- Author
-
U.S. Fire Administration
- Title
- Blue Ribbon Panel. USFA Review.
- Coporate
- U.S. Fire Administration, Washington, DC
- Report
-
Blue Ribbon Panel
2000
57 p.
- Distribution
- For more information contact: Website: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/pdf/bluribn.pdf
- Keywords
-
research facilities
|
planning
|
costs
- Identifiers
- funding appropriated in Public Law for USFA, 1980-1992; list of recommendations; USFA documents reviewed; budget recommendations; fire research agenda list; USFA government performance and results act goals; Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Abstract
- On the afternoon of April 29, 1998, FEMA Director James Lee Witt invited representatives from several United States fire service organizations to a meeting to express their candid opinions regarding the federal fire programs-specifically, the United States Fire Administration and its National Fire Academy. The next evening most members of this invited group would celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Congressional Fire Services Institute at its annual dinner with an awareness of two ironies. First, that during the twenty-four hour period between the meeting and the dinner, approximately eleven Americans would die in a fire-related incident and, secondly, that the federal fire programs charged with dealing with the national fire problem were in disarray. At the Old Executive Office Building, Director Witt listened to fire service leaders express their doubts and lack of confidence in the United States Fire Administration. The Director had invited the group to air their concerns and to increase his understanding of what the consequences were of what was happening to the fire programs under FEMA's direction. As the Director listened carefully, there emerged an interesting and important argument from the fire service leaders assembled with him. Although the fire problem in the United States has improved, they suggested, the federal programs designated to oversee fire-related issues have declined significantly over the past decade, thereby putting continued success in jeopardy. In terms of providing what they were designed to supply to the fire service, the federal programs were not poised effectively to meet the challenges of the 21st century. At the conclusion of this historic meeting, Director Witt asked each group to put their concerns to him in writing, outlining major issues and suggestions for improvements. In addition, the Director pledged that he would appoint a Blue Ribbon Panel to examine their concerns and "the future role of the USFA to reflect the changes in the fire service, as well as its new needs."