OCTOBER 5, 2007 – The members of the College Park Volunteer Fire Department would like to thank Chief Welsh for the service and leadership he has provided since becoming chief in 2000.  Chief Welsh has accepted the position of Fire Chief of the Sylvania Township (Ohio) Fire Department.  The department, which operates four stations, is a combination department. Its staff includes about 40 full-time firefighters, several part-paid firefighters and volunteer firefighters.  We wish Chief Welsh the best of luck in his new position. 

JULY 24, 2007 – Four College Park Alumni serving as command officers in Prince George’s County and Montgomery County responded to the scene of a collision involving Ambulance 449 on Ethan Allen Ave near Woodland Ave in Takoma Park.  From Montgomery County were Assistant Chief Frank “Rusty” Rothenhoefer as the Shift Chief and Battalion Chief Jim Lesnick as Battalion 1. From Prince George’s County were Battalion Chief Willie Folks as Battalion 4 and Captain Sayshan Conver-White as Safety 1.  Over the years, approximately 25 CPVFD Alumni worked for the Prince George’s County Fire & EMS Dept. and about 17 CPVFD Alumni worked for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue.

JUNE 7, 2007 – The 2007 NFPA Conference and Exposition and the University of Maryland Fire Protection Engineering Alumni Dinner brought together many CPVFD members in Boston, MA. Members ranged from the Notorious Prof Bryan to the current Assistant Chief Steve Kerber and every generation of Sackroom members in between. In addition, alumni member Mike Joanis brought the retired 1966 Pirsch Pumper. It ran and sounded just like it did when Joanis bought it a couple years ago. Members took it for a few trips around downtown Boston and gathered to take pictures and tell stories about when they drove it during it’s almost 40 year run serving College Park and the Greater PG County Area.

MAY 21, 2007 – On Sunday, Chief (retired) John M. Eversole, Chicago Fire Department, passed away due to chronic health problems. Chief Eversole is fondly remembered and missed by the members of College Park. His son, Michael, joined Company 12 in 1994 as a freshman at UMCP and lived in the Sackroom He rose through the ranks to Assistant Chief before returning to the Chicagoland area. Over the years, the senior Chief Eversole would often visit College Park and visit with the members. Chief Eversole could often be found in the station kitchen enjoying the camaraderie that exists in all stations whether in Chicago or Prince George's County. He served as a Deputy Chief of Special Operations with the Chicago Fire Department for many years. From the days of tin helmets and no SCBA, and long before anyone had coined the term Haz-Mat, he rose through the ranks to command one of the finest Haz-Mat companies in the fire service. He served on numerous IAFC and NFPA committees and is known world wide for his work and contributions in the area of Hazardous Materials. More recently, he edited "The Fire Chief's Handbook." Chief Eversole was a frequent speaker at conferences and consulted with departments across the country. Despite his vast accomplishments and his well deserved title of "Chief", when he was in College Park he just wanted to be known as John or Mr. Eversole. The officers and members of College Park join the world's fire service in mourning the loss of a true legend and a man who proudly, yet humbly, wore the title "Chief." Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, his son Mike and daughter-in-law Cindy, his grandchildren and the rest of the Eversole family.

APRIL 11, 2007 – The current issue of Firehouse Magazine has recognized Lieutenant Brandon Frieder, Sergeant Josh Liebross and Engineer Derrick Kuebeck with Heroism Awards for their actions in effecting the rescue of an unconscious victim during a first due apartment fire on the morning of January 24, 2006. The following is an abridged version of the formal write-up that was submitted:

At 0234 hours on Tuesday, 24 January 2006 Box Alarm 12-2 was dispatched for 7110 Rossburg Drive reporting smoke in the building. Shortly after supplemental information was received advising of a fire in a basement apartment. PSC relayed this information to the responding companies. E122 and Truck 12 arrived at the reported address and confirmed a working basement fire in Quadrant B of a 2-story, 6-unit brick apartment building.

Lieutenant Frieder, Sergeant Liebross and Engineer Kuebeck worked with Firefighter/EMT John Kaminski acting as Truck 12 OIC to initiate a primary search. These members searched ahead of a charged hoseline in extremely limited visibility and high heat conditions to locate an unconscious victim in the bedroom and remove him to waiting EMS personnel.

FEBRUARY 5, 2006 - This past Sunday, members of the College Park VFD brought E121, U12 and Chief 12 to Elkridge, MD to attend a fundraiser breakfast for former member and live-in Pieter Lucas. Pieter was severely injured while directing traffic as a Police Auxiliary Officer last November in Ellicott City. His surgeries and recovery have taken a more positive light but are ongoing. Pieter was in attendance and in good spirits receiving well wishes from friends and fellow firefighters in between pancakes. Anyone wishing to support his recovery can donate to:

Pieter Lucas Recovery Assistance Fund
c/o West Friendship VFD Inc.
PO Box 216
West Friendship, MD 21794

JANUARY 1, 2006 -The College Park Volunteer Fire Department was saddened to learn of the death of Alumni Member James “Jim” Howe. Jim was an active member of CPVFD from 1974 to 1980 while attended the University of Maryland and after he graduated with a Fire Protection Engineering degree. Jim’s introduction to the fire community was with the Falmouth Fire Department in Massachusetts. Prior to coming to Maryland, he attended the Cape Cod Community College where he was a student of Alumni Member Roy E. Jones. Roy was the instructor for his “Essentials of Fire Protection” class in the fall of 1971. Jim was very interested about Roy’s experience at College Park and was probably one of the sparks that led to the continued career of Jim in Fire Protection.

Jim will be missed by all of his associates at the College Park Volunteer Fire Department.

The following is the Obituary notice from the funeral home.

James M. Howe

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James Mitchell Howe, 52, died in his home in North Falmouth, MA on December 13, 2005. Jim was born and raised in North Falmouth, MA and was a graduate of Lawrence High School in 1971.
During his early adulthood Jim was a fire fighter for the Town of Falmouth. Jim went on to Cape Cod Community College and later to the University of Maryland at College Park where he obtained a degree in Fire Protection Engineering. After his degree Jim obtained professional engineering registration in over 20 states. He worked for a national engineering company for 12 years in Washington D.C. and then he moved back to his hometown of North Falmouth to start his own company, Howe Engineers, Inc. He was well-known and respected in his industry for developing life safety solutions for complex, high profile projects throughout the world. Examples of such projects included: The reconstruction of the Pentagon after 9/11, Several Professional Sports Stadiums and Arenas, Convention Centers throughout the World and Transportation Facilities including Union Station in Washington D.C. and New York's Grand Central Station.

Jim prided himself on helping others and this was evident in every aspect of his life. He was extremely generous to anyone he encountered in need. Whether it was tactful advice, encouraging words, or a financial contribution he was there. He loved history, trains and lighthouses. He was an active Mason and a Past Master of the Marine Lodge in Falmouth, MA. His most recent dream was to regain some of his childhood by becoming the lighthouse keeper for Cleveland Ledge Light Station in Bourne. Jim made his dream come true by working with the United States Coast Guard to obtain a lease for the facility. With the foundation he started, Megganset Shores Lighthouse Foundation, his legacy will remain by helping college students with research and educational opportunities using the Cleveland Ledge Lighthouse.
Jim is survived by his loving wife Lenore of 22 years, 5 wonderful children Nikolai, Joshua, Elysha, Emma and Marni, two brothers William Howe of North Falmouth, Jack Howe of Florida, one sister Nancy Humes of California, many pets and his most beloved dog, Luci.
In loving memory of James M. Howe, in lieu of sending flowers, please send donations to the James M. Howe Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Cynthia Bourget-Mendes, Esq., 157 Locust St., Falmouth, MA 02540

Memorial Service will be 2:00pm Sunday, December 18, at the John Wesley United Methodist Church at the corner of Gifford St & Jones Rd, Falmouth, MA

DECEMBER 10, 2005 - In a stunning display of talent the CPVFD defeated UMPD 8-3 during the halftime game at the Comcast Center. A great thanks to all those who attended and supported the team.

NOVEMBER 24, 2005 - Ten Volunteers, Two Medics and a few firehouse family members took part in an annual Thanksgiving feast at the firehouse. One baked and one fried turkey was consumed along with a large amount of side dishes. Thank you to all family members and friends who helped cook, and to all those who staffed the station, for helping make this another sucessfull holiday. Company 12 ran a couple box alarms and a few locals, but no incidents of significance. Memebrs of Company 12 would like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season.

NOVEMBER 1, 2005 - Eight CPVFD members and alumni attended the Marriott sponsored “Operation Residential Mist” in Bethesda, MD on November 1st. “Operation Residential Mist” was a demonstration on the effectiveness of water mist sprinklers extinguishing residential fires. Fires were set in a single family dwelling that is scheduled to be torn down for a new dwelling on the site in Bethesda. Three fires were set in all, one in the living room, one in the kitchen, and one in a bedroom. In all cases, the water mist system successfully extinguished the fires with a maximum of approximately 16-gallons of water using a HI-FOG mist sprinkler head.

The “Operation Residential Mist” demonstration was put together by a number of partners. These included the Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute, the University of Maryland’s Department of Fire Protection Engineering, The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Department, The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Association of State Fire Marshals, the Marriott Corp., and Marrioff, Inc trading as “HI-FOG” water mist fire protection.

At the present time, water mist sprinkler systems protect the Jefferson Volunteer Fire Station in Frederick Co., MD and the Wye River Conference Center on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Marriott Corp. uses these systems in a number of high-rise hotel properties in Europe. In addition, a number of cruise ships have been outfitted with this type of fire protection system.

CPVFD members and alumni at this demonstration included retired University of Maryland Department of Fire Protection Professor John Bryan, current University of Maryland Department Fire Protection Associate Professor Jim Milke, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services Public Information Officer Pete Piringer, ISO, Inc. Manager of Community Infrastructure Information Fred Brower, Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office Chief Fire Protection Engineer John Bender, Marriott Corp. Fire Protection Engineer Stacy Welch, Prince George’s County Fire Department Battalion Chief Scott Hoglander, and Frederick City Fire Protection Engineer Steve Krone.

OCTOBER 23, 2005 - The weekend began early for CPVFD members with a Thursday night football game against #3 Virginia Tech. College Park staffed 2 Engines, the Ladder Truck and 2 BLS Units while the Chief Officers and Captain Kerber worked with the Task Forces and the Command Post. The evening ended with a Maryland loss and little to no activity in the first due.

On Saturday, members began the day with several hours of drill time on hydraulics, dual pumping and master streams. After drill the crews began a station cleanup but were interrupted at 1551 hours when Foam Unit 12 was dispatched to Baltimore Avenue and Ammendale Road in Co. 31's First Due for a reported train fire. Engine Co. 31 arrived on scene and reported a fire involving the fuel line and generator of a Conrail/CSX locomotive. Company 12 assisted in reconnaissance of the train then stood by for foam operations before being released at 1650 hours.

OCTOBER 15, 2005 - The Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute based in College Park celebrated its 75th anniversary with a festive program at MFRI Headquarters. Many activities took place on the grounds of the training center and displays were laid out inside the facility. A ceremony was kicked off with the Howard County DFRS Honor Guard and the Fire Brigade Pipes and Drums of Greater Baltimore. MFRI Associate Director Pat Marlatt made the introductions and MFRI Director Steve Edwards welcomed everyone under a bright sunny sky.

Remarks were presented by Congressman Steny Hoyer of the First Congressional District of Maryland, President C. D. “Dan” Mote of the University of Maryland at College Park, and President Lee Sachs, Esq. of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association. Following these remarks, Director Edwards gave words of thanks to many organizations that help MFRI achieve its mission. The College Park Volunteer Fire Department was included in this list.

Truck 12 along with Burtonsville Truck 15 provided an arch over the MFRI entranceway during the celebration. Also, Engine 121 was set up on display on the MFRI grounds. There were a number of CPVFD members present along with quite a few CPVFD Alumni Members.

The CVPFD presented the following Proclamation to Director Edwards at the celebration.

Proclamation
To: Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute Whereas the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute is celebrating its Seventy-Fifth year of dedicated service to fulfill the training needs of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Service, and Whereas the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute is located on the College Park Campus of the University of Maryland in close proximity to the College Park Volunteer Fire Department, and Whereas the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute which was also known as the Fire Service Extension was located in the same building with the College Park Volunteer Fire Department for many years, and Whereas the staff of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute and the members of the College Park Volunteer Fire Department have worked together during this time period and are very proud of this close relationship. Be it therefore resolved that the College Park Volunteer Fire Department proudly salutes the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute on the achievement of Seventy-Five dedicated years of training excellence to the fire and rescue service of Maryland and beyond, and Be it further resolved that the College Park Volunteer Fire Department enthusiastically supports the tireless efforts of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute for the next seventy-five years and beyond. Proclaimed on this 15th day of October in the year 2005.
___________________ Frederick E. Brower Executive Committee Chairman	___________________ Peter Piringer President	___________________ Frederick H. Welsh Fire Chief

OCTOBER 5, 2005 - On Wednesday, over 20 CPVFD members teamed up with the campus Fire Marshal’s Office, Resident Life, Greek Life and other campus groups to highlight campus fire safety at the University of Maryland. The afternoon event included a firefighter challenge for students where head-to-head teams of two hurried through a course resembling firefighter equipment, tasks and challenges. In addition, the event offered students free food, prizes, fire safety information and the opportunity to crawl through a firefighter maze trailer from MFRI. Thank you to everyone who helped with this and other fire safety events in College Park during the month of October.

AUGUST 2, 2005 - Check out the recently updated online store! You can access the store by clicking here or using the link titled “Store” on the left side of the site. Purchasing is secured through Paypal and you can find everything from t-shirts to blankets available online. All proceeds benefit the Sackroom Fire Service Dormitory Program.

Executive Committee Member and Company Secretary Mat Chibbaro wants sprinkler contractors to help firefighters. He has authored an article in the August 2005 issue of “Sprinkler Age” entitled “Fire Department Connections – Consider the Firefighter.” Mat talks about fire department connection requirements as found in several NFPA Standards and the International Fire Code. He then suggests ways to help streamline fire department operations by the optimal placement of fire department connections feeding sprinkler and standpipe sections. Mat is a Fire Protection Engineer with the OSHA national office in Washington , D.C. He also is a part-time assistant to the Gaithersburg , MD Fire Marshal Ivan Humberson (Ivan is also a CPVFD Alumni). Sprinkler Age is the official publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association.

JULY 30, 2005 - On Saturday afternoon, E121 and A128 headed to fraternity row to participate in College Park’s first ever Homes Fair. Lead by the City of College Park, the goal of the community fair was to encourage home-ownership throughout the College Park area. CPVFD members encouraged home fire safety by passing out free smoke detectors and fire prevention information. Several residents and children also took the opportunity to learn a little about their local emergency services during tours of our fire and EMS equipment.

Joseph Jardin, a former Captain of CPVFD, has been recently appointed to the prestigious National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Standards Council. Joe is currently a Lieutenant with the New York City Fire Department and is assigned to Squad Company 252 in Brooklyn. Joe is also a former Captain of the Hauppauge Fire Department’s Truck Company, where he continues to serve as a volunteer.

Joe followed in his father’s (Lieutenant with FDNY) footsteps in the fire service by joining the College Park VFD in 1979 when he enrolled in the University of Maryland. He quickly rose through the ranks and attained the rank of Captain while a student living in the Sackroom. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a BS in Fire Protection Engineering and initially went to work for Bechtel Power Corporation as a Fire Protection Engineer, then the National Fire Protection Association as a Life Safety Engineer. In 1985 he started with FDNY and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2002. He also does fire protection consulting, including the delivery of Life Safety Code Seminars.

The NFPA Standards Council is comprised of 13 individuals appointed by the NFPA Board of Directors. Each member is appointed for a three year term with a maximum of two terms unless serving as the Chair. The Council’s primary function is to oversee the NFPA’s codes and standards development activities, and the Regulations Governing Committee Projects. The Council is responsible for the ultimate approval of all NFPA codes and standards.

Joe joins CPVFD Alumni Member John Bender on the Council. John is the Chief Fire Protection Engineer for Maryland’s Office of the State Fire Marshal. John received his appointment in January 2003. Still active in the fire service, John is the Safety Officer of the Aberdeen, MD Fire Department, his hometown.

CPVFD Alumni Member Ian Stronach recently completed his second term on the Standards Council. Ian served from 1998 until December 2003. Ian is employed by Alcan Inc. as their Loss Prevention Manager based in Montreal, Canada. Ian is responsible for fire prevention and property insurance for 250 sites in 40 countries.

Other CPVFD Alumni that served on the Standards Council included Life Member and Professor John Bryan who also served as the Chair in 1980 and from 1985 to 1991. The “Professor” has retired from the University of Maryland where he was the Department Chairman and Professor of the world renowned Department of Fire Protection Engineering. The “Prof” is still active in the fire protection arena and does some consulting in this field. At the June 2005 NFPA’s World Safety Conference & Exposition in Las Vegas, Professor Bryan was awarded the NFPA’s prestigious Standards Medal!

Alumni Member John Sharry served when he was the Fire Chief at Lawrence Livermore Laboratories in California from 1989 through 1994. John did a short stint with Hughes Associates, Inc. and now has his own business as John Sharry & Associates located in Discovery Bay, CA.

A third member of the current Standards Council also served time in a nearby fire department. Philip DiNenno was an active member of the Chillum-Adelphi Volunteer Fire Department and attained the rank of Deputy Chief during his tenure. Phil is President of Hughes Associates, Inc.

JULY 4, 2005 - The duty crew on the Fourth of July participated in the College Park tradition of a relaxing cook-out in the engine bay. After moving all the tables, chairs and the grill into then engine bay, the group celebrated the holiday with a pleasant meal together. Following, the cook-out A128, C12 and the special events ambulance, A129, went down to campus to start the standby for the evening’s fireworks show. The ambulances were soon joined by E121, E122, and C12B. The fireworks show went off without any incidents and all the units returned to quarters to finish off the evening.

MAY 8, 2005 - On Sunday May 8, The Schloss Family treated CPVFD to a home cooked steak dinner at the station for all the help and support we showed for Ari during his recovery from the injuries he received at the R.J Bentley’s Fire. We would just like to say thank you to the Schloss family and to everyone who helped Ari during his time of need.

MAY 7, 2005 - On Saturday afternoon at approximately 1500 hours, several members of the CPVFD took in the opportunity to deprive the Chesapeake Bay of rock fish. The day was a chance to take a break from the busy routine of College Park. Eight department members departed from Kent Island for what promised to be a successful trip. Bryan Iannacone caught the first keeper after Tom Stachowski valiantly pulled in a 25 inch rock fish. Upon returning the smaller fish to the bay Tom requested that the fish send his mother up to the boat. With just minutes left in the trip this appears to be what happened when Jordan Swonger reeled in a 45 1/2 inch, 32 pound rockfish to finish off the day. Needless to say, everyone ate well Saturday night.

MAY 1, 2005 - In light of the tragic fatal fire this weekend, on Sunday afternoon members took to the streets of the College Park neighborhood to spread the word about fire safety. The crews spoke with well over one hundred residents and passed out nearly forty smoke detectors. Many College Park residents were extremely grateful after finding that their own detectors were broken or had dead batteries. Local media was also present during the event to help spread the importance of fire safety to the surrounding community so that another tragic incident like the one this weekend can be avoided. Thanks to everyone who helped with this fire prevention effort - only 36 hours after the fatal fire.

MARCH 19, 2005 - On Saturday, volunteer members Troy Dannenfelser and Jill Skarzynski were wed at the University of Maryland Memorial Chapel. Members of the College Park and Bladensburg Volunteer Fire Department came out in support of the young couple and provided a nice background for wedding pictures. Troy, a former Deputy Chief, has been living and working in Detroit for the ATF since 2003. Jill, a former EMS Lieutenant, lives in College Park and works as a Register Nurse at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington D.C. Following the honeymoon, the newlyweds will be taking up permanent residence in their new home in Detroit. Congratulations to Troy and Jill, best wish for a happy and healthy future together.

CPVFD Alumni Member Tom Shand is scheduled to present two programs at the upcoming 22nd Annual Firehouse Expo in July 2005 at the Baltimore, MD Convention Center. Tom teams up with Fire Department of New York Lieutenant Mike Wilbur for both presentations. The first program involves 8-hours of hands-on training and is “Engine and Ladder Company Placement on the Fire Ground.” The second program, “Apparatus Design and Positioning on the Fire Ground” is part of the Expo’s Professional Information Programs.

Tom is currently employed by American LaFrance as their Sales Administrator in their Hamburg, NY facility. He is also an active member of the Newton Abbott Fire Company in the Town of Hamburg, NY. Tom was an active member of the CPVFD in the late 1960s and the early 1970s.

MARCH 3, 2005 - Two of our volunteers, Andrew Laird and Courtney Schultz, have teamed up to provide CPVFD with a totally redesigned and up to date website. The new site will be regularly updated with incident and member news. It is designed to provide information to current, prospective and alumni members. An improved MemberZone is also in the works. Any member may contribute articles to the webpage. To do so, or to update your personal information, send an email to webmaster@cpvfd.org.

Andrew Laird, a probationary member, has designed and created the new website. He will be responsible for further developments and maintenance. Andrew is a freshman Fire Protection Engineering student with an interest in fire investigations. Originally from Jacksonville, MD, he joined his local fire department after his family lost their home to a fire. In addition to designing our new webpage and Jacksonville's webpage, he has his own web/graphic design company: Laird Computer Services. Laird Computer Services specializes in low cost web page development and management for small businesses and fire departments.

Courtney Schultz joined College Park in 1996 while attending the University of Maryland. He is originally from Clinton, NJ where he was a member of the fire department. Courtney became involved in web design by creating Clinton’s webpage. Upon joining College Park he designed and maintained our first webpage. After graduating with a Fire Protection Engineering degree, he relocated to the Boston area where he works for RDK Engineers. Throughout this time he has continued to host our webpage. Courtney also has his own web design company: PyroWebDesigns.com. PyroWebDesigns.com is a full service web development company geared toward the emergency services.

We thank both of these members for their hard work in creating and hosting the new webpage. Please check out the links to Laird Computer Services and PyroWebDesigns.com featured at the bottom of each page.

Once again, alumni members of the College Park VFD will be presenting programs at the National Fire Protection Association’s June 2005 World Safety Conference in Las Vegas. Alumni Member Christian Dubay (National Fire Protection Association) will present “Seismic Design of Sprinkler Systems.” Alumni Member Morgan Hurley (Society of Fire Protection Engineers) will talk about “Performance-Based Design of Structural Fire Resistance.” Life Member and Professor John Bryan (Retired Professor and Chair of the Fire Protection Engineering Department at the University of Maryland) will be involved with a presentation “The MGM Grand Hotel Fire” outlining results of research about this major fire. Alumni Member John O’Neill (The Protection Engineering Group) will provide a “NFPA 13 Update” on proposed changes to the NFPA Standard on Automatic Sprinklers.

Alumni Member William “Doug” Walton’s (National Institute of Standards and Technology) program is titled “Reconstructing the 2003 Cook County Administration Building Fire: Fire Development and Occupant Behavior.” Assisting Doug with some of the work for this investigation was Captain Steve Kerber who works with Doug at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Alumni Member Bruce Campbell (Hughes Associates, Inc.) will present “Developing a Performance Measure for a Fire Protection Program.” Another program of interest to CPVFD will be a “Case Study: Electrical Fire Tragedy Compels Change – A University Experience.” This program will look at improved fire safety and procedures as a result of the Physics Building fire that resulted in the death of a university electrician. This program will be presented by Luisa Ferreira and Alan Sactor of the University of Maryland.

MARCH 3, 2005 - CPVFD Captain Steve Kerber works as an engineer in the Building and Fire Research Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). NIST is a world leader in major fire and building collapse investigation and reconstruction. Capt. Kerber was previously involved in the investigation of the WTC attack and the recent Chicago office building fire. All members should closely review this report. The tragic fire at the Station nightclub in Warwick, Rhode Island could have occurred anywhere. Hopefully, lessons learned will either help prevent a future tragedy or improve the outcome of incidents at similar establishments. Check out this link to the draft report.

FEBRUARY 26, 2005 - College Park VFD was well represented at a Residential Sprinkler Forum sponsored by the Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Service Association held at the Westminster Fire Station. Alumni Member John Bender who is the Chief Fire Protection Engineer for the Maryland State Fire Marshals Office talked about technical issues and plan review for the installation of residential sprinkler systems. Executive Committee Chairman Fred Brower in his role as a Senior Field Representative for Insurance Services Office, Inc. presented information on the impact and benefits of residential sprinklers on insurance pricing. In addition to the forum, a demonstration was conducted using MFRI’s Residential Sprinkler Trailer.

FEBRUARY 22, 2005 - Chief Fred Welsh recently completed his course of study from the National Fire Academy and was awarded the designation of Executive Fire Officer. On February 22, 2005, Chief Welsh was presented with his certificate from Chairman Brower at the College Park City Council Meeting. College Park Mayor Stephen Brayman presented a proclamation from the city congratulating Chief Welsh.

The Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP) is an initiative of the United States Fire Administration/ National Fire Academy designed to provide senior officers and others in key leadership roles with:

The officers enhance their professional development through a unique series of four graduate and upper-division-baccalaureate equivalent courses. The EFOP spans a 4-year period with 4 core courses. Each course is 2 weeks in length.

EFOP participant must complete an Applied Research Project (ARP) that relates to their organization within 6 months after the completion of each of the four courses. A certificate of completion for the entire EFOP is awarded only after the successful completion of the final research project.