Fire Industry News for August 2023

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) regional administrator authorized the use of federal funds on Aug. 9 to assist the US state of Hawaii to combat the Mauna Kea Beach Fire burning in Hawaii County. On Aug. 9, 2023, the US state of Hawaii submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). At the time of the request, the fire threatened approximately 100 homes in and around Mauna Kea Beach, with mandatory evacuations for approximately 100 people. The fire also...

Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings has issued a message of advice to those working in the protection of structural steel who are affected by the new Building Safety Act 2022 as the date approaches for it to become enforceable to ensure users understand their obligations. High-risk buildings From October 2023, all buildings must be registered with the newly established Building Safety Regulator (BSR), and those of at least 18 meters in height or with at least seven stories contai...

Successful and high-performing fire and EMS departments support their members and make health and well-being top priorities. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has launched a new initiative to motivate and recognize departments that are taking the important steps needed to create a psychologically healthy fire department (PHFD). Departments can take part in the initiative by pledging their commitment to support their members. To participate, departments must do the following: Have at...

British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association’s (BAFSA) Chief Executive - Ali Perry has been appointed by the Health & Safety Executive to the Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) new Industry Competence Committee (ICC). Industry Competence Committee The Industry Competence Committee (ICC) has been set up to support the work of the Building Safety Regulator. Its aim is to provide insights and guidance from industry stakeholders, in order to help improve competence levels across the...

International media report a configuration error of RDS Connected Fleet. The hacker group ‘ZER - Reverse Engineering Zentrum’ is behind this media coverage. This group is specialized in finding security holes in companies. By using the telematics modules installed in the trucks, they succeeded in reading out names of emergency organizations and, in the case of individual vehicles with a SIM card installed, their whereabouts including time stamps. No personal data was affected. After...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) joins with other national fire service organizations to strongly oppose proposed cuts to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants programs provide critical funding to help fire departments secure needed equipment, training, and staffing to adequately protect their communi...

RealWear, the pioneer of industrial extended reality (XR) wearables, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Chris Parkinson as RealWear’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). HMT-1® flagship headset Dr. Parkinson, Co-Founder, and former CTO of RealWear®, is the visionary mind behind the HMT-1® flagship headset that started the RealWear story in 2016. The HMT-1 was RealWear’s first industrial head-mounted tablet computer on the market and catapulted RealWear into the s...

Following a robust selection process, a new Deputy Chief Fire Officer has been announced at the North East’s largest fire and rescue service - Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS). Stewart Nicholson has been announced as the new Deputy Chief Fire Officer at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and will take up his post by November 2023. Stewart joins Tyne and Wear from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, where he has served as Deputy Assistant Chief Officer. He is the first s...

Amthal has announced the appointment of Reece Paprotny to Commercial Director, having initially joined the company as an apprentice. The promotion comes as the company announces a strategic shift in its approach to fire safety and security services. Business development Reece, who joined Amthal as a finance apprentice in 2015, instantly identified a strong drive to succeed and a keen eye for business development opportunities. He quickly established himself as a valuable asset, rising to...

Industry pioneer - AEI Cables has clinched a contract to supply its low-voltage power, control, and fire performance cables to a major extension of the Hong Kong Sports Institute. Working with its partners, Cornwall Contracting Co.Ltd, AEI Cables supplied the cables to the existing sports complex from 2011 to 2013. Extension features The major extension involves the facilities development building, which is located in front of the indoor swimming pool and rowing boathouse comprising a three-...

EPIC-FSC, the nonprofit Fire Safe Council for Calabasas, is thrilled to announce the launch of its revamped and improved website, designed to provide residents with comprehensive and easy-to-navigate resources for emergency preparedness. With a focus on curated content specific to Calabasas, the new website aims to empower individuals and families with crucial information and resources to safeguard their loved ones and homes during emergencies. knowledge and tools "We are excited to unveil ou...

Where school groups are faced with budgetary constraints, decision-makers can’t afford to neglect fire safety. Sue Corrick of Allegion UK explains how responsible persons can use the summer break to extend the service life of fire doors in school buildings.  By the time August arrives, it’s official - school is out for summer. For students and staff alike, the summer holiday is a precious period of recreation and recuperation, but for most education facilities, the annual break...

Dräger, an international provider in the fields of medical and safety technology, celebrated its partnership with women in the fire service UK last week, reinforcing its commitment to equality of opportunity, improved representation of women in the industry, and how Dräger is designing equipment fit to meet the challenges of an increasingly diverse workforce in the fire service. Hosted at South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, 46 delegates across 16 Fire and Rescue Services, Hazardo...

Homes and businesses are stuffed full of technology and depend on electricity for the completion of numerous daily tasks. As the 21st century progresses, they are becoming more and more reliant on digital devices to streamline work processes, and provide with entertainment, and keep everyone connected. As such, electrical fires are always a possibility, especially if equipment is outdated or neglected. It is important to look out for potential electrical hazards and rectify them promptl...

Fire is a complex force of nature that can quickly wreak havoc throughout a modern building, putting lives and property at risk. But proper fire prevention and preparation can help to manage this threat and in turn, keep employees safe in an emergency. Proper fire preparation means more than just installing the correct extinguishers and sprinkler systems. It's about giving people the tools to act calmly and practically in a crisis, where this can be taught through a comprehensive fire safety tr...

NICE announced that ASTRID, the operator of Belgium’s national radio communications, paging, and dispatching network, has selected NICE to modernize their voice recording and incident reconstruction solutions for 14 police, fire, and EMS Public Safety Answering Points. reliable data capture As a provider of a single system of record for emergency incidents, NICE empowers public safety and criminal justice agencies to find the truth that’s hidden in data faster and improve services...

Johnson Controls, the globally renowned company for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, launched the new AquaMist® AM35 Ultra Low Flow (ULF) nozzle, completing the AquaMist ULF low-pressure water mist fire suppression portfolio to offer customers full-building water mist protection. Water mist fire suppression “Water mist fire suppression systems continue to grow in popularity because they effectively suppress fires using less water, which results in reduced water damage so bu...

In the wake of the recent devastating floods that have struck the state of Vermont, Fire-Dex is reaffirming its commitment to supporting communities in times of crisis by donating high-quality firefighting boots and specialized rescue gloves to emergency responders and volunteers on the ground. “These flash floods have caused significant damage to homes, infrastructure and the livelihoods of many residents,” said Jeffrey Koledo, V.P. of Sales for Fire-Dex. “We unders...

Fire protection solutions manufacturer, Advanced, has supplied intelligent fire panels to residential apartment buildings in Roscam, in County Galway, Ireland. The eight residential apartment blocks in Roscam are now protected by Advanced’s Go, its new-generation, single-loop fire alarm control panel. Fire and security service providers, Securecom Claddagh Ltd, carried out the replacement and upgrade of an aging fire alarm system, installing a Go panel in each of the three-storey apartmen...

In a mountain area in Yunnan Province (China), Dahua Technology safeguards the safe production of a 700+ mu photovoltaic power station, providing intelligent fire prevention and control measures in its vast facilities. The implemented solution significantly increased the accuracy of fire alarms by more than 10 times, as well as the efficiency of fire alarm response by 30%, which help ensure the stable delivery of clean energy to its surrounding areas.  Superior Lighting Conditions The ad...

Firefighting is an extremely dangerous and demanding profession, both physically and mentally. However, help is at hand: Teledyne FLIR designed its K-series of professional yet affordable thermal imaging cameras to take the strain, assisting firefighters in navigating through smoky conditions while searching for hot spots and measuring temperature from a distance. The team at Solna Fire Station in Stockholm, Sweden, is a case in point, where the use of a FLIR K-series camera recently helpe...

West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (WYFRS) has selected edge control room solutions from Frequentis to enhance service delivery for the communities it safeguards through better resource allocation and coordination between emergency services when responding to emergencies. WYFRS WYFRS is the fourth largest fire and rescue service in the country, responsible for the safety of over 2.2 million residents and the protection of 800 square miles of land, covering five major metropolitan distric...

Hochiki’s Enhanced System Protocol Range (ESP) and Latitude system are already EN54 pt13 certified, however with this additional certification in place it provides greater choice of fire detection products and systems to choose from for customers based in the Belgium region as well as bordering countries Luxemburg, the Netherlands and Germany. The Hochiki ESP range is one of the most robust platforms on the market, offering a wide selection of features and benefits for some of the most co...

Carrier Corporation is pleased to announce the brand-new version 9.2 of TruVision Navigator video management. More open, more secure: everything that has been asked for! TruVision Navigator It offers a long list of features to monitor the video system, free of charge! It is a solution that is easy to install, to configure and it even includes a system set-up wizard, in case of doubt. It is not only a feature-rich and intuitive video management system, it truly is an integrated security sys...

A summer heat wave is a stark reminder of the aggravating impact of extreme temperatures on incidences of deadly medical emergencies, and the consequent greater burden on fire departments and emergency services.  Temperature Extremes In addition to increasing the risk of wildfires from dry vegetation, temperature extremes also mean residents are more likely to suffer from dehydration or heat stress. Firefighters typically see a noticeable increase in calls during a heat wave as they stru...

Fire-Dex, the country’s fastest-growing manufacturer of PPE for first responders, is growing again with the opening of a new production facility in Old Fort, North Carolina, USA. As the company’s fourth major production center, the 25,000-square-foot Old Fort facility, located at 59 Commerce Street, will play a vital role in ensuring quality craftsmanship, fast shipping, and attentive service to customers for years to come. Position Critical Resources “While our footprint is...

Concerned fire officers and trading standard experts have warned of the dangers of e-bikes and e-scooters after a devastating fire in Newcastle. Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) and Newcastle City Council have issued the warning after a residential fire in Elswick recently. Fires By e-Bike Firefighters from Newcastle Central Community Fire Station responded to the blaze on July 11th when a lithium-ion battery on an e-bike caught fire while charging in a bedroom. The occupant...

It is with a heavy heart that BAFE announces the passing of two friends and colleagues. Both, Peter Chilton and Dominic Cook passed away at the end of April 2022.  They both greatly assisted BAFE with fire extinguisher technician assessments/verification and exam invigilation as experts within their field. Peter Chilton Peter Chilton had more than 30 years of fire industry experience before working with BAFE, including 25 years with a fire extinguisher organization, Fire Protection Servi...

BAFE and FireQual joint statement on the fifth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower Fire (14/06/2017). Both BAFE and FireQual remember the Grenfell Tower fire and on this day would like to pay respects to all affected individuals of this disastrous event. BAFE’s remit to define the competency of organizations working within the sector has a primary focus on life safety. While damage limitation to the building is also desired, mitigating risk to life is the key factor here. Building Saf...

The episode begins with Jonathan O’Neill OBE, FPA Managing Director, speaking with Chris Miles, Regional Business Director at UL, to explore how international testing practices could benefit the UK’s own building safety. Their discussion starts with a look at the Building Safety Act receiving royal assent, and whether a clearer, more transparent, and more effective specification and testing regime for construction products was being achieved. Chris casts doubt over whether this has...