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Based on their mutual goals of protecting firefighters' health and safety, the International Fire Relief Mission (IFRM) has reached agreements to work with the International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF) and Holly Springs (GA) Volunteer Fire Department Chief Steve Pigott, a firefighter-fitness advocate. 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.

 

With members in 22 countries, IAWF has the mission of providing leadership to the wildland firefighting community. IAWF and IFRM share the goal of making wildland firefighting safe and effective. In recent years, wildland fires have taken a heavy toll in life and property in Australia, Greece, and California, said IFRM President and CEO Ron Gruening.

 

“Imagine the damage fires of those magnitudes would have done had they occurred in some of the countries IFRM works with, such as Moldova," 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 more gear here in the United States and deliver it to impoverished fire departments."

 

Chief Pigott gained national acclaim in 2008 when he became the first person to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in full turnout gear (including SCBA) to promote the importance of firefighter fitness and health. Earlier this year, he and two Russian firefighters ascended Russia's Mt. Elbrus, again in full turnout gear. In addition to cross promoting one another's activities, Chief Pigott will assist IFRM in developing fitness-education tools to deliver to fire departments it visits around the world.

 

"Firefighter education is another area where IFRM will expand," Gruening said. "We are very fortunate to have someone of Chief Pigott's caliber and drive on our side. His accomplishments are nothing short of phenomenal and every firefighter should be inspired to improve his or her own health and fitness."

 

These two partnerships make perfect sense, Gruening said, because ultimately what IAWF, Chief Pigott, and IFRM are trying to do is to help firefighters stay safe, work effectively and be in the best position possible to save life and property.

 

IFRM is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization who's mission is to collect donated new and used fire and EMS equipment, deliver it to fire departments in developing nations and educate members of those fire 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 is used to fulfilling the group's mission. IFRM was formed in 2007 by retired emergency-response professionals. For more information, visit www.ifrm2007.com.

 

The IAWF is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) professional association representing members of the global wildland fire community (www.iawfonline.org, Wildfire magazine, FireNet, and the International Journal of Wildland Fire) 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.