Fire Industry News for July 2023

Fires are an extremely dangerous risk and there is no question that they do happen every once in a while. Therefore, over the years many different companies and inventors have tried to create systems that reduce the risk of fire or help to tackle the fires if they do start. So, what system is the right one for a user? Thameside Fire Protection is going to run through some of the most common fire safety items from extinguishers to sprinklers. So, keep reading to find out more about how t...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Tunnel Five Fire burning in the state of Washington, USA. The state of Washington’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was approved by FEMA Region 10 Administrator Willie G. Nunn on Sunday, July 2, 2023, at 10:01 p.m. PT.  He determined that the Tunnel Five Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster....

Mr. Shinsuke Kubo, Hochiki Europe’s Commercial Director steps into the role of Managing Director (MD) from 3rd July, 2023, with Graham Lowe, the outgoing Managing Director, remaining in the business part time to support Mr. Kubo during his first year in the role. Shinsuke Kubo has been part of the Hochiki global operation for close to three decades, moving from Japan to the US and Middle East, before joining the UK team a year ago. Extensive industry experience Shinsuke Kubo will call u...

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released its final investigation report on the 2020 propylene release and explosion at the Watson Grinding facility in Houston, Texas, that fatally injured two workers and a nearby resident and damaged hundreds of neighboring homes. The CSB’s final report highlights two key safety issues: the lack of a comprehensive process safety management program at the Watson Grinding facility to manage the risks of its thermal spray c...

Portland Fire and Rescue in Oregon will welcome its new Pierce Volterra electric pumper into service with a “push-in” ceremony open to the public on Monday, June 12th at 12:00 pm PDT at Station 1 located at 55 SW Ash, Portland, Oregon. Representatives from Portland Fire and Rescue and Pierce Manufacturing will welcome the fire department’s new Pierce Volterra electric pumper into service with a “push-in” ceremony open to the public. The revolutionary fire...

A residential structure fire was reported in the 42000 Block of Sonoma Drive, Big Bear Lake, at approximately 1:41 pm, on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. Upon arrival, fire crews observed smoke and flames to the exterior of the wood-framed living space above the garage. Crews quickly extinguished the fire within approximately 10 minutes. Fire crews remained on the scene for an hour to ensure completed extinguishment. The occupants of the home self-evacuated prior to the fire crew's arrival. Structu...

Despite recent major fire events and media coverage, about 1 in 5 South Australians living in bushfire-risk areas do not have a decision or plan for bushfires. Reducing complacency and increasing preparedness is the objective of the Be Bushfire Ready campaign, being launched by the South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS). Bushfire Survival Plan CFS Chief Officer - Brett Loughlin said South Australians should not underestimate the importance of having a Bushfire Survival Plan, with current...

At approximately 4:45 pm, CFS crews were called after reports of a structure fire on George Road, Williamstown in the Barossa Valley. On arrival, crews found a garage at the property fully alight, with the fire spreading to the attached two-storey house. CFS crews respond to structure fire in Williamstown In total, five CFS trucks, one MFS truck, and a Bulk Water Carrier worked to bring the fire under control, and SA Ambulance and SAPOL were on the scene to assist. The garage and its con...

Kirk Smith of Allegion UK discusses fire door neglect and how to spot the potential faults that could be compromising your fire safety procedures. Purpose-built to compartmentalize fire and smoke, fire doors are recognized as a critical element of passive fire protection and exist in practically every building where we work, sleep, and live. Such is their importance; they are acknowledged by several professional bodies and are a legal requirement in non-domestic premises and houses in multiple...

At approximately 5.20 pm, crews were called to a structure fire on Rodwell Road, Woodchester. Four trucks and one bulk water carrier attended the fire, supported by SAPOL and SAAS. The shed was not able to be saved with losses estimated at $400,000. There have been no injuries and the fire cause is under investigation. CFS crews are expected to remain at the scene for approximately another half an hour.

Ajax Systems announces the new FireProtect 2 lineup and unveils the first release that includes seven models of fire detectors. The re-engineered detectors feature a patented smoke chamber that is ultimately dustproof and impenetrable for insects, thermistors that ensure rapid detection of temperature spikes, long-lasting battery life, and many accompanying hardware and software improvements. FireProtect Applications "Due to the wide application of the FireProtect detectors, we gathered valua...

At approximately 4:00 pm today, CFS Crews were called to a structure fire on Ellie Court at Mannum, in the Murrylands. Five CFS trucks including a bulk water carrier with the support of MFS crews and SAPOL responded. CFS Crews respond to structure fire Upon arrival, crews found a detached double garage fully involved. Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to the nearby home. Losses are estimated at $60,000 and thankfully nobody was injured. While the fire is not suspiciou...

At approximately 11:00 am this morning, CFS crews were called to a structure fire on Roehr Road, Tarnma in the State’s Mid North. Six CFS trucks including a bulk water carrier, supported by SAPOL attended the scene. Upon arrival, crews found an unoccupied house fully involved. Solar panel technicians to disconnect solar panels Solar panel technicians are being arranged to disconnect solar panels. The fire has caused approximately $150,000 damage. The cause of the fire is unknown at thi...

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), in partnership with Pierce Manufacturing Inc., announced the 2022 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year honorees. Volunteer Fire Chief, Marshall Turbeville, of the Northern Sonoma FPD in Sonoma County, California, and career Fire Chief, Gary Ludwig, of the Champaign Fire Department in Champaign, Illinois, have been named this year’s honorees. The IAFC began recognizing one volunteer and one career Fire Chief of the Year in 1996. A selec...

The great British summertime has arrived, known for its quintessential rainy days, packed-out beach fronts, and extended educational term breaks. By the time users reach August, students of all ages from primary schools to universities have dashed out the doors in preparation for a summer of fun, leaving behind empty academic facilities in the process. extended summer break For most of the 32,163 schools, 277 colleges, and 164 universities in the UK, the extended summer break is seen as...

Frontline Communications, a division of Pierce Manufacturing Inc., and a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation, announced Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Florida, has taken delivery of three disaster response vehicles incorporating advanced communication and technology features.  Sold through Pierce and Frontline Communications’ dealer, Ten-8 Fire Equipment, the highly customized vehicles include two C-25 Mobile Command Vehicles and one C-33 Mobile Command Center. Author's quot...

The Emergency Preparedness and Resilience Fire Standard focuses on ensuring fire and rescue services are prepared to respond to major incidents and large-scale emergencies or disruptive challenges (emergencies). One of the desired outcomes of the Emergency Preparedness and Resilience Fire Standard is that services will contribute effectively to national resilience requirements and have suitable and sufficient access to resources and assets to support response to local, regio...

Leading Britain’s Conversation (LBC) has reportedly seen an email from representatives at Arsenal which says that the vital works can start "after the football season." To date, the permissions to start work and put up scaffolding still has yet to be signed off by the football club. Arsenal received funding from the government for remediation works on 1 and 3 Queensland Road in December 2021, two years after a survey found the blocks have missing fire breaks, and unsafe insulation th...

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) is in serious need of funding to tackle the building safety crisis, according to Commissioner Andy Roe. A total of 1,100 of London’s buildings above 11 meters are currently listed by the LFB as having serious fire safety issues. While this represents a slight drop from 1,174 in March, the capital has had more than 1,000 unsafe buildings for almost a year, and the real number of unsafe buildings could be much higher. City Hall Plenary meeting At a City Hall...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service is proud to announce during Pride Month, that it’s the first emergency service to achieve the Pride in Care quality standard for its commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Awarded by the national charity, Opening Doors, the standard is given to organizations that commit to strengthening their inclusion of LGBTQ+ people over 50. comprehensive accreditation process The fire service underwent a comprehensive accreditation process to receive the...

The LFB accepted every recommendation made by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and has already implemented 26 of the 29 recommendations directed specifically at the LFB and other fire and rescue services. One key recommendation has seen the introduction of an electronic system to record Fire Survival Guidance (FSG) call information in the control room and display it simultaneously in command units and at the bridgehead – a safe working space at least two floors below the fire). The FSG app...

David Riella, joint owner of the Deganwy Hotel pleaded guilty to three offenses under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and has been ordered to pay £8,567 in fines and costs. He was also ordered to pay £4,537 in costs and a victim surcharge of £190 when he appeared before Bodmin Magistrates’ Court on April 26. The failures in the fire safety standards were identified by officers of Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service following a fire at the property in June 20...

The club has been told it can only reopen once it addresses serious fire safety concerns. They were forced to close following a joint operation by Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service and Warwickshire Police. On inspection of the premises, the fire service found there was insufficient fire-resistant separation between the commercial premises on the ground floor and the means of escape from the upper floor residential accommodation. Inspectors also noted the absence of a working fire alarm when...

The occupant was able to evacuate the premises safely, and the fire was already out when firefighters arrived on the scene thanks to sprinklers that had been fitted throughout the building. Fire officers say the incident highlights the value of fire sprinklers fitted in high-rise, residential buildings. benefits of retrofitting sprinklers All high-rise tower blocks in Doncaster have been fitted with fire sprinklers by St Leger Homes. The housing provider’s investment followed a joint fi...

Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event hosted by the Mental Health Foundation which presents an opportunity for the whole of the UK to focus on achieving good mental health. This year’s theme is tackling loneliness and understanding the links between loneliness and poor mental health. The aim of the week is to highlight the importance of having open conversations in communities and workplaces to build meaningful connections with friends, family, and colleagues. Society is changin...

Staff from Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service’s (NFRS) Fire Safety Team carried out a routine fire service audit on premises known as the China Cook, in Waterloo Road. Following the visit, a Prohibition Notice was served on November 26, 2021, preventing the use of upper floors for sleeping. It was issued as sleeping materials including beds and bedding were discovered on the first floor. Breach of a Prohibition Notice A follow-up visit on 10 December 2021, revealed a breach of the N...

As we reported last week, The Bill received royal assent on 28 April after months of debate and amendments, and has passed into law as the Building Safety Act 2022. The 252-page Bill is intended to “create lasting generational change” to the way high-risk and residential buildings are constructed and maintained. Passing of the Building Safety Act Jonathan O’Neill OBE, Managing Director of the FPA, commented: “Of course we welcome the passing of the Building Safety...

People living in Kent and Medway can now check if their homes are fire safe in just 15 minutes, thanks to a new online tool. While Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) offers home visits for people most at risk of having a fire, the online home safety checker has been created to give everyone access to a free home assessment and personalized fire safety advice. new online tool KFRS website and residents can work their way through a selection of simple questions The new online tool is availabl...

A Yorkshire property company has been fined £20,000 for failing to carry out safety and fire safety improvement works on a property in Kirkburn, Driffield after ignoring requests to do so by housing officers. GAP Properties (Yorkshire) Ltd, which is based in Doncaster, was represented at Beverley Magistrates Court by director George Plant, who pleaded guilty on its behalf to two counts of failing to comply with improvement notices served under the Housing Act 2004. East Riding of Yorkshi...

35 developers have pledged to pay £5bn towards fire safety remediation, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has announced. Building Safety Levy The government also announced that the Building Safety Levy will cover new residential buildings in England of all sizes, which is expected to raise a total of £5bn over the next ten years – £2bn of which will come from the 35 developers to fix their own buildings, and the remaining £3bn from a...