Dear Nazie

You have always been in our thoughts since two summers ago when we realized that the pains you were describing during our volleyball games, which you organized, were due to reoccurrence of cancer. We know in our hearts that you fought extremely hard and never gave up hope. We are sure all of your family members and friends agree with us in saying that you were more comforting to us than we were to you after Jasmine's passing. Through your friendship we have come to realize what characteristics a perfect friend must possess: honesty, integrity, loyalty, respect, generosity, compassion, devotion... You have left with us great memories that we will cherish for years to come. We consider ourselves very lucky to have known you. Rest assured we will continue your efforts on JUSTICE.

Davood Moslemian

Children killed by"Christmas tree lights"

Two children killed by 'Christmas Street' blaze

by NILUFER ATIK, Daily Mail

Two children died and a third was fighting for his life last night after a fire thought to have been started by Christmas tree lights.

Alex Goddard

Five-year-old Jade Goddard and her brother Alex, six, died after their fibreoptic tree burst into flames, destroying the family home.

Their four-year-old brother, Nathan, is on a life support machine, his devastated parents at his side.

The tragedy happened in a neighbourhood known as Christmas Street because of the effort families make to celebrate the festive season.

Thousands of visitors arrive each year to experience the atmosphere and see decorations.

The Goddard house

Last night, however, the lights were switched off in John Street, Thurnscoe, South Yorkshire with the neighbourhood in mourning.

Only hours before the tragedy on Monday, the children's parents - Andrew, 38, and his disabled wife, Mandy, 30 - had joined celebrations for the completion of the street's annual Christmas lights display.

At 10.30pm, a group of neighbours walking home after giving visitors a guided tour saw smoke pouring from the Goddards' semi-detached house.

They smashed down the front door and managed to rescue Mr and Mrs Goddard and Nathan, but when they went back in to save Jade and Alex the intense flames forced them back.

Gary Rhodes, 38, one of the first at the scene, said: 'We managed to find a couple of ladders, but we could see how thick and intense the smoke was.

'Some of the lads started throwing bricks at the windows to try and get some air in so they could breathe and to let smoke out.

'I went up a ladder and the window popped. Andrew was at the window and he couldn't breathe. I grabbed him, pulled him out and I jumped, holding on to him. We both landed on the bonnet of his car.

'

Another neighbour, Carl McLean, managed to grab Nathan and drag him out.

'We went back in for the other two, but by that time the fire was so intense we couldn't get in. We kept trying and trying. We could hear the kids screaming. It was terrible.

'We did our best but our best wasn't good enough.'

Firemen found Alex and Jade unconscious in separate bedrooms. They died later in hospital. Their parents had minor injuries.

Every year, the residents of John Street build a grotto and hold street parties.

The display attracts 400 visitors a night who, through donations, help raise money for charities. The Goddards had decorated their home inside and out in keeping with the local tradition. Mr Rhodes said: 'The whole street is devastated.

'To think that there was so much joy and happiness just a couple of hours before, and then this happens. It has destroyed Christmas for us.'

South Yorkshire police said the cause of the fire was not certain. A spokesman warned that Christmas lights should always be switched off when unattended.

Hamed Nikpay Live in Concert: A Benefit for JUSTICE

Daniel's Special Birthday

I would like to extend my gratitude to dear friends David & Jamak Mc Nair for inviting friends and their son Daniel's kindergarden friends and parents to celebrate daniel's birthday. This was not just another child's birthday in palm Beach. Captain Ken Brack of Riviera Beach Fire Rescue and his team members Paul Wright, T.J. Wagner and Jeff Woltjer were invited. They all came prepared with full gears and two fire trucks to demonstrate the importance of early warning detection. Today was all about fire safety education children and their parents were very attentive. Jasmine's Fire Safety Foundation brochures and flash light were distributed. It is never too early for fire safety. Together we can save innocent lives.

Wall Photos

London fire: tragedy prevented by working smoke alarms

I just wanted to share this story because it really demonstrates the importance of the Foundation's work.

A few days ago, at around 10 PM, the smoke alarm went off in my apartment in London. I am living on the 6th floor, and when we opened the door to make our way down the stairs, smoke was quickly rising. We ran down the stairs as quickly as possible, and by the time we got to the first floor, there was so much smoke it was impossible to see or breathe.

Firemen arrived in 5 minutes and put out a kitchen fire in the basement. The good news was that the smoke alarm was extremely effective. It alerted us on the highest floor of the building about a fire in the basement almost immediately. The bad news is that there is no other fire escape except for the regular stairs. There is a way to get out of the bathroom window and onto the roof, but then there are no stairs leading down. I have ordered a ladder from the Foundation.

This experience really hit too close to home for me. Six londoners died in a house fire a few weeks ago. The smoke alarms worked and got everyone out of the building safely. The work we are doing is SO important. Every smoke alarm we provide is a real chance to save a life.

Thank you for your continued support!

UC Study Abroad Program is now fire safety conscious!

The University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) has recently made several great improvements to its website and to is orientation materials to help students studying abroad stay safe.

In their parent's guide, they have added a page about fire safety abroad and a link to our website!

In the student's guide to studying abroad, they've added a two-page section about fire safety, which includes our link as well.

Ines DeRomana, of UCEAP's Health, Safety, and Emergency Response deparment, made a fire safety flier with the help of the UC Santa Barbara Fire Marshall, which is distributed to students at orientations.

She is also in the process of creating a fire safety risk assessment form, powerpoint slides to show at orientations, and wallet-sized hand outs for students with emergency numbers and essential safety information.

Thank you so much to Ines DeRomana and to UC EAP for doing this important work! The goal of our foundation is to make this happen, and we are truly grateful.

THANK YOU, KATIE

By our third board meeting, we had a mission: create fire-safety one-pagers for students studying abroad.

Question: How could we condense all of this important, life-saving information into one, easily-readable page?

Answer: With the help of a brilliant designer, Katie Sadow.

Now the one-pagers are done and we are ready to start our campaign to make study abroad orientations fire-safety conscious.

Below is the U.S.A. fire safety sheet, but please go look at other countries and the generic study-abroad sheet by clicking around on Sarah's beautiful emergency number poster.

We couldn't have done it without you, Katie. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to JUSTICE.

Study abroad Fair at University of Florida

Congratulations to the Justice team. Yesterday we were at our first study abroad fair at the University of Florida. It was a total success, met all potential study abroad students and all organizations that cater services for their travel around the world. We were welcomed with the open arms.

All justice team members and volunteers had one to one conversation with the students and staff about their fire safety and Firesafetyfoundation.org was introduced, our brochures and flashlights were distributed.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members, volunteers to make this grad event possible, together we will save lives.

Study abroad Fair at University of Florida

We are proud to be here with all the Gators at the UF tonight.
Tomorrow we will introduce J.U.S.T.I.C.E & Jasmine's firesafetyfoundation at the UF study abroad fair to the students and staff. I would like to thank the UF staff and the Justice team for making this happen. Together we will save lives. Thank you Shahrzad my dear sister and Nadia wonderful niece to travel with me to Gainesville to cooperate.

Thank You Megan you are truly brilliant.

Thank you so much for your support of proclaiming September as Campus Fire Safety Month across the nation. 36 states have made the proclamation--that's 3 more than last year and the most states that have done it in a single year so far!

To truly make September Campus Fire Safety Month, it is time for you to spread fire safety awareness on your campus, at your workplace, and in your home. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Post fliers with fire safety tips on your campus or at work: http://firesafetyfoundation.blogspot.com/2011/09/take-action-post-fire-safety-tip-fliers.html

Know any students abroad? Send them a fire safety poster or a country specific fire safety fact sheet (currently available for the top 15 study abroad locations): http://www.firesafetyfoundation.org/education/safety-posters.html

Brush up on your own fire safety education: http://www.firesafetyfoundation.org/education/make-a-plan.html

And don't forget to test your smoke alarm!

Take Action! Post Fire Safety Tip Fliers for Campus Fire Safety Month

Post fire safety tip fliers on your campus to help spread fire safety awareness among your peers!

Education is the best way to prevent fires and fire fatalities, yet for most of us our fire safety education ends at an early age. In an effort to help make fire safety facts common knowledge, JUSTICE volunteers are posting fliers all over campus at UC Berkeley and the University of Florida.

As you read in the last post, when people know what to do when a fire breaks out, they survive!

So help spread the word, and click here to download and print the fliers!

Students Forced Out By Early Morning Fire: Fire Alarms and Immediate Action Saved Every Life

WCVB Boston

BOSTON -- Forty residents, most college students, were forced out of their apartment early Monday morning by a three-alarm fire.The fire started in the basement of a six-story building on Hemenway Street and Westland Avenue in the Fenway area of Boston just before 3 a.m.

"We just woke up to alarms and smoke. As we all ran as fast as we possibly could. It just kept getting bigger and bigger, so we ran down the street," one displaced student said.

The flames spread through the building and shot through the roof. Investigators said the fire started in the duct work.

"This building is one of the safest in the city. It has smoke detectors; it has sprinklers; emergency lights -- with all that stuff in place, the upper floors were still filling up with smoke. The kids were lucky they left when they were supposed to. So that worked out well, and nobody got hurt," said Boston Fire Deputy Chief Joseph Fleming.

Berklee College confirmed that three of the displaced residents are students at school. The college said it will work with the students to help find alternative housing. Boston's Office of Neighborhood Services and the YMCA is also working with students to find housing."I don't know what to do as far as living. We start classes tomorrow," one student said.The fire caused about $400,000 in damage. No one was hurt.

Read more: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/29081673/detail.html#ixzz1XKU5vi66

JUSTICE Will Save Lives: The Fire Safety Kit is Now Availabe

One of JUSTICE's primary services is to put fire safety kits in the hands of students studying abroad. Thanks to our talented webmaster, Omid Zad, the JUSTICE online store is now complete so that students can order these personalized kits at a reduced price. We also offer free kits to students demonstrating financial need.

I cannot emphasize how much research went into selecting the specific equipment for our kits. We wanted a balance of affordable, functional, portable, and most importantly, reliable. Below are specific descriptions of each item in our online store.

Photoelectric Smoke Alarm and Escape Light

This battery operated smoke alarm reduces nuisance alarms from cooking smoke and shower steam due to photoelectric smoke sensing technology. The included escape light illuminates a path to safety when in alarm. A mute feature silences nuisance alarms from cooking smoke or shower steam. A single button also tests alarm functions. The alarm has an easy access battery drawer so there is no need to remove alarm from ceiling to change the battery. The alarm includes a 10-year limited warranty and meets UL standards. JUSTICE highly recommends purchasing the alarm with the 10-year battery, but you should always check your alarm once a month.

We suggest that you purchase your smoke alarm/emergency light before your departure so you have it from the moment you move in. We can ship kits to your home prior to departure, or to the Study Abroad Office at your host university.

Where To Place Smoke Alarms?

One in every bedroom, and at least one on every level of the home.

• Bright escape light, activates with alarm to illuminate a path to safety.
• Photoelectric smoke sensing, optimal protection from smoldering fires. Plus, reduces false alarms like those caused by cooking fires and shower steam.
• Mute button, mutes unnecessary alarms immediately. Also tests alarm function with same button.
• Eco-friendly, completely recyclable as an electronic device.
• Easy-access battery door, no need to remove alarm from ceiling to change battery.
• Optional theft-prevention lock, when activated, batteries and/or alarm cannot be removed without proper tools.
• 9v battery included.
• Loud 85db alarm.
• 10-year limited warranty, smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years for maximum protection.
• Meets UL217 standard.

Fire Extinguisher

It is unsafe to extinguish most fires with water. Instead, a fire extinguisher will safely put out a fire before it can grow. Checking a fire safety kit as extra baggage can cost between $50 and $200 depending on the airline. You can also pay our international shipping rate to have your kit shipped to the Study Abroad office at your host university.

These extinguishers are usually rated for multiple-purpose use. They contain an extinguishing agent and use a compressed, non-flammable gas as a propellant. Dry chemical extinguishers are rated for use in A, B, and C fires.

Dry chemical extinguishers put out fires by coating the fuel with a thin layer of fire retardant powder, separating the fuel from the oxygen. The fire retardant powder works by suffocating the fire, inhibiting the release of combustible vapors and interrupting the combustion chain reaction, which makes these extinguishers extremely effective. Watch the following video to learn how to use your fire extinguisher.

Balcony Fire Escape Ladder

Kletterfix fire escape ladders are compact and can be deployed quickly. They can be used where standard escape ladder hooks cannot be placed over the wall/sill safely or when the ladder needs to be hooked over a balcony railing. In an emergency the strong metal hook of the ladder is hooked either over a wall-mounted steel bar attached underneath or above the window or the hook is placed over a balcony railing. Where needed, the wall-mounted bar is fitted to the wall with strong screws (provided). Size of the bracket: 305x70mm.

Kletterfix is the most compact metal fire escape ladder in the world. It is made in Germany from steel rope and aluminium rungs. This mobile rescue ladder is TÜV-certified to the German standard BGI 638 and is used in over 50 countries by individuals, Fire Brigades and Rescue Services.

The Kletterfix escape ladders come in different lengths and you can choose ladders with or without distance pieces designed to keep the rungs off the wall and therefore offering your feet a better hold. However, if you descend from a protruding balcony, no distance pieces are required, as there is no danger of the feet pushing against a wall. But whenever using the ladders for the escape from a window or along a wall surface you will need the ladder version with distance pieces.

Fireproof Multilevel Escape Ladder

A fire escape ladder is essential in any building that does not provide its own fire escapes. We suggest the Saf-Escape Fire Escape Ladder because you can store it in a compact place, and the metal ladder is fireproof in the event of an escape. Checking a fire safety kit as extra baggage can cost between $50 and $200 depending on the airline. You can also pay our international shipping rate to have your kit shipped to the Study Abroad office at your host university. Be sure to review the following information to be sure that you pick the appropriate ladder size.

• Window width should be a minimum of 13"
• Suitable for most standard windows
• 11.5 inch wide rungs
• Chain tension tested to 1000 pounds in weight
• Manufactured of heavy duty zinc plated 18 gauge steel
• Designed for quick & easy deployment with tangle free steel link chains
• Ladders store easily under bed or window
• Stand offs included to keep ladder away from building (quantity varies by model)
• Stand offs MUST be assembled by customer prior to use.
• Adjustable positioning of the stand offs can help avoid windows beneath escape.

September is Campus Fire Safety Month!

What will JUSTICE do to commemorate Campus Fire Safety Month? We have a few projects that call on you to spread education and awareness about fire safety on your campus. We are finishing the two most important features of FireSafetyFoundation.org, a marketplace where you can purchase a personalized fire safety kit and a directory for fire regulations and emergency numbers around the world. We think it is very important to let students know about these resources, especially if they're studying abroad. Take a look at the opportunities below and e-mail FireSafetyFoundaion@gmail.com if you'd like to join the team.

Table at your Study Abroad Fair!

Many colleges and universities host study abroad fairs in the month of September. Find out when your study abroad fair is or find a public space on campus where you can promote JUSTICE. Send us an e-mail letting us know how many volunteers you have, approximately how many students you will encounter in a day, and when you will be tabling, and JUSTICE will send you brochures, posters, mini-flashlights, and t-shirts for the volunteers. Please be sure to take lots of pictures.

Campus Fire Safety Art Contest

To spread fire safety awareness this September, JUSTICE is holding a fire safety tip art contest! Submit an illustrated version of a fire safety tip, from the list below, from the Make a Plan section on our website, or any fire safety tip you know. It can be beautiful, it can be silly…as long as it is clear and instructional. Be creative!

Submit your illustration with a caption stating the fire safety tip by emailing it as a PDF to firesafetyartcontest@gmail.com. Maximum size is 8 ½ by 11.

The best drawings will be distributed on participating campuses during the month of September. They will also be posted on the JUSTICE website and blog to encourage others to distribute them on their campuses! We will be accepting submissions through the end of September, but submit by September 15th for a higher chance of getting your drawing distributed. Winners receive a JUSTICE t-shirt.

Fire safety tip examples:
-Plan two ways out of every room
-Stop, drop, and roll
-Keep space heaters at least 3 feet from anything flammable
-Do not open a door that is warm to the touch (test it with the BACK of your hand)
-Stay low to prevent being overcome by smoke as quickly
-Test your smoke alarm
-Install a smoke alarm in your bedroom
-Before you throw out butts and ashes, make sure they are out by dowsing in water or sand.
-Never smoke in bed
-Keep an eye on your cooking and stay in the kitchen. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of
cooking fires
-Extinguish food fires with baking soda. Never use water or flour on cooking fires
-Keep the oven door shut and turn off the heat to smother an oven or broiler fire.
-Slide a pan lid over flames to smother a grease or oil fire, then turn off the heat and leave the lid in
place until the pan cools. Never carry the pan outside
-Do not overload electrical outlets or power strips
-Frayed wires can cause fires. Replace all worn, old or damaged appliance cords immediately
-Immediately shut off, then professionally replace, light switches that are hot to the touch and lights
that flicker.
-Do not add lighter fluid to an already lit fire because the flame can flashback up into the container and
explode.
-Dispose of hot coals properly - douse them with plenty of water, and stir them to ensure that the fire is
out. Never place them in plastic, paper or wooden containers
-Do not open the hood or trunk of a car if you suspect a fire under it. Air could rush in, enlarging the fire, leading to injury. Move away from the car and call 911
-Don’t live in / stay above the 7th floor. Fire fighters may not be able to rescue you!

Distributing Fire Safety Tips on Your Campus!

A simple way to include your University for Campus Fire Safety Month is to print out and distribute the winning illustrations on your campus (we will post them). Send us your info and we'll include you on the list:

Participating Universities:
Florida State University
University of California, Berkeley
University of Florida

Emergency Phone numbers in top 25 countries for study abroad program

Update on UC Jasmine Jahanshahi Memorial Scholarships

August 10, 2011

Dear UCEAP Campus and Systemwide Office Staff:

I am honored to announce the recipients of the inaugural Jasmine Jahanshahi Scholarships. Those were established to honor the memory of Jasmine Jahanshahi, a stellar UC Berkeley student who died tragically while participating in UCEAP’s Sciences Po Program in Paris.

I was pleased to see the extraordinary response to this first call. Over 130 applications were received, many documenting high academic achievement and a strong commitment to global issues. This is the standard of excellence, global awareness and engagement that Jasmine Jahanshahi exemplified.

I determined that for the inaugural year of this scholarship, UCEAP will allocate an additional $16,500 to the initial pool of $5,000, for a total of $21,500. The two Jasmine Jahanshahi Scholarships of $2,500 have been awarded as well as an additional 17 scholarships ($1,500, $1,000, and $500) for the 2011-12 year.

Did You Know?

• On average in the United States in 2009, someone died in a fire every 175 minutes, and someone was injured every 31 minutes (Karter 2010).
• About 85% of all U.S. fire deaths in 2009 occurred in homes (Karter 2010).
• In 2009, fire departments responded to 377,000 home fires in the United States, which claimed the lives of 2,565 people (not including firefighters) and injured another 13,050, not including firefighters (Karter 2010).
• Most victims of fires die from smoke or toxic gases and not from burns (Hall 2001).
• Smoking is the leading cause of fire-related deaths (Ahrens 2010).
• Cooking is the primary cause of residential fires (Ahrens 2010).

New Jersey Legislators Introduce Bill Aimed at Providing Fire Safety Education and Training to College Students

Press Release courtesy of the office of rep. Bill Pascrell and http://pascrell.house.gov

WASHINGTON – After collaborating to get legislation passed that requires disclosure of fire safety records of college student housing, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8) and U.S. Sen. Frank L. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today introduced a bill that would provide college students with fire safety education and training. Both legislative efforts were inspired by the tragic fire at a Seton Hall University dormitory more than 10 years ago.

Firefighters respond to a blaze at a Seton Hall University dorm – South Orange, NJ – Jan 19, 2000 (credit: AP Photo/Jeff Zelevansky)

“We know that sprinkler systems and fire alarm systems save lives when a fire breaks out and are necessary. However, preventing a fire from happening is the most effective tool of all. Education is the key. Even the brightest students can make a costly mistake in their dorms or off-campus housing that can result in a fire,” said Congressman Pascrell, a member of the House Ways and Means and Budget Committees. “With this legislation were providing resources to colleges and universities to help make sure students have the knowledge and training that can save their lives.”

“Increasing fire safety awareness on our college campuses will help to save lives and allow students to focus on their education,” Senator Lautenberg said. “We made great strides with enactment of the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know law, which gives students and families information about the fire safety records of colleges and universities. Now it's time to ensure that schools have the resources to educate the campus community about fire safety and prevent tragedies.”

"Fire has a huge impact on our society and our economy. Each year, over 3,000 people are killed and more than $12 billion in damage is caused by fires,” said Ed Comeau, publisher of Campus Firewatch. “By educating students about how to prevent one from breaking out in the first place we can build a fire-safe generation that will save lives, now and for the future."

The Campus Fire Safety Education Act of 2011, which creates a new competitive Campus Fire Safety Education Grant Program at institutions of higher education, will increase fire safety awareness among college students, help improve their fire training, and save lives.

"Even the brightest students can make a costly mistake in their dorms or off-campus housing that can result in a fire,” said Congressman Pascrell.

Funding may be used to initiate, expand, or improve a fire safety education program on their campus. Schools can apply on their own or in collaboration with a nonprofit fire safety organization or public safety department, and may include a fraternity and sorority. Since a high proportion of student fires occur off-campus, schools will be encouraged to use these funds to educate students living both on- and off-campus.

It is endorsed by a number of fire safety and campus organizations, including Campus Firewatch, the International Code Council, the International Fire Marshals Association, the National Association of State Fire Marshals, the National Fire Protection Association, the National Fire Sprinkler Association, the Association of College and University Housing Officers International, the Congressional Fire Services Institute, the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

In 2008, the Higher Education Opportunity Act became law with provisions from the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act introduced by Rep. Pascrell and Sen. Lautenberg. The provisions aim to address concerns relating to fires in college dormitories and off-campus student housing by requiring schools to report fire safety statistics to the Department of Education and making this information publicly available to students and parents.

Congressman Pascrell introduced the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act in the 106th Congress following Seton Hall University’s tragic fire on January 19, 2000, which killed 3 students and injured over 50 others.

On July 24, 2007, Senator Lautenberg led the U.S. Senate in passing the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act of 2007 as part of the Higher Education Act.

Lessons from Paris Apartment Fire in August 2005

When a fire broke out in a Paris apartment building in late August, 2005, it made international news because of the large number of children who were killed or injured, and because of the large number of immigrants who were living in the apartment house. The building was described as "dilapidated" by some, and there were reports of rats, mice and other pests living in the building, as well. Overcrowding and poor maintenance is being blamed for the high casualty rate at the building, as well.

IMPACT ON EMERGENCY SERVICES

The issues in this article are many and broad: proper inspections, required maintenance and adequate preventive measures are key issues. However, this article also points out the impact that social policy can have on emergency services. This apartment house was home to families who lived in overcrowded conditions, with some citing 12 individuals living in three rooms. The wiring was said to be faulty by some residents, and the structure itself was of questionable integrity.
Less overcrowding would have lessened the number of dead, but emergency workers are also of the opinion that most of the dead died from asphyxiation in their sleep, not from burns. Better safety equipment might have awoken these individuals, but without adequate escape routes and fire safety measures, it is not clear if additional lives would have actually been saved.
At the heart of this tragedy is the issue of how to provide adequate and safe housing for the poor. Although this fire took place in France, the issue is one that confounds municipalities in the United States, as well. According to the article, Paris provides "social" (subsidized) housing for approximately 12,000 families, but more than 100,000 families�primarily immigrants�are in need of such housing. In these situations, it is not surprising that overcrowding results as multiple families end up living together out of necessity.
The same is true in the United States, where multiple families will live in small apartments or even homes resulting in overcrowding. This results in unsanitary conditions as well as dangerous fire conditions. Landlords are often unmotivated to provide more than just enough fire safety equipment to meet local codes, and in many cases, landlords are willing to risks fines and do not even provide the most basic equipment.
EMS personnel cannot bring about social change, but they can be aware of those neighborhoods and structures that are subject to overcrowding and which may not meet local codes. In addition, inspections can be stepped up to ensure that buildings are brought up to code, or that violations are expensive to landlords so that it becomes more economical to provide a safe living environment than not. Finally, EMS personnel can engage in community outreach programs and educational programs to provide information about how to survive fire and other disasters to mitigate casualties.

REFERENCE

Fickling, D. (2005, August 26). Paris apartment fire kills 17. Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 27 Aug 2005 from: .

Fund Raising Event in Washington, D.C.

Is this karma? Is this Jasmine’s spirit? Or is it the real goodness of the friends and families that we have come across, that each and every one of our fund raising events had turned out to be nicer and more successful than the other one. On Saturday afternoon, when we were involved in a fund raising for the forest rangers, our newlywed cousins in Washington DC, Sahar and Skyler, gathered the family members in their cozy apartment and collected a big sum of $1800.00 for the Jasmine Fire Safety Foundation. The few pictures attached are more descriptive than thousand words. We love you cousins. How can we ever return your kindness? We have now collected sufficient fund to launch Jasmine Fire Safety Kits to many deserving young adults and students and fulfill our dream by providing them necessary Fire Safety Equipment and training to protect themselves. Each and every one of you, in each corner of the world, who have trusted us with this mission, should be proud of yourself for your accomplishments.

Jasmine's Birthday Fundraiser

On Saturday July 16th, despite the typical hot and humid weather in South Florida, many friends and families joined us in PGA Park for a fund raising event to benefit families of Josh Burch and Brett Fulton, the two forest rangers who lost their lives to a forest fire in Florida in June 2011. Once again, our friends and families came to us with open arms and heavy hearts and because of their generosity, we collected $1640.00 and our foundation will add another $500.00 to the collection and deposit to “SunState Frederal Credit Union” in name of the survivors of the families. On Saturday, there was plenty of food and drink to go around and surrounded by a group of loving and compassionate friends and families, it was truly a birthday that Jasmine would have approved of. Thank you for everyone’s participation and donations.

Palm Beach County firefighters install innovative smoke alarms for the deaf

July 07, 2011 6:14 PM

WPEC - CBS12.com

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. -- Smoke alarms save lives, but those who are deaf or hard of hearing cannot depend on the sound of a regular smoke detector to alert them to a fire.

That is why Palm Beach County fire rescue will soon be installing special smoke alarms for hundreds of people. This week the department was awarded a $949,000 grant by the Department of Homeland Security to provide about 15,000 special smoke detectors to people who are deaf.

The Lifetone alarms not only wake people with hearing loss, they also shake the bed while they are sleeping.

"It will interpret the sound of smoke alarm plus it will flash fire so they know there's a fire in the house and that will help them get out quickly," said Gerri Penney, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue.

The grant also provides money for a sleep study to find out what wakes someone who is deaf or hard of hearing.

Read more: http://www.cbs12.com/articles/smoke-4733624-county-palm.html#ixzz1S0HryPhA

Petition to Support Campus Firewatch's Movement

Campus Firewatch sponsored Campus Fire Safety Capitol Hill Day 2011

Since 2005, Campus Firewatch has requested that governors across the U.S. proclaim September as Campus Fire Safety Month in order to encourage universities to teach their students about fire safety. Here is a link to the letter they sent to the governors this year and a link to their page about this movement.

Today I created a petition in support of this movement that I'll send to the governor of California in order to urge him to participate. You can sign it here. This constitutes another step in our ongoing effort to get people thinking about fire safety. If we can inspire university officials to make fire safety a part of the curriculum at freshmen orientations as well as study abroad orientations, we can help young adults learn to protect themselves. The basics of fire safety are easy to learn; our task is to remind people that they need to do it.

Sign the Nationwide Petition

Check the map to see if your state has proclaimed September as Campus Fire Safety Month. If not, you can start the campaign at SignOn.org!

Please share this cause with your friends and include the following message:

On April 14, 2011, Jasmine Jahanshahi lost her life in an apartment fire while studying abroad; at least 6 college students affiliated with American universities have perished in fires this academic year. Join JUSTICE and Campus Firewatch in requesting that governors across the U.S. proclaim September as Campus Fire Safety Month in his or her home state in order to "raise awareness and encourage schools to provide fire prevention and safety education". If we can inspire university officials to make fire safety a part of the curriculum at freshmen orientations and at study abroad orientations, we can help young adults learn to protect themselves. Please visit firesafetyfoundation.org for fire safety tips and for more information about JUSTICE, the foundation we have established in Jasmine's memory.

So I signed a petition to United States Governors, which says:

"Formally proclaim September as Campus Fire Safety Month in your home state."

Will you sign the petition too? Click here to add your name:

http://signon.org/sign/proclaim-september-campus-1?source=s.em.cr&r_by=379331

Thanks!

Thank you Dear Shahram And Faranak

Our dear cousins Shahram and Faranak Asefnia posted a link to JUSTICE to their Facebook page, Art & Architecture on June 27. The link received almost 120,000 hits in one week! Thank you dear Shahram and Faranak for promoting our cause and spreading fire safety awareness in the world.

Jasmine's Birthday Potluck and Fundraiser for Fallen Forest Rangers

Friday, July 15th, is Jasmine’s birthday. Though we will all miss her on this special day, we will use it as a wonderful opportunity to honor her memory with a beautiful gesture. When we all felt unrelenting despair at the news of Jasmine’s passing, we survived because of the incalculable strength offered so generously from our loved ones near and far. Now it is time to share this strength with others experiencing the devastation of a fire. Every year on Jasmine’s birthday, we will offer support to a family who lost a loved one who was fighting to protect others from fires. This year, we are donating to the memorial funds of Josh Burch and Brett Fulton, two forest rangers who lost their lives while fighting the Blue Ribbon Fire in Hamilton County, Florida on June 20th, 2011.

Burch, 31, was a Forest Ranger who lived in Lake City with his wife and two children. He worked with the Division of Forestry for more than ten years. Fulton, 52, began as a professional welder with the Division twelve years ago. He has been a Forest Ranger with the Department for more than nine years. Fulton leaves behind a wife and two grown children in White Springs.

On Saturday, July 16th from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, please bring a dish and join Jasmine’s family at PGA National Park for a potluck picnic to celebrate Jasmine’s life and share our strength with others who need it now. We will be collecting donations for the families of Josh Burch and Brett Fulton, and Jasmine’s Fire Safety Memorial Fund will match the donations up to $500.00 and send them to the two memorial funds. A crape myrtle tree will be planted in the park in Jasmine’s memory.

Matt Stamey/The Gainesville Sun: Pastor Howard Thomas says a prayer during a memorial service for Brett Fulton and Josh Burch in Lake City, Fla., on Wednesday, June 22, 2011.

Soon, we will be posting information on how to donate in advance for those who cannot attend. If you would like to offer support in words, the Department’s Division of Forestry is accepting letters of condolence on behalf of the families of Josh Burch and Brett Fulton. Please mail correspondence to:

Family of Josh Burch or Family of Brett Fulton
c/o Director Jim Karels, Division of Forestry
3125 Conner Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida 32399

Your words gave us strength when we needed it, and expressing our gratitude for Burch and Fulton’s dedication and sacrifice to fire safety is a beautiful way to share strength with their families.

To RSVP on Facebook, click here!

See the response post.

The University of California Education Abroad Program Jasmine Jahanshahi Scholarship Award

A memo from the U.C. Business Bulletin:

The University of California Education Abroad Program is honored to announce the Jasmine Jahanshahi Scholarship Award. Recipients of the award will be undergraduate students enrolled at the University of California, who have been accepted to a semester- or year-long immersion program of the UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP), and who have demonstrated academic excellence and a strong commitment to global issues.

The scholarship is being established in memory of Jasmine Jahanshahi, a UCEAP and UC Berkeley student who participated in the 2010-2011 program at Sciences Po, in Paris, France with a goal to foster deeper global connections. Two scholarship awards in the amount of $2,500 each will be made available yearly, starting in the 2011-12 academic year. Details will be made public as soon as possible. Contact Andrea Delap, Sr. Analyst adelap@eap.ucop.edu if you have any questions.

“To truly understand a country – its social tensions, linguistic subtleties, culture, one must have a first hand account; one must spend a significant amount of time in the country.”

- Jasmine Jahanshahi

A way for our friends in Paris to show their support!

New Carbon Monoxide Law in Oregon

House Bill 3450 applies only to residential rental units that contain carbon monoxide sources or are situated within structures that contain one or more sources of the poisonous gas. Landlords, by law, are required to provide tenants with carbon monoxide alarms, testing instructions and batteries. Solely Battery-Powered and Plug-in with Battery Backup carbon monoxide alarm units are the allowable units. Alarms must be located either in each bedroom or with 15 feet of sleeping areas within the dwelling and on every floor.

In April 2011, the law will go on to prohibit the transfer of title of a single-family dwelling or multi-family housing that has a CO source unless such dwelling/housing is equipped with a CO detector; and prohibits issuing certificates of occupancy for dwellings or housing having CO sources unless equipped with CO detector.

To every citizen of the world:

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Margaret Mead
Anthropologist, 1901 - 1978

The Best 10 Minutes of Work I Performed Today

I took an extra smoke detector that we had in my office and walked upstairs, knocked at my neighbor's door and offered to check their smoke detectors. The young couple living in the unit simultaneously said "This thing hasn't been working for a while."

I said, "Let me change it out for a new one," and they happily accepted my offer. It took me only 10 minutes to do it. Imagine how many buildings have a similar problem. Please remember a building is only as safe and strong as it's weakest link.

Take Safety in Your Own Hands

There is a law requiring every home in France to be equipped with a smoke alarm by year 2015- that is too late!

Around 800 people die each year from domestic fires in France and it is estimated that only 1% to 3% of homes in France are currently equipped with a smoke alarm. This compares with 98% in Norway and 89% in the UK, where they have been a legal requirement since 1997.

The difficulty with any new law is going to be the practicalities of ensuring compliance, unless the government was to employ an army of 'smoke alarm inspectors', which seems unlikely! It could well be that pressure will be exerted through French home insurance companies to make it a condition of insurance policies. However, even then there remains the difficulty of ensuring the alarms are installed and maintained properly. We shall have to await the outcome of the passage of the law, and the no doubt voluminous decrees that will subsequently be published on the subject.

According to an article in The Connexion, even when the law is enforced, the responsibility for buying the alarm and regularly checking it falls on the person living in the home, except in holiday homes and furnished flats where it is the landlord's job. A law to make installation of the smoke alarms in France compulsory was passed in 2009 but was ruled unconstitutional. The revised version was backed by the majority of MPs except the Communist party, which argued the responsibility should always fall with the landlord and not the tenant.

If you or your loved ones are interested to rent a property in France or anywhere in the world where the Fire Safety Law is not enforced, there is not any law to stop you making it a Condition of the Contract that your rental shall be equipped with smoke detectors, fire extinguisher, and Escape Ladder, even though it is not yet enforced.

"A letter for Jasmine, and for those who loved her."

At Jasmine's memorial service on April 23rd, our guests were touched and consoled by Lauren Wiles's memories of running on the beach with Jasmine years ago. Lauren carefully reconstructed a memory of Jasmine that everybody will miss deeply. For those of you who want to enjoy the story again, here it is courtesy of Lauren. We are so appreciative of her comforting and creative prose, and we will continue to honor Jasmine's memory with our actions and our initiatives.

One of Jasmine's favorite mottoes was: Work Hard. Play Harder. I remember she told me that after we took the last final exam of our sophomore year at Dreyfoos. And with a devilish laugh, and a Missy Elliot dance move, she said to me, having not slept in days due to studying: "It's party time." A perfect balance of steadfast, unshakable work ethic and fresh, indefatigable playfulness, Jasmine knew when it was the right time to be serious and when it was the right time to let everything go.

A true night-owl, I knew that if I called Jasmine after midnight, chances were good that she would still be wide awake. "Sleep is for the weak", she would say. I remember there would be times where I would call and she would be at the gym--in the middle of the night--on a treadmill, reading for AP world history and somehow still had the time to talk about our unusual but strikingly-parallel infatuations with goofy, long-haired music-majors. Jasmine's sense of humor was the first thing that I noticed about her. Her bold, frequently sarcastic jokes made it easy for us to get a long right from the start. I remember when I first started to spend time with Jasmine, I picked up on her eclectic, Persian beauty-bohemian meets M.I.A. gangster--meets indi- foreign film fusion-taste in things.

To me, anything Jasmine suggested was cool; even Kava. I remember it was Jasmine's bright idea to walk over to the Purple Lotus after school one day to drink some. So we 15 year olds made the trek with our oversized backpacks--some of us still in braces-- into the shady area of Clematis…

"This tastes like a mix of shit water and turpentine, Jasmine" someone said.

"Just wait. It's very relaxing--you will see," she said. And so we listened. Yes, Jasmine could even make overpriced brown water cool. I remember so clearly the sleepovers we had at her house--all of us girls would try so hard to be quiet so that we didn't wake up Jasmine's parents who slept in the next room. Trying to stay quiet was one of the most difficult things to do when Jasmine was around because we would be too busy laughing hysterically. When we would actually try to fall asleep, Jasmine would only have to say one word to break the silence and send us cracking up all over again.

I think it's fair to say that my relationship with Jasmine was mostly a silly one--but sometimes, it would go the other way too and we would end up having the most profound discussions about life, meaning, the future, our mothers, literature, and our fears. I remember laying in bed with her on some nights, being moved as I would listen to the way that she would talk about things. She told me about her Outward Bound experience and about the night she spent a lone in the woods. That night ended up falling on her sixteenth birthday. When I asked her to tell me what happened that night a lone amongst the trees she said "you know, I don't know what it was- i just sat there and cried. I cried for hours out there. I just cried simply because I was in awe of the beauty of nature; the beauty of everything. I was at such peace out there". That was the thing about Jasmine, as tough as she was--she could really FEEL. I always felt that she knew something about life--a secret--a recipe--to life…that I did not. And this was something that fascinated me so much about her character.

We receive this news and our hearts stop. It's as if time comes to a halt and the world stops spinning. Suddenly, flashbacks, images and memories start surging to the forefront of our minds. I am sure that if we were all to get up here and list the most beloved and intimate experiences we have shared with Jasmine, we would be here for a very, very long time.

As these memories start to come back, I recall one--quite simple--that stands out.

One summer evening, before a sweet-sixteen that would require bikinis, Jasmine suggested that we go for a several-mile run heading south on the beach until we couldn't run anymore.

"Our abs have to look good tonight, Losh," she said. And despite the fact that i hated running with a passion, i agreed. Naturally, Jasmine never felt that it was necessary to start to warmup much, but rather she charged ahead right from the start. I didn't want to admit it to her, but I knew that I wouldn't be able to keep up. I could already tell because she was much too enthusiastic for a run. But not wanting to look weak in front of her, I kept up my posture and ignored the fact that my thighs were screaming at me.

"Come on, Losh. you can do it. You can do it," she said…stop holding your breath. You can do it..". She wasn't showing any sign of slowing down; if anything, she started to pick up the pace a little. Just when i felt like i was going to collapse, she said,

"Alright, let's go a little faster now". And I had to laugh because she was singing a rap song at the same time that she was essentially sprinting.

"You are crazy", I told her. "Just don't give up, Losh. We can rest at the yellow sign." Relieved, I looked for the yellow sign ahead and i instantly became disillusioned when I noticed that that yellow sign she spoke of seemed to be million miles away. Finally, I gave up.

"Seriously, girl…you go. I think I am going to throw up. "

"Come on, just another 2 minutes," said Jasmine.

"No, seriously, Jasmine…you go." And I dropped to my knees and crawled towards the water. She hesitated but then said to me, "Okay, i'll be back in a bit".

I sat and found a comfortable spot next to the shoreline and as the sun started to fade into the west, I watched my friend Jasmine run off into the distance. Watching her from the back, I remember admiring the way she ran. She was so strong. Disciplined. Purposeful. Resolute. I watched her legs moving at a consistent pace. I was imagining the drum beat that was going on in her mind to keep her focused on the end. I was watching her get smaller and smaller--the whole time, I imagined Jasmine as the warrior. I imagined Jasmine as a hero that was sent off for a mission--and that she couldn't stop running until she got to her destination. I had a lot of thoughts going through my head as I watched Jasmine fade off into the distance and I remember thinking--you are so cool, Jasmine Jahanshahi. I remember thinking to myself, I wish I could be more like that. I remember thinking--that girl will never give up. And as I watched Jasmine's silhouette fade as she moved further and further away from me, I had a thought. I thought--this is how Jasmine is. She will never stop running. And she will ask you to run with her. She will stop, but only to motivate you--not to pity you. But she would still ask you to run with her. Because she believed in you. Because she believed in everyone. Her momentum in life was always fueled by her desire for progression and stopping was not an option.

Jasmine lived the way she ran. She lived with such an intensity that often, it would have been difficult for any average person to keep up. Beautiful lives cannot be reduced by the brevity of time. The love and influence that Jasmine has brought to the world is everlasting. May we not only learn from Jasmine's limitless passions, but also carry with us forever the meaning of her life.

Though my heart aches that I will never be able to embrace you again, it occurred to me the other night that you are very much a part of who I am--you have bound us all together forever. You are nestled in the heart and soul of everyone who has ever known and loved you. All that you are, Jasmine, is right here today and it will be that way always. And next time I ever feel like stopping the run, I will think of you, my beautiful friend, dust the sand off my legs, and move forward into the direction of all that you are.