[Applause] [Music]
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[Music] in June of 2017 in this town in Malaysia
in June of 2017 in this town in Malaysia
in June of 2017 in this town in Malaysia a fire started in a building containing
a fire started in a building containing
a fire started in a building containing two rice milling shops and three retail
two rice milling shops and three retail
two rice milling shops and three retail stores and the fire department arrived
stores and the fire department arrived
stores and the fire department arrived four hours later there was nothing left
four hours later there was nothing left
four hours later there was nothing left to save the fire made the news when the
to save the fire made the news when the
to save the fire made the news when the local town councilor announced he was
local town councilor announced he was
local town councilor announced he was asking for funding for a volunteer fire
asking for funding for a volunteer fire
asking for funding for a volunteer fire department in the city
department in the city
department in the city flashback a hundred years to 1909 in
flashback a hundred years to 1909 in
flashback a hundred years to 1909 in Cherryville North Carolina where sparks
Cherryville North Carolina where sparks
Cherryville North Carolina where sparks from a passing freight trend caused a
from a passing freight trend caused a
from a passing freight trend caused a fire that burned nine buildings in the
fire that burned nine buildings in the
fire that burned nine buildings in the center of the town to the ground there
center of the town to the ground there
center of the town to the ground there was no fire department to respond as a
was no fire department to respond as a
was no fire department to respond as a result of that fire the Town Council
result of that fire the Town Council
result of that fire the Town Council created the town’s first fire department
created the town’s first fire department
created the town’s first fire department 100 years after the town’s establishment
100 years after the town’s establishment
100 years after the town’s establishment this same slow rate of growth of first
this same slow rate of growth of first
this same slow rate of growth of first responder capacity in the United States
responder capacity in the United States
responder capacity in the United States is repeating itself in the developing
is repeating itself in the developing
is repeating itself in the developing world
world
world they’re only major cities have Fire
they’re only major cities have Fire
they’re only major cities have Fire Rescue capacity only when there’s a
Rescue capacity only when there’s a
Rescue capacity only when there’s a major disaster to surrounding towns and
major disaster to surrounding towns and
major disaster to surrounding towns and communities demand for change what would
communities demand for change what would
communities demand for change what would happen if you were in a fire at your
happen if you were in a fire at your
happen if you were in a fire at your house and the fire department didn’t
house and the fire department didn’t
house and the fire department didn’t show up or if you were in a car accident
show up or if you were in a car accident
show up or if you were in a car accident and the ambulance never arrived and you
and the ambulance never arrived and you
and the ambulance never arrived and you were seriously injured did you know that
were seriously injured did you know that
were seriously injured did you know that 90% of all fatalities and injuries on
90% of all fatalities and injuries on
90% of all fatalities and injuries on the road occur the developing world but
the road occur the developing world but
the road occur the developing world but only 48% of cars drive there the fact is
only 48% of cars drive there the fact is
only 48% of cars drive there the fact is in the developing world the Fire Rescue
in the developing world the Fire Rescue
in the developing world the Fire Rescue Service is underfunded under equipped
Service is underfunded under equipped
Service is underfunded under equipped and under trend there the fire
and under trend there the fire
and under trend there the fire department does not show up to your
department does not show up to your
department does not show up to your house and the ambulance does not arrive
house and the ambulance does not arrive
house and the ambulance does not arrive to your crash scene there simply is a
to your crash scene there simply is a
to your crash scene there simply is a limited capacity to respond to every day
limited capacity to respond to every day
limited capacity to respond to every day to let disasters let alone large-scale
to let disasters let alone large-scale
to let disasters let alone large-scale natural disasters
natural disasters
natural disasters occurring even more frequently if we
occurring even more frequently if we
occurring even more frequently if we rely on the organic growth of
rely on the organic growth of
rely on the organic growth of fire-rescue capacity in the developing
fire-rescue capacity in the developing
fire-rescue capacity in the developing world there will still be fires like the
world there will still be fires like the
world there will still be fires like the one in long-dead in Malaysia 100 years
one in long-dead in Malaysia 100 years
one in long-dead in Malaysia 100 years from now they’re disastrous for the
from now they’re disastrous for the
from now they’re disastrous for the community the good news is that global
community the good news is that global
community the good news is that global development organizations now realise
development organizations now realise
development organizations now realise that having strong fire rescue capacity
that having strong fire rescue capacity
that having strong fire rescue capacity is really a foundation of economic and
is really a foundation of economic and
is really a foundation of economic and social stability in the developing world
social stability in the developing world
social stability in the developing world the World Bank has begun the first-ever
the World Bank has begun the first-ever
the World Bank has begun the first-ever global country-by-country study of fire
global country-by-country study of fire
global country-by-country study of fire rescue capacity they hope to complete in
rescue capacity they hope to complete in
rescue capacity they hope to complete in the next two years we are experts in the
the next two years we are experts in the
the next two years we are experts in the subject why because we have a history of
subject why because we have a history of
subject why because we have a history of volunteerism and we have a history of
volunteerism and we have a history of
volunteerism and we have a history of organizing creating volunteer fire
organizing creating volunteer fire
organizing creating volunteer fire departments in our country many people
departments in our country many people
departments in our country many people realize that Benjamin Franklin started
realize that Benjamin Franklin started
realize that Benjamin Franklin started the first fire rescue department in
the first fire rescue department in
the first fire rescue department in Philadelphia in 1736 but few people
Philadelphia in 1736 but few people
Philadelphia in 1736 but few people realize that some of our most important
realize that some of our most important
realize that some of our most important founding fathers were also volunteer
founding fathers were also volunteer
founding fathers were also volunteer firefighters such as Alexander Hamilton
firefighters such as Alexander Hamilton
firefighters such as Alexander Hamilton George Washington and John Hancock that
George Washington and John Hancock that
George Washington and John Hancock that same sense of civic duty that led them
same sense of civic duty that led them
same sense of civic duty that led them to be volunteer firefighters is why they
to be volunteer firefighters is why they
to be volunteer firefighters is why they became leaders of our independence
became leaders of our independence
became leaders of our independence movement today 80% of the fire rescue
movement today 80% of the fire rescue
movement today 80% of the fire rescue personnel in our country are volunteers
personnel in our country are volunteers
personnel in our country are volunteers that’s over 800,000 people contributing
that’s over 800,000 people contributing
that’s over 800,000 people contributing over a hundred and twenty billion
over a hundred and twenty billion
over a hundred and twenty billion dollars a year in their labor but
dollars a year in their labor but
dollars a year in their labor but volunteerism has other very important
volunteerism has other very important
volunteerism has other very important qualities to it higher rates of
qualities to it higher rates of
qualities to it higher rates of volunteerism have been demonstrated to
volunteerism have been demonstrated to
volunteerism have been demonstrated to also create higher rates of civic
also create higher rates of civic
also create higher rates of civic engagement and voting and of course
engagement and voting and of course
engagement and voting and of course social engagement as epitomized by the
social engagement as epitomized by the
social engagement as epitomized by the volunteer fire rescue barbecue that
volunteer fire rescue barbecue that
volunteer fire rescue barbecue that probably many people in this room
probably many people in this room
probably many people in this room have been – it also has been shown to
have been – it also has been shown to
have been – it also has been shown to result in lower rates of crime in
result in lower rates of crime in
result in lower rates of crime in communities the fact is that
communities the fact is that
communities the fact is that volunteering is a tremendous resource we
volunteering is a tremendous resource we
volunteering is a tremendous resource we have in the United States we should be
have in the United States we should be
have in the United States we should be exporting what Alexis de Tocqueville
exporting what Alexis de Tocqueville
exporting what Alexis de Tocqueville described over 100 years ago is one of
described over 100 years ago is one of
described over 100 years ago is one of America’s most unique and enduring
America’s most unique and enduring
America’s most unique and enduring qualities but the fact is there is no
qualities but the fact is there is no
qualities but the fact is there is no organized well-funded agency to
organized well-funded agency to
organized well-funded agency to accelerate the growth of fire-rescue
accelerate the growth of fire-rescue
accelerate the growth of fire-rescue capacity in the developing world despite
capacity in the developing world despite
capacity in the developing world despite the fact that we have many of the
the fact that we have many of the
the fact that we have many of the important ingredients ready
important ingredients ready
important ingredients ready we have passionate and committed first
we have passionate and committed first
we have passionate and committed first responders in North America and Europe
responders in North America and Europe
responders in North America and Europe who want to share their knowledge and
who want to share their knowledge and
who want to share their knowledge and experience to help make the rest of the
experience to help make the rest of the
experience to help make the rest of the world a safer place
world a safer place
world a safer place we have heroes and waiting citizens in
we have heroes and waiting citizens in
we have heroes and waiting citizens in small communities in developing world
small communities in developing world
small communities in developing world that want to see their communities safe
that want to see their communities safe
that want to see their communities safe and have a long-term future and we have
and have a long-term future and we have
and have a long-term future and we have a tremendous amount of used fire rescue
a tremendous amount of used fire rescue
a tremendous amount of used fire rescue gear from North America and Europe that
gear from North America and Europe that
gear from North America and Europe that is doing nothing right now but piling up
is doing nothing right now but piling up
is doing nothing right now but piling up in our landfills imagine that each year
in our landfills imagine that each year
in our landfills imagine that each year in the United States alone a pile 30
in the United States alone a pile 30
in the United States alone a pile 30 feet high in this auditorium from this
feet high in this auditorium from this
feet high in this auditorium from this side of the auditorium all the way over
side of the auditorium all the way over
side of the auditorium all the way over to the other wall is created each year
to the other wall is created each year
to the other wall is created each year and for instance protective gear for
and for instance protective gear for
and for instance protective gear for firefighters never loses its flame
firefighters never loses its flame
firefighters never loses its flame resistance so I for one would much
resistance so I for one would much
resistance so I for one would much rather be fighting a fire in use
rather be fighting a fire in use
rather be fighting a fire in use protective gear with a hose and nozzle
protective gear with a hose and nozzle
protective gear with a hose and nozzle than running to a fire in my pajamas and
than running to a fire in my pajamas and
than running to a fire in my pajamas and a garden hose but the question is what
a garden hose but the question is what
a garden hose but the question is what are some existing models that we could
are some existing models that we could
are some existing models that we could use some operating models that we can
use some operating models that we can
use some operating models that we can use to create this agency that would
use to create this agency that would
use to create this agency that would export the spirit of volunteerism and
export the spirit of volunteerism and
export the spirit of volunteerism and our knowledge at Curry
our knowledge at Curry
our knowledge at Curry and sustaining volunteer Fire Rescue
and sustaining volunteer Fire Rescue
and sustaining volunteer Fire Rescue departments John F Kennedy and a
departments John F Kennedy and a
departments John F Kennedy and a campaign speech in 1960 proposed a
campaign speech in 1960 proposed a
campaign speech in 1960 proposed a radical idea to provide technical
radical idea to provide technical
radical idea to provide technical assistance and community building
assistance and community building
assistance and community building support to developing countries around
support to developing countries around
support to developing countries around the world as soon as he was elected in
the world as soon as he was elected in
the world as soon as he was elected in 1961 he signed into existence the United
1961 he signed into existence the United
1961 he signed into existence the United States Peace Corps to do exactly that
States Peace Corps to do exactly that
States Peace Corps to do exactly that since that time over 220,000 Americans
since that time over 220,000 Americans
since that time over 220,000 Americans have served in over a hundred and forty
have served in over a hundred and forty
have served in over a hundred and forty countries on 2-year missions to provide
countries on 2-year missions to provide
countries on 2-year missions to provide that technical assistance and community
that technical assistance and community
that technical assistance and community building support I think what we need to
building support I think what we need to
building support I think what we need to do is create a new organization I call
do is create a new organization I call
do is create a new organization I call first responder Corps based on the
first responder Corps based on the
first responder Corps based on the operating principles of the Peace Corps
operating principles of the Peace Corps
operating principles of the Peace Corps that would accelerate the growth of fire
that would accelerate the growth of fire
that would accelerate the growth of fire rescue capacity in the developing world
rescue capacity in the developing world
rescue capacity in the developing world it would do it by sending trained first
it would do it by sending trained first
it would do it by sending trained first responders to organize set up and
responders to organize set up and
responders to organize set up and sustain new Fire Rescue departments in
sustain new Fire Rescue departments in
sustain new Fire Rescue departments in the developing world using refurbished
the developing world using refurbished
the developing world using refurbished gear and equipment to help get them
gear and equipment to help get them
gear and equipment to help get them started so what would have happened in
started so what would have happened in
started so what would have happened in long bed in that town in Malaysia that
long bed in that town in Malaysia that
long bed in that town in Malaysia that had the fire in June of 2017 had first
had the fire in June of 2017 had first
had the fire in June of 2017 had first responder corps been in existence and
responder corps been in existence and
responder corps been in existence and been sent on a mission there two first
been sent on a mission there two first
been sent on a mission there two first responder Corps advisors one fire and
responder Corps advisors one fire and
responder Corps advisors one fire and one EMS would have come to the town
one EMS would have come to the town
one EMS would have come to the town along with a container of refurbished
along with a container of refurbished
along with a container of refurbished equipment and a water tank fire hose
equipment and a water tank fire hose
equipment and a water tank fire hose pumper system that can be mounted on the
pumper system that can be mounted on the
pumper system that can be mounted on the back of any pickup truck that’s found
back of any pickup truck that’s found
back of any pickup truck that’s found everywhere in the developing world they
everywhere in the developing world they
everywhere in the developing world they would immediately begin to train the
would immediately begin to train the
would immediately begin to train the volunteers in the town on basic fire and
volunteers in the town on basic fire and
volunteers in the town on basic fire and emergency medical skills along with one
emergency medical skills along with one
emergency medical skills along with one or two other skills that relate to the
or two other skills that relate to the
or two other skills that relate to the rig
rig
rig in the communities such as swift water
in the communities such as swift water
in the communities such as swift water rescue for flooding situations or urban
rescue for flooding situations or urban
rescue for flooding situations or urban search-and-rescue if the area is quake
search-and-rescue if the area is quake
search-and-rescue if the area is quake prone
prone
prone they would also teach the volunteers how
they would also teach the volunteers how
they would also teach the volunteers how to go into the community and meet with
to go into the community and meet with
to go into the community and meet with their fellow citizens and help them
their fellow citizens and help them
their fellow citizens and help them become their own first responders in
become their own first responders in
become their own first responders in their homes and in their businesses by
their homes and in their businesses by
their homes and in their businesses by doing this they would create a long-term
doing this they would create a long-term
doing this they would create a long-term more safe community as well as create a
more safe community as well as create a
more safe community as well as create a sustainable volunteer Fire Rescue
sustainable volunteer Fire Rescue
sustainable volunteer Fire Rescue Department for the community so when
Department for the community so when
Department for the community so when that fire occurred last June in 2017 a
that fire occurred last June in 2017 a
that fire occurred last June in 2017 a citizen the town would know what to do
citizen the town would know what to do
citizen the town would know what to do they would use their smartphone or they
they would use their smartphone or they
they would use their smartphone or they would ring the fire bell and the first
would ring the fire bell and the first
would ring the fire bell and the first responder core advisors at the fire
responder core advisors at the fire
responder core advisors at the fire station would bring the pickup truck the
station would bring the pickup truck the
station would bring the pickup truck the volunteers would meet there and just
volunteers would meet there and just
volunteers would meet there and just like what happens in every town in
like what happens in every town in
like what happens in every town in America today particularly the rural
America today particularly the rural
America today particularly the rural ones the fire would be extinguished and
ones the fire would be extinguished and
ones the fire would be extinguished and contained and the disaster would be
contained and the disaster would be
contained and the disaster would be averted as news of this event spread
averted as news of this event spread
averted as news of this event spread other towns and communities would want
other towns and communities would want
other towns and communities would want to have a first responder Corps team
to have a first responder Corps team
to have a first responder Corps team visit them and set up a new volunteer
visit them and set up a new volunteer
visit them and set up a new volunteer fire department in their community and
fire department in their community and
fire department in their community and organically and quickly the capacity of
organically and quickly the capacity of
organically and quickly the capacity of the region would become greater to deal
the region would become greater to deal
the region would become greater to deal with larger scale everyday disasters as
with larger scale everyday disasters as
with larger scale everyday disasters as well as well as larger scale disasters
well as well as larger scale disasters
well as well as larger scale disasters imagine for a moment what members of
imagine for a moment what members of
imagine for a moment what members of that community would feel knowing that
that community would feel knowing that
that community would feel knowing that they were now protected and the
they were now protected and the
they were now protected and the confidence that they would have in the
confidence that they would have in the
confidence that they would have in the future of their town knowing that their
future of their town knowing that their
future of their town knowing that their town was protected First Responder Corps
town was protected First Responder Corps
town was protected First Responder Corps taps into an existing powerful movement
taps into an existing powerful movement
taps into an existing powerful movement a Fire Rescue personnel who want to use
a Fire Rescue personnel who want to use
a Fire Rescue personnel who want to use their skill and experience to make the
their skill and experience to make the
their skill and experience to make the entire world a safer place for all of us
entire world a safer place for all of us
entire world a safer place for all of us it taps into a universal urge that we
it taps into a universal urge that we
it taps into a universal urge that we all have to want to protect our family
all have to want to protect our family
all have to want to protect our family friends and neighbors from then
friends and neighbors from then
friends and neighbors from then that’s an idea we can all rally around
that’s an idea we can all rally around
that’s an idea we can all rally around [Applause]
[Applause]
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[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
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