International Association of Fire Chiefs

Your support directly helps America's fire departments better protect our communities and respond to fires, terrorist attacks, hazardous material spills, natural disasters and rescue missions.

How do you help people in my community?

The International Association of Fire Chiefs is connected to every fire department—and in every community—in America. The old adage is, “when you need help and don’t know who to call, call the Fire Department.”  Well it’s still true, and even more important now than ever.  Today’s fire fighters do a lot more than fight fires.  They are the first responders who come to your aide for medical emergencies, hazardous materials spills, overturned trucks, wildland fires, terrorist attacks, swift water rescue, urban search and rescue, aircraft accidents, industrial emergencies, and all natural disasters.  There were 22,406,000 fires and emergencies in the United States last year, and the fire service was at every one. What’s even more amazing is that close to three quarters of fire service personnel are volunteer, not career, fire fighters.  These brave men and women are risking their lives to save you and your loved ones…for free.

Why do you need my support?

Your support of the International Association of Fire Chiefs directly help’s America’s fire departments protect our communities and respond to fires, terrorist attacks, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters and rescue missions.
The fire service protects America's critical infrastructure – the electrical grid, interstate highways, railroads, pipelines, petroleum and chemical facilities – and is, in fact, even considered part of the critical infrastructure. The fire service protects most federal buildings, provides mutual aid to most military bases, and protects interstate commerce. No passenger airliner takes off from a runway that is not protected by a fire department. Hazardous materials transports are an integral part of the U.S. economy, when they spill or ignite, the fire service responds to protect lives and property and clean-up the mess.

The number one need in the American fire service is financial resources to provide staffing, purchase the needed equipment and access relevant training. Funding for the following areas would drastically improve our ability to respond to future incidents, and adequately respond to all of the hazards we face every day.

• General funding to address the personnel shortfall existing across the nation within career, combination and volunteer fire departments
• Fundamental terrorism response training, using skilled instructors who are both fire fighters and certified instructors is of paramount importance. Training that is conducted within communities and incorporates the unique aspects of localities should be a priority.
• Thermal Imaging Cameras are integral tools for fire fighting and rescue work. Thermal imaging cameras can be used to find unconscious victims and disoriented fire fighters, to pinpoint hot spots and to detect structural dangers. These cameras, at a cost of $8,000 per device, are needed to adequately equip fire departments throughout the country.
• Chemical Biological Masks are needed for first responders to use in attacks from chemical and/or biological weapons within a twenty-five mile radius of the major population centers. Each mask costs approximately $300.
• Operation Respond is a vital software tool that provides vital life saving information to emergency responders at hazardous materials transportation incidents and rail passenger accidents. At a minimum, each public safety dispatch center in the country should have the software.
• Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s) are crucial to emergency medical response and to protecting fire fighters. Early defibrillation using an AED is one of the most important aspects of survival. For every minute without defibrillation the survival rate decreases 10%. 220,000 Americans die each year from sudden cardiac arrest. AED’s are needed for every fire and emergency services department vehicle.

How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won't waste it?

Americans gave the Fire Service the highest possible rating on a scale of “trustworthiness” in a nationwide poll.  And why not, consider Jasen Brown from the City of Alhambra (Calif.) Fire Department.  Brown came upon the scene of a two-vehicle collision.  He observed a woman who appeared to be in critical condition with two children strapped in the back seat…both in full cardiac arrest. Brown quickly removed the infant from the car and immediately began performing CPR. When he realized that the car was on fire, he freed the 2-year-old, handed the toddler to an off duty police officer and instructed him to start CPR. Then Brown struggled to free the woman in the front of the car. Despite the intensifying fire, with assistance from civilian bystanders, Brown pulled the trapped woman from the car. Once she was extricated, he cared for two injured patients from the second car until Ventura City Fire arrived. Brown’s quick action and skill levels helped him save the trapped woman and other adults in the accident; unfortunately, both children died from their injuries.   And to think Brown wasn’t even on duty at the time of his heroics.

Can I Volunteer? How?