STATE FIRE PREVENTION COMMISSION
Monthly Meeting
August 19, 2014
MEMBERS PRESENT
David J. Roberts, Chairman
Alan Robinson, Jr., Vice Chairman
Bob Ricker
Marvin C. Sharp
Tom DiCristofaro
Ron Marvel
Charles Boyer
ALSO PRESENT
Patricia Davis-Oliva, Deputy Attorney General
Patrick Matthews, M.D., BLS Medical Director
Sherry Lambertson, Executive Specialist
David J. Truax, Investigator/Compliance Officer
Grover P. Ingle, State Fire Marshal
Robert P. Newnam, Director, State Fire School
GUESTS
Alan Post, American Legion #64
Louis Amabili, Hockessin Fire Co.
Anthony Guzzo, Hockessin Fire Co.
Jason Capps, President, KCAA
Anthony Spiezio, DTI
Charles Frampton, Brandywine Hundred Fire Co.
Richard Toulson, DVFA
Warren Jones, DVFA
Mike Chionchio, Office of State Fire Marshal
Alan Brown, Office of State Fire Marshal
SFPC Minutes
August 19, 2014
Page 2
GUESTS cont.
W. Mike McMichael, DSEMSA
Michael Truitt, Cranston Heights Fire Company
Sean Humphreys, Delaware State EMS Association
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Roberts called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF JULY 15, 2014 COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
It was moved by Commissioner DiCristofaro, and seconded by Commissioner Ricker that the minutes of the July 15, 2014 Commission meeting be approved. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
REPORT OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
Personnel Items
The Deputy Fire Marshal I position in Sussex County remains vacant until background checks and psychological evaluations are completed on the selected candidates. Fire Marshal Ingle will keep the Commission informed.
Fire Marshal Ingle reported that the position of Administrative Officer in Kent County was opened in house. Unfortunately, some of the individuals that applied did not meet the minimum requirements. Some appeals have been filed with the Office of Management and Budget. A meeting has been set up to discuss what the next steps will be. It is likely that the position will need to be reposted as competitive and not in-house.
James Hedrick, Deputy Fire Marshal III has received his 5 years of service award. It was moved by Commissioner DiCristofaro, seconded by Vice Chairman Robinson to send an acknowledgment to Deputy Fire Marshal Hedrick
SFPC Minutes
August 19, 2014
Page 3
Fire Fatality
Fire Marshal Ingle reported on a fire death that occurred out of jurisdiction of the State Fire Marshal within the City of Wilmington. The individual has passed and the Medical Examiner has determined the cause of death to be by smoke inhalation and thermal burns. The case remains under investigation.
Saturday, August 2, 2014 at approximately 3:30 a.m., Belvedere Fire Company was dispatched to a house fire at the 400 Block of Cedar Avenue. Upon arrival there was heavy fire showing. Two victims were home at the time of the fire. One victim made it out of the structure and the other did not. As the fire company conducted there suppression operations, they located the second victim early on, just inside of the doorway. The victim was immediately removed to outside of the dwelling, but had already succumbed to their injuries. There were circumstances that did not allow the individual to make it out of the dwelling. There was a working smoke alarm and the case remains under investigation.
FY2016 Budget
Fire Marshal Ingle reported that the process for the FY 2016 Budget has begun and he has submitted his door opener items to the Office of Management and Budget. A priority for his agency is obtaining the remaining funding for the replacement of GF law enforcement vehicles to complete the transition of agency owned vehicles to fleet vehicles. There are six vehicles remaining to complete the replacement and transfer.
Annual Report
Fire Marshal Ingle reported that the FY14 Annual Report is under review in draft form. It should be approved and disseminated by September 1, 2014.
DFIRS/False Fire Alarms
Fire Marshal Ingle reported that some improvements have been made in the DFIRS fire reporting system. Communication and training concerns were identified and addressed.
SFPC Minutes
August 19, 2014
Page 4
TOTAL STATE PARTICIPATION IN COMPLIANCE84 %
DELINQUENT DEPARTMENTS
New Castle CountyCranston Heights / May & June
Holloway Terrace / June
Kent County
Cheswold / January – June
Clayton / February - June
Felton / June
Little Creek / June
South Bowers / January 2013 – June 2014
Sussex County
Delmar / June
Ellendale / June
Roxana / January - June
OVERDUE REPORTS BY DAYS
30 Days
/ 60 Days / 90 Days / 90+ Days5 / 1 / 0 / 4
Source: DFIRS Incidents received (or entered in the NFIRS system) as of 08/01/14.
Fire Marshal Ingle discussed trying to bring awareness to the statewide false fire alarm reporting. In 2014, to date there have been 41 alarm activations, 41 warnings issued, and 1 fine issued. Out of those 41 alarm activations, 7 were true alarms.
More fire companies are cooperating with the Office of State Fire Marshal by reporting these false alarms so they can be addressed and corrected.
DVFA Conference
The Office of State Fire Marshal will participate in this year’s DVFA Conference at Dover Downs Hotel. They will have a Juvenile Intervention display table for three days. Staff members will be attending the educational seminar and the Friday luncheon.
SFPC Minutes
August 19, 2014
Page 5
State Farm Press Event – K-9 Tanya/Retirement K-9 Spark’s
The State Farm press event introducing K-9 Tanya’s and recognizing the retirement of K-9 Spark’s went very well. A number of legislator’s and Commissioner Marvel were present.
DE Burn Camp
Fire Marshal Ingle visited the Burn Camp on Friday. They had 10 children in attendance this year and more volunteers than in the past. Everyone did a great job.
ATF Resident Agent
Fire Marshal Ingle and Assistant State Fire Marshal Chionchio met with the ATF resident agent on August 18th in order to keep the lines of communication open after the retirement of an ATF agent assigned to work with the Office of State Fire Marshal. The same support will exist between the two agencies without an in-house representative.
REPORT OF THE STATE FIRE SCHOOL DIRECTOR
Director
· Annual report 2013-2014 has been completed and disseminated.
· 50th Anniversary – An open house is scheduled for November 8, 2014.
· Training Administrator position – A couple of matters are being discussed in-house. It is hoped that they will be reconciled and a posting will go out within two weeks.
· Pro-Board update to current standards – Required information has been submitted to maintain the current Pro-Board standards.
· Survey results –
o 53 Fire Chiefs responded – New Castle 21, Kent 17, Sussex 15,
· Do you support students being able to take BFFS and SFFS in the same training season? 48-Yes 6-No
· If a student misses one day of BFFS, they must wait until the next season to make that day up. Would a makeup day prior to the next SFFS class help you get your students trained in a more timely fashion? 53-Yes 1-No
· Were you aware that the DSFS offered a FFI class this June that would have enabled a student to obtain the equivalent to our BFFS and SFFS, as well as ProBoard/IFSAC certification in a weekday format? 24-Yes 30-No
SFPC Minutes
August 19, 2014
Page 6
Director cont.
· Were you aware that the DSFS has offered FFI class in a blended learning format? 26-Yes 28-No
· Would you support sending your members to a blended earning FFI and FFII class? 49-Yes 3-No
· If you answered yes to question 5, what time of year should the FFI and FFII class be held? February thru April – 26, May thru July – 5, October thru December – 11.
· The first weekend of BFFS is entirely classroom. One day is Fire Service Orientation and Firefighter Health and Safety and the second day is Hazardous Materials Awareness. The DSFS is considering several options with this weekend, please select your preference.
· Allow students to take the first weekend online and eliminate that weekend of Basic – 16
· Allow students to take the first weekend online and use that weekend to add additional training to Basic – 14
· Offer the online training as an option and leave Basic as is for the remaining students – 14
· Make no changes to Basic – 10
· The DSFS has offered portions of our core classes at the regional centers where the material did not require props that were only available in Dover. The student attendance for these classes was small and has not increased our overall attendance. Would you support continuing this practice if an increase in tuition is required?
· Yes – 26
· No – 18
· I am from Kent County and my students go to the same place regardless of how you do it – 9
· No, core classes at the Divisions are not necessary – 1
9. Do you see your department requiring FFI or FFII or ire Officer Certification for active members in the future?
Yes – 29, No – 17, we already require FFI certification – 8.
· Conducting a review of costs for In-service programs/classes. A recommendation will be brought before the Commission in the future. Director Newnam feels that he will suggest that cost be incurred for some of the in-service classes. The reason for the cost is added materials and instructors.
SFPC Minutes
August 19, 2014
Page 7
Director cont.
· IT Consolidation project – A meeting was held with representatives of DTI and the school remains waiting for a formal response in regard to funding requested from DTI.
· Renewed CLIA Laboratory – Glucometer Certificates for three counties – DSFS $450.00
· Risk Watch to Injury Prevention title change to Life Safety Programs. Risk Watch is no longer a recognized program by the NFPA.
· Received Forestry Grant for FY13 - $12,074.72
· Response to EPA with respect to fines 08-08-14
o DSFS agrees to improvements and yearly inspection requirement
· Budget submittal provided on August 18th
· August 25, Clearinghouse Committee hearing 0930 for AFG grant approval
Staff Activities
· SERT response to Station 42, Dentsply Caulk 07/12/14 – Senior Instructor Stephens
· NFPA 1917 committee meeting - August 26-27, in La Jolla, CA – Senior Instructor Walton
· Firehouse EXPO – Baltimore – Senior Instructor Baker and Dempsey
· DVFA Conference – DSFS Booth – EMS Conference support – Staff members
· SERT response to a Fire with chemicals - 11 Daisey Avenue, Frankford 07/26/14 – Senior Instructor Gajdos
· Radio interview - Radio Disney - Safe Kids and Injury Prevention – Training Educator III, O’Malley
· SERT - Hazardous Materials leak at L.D. Caulk Milford 08-07-14 – Senior Instructor Lowe
· New Castle Fire Chiefs – Crude Oil Transport workshop – 9-7-14 Sta. 15 – Senior Instructor Brennan
· Table top exercise – Active Shooter – August 13, - Senior Instructor Brennan
Programs/Courses
v Numbers listed in parentheses, i.e. (12) are attendance numbers from the previous year.
v Current Month
Ø NFA – Operations Small Departments – 8 students
SFPC Minutes
August 19, 2014
Page 8
Ø Fire Ground Operations – 17 students
Ø EMT – Defensive actions course – 17 students
v Additions – Revisions
Ø Fire Officer II – Blended program – Pilot – October/November
Ø Revisions to the Fire Instructor 1 Certification Course (On Line-Blended Learning)
Ø Revisions to the Method of Instruction course – Instructor 1 required
EMS
§ Current Month
o CEU program – 12 scheduled – (8)
o EMT courses at the Division are full for the fall – 25 students each
Public Education and Injury Prevention Activity Report
§ Current Month
o Fire Safety Tours – 2 scheduled – (0)
o Fire Safety Displays – 5 scheduled – (8)
o Fire Safety Programs – 9 scheduled – (4)
o Life Safety Programs – 5 scheduled
o Campus Fire Safety Resident Assistant Training – Del State – U of Delaware
Maintenance – Building and Grounds
· Liquids pad repairs railing/Truck prop steps
· Waxing floors – Dover Division
· Painted items on the drill grounds (red)
· Funded projects are moving forward– Folding Doors (Dover), Expansion Project New Castle
Financial
§ Past Due Billings
o 30 days – 281.00
o 60 days – 8,033.00
o 90 days – 5,500.00
§ 20678 Tuition Fund – 602,882.00
§ 20500 Haz Mat Tech Fund – 189,981.00
§ Accounts receivable – 16,743
SFPC Minutes
August 19, 2014
Page 9
§ Revenue Comparison
o Tuition – 2014 – 53,446.00, 2013 – 38,319.00
o Haz. Mat - 2014 - 1,525.00, 2013 - 9,900.00
§ Special Funds Summary – Special Funds Summary report submitted for review.
General Budget Fund FY16
· Casual/Seasonal (Instructors) - request for increase – 17,000
· Energy (Training Fuel E-III) – request for increase – 15,000
· Request for funding for DTI - IT support – detailed 125,000+
· Request to reallocate 15,000 contingency funds to personnel benefits lines
Capital Budget (Bond Bill) FY16
· Rescue Tools – 142,500.00
· 18 Fire Companies and DSFS – this is a pass though.
· New Castle Division Classroom-Office Expansion
Staff and Office Staff Meeting Minutes
Director Newnam submitted meeting minutes of the Staff and Office Staff bi-monthly meetings for review.
Personnel Issues
· JoAnn DiDonato, Training Educator III is out on medical leave until sometime in September.
REPORT OF THE BLS MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Dr. Matthews addressed the Commission and submitted the following report.
1. Narcan pilot update: progressing as anticipated. There have been several documented saves within the BLS service.
2. Standing orders: Were approved through the ALS Committee in June. The Fire Prevention Commission has them today and the next step will be going through the Board of Medical Licensure for approval. Dr. Matthews stated that “Peace Officers” will be approved to carry Narcan in 2014.
3. An 18 patient ambulance bus has been purchased by OEMS and will be housed in the OEMS warehouse.