Call to Action for WFCA Member States

Author: Mark Niemeyer, WFCA President & Fire Chief, Boise Fire Department
Published: 12/18/2023
WFCA recently learned of an email from "The Coalition for Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure (CERCI)" to Western state associations, falsely claiming that the FirstNet Authority aims to strip local control in the 4.9 GHz spectrum. FirstNet Authority, a government entity overseen by public safety executives, prioritizes protecting and enhancing first responders' communications. CERCI, backed by Verizon, T-Mobile, and utility companies, seeks to take the 4.9 GHz spectrum for commercial use. We strongly urge WFCA member states to resist CERCI's efforts and support our public safety network's growth. Please read on for more details about this concerning communication.     read more

Cellular Coverage - A Public Safety Issue

Author: Jeffrey D. Johnson, Executive Director, Western Fire Chiefs Association
Published: 8/22/2023
The general public is reliant on their cell phones for nearly everything. The public’s demand for real-time data is driven by their daily experiences, and when public safety doesn’t meet those expectations, they are critical and vocal. In times of emergency, they will anticipate receiving meaningful information through their phones. As a public safety chief, the time has come to fully embrace your role in advocating for and improving cellular coverage. Read on to learn how you can identify locations where your department needs cellular coverage.     read more

WFCA and Cal Poly’s WUI FIRE Institute Form Collaborative Alliance

Author: Western Fire Chiefs Association
Published: 8/15/2023
The WFCA's Applied Sciences Center (ASC) and the Wildland-Urban Interface FIRE Institute at California State Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly WUI Institute) have established a synergistic alliance to help create the most fire resilient communities in the world. Our WUI communities are facing, and will continue to face for decades to come, extraordinary wildfire threats from a perfect storm of ecologic, economic, and climatologic forces. Our organizations have a shared mission, experience, and the humility to recognize the complexity and consequential magnitude of the WUI problem, one requiring the recruitment of expertise outside of ourselves.     read more

Aerial Firefighting: A Vital and Indispensable Component of Fighting Wildfire

Author: Paul Petersen, Executive Director, United Aerial Firefighters Association
Published: 7/21/2023
The United Aerial Firefighters Association (UAFA) is the only trade association dedicated to all types of aerial firefighting – prioritizing safety, effectiveness, innovation, and collaboration within the community. It aims to educate policymakers and legislators about critical industry concerns, fostering communication and collaboration among firefighting organizations, industry players, and stakeholders. By engaging with members and governmental entities at all levels, UAFA strives to promote the safety and effectiveness of aerial firefighting operations.     read more

Emergency Technical Decon and Cool Clean Technologies Confirm Lithium Battery Fire Contaminants Cleaned from PPE

Author: Chief Mike Duyck (Ret.), President, Emergency Technical Decon
Published: 5/01/2023
Lithium-ion battery (LIB) fires are hazardous to communities as well as firefighters’ health and safety. Unpredictable and dangerous to fight, LIB fires release toxins contaminating firefighter protective gear. In response to this alarming fact, Emergency Technical Decon (ETD), a state-of-the-art cleaning solution provider, and Cool Clean Technologies, a solution provider of liquid CO2 technology innovations, partnered on a preliminary study investigating the removal of LIB fire contaminants from firefighter protective clothing. ETD and Cool Clean Technologies’ test results had an average lithium removal rate of over 80%; a promising start to completely decontaminating firefighter gear.     read more