Australia Fire Industry News

The new President of the German Firefighters Association (DFV), Karl-Heinz Banse, and the Deputy Federal Managing Director, Rudolf Römer, visited the site in the Danube Valley on September 7 and met with the new CEO of Magirus, Thomas Hilse, for their first exchange of ideas. They discussed the significantly increased needs and requirements of fire departments and the resulting new progress in firefighting technologies. Fighting forest fires Thomas Hilse, who took over as CEO at Magirus...

New training for firefighters aims to fight the cancer threat to them from fires, by taking aim at the toxic substances that fires produce. UK firefighters surveyed as part of University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) research were four times more likely to have been diagnosed with cancer than the general population. It’s thought that firefighter’s exposure to those toxic substances could be playing a part in their increased risk of getting cancer and other diseases. Better cleaning...

Wildland fires are an increasing threat in the United Kingdom. They’re high risk, difficult to manage, and create a set of very particular circumstances for firefighters, who are battling the blaze. And with wildland call-outs measured in days, rather than hours, fire services need a kit that’s as tough as the terrain that they’re working on. Defender wildland firefighting suit FlamePro, a British manufacturing specialist of life-saving garments for firefighters, has unveiled...

South Yorkshire’s fire service has won a national award for its response to a major wildfire, which crews spent 22 days tackling last year. The fire affected a huge area of rare peat moorland, which is a site of special scientific interest and home to several rare species of animals and plants. South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue won the Incident Management Award at CIR Magazine’s Business Continuity Awards 2021 for its work in coordinating the response to the incident, which inv...

The Fire Standards Board for England has released a new Fire Standard to help fire and rescue services address capacity and skills when it comes to inspecting fire safety in non-residential buildings. The announcement at the National Fire Chiefs Council conference in Warwick comes after an extensive consultation process. eighth Fire Standard This is the eighth Fire Standard to be published and it is an overarching standard for Fire Protection with further standards relating to more specific a...

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging businesses that have reopened their doors, not to overlook fire safety and ensure it remains a top priority in the workplace. The call comes as part of the National Fire Chiefs Council's (NFCC) Business Safety Week which runs from the 6th - 12th September. The campaign aims to make businesses aware of their fire safety responsibilities, so they comply with legislation to keep both premises and occupants safe from fire. Reviewing fire safety Man...

BBC’s Newsnight devoted an entire program to the building safety crisis but could find no government or developer representative prepared to go on air. As Parliament returns next week to continue its examination of the Building Safety Bill, this program was a timely reminder of how many people are financially and physically trapped by fire safety defects in their homes. biggest public policy Introducing the program, Newsnight presenter, Emilly Maitlis said, “For many the wake-up c...

Granite Workwear has announced the return of its Fristads workwear for craftsmen. The globally renowned PPE (personal protective equipment) and uniforms manufacture has introduced the new 4-Way Stretch Craftsman Trousers. Designed with outstanding stretch and durability, these Craftsman Trousers deliver in terms of quality and above all else, in terms of functionality. 4-Way Stretch Craftsman Trousers This new range of 4-Way Stretch Craftsman Trousers has many features, including enhanced vis...

The House Armed Services Committee voted to include a provision allowing federal firefighters to swap shifts in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Federal Firefighters Flexibility and Fairness Act, HR 2059, was introduced in the House by Representatives by John Sarbanes (D-MD) in 2020. Through cooperative, bipartisan efforts, Representative Donald Norcross (D-NJ), with assistance from Representatives Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Mike Turner (R-OH), worked to include t...

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service (MFRS) is urging businesses that have reopened their doors not to overlook fire safety and ensure it remains a top priority in the workplace. The call comes after many businesses had to implement and enforce new ways of working due to the pandemic. MFRS is reminding businesses about the everyday fire risks in the workplace and both the legal and moral responsibility to ensure premises are safe from fire. Many businesses had to respond quickly to the pandemic...

During the latest redesign of the Rosenbauer Rescue Stairs not only the operation has been overhauled, but the CAN bus system has also been implemented from scratch. A reduction of Electronic Control Units (ECUs) was achieved by using controllers from TTControl which are certified for safety purposes. The risk and hazard analysis showed that there are safety requirements up to performance level d, as defined in ISO 13849. Simplified Architecture Based On Safety Certified Electronics With the...

A new handheld device can detect the presence of explosive methane gas from up to 100 feet away. For firefighters, the tool provides situational awareness, saves time, and ensures safety from a distance. Knowing the presence of methane gas enables a firefighter to deal with an emergency gas leak and to avoid a deadly explosion. Gas laser The Gas Laser from Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection can shoot a laser beam through a window, a gap in a door, or another common venting point to provide an in...

The Welsh Government has published new guidance on water mist systems aimed at local authority building control and installers to assist compliance with building regulations. Automatic water mist systems for domestic and residential premises was published on 27 August. This new guidance sets out how installers of water mist systems can satisfy the requirements of Regulation 37a of the Building Regulations 2010. Automatic fire suppression is mandatory in new residential premises in Wales....

Coatings manufacturer - Hempel has completed the acquisition of Farrow & Ball, a luxury decorative paint and wallpaper company with an annual turnover of over EUR 100 million. Hempel acquires Farrow & Ball from a fund managed by the Private Equity Group of Ares Management Corporation, after having met all conditions and requirements. luxury, decorative paint, and wallpaper company “Today is an exciting day as we happily welcome the iconic, luxury, decorative paint an...

Verint Systems (Verint), the globally renowned customer engagement company, has announced the completion of the previously announced transaction to acquire Conversocial, a renowned company in conversational customer experience services, delivered over messaging channels. Conversocial acquisition On August 10, 2020, Verint issued a release, ‘Verint Expands its Cloud Platform Capabilities to Help Brands Accelerate Digital-First Customer Engagement’, stating its intent to acquire the...

The IAFF is continuing to respond to membership needs. About 111 total requests for assistance have been submitted. The GO-Team has 56 active requests remaining which they hope to have completed by September 5. IAFF Go-Team members as well as IAFF member crews from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas are on the ground in Louisiana responding to 102 membership assistance requests. HEART 911 is also in the area providing support. Requests for fuel and tarps Louisiana locals near an...

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for all of us. It has and continues to be very stressful on and off the job for our members and their families. We have now lost 49 members to COVID-19 – eight since August 3.” “Our union continues to encourage and strongly recommend that all members be vaccinated to prevent the spread of disease. The reality is, the vaccines work and our union can collectively fight COVID-19 and its variants. Please watch my video encou...

American Emergency Vehicles® (AEV), the nation’s top-selling brand of ambulances, announces the appointment of American Response Vehicles (ARV) as its exclusive dealer for the state of Wisconsin. ARV is authorized to sell and service the complete portfolio of AEV® Type I, II, III, and Medium-Duty emergency vehicles for the state. ARV has been representing the AEV brand with distinction since 2003, providing sales and service across Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebra...

Volunteer firefighters who are also National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) members have one final chance to enter and win a personalized MSA Safety Incorporated’s MSA Cairns XF1 Fire Helmet. This is the last of three helmets that will be given out in 2021. MSA Cairns XF1 Fire Helmet The jet-style design of the Cairns XF1 Fire Helmet reduces snag hazards, provides a personalized fit, and houses its own integrated light module. Plus, the soft goods are removable, washable, and replaceable,...

In their daily lives, fire personnel must be brave, forward-thinking, and strategic when tackling fire emergencies. However, the most crucial part of a successful fire operation is the communication between the crew, the central command center, and the people in need of rescue when in mission-critical, and often life-threatening situations. Whether this location is a large-scale wildfire, a high-rise building or even a house, continuous connectivity can be the mitigating factor on success or fai...

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service is once again calling for people in Askern, Rossington, Stocksbridge, Dearne, Birley, and Cudworth to join their on-call firefighting teams. Despite two hugely successful recruitment campaigns in the last year, there are still some spaces at each of the above stations that the service would like to fill. On-call firefighters play a vital role in crewing fire stations right across the county. Trained to the same high standards as full-time firefighters,...

VIKING Life-saving Equipment is maintaining momentum in its development of the most complete range of safety solutions to cover the risks facing wind turbine service technicians, by introducing an easily accessible and self-contained evacuation kit located in the tower. Tower evacuation kit Following a collaborative design project, VIKING has launched a tower evacuation kit that fits snugly into what is currently an unused space between the platform handrails and the tower’s outer wall....

Previously paramedics have turned to police colleagues to force entry to a locked property so they can provide vital first aid care. However, a year-long trial across Thames Valley has demonstrated that involving firefighters in the first-call attendance can result in faster response times, less damage to property, and most importantly, improved outcomes for residents requiring emergency medical treatment. Reduce damage In a collaboration involving the three fire and rescue services of Thames...

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) joins the Business Disability Forum, further solidifying its commitment to supporting disabled people within the Service and the communities. About Business Disability Forum The Business Disability Forum is a not-for-profit membership organization, aiming to help other organizations become fully accessible to disabled service users and employees. They promote best practices and work with organizations to set and influence policy so that it benefi...

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is reminding residents, as part of a month-long Fire Kills campaign, to put it out, right out if they smoke. Fires caused by smoking products kill more people than fires caused by any other item, but there are simple steps that residents can take to reduce the chances of smoking leading to a fire, including not smoking while tired, using a proper and secure ashtray, and stubbing out cigarettes properly. All of these steps can greatly reduce the ri...

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is urging Berkshire residents to ‘Be Water Aware’ as part of the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Week (26 April – 2 May).  Accidental drownings In 2019, 223 people tragically lost their lives in accidental drownings and 44% of those people had no intention of ever being in the water. More people died in the UK in 2019 from accidental drowning than cyclists did on the road. R...

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) has teamed up with Thames Valley Police (TVP), South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) the Environment Agency and local councils to support the Royal Life Saving Society’s (RLSS) national Drowning Prevention Week campaign, running from 19-26 June. Over 400 people tragically lose their lives in accidental drownings each year in the UK and Ireland and many more suffer life-changing injuries. In order to reduce the number of accidental drownings...

New vehicles have been deployed at Maidenhead, Hungerford, Lambourn, Crowthorne, Mortimer, and Caversham Road fire stations. They are a standard Ford Ranger Crew Cab (5 seats) fitted with a permanently installed canopy over the rear bed for safety and security. The vehicles are all fitted with a towbar as standard a blue light emergency response package and scene lighting. Improving logistics The new Ford Ranger vehicles will provide logistical support at incidents and improve the resilience...

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is supporting this week’s National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) National Sprinkler Week campaign (17 – 23 May), promoting the benefits of sprinklers in keeping people and buildings safe from fire. Sprinklers are widely recognized as the single most effective method for fighting the spread of fires in their early stages. Fire sprinkler systems Sprinkler systems can also protect property and increase sustainability, but more critically,...

During 6-12 September, Royal Berkshire Fire, and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is supporting the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Business Safety Week. Business Safety Week urges local businesses that have re-opened their doors not to overlook fire safety and ensure it remains a top priority in the workplace. Throughout the week, RBFRS will be reminding businesses of their fire safety responsibilities so that they comply with legislation to keep both premises and occupants safe from fire. Steps to...