1. Enhancing the Fire Service Response to Today’s Terrorism Threat International Association of Fire Chiefs

2. Terrorism… uAll terrorist acts are crimes. uMost involve violence or threats of violence. uTargets are mainly civilians. uActions designed to receive maximum publicity. uIntended to produce effects beyond immediate physical damage.

3. uOnce a terrorist incident is underway, the success rate is nearly 75%. uSuicide raises the success rate to over 96%.

4. U.S. Fire/EMS Profile uA complicated fire service –More than 32,000 public fire departments –More than 70% are totally volunteer fire departments –More than 850,000 fire fighters –17,500,000 annual fire and EMS calls 9.8 million annual EMS calls

5. The 8 Terrible Realities of Terrorism 1.That law enforcement, fire, rescue, emergency management personnel may not be better trained or equipped than the terrorists. 2.That the terrorists will not have the same moral or ethical perspectives as the first responders.

6. 3.The public now expects that an extraordinary rescue effort will occur after any terrorist incident. 4.The tactics of terrorism are constantly changing, and yet most stay the same.

7. 5.There will be a continued increase in the level of sophistication and technical skills of terrorist groups. 6.Money is usually not a problem for most terrorist groups.

8. 7.Terrorist incidents will continue to grow in scope and magnitude. 8.Secondary devices are present about 50% of the time.

9. Trends u60s: Aircraft hijackings u70s: Embassy takeovers u80s: Suicide bombings u90s: Combination of all previous u2000s: Chemical/biological attacks and more (?)

10. What We Can Expect uContinued use of low-tech uAircraft and transportation uFood related uTelecommunications

11. uComputer-based uEnergy related uArson uPersonalization of terrorism

12. uBombings uSecondary devices uSuicide terrorists uChemical-Biological-Nuclear

13. Needs of the Fire Service for the New Threat of Terrorism uContinued awareness training for all first responders. uIncident command training for command officers. uIncreased technical training for hazmat teams.

14. uImmediate action by NIOSH to certify chem/bio masks. uRapid distribution of masks to FDs in major cities and within a 25 mile radius. uRapid detection equipment for both chemical and biological agents.

15. uDecontamination equipment and procedures for mass casualties. uExisting haz mat team capabilities must be enhanced rather than starting something new. uIncrease the number of Metropolitan Medical Response System Teams for mass casualties.

16. uSpecial units need to be trained for management of mass casualties caused by chemical or biological agents. uUrban Search and Rescue Teams need training and equipment to operate in chemical or biological environments.

17. uExpand and upgrade the USAR program uEstablish national collapse rescue program to supplement USAR program (USAR - Lite)

18. Other Needs uPolice must have training and equipment for chemical/biological operations. uHospitals must have capacity for mass decontamination of patients. uAntidotes must be stockpiled in large quantities.

19. uEvery responding agency (local, state, national) must use a standardized incident command system (ICS). uContinual coordination between local, state and national responders is essential for success in protecting our personnel and the citizens we serve.

20. uNational agencies need to involve local first responders in every level of discussions for resource allocation…especially training and equipment. uFire service must guard against money being spent for military terrorism preparation without including the fire service as the primary recipient.

21. (Name) Fire Department Needs (Need 1) (Need 2) (Need 3) (Need 4) (Need 5)

22. Conclusion uThe better the job the fire service does in minimizing the impact of terrorist incidents, the more terrorists will seek new and terrible ways to make their statements. uThe lessons learned must be shared among all emergency services organizations…worldwide.

23. It is not if, but when, the next terrorist action will occur against U.S. citizens and property. The fire service will be there first….guaranteed!