The National Fire Protection

A fire service instructor with Bucks County Community College in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Richard Shannon Draper draws upon a work history that includes tenures as fire chief with both the city of Vermillion, South Dakota, and the city of Red Wing, Minnesota. Richard Shannon Draper holds active membership in multiple professional organizations, including the National Fire Protection Association.

Over the past 125 years, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has been endeavoring to maintain and further fire protection standards, research, advocacy, training, education, and public outreach. To teach and reach younger audiences, the NFPA has employed Sparky the Fire Dog since 1951.

In conjunction with a national fire prevention promotional campaign through the Ad Council, the NFPA chose a Dalmatian as its mascot due to its longstanding association with fire houses and firefighters. One of Sparky’s early missions was to get kids to send quarters to the NFPA by mail to become members of Sparky’s Fire Department.

Over the years, Sparky served a variety of public education and awareness functions, reaching audiences through a range of media. The focus and design of the Sparky mascot also changed significantly over the decades, becoming gradually more friendly and inviting.

The NFPA - Promoting Warehouse Fire Safety Measures

The recipient of a bachelor's degree in fire administration from Columbia Southern University, Richard Shannon Draper is an experienced fire service instructor who has also served as fire chief for municipalities in South Dakota and Minnesota. Complementing his experience in this regard, Richard Shannon Draper holds membership with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Given the high demand for warehouse space among businesses necessitated by the increase in online shopping, NFPA hosted a Considerations for Warehouse Fire Safety webinar in November. This event was attended by contractors, engineers, code officials, and facility managers, among other professionals.

The goal of the webinar was to increase awareness of fire safety measures and precautions to prevent further spikes in the volume of warehouse fires. According to NFPA research, there are more than 1,400 warehouse fires each year. Moreover, these fires kill on average two people per year and cause nearly $160 million in direct property damage. Recent incidents of note include fires at a South Carolina recycling facility and an Amazon distribution center in California.

Furthering its efforts to promote fire safety in warehouses, NFPA released a safety fact sheet in December. This resource covers the aforementioned warehouse fire data and provides guidance in regard to commodity classification, sprinkler design, management of change, and fire prevention measures.

 

IAFC Supports HERO Act Passed by US House of Representatives

Based in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Richard Shannon Draper draws upon his nearly 20 years of experience in fire safety to provide critical education in his role as a fire service instructor with Bucks County Community College. In addition to his education work, Richard Shannon Draper belongs to the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).

In the fall of 2020, the IAFC came out in support of the HERO Act, a new piece of legislation passed by the US House of Representatives that will provide vital support to firefighters and EMS professionals. The bill outlines mental health initiatives that will not only provide support to these first responders, but also ensure adequate training for mental health care workers about the specific challenges these professionals face, both while actively working and after retirement. California Democrat Ami Bera sponsored the legislation, and 89 other representatives served as co-sponsors.

In his comments, IAFC president and board chairman Chief Richard Carrizzo extended his gratitude to the US House of Representatives for passing the legislation. He also called upon the US Senate to take up the measure and pass it so it can be signed by the US President and enacted into law.