United States of America (USA) Fire Industry News

Gas detection gives remote visibility into ammonia (NH3) leak incident. The Challenge Ammonia leak danger escalates When hazmat personnel arrived on the scene of an ammonia leak at a cold storage facility one night, they were ready for anything. One responder wore a G7 personal multi-gas detector and the team also had a G7 EXO area monitor at the ready. They immediately set up the G7 EXO downwind of the facility to determine the hazard level outside. At 21:08, the device detected high levels...

The fire department of a southern U.S. city was trialing Blackline Safety technology when a dangerous fuel spill put the products to the test. The Challenge Routine fuel delivery turns dangerous While making a routine fuel delivery to a local gas station one morning, the driver of a tanker truck went inside to buy a coffee. When he returned to the truck, 32 gallons (120 liters) of gasoline had spilled out, and more was flowing rapidly onto the ground. Acting quickly, he shut off the tanks an...

Employee Check-Ins - In addition to manual triggers for help, safety monitoring solutions blend fall detection and person-down detection with employee check-in prompts. But aren’t employee check-ins passé? The quick answer is yes and no—read on to learn how modern employee check-ins differ from their old-school processes and continue to provide value to organizations. Old-School Check-Ins - Traditional lone worker check-in processes require all employees to periodically ceas...

Blackline Safety’s lone worker solutions helped CEMEX - a global cement and concrete supplier - implement more effective safety measures for their night drivers. Challenge Total reliance on worker agency for check-ins CEMEX is a pioneer in building solutions, with worksites all over the world, some of them in isolated locations, some of them empty.  In some instances, reaching these sites required employees to travel lengthy distances alone and at night. With their previous safety...

UK Landfill Service and Fill Service operator uses a data-driven approach to workplace safety. Pioneering landfill and waste resource management company, Enovert, uses Blackline Safety data analytics to enhance gas detection and exposure prevention. The Challenge Preventing gas exposure and protecting workers Enovert is one of UK's pioneering providers of waste management services managing over 2.3 million tons of waste per year. Their operations include seven operational landfill sites, two...

The Extinguishing Section of Euralarm has published a guidance document that focuses on the maintenance of condensed aerosol fire extinguishing systems/equipment controlled by electronic detection systems. This document is now available in the English, French, and German languages. Typical applications of this type of equipment include electric power generating and distribution facilities, electrical panels, machinery spaces, storage rooms, battery energy storage systems, and mobile and transpo...

Whelen Engineering, a global pioneer in the emergency warning industry for over 70 years, has announced the release of an innovative web-based application designed to revolutionize the programming of emergency vehicle warning lights and sirens. Simulate™ allows users to effortlessly upload and verify vehicle configurations, eliminating the need for time-consuming physical testing and ensuring a seamless, error-free setup. ground-breaking platform This ground-breaking platform is set to...

When it comes to emergency vehicle lighting, precision is paramount. From police cruisers to fire trucks, the correct configuration of warning lights and sirens can make a significant impact on the safety of first responders and their emergency response time. Until recently, programming has been a time-consuming process, often requiring physical tests and adjustments on the vehicle itself. Enter Simulate™, Whelen groundbreaking web-based application that redefines vehicle configuration, m...

Twiceme, a Swedish tech ingredient in protective equipment and pioneer in worksite safety solutions, is delighted to announce the expansion of its partnership with global height safety specialist Guardian. This collaboration builds upon the successful integration of Twiceme's Help the Helpers (HTH) technology into Guardian's B7-Comfort Harness, introduced in April 2023. Together, Twiceme and Guardian are taking job site safety to new heights with the addition of a Product Inspection f...

Firefighters gave a new electronic battery wrap the highest safety rating after a true trial-by-fire. Specifically, testers at the Polk County Fire Central Station in Oregon, drove a nail through a lithium-ion battery cell wrapped in PACT® Thermo ShieldTM TR SleeveTM to blow it up to prove the paper wrap would contain the fire. Packaging and Crating Technologies (PACT®) created the specially-coated, fire-suppressant paper to prevent thermal runaway, a dangerous and difficult b...

Every EMS provider knows the phrase “BSI Scene Safe,” but what does it really mean to develop and maintain a safe scene? This Volunteer Voices Live discussion on November 7 at 3pm ET will address that question along with the challenges EMS crews are facing that cause difficulty in gathering information or resources for scene safety. Come prepared to share experiences, ask questions, and learn from one another.

Kidde, a globally trusted company in fire safety for more than 100 years, has been named to Fast Company’s third annual Brands That Matter list. The brand was recognized in the Home category for its efforts to provide innovative home safety devices and education to those in need, with the introduction of Kidde’s Cause for Alarm™ campaign. Kidde named in List of Brands That Matter Fast Company editors judged each brand on relevancy, cultural impact, ingenuity and business imp...

It’s critical that fire and emergency services personnel know how to write a successful grant narrative so they can secure funding for their local fire/EMS department. This course, which is sponsored by Josh Cellars, walks through various funding opportunities that are available, including government and private grants, and educates participants on how to write a successful narrative. Take it free for a limited time in the NVFC Virtual Classroom.

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) attended the second U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control on October 10 at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, MD. The event was hosted by U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and was attended by key leaders in the fire service and federal government, including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Federal Emergency Management Agen...

  Rosenbauer is awarded for the "The App for Emergency Services Organizations" project in the "Organization and Collaboration" category at the eAward of Report Verlag. The award ceremony took place on October 16, 2023 in the ballroom of the T-Center with over 150 guests. Rosenbauer's RDS Connected Command app supports fire departments and other blue-light organizations in alerting, situational management, organization, and communication. The interface is visually designed in such a way...

In fire safety, where clarity and swift action are paramount, exit and emergency lighting emerges as a guiding beacon, pioneering occupants to safety during emergencies. Queensland, with its commitment to protection and preparedness, places immense importance on exit lighting. But who ensures the effectiveness of these luminous guides? Enter exit lighting certifiers - a crucial force behind these essential safety features' design, certification, and installation. This article delves into the si...

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is recruiting for the next generation of 999 call handlers at its Operations Control site in Edinburgh.   The role of Firefighter Control is the first point of contact for members of the public who dial 999 to report an emergency. It plays a vital role in keeping Scotland’s communities safe and ensuring that emergency incidents are dealt with effectively and efficiently.   Firefighter Control staff Group Commander - Marie C...

Schuberth, a global provider of head protection solutions, and Twiceme, a fast-growing Swedish safe-tech ingredient, are pleased to announce a partnership.  Schuberth and Twiceme have joined forces to improve safety standards in helmets, and the collaboration is driven by a shared passion for safety and a determination to provide wearers with one safety tool that fits all. Schuberth and Twiceme partnership Schuberth and Twiceme will work together to introduce Twiceme's HTH technology in...

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has announced that it will award over $30 million to support first responders and strengthen local efforts to respond to hazardous materials incidents. “Firefighters and other local public servants are the everyday first responder heroes that we rely on to immediately run to the emergency,” said PHMSA Deputy Administrator - Tristan Brown, adding “These grants provide ou...

Blackline Safety Corp., a globally renowned company in connected safety technology, has announced a significant upgrade to its G6 single-gas detector, adding new features and service plans to the life-saving wearable device. G6 now features the same real-time connectivity as the company’s G7 product line. Additional new features include an emergency SOS that workers can trigger in critical situations to get help, and an expanded suite of data and reporting analytics. The device also suppo...

Imagine the field technicians commuting more than 1000 miles for servicing and maintenance of field equipment at the customer’s site only to find that a couple of inventory parts are missing in the service truck. Now, the mere thought of driving back and forth, covering such a huge distance, to get back those missing service parts can be highly frustrating for anyone including the customers. That’s where efficient service truck inventory management comes in, which is not possible w...

Technical Guidance Document 21 clearly identifies the limited applications when BS EN 16034 can be used in the United Kingdom (UK), but goes on to state that the ASFP also recommends that in these limited occasions, where the use of a CE Marked fire curtain product is mandated, this should still be augmented with certification to BS 8524-1 and BS 8524-2. There is a lot of misinformation being shared in the market about BS 8524 and the CE Marking of fire curtains, principally from resellers of p...

Kidde ushered in October Fire Safety Month with the celebrating National Fire Pup Day on October 1 by announcing the winner of its annual Fire Service Dog of the Year competition on social media. National Fire Pup Day honors the sweet, adorable and heroic canines that support our fire departments and local communities. Kidde would like to say big congratulations to this year’s winner: Dozer from the Hamilton Township, NJ, Division of Fire! As part of his winnings, Dozer will receive eigh...

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service has introduced their leadership team as a new Deputy Chief Fire Officer joined the organization. Stewart Nicholson has joined TWFRS from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, where he served as Deputy Assistant Chief Officer since November 2021.  strategic-level appointment He is the first strategic-level appointment made by Peter Heath who began in the role of Chief Fire Officer in September 2023. The new Deputy Chief Fire Officer spoke of his...

The Advanced Placement Take-Down™ with SmartFocus Technology™ is Whelen's revolutionary new take-down light that enhances safety at nighttime traffic stops for both law enforcement officers and the motoring public. Traffic stops on busy or dimly lit highways present safety risks to both law enforcement officers and drivers. The intense glare of an emergency vehicle’s white lighting reflecting off a stopped vehicle’s side or rearview mirrors can compromise the vision and...

Apollo is thrilled to share the news of their sponsorship of Hopwood Hall College's Fire, Emergency, and Security Systems (FESS) apprenticeship Suite, the largest of its kind in the UK. Located in Rochdale, Hopwood Hall College is dedicated to cultivating high-quality engineers via the 3 year FESS apprenticeship scheme. Their newly launched training suite boasts 23 bays with conventional and addressable loops, including over 1000 Apollo products, ranging from detectors and manual call points to...

Millions of workers enter confined spaces daily as part of their job duties. Many workplaces contain areas that are considered 'confined spaces', which are not intended for continuous occupancy but are large enough for workers to enter and perform required tasks. During shutdowns, turnarounds, and outages, the frequency – and associated risks – of a confined space entry (CSE) increase significantly. Managing confined space work environments and mitigating the associated hazards, suc...

Hochiki Europe, a global provider of innovative life safety solutions, is pleased to announce the addition of three highly experienced sales professionals, Adrian Willis, Jason Bryant, and Nick Brammall, to its growing team. With their wealth of industry knowledge and expertise, Adrian, Jason, and Nick will play key roles in expanding Hochiki's presence in the market and providing exceptional service to their valued customers. Adrian Willis Adrian Willis, a seasoned professional with extensiv...

NewAge Oblique Pattern Threaded Hydrant Valve is used to form a complete Wet Riser System to ensure fire fighting arrangements for more intense and dangerous fires. It is specifically designed as per BS 5041 (1987). These valves have a hand wheel for opening or shutting off the water supply. These valves are highly durable and corrosion-resistant as they are made from gunmetal. Key Features Conforming to BS: 5041. Water tightness test (Seat test) at 16 Bar. Hydrostatic Pressure test (...

Since 2009, the International Day for Disaster Reduction has been celebrated on 13 October. Proclaimed by the United Nations, it's a reminder of the urgency of reducing disaster risks. Recorded natural disasters The number of recorded natural disasters has risen steadily in recent decades. These include not only earthquakes, droughts, and volcanic eruptions, but in latitudes above all floods, storms, landslides, and wildfires.  The frequency and severity of climate- and weather-related d...