By Lorraine Carli (NFPA Public Affairs Office)
The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Wildland Fire Operations Division has received a $360,000 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support scholarships for fire service professionals at NFPA’s Assessing Wildfire Hazards in the Home Ignition Zone seminars, the association’s leading workshop on wildland/urban interface (WUI) fire protection issues.
The two-day seminar, which will be held in five different locations across the country beginning in March, will educate attendees about the science behind wildland fire property loss and how to use this data and science to advise property owners about effective mitigation measures they can take to protect their homes. The wildfire mitigation seminar was updated last year to include the latest research on home ignition vulnerabilities from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) Research Center and Dr. Jack Cohen of the USDA Forest Service Fire Lab.
The grant funding will provide 175 U.S. fire service members with scholarships to cover the costs of registration, travel, lodging and meals during the two-day seminar. Upon completing the course, participants will be able to earn an NFPA Certificate of Educational Achievement.
“This seminar provides a sound basis for understanding how homes ignite in wildfires,” said Faith Berry, associate project manager, NFPA Wildland Fire Operations division. “By having the latest science about home ignitions at their fingertips, participants can have more constructive conversations with residents in order to educate them on ways they can significantly reduce loss from wildfire.”
2016 seminar dates and locations are:
· March 22-23 Doubletree Hilton, Sacramento, California
· April 14-15 Doubletree Suites, Phoenix, Arizona
· April 22-23 Residence Inn, Downtown/Bricktown, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
· May 5-6 Courtyard Portland Downtown/Convention Center, Portland, Oregon
· May 20-21 The Davenport Grand, Autograph Collection, Spokane, Washington
The wildfire training grant is part of more than $1 million NFPA received from the Fire Prevention & Safety Grants distributed for fiscal 2014 from FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program.
To learn more about the seminar and apply for a scholarship, visit NFPA’s website.
About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global, nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The association delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. For more information visit www.nfpa.org. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed online for free at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.
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