulted Beckley Fire Chief Billie Trump, a leading advocate of the levy, which will pump some $700,000 into the county’s only paid department.

Download the Flyer
Download the Announcement Letter

Sarah Nodurft, a paramedic with the Boone County Ambulance Authority passed away on January 25 2012.

She was born September 4, 1984 at Hendersonville, NC. She was an EMT- Paramedic for the Boone County Ambulance Authority of Danville and also worked part time for Lincoln County EMS. Sarah’s emergency services journey went through Stafford EMS, MICVFD, STAT EMS and Mingo County EMS before landing at Boone County Ambulance Authority.

Sarah was a member of the Spruce River Fire Department, Red Knights Motorcycle Club, West Virginia #3 and the Eastern Star.

She is survived by her fiancé, Rick Thompson; father, Charles Nodurft and his wife, Brenda; mother, Elizabeth Webb; brother, Christopher and Mendye Webb; nephews, Steven, Michael, David and Isaac; and a host of family and friends.

Friends are hosting a motorcycle poker on on June 16 2012 at the Lick Creek Park.

More info:

If you have not received any email in the last few days on the WVSFA Info mailing list, your email address was probably automatically removed due to excessive bounced emails.

Please follow this link or click “Subscribe” in the top menu of this website and re-add your email address to the list.

Bounced emails are processed in a very complex manner, the bottom line is, if our mailing list receives too many bounces from your email account, it will suspend and/or remove your address from our database.

Our database is an “Opt In” only database. Meaning, you MUST authorize your email account to be used. We CANNOT DO THIS FOR YOU. So please, sign up by clicking this link or clicking “Subscribe” in the top menu in order to receive the most up-to-date information from the WVSFA.

Thanks,

/john

This is a preparation alert. Between now and Monday, we may request
that all available personnel show up at the Capitol to help get this
bill passed, without amendments, in the Senate.

For those available on Monday 2/13/2012, please be prepared to rush to
Charleston for assistance on HB 4107, pertaining to training and
Legislative oversight of training. We will need an “all hands on deck”
response from all available firefighters throughout the State. For
those available and willing, prepare to take days off of work,
vacation days, etc. This bill is this important.

Will are also initiating an email campaign to all Senators regarding
these issues and HB 4107 showing our support. There’s misinformation
being spread by those against this bill and we need to set the record
straight. The correct information will be sent out by the WVSFA over
the weekend. Please copy/paste and/or send out your version of our
mailing to your Senators after you receive it from the WVSFA.

More info to follow over the weekend, including some very shocking
quotes from so-called “leaders” within the fire service.

Thanks and have a safe day!

/john

Please help support the Raleigh County Fire Levy that is coming up on their ballots.

Here’s an image you may link to or copy to your Facebook Page.

www.rcffa.net for more information.

To link to this image, copy/paste this link: http://www.bcffmaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/support_raleigh_fire_levy-300×225.jpg
Thanks!

/john

The Officers and Committee lists have been updated and posted.

/john

TO: West Virginia Volunteer Fire Departments

FROM:  W.Va. State Firemen’s Association

Statewide Fund-Raising Drive For VFDs

We would like to make you aware of an upcoming fund-raising effort and to seek your support and participation.  Starting in early September, the members of the West Virginia Beer Wholesalers Association will be spearheading a statewide fund-raising campaign in conjunction with the W.V. State Firemen’s Association. The campaign is designed to generate donations from the public and companies to help volunteer fire departments across the Mountain State.  Monies that are raised will be put into a fund so volunteer fire departments may apply for assistance with training and/or equipment needs.

The fund will be managed by the WVSFA, but any volunteer fire department will be eligible to apply for assistance, regardless of membership.  Funds will be provided on case-by-case basis, in order to serve as many VFDs as possible.

For more information, download and distribute the letter by clicking here.