The American fire and emergency services has a very proud tradition of serving communities across our nation that dates back to colonial times. Throughout our nation’s history, firefighters have been looked upon with great respect and admiration for their courage and dedication to their profession. To preserve the public’s trust, a National Firefighter Code of Ethics was developed by a group of fire service leaders that calls on individual firefighters to pledge their support for maintaining the highest level of professionalism and behavior.
The idea for the Code was initially proposed in the Fire Service Reputation Management White Paper published by the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association (CVVFA). Since then, the idea gained momentum and received support from the highest echelon of fire service leadership
“We may never have the opportunity again and I urge all fire service leaders to develop, establish, disseminate, abide and enforce a fire service code of ethics, said then-U.S. Fire Administrator Kelvin Cochran in 2010.
The Code is a guide for acceptable behavior already practiced by all but a very small percentage of the fire service. Isolated events that have occurred across the country involving lapses in ethical judgment by fire service personnel, led to the Code of Ethics being developed. It was the brainchild of the National Society of Executive Fire Officers (NSEFO) and has since gained the support of a number of local, state and national organizations, as well as prominent fire service leaders.
“The Code of Ethics serves to remind our brethren firefighters of our moral and ethical obligation to the profession as well as to the people we serve,” said CVVFA Past President Steve Austin. “The public places great trust in our profession and we need to exercise good judgment in order to preserve that trust. The Code of Ethics can serve as a compass to guide us in that direction.”
With the support of various fire service organizations, the Code will be distributed throughout the fire service. Individual firefighters are encouraged to sign the Code and keep it in view to remind themselves each day of their pledge to the highest standards of professionalism and behavior.

For more information on firefighter ethics visit the the CVVFA's Firefighter Behavior website.

Click on the Title of this Story and Download the Code of Ethics

The CVVFA Board of Directors met on Sunday January 8, 2012 at the Volunteer Fire Company of Halfway MD. A large crowd of members attended. The Directors established a balanced budget that reflected careful spending priorities based on the state of the economy. Income was projected to grow slightly based on dues, and funds from the Association’s various projects.

A favorable response to the request for a 501c3 Non Profit status from the IRS is expected. The application was filed in the summer of 2011.

The Directors set procedures for handling contracts with private firms for consulting services related to the Emergency Responders on the Highway Project between regular meetings.

A Report was provided on the 112th Annual Convention arrangements in Berkeley Springs WV and the March Booster Meeting in Irishtown PA.

A preview of the new website Ifireprevention.com was shown. The site is being maintained by the Youth Leadership Committee under the direction of Chairwoman Erin Drumheller.

Full meeting minutes will be posted after approval by the Directors and Officers.

Brian Yoder age 40 of Sinking Springs PA died suddenly at his home. Brian a member of the Shillington PA Fire Department joined the CVVFA in 1999 while he was employed as a manager at Mifflin Valley Reflective Products. Through Brian, the Association gained valuable knowledge about high visibility garments. He was named as a Charter Member of the Responder Safety Institute because of his expertise on these products. He arranged donations of vests and cash for our early training classes. Brian was an advocate for responder safety. His positive outlook and can do attitude will be missed. His contributions to making the CVVFA a national leader in roadway safety issues will long he remembered.

The CVVFA is committed to reaching all of our members with timely information about our Association and the many initiatives we work on. If you are reading this you are receiving the timeliest communication through the internet or email. We have over 1100 members but only have about 400 email addresses. We know some of our older members do not have email and we will continue to communicate with them through the mail. However there are a vast number of members for whom we have no email address. This become even more important because without internet access and an email address we have no way to sign up our members for our new FREE Respondersafety Learning Network. We seek to communicate the way that best suits our membership, Email, mail, Facebook and through www.cvvfa.org.  Members who wish to give us their new or revised email address may do so at email@cvvfa.org . We want to see all our members face to face at every meeting.  In between we want you to know what is happening inside your organization.

Mother Nature decided to end the summer long drought in central Pennsylvania just as the 110th Annual Convention Parade stepped off parading down the hill through the center of McConnellsburg. Nonetheless Citizens Fire Company of Newport PA "struck up the band" and marched their way to victory for the second consecutive year. Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company of Newark DE took second place with their marching unit and several pieces of equipment including their Pierce Rescue.

Maintaining the tradition the host company provided hot dogs and drinks in the engine bay as prizes were awarded. The CVVFA has paraded at the annual convention since 1902.

CVVFA 110th Convention Parade Winners
Best Appearing Uniformed Fire Company with Music with 25 or more members:
1st Place Plaque and $50.00 (Sponsored by the Cumberland Valley Hose Company of Shippensburg, PA)
Citizens Fire Company #1 of Newport PA

2nd Place Plaque and $40.00 (Sponsored by Steve and Peg Flickinger of Newport, PA in memory of Past President H.M. Flickinger, Jr.) Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company of Newark DE
Best Appearing Engine 1250 GPM or larger:
1st Place David O. Gabler and Harold E. Snider Memorial Plaque and $50.00 (Sponsored by Franklin Fire Company #4 of Chambersburg, PA) Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Company of Berkeley Springs WV
2nd Place Plaque and $40.00 (Sponsored by First Hose Company of Hagerstown, MD)
St. Thomas Fire Company of St. Thomas PA

Judges Awards
1st Place Plaque and $50.00 (Sponsored by the Provident Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA)
MMPW Fire Company of Mercersburg PA

2nd Place Plaque and $40.00 (Sponsored by the Mont Alto Volunteer Fire Company of Mont Alto, PA)
Volunteer Fire Company of Halfway MD

Best Appearing Aerial Device:
1st Place Robert J. Gerhart Memorial Plaque and $50.00 (Sponsored by Junior Hose and Truck Company #2 of Chambersburg, PA) Volunteer Fire Company of Halfway MD
2nd Place Plaque and $40.00 (Sponsored by Mason Dixon Fire Equipment of Hagerstown, MD)
Needmore Fire Company of Needmore PA

Best Appearing Engine/Tanker:
1st Place Plaque and $50.00 (Sponsored by Perry House of Awards of Newport, PA)
Hancock Fire Company of Hancock MD

2nd Place Plaque and $40.00 (Sponsored by Rescue Hose Company #1 of Greencastle, PA)
Needmore Fire Company of Needmore PA

President’s Award:
1st Place Chief Elmer J. Ellison Memorial Plaque and $50.00 (Sponsored by the Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company of Newark, DE) Citizens Fire Company #1 of Newport PA

2nd Place Guy M. Flory Plaque and $40.00 (Sponsored by Vigilant Hose Company #1 of Shippensburg, PA)
Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company of Newark DE

Best Appearing Rescue or Squad:
1st Place William E. Haug Memorial Plaque and $50.00 (Sponsored by the Mill Creek Fire Company of Wilmington, DE) Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company of Newark DE

2nd Place Plaque and $40.00 (Sponsored by Dave’s Truck Repair of Chambersburg, PA)
Citizens Fire Company of Mechanicsburg PA
Best Appearing Ambulance/Basic Life Support: 1st Place Merle Kauffman Memorial Plaque and $50.00 (Sponsored by the Goodwill Steam Engine & Hose Company #3 of Chambersburg, PA)
Hustontown Ambulance of Hustontown PA

2nd Place Plaque and $40.00 (Sponsored by the Mont Alto Ambulance Squad of Mont Alto, PA)
Needmore Ambulance of Needmore PA

Best Appearing Ambulance/Advanced Life Support:
1st Place James McGowan Memorial Plaque and $50.00 (Sponsored by the Newport Ambulance League of Newport, PA) Fame Fire Company Ambulance of Lewistown PA
2nd Place Louise Fahreney Memorial Plaque and $40.00 (Sponsored by the Volunteer Fire Company of Halfway, MD) Waynesboro Medic 200 of Waynesboro PA

Best Appearing Special Unit – Air Wagon, Traffic, Utility, Command:1st Place Secretary Emeritus Louise Dell Memorial Plaque and $50.00 (Sponsored by the Active Members of the Cumberland Valley Fireman’s Association of Cumberland, MD Washington County Rehab of Hagerstown MD

2nd Place Plaque and $40.00 (Sponsored by Walter Robertson of Stuarts Draft, VA)
Carlisle Fire Police of Carlisle PA

Best Appearing Brush Truck:
1st Place Barbara L. Fischer & Dennis P. Deshong Memorial Plaque and $50.00 (Sponsored by the McConnellsburg Volunteer Fire Company of McConnellsburg, PA) West End Fire & Rescue of Shippensburg PA
2nd Place Past President Charles D. Baker Memorial Plaque and $40.00 (Sponsored by Past President Wayne Baker ) Hustontown Fire Company of Hustontown PA

Best Marked Fire Apparatus for Highway Incident Scene Safety:
1st Place Emergency Responder Safety Institute Plaque and $50.00 (Sponsored by Chief Crawford G. Wiestling of Prior Lake, MN) Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Company of Berkeley Springs WV

Best Marked Ambulance for Highway Incident Scene Safety:
1st Place Deputy Chief Mark Reid, Sr. Memorial Plaque and $50.00 (Sponsored by Chief Stephen M. Reid of Meyersville, PA) Fame Fire Company Ambulance of Lewistown PA

Best Appearing Antique Hand Drawn Pumper or Hose Reel:
1st Place Plaque and $50.00 (Sponsored by Past President Steve Austin of Newark, DE)
Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company of Newark DE

2nd Place Plaque and $40.00 (Sponsored by Past President George Dove of Winchester, VA)
Citizens Fire Company of Newport PA

Best Appearing Antique Fire Engine Driven in the Parade:
1st Place Reverend Dr. David H. Hoover & Past President Martin I. Mowen Memorial Plaque and $50.00 (Sponsored by the McConnellsburg Volunteer Fire Company of McConnellsburg, PA)
Keyser Volunteer Fire Department of Keyser WV

2nd Place Plaque and $40.00 (Sponsored by Past President Robert P. Cumberland, Jr. of Westminster, MD)
Steve Austin of Newark DE

Fire Dept. Owned Apparatus that Traveled the Farthest Distance:
1st Place Robert K. Wright Memorial Plaque and $50.00 (Sponsored by the Citizens Fire Company #1 of Newport, PA) Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company of Newark DE
Best Appearing Privately Owned Fire Dept. Antique Apparatus:
1st Place Past President Raymond T. Kimble Memorial Plaque and $50.00 (Sponsored by Emergency Vehicle Specialists of Hagerstown, MD) Guardians of Ribbon of Hagerstown MD

Click title of this article for more photos

Michael Sullivan of the Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Company was elected President of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association (CVVFA) at the 110th Annual Convention held in McConnellsburg PA
Sullivan becomes the 5 member from Berkeley Springs to serve as CVVFA President. He is believed to be the youngest person at age 26 to be elected to the top office in the CVVFA.  Leading by example Mike is focusing his efforts to bring younger members into the Association. Sullivan heads an organization of over 1000 members. The CVVFA is a recognized national leader in Highway Incident Scene Safety for Emergency Responders operating the award winning web site Respondersafety.com.

Mike is employed as a corrections officer. The new President and his wife Charity have 2 children and are expecting their 3rd child next spring.
 

VFIS, in conjunction with the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Fireman’s Association (CVVFA) has developed an awareness training course on Emergency Service Reputation Risk, that can be taken on-line at the VFIS Distance Learning Center at  vfis.sju.edu.  The program is a formalization of the conference seminars conducted by Dr. Bill Jenaway of VFIS and Steve Austin of CVVFA on the topic. Bill and Steve have been instrumental in the research, development and release of information related to the topic resulting in a white paper released by CVVFA, which is part of the course. The program is offered at no cost, courtesy of VFIS and CVVFA. To access the class you must visit the VFIS Distance Learning site at vfis.sju.edu and complete the registration process. You can then take the opportunity to complete the course. Click on the title of this story to access the link to VFIS Reputation Management Training.

 he Federal Emergency Management Agency in the Department of Homeland Security awarded the CVVFA a Fire Prevention and Safety Grant to establish a Responder Safety Learning Network. The network will reach thousands of roadway responders with life safety training to protect them while helping others at highway incidents. The internet based system will be available at no cost to students. The network will have the ability to maintain secure training records, provide testing as well as having webinar capabilities. Stonehouse Media Incorporated of Lambertville, NJ, the firm that powers www.respondersafety.com and produced several of our videos will build the system and provide program production. Under the direction of our team of experts, the CVVFA will invite the leading professionals in Traffic Incident Management to participate in developing the various offerings. Chief Greg Yost, CVVFA President said, “We thank all those who helped make this grant a reality. The learning network will allow us to train thousands upon thousands of responders."  Yost, who was a victim of a struck by incident several years ago added, "Perhaps if I had the training back then that accident might never have happened."

Looking for the future dates of State Firefighter Conventions? Now thanks to a suggestion by the CVVFA Presidents Council, they’re right here on CVVFA.org. The Presidents Council has discussed the problem with conflicting dates that impact the ability of fire service leadership to attend various conventions when there is a conflict and also the problem of clashing dates for vendors. While we can’t be in two places at the same time, the CVVFA can and will publish all future convention dates on the website.

Short term dates may be found by running your mouse over the right hand Upcoming Events column and a longer term calendar view is available by clicking on the Calendar Tab on the left side of the page.

Interested in what it takes to receive and award from the CVVFA? Got someone in mind who deserves to be recognized? Now all CVVFA Award information is available right here. Click on the Award tab at the lower left hand side of the page and learn about these recognitions. Still have questions? Submit them for a quick answer by clicking on the Contact Us tab on the left and we will provide a quick answer by email.

Now is the time to be sure your message appears in the 2011 CVVFA Convention Program Book. Sponsorships are available from a full page to patron listing. Publicity Manager Bob Timko pledges that this year the program book will be bigger and better than any book published before. The book is a great way to honor your company or association, a fellow CVVFA member living or deceased or tell readers about your business. Convention Programs record the history of our Association. Don't be left out of this year's book. CLICK ON THE TITLE OF THIS ARTICLE AND DOWNLOAD THE SPONSORSHIP FORMS

The CVVFA proudly launched www.firefighterbehavior.com today, January 4, 2011. The page and an accompanying Facebook account will examine improper behavior on behalf of a small minority of fire service members whose actions are undermining the fire service.

Thomas L. Savage III, fire service leader and political insider, has assumed the position of Editor of the page.

Camp Hill PA—PA Director Honored with the 2010 PA Fire and Emergency Services Institute President’s Award.

Curtis Alleman, CVVFA PA Director, East Pennsboro School Board Director and Firefighter with East Pennsboro Fire Department and West Shore Bureau of Fire was honored on Monday evening, November 22, 2010, with the 2010 PFESI President’s Leadership Award by PFESI President David Wyrwas during the PFESI annual dinner held at the Radisson in Camp Hill, PA. President Wyrwas commented that Mr. Alleman was mentioned by multiple members of the institute and the community as a possible candidate for this Award. Curtis has given numerous hours to his community as a School Board Director in the East Pennsboro School District since 2007 and has served in numerous positions with the Fire and Emergency Service Community within the Local, County, State and Regional levels.    

The PFESI President’s Leadership Award is given annually to an individual who has given dedication and leadership to both the emergency service community and also to their local community.
Director Alleman was elected as a CVVFA Director representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at the Annual Convention in August of this year. 

On Sunday, November 14, 2010, PA Director Curtis Alleman and MD Director Bob Cumberland traveled to Irishtown Fire Company in Adams County, PA, to make a presentation to a new 50 year life member of the CVVFA.  Robert L. Bolin of Irishtown Fire Company was awarded a resolution and a gold life membership card for his 50 years of dedication to CVVFA.  

 Special to CVVFA.org By: Director Curtis Alleman

Bob Timko, Bob Cumberland and Curt Alleman traveled to Greencastle, PA, at the 81 Welcome Center on Interstate 81 for a fire prevention and traffic safety day sponsored by Rescue Hose Company of Greencastle (a Charter CVVFA Member from 1901).
 The CVVFA Emergency Responder Safety Institute presented traffic safety videos along with handing out brochures about incident scene safety and Move Over laws.   This was a great event with interaction among many motorists from around the country as they stopped during their travels through Pennsylvania.
 A special thanks to Citizens Fire Company of Enola PA for display tables and chairs along with the use of a department vehicle.