Fire Industry News for October 2023

Employee Check-Ins - In addition to manual triggers for help, safety monitoring solutions blend fall detection and person-down detection with employee check-in prompts. But aren’t employee check-ins passé? The quick answer is yes and no—read on to learn how modern employee check-ins differ from their old-school processes and continue to provide value to organizations. Old-School Check-Ins - Traditional lone worker check-in processes require all employees to periodically ceas...

Blackline Safety’s lone worker solutions helped CEMEX - a global cement and concrete supplier - implement more effective safety measures for their night drivers. Challenge Total reliance on worker agency for check-ins CEMEX is a pioneer in building solutions, with worksites all over the world, some of them in isolated locations, some of them empty.  In some instances, reaching these sites required employees to travel lengthy distances alone and at night. With their previous safety...

UK Landfill Service and Fill Service operator uses a data-driven approach to workplace safety. Pioneering landfill and waste resource management company, Enovert, uses Blackline Safety data analytics to enhance gas detection and exposure prevention. The Challenge Preventing gas exposure and protecting workers Enovert is one of UK's pioneering providers of waste management services managing over 2.3 million tons of waste per year. Their operations include seven operational landfill sites, two...

The Extinguishing Section of Euralarm has published a guidance document that focuses on the maintenance of condensed aerosol fire extinguishing systems/equipment controlled by electronic detection systems. This document is now available in the English, French, and German languages. Typical applications of this type of equipment include electric power generating and distribution facilities, electrical panels, machinery spaces, storage rooms, battery energy storage systems, and mobile and transpo...

Firefighters gave a new electronic battery wrap the highest safety rating after a true trial-by-fire. Specifically, testers at the Polk County Fire Central Station in Oregon, drove a nail through a lithium-ion battery cell wrapped in PACT® Thermo ShieldTM TR SleeveTM to blow it up to prove the paper wrap would contain the fire. Packaging and Crating Technologies (PACT®) created the specially-coated, fire-suppressant paper to prevent thermal runaway, a dangerous and difficult b...

Every EMS provider knows the phrase “BSI Scene Safe,” but what does it really mean to develop and maintain a safe scene? This Volunteer Voices Live discussion on November 7 at 3pm ET will address that question along with the challenges EMS crews are facing that cause difficulty in gathering information or resources for scene safety. Come prepared to share experiences, ask questions, and learn from one another.

Kidde, a globally trusted company in fire safety for more than 100 years, has been named to Fast Company’s third annual Brands That Matter list. The brand was recognized in the Home category for its efforts to provide innovative home safety devices and education to those in need, with the introduction of Kidde’s Cause for Alarm™ campaign. Kidde named in List of Brands That Matter Fast Company editors judged each brand on relevancy, cultural impact, ingenuity and business imp...

It’s critical that fire and emergency services personnel know how to write a successful grant narrative so they can secure funding for their local fire/EMS department. This course, which is sponsored by Josh Cellars, walks through various funding opportunities that are available, including government and private grants, and educates participants on how to write a successful narrative. Take it free for a limited time in the NVFC Virtual Classroom.

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) attended the second U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control on October 10 at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, MD. The event was hosted by U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and was attended by key leaders in the fire service and federal government, including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Federal Emergency Management Agen...

  Rosenbauer is awarded for the "The App for Emergency Services Organizations" project in the "Organization and Collaboration" category at the eAward of Report Verlag. The award ceremony took place on October 16, 2023 in the ballroom of the T-Center with over 150 guests. Rosenbauer's RDS Connected Command app supports fire departments and other blue-light organizations in alerting, situational management, organization, and communication. The interface is visually designed in such a way...

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has announced that it will award over $30 million to support first responders and strengthen local efforts to respond to hazardous materials incidents. “Firefighters and other local public servants are the everyday first responder heroes that we rely on to immediately run to the emergency,” said PHMSA Deputy Administrator - Tristan Brown, adding “These grants provide ou...

Blackline Safety Corp., a globally renowned company in connected safety technology, has announced a significant upgrade to its G6 single-gas detector, adding new features and service plans to the life-saving wearable device. G6 now features the same real-time connectivity as the company’s G7 product line. Additional new features include an emergency SOS that workers can trigger in critical situations to get help, and an expanded suite of data and reporting analytics. The device also suppo...

Technical Guidance Document 21 clearly identifies the limited applications when BS EN 16034 can be used in the United Kingdom (UK), but goes on to state that the ASFP also recommends that in these limited occasions, where the use of a CE Marked fire curtain product is mandated, this should still be augmented with certification to BS 8524-1 and BS 8524-2. There is a lot of misinformation being shared in the market about BS 8524 and the CE Marking of fire curtains, principally from resellers of p...

Kidde ushered in October Fire Safety Month with the celebrating National Fire Pup Day on October 1 by announcing the winner of its annual Fire Service Dog of the Year competition on social media. National Fire Pup Day honors the sweet, adorable and heroic canines that support our fire departments and local communities. Kidde would like to say big congratulations to this year’s winner: Dozer from the Hamilton Township, NJ, Division of Fire! As part of his winnings, Dozer will receive eigh...

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service has introduced their leadership team as a new Deputy Chief Fire Officer joined the organization. Stewart Nicholson has joined TWFRS from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, where he served as Deputy Assistant Chief Officer since November 2021.  strategic-level appointment He is the first strategic-level appointment made by Peter Heath who began in the role of Chief Fire Officer in September 2023. The new Deputy Chief Fire Officer spoke of his...

Millions of workers enter confined spaces daily as part of their job duties. Many workplaces contain areas that are considered 'confined spaces', which are not intended for continuous occupancy but are large enough for workers to enter and perform required tasks. During shutdowns, turnarounds, and outages, the frequency – and associated risks – of a confined space entry (CSE) increase significantly. Managing confined space work environments and mitigating the associated hazards, suc...

Hochiki Europe, a global provider of innovative life safety solutions, is pleased to announce the addition of three highly experienced sales professionals, Adrian Willis, Jason Bryant, and Nick Brammall, to its growing team. With their wealth of industry knowledge and expertise, Adrian, Jason, and Nick will play key roles in expanding Hochiki's presence in the market and providing exceptional service to their valued customers. Adrian Willis Adrian Willis, a seasoned professional with extensiv...

NewAge Oblique Pattern Threaded Hydrant Valve is used to form a complete Wet Riser System to ensure fire fighting arrangements for more intense and dangerous fires. It is specifically designed as per BS 5041 (1987). These valves have a hand wheel for opening or shutting off the water supply. These valves are highly durable and corrosion-resistant as they are made from gunmetal. Key Features Conforming to BS: 5041. Water tightness test (Seat test) at 16 Bar. Hydrostatic Pressure test (...

Since 2009, the International Day for Disaster Reduction has been celebrated on 13 October. Proclaimed by the United Nations, it's a reminder of the urgency of reducing disaster risks. Recorded natural disasters The number of recorded natural disasters has risen steadily in recent decades. These include not only earthquakes, droughts, and volcanic eruptions, but in latitudes above all floods, storms, landslides, and wildfires.  The frequency and severity of climate- and weather-related d...

The devastating Luton Airport carpark terminal fire is a “Regrettable reminder of why BAFSA continues to call for sprinklers to be fitted in all modern, multi-storey carparks,” BAFSA’s chief executive, Ali Perry has said. “Almost all modern cars are significantly larger, more massive and contain much greater amounts of plastic than ever before. They produce fires which are larger and propagate much faster than was previously possible. When electric vehicles catch fire, f...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, announced that authorized dealer MacQueen Emergency has secured a four-year contract with the Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD) for the purchase of Pierce fire apparatus. This marks the second consecutive multi-year agreement between the parties since their successful contract was established in 2015. Author's quote "Over the past few years, our department's Apparatus Specifications Committee, in collaboration with our Health &am...

Vector Solutions, the provider of technology solutions to help train, prepare, and retain public safety professionals, announced the launch of AgencyConnect, the only data-sharing solution connecting local departments' training management systems to those used by state-certifying authorities and training academies. AgencyConnect establishes a single repository for first responder preparedness and documentation, allowing them to focus on more important tasks like preparedness initiatives. Chall...

Dedrone, the pioneer in airspace security, announced the launch of DedroneBeyond, its solution to enable drone operations to fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) for state, local, territorial, and tribal (SLTT) law enforcement and emergency services when deploying drone as first responders (DFR).   Powered by the same computer-vision-enabled, sensor-fusion AI that currently protects over 500 sites around the world, DedroneBeyond delivers complete airspace situational awareness. This sol...

KME, a subsidiary of REV Group, Inc., and a manufacturer of fire apparatus, announces the delivery of a Tractor Drawn Aerial (TDA) to the West Palm Beach Fire Department (Florida). This marks the first TDA ordered for the city of West Palm Beach. The unit was sold by South Florida Emergency Vehicles, the authorized KME® dealer in Florida. Top quality fire apparatus The AerialCat™ TDA delivered to the West Palm Fire Department is equipped with: KME Severe Service™ MFD Cab...

Often get the question of why proper training is necessary for all thermal camera operators. As camera quality increases, prices decrease, and devices become more friendly to operate, thermal imaging technology has become more accessible than ever before. While these are all positive advancements, whether the camera costs dollar 250 or dollar 40,000 the price paid is not indicative of the level of training needed to correctly operate the device and collect accurate or useful information. Prope...

In the race to hit ambitious global net zero targets, a further two billion EVs need to be on the road by 2050, according to the International Energy Agency. To power these green motors, lithium-ion batteries are essential. But what happens when those batteries are defective? Even before assembly into a working engine, traction batteries are typically transported with a small level of charge. This is because a fully discharged battery poses problems for both the manufacturer and consumer; probl...

Oshkosh Airport Products, a division of Pierce Manufacturing Inc., a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation, announces South Metro Fire Rescue and Centennial Airport in Colorado have bolstered aircraft emergency response capabilities with the addition of two Oshkosh Striker® 4x4 ARFF vehicles. state-of-the-art vehicles Sold through Front Range Fire Apparatus, the fleet upgrade marks a partnership where South Metro Fire Rescue and Centennial Airport jointly financed the new trucks. Du...

Dafo Vehicle, a pioneer in safety for vehicles in high-risk industries, has promoted Fredrik Rosén to the position of Business Line Manager for Material Handling. As a key member of Dafo Vehicle since the division’s inception, Rosén has played an integral role in Dafo Vehicle’s success. His transition from Business Manager - Middle East and Africa and Marketing Manager reflects a strategic change in the business to focus and strengthen the support and knowledge in this...

After the tragic incidents at Grenfell Tower almost seven years ago, an inquiry was set up to ensure that it never happens again. Out of that inquiry, a number of new Regulations have been introduced to ensure the safety of all existing and new High-rise Residential Buildings. A new Department has been created in Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) to inspect the North East Region to keep the people who live in high-rise residential buildings safe in their homes. New inspection progr...

In the realm of fire safety, a new contender has emerged to reshape the way to approach emergency protocols: the Addressable Door Retainer (ADR). Addressable Door Retainer (ADR) The Addressable Door Retainer (ADR) is a brand new product of its type to the market. Although there are many wired magnetic door holders, in the UK market there is not a loop powered, addressable door holder. This innovative product combines smart design with practicality and safety, offering a range of benefits that...