IAWF and IFRM form new Cooperative Partnership
(view pdf version of the news release)
Birmingham, AL, December 16, 2009
The International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF) and the International Fire Relief Mission (IFRM) share mutual goals of protecting firefighter health and safety. Presidents Chuck Bushey (IAWF) and Ron Gruening (IFRM) are pleased to announce an agreement for their organizations to work together to further their shared goals.
IAWF is a professional organization for wildland firefighters and currently has members in 22 countries; as part of its mission the IAWF provides leadership to the wildland fire community and facilitates communications on issues of interest to its global membership.
IFRM is a charitable organization with no political or religious affiliations that delivers used, serviceable firefighting and EMS equipment and instruction to needy fire departments in developing nations. The organization was started and is operated by retired Fire/EMS professionals. IFRM collects used firefighting equipment from US Fire Departments for transfer to developing countries such as Moldova and the Ukraine; upcoming equipment transfers will be to Central and South America. In addition to delivering the equipment, IFRM provides in country demonstrations of how to use the donated equipment.
Global increase in fire activity makes the shared goal of making wildland firefighting safer and more effective even more important. For example, wildland fires have recently taken a heavy toll in life and property in Australia, Greece, and California.
“Imagine the damage fires of those magnitudes would have done had they occurred in some of the countries IFRM works with, such as Moldova,” IFRM President Gruening said. “That is why IFRM is expanding its donated equipment to include wildland firefighting gear and education. IAWF’s extensive and wide-reaching network of members will be invaluable in spreading the word about IFRM’s life-saving missions and help it collect gear here in the United States and deliver it to impoverished fire departments.”
About the International Association of Wildland Fire
The IAWF is a nonprofit, 501(c) (3) professional association representing members of the global wildland fire community (www.iawfonline.org) and is uniquely positioned as an independent organization whose membership includes experts in all aspects of wildland fire management. IAWF independence and breadth of global membership expertise allows it to offer a neutral forum for the consideration of important, at times controversial, wildland fire issues. IAWF produces Wildfire magazine, the International Journal of Wildland Fire, and FireNet.
About the International Fire Relief Mission
IFRM is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization whose mission is to collect donated new and used fire and EMS equipment, deliver it to fire departments in developing countries and educate members of those departments on the equipment’s safe and proper use. IFRM is a nonreligious, nonpolitical group dedicated to saving firefighter and civilian lives. IFRM members do not draw a salary and all of the money raised issued to fulfilling the group’s mission. IFRM was formed in 2007 by retired emergency-response professions. For further information, visit www.ifrm2007.com.
Contact:
Chuck Bushey, President
+001-406-248-8307
IAWF Offices:
Bill Ranieri, Executive Director
+001-205-824-7614, or
888-440-IAWF (4293)