Fire Industry News for December 2021

“All in all, it’s not just about a water (suppressant) response or a retardant-only response (for line building). It’s about utilizing them both, when needed, on aggressive fires." "Conair operates owns and operates approximately 70 different aircraft. So, in that mix, all sizes, shapes, and capabilities of the fixed-wing world are represented. The Canadair CL-415, the Fire Boss, and the wheeled Air Tractor AT-802 can all be found." Tactical management aircraft "There are al...

National Foam announces that it will discontinue the sale of all PFAS based foam concentrates into the State of California effective January 1, 2021. National Foam UniversalF3 Green® 3% X 3% synthetic fluorine-free foam concentrate has proven to be the replacement of choice for end-users in the Industrial, Chemical, and Oil & Gas sectors. UniversalF3 Green® offers UL/ULC and LASTfire listings on both hydrocarbon and polar solvents in fresh and saltwater. Providing independent ass...

National Foam has announced the completion of its fluorine free foam manufacturing line expansion in Angier, North Carolina. This expansion, along with ongoing product initiatives, is designed to support the growing shift to synthetic fluorine free foam concentrates. fluorine free foam production “We have substantially increased our fluorine free foam production, to meet the rapidly growing demand in the marketplace,” said Bobby Nelson, the General Manager at National Foam. Bobby...

Advanced’s Technical Support Engineer, Mark Taylor, examines some of the solutions available to those tasked with protecting hotels from the threat of fire. Cooking equipment, careless smoking, and electrical malfunctions are three of the leading causes of fire in hotels. Aside from the serious threat to life and property, posed by genuine fires, failure to provide and maintain high-quality fire protection measures has other dire consequences as well. False alarms lead to disruptions...

A host of fire and life safety solutions from Advanced have been installed to protect 26,000 sq. meters of grade A office space in Mohammed Bin Rashid City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). EN 54-approved Axis EN fire panels with integrated voice evacuation and fire telephone systems have been installed across four, seven-story office buildings, at the prestigious Dubai Hills Estate Business Park, in Dubai. Cignetix installs Axis EN fire panels Cignetix Systems (Cignetix) was responsible fo...

Vimpex has supplied Agrippa wireless acoustic fire door holders to hold open fire doors at the HQ of one of England's largest housing associations to provide an easy and effective method of infection control, while not impacting fire safety. Part of a COVID-secure risk assessment carried out identified the need to reduce the touching of fire door locks and door handles by staff and visitors at the organization's administrative offices. "Reducing the spread of germs and bacteria has never been m...

The Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union (MPFFU) is five affiliates stronger after 8th District Vice President Mark Sanders led a ceremonial oath of membership for the 70 new members at the MPFFU 6th District fall meeting. MPFFU President Mark Docherty, Secretary-Treasurer Terry Chesney, and 6th District Vice President Matt Sahr were also present. Addition of new members “It’s an honor to represent the 8th district in welcoming our newest members. Thanks to the MPFFU and 6th...

Join General President Ed Kelly for a virtual Q&A on Facebook Live at noon on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. The event will be streamed live on the IAFF Facebook page and will be open to the public. Committed to making the IAFF a member-focused and member-driven organization, President Kelly will provide an update on recent IAFF headquarter activities, continuing transition work, and a discussion on issues of national interest to members across our two countries. IAFF hopes users ca...

The St. Louis County Hazardous Materials Response Team, which includes Professional Fire Fighters of Eastern Missouri Local 2665 members, were called to respond when a chemical tank at GKN Aerospace in Hazelwood, Missouri, containing Nitric Acid leaked creating an orange, toxic cloud to escape from the building. When the team arrived, the orange vapor cloud was hovering over the building. The team needed to quickly determine what dangers the chemical posed before deciding on a response strategy...

Heather Stefanson was sworn in as Manitoba’s new premier following a hotly contested and very close election. Her election as the province’s first female premier was, in no small part, due to the work of IAFF members. The IAFF has long said to elected leaders that they don’t have liberal or conservative issues, they have firefighter issues. Voting campaign In the final vote tally, Stefanson won by 363 votes; the margin of victory was decided by the work of the Manitoba Profe...

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released new rules on November 4 requiring employers with more than 100 employees, including local and state governments in the 28 state plan states, to require their employees to be vaccinated or undergo weekly testing. However, in issuing these rules, OSHA excluded emergency responders and healthcare workers who already are covered by OSHA’s Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that was released in June. The protections f...

Culminating nearly three years of work by the IAFF and congressional advocates, Congress passed legislation significantly expanding and improving Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) for firefighters who die or are disabled in the line of duty (PAFRA; S 1511). President Biden is expected to sign the bill into law in the coming days. “Supporting the families of our fallen brothers and sisters is the most important thing we can do and we will never shy away from this fight,” says Gen...

Crash Responder Safety Week (CRSW) is November 8-14, 2021. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, this initiative is designed to raise public awareness and help keep roadway responders and the public safe around traffic incidents. Nearly every week, a first responder is killed while helping clear a roadway crash. Many more sustain life-altering injuries. The members work tirelessly to save lives at traffic incident scenes as safely and quic...

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, former Assistant to the General President for Technical Assistance and Information Resources (TAIR) and President and CEO of the International Public Safety Data Institute (IPSDI), is the new United States Fire Administrator. Dr. Moore-Merrell was appointed by President Joe Biden at the urging of the IAFF. She also had widespread support from other fire service organizations. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell swore Moore-Merrell in...

The Tulsa Fire Department will soon begin hiring 60 new firefighters to replenish ranks overburdened in recent years by a combination of large-scale natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic and steady attrition. Tulsa Local 176, working hand in hand with the IAFF, as well as key state and federal lawmakers, secured a $12 million Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant. SAFER grants, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), are designed to help fire...

Zapatta, Texas Local 5355 is the newest IAFF local. The fire department in Zapatta County, located in southern Texas with only Falcon Lake separating the Texas county from the Mexico border, is a small all-career department that responds to emergency calls throughout the county. For many in the department, firefighting is more than just a job, says Local 5355 President Zenon Perez. Promoting firefighter health “We have fathers and sons, fathers and daughters, and brothers and sisters wo...

The IAFF is welcoming Colchester Local 5350, its newest Vermont affiliate. In July 2020, two fire departments – Malletts Bay Fire Department and Colchester Center Volunteer Fire Company – are collectively now called the Colchester Fire Department. The Colchester Selectboard approved the merger in hopes of better addressing the fire and emergency service staffing shortage. Networking opportunities “We decided to organize so that we will have a voice as decisions are made abou...

In response to a petition by the IAFF and other stakeholders, the U.S. Department of Education is overhauling its Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program in an effort to provide relief for those who fell through the cracks. The changes will greatly benefit firefighters and EMTs who have student loans. The IAFF has been working with the Department of Education, the Biden administration and other stakeholders to make changes to the PSLF program in order to provide its members with student...

New Orleans, LA Local 632 has spearheaded a successful effort to secure a $15 per hour minimum wage for firefighters and paramedics, as well as all other city employees. The New Orleans Civil Service Commission, which is responsible for city personnel, approved the raise pushed by Local 632 and other labor advocacy groups and approved by the city council, for a living wage for all city employees. Next municipal budget The plan, which will cost the city approximately $11 million, will raise ba...

In this exclusive interview, General President Edward Kelly sits down with Hoover, AL Local 4035 member Josh Jordan. The General President talks about his family, his love of the fire service, top priorities for his new administration and headquarters operations, and engaging rank-and-file members. In the interview, President Kelly also discusses the value and importance of union membership, work-like balance; future challenges for the IAFF and the labor movement, politics, the critic...

The HRU AutoFlaker is a highly efficient quick response hose layer and automated hose recovery system and only needs the truck driver to automatically retrieve hoses up to 300mm / 12" diameter. The HRU AutoFlaker retrieves and flakes the coupled hoses fully automatic most efficiently into the HoseLayer Container. No manpower is needed inside the container because the retrieval unit goes back and forth as well as left and right to flake the hose.

After 30 years of proven performance, the Dutch government has decided that the current mobile water supply systems featuring hydraulically driven submersible pumps used for long-distance water transport, need to be replaced. The systems supplied between 1988 and 1992 (also by Hytrans® Systems) and used in the event of large-scale disasters, will be replaced by "State of the art" systems, in which 4 new patents are applied. Mobile water transport systems Each participating Fire Depar...

Global HSE announces that it has achieved UKAS accredited IFC certification. Following successful office and site audits, it has been accepted onto the scheme for the installation and maintenance of Fire Rated Timber Doors. IFC Certification is a UKAS accredited and internationally recognized provider of high-quality, independent third-party certification. This accreditation is in line with our company values at Global. It ensures that certified products are installed in line with tested detail...

Over the last few weeks, Global is thrilled to have been partnering up with the team at Winkhaus to develop the skills and knowledge of composite fire doors. Winkhaus’ extensive expertise in their BM Trada Q Marked fire doors has been incredibly valuable, setting out the first steps in the journey with them. Global set its sights on the manufacturing and fabrication of its composite fire doors, looking to supply higher quality and safer doors to projects from their warehouse. With the hel...

Global HSE, a pioneer in fire engineering solutions, is one of the few companies to be named a preferred Hilti installer as part of the Hilti Accredited Firestop Specialty Contractor (HAFSC) program in the UK. Selection process Hilti undergoes a rigorous process of selecting contractors, who also need to be certified by a third party such as FIRAS or the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB). This means that they work to agreed industry standards, employ trained operatives, and are subje...

With Britain in lockdown and government officials asking non-essential employees to work remotely, once fully occupied buildings and popular businesses are near vacant. To some, this may seem like an acceptable time to let fire protection take a back seat. Construction Industry There is confusion as to whether the government values construction as essential work and therefore if sites should remain open. In England, the government has recommended that construction should continue, as long as t...

The Atlanta, GA Fire Rescue Department uses GearGrid’s Standard Wall Mount Lockers to dry and store their turnout gear. The addition of secure doors provides complete locking capabilities so gear can be kept safe and protected. The department added Power Bars on top of each section of lockers, which provides electrical receptacles to individual locker openings so firefighters can conveniently charge equipment.

The Frisco, TX Fire Department stores their PPE with GearGrid’s Standard Wall Mount Lockers. The open-grid design promotes maximum air movement so gear can properly dry. The addition of Geargrid’s Furring System allows the lockers to be mounted away from the wall so they can remain in a continuous run. Apparel hooks and shelves can be adjusted in 3” increments so firefighters can customize their lockers to meet their exact storage needs.

The Rotterdam, NY Fire Department uses a variety of GearGrid’s innovative storage solutions to keep their PPE organized. The department uses our Standard Wall Mount Lockers to dry and store their turnout gear between uses. The addition of stainless steel hangers and hang bars make an ideal solution for properly drying PPE. The department also uses the 6’ Slinger Workstation as a convenient repair station with easy access to tools and equipment. GearGrid’s Mini Mobile Hose and...

The Highland Township, OH Fire Department uses GearGrid’s standard wall mount lockers to dry and organize their PPE between calls. The open grid design provides maximum air movement, which allows for a faster drying process. Each locker opening comes standard with two adjustable shelves and three heavy-duty apparel hooks. The Wall Mount Lockers are mounted above the floor for convenient, easy cleaning. In addition, the department chose to customize their lockers with a grey powd...