Witnesses Discuss
Importance of Firefighter Training and Research through US Fire
Administration
May 17, 2012
Today, the Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing to
examine the fire service community’s priorities for the future of the
United States Fire Administration (USFA). The objective of the USFA is
to significantly reduce the loss of life and property due to fire by
preparing first responders and health care leaders to react to all
hazard and terrorism emergencies. Witnesses discussed the effectiveness
of current training initiatives at USFA, and provided recommendations
for future research, development, and training activities.
“Major wildfire blazes have affected my home state of Arizona,” noted
Subcommittee Chairman Ben Quayle (R-AZ). “Currently, there are hundreds
of firefighters working to contain at least four blazes in central and
eastern Arizona. This represents just a fraction of the thousands of
first responders and firefighters who risk their lives each and every
day battling fires across the country. The USFA supports these
individuals. They don’t take their responsibilities lightly, and neither
do I.”
The USFA has met its original reduction goal by bringing the number of
fire-related fatalities well below six thousand per year. However, more
Americans die from fire-related incidents in residential structures than
in all other natural and manmade disasters, and America’s fire death
rate continues to be higher than most of the industrialized countries in
the world.
The USFA Administrator, Mr. Ernest Mitchell, Jr., said today that “The
public, media, and local governments are generally unaware of the
magnitude and severity of the fire problem to individuals and their
families, to communities, and to the Nation.” Administrator Mitchell
encouraged expanding initiatives to address fire service deployment
strategies for events such as floods, hurricanes and terrorism. “USFA
has and must continue to work with fire service stakeholders and
partners to expand local fire service participation in emergency
preparedness,” he said.
Representing the National Fire Protection Agency, Dr. John Hall, Jr.
discussed how USFA continues to evolve. “In the years since the USFA was
founded, the fire service has transformed itself into an all-hazard
emergency response force.” Dr. Hall continued, “As our technology takes
on ever more varied forms and our lives and economies become ever more
globally interconnected, we have asked our fire service to perform ever
more varied tasks...”
Dr. Hall said that our first responders “have responded to every
challenge and everything we have asked of them. And for nearly 40 years,
the USFA has been there to raise their capabilities and help address
their needs.”
President of the Western Fire Chiefs Association, Chief Jim Critchley of
the Tucson Fire Department said, “Despite its relatively small size, the
USFA has a reputation for getting results.” Chief Critchley said the
USFA serves a critical function in that it “provides the voice of
America’s fire service within the federal government.”
The following witnesses testified today before the Subcommittee:
Mr. Ernest Mitchell, Jr., Administrator, United States Fire
Administration
Dr. John R. Hall, Jr., Division Director, Fire Analysis and Research,
National Fire Protection Association
Chief Jim Critchley, Tucson Fire Department; President, Western Fire
Chiefs Association
Mr. Kevin O'Connor, Assistant to the General President for Governmental
Affairs, International Association of Fire Fighters
