MSFCA Regional Report

Report Date:   10/10/2011                                   Region #2 Northern         

Regional Meeting Date:  4/14/2011                     Meeting Location: Plummer Fire Dept.

Number of attendees:  121

Special Guests:  4 guests

Program: No program

Issues of Local Interest: Presentation: Bruce Larson (retiring within days after 36 years) from Enbridge gave a short program on facts about pipelines in our region and surrounding areas.  Enbridge has 7 pipelines for gas and one propane.  2.2 million gallons per year pass through Plummer at 200-1,500 psi.  There are 73,000 miles of pipeline in Minnesota which supplies about 20% of the nation’s gas.

Fire Marshall’s Report: Jerry Rosendahl, State Fire Marshall, brought greetings from the state office.  Current fire-related deaths in the state were at 8, down from 17 at this time last year.  Investigations were at 111, very close to last year.  Hope to fill the Northeast fire investigator position shortly.  97% of the departments are reporting MFIRS and we hope to reach 100%.  The website has new fire prevention items useful for fire departments including games.  Denise Demars was introduced as a new staff person working with training.  He also encouraged volunteer fire departments to recognize employers of their members.  Jerry informed the region that the legislature is again proposing to take as much as $6.5 to $8.5 million from the Fire Safety Account to balance the state budget. (hard copy report on file with secretary)

HSEM Report: Bruce West indicated a study of the Decon Program showed there is a lack of training in massive gross decontamination and the tents and trailers are available around the state.  The state EOC is open at this time due the spring flooding; severe weather awareness week was held.  HMAP Grant is available to use for training and exercise drills when you coordinate between multiple departments and CAT Teams.  Minneapolis and St. Paul teams are willing to come out around the state to provide training on IED Awareness for 1st Responders.  “See Something – Say Something” is a program that encourages responders to report anything out of the ordinary to law enforcement.  100 billion emails are sent per day on the internet; 90% are spam!! (hard copy report on file with secretary)

MNSCU – Rick Loveland: the Training Board returned $460,000 in funds last quarter that were not spent.  There is now $2.2 million available in 2011.  Minnesota Licensing – about 1,000 have been issued, only 20% to fulltime firefighters.  FYI, MN has about 2,000 career firefighters and 18,000 volunteer and paid-on-call firefighters.  Once licensed it requires 24 hours of NFPA training per year to renew.  Rick also commented on the loss of funding from fire programs being used to balance the state budget.

MNSCU – Bruce Roed:  the southern office has now been closed, library moved to the White Bear Lake campus from the Fire EMS Center, the rest of the fire training program has been placed under the facility side of MNSCU.  Only one person is left in the state organization and the northern office (Bruce’s position) will be eliminated June 30th.  The voucher program has now been eliminated, also.  There is no one to administer any of the grant programs.  Fire training programs are decreasing from 13 to 11 and it is unsure what will happen to degree programs.  Chris Hoffman, the new coordinator out of NW Tech (218-686-1697) is trying to organize 6 FFI/II classes and available for some specialty, leadership and command classes.

MSFDA Report: Cal Larson reported that Jim Aagenes, Fosston, will take over the state representative duties for the region.  MSFDA met in January to set new goals for the year and discuss work to accomplish.  A list of 40 initial ideas were contributed by the board.  Communication and increasing attendance at the state conference and regional meetings were a priority.  The annual conference is June 1-4, 2011 in Detroit Lakes.  Please send Jim and Cal names of firefighters with 20+ years of service as they are eligible to receive honorary membership in the MSFDA.  (hard copy on file with the secretary)

Issues of State/National Interest: FEMA is wrapping up its flood recovery work in the Northwestern part of the State. Crookston has finished the majority of its flood protection system and should be complete sometime next year.

Other Comments: N/A

Next Meeting Date/Time: November 1, 2011                        Place:   Mentor Fire Hall

Report to Board - October 2011
Report to Board - 2010
Report to Board - 2009