Albemarle County Fire Rescue News & Events Feed

Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) Survey

info@ACFireRescue.org — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:38:42 -0400

Dear Volunteers,

Below please find a link to a survey that we would like you to complete by May 7th 2009.

As many of you are aware, ACFR was awarded a sum of money from the SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) Grant about a year ago. We have since organized a committee, the ACFR Recruitment and Retention Committee, comprised of representatives from various Albemarle County volunteer fire and rescue departments, to seek marketing firms to draft a campaign aimed at increasing the number of volunteers system-wide. To make this campaign successful, we need your help! Your input is invaluable so please fill out this survey as soon as possible.

Part of the Volunteer Incentive Program that ACFRAB would like to have the Board of Supervisors implement would allow volunteers to be able to purchase medical insurance from the County of Albemarle.  If adopted, the volunteer would have to pay the cost of insurance (per Virginia Code).  Some volunteers may find the benefits and pricing of the County plan competitive or even superior to insurance they obtain on their own.  The second part of the survey attempts to find what kind of interest and participation might be expected should this part of the Volunteer Incentive Program be implemented.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Many thanks,

Lt. Neale Nickels
STVFD A Crew
Vice Chair, ACFR Recruitment and Retention Committee

Click Here and you’ll be taken to the survey.

If you have a problem, copy and paste this link into the address bar of your web browser:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=OFciRVRBu0jhAd7QXeKaCw_3d_3d

Hometown Heroes event at UVA Men's Baseball!

info@ACFireRescue.org — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:13:58 -0400

Friday, April 3rd at 1900 hours

Join us as we pay tribute to local police / fire / EMS personnel at a Virginia Baseball game on Friday, April 3rd, when the Cavaliers host the Maryland Terrapins. All fans with valid police / fire / EMS identification will receive general admission tickets for just $4. Click here for information!

Retirement Party on April 11th

info@ACFireRescue.org — Fri, 6 Mar 2009 09:12:22 -0500

Attention all Albemarle County Fire and Rescue personnel (yes, this means you!)

A retirement party is planned for several CFD FF’s who have retired in the last several years.  April 11th, 6pm, at the East Rivanna Fire Station.

Raymond James, Steve Walton, A. G. “Tweezer” Van Ness, Bill Purcell, Mary Garwood, Merlin Stewart, Granville Brown and Rick Stowell.

In order to Honor and recognize these individuals we need to know how many people would be interested in attending.  This is an event that we hope all of you would be able to attend and help show appreciation for their years of service and dedication.  These individual have paid their dues and reached the retirement club of which we are sure all of you hope to become members of one day.

The food will be chicken, barbecue, string beans, cold slaw, macaroni salad, chips, drinks, etc. provided by the Corner Restaurant.  There will be mixes for the ones that choose to indulge.  You would need to bring your own bottle (BYOB) and beer.  We need to get a head count as soon as possible so we have set a time frame and deadline to respond (RSVP by March 12th).

The cost of the meal, which will cover the hall, the meals for the retirees that we will honor and a plaque or memento for their years of service would be Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) to a maximum of Twenty Dollars ($20.00) per person depending on the firm commitment of people that plan to attend.
Hopefully there will be some good stories to tell, some time to reminiscence along with good fellowship.  Please bring any pictures or memorabilia that you may have to share with others.

It is our utmost hope that each and every one of you will be able to attend.
It will take a few hours out of your busy schedules and I am sure that you will appreciate the opportunity to honor these individuals.

To RSVP, please contact one of the following people:

Richard Graves
434-961-7266
rgraves22906@yahoo.com
P. O. Box 7644, Charlottesville, Virginia 22906 (jot him a note and slip in the mail saying whether you will attend or not)

Or

Doug McGlothlin
mcglothd@charlottesville.org.

Or

Andy Powley
eng0602@embarqmail.com

We hope that you will be able to share some of your time with us to show the most recent retirees that we haven’t forgotten them and that we still care.

Thank You,

Doug McGlothlin
Richard Graves
Andy Powley

Ordinance Draft Available

info@ACFireRescue.org — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:26:59 -0500

Albemarle County Fire Rescue News and Events RSS Feed Subscribers-

Last week, a draft of the proposed Fire Rescue ordinance was made public by the Ordinance Committee. Copied below is the e-mail from the Committee Chair, Ken Boyd, announcing the draft as well as Chief Smythers request that written comments be directed to himself or Chief Haugh.

You may view the draft ordinance here.

Dear Stakeholders,

Attached is the draft of the Fire Rescue Ordinance from our committee which is being presented for your review. We will make a formal presentation to ACFRAB at the February 26th meeting but would prefer your written comments as well. Our schedule calls for presenting this to the Board of Supervisors for public comment at their May 6th meeting so we will need all comments and suggestions by April 1st.

Thanks,

Ken Boyd
Committee Chair

All,

The ordinance is posted on the website as well at http://sites.google.com/site/albemarlevolunteers/

Volunteers should direct their written comments through either Dayton Haugh or Doug Smythers

Thanks,
Doug

Hometown Heroes event at UVA Women's Basketball!

info@ACFireRescue.org — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:46:18 -0500

Friday, January 23rd at 1900 hours at John Paul Jones Arena

As thanks for your service to our community, the UVA Women's basketball team would like to invite all area Police, Firefighters, and EMS personnel to join them as they host the Florida State Seminoles on January 23rd at 1900 hours at the John Paul Jones Arena. Click here for information!

Joint work-session with BOS and ACFRAB

info@ACFireRescue.org — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:25:42 -0400

Audio file now available

On 22 October, The Board of Supervisors and the Albemarle County Fire Rescue Advisory Board held a joint worksession to discuss the organizational structure of the emergency service system in Albemarle County. The podcast is available for download here.

Fuel Reduction Memorandum

info@ACFireRescue.org — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:12:17 -0400

Memo regarding fuel reduction strategies:

With the rising cost of fuel continuing to impact daily operations, the Albemarle County Department of Fire Rescue has begun monitoring fuel consumption by vehicle and looking for ways to reduce overall fuel consumption by the Department. Attached is a memo from Deputy Chief Oprandy to all ACFR staff which may also be beneficial to the volunteer stations and squads. In addition, if we would like to learn from our volunteer partners any ideas, concepts, best practices, etc. they are using to reduce their fuel usage.

Please feel free to share information with Chief Oprandy, Chief Brown or Budget Analyst Wendy Roberman. Thank you!

New Income Tax Exclusion for Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders

info@ACFireRescue.org — Fri, 8 Aug 2008 14:17:33 -0400

New Income Tax Exclusion for Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders
By Steward Rouleau, FSLG Senior Analyst

The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 contained an important provision affecting firefighters and other emergency responders who receive local tax benefits or other benefits for volunteer services. This provision was further clarified by the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008.

What Are the New Benefits?
The new law provides that volunteer firefighters and emergency responders may exclude certain benefits from income provided on account of the performance of volunteer services.

Property Taxes
A common practice in many jurisdictions is to provide volunteers with reductions or abatements of state or local property taxes in recognition of work performed. Because this represents a benefit received in exchange for services performed, under previous law this represented compensation and gross income for federal tax purposes under Internal Revenue Code section 61. Beginning January 1, 2008, volunteers who perform services for a qualified volunteer emergency response organization may exclude the value of property tax abatements from Federal gross income. These amounts are also excluded from Social Security and Medicare (FICA) tax.

Other Benefits
In general, reimbursements for expenses are included in the income of the volunteer unless they are made under the provisions of an Accountable Plan. An Accountable Plan requires that an employee timely account for all reimbursements and return any excess amounts; see Publication 15, Employer’s Tax Guide. The new law provides that the value of other benefits that qualifying volunteers receive (such as reimbursements for expenses or equipment allowances), up to $30 for each month of service during a calendar year may be excluded from income for income tax, Social Security and Medicare purposes. The new law does not require that these payments be made under an Accountable Plan. If the volunteer performs services in each month of the year, the maximum exclusion for these benefits is 12 x $30, or $360 per year.

Who Is Eligible?
Individuals who perform services for qualified volunteer emergency response organizations are eligible for these benefits. A “qualified volunteer emergency response organization” for this purpose is an entity that is organized and operated to provide firefighting or emergency medical services for persons in the state or political subdivision. The $30 per month exclusion applies to amounts not otherwise excludable as reimbursements received under an Accountable Plan. For more information on accountable plans, see section 5 of Publication 15-B.

No Double Benefit
Property taxes are generally deductible as itemized deductions, but any amounts excluded under these provisions may not be included on Schedule A as deductible taxes.

When Can the Exclusion Be Taken?
The exclusion is available for tax years 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Further Information
The IRS expects to issue further guidance on the implementation of this law in the near future. Visit the IRS Website for updated information.

Crozet Volunteer Fire Department First Annual SummerFest Competition

info@ACFireRescue.org — Fri, 23 May 2008 08:17:19 -0400

Crozet Volunteer Fire Department First Annual SummerFest Competition

Saturday, 5 July 2008
Claudius Crozet Park

Download the PDF flyer and entry form.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

May 2008 Fire Rescue Advisory Board Meeting Notice

info@ACFireRescue.org — Fri, 23 May 2008 08:15:55 -0400

May 2008 Advisory Board Meeting Notice
Wednesday, 28 May 2008
1900 Hours
Albemarle County Office Building-McIntire, Lane Auditorium

The agenda and all documents related to the agenda for the May 2008 Albemarle County Fire Rescue Advisory Board are available for download online at www.ACFireRescue.org.

Plain text link: http://www.albemarle.org/department.asp?department=fire&relpage=4308

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Nominate a Deserving Firefighter for a New House

info@ACFireRescue.org — Wed, 7 May 2008 11:36:53 -0400

Nominate a Deserving Firefighter for a New House

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is looking for a firefighter whose house and family need help. The show is accepting nominations for a firefighter who has displayed heroism or has proven to be a positive role model within the community, but whose family is in dire need of a new home. If there is a firefighter within your department or community that can benefit from a home makeover, nominate them today. Learn more and access nomination guidelines.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Summer 2008 Boot Camps Start Soon

info@ACFireRescue.org — Wed, 7 May 2008 11:11:14 -0400

Summer 2008 Boot Camps Start Soon
New classes start Mid-May!

ACFR & ACAC have teamed up to offer a group exercise class: Boot Camp PT! This new group class, is held at the new ACAC Downtown, is an intense workout geared towards a military style of training, incorporating various forms of body weight exercises, as well as supplemental weight exercises, all put together to make you not only stronger at what you do - saving lives & property - but, also make you more efficient at what you do.

This class will help you achieve a greater level of fitness, no matter how "in shape" or "out of shape" you feel you currently are.

This PT style will offer new and exciting PT opportunities for current fire rescue personnel. The class will also help prepare job candidates for physical agility tests for fire rescue departments, police departments, and Armed Forces basic training.

  - Sunrise Boot Camp: Wednesday mornings: 0545-0645. Begins 21 May; Ends 2 July (no class on 11 June)   $79/ACAC members

  - Afternoon Boot Camp: Tuesdays & Thursdays: 1300-1400 Hours. Begins 20 May; Ends 17 June (no class on 12 June).   $99/ACAC members

The addition of boxing seems to be a big hit in the Boot Camps, so we will continue to include it.  Make sure to keep your weight training gloves and bring them to class!

Pre-registration is highly recommended and greatly appreciated. Boot Camp classes have limited space (maximum 12 participants).   Please register at ACAC-Downtown at the Front Desk. Be sure to register with the Boot Camp you plan on attending (Sunrise or Afternoon). All classes meet in the Group-Ex Room, second floor of ACAC-Downtown.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at wellness@ACFireRescue.org

Interstate 64 Lane Reversal between Hampton & Richmond Scheduled for 11 May

info@ACFireRescue.org — Wed, 7 May 2008 11:09:22 -0400

Interstate 64 Lane Reversal between Hampton & Richmond Scheduled for 11 May
Commonwealth to Practice Interstate 64 Lane Reversal
Expect Early Morning Traffic Delays

RICHMOND - As the Atlantic hurricane season nears its June 1 kickoff, we all must prepare for hurricanes, including the emergency response crews who are responsible for the safety of Virginians during hurricane-related evacuations.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), Virginia State Police and the Virginia National Guard will partner to conduct an emergency preparedness exercise on May 11 from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.
to test state agencies' ability to reverse Interstate 64 traffic between Hampton Roads and Richmond.

The reversal of I-64 is an element of the commonwealth's overall hurricane response plan. A reversal can be ordered by the governor to speed the evacuation of the Hampton Roads region in the event of a hurricane or other disaster.

The exercise involves closing I-64 east between Interstate 295 near Richmond (Exit 200) to just east of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (Exit 272).

The agencies will rehearse all of the steps needed to place westbound traffic in both the westbound and the eastbound lanes of I-64, but no actual westbound traffic will be routed onto the eastbound lanes during the exercise.

The exercise will test the commonwealth's lane-reversal plan and will allow the agencies to evaluate the effectiveness of communications tools, inter-agency procedures and the incident-command structure. It will provide real-world experience for the crews that will have to quickly close 36 interchanges and safely reverse the direction of travel on the interstate if an evacuation is ordered.

"We want to rehearse an interstate reversal before a real-world event makes it necessary," said Michael Cline, Virginia's state coordinator of emergency management. "It is vital that VDOT, VDEM, the State Police and the National Guard prepare for emergencies, just as ask encourage all Virginians to develop and practice their own emergency plans."

Virginia has practiced this reversal only once, during a similar exercise in 2007. No actual interstate lane reversal has ever been ordered in the commonwealth.

The exercise is planned for a time period when the fewest motorists use I-64. Fewer than 1,000 vehicles normally use the busiest stretch of I-64 in the exercise area during the two early morning hours of the exercise. The agencies involved in the exercise have notified motorists, businesses and major transportation hubs in the corridor to minimize traffic delays.

"Although we never want to cause motorists delays, emergency response is a key focus for VDOT and our partner agencies," said David S. Ekern, VDOT commissioner. "All emergency responders must possess the training and experience to conduct safe and efficient evacuations in a crisis. We have planned this exercise for a time that impacts the fewest motorists while ensuring that our crews get the training they need to safely and efficiently conduct any lane reversal ordered during an emergency event."

"One of the most important missions of the Virginia National Guard is providing assistance to civil authorities during times of crisis in the commonwealth," said Maj. Gen. Robert B. Newman, Jr., the adjutant general of Virginia. "Taking part in this exercise is an important opportunity for us to work with VDOT, VDEM and the State Police to ensure we are well prepared to respond to a severe weather event in the Tidewater region."

Detailed hurricane evacuation information, lane-reversal maps and other hurricane preparedness resources are available at http://www.ReadyVirginia.gov and at http://www.VirginiaDOT.org/hurricanes.

Exercise Details
* 5 a.m.- The exercise begins with the closure of I-64 east at the I-295 interchange (Exit 200). All on-ramps onto I-64 east between I-295 near Richmond (Exit 200) and the east side of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (Exit 272) will be closed.
* Motorists traveling east on I-64 approaching the I-295 interchange and those traveling on I-295 wishing to use I-64 east will be detoured using I-295 south to Route 60 or Route 5.
* Motorists already traveling east on I-64 east of the I-295 interchange will continue to use the highway. However, no additional motorists will be able to enter I-64 east in theexercise area between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m.
* 5:45 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. - State Police, VDOT and National Guard personnel will confirm that all gates have been closed. Crews will "sweep" the lanes by car between Exit 200 and Exit 234 to simulate how emergency responders will ensure that all eastbound traffic has been cleared from the lanes before traffic is reversed.
* 6:05 a.m. - All I-64 east off-ramps on from Exit 234 to Exit 272 will be closed.
* During a real-world event, westbound traffic would then travel on both sides of the interstate to speed the evacuation. For the exercise, westbound traffic will not actually be diverted onto the eastbound lanes. Drivers on I-64 west will not be impacted by the exercise.
* 7 a.m. - All lanes and ramps will reopen.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Emergency Preparedness State Tax Holiday

info@ACFireRescue.org — Wed, 7 May 2008 11:04:00 -0400

Emergency Preparedness State Tax Holiday
May Sales Tax Holiday for Emergency Preparedness Equipment

When: Sunday, May 25, 2008 through Saturday, May 31, 2008

What's Exempt: During this seven-day period, purchases of certain supplies and equipment need for hurricane preparedness will be exempt from sales tax. Retailers may also choose to absorb the tax on other items during the holiday period, but they are responsible for paying the tax on those items to the Department of Taxation.

Other Information:
- Guidelines (PDF 100Kb)
- List of Exempt Products (PDF 46Kb)
- Sales Tax Holiday Information Center

Contact the Virginia Department of Taxation for details.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Recruitment Team Roundtable Scheduled for Tuesday, 13 May at 1800 Hours

info@ACFireRescue.org — Fri, 2 May 2008 07:05:00 -0400

Recruitment Team Roundtable
Topic: Personnel Reporting Revisions

Recruitment Teams will meet on Tuesday, 13 May 2008 at 1800 Hours to discuss proposed revisions to SAP-DEP-029: Personnel Reporting.
This includes revisions to required data elements like "Eligibility for Rehire", etc.
The Roundtable will take place in the ACFR Conference Room at COB-5th Street.

Review the proposed policy revisions online (pdf).

Attendance by all station recruitment teams is encouraged.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Winning the Battle Against Rising Healthcare Costs: The Future of Corporate Wellness

info@ACFireRescue.org — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:43:53 -0400

Winning the Battle Against Rising Healthcare Costs: The Future of Corporate Wellness

Presented by the Charlottesville Networking Group and hosted by ACAC@Work
Keynote Speaker: Dr. David Satcher, former U.S. Surgeon General

Wednesday, 14 May 2008
ACAC Fitness & Wellness Center, 500 Albemarle Square, Charlottesville, VA
0700 - Light Breakfast
0745 - Dr. Satcher's Talk
0900 - Question & Answer with Local Corporate Wellness Leaders & Dr. Satcher
0930 - Charlottesville Networking Group Trade Show

Tickets: $25 available in advance at ACAC-Albemarle Square, ACAC-Downtown, and Cville Weekly on the Downtown Mall

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at wellness@ACFireRescue.org

National Volunteer Week

info@ACFireRescue.org — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:12:46 -0400

National Volunteer Week
27 April - 3 May 2008

National Volunteer Week reflects the power that volunteers have to "inspire by example" volunteers both encourage those they help and motivate others to serve! Find out how you, too, can participate in the week’s many offerings.

This year's theme is "Volunteer to Change the World." Click here to download the 2008 National Volunteer Week resource guide, which will provide resources on how to plan and publicize recognition activities on local, state or national levels.

Discover how simple it is to nominate volunteers for awards, including the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Your organization can also become certified to present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to deserving volunteers during National Volunteer Week, as well as throughout the year. This top volunteering award is sponsored by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.

And lastly, you can celebrate volunteers by joining them. With the Foundation’s help, you can easily find opportunities in your area to lend a helping hand. You will be glad you did!

National Volunteer Week was created in 1974 when President Richard Nixon signed an executive order to establish the week as an annual celebration of volunteering. And every year since that time, each U.S. President, along with many governors, mayors and other elected officials, has signed a proclamation promoting National Volunteer Week.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

April 2008 Fire Rescue Advisory Board Meeting Actions, Documents, & Audio Available

info@ACFireRescue.org — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:11:54 -0400

April 2008 Advisory Board Meeting Actions, Documents, & Audio Available

The Action Letter, Action Records, Minutes, and audio file from the April 2008 meeting of the Albemarle County Fire Rescue Advisory Board are available for download online at www.ACFireRescue.org.

The May meeting of the Fire Rescue Advisory Board is scheduled for Wednesday, 28 May 2008 at 1900 Hours.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Albemarle County Chief of Fire Rescue Selected for Harvard Fellowship

info@ACFireRescue.org — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:48:31 -0400

  Chief J. Dan Eggleston of Albemarle County Department of Fire Rescue Selected for Harvard Fellowship
- Eggleston is Amongst Eight Senior Fire Officials Selected for Harvard's Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) announced yesterday the selection of eight senior fire officials to attend Harvard University's Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program conducted by the John F. Kennedy School of Government, including Dan Eggleston, Albemarle County's Fire Rescue Chief.

This 19-day program brings together state and local government officials from across the United States to focus on the complex roles and responsibilities of senior elected, appointed, and career officials.

"I am pleased to announce the senior fire officials selected to attend the 2008 Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program. This particular Harvard program is considered to be one of the best in the nation for bringing state and local leadership together in order to examine and discuss critical challenges facing state and local governments," said United States Fire Administrator Greg Cade.

The Harvard Fellowship program for fire service leaders is a joint effort between the USFA, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the Fire Protection Publications/International Fire Service Training Association (FPP/IFSTA), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Each organization funds two senior official fellowships.

The senior fire officials selected for the 2008 Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program are:
-William Bingham, Fire Chief, City of Boynton Beach (Florida) Fire/Rescue Department
-Eugene Campbell, Deputy Fire Chief, City of Las Vegas (Nevada) Fire Department
-John (Dan) Eggleston, Fire Chief, Albemarle County (Virginia) Fire/Rescue Department
-David James, Fire Chief, City of Delray Beach (Florida) Fire/Rescue Department
-Michael Randolph, Assistant Fire Chief, City of Gainesville (Florida) Fire/Rescue Department
-Marc Revere, Fire Chief, Novato (California) Fire Protection District
-Lawrence Rooney, Deputy Fire Chief, City of Peoria (Arizona) Fire Department
-Mark Wendelsdorf, Fire Chief, City of Caldwell (Idaho) Fire/Rescue Department

Eggleston, Albemarle County's Director of Fire Rescue since 2002, previously was awarded the professional designation of "Chief Fire Officer (CFO)" by the Commission on Chief Fire Officer Designation, becoming one of only 459 CFO's worldwide in 2005.  He is one of only 23 CFO's in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  The Chief Fire Office Designation program is a voluntary program designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate their excellence in seven measured components including:  Experience, Education, Professional Development, Professional Contributions, Association Membership, Community Involvement, and Technical Competencies.

"Dan's strong leadership and visionary thinking have made a significant difference in meeting the county's current and future emergency service needs," said Assistant County Executive Bryan Elliott in announcing Eggleston's selection for the Harvard program.  "We look forward to this opportunity for Chief Eggleston to share his experiences and expertise with other quality agencies from across the country and to bring back to Albemarle a better understanding of those critical challenges facing local governments nationwide."

To find out more about this USFA program, or the many other programs available through the USFA, visit www.usfa.dhs.gov

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Chamber of Commerce Announces Business Emergency Preparedness Workshop

info@ACFireRescue.org — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:33:36 -0400

Chamber of Commerce Announces Business Emergency Preparedness Workshop

Business Emergency Preparedness Workshop
All businesses have one thing in common - they are equally susceptible to emergency situations.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008
8:30AM: registration; 9:00-NOON: Program
Cost: $25.00 (non-member: $50.00)
Comfort Inn - Monticello

Start preparing by signing up today.

-Is Your Business "Really" Prepared?
-Are you and your employees prepared to handle the unexpected?
-Is your staff adequately trained?
-What no-cost and low-cost resources are available?
-What is "your" role in an emergency?

Presenters
Marge Thomas, Albemarle County/Charlottesville/UVA Emergency Management Coordinator
Marge Sidebottom, UVA Emergency Preparedness Director
J. Dan Eggleston, Chief, Albemarle County Department of Fire Rescue
Jason C. Nauman, Captain, Albemarle County Department of Fire Rescue
John Echols, Underwriter, State Farm
Gary Albert, Agent, State Farm

Underwritten by State Farm Insurance

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Albemarle County Department of Fire Rescue Awarded $392,000 SAFER Grant

info@ACFireRescue.org — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:04:09 -0400

Albemarle County Department of Fire Rescue Awarded $392,000 SAFER Grant

The Department of Homeland Security (FEMA/USFA) announced a 2007 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant award to the Albemarle County Department of Fire Rescue for volunteer recruitment, retention, & marketing.

The SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) Grant was created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations in order to help them increase the number of trained, "front-line" firefighters available in their communities.

The goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments’ abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by NFPA and OSHA (NFPA 1710 and/or NFPA 1720 and OSHA 1910.134 - see www.nfpa.org/SAFERActGrant for more details). Specifically, SAFER funds are used to assist local fire departments to increase their staffing and deployment capabilities in order to respond to emergencies whenever they may occur. As a result of the enhanced staffing, response times should be sufficiently reduced with an appropriate number of personnel assembled at the incident scene. Also, the enhanced staffing should provide that all front-line/first-due apparatus of SAFER grantees have a minimum of four trained personnel to meet the OSHA standards referenced above. Ultimately, a faster, safer and more efficient incident scene will be established and communities will have more adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards.

The $392,000 grant is funded over four-years as follows:
FY 2008-09: $80,000
FY 2009-10: $92,000
FY 2010-11: $104,000
FY 2011-12: $116,000

Funding is awarded to implement important marketing and advertising components of volunteer recruitment and marketing plans.
-The funds will be used for advertising, supplies, equipment, and marketing.
-This may include supplies, equipment, banners, radio advertising, print advertising, pamphlets, door hangers, mailings, television advertising, website development, etc.
-The initiatives in each response district are based on the demographics and makeup of the community servedas not all initiatives work in all areas.

Being a combination volunteer-career system, we have a wide range of people comprising our Department, and we are committed to developing a model combination system.
-One prominent common denominator is evident on every response: a lack of adequate staffing.

Funding for recruiting and retaining volunteer personnel will help us better serve our community while further reducing the risk to personnel who are presently working or volunteering with the Department.
-Working to ensure adequate staffing will ensure better, safer, and more efficient services to our community.

Albemarle County strives to recruit and maintain a diverse workforce.
-We exhaust every opportunity to recruit and hire members of minority groups in order to increase the diversity within our workforce.
-Funding this program through a 2007 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant will provide the essential monies needed to move us toward more adequate staffing levels.

There are many details that will need to be worked out over the next several months to define a plan for this project; additionally, this project should dovetail with the Volunteer Program Support Initiative recently funded by the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

$100,000 in Scholarships & Grants Available to Junior Firefighters

info@ACFireRescue.org — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:23:48 -0400

$100,000 in Scholarships & Grants Available to Junior Firefighters

The National Junior Firefighter Program (a program of the National Volunteer Fire Council) is offering ten $5,000 scholarships to junior firefighters nationwide who demonstrate commitment and dedication to their local junior firefighter program and the fire service.

The departments of each of the winning students will also receive a grant of $5,000.

The deadline for applications is 15 May 1700 Hours EDT.
The scholarships and department grants will be awarded during Firehouse Expo in July.

View Application Overview and Criteria
View Application Process
Download Application

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

April 2008 Fire Rescue Advisory Board Meeting Notice

info@ACFireRescue.org — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:09:01 -0400

April 2008 Advisory Board Meeting Notice
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
1930 Hours
Albemarle County Office Building-McIntire, Lane Auditorium

Jefferson Country Fire & Rescue Association (JCFRA) meets quarterly from 1900 until 1930 Hours.

The agenda and all documents related to the agenda for the April 2008 Albemarle County Fire Rescue Advisory Board are available for download online at www.ACFireRescue.org.

Plain text link:  http://www.albemarle.org/department.asp?department=fire&relpage=4308

Agenda Items of Interest:
  Volunteer Program Support Initiative
  Strategic Planning
  EMS Revenue Recovery
  Ambulance Type III Specifications (for Action)
  Platform 100’ Aerial Specifications (for Action)
  SAP-DEP-040: Volunteer Exit Process  - Interviews & Surveys (for Action)
  RSS Feeds & Podcast Information
  SAP-OPS-004: County Duty Officer (for Information and Discussion)
  FY 2006-07 Audits
  Finance-Budget Committee Update and Requests

The FireRMS User’s Group will meet at 1800 Hours on Wednesday, 23 April 2008 at COB-McIntire, Room 246.

Please update FireRMS personnel records prior to Tuesday, 22 April 2008.
Please update all incomplete incident reports prior to Tuesday, 22 April 2008.

The May meeting of the Fire Rescue Advisory Board is scheduled for Wednesday, 28 May 2008 at 1900 Hours.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

NVFC & USFA Release Report on Emerging Health and Safety Issues in the Volunteer Fire Service

info@ACFireRescue.org — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:58:28 -0400

NVFC & USFA Release Report on Emerging Health and Safety Issues in the Volunteer Fire Service

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) in partnership with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has completed a study of emerging occupational health and safety issues in the volunteer fire and emergency services. The report, Emerging Health and Safety Issues in the Volunteer Fire Service, provides information on initiatives, programs, and strategies for reducing fatalities among volunteer firefighters.

"The volunteer fire service is an integral part of our nation's Homeland Security," said U.S. Fire Administrator Greg Cade. "The USFA was pleased to work in partnership with the NVFC to develop focused initiatives to support the health and safety of America's volunteer firefighters."

There are an estimated 823,950 volunteer firefighters in the United States, according to the National Fire Protection Association report U.S. Fire Department Profile through 2006. Over 70 percent of the fire departments in the U.S. are all-volunteer and 17 percent are mostly volunteer combination departments. With the vast majority of fire departments and their communities dependent on volunteer firefighters, there is a critical need for effective health and safety programs to protect these volunteers from preventable injury, illness, and death.

"The volunteer fire service has distinct issues related to health and safety that need to be specifically addressed," said Philip C. Stittleburg, NVFC Chairman. "We lose too many volunteer firefighters in line-of-duty deaths."

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Eat at Chick-Fil-A on Tuesday, 22 April 2008 at Help Support Seminole Trail Fire Ladies' Auxiliary

info@ACFireRescue.org — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:53:51 -0400

Eat at Chick-Fil-A on Tuesday, 22 April 2008 at Help Support Seminole Trail Fire Ladies' Auxiliary

Tuesday, 22 April 2008
1700-1930 Hours
Chick-Fil-A on Woodbrook Drive (in Lowe's parking lot)
15% of profits go directly to help with gear, equipment, and station funding.

Bring the kids by to see the new fire engine!

www.stvfd.org

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Recruitment Team Roundtable Scheduled for Tuesday, 22 April at 1800 Hours

info@ACFireRescue.org — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 09:19:25 -0400

Recruitment Team Roundtable
Topic: Background Screenings

Recruitment Teams will meet on Tuesday, 22 April 2008 at 1800 Hours to discuss proposed SAP-DEP-034: Background Screenings.
This includes revisions needed to comply with EMS Rules & Regulations.
The policy’s second reading before ACFRAB has been postponed until May 2008.
The Roundtable will take place in the ACFR Conference Room at COB-5th Street.

Review the proposed policy online (pdf).

Attendance by all station recruitment teams is highly encouraged.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

CDC Health Advisory: Adverse Effects Associated with Consuming "Total Body Formula" and "Total Body Mega Formula"

wellness@ACFireRescue.org — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:27:45 -0400

CDC HEALTH ADVISORY
Adverse Effects Associated with Consuming "Total Body Formula" and "Total Body Mega Formula"

This is an official CDC Health Advisory.
April 14, 2008, 18:50 EDT

CDC Alert on Adverse Effects Associated with Consuming "Total Body Formula" and "Total Body Mega Formula"

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working collaboratively with state health departments, the American Association of Poison Control Centers, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on reports of adverse health effects following consumption of the dietary supplement "Total Body Formula," and "Total Body Mega Formula" manufactured in the USA exclusively for Total Body Essential Nutrition, Inc.  This dietary supplement has been found by FDA to contain hazardous levels of selenium (up to 200 times the label value) and  chromium (up to 17 times the label value).

An FDA press release on April 9, 2008 detailed information regarding the level of selenium in the product (http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01818.html).  FDA is advising consumers to stop using "Total Body Formula" in flavors Tropical Orange and Peach Nectar and "Total Body Mega Formula" in the Orange/Tangerine flavor and discard them by placing them in a trash receptacle outside of the home.

"Total Body Formula" products are sold in eight-ounce and 32-ounce plastic bottles. "Total Body Mega Formula" is sold in 32-ounce plastic bottles.
Products with the following lot numbers should be discarded: Total Body Tropical Orange with lot numbers 4016801, 4024801 and 4031801; Total Body Peach Nectar with lot numbers 4016802 and 4031802; and Total Body Mega Orange/Tangerine with lot number 4031803.

As of April 11, 2008, 91 adverse reactions have been reported from Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia health departments.  The American Association of Poison Control Centers and the FDA report additional exposures in other states.

Total Body Essential Nutrition, Inc reportedly distributed this product to 16 states (Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia), and also sells its products over the Internet.

Clinical description of selenium toxicity
Excessive intake of selenium is known to cause the following symptoms:
significant hair loss, muscle cramps, diarrhea, joint pain, fatigue, loss of finger nails and blistering skin.

Clinical description of chromium toxicity
Excessive intake of chromium may result in the following symptoms:  renal failure, elevated hepatic enzymes, thrombocytopenia, hemolysis, changes in thought processes, gastrointestinal disorders, chest pain, erythema/flushing/rash, dizziness, headache, agitation, and rhabdomyolysis.

Case definition
Individuals presenting with two or more of the following symptoms that occurred within two weeks of ingesting a dietary supplement manufactured in the USA exclusively for Total Body Essential Nutrition, Inc:
hair loss, muscle or joint pains, fingernail discoloration or changes, headache, foul breath, weakness, gastrointestinal symptoms (such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain), rash, oliguria/anuria or abnormal renal function tests, jaundice or abnormal liver function tests, anemia or hematological changes.

CDC requests that consumers and clinicians who encounter patients with symptoms consistent with selenium and/or chromium poisoning report these cases to their local poison control center (PCC) at 1-800-222-1222.
Medical personnel are available at PCCs to provide specific medical management advice and will make appropriate referral to state and local health authorities.

Health care professionals and consumers are also encouraged to report adverse events to the FDA's MedWatch program at 800-FDA-1088 or online at www.fda.gov/medwatch/how.htm.

For more information visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Visit us online often at www.ACFireRescue.org to view incident, event, staff photos, and more.
For more information, please e-mail us at wellness@ACFireRescue.org

Photo Gallery Returns

info@ACFireRescue.org — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 15:54:34 -0400

Online ACFR Photo Gallery Returns

The online photo gallery at www.ACFireRescue.org has made a comeback!
Due to the unexpected delay in the implementation of the County's new web content management system, we have reintroduced our photo gallery using free software from VSO | PhotoOnWeb.

Visit us online often at www.ACFireRescue.org to view incident, event, staff photos, and more.
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Virginia Office of EMS | Continuing Education Opportunity

info@ACFireRescue.org — Wed, 9 Apr 2008 13:02:54 -0400

Virginia Office of EMS | A Continuing Education Opportunity brought to you by the Virginia Poison Centers

The Virginia Poison Center, Section of Clinical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine in cooperation with the Virginia College of Emergency Physicians is pleased to offer a free seminar:
DIAGNOSIS and TREATMENT of ACUTE and OCCULT CHEMICAL EXPOSURES

In the twenty first century, medical professionals will be on the front lines in the early detection of occult chemical exposures, whether they are environmental disasters or deliberate contaminants. This seminar will prepare physicians and other emergency medical personnel to recognize and treat acute chemical exposures by reviewing key clinical signs and current management principles for some of the most likely chemical, biological and radioactive agents.

This seminar is scheduled for:
Tuesday, 22 April 2008 at the Henrico Training Center
7701 East Parham Road, Richmond, VA
0930. - 1500 (Lunch Provided)

Seating capacity for this event is limited, so we encourage you to register by 18 April 2008 via e-mail or fax. You will receive confirmation by e-mail. If you are unable to attend, please forward this information to other colleagues with interest in the seminar.

Should you require additional information, please contact the seminar's on-site coordinator, Nancy Walton, at (804) 828-4780, or e-mail at poisoncenter@mcvh-vcu.edu.

For more information, please contact the Thomas Jefferson EMS Council or the Virginia Department of Health - Office of Emergency Medical Services.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

ACAC Seeking Lifeguards, Swim Instructors and Offering Lifeguarding Classes

info@ACFireRescue.org — Tue, 8 Apr 2008 16:23:43 -0400

ACAC Seeking Lifeguards and Swim Instructors

ACAC, one of our community partners, is hiring lifeguards and swim instructors.

Lifeguards:
-Full-time and part-time job opportunities available
-Flexible hours
-Free ACAC membership with 13+ hours of work per week
-Opportunities for lifeguard certification available

Swim Instructors:
-Full-time and part-time job opportunities available
-Flexible hours
-Free ACAC membership with 5+ hours of teaching
-WSI certification is preferred, but not required - training is available for interested applicants

StarGuard Lifeguard Training Sessions
-11-13 April
-18-20 April
-2-4 May
-9-11 May
Each session runs Friday (1700-2000 Hours), Saturday and Sunday (0900-1800 Hours).
Interested individuals only need to enroll in one of the sessions listed above.

Register for classes at ACAC-Albemarle Square or via telephone 434.978.3800.

Anyone with a swimming and/or teaching background is encouraged to apply!

Visit www.ACAC.com for details or contact Mirjana @ 434.984.3800 or mirjanab@acac.com

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at wellness@ACFireRescue.org

JCPenney Hometown Heroes, Special Friends & Family Event

info@ACFireRescue.org — Tue, 8 Apr 2008 16:14:31 -0400

JCPenney Hometown Heroes, Special Friends & Family Event

JCPenney
Charlottesville Fashion Square Mall
www.jcp.com

Save 10%, 15%, or 20%*

Sunday, April 20th
with extended shopping hours (1100-2000)!

*Certain restrictions apply. See attached coupon/flyer.

Download the most recent Preferred Pricing Program (pdf).

The County of Albemarle assumes no obligation for these arrangements and does not endorse or warranty any of the listed organizations' services, products, or programs, nor does it negotiate, guarantee, nor endorse discount vendors or discount prices.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Course Vacancies at the National Fire Academy

info@ACFireRescue.org — Sun, 6 Apr 2008 09:58:34 -0400

Course Vacancies at the National Fire Academy

All vacancies are filled on a first come, first served basis and qualified by using the Student Selection Criteria listed on the NFA website.

Second Semester 2008
R101      Code Management: A Systems Approach
                8/4/08-8/15/08                    7 vacancies

R135      F. Protection for the Built Environment
                6/22/08-6/27/08                  3 vacancies

R203      Fire Dynamics-Fire Modeling
                8/18/08-8/29/08                  1 vacancy

R213      Analysis of Arson Management
                7/27/08-8/1/08                    14 vacancies

R491      NFIRS: Program Manager
                7/20/08-7/25/08                  14 vacancies

R492      NFIRS: Standards of Cover
                6/1/08-6/6/08                       21 vacancies
                6/22/08-6/27/08                  21 vacancies

R508      Partnering for Fire Defense and Emergency Services Planning
                9/14/08-9/19/08                  12 vacancies

R810      VIP: Leadership & Administration
                9/14/08-919/08                   8 vacancies

R811      VIP: Fire Cause Determination
                7/20/08-7/25/08                  5 vacancies
                9/14/08-9/19/08                  2 vacancies

R816      VIP: Community Education Leadership
                9/14/08-919/08                   20 vacancies

FAQ:  NFA Vacancy Lists
Q.  Why are there vacancies at the National Fire Academy?  Are enrollments down?
A.  Enrollments in the National Fire Academy (NFA) are actually up. Last year, in cooperation with our State training partners, our on-line training at NFAOnline, and in our resident and off-campus delivery program, the NFA reached 108,000 fire service professionals.  In 1995 we trained just 15,000.  Like every college, we plan our academic year based on last year’s enrollments, the number of new courses on the schedule, waiting lists for current courses and the calendar and our best estimate of the demand for courses the following year.  It’s not an exact science.

Vacancies occur for any number of reasons – some classes have low demand because the number of fire department members doing that job is low (e.g.
public educators, data analysts, training, plans review, budget), but these courses are in many ways critical to the success of fire and life safety and the administration of the fire department.  Other times we may overestimate the demand.  When that happens, we cancel a low-demand course, move the enrolled students into another delivery of that course and use the funds to run an additional high-demand course.

Q.  It seems that I’m hearing more about vacancies than I ever have in the past. Why is that?
A.  Well, you are. Before widespread communication using web sites and email, the NFA relied on last minute telephone calls to fill seats.  We couldn’t announce the vacancies in sufficient time to get the students here to campus.  Now, with improved communications, the increased membership and support of the Alumni Association and the participation of many of the fire service organizations, we distribute vacancy announcements in a matter of minutes.  It is working very well.

What you are seeing, though, is only the vacancies.  We never send out the list of classes that are already filled and have a waiting list.  The lists show only the few vacancies we have.

Q.  I don’t apply during the application period, I like to wait to see what classes have vacancies before I apply, is that a good idea?
A.  NO!  The first requirement for a student’s eligibility to attend the NFA is their current job responsibility (Box #16).  If you wait, it is likely that the courses you qualify for will be filled by others in the normal application process.  When that happens, you lose the best chance you had to attend the NFA. Worse, if applications are low, the class you seek may be cancelled.  The most useful and valuable course for you may never show up on a vacancy list.  The better strategy is to apply during the normal application periods (May 1- June 30 and Nov 1 to Dec 30).  Remember, if you qualify, you may apply for two different courses in the same semester (using a separate application for each); however, you will only receive a stipend for one trip per fiscal year (Oct 1 through Sept 30)

Q.  Why are there waiting lists and vacancy lists at the same time?
A.  Our courses are academically rigorous, and every class is considered mid- to upper-level college course work.  It is important to ensure that each student is capable of success in the course before being admitted.

Students are accepted to the NFA based on the ‘target audience’ criteria listed in the catalog.  We want to make sure that the course is a benefit to both the fire department and the students when they return; and is of sufficient complexity to advance the student’s knowledge to improve local service delivery.  Students who do not meet the ‘target’ criteria would slow the class down, and expose the student to possible failure.

It is more important to fill a seat with a qualified student than it is to simply fill a vacancy.  This ensures success for the department, the student and the rest of the class.

Q.  What is the most frequent cause of application rejection?
A.  Used the wrong application.  For resident courses, applicants should submit the long form (75-5) application which requires the chief’s signature Didn’t fill out the application completely Didn’t sign the application, or have the Fire Chief sign the application Failure to describe your activities/responsibilities as they relate to the course for which you are applying and identify how you will use the information obtained from the course. (Box 16).

Q.  Any suggestions to increase my chances of success?
A.  On our website, there is a document that provides eight “tips” for completing a successful application.  It only takes a minute – but will dramatically improve your chances for success:
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/nfa/about/attend/apply.shtm

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

2008 American Heart Association Walk

info@ACFireRescue.org — Sun, 6 Apr 2008 09:46:21 -0400

2008 American Heart Association Heart Walk
19 October 2008

The American Heart Association is the oldest and largest national non-profit voluntary health organization in the world, dedicated to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, our nation’s #1 and #3 killers and our greatest health risk.

The kick-off for the 2008 Heart Walk will be held on 18 April. National Start! Walking Day is scheduled for Friday, 18 April in Charlottesville, to honor the memory of the victims of the Virginia Tech tragedy and their families. Log on to www.startwithamillion.org to get started. The event on the 18th is about walking and having fun together!

Sign up for a free fitness tracker at www.heart.org/mystartonline. Get moving and join Americans across the country for Nation Start! Walking Day!

If you would like to serve as a team captain and coordinate a team for the 2008 Heart Walk, please contact Captain Nauman at jnauman@albemarle.org.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at wellness@ACFireRescue.org

Volunteer Incentive Program at the National Fire Academy

info@ACFireRescue.org — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 09:20:49 -0400

Volunteer Incentive Program at the National Fire Academy

Since 1980, the National Fire Academy (NFA) has offered two-week courses year round on its Emmitsburg, Maryland campus. These courses are considered the best available anywhere. The problem was that most volunteers couldn't take two weeks off to attend these courses. With the NFA’s Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP), all that changed! VIP is an intensive six-day educational opportunity designed specifically for volunteer and combination department emergency services personnel.

The VIP program, which has been offered four times a year during VIP Week, compressed the two-week course work into six days, devised new courses and tailored them to the special needs of volunteers, while maintaining content, quality and integrity.

Recently, however, we received word that the NFA has reduced the number of VIP Weeks from four down to three because too few people were applying for the course.

VIP students still have the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas and information with colleagues from across the country in an informal setting. The program, along with other NFA resources, ensures a successful learning experience while keeping the time commitment to a manageable period of one week.

Every VIP student receives a stipend to cover the cost of round-trip coach airfare or actual mileage not to exceed airfare from point of departure; whichever is less. The NFA also provides lodging, student materials, books and ground transportation to and from airports in Washington, D.C. Students staying on campus must purchase a meal ticket at a cost of $20 per day at our cafeteria (cost subject to change). Students are advised to bring extra money for a class shirt, class picture or other incidentals.

I personally had the opportunity to attend the Master Planning course in 1990, and in 1994, I attended the Leadership and Administration course. Without a doubt, I am still using today what the courses taught me way back then. These two courses, both of which have been updated several times over the years, should be prerequisites for those of you who lead your departments.

We realize that you are giving a week out of your life when you make this commitment, but you should realize that the educational and networking opportunities presented to you will have a long-lasting benefit for you and your community.

All of the VIP courses are of the highest quality, the campus is state-of-the-art and comfortable, and when you return home, you will ask yourself repeatedly why you had not attended previously.

The IAFC, VCOS and NVFC strongly support the VIP program. It is essentially free, except for food costs, and you can consider it a rebate of some of the federal tax dollars that you pay! Please make VIP attendance a high priority for you and your department members. Tell your officers, tell your boards of directors, but most importantly, commit to excellence by attending the Volunteer Incentive Program at our nation’s National Fire Academy.

See the NFA’s VIP website (www.usfa.dhs.gov/nfa/resident/vip/index.shtm) for more information on this program.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Kings Dominion Announces 2008 Public Employee Days

info@ACFireRescue.org — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:54:58 -0400

Kings Dominion Announces 2008 Public Employee Days

Spring is in the air and that means Kings Dominion is ready to open for its 34th season on Saturday, 22 March.

Public employees can visit any operating day between 22 March and 18 May to get the best deal of the season! $20 discount coupons are available by clicking on the 2008 Kings Dominion Discount link.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Virginia Office of EMS 2008 Announces Blog, MySpace Page, and Podcasts

info@ACFireRescue.org — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:56:19 -0400

Virginia Office of EMS Announces RSS Blog & MySpace Page
Podcasts Coming Soon!

BLOG
Visit the Office of EMS blog to learn the latest news, updates, and information from OEMS. The blog will also let you leave comments or have discussions with the OEMS bloggers!
http://virginiaems.wordpress.com/

MYSPACE
Through MySpace, we want to provide instant feedback for your questions, concerns and suggestions. We'll work hard to provide the support that you need because we know how hard you work serving others.
http://www.myspace.com/virginiaems

PODCASTS COMING SOON
The Office of EMS Podcasts will soon be available on the OEMS Website! The podcasts will be an easily downloadable MP3 that will allow you to listen to the latest news and updates from the voices of OEMS!
http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/oems

For more information, please visit the Virginia Department of Health - Office of Emergency Medical Services website.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Designated Officer Training: Infection/Exposure Control

info@ACFireRescue.org — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:54:11 -0400

Designated Officer Training: Infection/Exposure Control

Saturday & Sunday
3-4 May 2008
0830-1700 Hours
Piedmont Virginia Community College

This two-day course is designed to prepare the infection control officer to fully meet the requirements of the position under NFPA 1581, OSHA, and the Ryan White Law.

To register for this course, contact the Thomas Jefferson EMS Council at 434.295.6146.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Update on Implementation of Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act

info@ACFireRescue.org — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:09:32 -0400

Update on Implementation of Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act
Provided by National Volunteer Fire Council

The Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA) was signed into law in December 2007, prohibiting taxation of certain benefits provided by state and local units of government to volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel. Specifically, the first $360 that an individual receives per year in compensation for his or her service as a volunteer emergency responder is not considered taxable income. Additionally, any benefit in the form of a tax reduction as compensation for service as a volunteer first responder is no longer considered taxable income by the federal government.

Some FAQ:
Q.  What about volunteer firefighters who receive more than $360 per year from their departments for their volunteer service?
A.  VRIPA only affects the first $360 a volunteer emergency responder receives as compensation for their service. Any amount that a volunteer emergency responder receives in excess of $360 in a given year would be taxed in the same manner that is has been in the past.

Q.  What about income that volunteer firefighters receive from other sources?
A.  VRIPA only applies to income received as compensation for service as a volunteer emergency responder.

Q.  How can I take advantage of VRIPA?
A.  VRIPA is in effect for the 2008 tax year. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is still in the process of developing regulations for implementing VRIPA. In January, Congressman John Larson (D-CT) sent a letter to the IRS requesting that they develop and release the implementing regulations as soon as possible. The NVFC is in regular contact with Congressman Larson’s office and will make additional information regarding implementation of VRIPA available as it comes to us.

For questions regarding VRIPA, please contact Dave Finger, NVFC Director of Government Relations at dfinger@nvfc.org.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at wellness@ACFireRescue.org

Virginia Fire Chiefs Association Announces 2008 Fire Officers' Academy

info@ACFireRescue.org — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:15:53 -0400

Virginia Fire Chiefs Association Announces 2008 Fire Officers' Academy

When:  16-21 June 2008
Where:  University of Richmond
Cost:  None
Application Period:  7 January - 31 March 2008

The VFCA has developed a curriculum that is both practical and challenging and serves as a solid foundation of general leadership skills that compliment and promote the fire and emergency services best practices in health and safety. This unique educational opportunity is further enhanced by instructional seminars, interactive lectures and participatory scenarios presented by today’s fire and emergency service leaders from the Commonwealth of Virginia and across the nation.

The 2008 offering of the Virginia Fire Officer Academy (VFOA) will be conducted on the campus of the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia June 16-20, 2008. The VFOA is a resident course offering, therefore; if admitted you will be required to stay on campus for the duration of the academy. Successful applicants for the VFOA will be provided at no expense to the applicant or the sponsoring jurisdiction, program tuition, meals, accommodations, and course materials.

Through a competitive selection process the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association will select forty (40) applicants to participate in this interactive learning experience. Applications for admission must be completed in their entirety and include the signature of the sponsoring agency Fire Chief and/or department head and include an original letter of support from the Fire Chief and/or Department Head. Completed applications for admission should be mailed to: Virginia Fire Chiefs Association c/o Virginia Fire Officers Academy Admissions, P.O. Box 70907, Richmond, Virginia 23255-0907.

Applications for the 2008 Virginia Fire Officer Academy will be accepted beginning January 7, 2008. Applications must be post marked no later than March 31, 2008 and received no later than April 4, 2008. Applications received after April 4, 2008 will not be considered for this academy offering. Notification of selected participants will be made on May 9, 2008.

http://www.vfca.us

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at wellness@ACFireRescue.org

Virginia Office of EMS 2008 CISM Training

info@ACFireRescue.org — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:50:34 -0400

Virginia Office of EMS 2008 Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Training scheduled for 27-31 May 2008 in Virginia Beach

Join us for the 2008 CISM Annual Training in Virginia Beach, Virginia from May 27 - 31. While relaxing in Virginia Beach, enjoy networking with your fire, EMS, law enforcement and mental health peers and learn new techniques, standards and experiences that help with handling the stress incorporated with such demanding lifestyles.

A fresh schedule of courses is available this year including new ICISF certified seminars, two sessions of Group and Individual Crisis Intervention Combos, the CISM response to the Virginia Tech Incident, stress management techniques and much more! We're also offering more classes at varying times to ensure you get the chance to attend more courses and get the most for your money!

For more information, please contact the Thomas Jefferson EMS Council or the Virginia Department of Health - Office of Emergency Medical Services.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

March 2008 Fire Rescue Advisory Board Meeting Notice

info@ACFireRescue.org — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:11:08 -0400

March 2008 Advisory Board Meeting Notice
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
1900 Hours
Albemarle County Office Building-McIntire, Lane Auditorium

The agenda and all documents related to the agenda for the March 2008 Albemarle County Fire Rescue Advisory Board are available for download online at www.ACFireRescue.org.

Plain text link: http://www.albemarle.org/department.asp?department=fire&relpage=4308

Agenda Items of Interest:
EMS Revenue Recovery
Ambulance Type III Specifications
Platform 100’ Aerial Specifications
Volunteer Program Support Initiative
SAP-DEP-040: Exit Process – Interviews & Surveys
SAP-DEP-034: Background Screenings
RSS Feeds & Podcast Information
SOG-OPS-013: Backing Guideline Revisions

The FireRMS User’s Group will meet at 1800 Hours on Wednesday, 26 March 2008 at COB-McIntire, Room 246.

Please update FireRMS personnel records prior to Tuesday, 25 March 2008.

Please update all incomplete incident reports prior to Tuesday, 25 March 2008.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Virginia Office of EMS Announces Web-Based Continuing Education

info@ACFireRescue.org — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:19:13 -0400

Virginia Office of EMS Announces Web-Based Continuing Education

The Office is EMS is pleased to announce the capability to receive electronic continuing education records from third-party CE vendors.

This new interface allows the Office of EMS to accept and apply Category 1 and Category 2 CE credits earned from approved third-party vendors directly to the provider’s CE records. For EMS certification levels that require recertification at the state level (First Responder, EMT-Basic, EMT-Enhanced) the number of CE credits that can be earned online and counted toward recertification is unlimited. However, provider’s seeking to recertify their National Registry certification (EMT-Intermediate 99 and EMT-Paramedic) are limited to 10 hours of online/distributive education credits. This is a policy of the National Registry of EMT’s.

For more information, please contact the Thomas Jefferson EMS Council or the Virginia Department of Health - Office of Emergency Medical Services.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Crozet Volunteer Fire Department Spring Truck/Car Raffle

info@ACFireRescue.org — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 13:23:15 -0400

Crozet Volunteer Fire Department Spring Truck/Car Raffle

The Crozet Volunteer Fire Department Spring Truck/Car Raffle is fast approaching. The raffle is scheduled for Saturday, 10 May 2008.

This year's raffle:
- A 2008 Volvo S40, Camille Blue, 4-door, 5-cylinder, with AM/FM/CD and more!

Tickets are available from any Crozet member, at the Crozet Fire Station, or at Fisher's in Crozet.
Tickets, which include two dinners at the Firehouse on the evening of the drawing) are $100 each, and only 375 tickets will be sold!

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Hollymead Fire Rescue Station Now Open

info@ACFireRescue.org — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:16:48 -0400

Hollymead Fire Rescue Station Now Open

Hollymead Fire Rescue, Station #12, is the newest fire rescue station in Albemarle County, Virginia. The station is one of thirteen stations in the Albemarle County Fire Rescue system.

The new fire rescue station construction has recently been completed and is located off Airport Road in the Route 29 North corridor adjacent to the University of Virginia Research Park.

When fully operational, the new station will house an ambulance, engine, ladder, and water tanker. The station will be staffed 24 hours per day, seven days per week by both volunteer and career staff. Join our team!

As a result of the new station, the Hollymead community will benefit from improved emergency response times, additional community resources, and an increased presence of emergency services personnel and apparatus. The station will also move us closer to meeting staffing requirements for fire and emergency medical service delivery.

Get the facts about the new station here (pdf)!

http://www.HollymeadFire.org

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org

Mass E-Mails to be Phased Out, Replaced by RSS Feeds

info@ACFireRescue.org — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 13:28:35 -0400

PHASING OUT FYI E-MAILS

In an innovative effort to be good stewards of technology, the Albemarle County Department of Fire Rescue will begin phasing out mass e-mail correspondence in lieu of more advanced RSS feeds.

By June 2008, system-wide FYI (information-only) e-mails will be discontinued except for important and/or urgent informational correspondence.  In place of the mass e-mail distribution, information will be posted to RSS feeds.  For individuals who may prefer to continue to receive notification of the information via e-mail, several free services are available to send RSS feeds to any valid e-mail address (see below).

Correspondence that is not informational-only, is not system-wide, or correspondence requiring acknowledgement, action, or containing sensitive/confidential information will continue to be distributed by e-mail.

Additional information on RSS/XML feeds, podcasting, and specific addresses for ACFR feeds can be found below or online at www.ACFireRescue.org.

RSS, XML FEEDS & PODCASTING

What is it?
RSS, or Really Simple Syndication, is a convenient way to keep up with news.  Subscribing to an RSS feed is simple, but first, you need to get an RSS "reader" (or "aggregator"). There are several different types, some are web-based and some install directly on your computer. There are many out there, mostly free, and a web search should reveal many to choose from.

After getting your "reader", it's time to get some news to read. Most sites that offer RSS feeds should display a button similar to the one shown to the reader's right or elsewhere on this page.  Buttons like these are your link to subscribe to the feed. The "reader" that you choose should give you detailed information on how to proceed from here.

For those who choose not to download software, there are numerous services that will send any RSS feed via e-mail.  SendMeRSS (http://www.sendmerss.com)  and FeedBlitz (www.feedblitz.com) are two of the most popular free web-based tools.

Recent versions of most e-mail applications (Microsoft Outlook) and web browsers (Internet Explorer and Firefox) are capable of managing your RSS feeds as well.

Once you subscribe to a feed using a "reader", information will be delivered to your computer automatically. You will be able to download text, documents, audio, video, and other file formats to your hard drive or portable device for listening or viewing at your convenience.

How do I subscribe to an RSS feed?
1. There are several common ways to add a feed to your "reader." However, in general, these are the steps to follow:
Copy or Ctrl+C).
3. Open your "reader" and select Add Feed, New Channel, Subscribe, etc. The specific terminology will vary according to which "reader" you use.
Paste or Ctrl+V).
5. Follow the program's prompts as directed.

Feeds
Albemarle County Fire Rescue Advisory Board Feed & Podcast:  http://www.acfirerescue.info/feeds/acfrab.xml

ACFR News & Events Feed:  http://www.acfirerescue.info/feeds/news.xml

ACFR Training Feed & Podcast:  http://www.acfirerescue.info/feeds/training.xml

ACFR Video Feed & Podcast: http://www.acfirerescue.info/feeds/video.xml

ACFR Volunteer Recruitment mp3 Feed & Podcast: http://www.acfirerescue.info/feeds/volunteer.xml

Other Albemarle County Feeds:
-Board of Supervisors:  http://www.albemarle.org/rssfeeds/BOSMeetings.xml
-Pressroom:  http://www.albemarle.org/rssfeeds/pressroom.xml
-School Board:  http://schoolcenter.k12albemarle.org/education/rss.php?sectiondetailid=41908

Terms of Use
RSS service is a means by which the Albemarle County Department of Fire Rescue offers feeds of story headlines in XML format ("RSS Content") to interested parties who use RSS "readers" or "aggregators."  These Terms of Use govern your use of the RSS service. These Terms of Use may be changed by Albemarle County at any time with or without notice.

Use of RSS Feeds:
RSS is a free service offered by the Albemarle County Department of Fire Rescue, hereafter referred to as ACFR, for non-commercial use. Any other uses, including without limitation the incorporation of advertising into or the placement of advertising associated with or targeted towards the RSS Content, are strictly prohibited.  You must use the RSS feeds as provided by ACFR, and you may not edit or modify the text, content or links supplied by ACFR. For web posting, reprint, transcript, or licensing requests for material, please send your request to info@ACFireRescue.org.

Ownership/Attribution:
ACFR retains all ownership and other rights in the RSS Content, and any and all ACFR logos, seals, and trademarks used in connection with the RSS Service. You must provide attribution to the appropriate ACFR website in connection with your use of the RSS feeds. If you provide this attribution using a graphic, you must use the appropriate ACFR website's logo that we have incorporated into the RSS feed.

Right to Discontinue Feeds:
ACFR reserves the right to discontinue providing any or all of the RSS feeds at any time and to require you to cease displaying, distributing, or otherwise using any or all of the RSS feeds for any reason including, without limitation, your violation of any provision of these Terms of Use. ACFR assumes no liability for any of your activities in connection with the RSS feeds or for your use of the RSS feeds in connection with your website.

Please visit us online at www.ACFireRescue.org
For more information, please e-mail us at info@ACFireRescue.org