Fire Industry News for April 2023

Residential high-rise buildings in Thanet have become the first in Kent, United Kingdom (UK) to be fitted with new information plates to help navigate firefighters in an emergency.  Information initiative  Invicta House in Margate, and Trove Court and Kennedy House in Ramsgate have external plaques featuring key information about the premises, such as the number of floors, flats, and lifts, as well as the location of water supplies, which could be vital in the event of a fire. ...

A new qualification is now available for delivery by FireQual Approved Training Centers. This new qualification provides individuals with knowledge of the hazards and risks associated with fire in the workplace, how fire risk is controlled in the workplace, the principles and practice of fire safety management at work and the role of the nominated fire marshal. Basic fire fighting equipment This new qualification also requires individuals to demonstrate their ability to safely use portable fi...

In December of 2020, the Osage Beach Fire Protection District board of directors approved the proposal to purchase a new fire boat. This new purchase would replace the oldest boat in their fleet, Marine 11. The boat, purchased from Lake Assault Boats is a 31-foot Mono Hull with twin Mercury 300 Horsepower outboard engines. The boat will come equipped with a 5 Kilowatt Generator and 1500 Gallons per minute fire pump. It will also be outfitted with multiple electronics that will be utilized to as...

Manufacturer of towers and flanges for the wind sector, GRI Renewable Industries and supplier of coating solutions, Hempel are teaming up in a strategic partnership to cooperate around innovative solutions to increase efficiency in processes and equipment for surface protection of wind turbines. The new strategic partnership is a further strengthening of a long-term cooperation between the two companies as they expand the scope to include research & development on potential innovative produ...

Osage Beach Fire District hired 3 new firefighters. Probationary firefighters once hired are required to work a 40-hour week of training preparing them for their first 48-hour shift with their assigned shifts. Learning the basics  During this 40-hour week, the newly hired firefighters learn the basics, including but not limited to, hose deployment, rope rescue, and auto extrication.    This 40-hour week also gives the new firefighters a chance to meet everyone they may not wor...

Dorthe Scherling Nielsen joins Hempel on 1 October to lead the company’s ambitious sustainability work. Sustainability is a central pillar in Hempel. The company has a stated desire to lead the coatings industry in the sustainability space. To drive this goal forward, Hempel has appointed Dorthe Ambitious sustainability agenda Katarina Lindström, Group Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, comments: “I’m very pleased to welcome someone of Dorthe’s caliber t...

Recently, residents at Hoo Marina Park were evacuated from their homes in the early hours of the morning, after a serious fire broke out at a nearby industrial site. Homeowners were woken at around 4.30 am to the sounds of popping, before seeing large amounts of smoke and flames coming from a building just a stone’s throw away in Vicarage Lane.  While over 40 firefighters tackled the blaze, which is believed to have started accidentally due to an electrical fault, around 200 people h...

A global pioneer in sustainable energy solutions, Vestas, and supplier of coating solutions, Hempel is teaming up in a new strategic partnership to cooperate around innovative solutions for surface protection of wind turbines. The joint Vestas and Hempel ambition is to reduce surface treatment costs and support sustainable coating solutions. At the same time, Hempel continues to assist Vestas in remaining competitive throughout the entire process of becoming CO2 neutral by 2030. di...

A SURVEY of leaseholders found that ‘nearly nine in 10’ or 89% who have received external wall fire review (EWS1) checks have been told their buildings require remediation work. Earlier this year, the housing, communities and local government committee (HCLGC) found that ‘fixing fire safety defects’ in high risk residential buildings could cost up to £15bn, and branded the mortgage industry’s cladding form ‘slow and expensive’. The EWS1 process he...

Marion Body Works, a manufacturer in Defense, Fire & Emergency, Hazardous Waste Management Vehicles, and other related industries is presented the Northeast Wisconsin Service Award by Congressman Mike Gallagher. Marion is recognized for the essential work executed amidst the Coronavirus Pandemic. recognizing the unsung heroes  "While much of the country was shut down to help slow the spread of Coronavirus, brave men and women across Northeast Wisconsin worked hard to keep our state m...

The award is given to both a number of companies and public services that are able to show their outstanding support towards the Armed Forces community. KFRS has been awarded a bronze and silver award in the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERG) in previous years, but this is the first time the service has been awarded the gold recognition. To win an award, organizations must demonstrate that they provide additional paid leave for reservists and have other supportive HR policies in place for veter...

BAFE FireQual Ltd are pleased to announce that they have appointed Nic Preston as the FireQual Qualifications Manager from 1st September 2020. Nic has over 14 years of experience in the training and development sector with a proven ability in quality assurance demonstrated in several roles influencing training environments within the UK. His most recent roles have been developing and implementing growth strategies as Chief Executive of SFEDI Awards, the Awarding Organization for enterprise deve...

Over the years, Marion Body Works and EL Industries International have worked together to provide the Costa Rican Fire Department, Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de Costa Rica, with a variety of equipment. Past orders have included pumpers, brush units, and rescue vehicles.  All of these required numerous customizations to meet the specific needs of the Central American country. When Costa Rica placed an order for eight identical pumpers in June 2020, there were severa...

An experienced coatings industry specialist, Todd Cottrell will join Hempel from 17 August with responsibility for driving growth in the North American region. Global coatings company Hempel announced today that Todd Cottrell will take over as the company’s new Group Vice President for North America. Hempel has a stated ambition to double in size over the next five years. Todd will be responsible for growth in line with this vision in Hempel’s important North American business. Cus...

When a CO2 extinguisher is used in a confined space there is a danger that the user may become overwhelmed by the sudden increase in carbon dioxide emissions. This occurs as  CO2 is an asphyxiant, and the confined space means oxygen will be replaced by CO2 much faster. Similarly, care must also be taken when using powder extinguishers. When the powder is discharged it can impair visibility and impact the breathing of the user, possibly jeopardizing their escape. The possibility of the powd...

Firefighters are urging people living in Kent and Medway, and those traveling into the county to enjoy its extensive coastline, to follow simple steps to stay safe this summer and help prevent fires and injuries. Following the sunniest Spring on record in the UK, and the driest May in 124 years, the Fire Severity Index is currently 'very high' meaning fires at this time could develop and spread rapidly and with greater severity. Hazards during summers There are a whole host of hazards that ar...

Marion Body Works is committed to providing an environment for students to explore their career paths and develop their professional skill set well before entering the workforce.  It is part of the initiative to provide a place of learning, and ultimately an exceptional place of employment, to the next generation.  MBW is pleased to welcome a talented group of high school and college students to the 2020 Internship Program where they will work side-by-side with full-time employees to...

On 18 May 2020, global coatings manufacturer Hempel began construction of a new factory in Yantai Chemical Industrial Park, China. The new factory will help meet the increasing demand for more sustainable and innovative coating solutions in the region. Strategically located in the Yantai Chemical Industrial Park, Hempel’s new Chinese factory will replace its existing production facility in Yantai. It will have a production capacity of more than 100,000 tons per year and w...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is calling on Kent residents at home to tune into the first-ever online fire station open day on Thursday 28 May. Aimed at families of all ages, the virtual event has been organized in place of a number of the service’s annual ‘Family Open Days’, which were canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. online open day The online open day will take place from 11 am on Thursday 28 May on the Kent Fire and Rescue Service Facebook page, start...

Marion Body Works is excited to announce the hiring of Kevin Ignacio as Director of Business Development. Kevin, son of Marion President Curt Ignacio, is looking forward to joining the family-owned business after years of involvement with Marion as a member of the Board of Directors and a past Finance and Operations internship. Responsibilities In this role, Kevin will be an integral part of moving Marion Body Works forward and ensuring the continued execution of its strategic plan. Kevin wi...

Firefighters are helping two young girls to spread a little positivity across their community by flying their homemade flag. Crews at Tunbridge Wells Fire Station were presented with the colorful rainbow flag by sisters Kitti, 12, and Iris, 10. The duo, with the help of their dad Rupert, came up with the ‘together apart’ message, with the use of three linked rainbows.  Purpose Rupert said, “We created a flag to encourage social distancing and to celebrate how we can all...

Kent firefighters are supporting their blue light colleagues in the fight against COVID-19 by lending their services to the wider community. Crews and staff at Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) are working alongside South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) to help meet the growing demand for medical response across the county, as a result of the worldwide pandemic.  Firefighters will undergo training before being deployed to drive ambulances, while other KFRS employees have been...

Current Group Vice President for Hempel South & East Asia, Pernille Lind Olsen, becomes new Group Vice President for Hempel Europe & Africa starting on 1 July 2020. At the same time, the current Finance Director for Hempel Middle East Jonathan Mercer will take over Pernille Lind Olsen’s position as Group Vice President for Hempel South & East Asia. Pernille Lind Olsen has been with Hempel since November 2013. Since then, she has held positions as Group Product Director, Group...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service staff are delivering hot meals to those most in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Working with Age UK, operational firefighters, and support staff have volunteered their time to help out, and have been taking food to individuals living in Sittingbourne, Faversham, Hythe, and Lyminge. Review with operational needs They are wearing appropriate protective equipment and following strict hygiene protocols to ensure they’re protecting the high-risk customers they...

When Sean Bone-Knell applied to be a firefighter at Kent Fire and Rescue Service in 1984, he was told the window to apply had closed and to try again in a few years. Fortunately, his passion to join the fire service prevailed, and two years later, at 19 years old, his dream came true. Now, 33 years on, having climbed to be the highest-ranking fire officer in the service as Director of Operations, he’s hanging up his helmet for the last time. Sean's career  Sean said, “Being a...

Marion Body Works is celebrating its 115th anniversary in 2020. Curtis Ignacio, president and CEO of Marion Body Works, said the Wisconsin-based company has continued to thrive by staying true to its founding principles of excellent workmanship and honest value. Ignacio's comment “To say I’m proud of where we’ve been as a company is an understatement, and I’m excited about where we’re going in the future,” Ignacio said. “Without the support of ou...

In just eight years, coating manufacturer Hempel has painted 20,000 mining containers for Intermodal Solutions Group (ISG). The milestone 20,000th coating was completed in January 2020. container solutions ISG is a global supplier of container rotation systems and container solutions for the mining, grain, and ship-loading industries. During their eight-year partnership with Hempel, more than 1.5 million liters of paint has been used to protect the containers against the highly abrasive...

Katarina Lindström will join Hempel as Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer from 1 August 2020 and will play a central role in delivering on the company’s ambition to double in size. As Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer (COO), Katarina Lindström will be a key member of Hempel’s Executive Management Board, responsible for driving the company’s strategic agenda in terms of operational excellence, innovation and sustainability. Ma...

Marion Body Works, A national manufacturer of fire & emergency apparatus, announces its partnership with Municipal Fire Apparatus Specialists of McAllen, Texas. As of Jan. 1, 2020, Municipal Fire Apparatus Specialists is an official Marion Body Works dealer. “Having the opportunity to work with a proven dealer like Municipal Fire Apparatus Specialists, which strives to meet the evolving demands of its customers, is exactly what we hope for as an industry leader,” said Curtis Ign...

Two family pets sparked catastrophes when they unknowingly turned on hobs with their paws adding to the list of kitchen blazes tackled by Kent firefighters in January. In Sittingbourne, on 28 January, Moss the border collie jumped up at a cooker to reach his owner’s leftovers and turned on three gas rings, two of which ignited and set fire to a cushioned tray left on top of the hob.  Since, Kent Fire and Rescue Service had previously visited the property to carry out a Safe and Well...