Antigua and Barbuda Fire Industry News

The tragic loss of life from the 19-story apartment building fire that occurred in New York City on Jan. 9 reminds of the fire and life safety challenges that tall buildings present to the emergency services and to the occupants who live or work in them. Challenges and features Because of the inherent nature of tall buildings and a series of historic fires, the practice of protecting the people who live and work in high-rise buildings has evolved over the years. Very specific sets of precautio...

Following the unprecedented year prior, 2021 continued to present significant challenges for everyone, but Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service continued to deliver its vital services, while also providing support for partner agencies. The year began with mopping up from significant flooding across the county over the Christmas period. The country was also in the midst of another national lockdown, with those that were able to still working from their homes. Staff across the Service pulled o...

Personal protective equipment, or PPE, has been widely used in the workplace for many years to protect employees from health or safety risks. But since the outbreak of COVID-19, the use of PPE has skyrocketed. While this protective clothing ensures the safety of the workforce, what about the effect that the increased production and subsequent disposal of this PPE are having on the environment? Textile destruction and recycling service In the UK, approximately one million tonnes of clothing is...

Five new towers at the University of Brighton’s Moulsecoomb Campus are now protected by a fault-tolerant network of MxPro 5 fire panels from global fire systems pioneer, Advanced. The 13 networked MxPro 5 panels have been installed to protect the five student accommodation towers varying between eight and 18 storeys, which will provide more than 800 student bedrooms as well as ground-floor fitness facilities and amenities for the students’ union. Automatic opening vents Responsibl...

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority are asking residents to have their say on proposals to increase the fire service’s share of council tax for 2022/23. The service is looking for a below-inflation increase of £1.44 (around 2%) for the year, making the total contribution for the year £74.97 for a resident living in a Band D property. Following the financial settlement confirmed by the government at the end of December 2021, which confirmed the level of funding for t...

BSI, in its role as the UK National Standards Body, publishes a new code of practice for the fire risk appraisal of external wall construction and cladding of existing multistorey and multi-occupied residential buildings. It has primarily been developed to support the upcoming changes to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order which will confirm that the fire performance of external cladding systems is a material consideration. Fire risk appraisal code The code, PAS 9980:2021, Fir...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is joining the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) and International Association of Fire Fighters in recognizing January as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month. Chances are someone in the department or a firefighter who has battled cancer. This is a very prevalent and serious issue facing the fire service. The good news is that there are actions taken to lessen the risks and prevent future tragedies so members don’t lose more firefighters...

The application period is currently open for two of FEMA’s fire service grant programs. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) funds critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel and meet the response needs of fire and EMS departments. Firefighter retention and safety The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant supports recruitment and retention initiatives for volunteer and paid firefighters. In addition, the application period for the...

Chubb, a global provider of fire safety, security, and monitoring solutions and services launched a High-Rise Evacuation Alert System to assist the UK’s Fire and Rescue Services in safely evacuating residential buildings over 18 meters. Responding to the new Code of Practice recommendations outlined within British Standard (BS) 8629:2019, the High-Rise Evacuation Alert System will facilitate the immediate evacuation of any floor within a building to securely phase the evacuation process...

Cummins Inc. has announced that Bonnie Fetch has been named the Vice President – Global Supply Chain and Manufacturing, effective February 1, 2021. Bonnie Fetch currently serves as Vice President – North America Regional Operating Team and Distribution Business Supply Chain Services. Navigating supply chain challenges “Bonnie is the right person for this role, as we continue navigating supply chain challenges and executing our Supply Chain transformation,” said Jennifer...

Cancer is a serious threat facing today’s fire service, but there are ways by which people can lower the risks. These include the 11 best practices for firefighter cancer prevention, outlined in the Lavender Ribbon Report. Firefighter cancer prevention This course explains how to incorporate these practices into daily routines, so as to reduce the exposure risks and protect themselves and fellow firefighters. For a limited time, interested individuals can take this course for free in the...

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority is asking residents to have their say on proposals to increase the fire service’s share of council tax for 2022/23. The Service is looking for a below inflation increase of £1.44 (around 2%) for the year, making the total contribution for the year £74.97 for a resident living in a Band D property. Following the financial settlement confirmed by the government at the end of December 2021, which confirmed the level of funding for th...

ImageTrend, Inc. released the second issue of the Collaborate Short Report: Pediatric Behavioral Health Incidents in the Pre-hospital Setting, from January 2018 to October 2021. Studies have found an increase in emergent pediatric behavioral health incidents over the last two decades and even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic. Collaborate Short Report This Collaborate Short Report focuses on how these incidents have changed across age groups and different regions from 2018 to 2021, by look...

Secutech India, India’s security business event will mark its return in 2022 re-uniting the security industry from 19 – 21 May at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai. As the first edition post-lockdown, the platform will spotlight the latest security technologies, trends, and innovations as well as the post-pandemic response of the industry that is shaping product developments in India’s physical security, cyber security, fire & safety, smart home & automation marke...

SMART SHOOTER, a world-class designer, developer, and manufacturer of innovative fire control systems that significantly increase the accuracy and lethality of small arms, reveals the SMASH Dragon: an armed drone system incorporating Smart Shooter's combat-proven SMASH Technology that ensures precise target elimination. Presented by the company for the first time, SMASH Dragon is an advanced robotic weaponry payload that can be mounted on different drones and other unmanned aerial platforms. L...

Tragically, 2022 has gotten off to a heartbreaking start for many families due to home fires across the country, with as many as 126 lives lost in fires since the year began. In just the first nine days of the new year, the American Red Cross has responded to almost 1,700 home fires, providing help to more than 5,700 people. Their hearts go out to all those who have been affected by these tragedies. Home Fire Safety The Red Cross has steps people can follow to help them stay safe should a fire...

More than 100 American Red Cross disaster volunteers continue to support victims of late December’s Marshall Fire, Colorado’s most destructive wildfire in history. The blaze torched more than 6,000 acres, forced the evacuation of some 35,000 people, and destroyed nearly 1,000 homes. The fast-moving Marshall Fire is the latest example of an extreme weather event prompting thousands of people to flee their homes and seek help, this time months after the regular wildfire season ended....

Cummins Inc. announced the launch of the C550D5 (50hz) and C500D6(60hz) series diesel generator sets for prime and standby power applications globally. This series is engineered to deliver higher power density over 15 and 16-liter competitors with 42 kVA per liter of displacement thanks to the robust and reliable Cummins QSZ13 engine with 13L displacement. The QSZ13 engine, featuring XPI fuel injection with 3-stage fuel filtration, protects from poor fuel quality. The new S-range of alternators...

Between the 16th and the 18th of January 2022, Argus Spectrum International will take part in the world’s premier trade fair for Security, Safety & Fire Protection - Intersec Dubai (UAE). Argus Spectrum International as being one of the world’s pioneers in the design and manufacturing of wireless fire systems will present certified in 83 countries wireless fire detection system Streletz-PRO at the stand A12, Hall 4.  MESH-network Streletz-PRO is a new product line of wire...

Following a thorough recruitment drive, the BAFE Fire Safety Register is proud to announce the appointment of their new Managing Director, Dr. Justin Maltby-Smith CEng FIET CMgr FCMI. Since BAFE’s establishment in 1984, and subsequently going fully independent in 2009, the registration body continues to have a core role in establishing methods to evidence competency within the fire safety arena. With this comes to its significant responsibility of ensuring the BAFE portfolio of schemes av...

Following a thorough recruitment drive, the BAFE Fire Safety Register is proud to announce the appointment of their new Managing Director, Dr. Justin Maltby-Smith CEng FIET CMgr FCMI. Since BAFE’s establishment in 1984, and subsequently going fully independent in 2009, the registration body continues to have a core role in establishing methods to evidence competency within the fire safety arena. With this comes to its significant responsibility of ensuring the BAFE portfolio of schemes av...

In 2022, CEO Jamie Allam looks at the opportunities for Amthal in the fire safety and security sector, when it comes to what the workplace and hiring landscape will look like at a top-level and also continuing to introduce apprenticeships into the business. One of the top trends that Amthal and many of its partner workplaces will be looking at is the version of hybrid working.  hybrid working Says Jamie, “As we embrace our hybrid working model, we want to trust our people to make t...

In the field service industry, proper inventory management is essential to a successful business. However, with spare parts stored across warehouses, stockrooms, and technician vehicles, it can be easy to let valuable inventory slip through the cracks. Let’s take a closer look at how you can effectively manage field spare parts inventory using the latest field service software. After all, inventory is an expense waiting to be converted into revenue. It is the mismanaging of spare parts i...

More than half a million COVID-19 vaccinations have been given by fire and rescue services staff, according to a report by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). As reported, the figure as of now is at 510,540 – a testament to the hard work from all involved, and will only increase as fire services continue their efforts to support the national program. Additional vaccination sites It is estimated up to 2,500 members of staff are supporting this vital work to get everyone eligible pro...

The past 18 months have been transformational in many ways. Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing safety legislation, and a squeeze on profit margins have been a catalyst for change, thereby leading to significant investments in new software. It’s also put the spotlight on productivity and efficiency. According to ONS figures, productivity levels in construction have remained consistently below the UK average, until more recently. New digital strategy However, civil engineeri...

Personal Protective Equipment, vernacularly known as PPE, is a term they have all come across several times amidst the global pandemic. From the shortage of PPE kits to countries ramping up the manufacturing process, are some of the only topics that made headlines most of 2020 and through the latter 2021. In between all this, the cardinal question of “What is PPE?” comes to mind. From being used by beekeepers as reported in ancient literature, to 16th-century plague doctors in Europ...

Personal Protective Equipment, vernacularly known as PPE, is a term users have all come across several times amidst the global pandemic. From the shortage of PPE kits to countries ramping up the manufacturing process, are some of the only topics that made headlines most of 2020 and through the latter 2021. In between all this, the cardinal question of 'What is PPE?', comes to mind. Personal Protective Equipment From being used by beekeepers as reported in ancient literature, to 16th-century p...

Wildland firefighting is a physically and mentally demanding job, with many stressors that can take their toll on a wildland firefighter's mental health. To address this issue, a new module, Wildfire Mental Health, has been added to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) RT-130: Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR). The new module The new module emphasizes the importance of asking for help, offers information about accessing mental health care resources, and provid...

At 01:47 pm on 4th January 2022, Joint Fire Control received the first call of a fire at an industrial estate in Llanbadarn Fawr, Aberystwyth. Crews from Aberystwyth, Aberaeron, Tregaron, Llandrindod Wells, and Llanelli were mobilized to the incident, making a total of four fire appliances, one turntable ladder, an environmental unit, and a water bowser deployed to extinguish the fire. Police, Ambulance, and the Local Authority were also in attendance. The fire involved a single-story building,...

A trusted provider of fire safety for over 100 years, Kidde announced the launch of its latest innovation – the Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm with smart features and corresponding new mobile app. Designed for Wi-Fi connectivity, the alarm and app function not only as a standalone safety solution, but, notably, is the first smart system that can transform existing Kidde hardwired interconnected alarms into smart ones with an easy and fully integrated solution that offers whole-ho...