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Our Mission
The Kentucky Association of Fire Chiefs advocates for the leaders of the Kentucky Fire Service by providing education, information, unity and support
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Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year!!!
Stay Safe!
Cathy Rigney
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HAS YOUR MEMBERSHIP EXPIRED? | |
If your have not renewed for 2023 your membership has expired. Click the link below to check your membership, if your name is not listed, your membership is expired. | |
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It's not to late. Click the link below to
renew for 2023.
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JOIN OR RENEW NOW TO GET
ALL THE BENEFITS YOU DESERVE FOR 2023
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$10,000 AD&D INSURANCE
This insurance is purchased by the KAFC for our members. You will not be contacted by anyone asking you to purchase more insurance.
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LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATION
Our Legislative Agent is hard at work with our fire service partners helping to insure that good fire service bills get passed and bills that harm the fire service are stopped.
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NETWORKING OPPRTUNITIES
We use every opportunity available to connect with our member;, the Chiefs Desk newsletter, social media, our four meetings a year, and our Leadership Conference.
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E-NEWSLETTER
Our monthly E-Newsletter is chocked full of information to not only keep you informed, it will give you valuable information to help you manage your department.
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LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE DISCOUNT
Members get a discount to high quality leadership training. Our conference is designed for Chiefs and Chief Officers to get training form nationally know speakers, see the latest innovation at our trade show, and provide a networking opportunity with your peers from across the state.
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OUR NEXT MEETING
Friday February 24, 2023
3pm CST
At the 36th Annual
Bryant Stiles Officers School
Owensboro Convention Center
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THE ECONOMY AND
FIRE APPARATUS
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The current economy is having a ripple effect on all aspects of our lives, including the fire service with the fire apparatus industry. In the past, manufacturers were able to project cost and availability of components and vehicle chassis up to 24 months in advance. However, the current economic climate has made it difficult to even project 6 months in advance. The volatile economy, along with record inflation rates, has led to increased transportation costs, as well as fluctuating prices for raw materials and components. As a result, manufacturers are faced with the challenge of predicting future costs and to plan production accordingly. In addition, the current economy has led to a shortage of human capital. With more people opting for job stability, there are fewer workers with the skills and experience necessary to excel in the fire apparatus industry. | | |
Southeastern Association
of Fire Chiefs Update
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Happy New Year from the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs! This past year has been a very productive year for the Association and the IAFC. I would like to start by first recognizing Chief Michael Morgan, retired Union Fire District, for his years of service to the state of Kentucky as our past Association Director. Chief Morgan was intimately involved in the Associations turn around to becoming the strongest Division of the IAFC both financially and in membership. Thank you, Chief Morgan, for all you have done to help further the Fire and Emergency Medical Services in our area and congratulations on your recent retirement.
During 2022 we have seen great wins as an Association. One of those wins was this past June when the Association Board elected for the first time ever to establish an EMS committee within the Board. This was done to place an emphasis and focus on Fire based EMS systems within each of the Association States. This committee is comprised of a 4-person committee, me as the Chairperson, Chief Ryan Crawford of South Walton Fire and EMS, Florida, Chief Charles Yarbrough of Stockton Fire and EMS, Mississippi and Chief Mark Foulks, retired Murfreesboro Fire Department, Tennessee and current IAFC Board member. Our committee has been meeting regularly to learn and discuss more of the issues that each state is facing in effort to work establish action items that we can address as a group. The committee put out a survey this past year asking each of you what the top 3 items facing your agencies were outside of recruitment and retention. The survey results came back and strongly suggested that the 3 top items are Funding/Fiscal constraints, Training/Licensure issues and an Increase in call volume/Demand. The committee will be working over the coming months to establish some practical applications for agencies to address these challenging issues.
A second item of great accomplishment was the Associations Leadership Symposium in Mobile Alabama. This conference was well attended with well over 300 attendees, excellent speakers, and great networking opportunities. The IAFC President Chief Donna Black was there to meet with each of the State Association Presidents individually and as a group to brainstorm together on how we can work better together on items we are all facing. She has been a great advocate for the Fire Service and will do well in her position this coming year.
This past year I was also able to represent the state at the IAFC FRI conference in San Antonio, TX. This is one of the nation’s largest Fire and Rescue events. There were several from Kentucky and the surrounding states within the Southeastern Association who were present and who had an opportunity to learn from some of the country’s leading instructors on leadership and safety. If you get an opportunity to attend in the future, I strongly recommend it.
As this new year begins, please know that the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs and the Kentucky Association Board are working hard on behalf of all you to be a positive influence for progress and change. Not to change what works but to advocate for changing what we can to better provide for our states, our districts, our communities, and our membership. I hope that 2023 brings each of you happiness and that you can find value in all that you do. Thank you for supporting the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs, the Kentucky Association of Fire Chiefs and I pray that you have a blessed new year!
Thanks,
Nathan Mulvey
Chief
Fern Creek Fire & EMS
Kentucky Assoc. of Fire Chiefs 1st VP
Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs/ Kentucky Director
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Click or scan
the link below to go to
seafc.org
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Click or scan the link below to read
WINGSPREAD VII
Statements of National Significance to the United States Fire and Emergency Services
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Do you want to serve on a committee? | | |
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The committees and chairs are listed below. If you are interested in serving on one of the below committees please click the email link and send and email of interest. | |
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Education Committee - Chair, Chief Michael Morgan EMAIL
EMS Committee - Chair, Deputy Chief Mike Sutt EMAIL
Conference Committee - Chair, Asst. Chief David Howser EMAIL
Health & Safety - Chair, Asst. Chief James Gifford EMAIL
Legislative Committee - Chair, Chief Adam Jones EMAIL
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As we look forward and place 2022 behind us, we begin to look forward to the 2023 Legislative Session. The General Assembly welcomes several new faces to Frankfort for this 30-day short session.
Legislators return to Frankfort on January 3rd for reorganization that week before a break until Part II convenes on Tuesday February 7th. We are watching a few pre-filed bills which pertain to the fire service listed below. I will update the list after the session starts and more bills are filed.
The Kentucky General Assembly information page is https://legislature.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx
The website will provide you with the weekly schedule, watch coverage of committee meetings, search your legislators, informational materials, understanding the legislative process, file to testify at a meeting, and much more.
I am also always available with any questions or concerns by email – ajones.ics@gmail.com
Many Thanks,
Adam C Jones, KAFC Legislative Agent
Deputy Chief Fern Creek Fire & EMS
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STAY UP TO DATE WITH WHATS HAPPENING IN FRANKFORT WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE TRACKER | |
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If you have any questions or comments please reach out to one of the Legislative Committee Members.
Chair – KAFC Legislative Agent, Adam Jones – Fern Creek Fire/EMS Email
KAFC President, Cathy Rigney – Winchester Fire/EMS Email
David Howser - St. Matthews Fire/EMS Email
Wayne Briscoe – Frankfort Fire/EMS – Email
Michael Brown – Prestonsburg Fire Department – Email
Steve Futrell – Hopkinsville Fire/EMS – Email
Steve Kyle – Paducah Fire Department – Email
Rick Millikan – Morganfield Fire Department – Email
Nathan Mulvey – Fern Creek Fire/EMS – Email
Rob Rothenburger – Shelbyville Fire Department – Email
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Winter in Kentucky can be a hazardous time for firefighters. Ice and snow increase the risk of slips and falls. Flowing water, debris, oily surfaces, uneven surfaces, and roof operations also contribute to the slips and fall risks. Taking steps to educate your firefighters and providing them the tools to make their on-scene operations safer, can prevent time off work and ensure adequate staffing.
The first thing that firefighters should do when they are working on a possible hazardous surface is to slow down, shorten stride length, and hold on to something if possible. Ensuring proper PPE is in place and serviceable will help if the firefighter does fall. Next a firefighter can be assigned to ensure the walking surfaces are hazard free. Some ideas are to stage equipment in a proper location, put down salt or stay dry to help provide traction to slippery surfaces, and remove any debris. Walking surfaces at the station should also be hazard free. Snow and ice covered apparatus contribute to a wet bay floor. Keeping the apparatus bay squeegeed and clear of debris will help prevent these slips and falls. The station should be evaluated regularly for trip hazards and slick surfaces. I hope you and your firefighters stay safe over the winter months. For more information on this topic, check out OSHA regulation 1910 Subpart D – Walking-Working Surfaces.
James Gifford
Assistant Chief of Operations
Georgetown Fire Department
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OUR LATEST CHALLENGE COIN IS ON SALE NOW | |
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In a memorandum dated June 1, 2022, the Legislative Research Commission (LRC) established the Emergency Medical Services Task Force with the following charge:
1. Review the need, or lack thereof, for the certificate of need (CON) process for ambulance services;
2. Review all statutes and administrative regulations governing emergency medical services(EMS), including ambulance providers and EMS providers, to ensure there is quality service delivery;
3. Review ambulance specifications for adequacy and safety to facilitate good patient care;
4. Review guidelines and standards to assist ambulance services, EMS providers, and
physicians with medical oversight;
5. Review administrative regulations affecting the training of pre-hospital care EMS providers, including guidelines for each level of certification and licensure, standardized education and testing curricula, continuing education requirements, and monitoring of EMS training programs for quality assurance;
6. Identify strategies for recruitment and retention of the EMS workforce; and
7. Recommend improvements for the delivery of services to patients in need of physical or
behavioral health services.
The task force began meeting in July 2022 and heard testimony from several individual stakeholders and state agencies, and has sent their recommendations to House and Senate leadership, along with members of the LRC.
Attached you will find the full memorandum with their findings and recommendations. There will be more to come on this.
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NEW KBEMS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
KBEMS has announced that Eddie Sloan is the new Executive Director of the Kentucky Board of EMS. Eddie is no stranger to the fire service having retired as the Chief of Frankfort Fire & EMS. We look forward to our continued partnership with KBEMS as we begin the new year.
In additional KBEMS news, they have moved back within state government. Their new address is
Kentucky Board of EMS
500 Mero Street, 5th Floor 5SE32
Frankfort, KY 40601
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The EMS Committee is looking for KAFC members of Fire Based EMS services to serve on the committee to help move EMS forward in the Commonwealth.
If you are interested in serving, please contact
Deputy Chief Mike Sutt at msutt@amfems.org.
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KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS
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