Cancer Greentown - Ohio State Firefighters Association

Transcription

FEATURE
ARTICLE
Cancer
Feature
Department
Greentown
April 2015
Vol. 46, Issue 2
OFFICERS and COMMITTEES
Chairman
of the Board
Jason Pollitt
3747 Bass Road
Williamsburg, OH 45176-9768
513-724-1669
[email protected]
President
Tim Adams
35810 Neff Road
Grafton, OH 44044-9260
888-414-OSFA (6732)
330-483-4923
[email protected]
1st Vice President
Mark Resanovich
1301 Woodland Drive
Uniontown, OH 44685-9521
330-896-0728
[email protected]
2nd Vice President
Chris Peterson
1055 Salt Springs Road
Warren, OH 44481-9618
330-442-4121
[email protected]
Secretary/Treasurer
Rodger Sansom
P.O. Box 400
Mogadore, OH 44260-0400
800-825-OSFA
FAX 800-825-6732
[email protected]
Subscription/Membership
Advertising
Rodger Sansom
P.O. Box 400
1-800-825-OSFA
Non-member subscriptions
are available to recognized fire
service agencies, government
officials, and libraries.
Rates upon request
OHIO FIREFIGHTER is the
official publication of The Ohio
State Firefighters’ Association.
It is published six times
a year to circulate information
about the fire service in the
State of Ohio
Visit us on
the web!
Chaplain
Rev. Joe Campbell
40 South Oviatt Street
Hudson, OH 44236-3002
914-714-9456
Legal Counsel
Porter “Chip” Welch
P.O. Box 657
Sunbury, OH 43074-0657
614-774-0390
Fax: 740-625-6271
National Volunteer
Fire Council
Tim Adams
35810 Neff Road
888-414-OSFA (6732)
330-483-4923
Publications
[email protected]
Advertising
Rodger Sansom
800-825-6732
PSS – Fire Subcommittee
Phil McLean - Member
330-659-4507
Eric Wildemire - Member
740-819-3710
PSS Representatives
EMS:
Mark Resanovich - Member
330-896-6610
Deanna Harris - Member
330-461-0010 (c)
Credentials, Ways
& Means
Steve Skeldon - Chair
614-778-2783
Scott Skeldon - Member
614-873-8990
Resolutions - S.E.R.C.
Willie Brantingham
P.O. Box 79
Winona, OH 44493-0079
330-831-3832
Audit
Scott McClellan - Chair
Term Ex. 15
1206 Everbright Dr.
Uniontown, OH 44685
330-472-0260
Rick Bromley - Term Ex. 17
330-635-2691
Jerry Lupfer - Term Ex. 16
614-271-3350
Budget Review
Chris Peterson - Chair
1055 Salt Springs Road
Warren, OH 44481-9618
330-442-3121
Scott McClellan - Member
330-472-0260
Rick Bromley - Member
330-635-2691
Jerry Lupfer - Member
614-271-3350
Conference Director
Jerry Lupfer - Chair
7726 Richardson Road
Groveport, OH
43125-0989
614-271-3350
Education
Mike “Pineapple”
Raymond
262 Eyman Drive
Apple Creek, OH 44606
330-201-1059 (c)
V.F.I.S. Insurance &
Insurance Committee
Joe Stewart
69 Foster-Maineville Rd.
P.O. Box 279
Maineville, OH 45039
Darlene Kimball –
Co-Chair
Zach Stewart - Member
Legal Defense
Trust Fund
Tim Adams – Chairman
Term Exp. 16
35810 Neff Road
(330) 483-4923
Jason Pollitt – Member
Term Exp. 17
Scott McClellan – Member
– Term Exp. 15
Jerry Lupfer – Member
Term Exp. 18
Rodger Sansom –
Comptroller
1-800-825-6732
Scholarships & Awards
Becky Mole – Chairperson
35253 Grafton Eastern Rd.
Grafton, OH 44044
440-308-6192
Scott Skeldon – Member
Jerry Lupfer – Member
Radio Frequency
Scott Skeldon
9689 US Highway 42 N,
Plain City, OH 43064
614-873-8990
Nominations
Mark Roberts - Chair
3496 S. Weymouth Road
Medina, OH 44256-7204
330-351-6706
Steve Skeldon - Member
614-778-2783
Legislative Committee
Jason Pollitt - Member
513-724-1669
Mark Roberts - Member
330-351-6706
Steve Skeldon - Member
614-778-2783
Youth Academy
Gary Zehring - Acting
Chair
Jerald Miller - Member
Vicki Miller - Member
Jim Urzykowski - Member
Brett Bowen - Member
Webmaster
Rodger Sansom
P.O. Box 400
Mogadore, Ohio 44260
800-825-OSFA
[email protected]
Membership
Mark Resanovich - Chair
1301 Woodland Drive
Uniontown, OH
44685-9521
330-896-0728
Mark Roberts – North
& Northwest
Scott McClellan – North
& Northeast
Jason Pollitt – South
& Southwest
Rich Bromley - Central
Past Presidents
Richard Donley
William Shroyer
Raleigh Jeillerat
George Brown
Ken Laughlin
Harold Sparks
Dane Williams
Rodger Sansom
Jerry Lupfer
Roger Bair
G. Thomas Manning
Paul Tieman
Mark Roberts
Jason Pollitt
IN THIS ISSUE
4
4
5
6
7
8
10
President’s Message
16
17
CSFI Reports
2nd Vice President’s Message
1st Vice President’s Message
Secretary/Treasurer’s Message
Fire Marshal’s Message
Chaplain’s Message
Legal Counsel - Email Addresses and Public Records Requests
Important Recruitment and Retention Bills Introduced in Congress
18
Combinatoin Fire Department Cohesivesness
19
Do You Know the Changes Coming to School Safety Drills?
20
22
Important Safety Notice
25
30
2015 Conference Section
32
First Responders May Be Eligible for
Assistance Through Ohio Housing Finance Agency
Feature Article:
Why Cancer May Be the Greatest Risk
Facing Ohio’s Firefighters
Feature Department:
Greentown Volunteer Fire Department
33
Benefits of Having a Junior Firefighter Program
35
Recruiting and Retaining New Voluneers
www.ohiofirefighters.org
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
3
PRESIDENT
Tim Adams
A
s I sit writing this article, it
it is again a minus zero
temperature outside. We
are heading for a record cold
February. The only good thing
about it is that there are only four
days left in the month.
Your conference committee
has been hard at work arranging
activities and training for this
year’s conference in Boston
Heights. They have managed to
consolidate and get everything in
from Thursday night to Saturday
night. This lets everyone leave
on Sunday morning on your own
schedule. Watch for conference
information in the magazines and
future mailings.
Remember that this is an
election year and letters of intent
must be in to the nominating
committee by the April board
meeting. See the by-laws for all
the details.
Our next board meeting will be
on Saturday April 11th at 5PM
at the Country Inn and Suites
on Broad Street in Columbus.
Hope to see more county
representatives there. By then the
snow and cold weather should
have been long gone.
On the Tuesday after the
board meeting, your officers
will be making their annual
trip to Washington, D.C. to
talk with Ohio’s Senators and
Representatives.
Have a nice spring and enjoy the
sun and warm weather.
2nd Vice PRESIDENT
since your bunker gear has been
laundered? Are there repairs that
need to be done or has your gear
been exposed to so much heat, it
should be taken out of service?
Many see the discoloration as a
show of pride rather than a sign
that its abilities to protect you
are compromised.
Chris Peterson
O
ver the years, turnout gear
has had a tremendous
improvement in design
and function and still continues
to improve. Turnout gear has
become more fire retardant, able to
withstand higher heat, and so much
more. But, with greater benefits,
also comes greater responsibility.
Inspection and cleaning of gear are
the biggest ones.
When anyone walks into a
firehouse and sees lockers filled
with bunker gear, they are never
sparkly clean, right? Helmets are
often dirty from soot and bunker
gear often reeks of smoke from
months or even years of service.
Still today, many firefighters view
filthy gear as pride for their years
of service. How long has it been
4
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
After fire ground operations,
turnout gear should be
inspected and laundered. If it
isn’t, contaminated exterior
surfaces, as well as the inner
layers and equipment, can
still hold contaminants well
after operations. This can
cause your gear to deteriorate.
Moisture barriers attenuate
many contaminants but don’t
protect against all chemicals.
Dirty gear holds less insulation,
it’s more likely to conduct heat
and electricity, lacks liquid
shedding properties and can
become potentially flammable.
Many fire ground contaminants
are carcinogens and skin toxic
chemicals.
Routine cleaning should
consist of inspecting, brushing
off debris, rinsing off the turnout
gear and spot clean as needed.
More advanced cleaning should
be done every six months or
more depending on its usage and
condition. Advanced cleaning is
done by hand washing or a front
load industrial washer. A top load
washer shouldn’t be used if it has
an agitator because it can cause
damage to PPE. There are special
detergents specifically made for
bunker gear. They should meet
NFPA 1851 standard for cleaning
solutions with a pH of 9.2 (NFPA
standard is between 6.0 and
10.5), be environmentally friendly
and be approved by turnout gear
manufacturers. Proper drying
is just as critical as washing
because even though turn out
gear is rated for high heat, a
dryer will quickly ruin it. It’s best
to let bunker gear air dry and if
it is air drying outside, keep it
out of direct sunlight. The UV
radiation breaks down some of
the fibers in turnout gear.
Taking the time to inspect your
gear on a regular basis is important
and could mean the difference
between it protecting you or failing
when you need it the most.
1st Vice President
Mark Resanovich
S
pring has arrived; at least
we hope it has, this last
February has been brutal,
record low temperatures along
with multiple storms. As far as
fires, I am sure like our area
everyone has been busy fighting
fires and trying to stay warm. But
now as we transition to warmer
weather it is a time to gather our
thoughts and shift gears for the
changing of the seasons. The
officers of the association will be
shifting gears as well, as we gear
up for a new session in the state
legislature. There will be many
bills introduced that may impact
our association along with its
members. The following is a brief
and limited number of potential
bills that may impact us:
Trauma Legislation: there is a
current draft of legislation that
will change how trauma will be
regulated in the state of Ohio.
Currently, trauma falls under
the rule making authority of the
Emergency Medical, Fire and
Transportation Board, under the
umbrella of the Ohio Department
of Public Safety. The new bill will
create a Trauma Board under
the Ohio Department of Health,
the new Board may have 2 of 24
seats filled by representatives
from the fire service, and until
the legislation passes nothing
is guaranteed. The new bill
will create a mutual agreement
between both boards with matters
that affect pre-hospital care. The
new Trauma Board will act as an
advisor on trauma related prehospital issues. The new bill may
also create vacancies within the
current Emergency Medical, Fire
and Transportation Board; we
will have to wait and see how this
may or may not develop. As a fire
service, we are opposed to any
ability of another board having
rule making authority over the fire
and EMS services.
Time Critical Diagnosis: there
are discussions with stakeholders
throughout the state to create
a TCD. This would incorporate,
STEMI, Stroke and other medical
emergencies that are deemed
to be time sensitive. As an
association, we all agree that we
want to see our patients receive
the best possible care and be
taken to the most appropriate
hospital within the capabilities
of EMS and the capabilities of
that hospital of destination.
What we oppose is creating
another rule-making board that
will impact the fire and EMS
services without representation.
One idea is to create a system
around “Best Practices” and have
all involved agree on that system
and develop regional protocols
and guidelines. As this develops,
we will keep you informed.
Community Paramedicine: this
is a concept that the Fire Alliance
agrees with and supports. This will
allow those agencies who choose
to participate in their communities
to fill gaps in order to serve their
residents. Under current law, EMS
providers can only function in an
emergent situation; we will have to
change the Ohio Revised Code to
allow EMS personnel to function
within their scope of practice
under the Physician in a nonemergent environment. There may
be opposition to this concept by
other allied medical professions as
the new law will increase the legal
use of EMS.
If you have any questions please
feel free to contact me, and have a
warm and safe spring.
Mark Resanovich
2015 National Benefit Summit
February 15 - 18 Oklahoma City, OK
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
5
SECRETARY/TREASURER
are a member of the Trust Fund,
you are required to up date your
roster every year. Out of the 303
member departments who are in
the Trust Fund, there are 115
that have not sent in an updated
roster. Please call me if you have
any questions concerning the
Legal Defense Trust Fund.
Rodger Sansom
D
ues continue to come
in for 2015. As of this
writing, there are still 80
departments and 20 individuals
that are still outstanding. Please
try to get them in as soon as
possible. I will be mailing reminder
notices to those who have not paid
around the middle of April. And
remember, if you are a member,
your dues must be current to keep
your Legal Defense Trust Fund
membership active.
Since August of 2014, we
have added over 125 members
including two new departments
to the Legal Defense Trust Fund
which brings our membership
total to over 12,465 members. The
trust fund is currently funded at
over $400,000 and continues to
grow significantly each monthly.
Thanks to everyone who took the
time to update their rosters.
So far this year, we have had
to spend over $200 in postage
to request department rosters
from those of you who did not
enclose them with your dues
payment. If you have paid your
dues on the five year plan and
6
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
We have only six counties
registered to vote at the quarterly
executive board meetings. Each
county association is permitted
to have a county representative
attend the quarterly executive
board meeting with voting
privileges. This gives your county
a chance to vote on the decisions
that will be made affecting the
fire service at the state level.
There are also legislative, EMS
board and fire training updates
discussed at each meeting.
Registration forms for county
representatives are available on
the website and may be hand
carried to the board meetings.
Your officers continue to work
hard to represent the fire service
in Ohio. We need your input to
express your feelings on issues
that could have a profound affect
on the way we do business in the
future. Without your input, we
have to use our best judgment on
what will do the most good for the
biggest number of members.
There are several avenues
available for you to express your
opinions. The president and
secretary/treasurer have toll free
numbers for you to make contact
with us. Via the website, all
officers have email so that we may
be reached electronically. Please
help us help you.
The conference committee
continues to work hard to provide
a quality conference for this
year. The conference is set to be
held August 13 – 15 in Boston
Heights. All available information
and registration forms are in this
publication and on our website,
www.ohiofirefighters.org.
Finally, please remember or
military people who are serving
around the world to protect our
freedoms. Remember those who
have become disabled and those
who have given their lives as well
as their families. Their sacrifices
cannot be ignored.
Remember, our quarterly board
meetings are at the Country Inn
and Suites, Columbus east. The
starting time is 5pm.
Information on the
78th Annual Ohio
State Firefighters
Conference
starts on page 24!
FIRE MARSHAL
Larry L. Flowers
Expanding
the Ohio Fire
Academy’s reach
from the many resources the
Emergency Preparedness Center
has to offer. The center boasts a
mock city, complete with a gas
station, bank and homes, a Boeing
727 airplane, a search and rescue
building collapse simulator and
a training pond, among other
things. In addition, several OFA
trailers will be available for use
during courses.
I
This is just another way to make
training more readily available
for firefighters year round. We’ll
be able to reach first responders
in the northwest region of the
state much easier through this
partnership. Our goal is to make
training affordable and accessible,
and we’re working to bring more
education opportunities to you.
OFA instructors will conduct
classes at the college, and Ohio’s
fire service will be able to benefit
While firefighters in the
northwest region may be closest to
Owens, if you’re not around there,
no need to worry. Anyone who
would like to take a course can
apply and train at the center. We
would love to have all firefighters
in the state come to Walbridge
and use the vast resources the
am very excited to say that the
Ohio Fire Academy (OFA) is
expanding. Recently, with the
help of Dr. Mike Bower, president
of Owens Community College, I
announced a partnership to bring
OFA’s classes to the school’s
in Walbridge. Through this
agreement, Owens will serve as a
northwest Ohio campus for OFA.
Legislation Setting Permanent
Rates for Ambulance
Reimbursement Introduced
O
n February 4, legislation was introduced
in the House (H.R. 745) and Senate (S.
377) that would make permanent the
current rates that EMS agencies are reimbursed
by Medicare for providing ambulance transport
services. The bills, which are identical and were
introduced by Representative Greg Walden (ROR) and Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), would
preserve the current “bonus payments” that are
now set to expire at the end of March and are
intended to ensure that reimbursement rates
equal the cost of providing service.
“It is critical that EMS agencies are able to cover
the cost of providing ambulance transport services
has to offer.
My hope is that between our
campus in Reynoldsburg, the
Academy Close to Home program
and now our partnership with
Owens, we can provide classes
all across the state to make sure
our firefighters and communities
are safer than ever before. As
we work together to educate
first responders, we can make
a difference in the lives of all
Ohioans.
I encourage you to take
advantage of all of our training
facilities and to visit the
Emergency Preparedness Center.
More information on class
schedules will be announced in
the coming months.
Finally, I challenge all firefighters
to take a least one class this year,
whether through OFA and the
or not, to help polish a skill you
may already have or to learn
something new that will better you
on the job. It could just make the
difference during your response to
an emergency.
to the public,” said National Volunteer Fire Council
(NVFC) Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. “Preserving
the current rates is especially important in rural
areas where it is more expensive to provide service
and a higher percentage of the patients served are
insured by Medicare.”
Establishing permanent reimbursement rates
for ambulance transport at a reasonable level is
another important component of H.R 745/S. 377.
In recent years, Congress has passed emergency
legislation periodically to temporarily extend the
existing rates. This makes planning difficult and
creates unnecessary risk for the EMS system as
a whole.
“On behalf of the NVFC and our EMS/Rescue
Section I’d like to thank the authors and original
co-sponsors of this important legislation,” said
Stittleburg. “We look forward to working with you
to ensure the passage of this bill.”
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
7
CHAPLAIN’S CORNER
Chaplain
Joe Campbell
T
his year, at the 2015 OSFA
Annual Conference this
August, we are scheduling a
basic training for anyone interested
in becoming a Fire Chaplain or
someone who functions in that role
and would like additional training.
The Ohio Federation of Fire
Chaplains will provide the training
and instructor.
There are a number of questions
one might ask, such as why
might fire departments want or
need a Chaplain, how should the
selection process take place and
how can we help the modern day
Chaplain? This article will address
some of these questions.
The fact is that almost all fire
departments have a Chaplain,
he or she fills some of the roles
of a Chaplain with or without
an official title, and this “official
title” probably does not make
much difference. A Chaplain’s
main role at the fire department
is to be available to personnel,
chief through firefighters, who
are either under stress or need
help with issues connected to the
department or their personal lives.
An unofficial Chaplain,
usually one of the members of
the department, can be just as
effective at giving advice filled
with patience and wisdom as
someone with the title of Chaplain.
Because of the requirement that
any governmental agency must
follow, a “fundamental rule of
neutrality” with regards to religion
and spirituality and must be
cautious about having “excessive
entanglement” with any church or
religion, an unofficial chaplain is
often the best way to go. There is
no rule that whoever fills the role
needs to be appointed by anyone.
It will usually be obvious who this
person is because both firefighters
and the chief will usually seek this
unofficial chaplain out for help
with personal issues, tailboard
talks, stress relief and even injury
or death notices.
NVFC Asks Congress to Restore
Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant
Program Funding
O
n February 19, the National Volunteer
Fire Council (NVFC) asked congressional
appropriators to restore the funding level for
the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) program to $16
million in FY 2016. VFA provides 50/50 matching
grants to volunteer fire departments that protect
communities with 10,000 or fewer residents to help
them purchase equipment and training related to
8
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
Chaplains, by title or unofficial
will be known to the department
members as one who genuinely
cares for firefighters, staff and
their families. They will have the
trust of the department, from the
chief to the everyday firefighter as
someone who does not gossip that everything said in confidence
will remain confidential.
The training being provided will
cover important topics such as
what level of confidentiality should
an official or unofficial Chaplain
keep if questioned by police or
the courts. A licensed minister
has a great deal of privilege, a
fire Chaplain much less. We will
also deal with death and injury
notifications, substance abuse and
stress management.
If you or your department would
like information about beginning a
Chaplain program, or if you would
like training for your official or
unofficial Chaplain, this will be a
good opportunity close to home at
the August Conference in Boston
Heights.
wildland fire suppression.
“VFA is a critical lifeline for thousands of small,
volunteer fire departments that respond to wildland
fires,” said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg.
“Volunteer fire departments provide approximately
80 percent of the initial attack on wildland fires in
the U.S. Local response is the key to suppressing
wildland fires in the early stages before they rage
out of control.”
In FY 2015, Congress appropriated $13 million
for VFA. Providing $16 million would restore VFA to
the FY 2010 level. Since then, VFA has been cut or
received level funding every year.
LEGAL COUNSEL
Porter “Chip” Welch
EMAIL
ADDRESSES
AND PUBLIC
RECORDS
REQUESTS
R
ecently, the Ohio Attorney
General’s Office was asked
to provide an opinion as to
whether personal email addresses
of township residents that appear
in a public record of the township
are themselves a public record.
I have provided a copy of the
Opinion, below, because the
analysis is a good explanation
of what information may or may
not be subject to a public records
request.
The more important point I want
to raise with you is this – maintain
two separate email addresses! As
Dr. Spengler said in Ghostbusters,
“Don’t cross the streams!” You
should have an email address for
fire department business and an
email address for your personal
business or personal life – and DO
NOT mix the two! Anything and
everything that you correspond
about regarding fire department
business may be subject to a
public records request. Therefore,
keep your personal life separate
and use a separate email account.
If your fire department does not
provide an email address for
fire department business, then
create a new email address for
your fire department work. The
cost is not an issue because free
email systems are everywhere –
Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, etc. Also,
an interesting side note - even
if you are a member of a private
fire company, your records and
emails are still subject to public
records requests. Once you receive
public tax dollars, your records
become subject to Ohio’s public
records laws just the same as any
other township or municipal fire
department.
OPINION NO. 2014-029
Dear Law Director Crain:
You have requested an opinion
whether the personal email
address1 of a township resident
that appears in a public record
of the township is itself a public
record. You wish to know whether
the personal email address may
be redacted from the contents
of the public record when the
public record is made available for
inspection and copying or a copy
thereof is furnished in response to
a public records request submitted
under R.C. 149.43.
You explain that in 2013, the
West Chester Township fiscal
officer sent an email to several
hundred people. The email
discussed township activities, the
conduct of two township trustees,
the work of the township’s legal
counsel, duties of the township
fiscal officer, and the township
fiscal officer’s impressions of the
actions of two township trustees
and the township’s legal counsel.
The email referred to an upcoming
election for two township trustees.
A person has requested a copy of
the email and any responses to the
email. You assert that the email
sent by the township fiscal officer
is a public record2. However, you
question whether the personal
email addresses of the recipients
of the email are themselves public
records because they may not
be a “record,” as defined in R.C.
149.011(G), for purposes of R.C.
149.43. The recipients’ personal
email addresses may be redacted
from the email if they are nonrecord information. This last point
is the focus of your inquiry to us.3
R.C. 149.43(B) requires a public
office to promptly prepare and
make available for inspection or
copying all public records that
are responsive to a person’s
request. R.C. 149.43(A) defines a
“public record” as “records kept
by any public office, including,
but not limited to, state,
county, city, village, township,
and school district units, and
records pertaining to the delivery
of educational services by an
alternative school in this state
kept by the nonprofit or for-profit
1 For purposes of this opinion, we understand a personal email address to be an email address that is used in a person’s private life for matters unrelated to
her professional or occupational activities, and that is not associated with an office, entity, or organization that has a public presence.
2 In so far as you have concluded that the township fiscal officer’s email is a public record, and have not asked us to consider that question, this opinion
assumes, without deciding, that the email from the fiscal officer is a public record. We note, however, that the use of a township’s email network to send
a communication authored by a township’s fiscal officer does not compel a finding that the communication is a “record” for purposes of R.C. 149.43. See,
e.g., State ex rel. Wilson-Simmons v. Lake Cnty. Sheriff’s Dept., 82 Ohio St. 3d 37, 41-42, 1998-Ohio-597, 693 N.E.2d 789 (emails containing allegedly racist
remarks, although sent from sheriff’s office email accounts, did not constitute “records” under R.C. 149.011(G) because the emails did not “document[]
sheriff’s department policy or procedures” and were not “used to conduct sheriff’s department business”). Rather, the purpose of the communication and the
character and nature of its content must be known to determine with certainty whether the communication is a “record.” See id.
3 Your letter notes that a public records request has been made for the fiscal officer’s email and “any follow-up responses[.]” However, you have asked us to
address only whether the personal email addresses of the recipients of the email are public records. Accordingly, this opinion does not address whether any
responses to the fiscal officer’s email are public records.Additionally, you have stated that West Chester Township has a limited home rule government. As
you have not asked, this opinion does not address the effect, if any, that a limited home rule government has on the provisions of R.C. Chapter 149.
February 2015
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9
entity operating the alternative
school pursuant to [R.C.
3313.533],” unless the record is
excepted from the definition by
R.C. 149.43(A)(1)(a)-(bb). R.C.
149.011(G) states:
“Records” includes any
document, device, or item,
regardless of physical form or
characteristic, including an
electronic record as defined
in [R.C. 1306.01], created or
received by or coming under
the jurisdiction of any public
office4 of the state or its political
subdivisions, which serves to
document the organization,
functions, policies, decisions,
procedures, operations, or other
activities of the office. (Footnote
added.)
A document, device, or item
is not a record for purposes of
R.C. Chapter 149 solely based
on the fact that it is received by
and kept by a public office. State
ex rel. Dispatch Printing Co. v.
Johnson, 106 Ohio St. 3d 160,
2005-Ohio-4384, 833 N.E.2d 274,
at ¶29 (“simply because an item is
received and kept by a public office
does not transform it into a record
under R.C. 149.011(G)”). Moreover,
“‘[i]nformation,’ in and of itself,
does not constitute a ‘record’
as defined by R.C. 149.011(G).”
1994 Op. Att’y Gen. No. 94-046,
at 2-234. Rather, a “record” for
purposes of R.C. Chapter 149,
must satisfy three criteria: (1) it
must be a document, device, or
item, regardless of its form; (2)
that is created or received by a
public office; and (3) that serves
to document the organization,
activities of the public office.
R.C 149.011(G). To constitute a
record, all three elements of R.C.
149.011(G)’s definition must be
met. State ex rel. Dispatch Printing
Co. v. Johnson at ¶19 (“[i]f the
Dispatch fails to prove any of these
three requirements, it will not be
entitled to a writ of mandamus to
compel access to the requested
state-employee home addresses
because those records are not
subject to disclosure under the
Public Records Act”); State ex
rel. Fant v. Enright, 66 Ohio St.
3d 186, 188, 1993-Ohio-188,
610 N.E.2d 997 (1993) (“[t]o the
extent that any item contained in
a personnel file is not a ‘record,’
i.e., does not serve to document
the organization, etc., of the public
office, it is not a public record and
need not be disclosed”). The public
records law “‘must be construed
liberally in favor of broad access,
and any doubt should be resolved
in favor of disclosure of public
records.’” State ex rel. Beacon
Journal Publ’g Co. v. Bond, 98
Ohio St. 3d 146, 2002-Ohio-7117,
781 N.E.2d 180, at ¶8 (quoting
State ex rel. Strothers v. Wertheim,
80 Ohio St. 3d 155, 156, 684
N.E.2d 1239 (1997)).
“If a public record contains
information that is exempt
from the duty to permit public
inspection or to copy the public
record, the public office…
shall make available all of the
information within the public
record that is not exempt.” R.C.
149.43(B). “A redaction shall
be deemed a denial of a request
to inspect or copy the redacted
information, except if federal or
state law authorizes or requires
a public office to make the
redaction.” Id5. The public office
asserting that the information
is not required to be disclosed
“bears the burden of establishing
that the requested information is
exempt from disclosure.” State ex
rel. Beacon Journal Publ’g Co. v.
Bond at ¶8.
In the situation with which you
are concerned, there does not
appear to be a question that the
personal email addresses of the
recipients of the fiscal officer’s
email meet the first two elements
of the definition of record (i.e.,
the recipients’ personal email
addresses are devices or items that
were received by the township,
which is a public office, see 2008
Op. Att’y Gen. No. 2008-019, at
2-204 (“[a] township is a political
subdivision, and thus is a ‘public
office’ under R.C. 149.011(G)”
(citation omitted))). Your inquiry
hinges upon the third part of R.C.
149.011(G)’s definition of record:
“which serves to document the
organization, functions, policies,
decisions, procedures, operations,
or other activities of the office.” If
the personal email addresses do
not document the organization,
activities of the township, then
the personal email addresses
do not constitute “records” for
purposes of R.C. 149.43. If the
email addresses are not “records,”
they cannot be considered “public
records” and a township is not
compelled by R.C. 149.43 to
disclose them.
In determining whether a
document, device, or item “serves
10
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February 2015
activities of the office” for purposes
of R.C. 149.011(G), Ohio courts
have looked to the purpose of
the public records law, “‘which
is to expose government activity
to public scrutiny.’” State ex rel.
Dispatch Printing Co. v. Johnson
at ¶27 (quoting State ex rel.
Cincinnati Enquirer v. Winkler, 101
Ohio St. 3d 382, 2004-Ohio-1581,
805 N.E.2d 1094, at ¶5; State
ex rel. WHIO-TV-7 v. Lowe, 77
Ohio St. 3d 350, 355, 673 N.E.2d
1360 (1997)). When documents,
devices, or items that are created
by or received by a public office
do little to expose the workings
of the public office to public
scrutiny, courts have concluded
that the documents, devices, or
items do not constitute “records”
for purposes of R.C. 149.011(G)
and R.C. 149.43. State ex rel.
Dispatch Printing Co. v. Johnson
at ¶52; State ex rel. Beacon
Journal Publ’g Co. v. Bond, 98
Ohio St. 3d at ¶11-13; State ex rel.
McCleary v. Roberts, 88 Ohio St.
3d 365, 368-70, 2000-Ohio-345,
725 N.E.2d 1144 (2000); Miami
Valley Child Dev. Ctrs., Inc. v.
Dist. 925/Serv. Emps. Int’l Union/
AFL-CIOM, CLC, 2d Dist. No.
18928, 2002-Ohio-933, 2002 WL
253637, at *10; State ex rel. Jones
v. Summit Cnty. Children Servs.
Bd., 9th Dist. No. 19915, 2001
WL 96048, at *4 (Jan. 24, 2001);
see, e.g., State ex rel. O’Shea &
Assocs. Co., L.P.A. v. Cuyahoga
Metro. Housing Auth., 131 Ohio
St. 3d 149, 2012-Ohio-115, 962
N.E.2d 297, at ¶24, 34-36 (home
addresses contained in completed
lead-poisoning questionnaires and
medical-release authorizations
of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan
Housing Authority (CMHA) are
“public records” in so far as they
“help the public monitor CMHA’s
compliance with its statutory
duty to provide safe housing”);
State ex rel. Harper v. Muskingum
Watershed Conservancy Dist., 5th
Dist. No. 2013 AP 06 0024, 2014Ohio-1222, 2014 WL 1350915, at
¶8-12 (billing addresses document
the agency’s billing practices and
are “public records”).
In McCleary, the Ohio Supreme
Court considered whether
“the names, home addresses,
family information, emergency
contact information, and
medical history information” of
children participating in a photo
identification program required
by the city’s Parks and Recreation
Department constituted “records”
for purposes of R.C. 149.011(G)
and R.C. 149.43. State ex rel.
4 For purposes of R.C. Chapter 149, “public office” is defined as including “any state agency, public institution, political subdivision, or other organized
body, office, agency, institution, or entity established by the laws of this state for the exercise of any function of government [but] does not include the
nonprofit corporation formed under [R.C. 187.01].” R.C. 149.011(A).
5 Redaction is defined as “obscuring or deleting any information that is exempt from the duty to permit public inspection or copying from an item that
otherwise meets the definition of a ‘record’ in [R.C. 149.011].” R.C. 149.43(A)(11).
February 2015
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11
McCleary v. Roberts, 88 Ohio St.
3d at 365-66. The court noted
that the information, in and of
itself, did “nothing to document
any aspect of the City’s Recreation
and Parks Department.” Id. at 368.
Consequently, the information
did not constitute “records” for
purposes of R.C. 149.011(G) and
R.C. 149.43. Id. at 367, 370.
The court held that “personal
information of private citizens,
obtained by a ‘public office,’
reduced to writing and placed
in record form and used by the
public office in implementing some
lawful, regulatory policy is not a
‘public record’ as contemplated by
R.C. 149.43.” Id.
the benefit of litigants in selecting
an impartial jury and maintained
the jurors’ names and addresses
for the administrative purpose
of identifying and contacting
individual jurors.” Id. at ¶12. In
this regard, the jurors’ responses,
names and addresses did not
constitute “records” and were
not “public records” under R.C.
149.43. Id. at ¶13. However, in
so far as the questions on the
questionnaires were written or
approved by the trial court, the
questionnaires, without the jurors’
responses, served to document
the activities of the trial court and
were “records” as defined in R.C.
149.011(G). Id.
Similarly, in Bond, the Ohio
Supreme Court, relying on
its analysis and reasoning
in McCleary, concluded that
information obtained by a public
office that “does little to ensure the
accountability of government or
shed light on the [public office’s]
performance of its statutory
duties” does not constitute
“records” for purposes of R.C.
149.011(G) and R.C. 149.43.
State ex rel. Beacon Journal Publ’g
Co. v. Bond at ¶11-13. The court
further concluded that “disclosure
of information about private
citizens is not required when
such information ‘“reveals little
or nothing about an agency’s own
conduct”’ and ‘would do nothing
to further the purposes of the
Act.’” Id. at ¶11 (quoting State ex
rel. McCleary v. Roberts, 88 Ohio
St. 3d at 368 and 369). At issue
in Bond was a request for the
list of names and addresses and
completed jury questionnaires of
jurors in a criminal case. State
ex rel. Beacon Journal Publ’g
Co. v. Bond at ¶1. The court
recognized that the trial court
did not use the jurors’ responses
to the questionnaire, names,
and addresses in performing its
statutory duties (i.e., rendering a
decision in the case), but instead
“collected the questionnaires for
In Johnson, the Ohio Supreme
Court considered whether
contained in a database of payroll
records maintained by the Ohio
Department of Administrative
Services were “public records.”
State ex rel. Dispatch Printing Co.
v. Johnson at ¶1-2. The court held
that “in general, state-employee
home addresses are not ‘records’
under R.C. 149.011(G) and
[R.C.] 149.43 because they do
activities of the state and its
agencies.” State ex rel. Dispatch
Printing Co. v. Johnson at ¶1.
In order for the state-employee
home addresses to satisfy the
third part of R.C. 149.011(G), the
court explained that the addresses
would have to “create a written
record of the structure, duties,
general management principles,
agency determinations, specific
methods, processes, or other acts
of the state agencies.” Id. at ¶22.
The court in Johnson considered
evidence that the employees’ home
addresses were obtained pursuant
to a request from the state
agencies and were used by the
agencies to send correspondence
and paychecks to the employees.
Id. at ¶23. Evidence also showed
that the state agencies provided
records containing the home
addresses to labor unions or
health insurance companies. Id.
Additionally, the home addresses
were present on paychecks,
various personnel forms, and W-2
forms. Id. However, the evidence
was not sufficient to demonstrate
that the home addresses satisfied
the third part of R.C. 149.011(G)’s
definition. Id. at ¶25. The court
stated, “[a]t best, home addresses
represent contact information
used as a matter of administrative
convenience.” Id.; accord State
ex rel. DeGroot v. Tilsley, 128
Ohio St. 3d 311, 2011-Ohio-231,
943 N.E.2d 1018, at ¶2, 8 (home
addresses of members of the
Cincinnati Retirement System
“are, at best, contact information
used for administrative purposes
and reveal nothing about the city
or its retirement system”). Under
those circumstances, disclosing
the home addresses would not
facilitate the public’s ability to
monitor the functions of state
government6. State ex rel. Dispatch
Printing Co. v. Johnson at ¶27.
The court held “the requested
do not serve to document the
organization, functions, policies,
decisions, procedures, operations,
or other activities of the state
agencies, and their release would
not reveal anything to shed
light on the conduct of state
government.” Id. at ¶52.
Ohio courts have also concluded
that documents, devices, or items
that are created or received by a
public office and actually used by
that office to perform its statutory
duties and functions constitute
“records” for purposes of R.C.
149.011(G) and R.C. 149.43.
State ex rel. Cincinnati Enquirer
v. Ronan, 127 Ohio St.3d 236,
2010-Ohio-5680, 938 N.E.2d
347, at ¶16; State ex rel. Beacon
Journal Publ’g. Co. v. Whitmore,
83 Ohio St. 3d 61, 63, 1998-Ohio-
6 The court noted two examples of situations in which the home address of a state employee would serve to document the activities or decisions
of a public office as required by R.C. 149.011(G). State ex rel. Dispatch Printing Co. v. Johnson, 106 Ohio St. 3d 160, 2005-Ohio-4384, 833 N.E.2d
274, at ¶39. An employee’s home address, or a portion thereof, may constitute a “record” under R.C. 149.011(G) if, as a condition of employment,
an employee must reside within a certain geographic area or “when the public employee’s work address is also that employee’s home address.” Id.
12
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February 2015
180, 697 N.E.2d 640 (1998); State
ex rel. Rhodes v. Chillicothe, 4th
Dist. No. 12CA3333, 2013-Ohio1858, 2013 WL 1907504, at ¶36;
State ex rel. Bowman v. Jackson
City School Dist., 4th Dist. No.
10CA3, 2011-Ohio-2228, 2011
WL 1770890, at ¶15.
In Whitmore, the Ohio Supreme
Court considered whether letters
received by a trial court judge
concerning the sentencing of
a defendant in a criminal case
could be disclosed pursuant to a
public records request. State ex
rel. Beacon Journal Publ’g. Co. v.
Whitmore, 83 Ohio St. 3d at 6163. The court reasoned that even
though the letters were received by
the judge and placed in her files,
because she did not rely upon
or use the letters in making her
sentencing decision, the letters
did not constitute “records” for
purposes of R.C. 149.011(G) and
R.C.149.43. Id. at 63. The court
stated, “R.C. 149.43 and R.C.
149.011(G) do not define ‘public
record’ as any piece of paper
received by a public office that
might be used by that office.” Id.
at 64. Rather, the public office
must actually use the information
or document in performing its
responsibilities or duties. Id. at 63.
In Ronan, the Ohio Supreme
Court applied its holding in
Whitmore and concluded that
documents submitted by
applicants for the position of
superintendent of the Cincinnati
Public Schools were not “records”
at the time of the public records
request because the school
district had not yet retrieved the
documents from its post office box.
State ex rel. Cincinnati Enquirer
v. Ronan at ¶15-16. The court
emphasized “the mere receipt by
the school district of resumes
and other materials sent by
applicants… did not make these
documents records for purpose
of R.C. 149.43.” Id. at ¶15. To
constitute “records” the school
district must have reviewed, used,
or relied upon the documents. Id.
at ¶16 (“until the school district
retrieved the documents from
its post office box and reviewed
them or otherwise used or relied
on them, they were not records
subject to disclosure under R.C.
149.43, and the Enquirer was
not entitled to them”); see State
ex rel. Bowman v. Jackson City
School Dist. at ¶2, 15 (emails
addressing personal subjects that
were sent by a teacher on a school
district’s email system constituted
public records “because the
superintendent relied upon the
emails in reaching his decision to
discipline” the teacher).
A document or information that
is used for personal convenience,
rather than an official purpose,
does not constitute a “record”
as defined in R.C. 149.011(G).
Compare State ex rel. Doe v.
Tetrault, 12th Dist. No. CA201110-070, 2012-Ohio-3879, 2012
WL 3641634, at ¶35-38 (without
“evidence that the notes were
kept as official records or that
other Pierce Township officials
had access to or used the notes[,]”
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
13
the scrap paper used to assist a
township employee in recalling his
hours worked did not document
the functions or activities of the
township and did not constitute
a “record” as defined in R.C.
149.011(G)), and Int’l Union,
United Auto., Aerospace & Agric.
Implement Workers of Am. v.
Voinovich, 100 Ohio App. 3d 372,
377-78, 654 N.E.2d 139 (Franklin
County 1995) (Governor’s personal
calendars maintained for his
own personal convenience, and
not accessed or used by other
members of the office for any
official purpose, did not satisfy
the definition of “records” in
R.C. 149.011(G)), with State ex
rel. McCaffrey v. Mahoning Cnty.
Prosecutor’s Office, 133 Ohio St.
3d 139, 976 N.E.2d 877, 2012Ohio-4246, at ¶33 (workrelated
entries in personal calendars
constitute records for purposes of
R.C. 149.011(G) and R.C. 149.43).
In a prior opinion, the Attorney
General was asked to determine
whether R.C. 149.43 required
disclosure of the names and
addresses of customers of a
county sewer district created
under R.C. Chapter 6117. 2002
2-199. The opinion applied an
analysis consistent with the cases
discussed above. Id. at 2-201 to
2-203. The opinion reasoned that
a board of county commissioners
has several duties with respect to
the operation of a county sewer
district, including setting rates
for the use of the drainage and
sanitary facilities of the district
and collecting the charges for
such use. Id. at 2-202. A board
of county commissioners would
not be able to perform its duties
with respect to the operation of
a county sewer district unless it
maintained a list of the names and
addresses of the property owners
within the district. Id. Accordingly,
the names and addresses of
customers “serve to document
the services provided by, as well
as the functions, operations, and
activities of the county sewer
district” and “are actually used by
the district in the execution of its
functions.” Id. Upon concluding
that the names and addresses
constituted “records” for purposes
of R.C. 149.43, the opinion
advised that the names and
addresses were “public records”
unless an exception applied. Id. at
2-202 to 2-203.
address is a “record,” as defined
in R.C. 149.011(G), the township
must then determine whether the
email address is a “public record,”
as defined in R.C. 149.43(A).
This determination involves
ascertaining whether one of the
exceptions identified in R.C.
149.43(A) applies to the email
address, thereby excluding it from
the disclosure requirements of
R.C. 149.43(B)8. If no exception
under R.C. 149.43(A) applies to
the email addresses, the township
is required to disclose the email
addresses as public records.
It is evident from the foregoing
authorities that the determination
of whether a personal email
address that is contained in a
public record is itself a public
record is a fact-specific inquiry
that must be determined on a
case-by-case basis. To determine
whether a personal email address
is a public record, the township
must first determine whether the
email address is a “record,” as that
term is defined in R.C. 149.011(G).
Personal email addresses that do
activities of the township are
not “records,” as defined in R.C.
149.011(G), and are not required
to be disclosed by R.C. 149.43(B)7.
It is important to note that when
information is not a “record,”
as defined in R.C. 149.011(G),
the public office’s release of the
information is discretionary,
unless some other provision of
law prohibits disclosure. 2000 Op.
Att’y Gen. No. 2000-021, at 2-135
to 2-136 (“R.C. 149.43 does not
expressly prohibit the disclosure
of items that are excluded from
the definition of public record,
but merely provides that their
disclosure is not mandated”).
We cannot advise you whether
the personal email addresses of
the recipients of the township
fiscal officer’s email serve to
procedures, operations, or
other activities of West Chester
Township. Resolution of that
question involves factual findings
that are beyond the scope of
an Attorney General opinion;
determinations of facts and their
meanings must be made by local
officials or the courts. See 2011
2-81; 1983 Op. Att’y Gen. No.
83-057, at 2-232. In order to
determine whether the recipients’
personal email addresses are
“records,” as defined in R.C.
149.011(G), the township should
consider whether releasing the
addresses will facilitate the
public’s ability to monitor official
functions of the township and
whether those addresses are
used by the township in the
performance of its governmental
functions. Factors relevant to this
determination include whether
the township fiscal officer’s email
was sent as part of his official
duties or responsibilities, whether
a township resolution required
the township or its fiscal officer to
If, however, a personal email
7 The provisions of R.C. Chapter 1347, which govern personal information systems, do not restrict the application of R.C. 149.43. R.C. 149.43(D)
(“[R.C. Chapter 1347] does not limit the provisions of [R.C. 149.43]”); R.C. 1347.04(B) (“[t]he provisions of [R.C. Chapter 1347] shall not be
construed to prohibit the release of public records, or the disclosure of personal information in public records, as defined in [R.C. 149.43]”).
However, if R.C. 149.43 does not mandate disclosure of the information because the information is not a public record, R.C. 1347.05(G) may
impose a duty upon a public office to prevent disclosure of the information if the information meets the definition of “personal information”
set forth in R.C. 1347.01(E). State ex rel. Fant v. Enright, 66 Ohio St. 3d 186, 188, 1993-Ohio-188, 610 N.E.2d 997 (1993); accord State ex rel.
McCleary v. Roberts, 88 Ohio St. 3d 365, 367, 2000-Ohio-345, 725 N.E.2d 1144 (2000); State ex rel. Dispatch Printing Co. v. Wells, 18 Ohio St. 3d
382, 385, 481 N.E.2d 632 (1985).
14
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February 2015
send such an email,9 whether the
recipients are constituents of the
township, whether the recipients’
email addresses are maintained
in a database of the township,
and whether the recipients
provided their email addresses to
the township for the purpose of
receiving an email that is sent by
the township as part of its official
activities. Affirmative responses
to some or all these queries may
lead the township to conclude
that the personal email addresses
were used in the performance
of township functions and
that disclosing the personal
email addresses will facilitate
the public’s ability to monitor
those functions. However, if the
township fiscal officer’s email was
sent to the recipients for a reason
unrelated to the performance
of his responsibilities as a
township officer, the township
may conclude that the personal
email addresses were not used by
the township in the performance
of its functions and disclosure
of the email addresses will shed
little light on the functions and
activities of the township. In
that situation, the personal
email addresses will not serve
activities of the township and will
not come within the definition
of “records” set forth in R.C.
149.011(G).
Based on the foregoing, it is
my opinion, and you are hereby
advised that:
1. Whether personal email
addresses that are contained in
a public record are themselves
public records is a fact-specific
inquiry that must be determined
on a case-by-case basis.
2. Personal email addresses
that are contained in an email
sent by a township fiscal
officer that do not document
the organization, functions,
policies, decisions, procedures,
operations, or other activities of
the township do not constitute
“records,” as defined in R.C.
149.011(G), and are not
required to be disclosed by R.C.
149.43.
3. To determine whether
personal email addresses
procedures, operations, or
other activities of the township,
the township must determine
whether disclosure of the email
addresses would facilitate the
public’s ability to monitor the
functions of the township in
performing its statutory duties,
and whether the township
actually used the email
addresses in making decisions
or in performing its functions.
This article is provided for
informational purposes only
and should not be construed as
legal advice. If you have further
questions or concerns, please
contact competent legal counsel.
8 In your letter, you assert that even if the recipients’ personal email addresses are deemed “records” for purposes of R.C. 149.43, they may still be
redacted from the fiscal officer’s email on the basis of the recipients’ constitutionally protected right to privacy. Information that is protected by a
constitutional right of privacy falls within R.C. 149.43(A)(1)(v)’s exception to the definition of a “public record” -- “[r]ecords the release of which is
prohibited by state or federal law[.]” 2004 Op. Att’y Gen. No. 2004-045, at 2-391.
“[T]he fact that information is personal in nature (e.g., names and addresses) is not, in itself, determinative of whether the information is or is not
a public record.” 2004 Op. Att’y Gen. No. 2004-045, at 2-388. To determine whether disclosure of the recipients’ personal email addresses would
violate the recipients’ federal constitutional right to privacy, and therefore exclude the email addresses from the definition of “public record” under
R.C. 149.43(A)(1)(v), a two-step test must be applied. State ex rel. Beacon Journal Publ’g Co. v. Akron, 70 Ohio St. 3d 605, 608, 1994-Ohio-6, 640
N.E.2d 164 (1994); accord 2004 Op. Att’y Gen. No. 2004-045, at 2-393. The first step asks whether individuals have a “legitimate expectation
of privacy” in the email addresses. State ex rel. Beacon Journal Publ’g Co. v. Akron, 70 Ohio St. 3d at 608; accord 2004 Op. Att’y Gen. No. 2004045, at 2-393. The second step asks whether “[the recipients’] privacy interests outweigh those interests benefited by disclosure of the [email
addresses].” State ex rel. Beacon Journal Publ’g Co. v. Akron, 70 Ohio St. 3d at 608; accord 2004 Op. Att’y Gen. No. 2004-045, at 2-393. Application
of this test involves factual determinations that are beyond the scope of an Attorney General opinion. See 2011Op. Att’y Gen. No. 2011-010, at
2-81; 1983 Op. Att’y Gen. No. 83-057, at 2-232 (“[t]his office is not equipped to serve as a fact-finding body”).
We do note, however, that courts have recognized a constitutionally protected right to privacy for certain types of information in limited situations.
See, e.g., State ex rel. McCleary v. Roberts, 88 Ohio St. 3d at 370-72 (personal information about children participating in a city parks and
recreation department’s photo identification program is protected by right to privacy); State ex rel. Keller v. Cox, 85 Ohio St. 3d 279, 282, 1999Ohio-264, 707 N.E.2d 931 (1999) (personal information relating to police officers and their families is protected by constitutional right to privacy);
State ex rel. Beacon Journal Publ’g Co. v. Akron, 70 Ohio St. 3d at 612 (Social Security numbers of city’s employees are protected by the federal
constitution in the face of a public records request). In those cases, in addition to the personal nature of the information requested, there were
other factors at play. In McCleary, sensitive to the fact that the information related to children, the court was concerned that releasing the
requested information “places those who are the subject of the records request at risk of irreparable harm[.]” State ex rel. McCleary v. Roberts, 88
Ohio St. 3d at 371. In Keller, the court recognized that the requested information about a police officer and his family may be used by a criminal
defendant “to achieve nefarious ends.” State ex rel. Keller v. Cox, 85 Ohio St. 3d at 282. Similarly, in Akron, the court cautioned that “a person’s
[Social Security number] is a device which can quickly be used by the unscrupulous to acquire a tremendous amount of information about a
person.” State ex rel. Beacon Journal Publ’g Co. v. Akron, 70 Ohio St. 3d at 611.
We discern a distinction between an email address a person provides voluntarily to enable communications to him and the types of information
protected in McCleary, Keller, and Akron. See, e.g., O’Neal v. Emery Fed. Credit Union, No. 1:13-cv-022, 2014 WL 842948, at *6-7 (S.D. Ohio
Mar. 4, 2014) (email addresses of former employees may be provided to plaintiff for the purpose of providing notice); Breaking Glass Pictures v.
Does 1-99, No. 1:13 CV 802, 2013 WL 5308720, at *1-2 (N.D. Ohio Sept. 19, 2013) (court rejected notion that Internet service subscribers have
“‘reasonable expectation of privacy in their subscriber information[,]’” which includes their email addresses); State ex rel. Thomas v. Ohio State
Univ., 71 Ohio St. 3d 245, 248, 1994-Ohio-261, 643 N.E.2d 126 (1994) (recognizing circumstantial differences between Social Security numbers
and the names and work addresses of animal research scientists).
9 Communication with the constituents of a public office about the public office’s official functions and activities is a proper function of
government. 1999 Op. Att’y Gen. No. 99-030, at 2-202 n.5; see R.C. 9.03(B) (authorizing a political subdivision to expend public funds for the
purpose of communicating information regarding the activities of the political subdivision to the public, except as prohibited by R.C. 9.03(C)); 2002
Op. Att’y Gen. No. 2002-001, at 2-2.
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
15
CONGRESS
APPROVES
FISCAL YEAR
2015 HOMELAND
SECURITY
FUNDING BILL
March 3, 2015
T
oday the House passed
H.R. 240, the Fiscal Year
2015 Homeland Security
Appropriations Act, bringing an
end to a lengthy battle between
Congress and the White House
that threatened to shut down the
Department of Homeland Security.
Included in the spending bill is
funding for a number of programs
of importance for the nation’s
fire and emergency services. The
Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE)
and Staffing for Adequate Fire and
Emergency Response (SAFER)
grant programs are funded at
$340 million each. This is the
same amount as in Fiscal Year
2014. The bill also includes $44
million for the United States Fire
Administration (USFA) and $35.18
million for the Urban Search and
Rescue System, the same amounts
as in Fiscal Year 2014.
The fate of the funding bill
had been in question as House
and Senate leadership found
themselves at odds with the White
House over an executive order
President Obama had issued on
immigration. The department had
been operating under a continuing
resolution which was set to expire
on February 27th. On January
9th, the House approved H.R.
240, but included language in the
16
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
bill blocking the executive order
from being enacted. The Senate
passed an amended version on
February 27th that removed the
House immigration language. With
the two chambers at an impasse
just hours before a temporary
shutdown of the Department of
Homeland Security, Congress
approved a one-week extension
of the continuing resolution to
give lawmakers more time to
reach a compromise. The House
ultimately approved the Senate
version of the bill.
Unfortunately, Senate leadership
used H.R. 33, the Protecting
Volunteer Firefighters and
Emergency Responders Act, as
a legislative vehicle to move the
one-week continuing resolution
through the Senate. Unanimously
approved in the House by a vote
of 401-0 on January 12th, the
bill in its original form ensured
that volunteer fire departments
would not be required to provide
health insurance to their
members under the employer
shared responsibility provisions
(“employer mandate”) of the
Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act (PPACA). However,
when the Senate amended the
bill, they struck out the previous
legislative language relating
to volunteer fire departments
and the PPACA. In response,
Congressman Lou Barletta (PA11), the original sponsor of the
Protecting Volunteer Firefighters
and Emergency Responders Act,
reintroduced the legislation as
H.R. 1191.
CFSI will continue to provide
updates as the new bill, H.R.
1191, once again moves through
Congress.
WHITE HOUSE
RECOMMENDS
REDUCTIONS TO
KEY FIRE SERVICE
PROGRAMS FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2016
O
n Monday, February 2nd,
the White House unveiled
the Administration’s Fiscal
Year 2016 budget proposal. The
$4.066 trillion budget contains
$41.2 billion for the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security.
Several programs of importance
to the nation’s fire and emergency
services are among those
considered for potential budget
cuts under the administration’s
proposal, including the Assistance
to Firefighters (FIRE) and the
Staffing for Adequate Fire and
Emergency Response (SAFER)
grant programs. The budget
proposal would reduce AFG and
SAFER funding by $10 million
to $670 million for both grant
programs. (NOTE: This is based
on Congress accepting the Houseapproved figure of $680 million for
both programs in the FY2015 DHS
appropriations legislation still
being negotiated).
The President’s budget would
provide $41.407 million for the
United States Fire Administrationapproximately the same amount
the Administration requested
for Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015
but less than the $44 million
Congress approved for Fiscal Year
2014 and will most likely approve
for FY2015. The President’s
budget would also cut funding
for the Urban Search and Rescue
(US&R) Response System by
almost twenty percent. The
Administration proposes $27.513
million compared to $35.18
million Congress approved for
Fiscal Year 2014 and is expected
to approve for Fiscal Year 2015.
“While it is disappointing the
White House continues to propose
reductions to these critical fire
service programs, ultimately
it is the Congress that decides
funding levels,” said Bill Webb,
CFSI Executive Director. “CFSI
is working closely with the other
national fire service organizations
and our supporters on Capitol Hill
to ensure these programs receive
the appropriate level of funding in
Fiscal Year 2016.”
length of service award programs
(LOSAPs). LOSAP is a retirement
savings plan that thousands of
volunteer emergency services
agencies offer as a way to retain
veteran personnel. Approximately
20 percent of the nation’s
volunteer firefighters participate
in some type of LOSAP. S. 609
would exempt from federal
income tax and withholding
any property tax reduction or
other recruitment and retention
incentive up to $600 per year that
a volunteer firefighter or EMS
provider receives.
“There is no greater challenge
facing the volunteer emergency
services today than recruitment
and retention,” said Chief Philip
C. Stittleburg, Chairman of
the National Volunteer Fire
Council (NVFC). “The Volunteer
Emergency Services Recruitment
and Retention Act as well as the
Volunteer Responder Incentive
Protection Act will give local
CFSI will continue to provide
updates throughout the process.
Important
Recruitment and
Retention Bills
Introduced in
Congress
O
n February 27, three
pieces of legislation were
introduced in Congress
that would clarify how volunteer
benefits are taxed, making it
easier for local agencies and
governments to establish and
administer incentive programs
to bolster recruitment and
retention efforts. Senators
Charles Schumer (D-NY) and
Susan Collins (R-ME) along
with Representatives Peter King
(R-NY) and Bill Pascrell (D-NJ)
introduced and the Volunteer
Emergency Services Recruitment
and Retention Act (S. 616/H.R.
1171). Senators Schumer and
Collins also introduced the
Volunteer Responder Incentive
Protection Act (S. 609). The
House version is expected to be
introduced later this month.
S. 616/H.R. 1171 would clarify
the federal tax treatment of
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
17
agencies and governments
much-needed flexibility to
implement incentive programs
that work for their community.
On behalf of the nation’s
volunteer emergency response
community I’d like to thank
Senators Schumer and Collins
and Representatives King and
Pascrell for introducing these
critical pieces of legislation.”
According to U.S. Fire
Department Profile Through
2013, a report published by
the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA), there
are 786,150 volunteer
firefighters serving in 27,575
fire departments across the
country, including 19,807
fire departments staffed by
volunteers only. Another NFPA
report, The Total Cost of Fire,
published in March 2014,
estimated that the monetary
value of time donated by
volunteer firefighters in the
United States in 2011 was
approximately $139.8 billion.
Fire and EMS agencies are
finding it increasingly difficult
to recruit and retain the next
generation of volunteers.
Heightened training and
certification requirements have
made volunteer emergency
response an extraordinarily timeconsuming activity, even as a
variety of shifting societal factors
have left fewer young people
with less free time available in
communities traditionally served
by volunteers. This has created
challenges in attracting younger
volunteers, which are reflected
in data from NFPA’s annual
Fire Department Profile reports
showing a 14.9 percent drop
in the number of firefighters
under the age of 40 serving in
communities of 2,500 or fewer
residents since 2000.
The NVFC invites you to use
our Engage Action Center to
contact your U.S. Representative
and Senators to ask them to
co-sponsor S. 609 and H.R.
1171/S. 616.
18
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
Combination Fire Department
Cohesiveness
By Chief Jeff Cash
T
he society we live in is changing every day. New technologies
and equipment hit the market all the time. Just like the world
is always changing, so is the fire service. Who would have ever
thought 20 years ago that mobile data terminals would be in apparatus?
But even with this constant change, one thing about the fire service
has remained the same – the perception difference in career, part-time,
and volunteer members in combination departments. With the changing
lifestyles in our country today, everyone wants to be accepted for who
they are, not just tolerated. They want to be treated as equal. The same
sentiment holds true between the division of career and volunteer
members. All three types of departments – be it career, volunteer, or
combination – have their challenges, but a combination department is
unique due to the different issues they face.
So how does a Fire Chief effectively lead a combination department?
The term equality immediately comes to mind.
Expectations: The Fire Chief has to set high expectations for all
members of the department, and the expectations
have to be the same whether it is a career or
volunteer member. An emergency situation
does not see the difference, so why should the
expectations of the Fire Chief be any different.
Without high expectations of all members, the
department will suffer.
Qualifications:
Uniform:
Authority:
Set equal qualifications in your department for
all members. If you want your career staff to hold
certifications, require your volunteers to as well.
When individuals hold the same credentials and
have been through the same training, mutual respect
is developed. The same holds true in requiring
qualifications for promotions. You must promote
based on qualification and departmental needs, not
on the buddy system.
Uniforming your personnel will make a huge equality
statement. If you’re buying Class A uniforms or
duty uniforms for your career employees to look
professional, you need to be doing the same for the
volunteers. Most importantly though, make sure
you are not passing down old personal protective
equipment from the career or part-time staff to the
volunteers. It will make them feel second rate, just
like the turnout gear. Looking equal makes people
feel equal.
Give your officers the authority to act. It doesn’t
matter whether your members are career or
volunteer. If you put an individual in a leadership
role, they need to be able to make decisions even
if that means a volunteer officer telling a career
member, like an apparatus operator, what to do.
Lead Evenly:
Input:
Time:
Yearly
Evaluations:
As the Fire Chief, you must lead evenly. If you
have to discipline a career member for a mistake
or accident, you must do the same for a volunteer
member. A policy violation or safety violation should
be no different for any member, and the discipline
should be similar.
As a Fire Chief, you should be gaining valuable
input from all employees. If you’re forming
training committees, building committees, or truck
committees, you need to include as much staff
as possible from across the members’ realms. If
possible you need to make an equal number of
career members to volunteers; it will help the entire
department with “buying in” when both sides are
included in big decisions.
Time is one of the most valuable assets that you as
a Fire Chief have to give. You have to make time for
your volunteers. They may not be able to train at the
same time as your career staffing. You must make
the effort and time to train and meet with these
individuals when they are available. Remember they
are in your department because they want to be,
not because of a paycheck. So go out of your way to
make time for them.
All members need a yearly performance evaluation. A
performance evaluation helps the members see how
well they performed throughout the year. It will also
help to set future goals and objectives for them. Your
volunteer members may one day become career staff,
and a yearly performance evaluation can help lay the
ground work for their future.
These tips are just a few of the many items that a fire chief will need
to complete in order to effectively lead a combination department. Will it
answer all your problems? No, but it will be a good foundation towards
the equality of your firefighters.
The most important asset you have as a fire chief is your people.
Notice there was no differentiation when I said people. It doesn’t
matter whether the members are career, part-time, or volunteer in
your combination department, you have to depend on them all. NFPA
established a firefighter standard with 1001, and it doesn’t have an
asterisk for volunteers. If a star baseball player goes down with an
injury, the game must go on. Your back-ups have to be trained, look,
and act the same when put in that injured player’s position. Your
firefighters should be treated the same, because they could be put in
that starting role at any moment’s notice.
Chief Jeff Cash has been in the fire service for over 35 years serving in
both the volunteer and career sectors. He has served as the Fire Chief of
the Cherryville Fire Department, a combination department in Cherryville,
NC, since 1986 and is a North Carolina certified Firefighter, EMT, Rescue
Technician, Fire Officer, Arson Investigator, Fire Code Enforcement Officer,
and Instructor. He is a Past President of the North Carolina Firemen’s
Association and serves as the North Carolina Director to the National
Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). He sits on the NVFC Executive Committee,
represents the NVFC on the NFPA 1021 Committee and the IAFC Safety
Health & Survival Committee, and has testified before Congressional
committees on fire service issues on two occasions.
Do You Know
The Changes
Coming To
School Safety
Drills?
O
n December 19, 2014,
Governor John R. Kasich
signed House Bill 178,
of the 130th General Assembly,
into law. The legislation has
an effective date of March 23,
2015. Among other things, this
legislation addresses school
safety drills and changes current
requirements for such drills.
The pertinent provisions of the
Ohio Revised Code (“Rev. Code”)
regarding school drills are found
in R.C. § 3737.73. Essentially,
the provisions of this code section
break school evacuation drills
down into two categories: “drills
or rapid dismissals” and “school
safety drills.”
Neither term is defined in the
Rev. Code, but generally it is
helpful to distinguish them as
follows: Drills or rapid dismissals
is a broader and more general
category of drills that contemplates
the education of students in
the most effective means of
evacuating from school buildings in
response to a sudden emergency.
General drills or rapid dismissals
contemplate any emergency. School
safety drills, on the other hand, are
a subcategory within the general
drills or rapid dismissals category
that specifically address evacuation
when a sudden emergency is
caused by an act of violence – such
as an act of terrorism or a person
possessing a deadly weapon or
dangerous ordnance. Therefore,
drills must be conducted and
students must be instructed in
how to proceed regarding a general
emergency and in addition must
be instructed in how to proceed
if the emergency is specifically in
response to an act of violence.
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
19
In short, Ohio law requires that schools that
have a smoke detector or a sprinkler system in all
classroom buildings must conduct six drills or rapid
dismissals (traditionally ‘emergency evacuation drills’)
during each school year. Schools that do not have a
smoke detector or a sprinkler system in all classroom
buildings must conduct nine drills or rapid dismissals
during each school year. In conjunction with these drills
or rapid dismissals, students must also be provided
instruction regarding safety precautions to be taken in
response to a tornado alert or warning. The first drills
or rapid dismissal of a school year must be conducted
within 10 days of the beginning of classes. As long as
drills are conducted within the parameters set forth in
the Rev. Code and the Ohio Fire Code, the principal or
person in charge may set the exact date and time of
such drills.
In addition to the required drills or rapid dismissals,
schools must also conduct three schools safety drills
and one theoretical school safety drill during the
year. These drills must be conducted in conjunction
with appropriate law enforcement officials and law
enforcement must be given 72 hours advanced written
notice of such drills. If a school is required to conduct
nine drills or rapid dismissals during the school year,
the drills or rapid dismissals may be combined with the
school safety drills. There is no such provision allowing
a school to combine the drills if the school is only
required to conduct six drills or rapid dismissals.
Regardless of the number of drills required, all
schools are required to conduct either one drill or
rapid dismissal or one school safety drill during each
month of the school year.
Complete analysis of all provisions of the new
legislation regarding school drills will be available at
www.com.state.oh.us/fire.
Important Safety Notice
Feb. 12, 2015 – DCACTIVE-28916506.1
Dear Valued Fire Service Professional:
Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Inc. (“Kidde”) in
conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) announced a voluntary recall to
replace certain Kidde black plastic Zytel® nylon valve
disposable fire extinguishers. A copy of the joint press
release and the safety notice are enclosed. Kidde has
sent copies to our retail customers with instructions
to post a copy of the safety notice in stores that sold
these extinguishers.
This replacement program was initiated because
certain disposable fire extinguishers may not fully
discharge when the lever is repeatedly pressed and
released. The cause is an out-of-specification valve
component.
This recall involves Kidde ABC and BC-rated fire
extinguishers manufactured between July 23, 2013 and Oct. 15,
2014 and sold between August 2013 and November 2014. The
models are as follows:
FX340SC
RESSP
FC110
FX340GW
Mariner 5 G
FX10
2A10BC
Mariner 5
FX210R
FA10G
FA5B
5BCW
FA110
FX5II
5BC
Mariner 110
FC5
1A 10BC
Mariner 10
FX210
10BC
FX10BC
KFH Twin
1A 10BCW
FX10K
M110 Twin
FH/RESSP
FC10
M5 Twin
XL 5MR
FX210W
FA5B
Due to our commitment to quality and safety, we
have corrected the issue for production going forward,
and are working with customers to obtain all recalled
units currently in stock.
If you receive inquiries please direct them to contact
Kidde at 1-855-283-7991 or www.Kidde.com to
determine whether their extinguishers are affected.
Scioto Valley Hot Tubs & Spas
4577 Lyman Drive
Hilliard, OH 43026
(614) 876-7755
www.sciotovalley.com
20
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
We value our relationship with the state fire
marshals and NASFM and appreciate your
understanding as we take care of this matter. If
you have any questions, please contact Neal Zipser,
Kidde’s community affairs manager, at 919-304-8264.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause
and thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Chris Rovenstine
Vice President, Sales and Marketing – Kidde
The Brickhouse
Tavern
38464 Lakeshore Blvd.
Willoughby, OH 44094
(440) 942-9651
C & C Auto Repair
Eastlake, OH 44095
(440) 953-2976
Johnny’s Auto & Truck
Towing, Inc.
1122 Sweitzer Avenue
Akron, OH 44301
(330) 434-5178
B.O.S. Services Company
4741 East 355th Street
373 West Bridge Street
Dublin, OH 43017 • (614) 764-8900
(440) 946-5101
www.boehminc.com
1-800-452-9010 Toll Free
(614) 875-9010
Either standard mail or email, please contact:
Rodger Sansom
P.O. Box 400
or rmosnas @ gmail.com • 1-800-825-OSFA
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
21
purchase price.
Eligibility Requirements
First Responders
May Be Eligible
For Assistance
Through Ohio
Housing Finance
Agency
T
he Ohio
Housing
Finance
Agency (OHFA)
makes buying
a home easier
than you may
have thought possible. OHFA,
a self-supporting agency of the
state of Ohio, offers several
affordable loan options to firsttime homebuyers, with special
mortgage interest rate discounts
for firefighters.
OHFA works with lenders, credit
unions and mortgage companies
across the state to offer 30-year
fixed-rate FHA, VA, USDA-RD
and conventional mortgage
loans. Their loans are designed
especially for homebuyers with
low- and moderate-incomes and
require minimal out-of-pocket
costs, typically 1 percent of the
You may qualify for an Ohio
Heroes OHFA loan if you have
not owned or had an ownership
interest in your primary residence
in the last three years; you meet
income and purchase price
limits (limits may vary by county
and community. Visit www.
myohiohome.org for a complete
list in your area.); your credit
score is 640 or higher, and you are
a firefighter, emergency medical
technician or paramedic.
You can choose to include
down payment and closing cost
assistance in your Ohio Heroes
loan for a slightly higher mortgage
interest rate. Current mortgage
interest rates are available at
www.myohiohome.org. Down
payment assistance is forgiven
after five years if you remain in
your home.
In addition, you can add one or
more of the following options with
your Ohio Heroes loan:
Mortgage Tax Credit – OHFA
provides eligible first-time
homebuyers with a tax credit
to help with home ownership
expenses. First-time buyers get
a tax credit of up to 40 percent
(up to $2,000) of their annual
mortgage interest. Tax credits
provide a dollar-for-dollar
reduction of your federal tax
Chief Rick Dawson
Receives Community Service Award
R
ick Dawson, fire chief of the Jackson
Township Division of Fire, in Franklin
County, Ohio, was one of five Mayor
Ellen Walker-Craig Jones Community
Service Award recipients. He was presented
with the award on Feb. 27, 2015, from the
Village of Urbancrest as part of its Black
History Month celebration. Chief Dawson is
pictured with Village of Urbancrest Mayor
Joseph L. Barnes Sr.
22
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
liability, and you can still claim
the remaining percent-age of your
mortgage interest tax deduction.
FHA Home Rehabilitation and
Repair 203(ks) – The FHA 203(ks)
loan helps borrowers purchase
properties that need repairs. You
must occupy thehome as your
primary residence after repairs
are complete. The amount of the
repairs, up to $35,000, will be
added to your primary mortgage.
FHA Energy Efficient Mortgage
– FHA’s EEM saves you money
on utility bills by adding energyefficient features to your home.
Up to $2,000 in energy-efficient
improvements can be added to
your primary mortgage.
Qualified buyers are required
to complete free homebuyer
education. Information on OHFA’s
streamlined education program is
available at www.myohiohome.org.
Or, you may complete a course
offered by any U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) approved counseling agency
in Ohio.
OHFA appreciates the service
you provide to communities, and
works to make home buying easy
for you. Visit www.myohiohome.
org to find an OHFA-approved
lender in your area, along
with tips to help you with the
application process. Or, call OHFA
toll-free at 888-362-6432.
JULY 5-11, 2015
CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
AT OHIO YOUTH FIRE & EMS TRAINING ACADEMY
OR VISIT
www.ohioyouthfire.org
More details coming soon!
For info contact Vicki Miller 740-685-1053
[email protected]
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
23
78
Annual
th
OHIO STATE FIREFIGHTERS CONFERENCE
Clarion Inn and Conference Center
6625 Dean Memorial Parkway
Hudson, Ohio 44236 • 330-653-9191
August 13, 14, 15, 2015
$89.00 Room rate, call to make reservations, say OSFA.
CEU’s for Firefighter, EMT, Inspector • Hands-On-Training
Thursday:
Evening Memorial Service
Friday:Opening Ceremonies, Business Meeting,
National Key-Note Speaker, Training,
Hardrock Racino
Saturday: Business Meeting, Training, Business Casual Banquet, Entertainment-free beer-Dancing
Sunday: Church Service
Ohio State Firefighters Association Auxiliary Programs Daily!
24
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
2015 Conference Keynote
Speaker, Jeff Dill
I
n 2011, Jeff Dill founded Firefighter Behavioral Health
Alliance (FBHA). This organization is a 501 (3) (C). FBHA
is dedicated to educating firefighters/EMT’s on suicide
awareness & prevention. www.ffbha.org
Jeff travels the United States & Canada holding workshops to
teach firefighters about behavioral health awareness and suicide
prevention. FBHA is the only known organization that collects
and validates data on FF/EMT suicides across the United
States.
Jeff Dill holds a Masters Degree in Counseling from Argosy
University (IL), a Licensed Professional Counselor, and is
currently a Captain at Palatine Rural Fire Protection District in
Inverness, Illinois. He is a member of the American Counseling
Association, Illinois Counseling Association, Illinois Mental
Health Counselors Association, Illinois Professional Firefighter’s
Association, and the International Association of Fire Fighters.
Jeff can be reached at [email protected].
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
25
26
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
2015 Conference
Tentative Educational Classes in Boston Heights
The following is a tentative list of educational classes that will be offered at this year’s
conference in Boston Heights. All funding incurred for the educational classes is provided
by the Summit County Firefighters’ Association.
Friday August 14th Education Classes
• 1:00pm to 3:00pm Suicide Health Awareness & Prevention
• 1:00pm to 3:00pm Size Up & Room and Contents Fires
• 1:00pm to 3:00pm Traffic ICS & Highway Safety for Responders
Friday August 14th Education Classes
• 3:00pm to 5:00pm Size Up & Room and Contents Fires
• 3:00pm to 5:00pm Traffic ICS & Highway Safety for Responders
• 3:00pm to 5:00pm Overcoming Barriers /special needs patients
Saturday August 15th Education Classes
• 1:00pm to 3:00pm Adult Learner 1 Instructor CE for Fire or EMS
• 1:00pm to 3:00pm Drivers Training 101 / Arrive alive on scene
• 1:00pm to 3:00pm Patient Scenario, Metro Simulation Center
• 3:00pm to 5:00pm Patient Scenario, Metro Simulation Center
• 1:00pm to 5:00pm Swiftwater Safety and Awareness
This class will be held at Valley Fire Deptartment and you will be
on site at the Cuyahoga River in the Cuyahoga Valley.
• 1:00pm to 5:00pmTanker Shuttle Operations / Single lane tank
This class will be held at the hotel. You will get the classroom portion of the
Ohio Response Plan for Tanker Operations and see the single lane tank operation.
Fill site and dump tank locations will be reviewed.
Fire CE will be issued through Medina County Career Center and EMS CE
will be issued through Metro Health System. Certificates will be issued for all classes.
You may attend education classes only for $35.00, indicated on the registration form.
Turn out gear is required for all hands on classes.
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
27
28
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
FEATURE ARTICLE
Why cancer may be the greatest
risk facing Ohio’s firefighters
When a firefighter dies in the line of duty we pause to pay our respects.
But hundreds of firefighters are dying each year from cancer.
Monica Robins, WKYC-TV, Senior Health Correspondent
F
irefighters are there when we need them most.
These brave men and women run into harm’s
way as we run from it.
But six days before Steve was to marry the love
of his life, Aryn, he was dealt another setback. The
cancer was back.
They accept that danger is a part of their job. But
it’s another killer that is taking down these everyday
heroes: cancer.
Steve and Aryn went ahead with the wedding.
He made a vow to Aryn that day and everyone in
attendance: he would beat the cancer again.
Think about it. When a firefighter dies in the line of
duty we pause to pay our respects. But hundreds of
firefighters are dying each year from cancer.
“Our honeymoon was at the Cleveland Clinic. It was
a very expensive one,” Steve says with a smile.
“I tell people I didn’t see my life flash behind me
or before me. But I did see everything I wanted to do
that I hadn’t done yet,” explains Steve Westcott, who
fulfilled a lifelong dream when he became a firefighter
in Perkins Township back in 2001.
Training prepared Steve for what could go wrong
while responding to a fire or accident. Nothing could
prepare him for the news he got after about seven
years on the job.
Blood tests showed Steve had acute myeloid
leukemia. “Utter shock. It wasn’t going to happen to
me. Wasn’t supposed to happen to me,” Steve recalls.
At the time he was the picture of health. He worked
out, ate well, had no family history of cancer and
was only 25 years old. For six months Steve endured
grueling treatments to regain his health and beat the
cancer. He went back to work and got on with his life.
Steve and Aryn Westcott on their wedding day. Just six days
earlier, Steve learned his cancer had returned. The couple
canceled their planned honeymoon and Steve was admitted
into the Cleveland Clinic.
(Photo: Steve Westcott)
A tough fight
FIREFIGHTER SAYS PROTECTION PROMISES
ARE MADE WHEN THEY TAKE THEIR OATH
Tim Kling became an Akron firefighter in the
summer of 1966, back before firefighters wore the
protective gear we see today
They wore metal helmets with no face protection.
The primitive breathing apparatus often left them
gasping for air after a fire.
30
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
(Continued on page 37.)
Fabricating
Solutions
7920 Bavaria Road
Twinsburg, OH 44087
(330) 486-0998
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
31
FEATURE DEPARTMENT
Greentown Volunteer Fire Department
76 Years of Tradition and Service
L
ocated in the northwestern
corner of Stark County,
Greentown is a cozy,
close-knit community. Proudly
serving the citizens of this
community since 1939, The
Greentown Fire Department is
a modern day fire service based
on old fashioned values.
Groundwork for Greentown’s
first fire department was started
in mid-November, 1939. Upon
its completion in March of
1940, twenty-four buckets were
purchased to operate a bucket
brigade until enough funds were
available to purchase a working
fire truck. Realizing that the
citizens of Greentown needed
better protection, the founding
members worked tirelessly
and selflessly to raise enough
money to accomplish this goal.
After several antiquated trucks
were purchased and found to
32
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
be inadequate, Greentown was
able to purchase its first new
fire truck, a 1941 Ford. Despite
the financial hardships that
they encountered, the original
members never gave up on
working toward a better fire
department. In January of 1943,
with a full complement of boots,
gloves, helmets and coats for its
members, Greentown elected its
first Fire Chief, H.C. Kissinger.
Today’s fire department stands
as a tribute to the hard work and
dedication of those firefighters
who worked so diligently to
get it started. Boasting a CAFS
pumper, a 2500 gallon tanker, a
105’ ladder truck, two squads, a
Ford F-250 grass fire truck and
a chase vehicle, the department
is well equipped to respond
to any emergency that might
arise. The station is staffed 24
hours a day with four part-
time personnel and additional
staffing is provided by in district
volunteers as well as volunteers
on station. The 37 member
roster is overseen by Chief Vince
Harris and three Assistant
Chiefs; Jeremy Guenther, Shawn
Robinson and Justin Joy. Three
Captains and three Lieutenants
complete the officers’ positions,
and we are pleased to welcome
our new administrative assistant,
Andrea Deitrick.
With call volume steadily
increasing over the years,
Greentown Fire finds itself
again, striving to meet the needs
of the future. While we are not
encumbered with the same
difficulties as our predecessors,
we are still keenly aware that
we must be trained to meet
the challenges that lie ahead.
Training is a vital component
in our day to day operations
and outside training classes
are offered to all Greentown
employees. Keeping at the
forefront of strategies and tactics
is just one of many ways we try to
better serve our community.
Greentown Fire has come a
very long way in its seven plus
decades. Over the years, we have
grown and we have bettered our
service to the community. What
started out as a 24 piece bucket
brigade has evolved into a highly
trained and well equipped fire
department. However, amidst the
sea of red vehicles that adorns
our apparatus floor, a 1941 Ford
(fully restored) sits as a reminder
of where we started.
By Chief Jeff Cash
T
hroughout my years in the fire service, I have heard comments
from both sides of the spectrum concerning junior firefighter
programs. Although the majority of the comments are positive, I
do periodically receive offerings of constructive criticism. It is important
we give careful consideration to the criticism so that we can overcome
the challenges and build successful programs. By focusing on the
benefits local junior firefighter programs bring to departments, we can
educate those who may not yet see the big picture in its entirety.
Fire departments throughout the world have the same overall goals
for many services they offer, and yet individual departments can utilize
many different techniques to reach these goals. In turn, a successful
junior firefighter program provides benefits that can help a department
to meet many of their overall goals. I’d like to share my department’s
experiences with our junior firefighter program to highlight some of the
benefits these programs can bring.
Rebuilding the volunteer ranks
In the 80’s and early 90’s, volunteering in our area was considered
outstanding. We’d had an informal junior program since the mid-80’s
but did not actively recruit for this in any way. It was usually the sons
and nephews of our members. We had no need to focus on junior
members because we had a waiting list of citizens wanting to join as
firefighters.
As the years passed and society became much busier, experienced
generational changes, and became more focused on their family and
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
33
their own selves, the fire service began to suffer
from a lack of interest in volunteerism. The number
of volunteer firefighters nationwide declined
dramatically, which had a significant impact on
many local departments, including mine. In addition,
the average age of volunteer firefighters began to
increase, creating concern as to what will happen
when the older generation begins to retire. These
challenges became a focus point for many fire service
organizations, and great efforts were made to change
these trends.
One of the ways this happened was when the
National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) developed
the National Junior Firefighter Program in 2007. The
national program helps local departments engage
youth in non-operational tasks and training so that
they learn about the fire service and hopefully one
day join as a first responder. Some departments
jumped on the wagon simply because it was a great
opportunity to revamp their own informal programs,
while others began their very first junior firefighter
program. The NVFC’s guiding documents and web
site had everything a department needed to run
a successful program without having to reinvent
the wheel. After seven years, we are now seeing a
substantial increase of interest in the generation
most needed – the young! Many departments, like
mine, are once again experiencing a waiting list of
people willing to volunteer.
Enhancing departmental training
Having junior firefighters hanging around
the station has the added benefit of enhancing
departmental training. In my department, we found
that after junior firefighters finished their assigned
duties such as cleaning and odd jobs around the
station, they began to entice senior firefighters to
lend their knowledge. Juniors ask for help with
the basics such as apparatus familiarity, small
equipment operation, and even hose lays. This single
event has snowballed into regular shift training, due
to the fact that most firefighters can never just sit
back and watch. It usually takes only one person
to dedicate time to a junior before the entire shift
becomes involved. This is a two-fold benefit in that it
motivates great training plus battles complacency by
fostering teamwork in a “can do” atmosphere.
Improving public relations
There is no denying this past decade has brought
its fair share of government scrutiny. The fire service
usually fairs well during these times, as we are in
the business of helping people; however, we still
experience obstacles at times. These obstacles are
usually small issues, such as taking our apparatus
to restaurants, buying what the public perceives
as unneeded equipment, or questions of what
firefighters are doing when they are not running
emergency calls.
34
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
By opening the doors to young men and women
to join our roster as junior firefighters, we are also
opening the doors to their entire family and friends.
It is a misperception to think these young recruits
are not going home to tell anyone who will listen of
how their time is spent at the fire station.
It’s an awesome experience to have someone who
only knows you as a firefighter tell you how proud
they are of your department because of everything
being done to support these young adults. These
conversations usually lead to their recently acquired
knowledge of our day to day operations and
training, then end with a newfound support of our
department. Some would consider this an out of
the park homerun for their department. This kind
of public relations is free and simply happens from
having a junior firefighter program.
Bridging the generation gap
I mentioned generational change earlier. There is
a great difference between the 1960’s generation to
the 80’s and 90’s, but the difference to the Millennial
generation (people born from the early 1980s-early
2000s) is monumental. We have no choice but adapt
to these differences in the fire service, and what
better way than to start while our future firefighters
are young enough to mentor and mold. This is yet
another benefit that is two-fold. The beginning career
of a junior firefighter can be difficult, but once a
working relationship establishes, you will find that
everyone benefits. Young firefighters will learn a new
respect for the traditions and chain of command
within the fire service, while the older members
are often persuaded to accept change as the new
generation starts bringing in new ideas.
It’s a known fact that many times firefighters
do not like change or to start a new program.
Don’t expect every member to be on board with a
youth program in the beginning. Often it is their
involvement with the junior firefighter program
once it is established that finally gives them an
understanding of the many benefits.
Chief Jeff Cash has been in the fire service for
over 35 years serving in both the volunteer and
career sectors. He has served as the Fire Chief of the
Cherryville (NC) Fire Department since 1986 and is
a North Carolina certified Firefighter, EMT, Rescue
Technician, Fire Officer, Arson Investigator, Fire Code
Enforcement Officer, and Instructor. He is a Past
President of the North Carolina Firemen’s Association
and serves as the North Carolina Director to the
National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). He sits on
the NVFC Executive Committee, is a member of the
NVFC’s National Junior Firefighter Program Advisory
Group, represents the NVFC on the NFPA 1021
Committee and the IAFC Safety Health & Survival
Committee, and has testified before Congressional
committees on fire service issues on two occasions.
Recruiting
and Retaining
New Volunteers:
It’s Personal
By Eric Bernard
M
any volunteer departments
across the country are
struggling with recruiting
and retaining new members.
Recruiting can be difficult and
often requires time, dedication,
and innovation. As the Executive
Director of the Montgomery
County (MD) Volunteer Fire Rescue
Association (MCVFRA) and a
member of the National Volunteer
Fire Council’s (NVFC) SAFER Work
Group, I have spent countless
hours focusing on this important
issue. I believe it to be the most
critical, misunderstood, and
maligned issue in the volunteer
fire/rescue and EMS service.
volunteers to get a “taste” of what
it is like to be a responder through
experience-centered activities such
as ride-alongs or interacting with
current volunteers.
The MCVFRA has been very
successful in recruiting volunteers
due to activities that are in line
with these research findings. Our
first contact with a prospective
new member, which is usually
via email or a call, ends with a
scheduled ride-along in a station,
a visit to our store-front recruiting
station, or a personal visit by a
volunteer recruiter in uniform. We
want to create a sense of urgency,
a sense of belonging, and make
that prospect compelled to follow
through and join.
Invitations
Personal invitations are more
likely to result in action than a less
personal outreach attempt. This
doesn’t mean that methods such
as advertisements, posters, and
The NVFC has been working
with Salter>Mitchell, a behavior
change marketing firm, to
develop the campaign branding,
messaging, and strategy for
a national recruitment and
retention campaign. All aspects
of the campaign are based
on extensive qualitative and
quantitative research. The
research collected thus far
indicates that there is a large
population of individuals across
all spectrums who are interested
in volunteering. The million dollar
question is, how do we best reach
those individuals and drive them
to act on those interests?
Research from the NVFC’s
campaign has shown that
personal invitations are extremely
effective when recruiting potential
volunteers and that the absence
of an invitation is cited as a key
reason for non-action. The research
also showed that sampling, or
allowing potential volunteers
to gain first-hand experience of
the emergency services, is more
likely to lead to a commitment to
serve. Sampling allows interested
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
35
followed by a paramilitary evening
of learning, experiencing, and
most importantly, engraining that
person into the volunteer service.
The course includes members
from all of our 19 independent
volunteers departments and is in
addition to activities they provide
for new recruits.
signs are completely ineffective,
but a personal invitation is more
meaningful and ultimately more
effective. Using your member’s
spheres of influence – people they
know and talk to – and providing
each of them with professional
flyers, business cards, and
information packages on the
department are vital to set the
success of the ask. Most people
don’t know or understand that
the fire and rescue service has
volunteers, and worse yet, they
have no idea that we want more
and need more – and that we want
and need THEM! Failure to ASK is
failure to recruit and ultimately a
failure of the department.
Sampling
In 2010, we launched a
volunteer fire-rescue recruiting
station to help meet the needs of
the 19 volunteer fire and rescue
departments in Montgomery
County. Our store-front recruiting
station features the volunteer
experience with hands-on activities
and current volunteers available
to answer questions and share
their experiences. The station
offers hands-on equipment
including a fire engine cab, fire
hydrant, a hose to hook-up, fire
36
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
gear, and other equipment that
potential volunteers can try. It
is an inviting atmosphere where
potential recruits can always
receive valuable information
without dealing with the chaos and
confusion of a fire/rescue station.
Hooking and Retaining
New Members
Follow-up is critical when
recruiting and retaining new
volunteers. It is important to
have processes in place to ensure
applicants don’t fall through the
cracks. Likewise, it is essential
to engage new volunteers and to
create a welcoming and supportive
environment. Receiving support
from peers and family members
will go a long way in helping a
new volunteer feel comfortable
and confident. In our case, a
potential new member who makes
an online inquiry receives a call
from a trained volunteer recruiter
within 24 hours. We then add
the prospect to an online data
management system which is
available free of charge to nonprofit
organizations (SalesForece.com).
The software tracks their every
move through the application,
membership, training, and
volunteering process in real-time
and in the cloud.
We then match them with other
new recruits and expose them
to the service via a volunteer
planned, created, and run boot
camp called the Volunteer Basic
Orientation Course (VBOC). This
is an 11-week, Friday night course
held at our training academy. We
provide a free communal dinner,
drinks, and a dessert which is
Our experience shows that a new
member who follows this track
is over three times as likely to
complete their first year of training
and remain an active volunteer.
Further, the member is twice as
likely to retain membership and
activity in each successive year.
Hook them early and they will stay
longer, will be happier, and will be
better trained. Best of all, they will
likely extend personal invitations to
their friends and family, ultimately
helping to continue the advancement
of the recruitment process.
Recruiting and retaining new
volunteers can be challenging, but
progress can be made when efforts
are focused on proven motivators
and tactics. Ultimately, recruiting
and retaining is about personal
relationships and meaningful
interaction. It takes effort and
dedication to engage prospective
volunteers and oversee the transition
from general interest to new
member, but it’s an important and
necessary job. The future of the fire
service is directly tied to our efforts,
and inaction is not an option.
Eric N. Bernard began volunteering as
an EMT at the age of 15 in Pittsburgh, PA.
He moved to Rockville, MD, in 1987 while
serving in the U.S. Navy and became a
volunteer with the Montgomery County
Fire and Rescue Service and the Rockville
Volunteer Fire Department. He has
remained an active volunteer firefighter,
rescuer, instructor, and EMT, holding
positions including sergeant, lieutenant,
board member, and president. In 2005,
he was selected as the first Executive
Director for the Montgomery County
Volunteer Fire Rescue Association. He
works with the County Fire Chief, County
Executive, County Council, other elected
officials, and the public representing
the needs, efforts, and work of the over
1,500 volunteer fire, rescue, and EMS
professionals in 19 local departments.
CANCER
(Continued from page 30)
Twenty-eight years after taking
his firefighter’s oath, Kling learned
he had colon cancer. “The known
risks that I was reading about,
none of them applied to me,” Kling
recalled. Then in 2012, Kling
learned he had Stage III nonHodgkin lymphoma, and just a
year after that, doctors diagnosed
him with prostate cancer.
concluded they had a higher risk
of multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin
lymphoma, prostate and testicular
cancer.
Eight more types of cancer
were listed as having possible
connections to the job.
take their oath. “This is not about
money. Never has been. Never
will be about money. It’s about
keeping your end of the bargain,”
Kling said.
The cancer connection
RESEARCHERS SAY THE
NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTERS
WITH CANCER IS NO
COINCIDENCE
Tim Kling (top) with fellow Akron
firefighters in 1978. (Photo: Tim Kling)
A month ago, WKYC started
surveying Northeast Ohio
firefighters about their cancer
experience. So far, 294 have
responded and 75 of those
respondents indicted they had
or have cancer. The types are
consistent with what studies
show. Our study is not scientific,
nor is it finished. But it does give
some insight into the scope of
the problem.
Kling’s first cancer diagnosis
forced him to retire from firefighting.
When he first filed for workers
compensation, he was approved,
but then the city of Akron began
filing a series of appeals to prevent
his claim.
“The number I’ve gotten is around
20 appeals in five years. At the end
of five years the score was 20 to
nothing, my favor,” he said.
Kling showed us the documentation
he’s collected regarding his own
fight. While he did receive coverage,
many other firefighters fighting
cancer have not. Kling says
protection promises are made
by both sides when firefighters
Steve Westcott and Tim Kling
are far from alone. They are two of
a growing number of firefighters
diagnosed with cancer each year.
Some, like Westcott are diagnosed
at a young age. Others like Kling
are later in their careers, or even
in retirement.
A growing number of scientists
and researchers say the numbers
of firefighters battling cancer is
no coincidence. It’s the job that’s
killing them.
In 2006, University of Cincinnati
researchers reviewed 32 different
studies of firefighter cancer and
In 2013 NIOSH, The National
Institute of Occupational Safety
and Health, did its own study. The
NIOSH study found firefighters
had a significantly higher cancer
rate than the general public, most
notably digestive, oral, respiratory
and urinary cancers.
There was also an increase
in bladder and prostate cancer
among younger firefighters. The
findings are not surprising to Dr.
Stanton Gerson, who is director
of the Case Comprehensive
Cancer Center.
“We know the compounds. We
know the types of risks that they
are exposed to. I just don’t think
we’ve paid enough attention to their
particular risks,” Gerson says.
So what is causing so many
different types of cancer in
firefighters?
Researchers point to the toxic
soup of burning chemicals and
their byproducts -- from melting
plastics and flame retardants
in everything from furniture,
carpeting and clothing. The soot
from these chemicals can lead to
lung, bladder and skin cancer. And
consider this: for every 5 degree
increase in skin temperature,
chemical absorption into the skin
increases 400 percent.
“Fifty-six percent of all line of
duty deaths are from cancer,”
Steve Westcott says.
A bone marrow transplant saved
his life and Steve has marked his
fifth anniversary of being cancerfree. But he also has had to give
up firefighting. The treatments
took a toll on his body, and he
can no longer serve on the Fire
Department.
Today Westcott is committed to
helping other firefighters who are
diagnosed with cancer. Steve is
the Ohio director of the Firefighter
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
37
cancer contracted it in the line of
the duty.
This allows that firefighter to
receive payments for medical
costs, workers’ compensation
and other benefits. Ohio is not
among the states with a cancer
presumption law.
Steve Westcott was 25 years old when
doctors diagnosed him with acute
myeloid leukemia. He was forced to retire
after it returned one year later. (Photo:
Steve Westcott)
Cancer Support Network.
Every week Steve says he hears
about at least one Ohio firefighter
newly diagnosed.
“We were always trained for
what to watch out for on structure
fires. You never really had to think
about cancer. And you never really
want to have to go that route
where you are going to die in the
line of duty. But you always think
it’s going to happen with your
boots on, not with your boots off,”
Steve says.
There is more to this story. As
one firefighter told us, “cancer is
the easy part.”
Thirty-three states have socalled “cancer presumption laws.”
In other words, under state law
it is presumed that a firefighter
diagnosed with certain types of
Stories of loss
IN OHIO, FIREFIGHTERS
AND THEIR FAMILIES DON’T
RECEIVE BENEFITS FOR
CANCER
Ask any firefighter and they can
name at least one. That is one
fellow firefighter who is battling
cancer -- or succumbed to it.
Last year, just in the Columbus
Fire Department, 53 firefighters
were diagnosed with cancer.
Mark Rine used to work with
some of them, and he wasn’t
surprised.
Two and a half years ago Mark
went to the doctor to have a
suspicious mole checked out.
It wasn’t cancer. But the doctor
found another that was. The test
results were stunning. At just 30
years of age, Mark was diagnosed
with Stage 4 melanoma.
“I was shocked. I was shocked
because I did feel great. I thought
I was in great shape and had no
issues,” Mark told us when we
visited him at his home outside
Columbus.
He began treatment early in
the summer of 2012 and was
able to return to work for a time.
Unfortunately, Mark’s cancer has
spread and he now has a tumor at
the base of his spine. He spends
his days at home with his five
children.
Columbus firefighter Mark Rine was
diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma
in 2012. He can no longer work as a
firefighter, but is working to educate his
fellow firefighters and push for cancer
presumption laws in Ohio.
(Photo: Mark Rine)
38
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
“It’s not worth it. I love my job. I
thoroughly love it and miss it, but
it’s not worth all this,” Mark says.
He does his best to explain what
it is like for firefighters after a fire.
“As soon as you come out of
a scene -- most firefighters will
understand what I am saying --
you are sneezing black stuff for
three days. And your skin smells
like soot for a week,” Mark says.
Researchers say that exposure
to a toxic mix of burning
chemicals puts firefighters at a
much higher risk of cancer than
the general public.
“We did a lot of praying. The
family did. And he died three
months later. There was nothing
they could do,” Eilene Moore says
of her brother, Ed Harkless.
A lifelong Akron firefighter,
Harkless retired from the job in
the 1990s, but in 2001 he wasn’t
feeling well and went to the
doctor.
Pancreatic cancer was the
diagnosis. Ed and his wife Jean
were told he had about three to
four months to live. They were
right.
“Three months? Three months?
Who knows they are going to die
in three months? What would you
do if you knew? If we felt good
enough we could go someplace.
We did. We went every place we
could think of to find somebody
who could help. But nobody could
help,” says Jean.
Eilene’s husband, Larry, was
also an Akron firefighter. He retired
in 1996. Ten years later Larry
found out he too, had cancer.
Doctors diagnosed Larry with
liposarcoma. Eilene is convinced
the job is to blame for both Ed’s
and Larry’s cancers.
“I thought it right away because
I don’t believe in coincidences.
We knew other firefighters that
got cancer, and that was one of
my fears of what might happen to
Larry,” Eilene says.
But in Ohio, firefighter cancers
like Mark’s, Ed’s and Larry’s are
not recognized as a risk of the
job despite a growing number of
scientific studies that point to a
link.
That means they do not qualify
for worker’s compensation, and
their families cannot receive
survivors benefits -- unlike
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February 2015
OSFA NEWS
39
(Continued from page 38.)
firefighters dealing with cancer in
33 other states.
Mark knows his future is
uncertain, so he’s spending
part of it fighting for cancer
compensation -- not necessarily
for him but for those who will
follow in his footsteps.
“I understand that there are
political hoops and that people
have to play well together,” he
said, “but, you know, how many
lives have to be lost before we can
decide that we can get this done?”
Eilene Moore agrees. “We need
to take better care of our heroes
and the men who sacrifice their
lives, breathe contaminants and
chemicals that cause cancer,”
she says.
The issue all too often seems to
be money. It potentially could cost
cities millions of dollars to cover
the care of these men and women
who are now fighting for their lives.
A push for change
OHIO FACES PRESSURE
TO ADOPT CANCER
PRESUMPTION LAW
Jean and Ed Harkless had a
bucket list.
When Ed retired in the ‘90’s
from his job as an Akron
firefighter, the couple had a list
of things they wanted to do. Jean
says they never got the chance.
“Three months. Three months.
Who knows they are going to die
in three months?” she said.
Ed had recently undergone
bypass surgery but wasn’t
recovering as expected. He went
to see his doctor, who ordered
tests.
There was no way the couple
could prepare themselves for the
news they were about to receive:
Ed had pancreatic cancer.
“I understand where they are
coming from. But to them I say,
‘What is your son or daughter’s life
worth?’ “ Mark Rine says.
Mark is committed to helping
those firefighters who follow in
his footsteps. He wants to see
Ohio become the next state to
recognize cancer as a job hazard
for firefighters. This would
allow firefighters to receive
compensation through the Bureau
of Workers’ Comp.
He also visits fire stations,
teaching firefighters how to take
better care of themselves, and their
gear, after a fire.
“I will never use the fair card
because I have accepted my
cancer, and I am using my
cancer for good. If my cancer
saves another firefighter’s life,
then I will leave this world a
happy person,” Mark says.
Mark and his family are
also raising awareness about
melanoma. They have started
The sKeven Foundation.
www.skeven.com
40
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
States in dark gray have so-called “cancer
presumption laws.” In other words, under
state law it is presumed that a firefighter
diagnosed with certain types of cancer
contracted it in the line of the duty.
(Photo: WKYC-TV)
get cancer covered by workers’
compensation and survivor
benefits for families.
Both never made it out of
committee.
“It’s been opposed by the cities,
the townships -- I think for
financial reasons. And yet this
same bill has had success in 33
other states,” Patton says.
Tim Kling offers this response:
“The underlying concern seems
to be ‘What’s this gonna cost
us?’ Nobody asks, nobody asks,
nobody takes into consideration
what’s this going to cost the guy
with cancer,” he said.
But if it passes?
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson
administered the oath of office to 36
fire cadets and three EMS employees on
June 27. (Photo: WKYC)
“He couldn’t believe it, and I
couldn’t believe it. I mean, how
can you believe something so
terrible?” she asked.
Doctors gave Ed, at most, four
months to live. He was gone in
just three.
“Firemen are heroes. They
really are,” Jean says.
That’s why state Sen. Tom
Patton has been trying for seven
years to help firefighters battling
cancer. He proposed bills to the
Ohio legislature twice, trying to
“It will allow the guy stricken
with cancer to fight his disease
and not the process,” Kling said.
In 2008, Cleveland Mayor
Frank Jackson sent a letter to
the chair of The Commerce and
Labor Committee expressing
opposition to the bill.
It states, “the bill proposed an
unfounded legal presumption
that firefighters claiming a
disability based on any cancer
incurred the disability while
performing their official duties.
... the city of Cleveland and
other large municipalities will
bear the bulk of burden inflicted
by this false assumption.”
At the time of the letter, 27
states had already passed
cancer presumption laws,
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
41
(Continued from page 40.)
and a University of Cincinnati
research study that analyzed 32
studies showing links to specific
cancers among firefighters had
already been released.
Jackson wasn’t the only
mayor to object to the bill. The
Ohio Municipal League and
Ohio Township Association were
also against it.
“We owe it to those brave men
and women who go into those
burning buildings, where you
don’t know what’s in there. All
you know is that the building
is burning down, and you find
out after the fact that there was
dangerous chemicals, and there’s
not time to put on hazmat suits,”
Patton says.
were present and they were
exposed to,” he explains.
“Sounds to me like it’s an
obvious risk that can’t be
controlled and a community
benefit. It would seem very
logical that they should be
covered,” agrees Gerson.
Jean Harkless never wants
another firefighter wife to go
through her experience.
“Ed would have been proud to
know that he would have had
any influence in getting help
for the young people who need
it so desperately. It’s a terrible
disease and it’s a terrible job in
some ways but they are happy
to do it,” she says.
Dr. Stan Gerson is head of
University Hospitals Seidman
Cancer Institute. He remembers
treating industrial workers years
ago who were exposed to cancer
causing agents.
Gerson says that rarely happens
now, thanks to OSHA regulations.
But with firefighters, the levels
and contaminants they’re exposed
to can often be a mystery.
“We know that they’re related
to the dose of exposure. Not
the time, but the dose of
exposure. And we know that
the mechanisms behind it. We
know the types of of damage to
cells, DNA, to genes that can
take place, so even a single
high toxic exposure could be
inducing a cancer a few years
later,” Gerson says.
In early 2015 Patton will
once again re-introduce cancer
presumption legislation.
This time it will only focus on
firefighters and be limited to
specific cancers that scientific
research linked to their work.
“They’ve got to be diagnosed
with the cancer, and they have
to be able to document the day
or dates that they fought a fire
where these exact chemicals,
these very specific chemicals,
42
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
Retired Akron Firefighter Ed Harkless
(left) was diagnosed with pancreatic in
2001. He died three months later. His
brother-in-law Larry Moore (right) who
was also a retired Akron Firefighter was
diagnosed with liposarcoma in 2006.
(Photo: Moore family)
automatically want to be placed
in here and this would actually
extract the carcinogens out of
the gear, and you would have
fresh gear again,” says Steve
Westcott.
He believes the fume vacuum
and extractor are two of the
most important tools in helping
to prevent cancer in firefighters.
(Photo: WKYC-TV)
Tools of the trade
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
CAN HELP FIREFIGHTERS
AVOID CANCER
One of the most valuable tools
in fighting fires is the truck
apparatus; however, the diesel
fumes the trucks emit contain
benzene, a known carcinogen.
That’s why many firehouses
have diesel exhaust vacuums to
help keep the dangerous fumes
away from the firefighters and
out of the living quarters.
Another preventive measure
is using a washing machine
that has the capability to
extract carcinogens out of the
firefighter’s gear.
“After any type of exposure -be it fire, automobile accident,
hazmat -- the gear would
“This is so important to have.
I believe every firehouse should
have this. This is one of the
biggest things that we can do
to stop cancer is to make sure
we’re getting all this stuff out of
our gear. Right now we’re finding
that it’s not so much inhalation
anymore that’s getting these
carcinogens into us. It’s
absorption,” Westcott says.
The firefighter’s hood and
helmet also come in direct
contact with skin, so Westcott
advises firefighters to put hoods
into the extractors at least once
a week whether it needs to be
cleaned or not and to have two
or three extra on hand.
While the helmet is meant to
protect, it can also be a problem
if it’s not cleaned properly.
“We’re having a lot of brain
cancers and melanomas, and,
while you think you’re doing a
good job washing your gear and
your hood, this is one of the
things we often forget,” Westcott
says.
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
43
MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP PROFESSIONAL
FIREFIGHTERS LAUNCH
“Stay Safe Smoke Detector Program”
IN GAHANNA THE WEEKEND OF MARCH 6-8
FOR SENIOR RESIDENTS
Gahanna, Ohio
I
n an effort to promote and assist in fire safety,
Mifflin Township Professional Firefighters Local 2818
began an annual smoke detector and smoke detector
battery replacement program for senior residents of
Gahanna. The event, STAY SAFE SMOKE DETECTOR
PROGRAM, took place the weekend of March 6-8, 2015.
For a number of reasons, senior residents are
often unable to change their smoke detectors on the
recommended schedule outlined by the National
Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) and the US Fire
Administration. This schedule suggests that all
homeowners and/or renters replace their smoke
detector batteries at least once a year. The NFPA
reports that residential fire fatalities are cut more
than in half, in homes that have properly functioning
smoke detectors
Residents in Mifflin Township and Gahanna may be
unable to meet this recommendation, and that working
Air Equipment Rental
9050 Bank Street
Valley View, OH 44125
(216) 901-9200
Desmond Engraving
13410 Enterprise Avenue,
Suite D
Cleveland, OH 44135
(216) 265-8338
Eagle Exhibit Services
111 West Nationwide Blvd.
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 461-6521
Giant Eagle - Mayfield Hts.
6259 Mayfield Road
Mayfield Hts., OH 44124
(440) 446-1628
McCormick & Reinmuth
Insurance
6649 N. High Street, Suite 202
Worthington, OH 43085
(614) 888-4540
Signal Service Co.
4341 Cranwood Pkwy.
Warrensville Hts., OH 44128
(216) 662-4820
44
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
smoke detectors save lives, the Professional Firefighters
of Local 2818 partnered with the American Red Cross,
Meijer of Gahanna, Batteries + Bulbs of Gahanna,
and the East Columbus Home Depot to provide these
residents with assistance in changing their batteries
or providing them with a new smoke detector for their
home. The goal is to help those who are unable to
perform this task themselves and have no one else to
assist them.
Many resident who live in one of Gahanna’s Condo
Complexes or Independent Senior Facilities listed below
were assistanced with changing the battery in their
smoke detector or with replacing a smoke detector.
Amberlea Village
Gahanna Oaks
Polo Club
Villa of Gahanna
Woods at Shagbark
Castle Pines Drive
Grey Oaks Drive
Timbers Drive
Windward Trace
Mifflin Township Professional Firefighters Local
2818 represents the career firefighters, paramedics,
dispatchers and fire prevention officers of the Mifflin
Township Division of Fire in Gahanna, Ohio. The
Mifflin Township Division of Fire provides dispatching,
firefighting and emergency medical services to the
unincorporated areas of Mifflin Township and the city of
Gahanna. For more information, contact Jason Frankle,
President - Local 2818 at (740) 255-0383
Artistic Finishes
38357 Apollo Parkway
(440) 951-7850
B S & B Safety Systems
260 Northland Blvd.,
Suite 317
Springdale, OH 45246
(513) 771-7034
Billy’s Supportive Hands
11092 Southland Road
Cincinnati, OH 45240
(513) 386-9018
Demetrio’s Restaurant
7851 Broadview Road
Seven Hills, OH 44134
(216) 447-4444
Jim’s Leasing, Inc.
6465 Eastland Road
Brook Park, OH 44142
(440) 243-1221
Kroger
9939 Montgomery Road
Montgomery, OH 45242
(513) 793-6451
NCS Corporation
1385 Goodale Blvd.
Grandview Hts., OH 43212
(614) 340-3700
Pa Pa Smokes
7901 Munson Road
Mentor, OH 44060
(440) 209-0288
Ruben’s Jewelry
5709 Mayfield Road
Mayfield Hts., OH 44124
(440) 443-1000
Safe Ride Ambulette
1485 Alameda Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107
(216) 226-2600
Safety Auto Service
Eastlake, OH 44095
(440) 951-2000
To Advertise Call: 1-800-825-OSFA
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
45
46
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
“Charles J. Getz” O.S.F.A. Firefighters’ Scholarship Award
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
• The applicant must be a member of a Fire Department
belonging to the Ohio State Firefighters’ Association.
• The applicant must be physically attending an accredited
school, no online courses will be funded with this scholarship.
• The applicant must be recommended by the fire chief.
• The applicant must be a high school graduate.
• The applicant must be 18 years old. (minimum age)
• The applicant must show interest in the fire service.
• The applicant must write a resume of their Fire Service
background and future goals.
• The applicant must submit a completed “Official Application for
Scholarship”
• Yearly increments are limited to $500.00 a year for four years.
(Course must be completed within 5 years from the date of the
award.)
• Cost of courses will be paid to the individual upon presentation
of passing grades and tuition bills.
AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIP GRANT:
• $2,000.00 may be applied toward tuition and other course
charges including books and lab fees.
Scholarship Committee:
Becky Mole, Chairman
440-308-6192
SELECTION COMMITTEE:
• Candidates shall be selected from those applicants that meet
all general requirements, and including, good character,
dedication to the fire service, and financial need.
COLLEGES:
• The candidate must attend an accredited college presenting an
“Associate Degree in Fire Technology”.
OHIO STATE FIREFIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION, INC.
“Charles J. Getz” Firefighter Scholarship
Application Form - Please type or print!
NAME _____________________________________________________ AGE __________ S.S. # ___________________________
HOME ADDRESS _____________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________ HOME PHONE ________________________ SINGLE _______ MARRIED _______
NUMBER OF DEPENDENTS _______________ OWN/RENT HOME _____________ LIVE WITH PARENTS ___________________
OCCUPATION __________________________________________________________ ANNUAL INCOME _____________________
NAME OF HIGH SCHOOL __________________________________________________________ YEAR GRADUATED __________
NAME OF FIRE DEPT. ___________________________________________________________ RANK ________________________
OTHER FUNDING AVAILABLE TO YOUR FROM DEPARTMENT, CITY, TOWNSHIP, ETC.: __________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TYPE OF FIRE DEPT.: PAID ________ VOL ________ CITY _______ VILLAGE _______ TOWNSHIP _______ PRIVATE _______
DATE YOU ENTERED FIRE SERVICE ______________________________ TOTAL YEARS OF FIRE SERVICE ________________
LIST OTHER FIRE SERVICE AFFILIATIONS: ______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LIST ANY OTHER FIRE SERVICE COLLEGE DEGREES OR ACCREDITATION: ___________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTITUTION AND COURSE INFORMATION
INSTITUTION AND COURSE INFORMATION ______________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS _________________________________________________________________________ PHONE __________________
COURSE TITLE FROM CATALOG ______________________________________________ COURSE # _______________________
COURSE BEGINS __________________________ ENDS _______________________ FULL TUITION COST ___________________
TYPE OF DEGREE OR ACCREDITATION _________________________________________________________________________
A PHOTO COPY OF COURSE DESCRIPTION FROM THE COURSE CATALOG
MUST BE ATTACHED TO THIS APPLICATION!
* Recipient of scholarship may be subject to receive a 1099.
Continued on next page.
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
47
“Charles J. Getz” Firefighter Scholarship
TO: SCHOLARSHIP SELECTION COMMITTEE:
In applying for consideration, I am aware that any grant will be applied against my tuition, books, and other course costs.
In the event my course does not cost the full amount of the grant, I am only eligible for the amount of the tuition and I
have no claim against the Ohio State Firefighters’ Association, the donor, or the college for the remainder. I agree that no
scholarship money will be used for travel expenses, meals, child care or any other expenses not connected with the tuition
and a maximum of only $500 of the awarded scholarship may be used for each school year. I agree that no scholarship
monies may be used for any schooling prior to the awarding of this scholarship or for any EMS/Paramedic training. I am
aware that I have up to five years to make use of the awarded scholarship. Any unused money after the five year period will
revert back to the Firefighters Scholarship Fund. I declare that all statements herein are complete and correct to the best of
my knowledge, and that if any scholarship monies not used for the purpose of which it was intended, it will be returned to
the Ohio State Firefighters’ Association. Any deviation or non submission from the required application information may be
subject to applications removal from consideration for scholarship. All fields are mandatory, including requested signatures.
Applicants Signature _____________________________________________________ Dated _____________________
ENDORSEMENT OF THE FIRE CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, REGARDING SAID COURSE
RECOMMENDED FOR COURSE _______________ NOT RECOMMENDED __________________
DETAILED REASONS ______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
SIGNATURE OF FIRE CHIEF _____________________________________________ DATED ____________________
SPECIAL NOTES, CONDITIONS, AND INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING SCHOLARSHIP
NOTE: If application is approved, the following documents must be submitted to the scholarship committee for
reimbursement.
1. Evidence of Satisfactory completion of course.
2. Copy of paid tuition bill (from College)
3. A copy of bill for books and/or other course charges
4. A summary report regarding course substance, quality of instruction and copy of grades.
INSTRUCTIONS: Fill out this form, complete with required signatures. Include a resume of your fire service
background, career and education. Include the reasons for wanting the course mentioned and this scholarship. Attach all
sheets to this form and forward to the Selection Committee of Scholarships.
Chairman Becky Mole, 35253 Grafton Eastern Road, Grafton, Ohio 44044, phone 440-308-6192
PLEASE NOTE: Scholarships will only be awarded for college courses providing Academic College Credits. Certificate or
“short” courses are not eligible for consideration.
ENTRIES POSTMARKED AFTER MAY 30TH, WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS YEARS SELECTION.
ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATION BY THE COMMITTEE ON SCHOLARSHIPS:
Recommended ________________ Amount Awarded _____________________ Not Recommended _______________
REASONS _______________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
CHAIRMAN’S SIGNATURE _______________________________________________ DATED _______________
48
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
Paramedic Scholarship
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
• The applicant must be a member of a Fire Department
belongingtotheOhioStateFirefighters’Association.
• Theapplicantmustberecommendedbythefirechief.
• The applicant must be a high school graduate.
• The applicant must be 18 years old. (minimum age)
• TheapplicantmustshowinterestintheEMSfield.
• The applicant must write a resume of their Fire Service
and/or EMS background and future goals.
• Theapplicantmustsubmitacompleted“Official
Application for Scholarship” and supporting documents.
AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIP GRANT:
• $2,000.00 may be applied toward tuition and other
course charges including books and lab fees.
• Coursemustbecompletedwithin3yearsfromthe
dateoftheaward.
• Costofcourseswillbepaidtotheindividualupon
successfulcompletionofthecourse.
SELECTION COMMITTEE:
• Candidates shall be selected from those applicants
that meet all general requirements, and including, good
character, dedication to the Fire or EMS Service, and
financialneed.
Scholarship Committee:
Becky Mole, Chairman
440-308-6192
OHIO STATE FIREFIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION, INC.
Application Form - Please type or print!
NAME _____________________________________________________ AGE __________ S.S. # ___________________________
HOME ADDRESS _____________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________ HOME PHONE ________________________ SINGLE _______ MARRIED _______
NUMBER OF DEPENDENTS _______________ OWN/RENT HOME _____________ LIVE WITH PARENTS ___________________
OCCUPATION __________________________________________________________ ANNUAL INCOME _____________________
NAME OF HIGH SCHOOL __________________________________________________________ YEAR GRADUATED __________
NAME OF FIRE DEPT. ___________________________________________________________ RANK ________________________
OTHER FUNDING AVAILABLE TO YOUR FROM DEPARTMENT, CITY, TOWNSHIP, ETC.: __________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TYPE OF FIRE DEPT.: PAID ________ VOL ________ CITY _______ VILLAGE _______ TOWNSHIP _______ PRIVATE _______
DATE YOU ENTERED FIRE SERVICE ______________________________ TOTAL YEARS OF FIRE SERVICE ________________
LIST OTHER FIRE SERVICE AFFILIATIONS: ______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LIST ANY OTHER FIRE SERVICE COLLEGE DEGREES OR ACCREDITATION: ___________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTITUTION AND COURSE INFORMATION
INSTITUTION AND COURSE INFORMATION ______________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS _________________________________________________________________________ PHONE __________________
COURSE TITLE _____________________________________________________________ COURSE # _______________________
COURSE BEGINS __________________________ ENDS _______________________ FULL TUITION COST ___________________
A PHOTO COPY OF COURSE DESCRIPTION FROM THE COURSE CATALOG
MUST BE ATTACHED TO THIS APPLICATION!
* Recipient of scholarship may be subject to receive a 1099.
Continued on next page.
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
49
TO: SCHOLARSHIP SELECTION COMMITTEE
In applying for consideration, I am aware that any grant will be applied against my tuition, books, and other course
costs. In the event my course does not cost the full amount of the grant, I am only eligible for the amount of the tuition
and I have no claim against the Ohio State Firefighters’ Association for the remainder. I agree that no scholarship money
will be used for travel expenses, meals, child care or any other expenses not connected with the paramedic tuition. I agree
that no scholarship monies may be used for any schooling prior to the awarding of this scholarship. I am aware that I have
up to two years to make use of the awarded scholarship. Any unused money after the three year period will revert back to
the Paramedic Scholarship Fund.
I declare that all statements herein are complete and correct to the best of my knowledge, and that if any scholarship
monies not used for the purpose of which it was intended, it will be returned to the Ohio State Firefighters’ Association.
Any deviation or non submission from the required application information may be subject to applications removal for
consideration for scholarship. All fields are mandatory, including requested signatures.
Applicants Signature _____________________________________________________ Dated _____________________
IT IS MANDATORY THAT THE FIRE CHIEF SIGN THIS APPLICATION BELOW!
ENDORSEMENT OF THE FIRE CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, REGARDING SAID COURSE
RECOMMENDED FOR COURSE _______________ NOT RECOMMENDED __________________
DETAILED REASONS ______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
SIGNATURE OF FIRE CHIEF _____________________________________________ DATED ____________________
SPECIAL NOTES, CONDITIONS, AND INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING SCHOLARSHIP
NOTE: If application is approved, the following documents must be submitted to the scholarship committee for
reimbursement.
1. Evidence of Satisfactory completion of course.
2. Copy of paid tuition bill (from College)
3. A copy of bill for books and/or other course charges
4. A summary report regarding course substance, quality of instruction and copy of grades.
INSTRUCTIONS: Fill out this form, complete with required signatures. Include a resume of your fire service
background, career and education. Include the reasons for wanting the course mentioned and this scholarship. Attach all
sheets to this form and forward to the Selection Committee of Scholarships.
Chairman Becky Mole, 35253 Grafton Eastern Road, Grafton, Ohio 44044, Phone 440-308-6192
ENTRIES POSTMARKED AFTER MAY 30TH, WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS YEARS SELECTION.
ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATION BY THE COMMITTEE ON SCHOLARSHIPS:
Recommended ________________ Amount Awarded _____________________ Not Recommended _______________
REASONS _______________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
CHAIRMAN’S SIGNATURE _______________________________________________ DATED ____________________
50
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
OHIO STATE FIREFIGHTERS
ASSOCIATION, INC.
Outstanding Fire Service Award Nomination Form
Qualifications Required: Minimum of 25 years of Service
Fire Department must be a current OSFA Member
Date:__________________
I wish to nominate:___________________________________________________________ of the
__________________________________________________________________ Fire Department
Dept. Address: ___________________________________________________________________
Nominee is Living: ________ Active: ________ Retired: ________ Deceased: ______________
Fire Service Occupation or Rank: __________________________ Years of Service: __________
Please list and explain the major contributions the nominee ha made to the fire department.
Use second sheet if needed.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Member of Organization making nomination:__________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________________
Phone #: _____________________________ Signed: ___________________________________
Date Award to be presented:____________________
Please return completed for to: Becky Mole
35253 Grafton Eastern Road • Grafton, Ohio 44044
If any questions please call: 440-308-6192
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
51
Ohio State Firefighters’ Association
Membership can be your voice helping to change Ohio’s fire service
History
Representation on Boards and Committees
The Ohio State Firefighter’s Association (OSFA) was orRecognized as one of the leaders of Ohio’s Fire Service,
ganized in 1938 in Mt. Vernon, Ohio by firefighters who
the OSFA represents its membership by serving on sevhad the interest and the welfare of all firefighters in the
eral Boards and Committees, which has an impact on deState of Ohio in mind. The OSFA has benefited more fire- cisions which affect Ohio’s fire service, they are:
fighters throughout the State of Ohio over the years than
any other group. The association membership voted, in
memberson
onthe
the Ohio
Ohio Medical,
EMS Board
• Three
Two members
Fire &
August of 1985, to change the name of the association to Transportation
• Fire
Three&members
on the Fire
Sub-committee to the EMS
Transportation
Board
Board
the Ohio State Firefighters’ Association due to the ever
• Board
Two members on the Fire Sub-committee
increasing number of women joining the fire service, EMS • Member of the Educational Task Force
• Member Trauma Advisory Group
and our Association.
• Co-founder and member of the Ohio Fire Alliance
Mission Statement
• Member of the Ohio Rural Fire Council
The Ohio State Firefighters’ Association was organized for:
• Member Ohio Rescue Task Force
• Member Emergency Response Commission
• The general improvement of the fire service throughout
the State of Ohio; in order to form a statewide organiza- • Member Public-Safety Communications Task Force
tion, to establish harmony and to ensure prosperity and • Member EMS Privatization Task Force
• Ohio’s delegate to the National Volunteer Fire Council
success.
• The Board of Visitors at the National Fire Academy
• To provide group benefits, obtain and compile statistics
• The Joint Council of Fire Service Associations
to provide information to the fire service.
• NFPA Committees
• The Federation of World Volunteer Firefighters Associa• To assist in affording protection to disabled firefighters,
tion
and those dependent upon them, through legislative en•
Provides representation at the Ohio Fire Commission
actment.
meetings
• To create and maintain brotherly and fraternal fellow• Sends a delegation each year to the National Fire &
ship among firefighters of the State of Ohio, through edEmergency Services Caucus in Washington, D.C.
ucational seminars and programs.
• Legislation-over 275 laws have been enacted, changed,
or revised with assistance of the OSFA.
• Membership
• Firefighter of the
• Legal Defense
Year Award
Membership Dues
• Statewide Radio LicensTrust Fund
The dues in the Ohio State Firefighters’ Association
• Insurance Plan
ing
• Group Life Insurance
• Ohio Firefighter Publica- are payable to the Secretary/Treasurer. Beginning in
2013, dues are $100.00 per year for each organized
tion
• Charles J. Getz Scholarfire department or fire brigade. A five-year department
ship
• Youth Academy
membership is available for $425. Individual member• Paramedic School Schol• Ohio Fire Alliance
ships are available for $25.00. The yearly rate for
• Annual Conference
arships
Dealer/Corporate/Equipment Sales Groups is $100.00.
• Line of Duty Death
• Web Page
Ohio State Firefighters’ Association Membership form
Membership Type ____ Department
____ Individual ____ Dealer/Corporate/Equipment Sales
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Chief’s Name
Dept Fax
Dept Phone
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address (If different than street address)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Zip
City
County
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Email Address
Number of Members
For more information contact the OSFA at our web site or fill out the
information above and mail it to the OSFA at:
Ohio State Firefighters’ Association
P.O. Box 400 • Mogadore, OH 44260 • (330) 388-4307
52
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
February 2015
OSFA NEWS
53
ADVERTISING INDEX (alphabetical listing)
Affinity Center 002469............................................... 6
Ahola Payroll Services 002404................................. 39
Air Equipment Rental 002477.................................. 44
American Brazing 002479........................................ 39
Artistic Finishes 002452.......................................... 44
B S & B Safety Systems 002495............................... 44
B.O.S. Services Company 002499............................ 21
B’laster Chemical Company 002456......................... 43
Baker’s Union Local #19 002484.............................. 31
Billy’s Supportive Hands 002494.............................. 44
Boehm, Inc. 002425................................................. 21
C & C Auto Repair 002450....................................... 21
Camargo Pharmaceutical Services 002436............... 11
Certified Packing & Training 002435.......................... 6
Demetrio’s Restaurant 002443................................. 44
Desmond Engraving 002437.................................... 44
DMS Rehab Properties 002433................................. 39
Eagle Exhibit Services 002468................................. 44
Earle M. Jorgensen Company 002472...................... 53
Elyria License Bureau 002451................................. 35
EMC Insurance Companies 002466......................... 31
Everdry Waterproofing of Columbus 001492............ 13
Fabricating Solutions 002475.................................. 31
Ganley of Wickliffe 002441....................................... 17
Giant Eagle - Mayfield Hts. 002476.......................... 44
J.J.O. Construction 002459..................................... 39
Janik, LLP 002463................................................... 31
Jefferson Villa Luxury Apartments 002493............... 43
Jim’s Leasing, Inc. 002438....................................... 44
Johnny’s Auto & Truck Towing, Inc. 002454............ 21
Kerek Industries 002498.......................................... 21
Kramer’s Sew & Vac Center 002461......................... 39
Kroger 002449......................................................... 44
Lakeshore Community Credit Union 002455............ 39
McCormick & Reinmuth Insurance 002448.............. 44
Mike Shaker Auto Salvage,
Towing & Service 002464......................................... 53
NCS Corporation 002460......................................... 44
Only Drains 002471................................................. 21
Pa Pa Smokes 002430.............................................. 44
Peak Logistics, Inc. 002434...................................... 43
PPG Industries 002386............................................ 54
Precision Aluminum, Inc. 002465............................ 53
Pupcuts Grooming Salon 002480............................. 39
R.F. Cook Manufacturing Company 002497............. 41
Rick Case Honda 002481......................................... 43
Roush Hardware 002432......................................... 21
Ruben’s Jewelry 002442.......................................... 44
Rusty Bucket 002439.............................................. 31
Safe Ride Ambulette 002490.................................... 44
Safety Auto Service 002492...................................... 44
Scioto Valley Hot Tubs & Spas 002488..................... 20
Select Sires 002440................................................. 31
Signal Service Co. 002447........................................ 44
Sims Brothers Recycling 002486.............................. 31
Solon Orthodontics 002429...................................... 41
Spiroff Law Offices 002457....................................... 10
Sports Care Products 002458.................................. 39
St. Anthony of Padua Church 002478...................... 39
Stewart’s TV & Appliance 002474............................. 39
SWS Environmental Services 002470....................... 31
Tecmark Corp. 002485............................................ 21
The Brickhouse Tavern 002427................................ 21
The Dingman 002444............................................... 39
United Alloys & Metals, Inc. 002491......................... 39
Venturo Manufacturing 002398............................... 39
Warren Fire Equipment 002473............................... 41
Whole Shop, Inc. 002453......................................... 41
19699 Progress Drive • Strongsville, OH 44149 • (440) 572-2800
www.ppg.com
54
OSFA NEWS
February 2015
©2012 California Casualty
,,
,,
“California Casualty specializes
Jeff B.
California Casualty
Get your no-obligation quote
for auto & home insurance.
1-866-680-5138
www.CalCas.com/OSFA
AUTO AND HOME INSURANCE
FOR FIREFIGHTERS LIKE YOU
Special Rates/Generous Discounts
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P.O. Box 400
Our goal is to inform and educate every Ohio State Firefighter by publishing
one of the most informative professional magazines available.
To make all this happen, we ask for your input and participation in the development of our content
articles. If you know of a close call experience in your unit, and would care
to tell the professional community, we would like to hear from you. Please include any captioned
photos along with your story. You may send your experience and photos to
us as email, or mailed on CD. We would like to hear about your department profile. Photos
of your equipment, and any relevant experiences you would like to share.
Send articles and email photos to:
OSFAMag @gmail.com
OSFA Magazine
Or by mail to:
c/o RBA, Inc. 487 College Street
Wadsworth, OH 44281

Cancer Greentown - Ohio State Firefighters Association

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