United States of America (USA) Fire Industry News

An image from the new safety video issued by CSB, which depicts the fatal chemical accident at T2 Laboratories Video depicts reactive chemical accident at T2 Laboratories that killed four, injured 32 The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today released a new nine-minute computer animated safety video depicting the tragic reactive chemical accident that devastated T2 Laboratories in Jacksonville, Florida. Entitled "Runaway: Explosion at T2 Laboratories," the video detai...

Attendees of the IAFF International Burn Camp, held in Washington DC Event helps heal emotional wounds of burn injuries More than 40 burn survivors from the U.S. and Canada are attending the 14th annual International Burn Camp, an event in the nation's capital organized by the International Association of Fire Fighters' Burn Foundation to help teenagers cope with their injuries. Burn survivors on Tuesday will visit FedEx Field, home of the Washington Redskins, to meet Reds...

Governor Schwarzeneggar talking to firefighters in California after recent wildfires Directs Cal/OSHA to carry out largest heat enforcement effort in its history Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today mobilized the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to prepare for increased wildfire potential as unseasonably hot and dry conditions are forecast for much of California this week. Additionally, the...

Canadian fire chiefs aim to limit children's access to lighters, matches Project aims to decrease fires caused by play or deliberate firesetting A pilot project to limit the access that children have to lighters and matches was announced today by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) at its annual conference in Winnipeg. The project is a joint initiative between CAFC, Health Canada and The Arson Prevention Program for Children (TAPP-C), a program developed at the...

Registration deadlines are fast approaching for FHETS Registration deadline for FHETS is approaching It's almost here! The 2009 FIREHOUSE Software Education and Training Seminar (FHETS), to be held October 13th - 16th at the Disney Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida is approaching quickly. We would like to take this time to give you some helpful information for this year's conference. Hotel reservations If you have not made your hotel reservatio...

Streamlight will donate $1 for each pink Nano Light (pictured) sold to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation Streamlight to donate $1 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation for each pink Nano Light® sold Streamlight® Inc. a leading provider of high-performance flashlights, announced it has introduced the pink key-chain Nano Light®, designed to help make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. Streamlight will donate $1 to the Breast Cancer Research Fo...

The Fire Protection and Safety in Tunnels conference brings road and rail tunnel professionals together Upcoming conference will advise attendees on industry standards The Fire Protection and Safety in Tunnels conference, taking place 17 - 18 November 2009 in Paris, France, will help you to comply with industry safety standards, optimise your risk management and achieve safety excellence. This exceptional conference brings together road and rail tunnel professionals under...

U.S. Fire Administrator Kelvin Cochran will address the NVFC Board of Directors at their Fall Meeting Fire Administrator Cochran will speak during general session U.S. Fire Administrator Kelvin Cochran will address the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Board of Directors on Friday, September 25 during the NVFC Fall Board Meeting in Coralville, IA. Cochran will be speaking during the General Session, which is open to all meeting attendees. Cochran was confirmed by...

The scene of the explosion at T2 Laboratories in December 2007 Report notes company did not recognize hazards of chemical process The massive December 2007 explosion and fire at T2 Laboratories in Jacksonville was caused by a runaway chemical reaction that likely resulted from an inadequate reactor cooling system, investigators from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) said in a final draft report released today. The Board is to vote on the report findings and recommendatio...

A hurricane-damaged home - Fire Corps is calling for an increase in hurricane preparedness Fire Corps highlights dangers of US hurricane season It's National Preparedness Month, and each week Fire Corps is releasing information regarding a particular preparedness topic. September is not only National Preparedness Month, but it is also in the peak of hurricane season. In recent years, tragedies like hurricanes Katrina and Rita have emphasized the need for prepared...

The Imperial Sugar refinery following the fatal explosion in 2008 Board will consider final investigation report on fatal dust explosion at Imperial Sugar refinery The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) announced that it will convene a public meeting on Thursday September 24, 2009, in Savannah, Georgia, to review the final CSB investigation report on the causes of the February 2008 dust explosions and fire at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia. The me...

The application period for FY2009 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants begins on September 21, 2009 Primary goal of grants is to target high-risk populations The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has posted the FY2009 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants Program Guidance on the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program website. The application period is scheduled to begin on September 21, 2009 at 8:00 am Eastern Standard Time (EST). Applications f...

US fires in 2008 caused over $15.5 billion in direct property loss NFPA Journal publishes new fire loss statistics In 2008, fires caused more than $15.5 billion in direct property loss throughout the United States; fires in residential properties accounting for $8.6 billion of the total. Findings from the newly released report "U.S. Fire Loss in the United States in 2008" appear in the latest issue of NFPA Journal®, the official magazine of the National Fire Protection...

Navistar has unveiled MaxxForce TV, an online channel allowing customers to see MaxxForce engines in detail Innovative online entertainment channel gives customers a closer look at MaxxForce engines As Navistar completes its final testing stages and prepares for the upcoming launch of its 2010 MaxxForce® engines, a new online entertainment channel - MaxxForce TV - is making its debut. Starting this month, customers will be able to learn about the benefits of Navistar's...

Forty percent of US home fire deaths throughout 2003-2006 occured in homes without smoke alarms NFPA releases report on smoke alarms in U.S. home fires Four of every ten home fire deaths resulted from fires with no smoke alarms in 2003-2006, according to a new report released today by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). "Smoke alarms are one of the greatest fire protection devices of our time and have significantly contributed to the decline in home f...

The NVFC has released guidelines to improve health and safety procedures amongst volunteer firefighters New guidelines aim to improve volunteer firefighter health and safety The health and safety of our nation's volunteer fire service is a primary concern for the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). Each year, first responders are killed or injured due to factors that could have been avoided with the proper safety and health precautions. To help keep firefighters and em...

A new publication offered by Quality Parks Improves the way we respond to fire disasters With fires raging in the LA area, schools opening up for the start of the school year, and the upcoming fire prevention week this October, what better time is it than now to raise fire prevention awareness? Anywhere is fire prone, both in the wildlands and in our communities. Wherever fire strikes, we must be ready and better prepared. This is especially true of the wildland urban int...

The US Girl Scouts and DHS Citizen Corps have announced a new alliance, promoting community preparedness New initiative will bolster community preparedness Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano and Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Kathy Cloninger today unveiled a Girl Scout preparedness patch - designed to engage Girl Scouts and their families in personal preparedness for all emergencies-and announced a new affiliation between DHS Citizen Corps and the...

A digitally-created preview image of the 9/11 memorial site Projects in all 50 states mark first time 9/11 will be officially recognized as a national day of service and remembrance Americans across the country will honor the victims and heroes of the 9/11 tragedy by serving their neighbors and communities as part of the first-ever federally recognized September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. Service projects marking the eight year anniversary of 9/11 will tak...

FEMA is urging students to remember to prepare for possible emergencies Readiness urged on students across the US As millions of students return to campus or arrive for the first time, FEMA reminds everyone of the need to be prepared for emergencies before they strike. By visiting ready.gov, students can learn a learn few simple steps they can take now to get ready. "Emergencies can happen any time, any where, even on campus," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "By gett...

The 28th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend will be held October 2-4, 2009 Annual fallen firefighter memorial event date announced The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Fire Administration announce that the 28th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend will be held October 2-4, 2009. A plaque with the names of 103 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2008 will be added to the...

NIPSTA will host a state-approved auto extrication training program for firefighters this September Hands-on training meets NFPA extrication guidelines  In late September the Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy (NIPSTA) will host the state-approved Vehicle/Machinery-Technician Level program for firefighters who have successfully completed the Operations Level training. This advanced curriculum meets the guidelines of NFPA 1006 and NFPA 1670. Scen...

The Fire Science Academy has helped plan a new firefighter training facility in Gujarat, India Fire Science Academy's worldwide division provides consulting expertise to promote emergency response training in India With ongoing consulting assistance from the University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy Worldwide, the Institute of Fire Safety and Disaster Management Studies (IFSDMS) in Gujarat, India, has broken ground on its new training facility, expected to p...

Chief Jeff Johnson has been named President and Chairman of the Board of the IAFC New appointee will act as association's primary spokesperson The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) has installed Chief Jeffrey D. Johnson, EFO, CFO, MIFireE, fire chief and chief executive officer of Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue in Oregon, as IAFC president and chairman of the board for 2009-2010. The installation took place on August 28 during the IAFC's Fire Rescue Interna...

Verizon has increased its wildfire relief efforts for both firefighters and victims of wildfire Firefighters, evacuees depend on network performance, free communications services to remain connected Verizon has expanded wildfire relief efforts to include free service restoral for customers who have lost their home in the fires, which have burned more than 150,000 acres across Southern California. As part of ongoing assistance for fire victims, Verizon is waiving charges fo...

DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano introduces the ads in New York Ads designed to highlight National Preparedness Month across US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today joined with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate and the Ad Council to launch a new series of Ready Campaign public service advertisements (PSAs) designed to encourage all Americans to take steps to prepare for emergencies, kicking off September's...

The 2009 Phillip L. Turner Fire Protection Scholarship has been awarded to student Benjamin Eschner OSU student was nominated as "outstanding rookie" by his peers The Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association (FAMA) has awarded the 2009 Phillip L. Turner Fire Protection Scholarship to Oklahoma State University student Benjamin Eschner. Eschner, a sophomore from Chicago majoring in fire protection and safety technology, will receive a $3,000 scholarship in recognition o...

The site of the fatal 2007 explosion at T2 Laboratories, Inc. Final report will be presented; first responders invited to attend The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) announced today that it will convene a public meeting on Tuesday, September 15, 2009, in Jacksonville, Florida, at which CSB investigators will present their final report on the causes of the fatal December 2007 explosion at T2 Laboratories Inc., a local chemical manufacturer.The meeting will begin at 6:00 pm a...

Secretary Napolitano met with NCR leaders to discuss shared emergency response plans Meeting focuses on collaborative emergency plans in the area Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today met with Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian Fenty, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine to discuss coordination on emergency preparedness and response efforts in the National Capital Region (NCR). "The National Capital Region po...

Since 2000, 135 people have died in campus-related fires across the US This year marks the fifth anniversary of National Campus Fire Safety Month with the goal of having more schools, communities, students and parents aware of the dangers of fire and engaged in learning what they can do to make sure tragedy does not strike. Since 2000, at least 135 people have died in campus related fires with over 80 percent of them occurring in off-campus housing according to information...