The annual registration requirement has been law since August 1988.  In years past, before budget cuts began affecting the Division of Fire Safety, reminders were posted in the Division newsletter along with the registration form.  The Division also involved field staff to ensure the fire departments in their areas provided current information to the Division. Budget cuts have prevented the Division from mass mailings and staff reductions have eliminated the extra services the Division previously provided. The Division felt the most efficient and cost effective way of keeping the form accessible to departments was to post it online through our website. The Division has made attempts to make departments aware of this requirement through organizational newsletters, such as what was done last week.

Some have confused annual registration with the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).  These are two different programs which are administered separately for various reasons. Fire departments register for NFIRS on the federal website.  The Division of Fire Safety does not get a copy, nor can we view a copy of the NFIRS application. Our NFIRS administrator, Jim McKenney, simply receives notification that a department is registered in NFIRS. Therefore, we are unable to use NFIRS as a form of fire department registration.  Additionally, the NFIRS program does not provide the Division with important information regarding a department’s personnel and equipment resources.

Due to new legislation which passed last year, the annual registration process has been merged with the mutual aid agreement information.  Because fire departments and protection districts are now automatically part of the mutual aid system without having to complete an agreement form, the Division has changed the annual registration form to include information regarding a department’s personnel and equipment resources.  Therefore, this one page-form can provide vital information not only to our office, but other components of the mutual aid system when the need arises.  

As you are aware, many arrows of blame are being shot around the nation in relation to the devastating hurricanes that have occurred this year and how emergency plans seemed to be inadequate. At the state level, attention is being focused on Missouri’s state of readiness in the event of a natural disaster or terrorist attack.  It is a priority with the Department of Public Safety to thoroughly examine current emergency plans and state agency capabilities and to amend the plans by providing more detailed information. The Department of Public Safety too realizes the registration requirement as a tool to enhance readiness capabilities; therefore, felt drawing additional media attention would assist the Division in obtaining current registration. 

Maintaining current fire service information within the Division of Fire Safety is utilized in many ways, all of which support and enhance the Division’s ability to communicate with Missouri’s fire service community. Information obtained from the registration identifies contact information giving the Division the ability to expand our new email list serve so each registered department can keep abreast of fire related issues in the state and within the Division.  

You, as Missouri’s fire service, are a critical asset to the State of Missouri and I feel it is my job to ensure this asset can be deployed in a reasonable time frame to areas of the state experiencing the need. I cannot do this without your involvement and support. 

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.

Randy.Cole@dfs.dps.mo.gov

Randy L. Cole,
Missouri State Fire Marshal

Randy.Cole@dfs.dps.mo.gov

7/19/2006