Court rules for white firefighters over promotions Associated Press (June 29, 2009)
 

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ruled Monday that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, reversing a decision that high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor endorsed as an appeals court judge.

New Haven was wrong to scrap a promotion exam because no African-Americans and only two Hispanic firefighters were likely to be made lieutenants or captains based on the results, the court said Monday in a 5-4 decision. The city said that it had acted to avoid a lawsuit from minorities.

The ruling could alter employment practices nationwide, potentially limiting the circumstances in which employers can be held liable for decisions when there is no evidence of intentional discrimination against minorities.

"Fear of litigation alone cannot justify an employer's reliance on race to the detriment of individuals who passed the examinations and qualified for promotions," Justice Anthony Kennedy said in his opinion for the court. He was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.

In dissent, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said the white firefighters "understandably attract this court's sympathy. But they had no vested right to promotion. Nor have other persons received promotions in preference to them."

Justices Stephen Breyer, David Souter and John Paul Stevens signed onto Ginsburg's dissent, which she read aloud in court Monday.

Kennedy's opinion made only passing reference to the work of Sotomayor and the other two judges on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals who upheld a lower court ruling in favor of New Haven.

But the appellate judges have been criticized for producing a cursory opinion that failed to deal with "indisputably complex and far from well-settled" questions, in the words of another appeals court judge, Sotomayor mentor Jose Cabranes.

"This perfunctory disposition rests uneasily with the weighty issues presented by this appeal," Cabranes said, in a dissent from the full 2nd Circuit's decision not to hear the case.

The ISFSI unveiled it's new exhibit booth at FDIC 2009!  The new booth is very effecient, going up and down in about 10 minutes with one person.  Contact a board member if you're interested in getting the booth at your event.

The ISFSI & Fire Engineering are proud to present the 2009, George D. Post Instructor of the Year award to Dan Madrzykowski from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for his research in fire dynamics and development of training materials that can save the lives of firefighters.  ISFSI President Eddie Buchanan and Fire Engineering's Glen Corbett presented the award on the main stage at FDIC on Thursday. 

Click on the link above to see the award video!

Look for the call for nominations on 2010 award soon!

The board of directors recently approved a special discount for state instructor associations that wish to reactivate or file as a new ISFSI state chapter.  A one-time discount of 20% off membership dues will be offered to state organizations that bring in a minimum of 25 members, as described in the ISFSI bylaws.  This discount is only extended to state-level instructor organizations who “batch enroll.”  A formal announcement will be made at the ISFSI Annual Meeting at FDIC! 
 

The NFPA will release a new standard, 1407: Standard for Training Fire Service Rapid Intervention Crews.  The standard has completed the Request for Proposal Process and should be released by 2010.  To get more information on the new standard, follow this link: http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=1407

President Buchanan recently worked with other fire service organizations to assist the “Common Voices” advocates group in Washington, D.C. to generate support for the Sprinkler Incentive Act.  The legislation provides tax incentives for property owners to retrofit buildings with fire sprinklers.  To learn more about Common Voices, go to http://www.fireadvocates.org/. 
 

The ISFSI is proud to announce that member Mke Rush will join members of the Board of Directors at the CFSI Dinner!  Mike was selected to join us for dinner on the house as way to say thanks for being a member.  Board members and other fire service leaders will be on the hill for the CFSI Seminars.  For more information, go to www.cfsi.org. 
 

Remember that all ISFSI members get a 10% discount on FDIC registration.  You need to use the special ISFSI member registration form to get the discount.  If you’ve already registered and want your discount as an ISFSI member, contact FDIC registration at 1-888-299-8016 or 1-918-831-9160.  Be prepared to provide your ISFSI membership number.
 

Application Period to Open:
Fiscal Year 2008 Fire Prevention and Safety Grants

The Department of Homeland Security has posted the FY2008 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants Program Guidance on the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program Website. The application period is scheduled to begin on February 2, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Applications for these grants must be received by March 6, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
 
FP&S grants support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards. The grants are competitive, and their primary goal is to target high-risk populations. Grant awards are made in order to mitigate high incidences of death and injury and to carry out research for improving firefighter safety. Examples of the types of fire prevention projects that are supported by FP&S include smoke alarm installation, fire prevention and public safety education campaigns, juvenile fire setter interventions, media campaigns, and arson prevention and awareness programs. Organizations that are eligible to apply under the research activity should consult the Program Guidance for detailed information on priorities and areas of emphasis.

An applicant tutorial for the fire prevention activity will be available through the www.firegrantsupport.com Website. The tutorial will provide you with valuable grant information and will walk you through the preparation and submittal of competitive applications. In addition, the applicant tutorial will provide an overview of the fire prevention funding priorities and evaluation criteria. Applicants who have questions regarding the Fire Prevention and Safety Grants opportunity should contact the help desk as soon as possible at 1-866-274-0960 or at firegrants@dhs.gov. During the application period, the help desk will operate Monday to Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (EST), but is prepared to revise hours of operation based on volume, demand, holidays and urgency to complete the FP&S Grants application period and processing for FY08.

The AFG Program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Grant Programs Directorate in coordination with the U.S. Fire Administration.

FY08 Fire Prevention and Safety Grants Program Guidance - visit www.firegrantsupport.com/fps/guidance/.

FY08 Fire Prevention and Safety Grants FAQs - visit www.firegrantsupport.com/fps/faq/08/.

The Annual Meeting of the ISFSI will be on Friday, April 24 at 1:00 P.M. in rooms 202-203 during the FDIC.  Be sure to include this meeting when making your travel plans for FDIC!