Privacy and Security Policy

Thank you for visiting the U.S. Fire Administration's Website and reviewing our Privacy Policy. We remind you that if you link to a site outside of this Website, you are subject to the policies of the new site.

Privacy

Here is how we handle information about your visit to our Website:

Information collected and stored automatically

1. The information we learn about you from your visit to our Website depends upon what functions you perform when visiting our site.
2. For site management, information is collected for statistical purposes. This government computer system uses software programs to create summary statistics, which are used for such purposes as assessing what information is of most and least interest, determining technical design specifications, and identifying system performance or problem areas.
3. If you do nothing during your visit but browse through the Website, read pages, or download information, we will gather and store certain information about your visit automatically. This information does not identify you personally. We automatically collect and store the following information about your visit:
   • The Internet domain (for example, "xcompany.com" if you use a private Internet access account, or "yourschool.edu" if you connect from a university's domain) and IP address (an IP address is a number that is automatically assigned to your computer whenever you are surfing the Web) from which you access our website;
   • The type of browser and operating system used to access our site;
   • The date and time you access our site;
   • The pages you visit; and
   • If you linked to the USFA Website from another Website, the address of that Website.
   • We use this information to help us make our site more useful to visitors -- to learn about the number of visitors to our site and the types of technology our visitors use. We do not track or record information about individuals and their visits.

Cookies

"Cookies" are small bits of text that are either used for the duration of a session ("session cookies"), or saved on a user's hard drive in order to identify that user, or information about that user, the next time the user logs on to a Website ("persistent cookies"). The USFA Website does not use persistent cookies. We do use session cookies for our Online Publications Catalog (only) to track your order as you place publications into your shopping cart. These session cookies are deleted from the component's server soon after your session ends and are not collected or saved. You can set up your Web browser to inform you when cookies are set or to prevent cookies from being set. You can still use our Website if you do not accept the cookies, but you will not be able to use the Online Publications Catalog. Orders for publications may be placed by calling 800-561-3356.

Information Collected from Emails and Web Forms

If you send us personal information by using Email or Web forms:

• You do not have to provide any personal information to visit this Website. If you choose to provide us with personal information, such as by sending a message to an email address on this Website or by filling out a form and submitting it through our Website, we will use that information to respond to your message or to fulfill the stated purpose of the communication. If you submit your resume to us electronically we will use your personal information to consider your application for employment. USFA does not collect or use information for commercial marketing.
• We may share information you give us with contractors acting on our behalf or with another government agency if your inquiry relates to that agency. In other limited circumstances, such as responses to requests from Congress and private individuals, we may be required by law to disclose information you submit. If you provide comments in response to a request for public comments we may make those comments as well as your identity available to the public in a publication or by posting them on our Website. Where possible we may give you more specific guidance at the point of collection regarding how your personal information may be used or disclosed.
• Electronically submitted information is maintained and destroyed according to the principles of the Federal Records Act and the regulations and records schedules of the National Archives and Records Administration, and in some cases may be covered by the Privacy Act and subject to the Freedom of Information Act. A discussion of your rights under these laws can be found here: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/call/foia.htm
• Remember that email is not necessarily secure against interception. If your communication is sensitive or includes personal information, you may prefer to send it by postal mail instead.

Security

For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, this Government computer system employs software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. Anyone using this system expressly consents to such monitoring and is advised that if such monitoring reveals evidence of possible abuse or criminal activity, such evidence may be provided to appropriate law enforcement officials. Unauthorized attempts to upload or change information on this server are strictly prohibited and may be punishable by law, including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act of 1996.