United States of America (USA) Fire Industry News

A new ISO report will aid in the design of more fire-safe buildings Report gives advice on emergency people management A new ISO technical report on how people behave when fire breaks out will help in designing safer buildings that make escape easier and reduce exposure to flames and heat. ISO/TR 16738:2009, Fire-safety engineering - Technical information on methods for evaluating behaviour and movement of people provides information on engineering methods used for the eva...

Fred G. Allinson has been given the NVFC's Lifetime Achievement Award Award presented at NVFC Board Meeting The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) bestowed its 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award to Fred G. Allinson, a volunteer firefighter from Washington State. With a distinguished record of service, including six years as NVFC Chairman and 39 years as a volunteer firefighter, Allinson's accomplishments exemplify outstanding performance. The NVFC Lifetime Achievement Awar...

Streamlight is warning against the use of inferior quality flashlight batteries Use of substandard lithium batteries in flashlights can lead to fire, explosion or burn hazards Streamlight, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance flashlights for industrial, fire and rescue, law enforcement professionals and sporting enthusiasts, today issued another warning about purchasing and using inferior quality lithium 123A batteries with its flashlight products or other product...

The NVFC urges you to vote to retain a provision requiring fire sprinklers in new residential construction Join ICC by October 14 to be eligible to vote Vote to retain a provision in the International Residential Code (IRC) requiring the installation of fire sprinklers in new residential construction at the International Code Council's (ICC) Code Development Hearings on October 28 in Baltimore, MD. You must join the ICC by October 14 in order to participate in the vote....

An image from CSB's new safety video on the Imperial Sugar explosion Video includes 3D animation of explosion The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today released a new nine-minute safety video on the combustible dust explosion at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia, which claimed the lives of 14 workers, injured 36, and caused extensive property damage on February 7, 2008.Entitled "Inferno: Dust Explosion at Imperial Sugar," the video includes a new four-...

Streamlight has announced it is now introducing a new basic performance standard for flashlight manufacture Company helped lead effort to create standardized tests, uniform rating system Streamlight® Inc., a leading provider of high-performance flashlights for automotive repair, industrial, fire and rescue, law enforcement professionals and sporting enthusiasts, reported it has begun implementing a new basic performance standard for flashlights. The company was instru...

As part of Fire Prevention Week the NVFC is issuing tips on preventing kitchen fires, burns and injuries New tips aim to increase fire safety in the kitchen It's Fire Prevention Week, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and Fire Corps have joined forces with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), firefighters, and safety advocates nationwide to increase awareness about fire safety. This year's campaign focuses on burn awareness and prevention. Visit th...

Workers clearing debris in American Samoa - FEMA continues to respond and give federal support to the region Donations welcomed by partner agencies such as Red Cross The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is into its sixth day of response and federal support to American Samoa. FEMA and federal teams, through the Federal Coordinating Officer, continue to work closely with American Samoan Governor Togiola Tulafono and Delegate Eni F....

A screenshot from FLAME-SIM showing three firefighters in a virtual scenario New customer hopes FLAME-SIM will provide helpful virtual experience to firefighters FLAME-SIM is excited to announce the addition of Red Deer Emergency Services to the rapidly growing FLAME-SIM family! Red Deer Emergency Services (RDES), FLAME-SIM’s first international customer, is located in Alberta, Canada and serves the City of Red Deer and the surrounding region. RDES maintains a profess...

The scene following the explosion at the Slim Jim plant in June 2009 Advice follows fatal June, 2009 accident at processing plant In a new safety bulletin based on preliminary findings from the ConAgra Foods natural gas explosion in Garner, North Carolina, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) urged companies, gas installers, and contractors to follow safe practices during gas purging operations, including venting purged gases outdoors whenever practicable.The explosion, whi...

Firefighters who give emergency medical care should receive the H1N1 vaccination, say FEMA, USFA First responder agencies should receive treatment in first wave of vaccine With the first deliveries of the H1N1 vaccine already underway, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as part of its mission to support first responders, joins the United States Fire Administration (USFA) in recommending that firefighters who provide emergency medical services (EMS...

Members of the crowd at the Candlelight Service, part of the Memorial Weekend Memorial weekend events will be broadcast online live The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced today that two of the major events taking place during the 2009 Memorial Weekend (October 3 - 4, 2009) will be available live via satellite and Internet, for easy viewing. The URL for this broadcast is http://mfile.akamai.com/22330/live...

USFA is urging the US fire service to support fire-safe cigarette initiatives Fire-safe cigarettes lessen risk of home fire deaths Smoking is the leading cause of home fire fatalities in the United States, despite the fact that the numbers of smokers continue to decline. The victims of the fires are not only the smokers but their children, spouses or partners, and even neighbors or friends. On top of the human tragedy, millions of dollars of property is damaged or d...

Governor Schwarzeneggar at the site of the Station fire in Los Angeles County California governor acknowledges need for review Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued a statement following an announcement by the U.S. Forest Service that they will be reviewing the way the Station fire in Los Angeles County was fought: "It is very clear that a thorough investigation and review of the Station fire response by the federal government is absolutely necessary." "I can assure...

An image from one of the public service advertisements unveiled during National Preparedness Month FEMA continues to encourage every American to be ready for emergencies As September comes to an end, so does the 6th annual National Preparedness Month (NPM), but FEMA continues efforts to ensure every American is prepared. NPM, sponsored by the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps, in conjunction with FEMA, is held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to pre...

DHS Secretary Napolitano delivered a speech focusing on the need for shared responsibility Individual and community preparedness will help build readiness Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today marked the conclusion of National Preparedness Month by delivering a speech emphasizing America's shared responsibility for preparedness and stressing the important role that individuals play in building a national culture of readiness and resilience....

IFSTA has launched an online survey to determine the level of interest for audio books Firefighter training publisher issues audio book title survey IFSTA has recently considered publishing our most popular titles in an audio book format. By answering these 21 questions, you will help us to determine the level of interest for audio books and related electronic products. This survey should take approximately four minutes or less to complete. IFSTA strives to meet our custo...

The OASIS Emergency Interoperability Summit  and NIEM Training Event will be held in conjunction Events will give attendees insight into interoperable solutions The DM Program will have a significant role at the OASIS Emergency Interoperability Summit, being held in conjunction with this year's National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) National Training Event in Baltimore, Maryland, September 29 - October 2, 2009. The purpose of the summit is to provide attendees wit...

Fire Corps is highlighting the need for awareness of increasing wildfire risks Fire Corps urges action on wildfire risk Throughout National Preparedness Month Fire Corps has been releasing weekly information bulletins regarding a particular preparedness topic. September is the peak of wildfire season, and, according to The Blue Ribbon Panel on Wildland/Urban Interface, it is estimated that 100,000 wildland fires destroy nearly 1 million acres every year in the United States...

This year's Fire Prevention Week runs from October 4 - 10, 2009 Fire Prevention Week runs from October 4 - 10 Fire Prevention Week is October 4 - 10, and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), along with local fire departments and other safety advocates nationwide are urging people to "Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned." Fire departments responded to an estimated 1.5 million fires in 2008. These fires resulted in 3,320 civilian fire fatalities, 16,705 civilian...

The NVFC, with the Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation, has awarded grants to ten junior firefighter programs Ten outstanding applicant programs selected to win grants The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), in partnership with the Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation, has selected 10 outstanding junior firefighter programs and Explorer Posts from departments nationwide to receive a $5,000 grant through the NVFC National Junior...

A fire and rescue search team operating in severe flooding NVFC support fund designed to help first responders affected by severe weather incidents FEMA has announced that 17 counties in Georgia have received federal disaster designations due to the devastating floods and severe weather. When tragedies like this strike, we must remember that the firefighters and EMS personnel relied upon to respond are also victims. The National Volunteer Fire Council's (NVFC) Volunteer Fir...

An image taken after the explosion at the Imperial Sugar Refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia in February 2008 Report concludes inadequate equipment design, maintenance and housekeeping led to explosions In a final draft report released today, CSB investigators said the February 7, 2008, explosion at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia, resulted from ongoing releases of sugar from inadequately designed and maintained dust collection equipment, conveyors, a...

USFA has released a report into US firefighter fatalities in 2008 Heart attacks the most common cause of US firefighter death in 2008 The United States Fire Administration (USFA) today released the report Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2008. The report continues a series of annual studies by the USFA of on-duty firefighter fatalities. The USFA is the single public agency source of information for all on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States each...

FEMA community education specialists will take part in Lowe's Safety Saturday Event part of National Preparedness Month Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) community education specialists will be participating in Lowe's Safety Saturday. This information-sharing, public safety, preparedness event will be held Saturday, September 26, 10am - 2pm, in Augusta, ME. "Disasters can strike at anytime with or without warning," said FEMA Deputy Federal Preparedness Coordinator...

Two firefighters were honoured with the title of Canadian Fire Chief of the Year at the CAFC conference Firefighters honoured at closing ceremonies of CAFC conference Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Fire and Emergency Services Chief Les Karpluk and Selkirk, Manitoba Fire Chief Dan Thorsteinson have been respectively named Full-time Career Fire Chief of the Year and Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC). Both awards were announced la...

The DHS has announced new grants for increased preparedness initiatives including fire station construction Grant funds made available by Recovery Act Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced more than $380 million in grants - funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) - to pay for fire station construction and port and transit security initiatives nationwide while creating jobs and stimulating local economies. "Inf...

NFPA Firewise Learning Center now offers a new tool to improve community wildfire safety Firewise Learning Center offers new online seminar free to all Fire and forestry professionals have a new tool to help make communities safer from wildfire. "Conducting a Community Assessment in the Wildland/Urban Interface: Beginning the Firewise Process" is the latest offering of the NFPA's Firewise Learning Center. The online course is aimed at fire and forestry professionals an...

Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics has unveiled a new YouTube channel offering online training videos Educational, how-to videos available for emergency responders Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics has launched a new YouTube channel devoted to instructional training for individuals who work with hazardous materials. The channel was created as part of a broader effort to provide fire-fighters, military and other emergency response teams with educational tools on how to effec...

A FEMA image showing flooded homes in central Georgia Entire state remains under flash flood watch IAFF members across the state of Georgia are responding to flooding that has taken the lives of at least seven citizens and flooded homes, interstates and roads. IAFF 12th District Vice President Larry Osborne and Professional Fire Fighters of Georgia President Jon Dorman are reaching out to affiliates, especially those in the hard-hit metro-Atlanta area, to assess any potent...