Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award

About the Award

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 VFIS.

Each year, the Sarbanes Award recognizes an organization that embraces the critical goal shared by CFSI and NFFF:  to ensure we do everything humanly possible to create an environment where EVERYONE GOES HOME at the end of every call. The actions and achievements of the recipient address at least one of the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives developed by the American fire service during the 2004, and subsequent, National Fire Service Life Safety Summits hosted by NFFF.  CFSI and NFFF will present the 2024 Sarbanes Award at the 34th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner on  April 25, 2024, in Washington, DC.

Award Sponsored by

With Corporate Support from

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. Even before assuming a leadership role in the Fire Caucus, Senator Sarbanes was actively involved in fire service issues. In 1992, he introduced the legislation that created the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. For the next 14 years, the Senator was the Foundation’s staunchest supporter in Congress, ensuring that the Foundation and those served it served had a voice on Capitol Hill.

For his contributions to public safety, the Congressional Fire Services Institute presented Senator Sarbanes its 1997 Legislator of the Year Award, the highest legislative award presented on behalf of our nation’s one million firefighters.

Both CFSI and NFFF extend their thanks and appreciation to VFIS for serving as a corporate co-sponsor of the award program.

Award Eligibility

  • The nominee must be a fire department or fire service-related government agency, trade association, labor organization, non-profit organization, foundation or other deserving organization or company.
  • The actions or achievements for which the organization is being considered must have made a positive impact in promoting firefighter health and safety at the local, state or national level. In addition, these actions and achievements should address at least one of the 16 Life Safety Initiatives.
  • An organization can nominate itself for this award.

Selection Committee

The Selection Committee is composed of board members from the Congressional Fire Services Institute and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The award selection will be the sole decision of the selection committee.

Award Recognition

  • The recipient of the Senate Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award will be honored at the 34th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner on April 25, 2024.
  • CFSI will cover the travel costs for one organization representative to attend the dinner.  This includes airfare and hotel accommodations for two nights.

Application Deadline: January 10, 2024.

Past Recipients

2023 – Greater Tucson Fire Foundation
2022 – National Volunteer Fire Council and the Volunteer and Combination Officers Section/IAFC
2021 – Los Angeles Fire Department
2020 – Clayton (DE) Fire Company and Prince George’s County (MD) Fire/EMS Department
2019 – Denver Fire Department and the Florida Firefighters Safety and Health Collaborative
2018 – International Society of Fire Service Instructors and UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute
2017 – International Fire Service Training Association
2016 – Fire Department Safety Officers Association
2015 – International Association of Fire Fighters
2014 – Office of the Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner and the Oklahoma Council on Firefighter Training & INTEGRIS Heart Hospital
2013 – Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue, Office of the Oregon Fire Marshal, and the Governor’s Fire Service Policy Council
2012 – Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training
2011 – Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition
2010 – National Volunteer Fire Council, Virginia Fire Chiefs Association, City of New York Fire Department

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