This document summarizes resources from the U.S. Fire Administration on fire safety in abandoned structures. It provides links to reports on intentionally set fires in abandoned warehouses, vacant residential building fires, and training on assessing risks in abandoned buildings. Fire departments are encouraged to utilize these resources to prevent tragedies like recent firefighter deaths by addressing dangers in vacant structures. The document also advertises training and consulting services from Rhodes Consultants and announces the application process for the 2011 Harvard Fire Executive Fellowship program.

1. Command Knowledge is Survival
Use of
Communications
Center for
Fire-Zine
Fast Reading for a
Personnel
Accountability
Fast Paced Fire Service
(APCO International)
An article written by January 6, 2011
Bob Smith, Director of
Strategic Development
Produced by John J. McNeil,
for the Association for
Public Safety Commu-
Rhodes Consultants, Inc.
nications Officials
speaks to the use of
the communications
center to assist the
incident commander To provide members of the fire ser-
with tracking time and vice with quips of valuable informa-
personnel. tion from a plethora of resources
Depending on the available.
professionalism of the
communications
center, their assis- only caution everyone Operations
tance in these matters to remember that tech- Fire Operations in
can serve as a nology is great…. when Abandoned
“backup” initially and it works. What happens Structures
then eventually an when technology fails (USFA)
and the computer mal- The recent
integral part of the
functions? What is your double fire-
incident command pro- ness of the risks and of-
backup plan now that fighter fatality
cedures. Once training fer suggestions for ad-
you have become fire in Chicago, the eight
on the procedures has dressing the dangers
dependent on technol- civilian fatality fire in
been sufficient and associated with vacant
ogy that has suddenly New Orleans, and two
have become second and abandoned buildings.
failed? other recent building
nature to the commu- Please copy/paste the
For the complete article, collapses in Buffalo, NY
nications officers, following links and share
copy/paste the following and Washington, DC
their participation this information with
link: resulting in firefighter
could provide some community officials and
http:// injuries stress the
relief to the incident operations personnel so
www.firerescue1.com/ importance of safe
commander with his we might prevent an-
incident-command/ operations in abandoned
or her “to do” list. other tragedy.
articles/848991-How- buildings. These events
Some departments Abandoned Warehouse
communication-centers- serve as an impetus for
may be fortunate Fire (Worchester)
can-aid-incident- the U.S. Fire Administra-
enough to have mobile http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/
tion to highlight and
data computers with downloads/pdf/
software that ad- Fire Service share with you materials
designed to raise aware publications/tr-134.pdf
dresses these impor- Red Zone
tant aspects of com-
mand and may not feel
A Tactical Touchdown in 2010!
http://www.firerescue1.com/hazards-hazmat/articles/923418-How-we-stopped-
a need for going this
the-NYC-Times-Square-terror-attack/
route. However I would
Most Interesting Demo Video of New Firefighting Protection
Http://flashovertv.firerescue1.com/Media/2901-Demo-of-Cold-Fire-Tactical Burn-
Prevention/

2. Volume 1 Issue 6 Page 2
Fire-Zine Knowledge is Survival
Intentionally Set Fires
Attainment of a senior position is
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/
less important than demonstrated
downloads/pdf/publications/tr-
experience in facilitating signifi-
134.pdf
cant change within a public-sector
Vacant Residential Building
setting.
Fires
Preference may be given to appli-
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/
cants who are graduates of the
downloads/pdf/statistics/
National Fire Academy's Executive
v11i3.pdf
Fire Officer Program, although pro-
Coffee Break Training
gram completion is not a prerequi-
Abandoned Buildings
site. Preference may also be given
https://www.usfa.dhs.gov/
to applicants who have completed
downloads/pdf/coffee-break/
graduate-level degree programs or
sb_2009_1203.pdf
course work.
Abandoned Building Project
Individuals whose organizations
Toolbox Interested in Hands On Training,
have been represented in the
http://www.interfire.org/ Officer Development or a Credible
Harvard Fellowship Program during
features/ Promotional Assessment Process?
2008, 2009 or 2010 will not be con-
AbandonedBuildingProjectTool- Rhodes Consultants, Inc. sidered. The program is available
Box.asp Dedicated to
to international participants.
National Arson Prevention Providing Professional, Affordable
Finalists for the Harvard Fellow-
Initiative and Excellent
ships will be asked to develop and
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/ Training and Consultation for
present a five-year plan during
downloads/pdf/publications/ Today’s Fire Service
their interview session, describing
napi4.pdf For More Information:
how they will use the opportunity,
The USFA offers a comprehen- Contact: if awarded a fellowship, to en-
sive approach toward address- David Rhodes, President hance fire-EMS services at the lo-
ing firefighter and civilian
rhodesconsultants@gmail.com cal; regional; tribal; state, province
deaths in abandoned buildings
through several programs, pro-
678-776-5273 or territory; and national or inter-
Administration & national level. If selected as a fi-
jects and initiatives. Take ad-
Fiscal nalist more details will be pro-
vantage of these resources.
vided.
Make positive changes in your Harvard Fellowship
As in the past, selected fellows
department and community to Program
can expect in the future to be con-
prevent another fire loss similar Application procedures have been
tacted by any of the sponsors to
to Chicago, Worchester, DC, announced for the 2011 Harvard
help and support ongoing projects
Atlanta, Houston, etc., etc. Fire Executive Fellowship Pro-
to utilize their specialized knowl-
Do something different to get a gram. The program is once again
edge and skills.
different result because if sponsored through a partnership
For questions regarding applica-
nothing changes then nothing between the IAFC, Fire Protection
tion procedures only, contact Ms.
changes. Publications/International Fire Ser-
Mary Wingert at the U.S. Fire
vice Training Association, the Na-
Administration at 301-447-1085 or
tional Fire Protection Association
mary.wingert@dhs.gov.
and the U.S. Fire Administration.
For further information on this
The following criteria and guide-
“Never tell people how to do program go to
lines have been established for the
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/nfa/
things. Tell them what to do 2011 program:
harvard/index.shtm or http://
Application is open to senior fire
and they will surprise you ksgexecprogram.harvard.edu/
executives who have demon-
Programs/sl/overview.aspx
with their ingenuity.” strated significant career accom-
Application deadline is February
plishments and have the potential
———-General George S. Patton 14, 2011.
to impact and initiate change.