United States of America (USA) Fire Industry News

There was flash fire at the same refinery in January,  when a flammable vapour cloud ignited A six-member team from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is deploying to the scene of today's explosion and fire at the Silver Eagle Refinery in Woods Cross, Utah. According to local officials, the explosion in the diesel hydrotreater unit caused damage to homes in the surrounding area and was felt several miles away from the facility. The CSB is investigating a January 2009...

Membership of the National Volunteer Fire Service has many great benefits Incentive rewards for hours to be a benefit of membership Junior firefighters can now take advantage of the many great benefits of being a member of the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). The NVFC is offering a new membership option especially designed for junior firefighters. A year-long Junior Membership to the NVFC can now be purchased for just $10 at www.nvfc.org/membership. The membership wi...

The International Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Association of Fire Fighters issue joint statement The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) today reaffirmed their support for fire service-based emergency medical service and urged public officials to support all efforts to broaden emergency medical care and ambulance transport by the fire service to better protect the public. The IAFC Boa...

This acquisition will bring wider customer base and strong position for the group in the foodservice sector Superior Uniform Group announced the acquisition of Blade Sportswear, Inc. (“Blade”),  effective November 2, 2009.  Blade, founded in 1991, a privately owned company specializes in the design, manufacture and distribution of uniforms to major domestic restaurant and foodservice chains throughout the U.S. Blade’s award-winning image app...

A Malaysia-based office will give customers a valuable point of reference in the region Sepura has opened a new office in Kuala Lumpur as part of the company's continuing global expansion.  With Sepura's business increasing in the Asian continent, a Malaysia-based office will give customers a valuable local point of reference in the region. Sepura has its headquarters in Cambridge UK, and offices in Germany, Korea, China and Jordan.  The official opening was...

An image taken during the fires that struck Puerto Rico late last week Meeting covered partnership and recent fire, explosion The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate met today with Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuño to discuss FEMA's partnership with Puerto Rico, as well as the response to the explosions and fires that struck the island late last week. Over the weekend, President Obama signed an Emerg...

Ichor Systems, Inc. has acquired the operating assets of the systems integration business of Celerity, Inc AIP announced that its newly formed company Ichor Systems, Inc has acquired the operating assets of the systems integration business of Celerity, Inc. American Industrial Partners Capital Fund IV, L.P. ("AIP") announced that its newly formed company Ichor Systems, Inc. (“Ichor” or the “Company”) has acquired the operating assets of the systems int...

  Surrey Fire Services has gone live with FDM Software's eLink FDM eLink allows fire departments and the BCAS to work together seamlessly resulting in a higher standard of public safety.On October 1st, 2009, Surrey Fire Services went live with FDM Software's eLink, software that links BC Ambulance Service (BCAS) to FDM Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), used by the majority of Fire Dispatch Communication Centers in British Columbia. When someone calls 911 in BC, the call ge...

FEMA and GEMA advise citizens to create emergency kits Agencies advise families to create plans, prepare emergency kits Just as every home should have a smoke alarm, every home should have an emergency supply kit packed and ready. And being prepared doesn't have to cost a lot of money. While emergency preparedness is ongoing at the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), it's also an individual responsibility. "You sh...

Firefighters on scene in Puerto Rico, in the area hit by fire and explosions Action enables FEMA to coordinate disaster relief efforts The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and ordered federal aid to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area struck by explosions and fire beginning on October 23...

The company reported 29% increase in net earnings in the current quarter despite the tough market conditions Superior Uniform Group registered a substantial amount of profit as it declared the third quarter operating results. Superior Uniform Group, Inc., manufacturer of uniforms, career apparel and accessories, announced that for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009, net sales were $27,605,397 compared with 2008 third quarter net sales of $30,613,175. Earnings from co...

NFPA warns people to be aware of Halloween fire safety risks Add important fire safety tips to your bag of tricks Halloween plans typically include frightful activities, and paying attention to a few safety tips can make the difference between having a frightfully-fun experience versus a frightfully-tragic one. Decorations were the first item ignited in an estimated average of more than 1,000 home structure fires per year during 2002-2005, according to the National Fire Pr...

A firefighter adjusting her SCBA. USFA and NIST are investigating whether SCBA facepieces can be made safer Study follows incidents of SCBA face piece failure The United States Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have started a research study to examine the enhancement of thermal performance of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) face pieces to increase the protection of firefighters. "There have been incidents o...

President Obama and former President George H. W. Bush at the Presidential Forum on Service President Obama highlighted the national importance of service On October 16, two representatives from the Johnson County Rural Fire District (RFD) #1 Fire Safety Team attended the Presidential Forum on Service, held at the Texas A&M University campus in College Station, Texas. The event was hosted by the Points of Light Institute to discuss the role of government in volunteer se...

Streamlight has appointed Mike Dineen has been appointed Vice President of Sales and Marketing New appointee has "tremendous expertise" in markets including public safety Streamlight, Inc., a leading manufacturer of high-performance lighting equipment for professional and consumer applications, today announced the appointment of Michael F. Dineen to the position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In his new role, Dineen will be responsible for overall sales managemen...

A House-Senate Conference Committee has approved an increase in SAFER grant funding New funding will enable hiring of thousands of firefighters A House-Senate Conference Committee has approved a final version of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriation for FY 2010 that doubles funding for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. HR 2892 increases the SAFER appropriation to $420 million, providing funding to hire thousands of firefight...

Extricating collision victims requires advanced medical care After a vehicle collision of significant force - as in the case of high-speed impact - it is likely that the occupants of the car, particularly the driver and front seat passenger, will be entrapped. Brendon Morris, Holmatro Rescue Equipment's Consultation & Training Manager, and a rescue paramedic in South Africa for many years, discusses the need for an advanced level of care for entrapped patients in vehicle e...

The deadline for applications for the FP&S Grants is October 23, 2009 Submissions still open for FY 2009 Fire Prevention and Safety Grants There is still time to submit an application for the Department of Homeland Security, FY 09 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants! Applications for FP&S grants must be received by October 23, 2009 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time. Fire Prevention and Safety Grants projects can include arson prevention, sprinkler awareness, smoke a...

FEMA Administrator Fugate addressed the annual NCAI convention Speech highlighted the importance of tribes to US emergency response capabilities Yesterday, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate addressed the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) 66th Annual Convention in Palm Springs, CA. At the convention, Administrator Fugate underlined the critical role that tribes play as a partner and member of our nation's emergency response team. Over 1,500 tribal leaders from acro...

HAZUS 2010 will be held in Indianapolis Next year's conference will be held in Indianapolis The 4th annual HAZUS conference will be held August 23-25, 2010 in Indianapolia, Indiana.  The HAZUS conference provides a unique opportunity for users of all levels in a wide variety of professions, including all public safety operatives, to share expertise and experience in the development and use of HAZUS-MH. Those who should attend include: First responders Local...

Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, for whom the new Fire Prevention Act is named Congresswoman Tubbs had introduced Fire Prevention Act in last four sessions U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced the introduction of The of 2009. The late Congresswoman Tubbs Jones introduced the College Fire Prevention Act in each of the last four sessions of Congress and passed a resolution regarding Campus Fire Safety Month. Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S....

Registration for FDIC 2010 is now open Imagine the impact ON YOU Join us for FDIC 2010 - the fire service's premier event and largest annual gathering of fire professionals in North America. We have put together another thorough and challenging training program. H.O.T. evolutions and pre-conference workshop schedules have been revamped for more convenient scheduling and to give you the opportunity to get the most out of your training experience. Below are just a few of the...

Jim Ridley has been appointed IAFF Director New appointee a career firefighter with 29 years' experience International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Harold Schaitberger has appointed James Ridley director of the IAFF Hazardous Materials and Weapons of Mass Destruction Training Department. Ridley, a career firefighter for 29 years, was president of IAFF Local 124 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for 11 years. "I'm honored to be asked to take over a program t...

The IAFF has announced Elizabeth M. Harman is the intended nomination for Assistant Administrator at FEMA Former firefighter and paramedic is Obama's intended nomination U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced President Obama's intent to nominate Elizabeth M. Harman, a former firefighter and currently a Director at the International Association of Fire Fighters, to become an Assistant Administrator at the Federal Emergency Manag...

The application period for the FY 2009 FP&S grants is now open FP&S grant application period deadline is October 23, 2009 The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) FY 2009 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant application period is now open. Help your department apply for funds to support important programs including Fire Corps activities. The application deadline is October 23. FP&S grants support projects that enhance the safety of the public and fire...

The Road Rescue manufacturing facility in South Carolina Investments in facilities and equipment will increase productivity In a move to strengthen its operations and performance, Road Rescue has received additional capital investment and leadership support from its parent company, Spartan Motors, Inc. As part of a strategic initiative announced six months ago, Spartan Motors has made capital investments in facilities and equipment to strengthen the Marion, S.C. manufactur...

A Type 6 Light Brush Unit model for wildland use from KME Fire Apparatus New contracts for KME following reach-out to wildland community KME Fire Apparatus recently announced that it has made major efforts in reaching out to the wildland fire community. The company believes that such efforts are a good fit with its existing product lines and will only help in sustaining the growth that the company has experienced over the several years. "KME has always made good wildland p...

FLAME-SIM training software has been purchased by Leduc Fire Services Company's training software has been purchased by Leduc Fire Services FLAME-SIM continues to expand its Canadian client base thanks to The City of Leduc Fire Services (LFS), located in Alberta, Canada. Leduc, a combination department, recently purchased four seats of the training simulation software as well as the Rugged Mobile Center. FLAME-SIM will be used by LFS in order to strengthen a unique new p...

Agency officials walk past flooded mobile homes along Douglas County Sweetwater Creek, Georgia Emergency management agencies's focus turns to long-term recovery Two weeks after a federal major disaster declaration for parts of Georgia swamped by heavy rains and flooding, the emergency response is winding down and the focus of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has turned to long-term recovery. "The response of...

Students training at FEMA's Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) Speech applauded the significant contribution made by the Center The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Deputy Administrator, National Preparedness Directorate, Tim Manning, spoke at FEMA's Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) graduation ceremony today in Anniston, Alabama where he recognized CDP's 500,000th graduate. "The training provided by the Center for...