The Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award is co-sponsored by the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) with corporate support from State Farm Insurance and VFIS.
Senator Sarbanes retired in 2006 following a 36-year distinguished career on Capitol Hill. For 12 years, he served as a co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, providing leadership and support on a broad range of public safety issues. In 1992, before the establishment of the Fire Caucus, he introduced the legislation that created the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. For the next 14 years, he was the Foundation’s staunchest supporter in Congress, ensuring that the Foundation and its beneficiaries had a voice on Capitol Hill.
The Sarbanes award recognizes organizations that embody the critical goal shared by CFSI and NFFF: to ensure that EVERYONE GOES HOME at the end of every call. The actions and achievements of the recipients address at least one of the 16 Life Safety Initiatives developed by the American fire service during the 2004 National Fire Service Safety Summitt and subsequent summits hosted by the NFFF.
2022 Award Recipients – National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) & Combination Officers Section (VCOS) of the International Association of Fire Chiefs
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and the Volunteer & Combination Officers Section (VCOS) of the International Association of Fire Chiefs have been selected as the 2022 recipients of the Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award. Sponsored by the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the Sarbanes award recognizes organizations for outstanding contributions to firefighter health and safety.
The two organizations are being recognized for their publication of the Lavender Ribbon Report. Released in 2018, the report provides information to the fire and emergency services on best practices to safeguard firefighters and emergency personnel from cancer. The two organizations released a follow-up report in 2021 that shares personal accounts of firefighter cancer and examples of fire departments taking initiatives to reduce the threat of cancer in the workplace.
“It requires the collective efforts of every member of the fire and emergency services to recognize the threat of cancer and to take action to protect our personnel from this occupational illness,” said CFSI President Bill Jenaway. “The Lavender Ribbon Report is a guide that puts the fire and emergency services on the pathway to a safer and healthier work environment for all firefighting personnel. CFSI is proud to recognize NVFC and VCOS for their outstanding work in this area.”
“We are making important strides in reducing cancer in the fire and emergency services thanks to the leadership of so many organizations and individuals that have dedicated their time and effort to this cause,” said Troy Markel, Chairman of the Board of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. “The collaboration between VCOS and NVFC in developing the Lavender Ribbon Report epitomizes the fire services’ commitment to firefighter health and safety and captures the spirit of the Sarbanes award. Congratulations to both organizations.”
Previous Recipients
2019 Recipients
Florida Firefighters Safety and Health Collaborative
Denver Fire Department
2018 Recipients
International Society of Fire Service Instructors
UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute
2017 Recipients
International Fire Service Training Association
2016 Recipient
Fire Department Safety Officers Association
2015 Recipient
International Association of Fire Fighters
2014 Recipients
Office of the State Fire Commissioner, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Oklahoma Council on Firefighter Training and INTEGRIS Heart Hospital
2013 Recipient
Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue, Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal, Governor’s Fire Service Policy Council
2012 Recipient
Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training
2011 Recipients
Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC)
2010 Recipients
National Volunteer Fire Council
Virginia Fire Chiefs Association
City of New York Fire Department
2009 Recipient
International Association of Fire Chiefs
Common Voices Coalition