At All Times, Service Above Self

Fire Corps by Brian Humphrey LAFD Firefighter/Paramedic Dear Friend of the LA Fire Department: The men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department applaud the official launch of Fire Corps, a new nationwide program for citizen advocates of the Fire Service. Recently Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge announced the official launch of the Fire Corps program.

Fire Corps

Fire Corps was created to support Fire Departments across the country by leveraging community volunteer efforts to handle non-emergency activities. Actively involving citizens in a non-emergency role will enable highly trained Fire Service personnel to focus more fully on acute emergency tasks. What's more, citizen advocates will help expand educational outreach to all residents about ways in which they can help protect themselves, their families, and their communities from fire hazards.

Fire Corps will also educate Fire Departments and Fire Service organizations on how to involve citizens in these non-emergency activities. As a Program Partner of President Bush's Citizen Corps initiative, Fire Corps will work through local Citizen Corps Councils across the country to offer citizens education, training, and volunteer opportunities.

Fire Corps is a partnership between the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Volunteer Combination Officers Section (VCOS), the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), and the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Fire Administration and Office of State and Local Government Preparedness and Coordination.

"By partnering with the fire community to create Fire Corps, we will offer citizens in every neighborhood across America an opportunity to support their local firehouse," said Secretary Ridge during remarks to the Fire Corps National Advisory Committee. "Citizen volunteers can have an impact in a variety of ways. Some may choose to spread the word about fire prevention or educate the community on fire safety or help with routine administrative tasks. But all in choosing to serve will give Firefighters more time and resources to pursue their critical, highly skilled responsibilities on the front lines of emergency response -- where they are needed most."

Fire Corps volunteer activities may include assisting Fire Department personnel with administrative duties, performing education and outreach efforts to encourage fire safety and prevention, supporting CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training in emergency preparedness and basic response techniques, and other non-suppression activities unique to rural and urban areas.

"Across this nation, we are keenly aware of people with a strong desire to serve their communities and contribute their time and skills to support homeland security, and in particular their local Firefighters," said Chief R. David Paulison, U.S. Fire Administrator, Department of Homeland Security. "When Firefighters can stand side by side with citizens in promoting fire prevention and general safety efforts, and are able to invite citizens to assist with non emergency responsibilities, the overall security and safety of their community is greatly enhanced."

To learn about existing LAFD programs that have been assembled under the Fire Corps umbrella in Los Angeles, please visit:

http://www.lafd.org/firecorps.htm

To learn more about the emerging Fire Corps concept and find - or start - a program in or near your community, please visit:

http://www.firecorps.org

Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,

Brian Humphrey

Firefighter/Paramedic
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department
E-Mail: beh9593@lafd.lacity.org

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