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Stationary Generators: The Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Hazard and Recommendations for Mitigation

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Building Safety Journal  February 26, 2026 By Janet Buyer This article highlights some of the important findings in a   report, published in June 2025, by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)   that characterizes the carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning hazard posed by stationary generators. The findings are based on a rash of residential CO exposures that occurred following widespread power outages in the greater New Orleans area caused by Hurricane Ida in summer of 2021. Background on Stationary Generators Stationary generators are products permanently installed outside the home or other structures to provide power in the event of a loss of utility power. Stationary generators for residential installations are alternatively referred to as residential, home, whole-home, house, backup, standby, home standby (HSB), emergency, fixed, or permanent generators. A stationary generator has an engine that converts the chemical energy of the fuel powering the engine into r...
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Ending ‘us vs. them’ in the firehouse

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  Leaders, Leadership sets the tone for whether a department operates as a unified team or fractures into an “us vs. them” culture. When division takes root between line personnel and administration, between shifts or between ranks, it erodes trust, clouds decision-making and ultimately affects service delivery. Chiefs cannot afford to dismiss these dynamics as personality conflicts or generational differences. Addressing them head-on is a leadership responsibility. In this week’s featured article, Chief Brycen Garrison examines this issue — how internal divides develop and  what leaders can do to break the cycle . I encourage you to read it with an eye toward your own culture and consider where proactive leadership can strengthen alignment and accountability. Also, take a moment to nominate a deserving leader for the IAFC’s Fire Chief of the Year Awards. The program recognizes chiefs who demonstrate outstanding leadership, integrity and service to the profession. If someone i...
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Introducing ToP Facilitation Methods (TFM) Online

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  Dear ToP alumni, Happy New Year! Thank you for subscribing to the ToP bi-monthly e-newsletter. We are so grateful for your continued interest in and dedication to the power of ToP methods. Please find upcoming available ToP courses listed below, and as always, spread the word with any potential future facilitators in your life!  - ToP® Support Team at ICA-USA   Featured Course: Focused Conversation Online What is ToP Focused Conversation?  ToP Focused Conversation is a common-sense approach leads naturally to a meaningful exchange of ideas and is helpful to conduct purposeful discussions, capture a group’s best thinking, stimulate candid feedback, surface new ideas and build creative solutions. In one of  upcoming Focused Conversation Online courses, you could learn how to design and facilitate effective meetings where participation is key to success and become more effective in facilitating virtually every form of group communication. Focused Conversation Ski...
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