Industry News

Watch Manager Roger Iveson has been a firefighter at Hawes Fire Station for 33 years A North Yorkshire firefighter has received a Citizenship Award from Richmondshire District Council, for “Outstanding service to the community”. Watch Manager Roger Iveson has been a part-time firefighter at Hawes Fire Station for 33 years and has held the position of Watch Manager for the past 18 years. During this time he has dedicated much of his time to North Yorkshire Fire...

GGP's software will help Fire and Police services source accurate addresses quickly Software from GGP Systems will underpin a new initiative to improve the accuracy of data held in the national address database helping Fire and Police services in England and Wales get to the right address, first time. Information gathered in the field by Fire and Rescue Services, Police Forces and County Councils can now be automatically submitted for inclusion into the National Land and...

Rob Dobson has 31 years firefighting experience, having joined London Fire Brigade in 1979 London Fire Commissioner, Ron Dobson has received a CBE from Her Majesty the Queen in an honours ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Ron was awarded the medal in the New Year Honours list for his distinguished contribution to the fire and rescue service. Following the ceremony he said: “I’m incredibly proud to have served with London Fire Brigade for the last 31 years and receiv...

Surbiton firefighters maintain an energy efficient fire station A fire station that would rival Tom and Barbara in the TV show The Good Life has won greenest fire station of the year following a London wide competition to find the most energy efficient.The fire station, in Surbiton where The Good Life was set, has succeeded in converting a roof terrace into an area where they can grow their own vegetables and fruit. Strawberries, potatoes and figs have been grown and used...

WCL granted the Fire Risk Assessment Quality Assurance Scheme (FRACS Company) certification The benefits of independent third party certification schemes for fire risk assessors have been highlighted by the first company in the UK to gain the certificate from Warrington Certification Ltd (WCL). The Fire Risk Assessment Quality Assurance Scheme (FRACS Company) certification has been awarded to BB7 Fire Safety Engineering, based at Chatham Dockyard, Kent. The assessment by WCL...

The National Fire Protection Association is the authority on fire, electrical and building safety The NFPA's Standards Council has over-ridden opposition from the NFPA 13, 13R and 13D committees and issued Tentative Interim Amendments restricting the use of anti freeze in sprinkler systems.For now, and until any further action by NFPA consensus standards committees, NFPA sprinkler standards prohibit the use of antifreeze in new residential fire sprinkler systems.NFPA stand...

Chubb Fire & Security designs fire alarm system for the RPC Group  Chubb Fire & Security has won a contract to install a fully addressable fire alarm system for one of the facilities within the RPC Group, one of Europe’s largest packaging businesses. The existing system at RPC’s Blackburn site was obsolete, prompting the company’s Plant Engineer Bob Hamer to consult specialists within Chubb: “We have been working with Chubb for a number...

CFOA and DCLG have extended their support for the call for a unified register The campaign to establish a standard national benchmark of fire risk assessors is gathering support from the fire safety industry. The call by Warrington Certification Ltd, has received endorsement from the Chief Fire Officers’ Association (CFOA) and in principle from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). The Institute of Fire Safety Managers and the Royal Institution of...

The investigation was carried out by experts from Exova Warringtonfire and Butler and Young Ltd. Four potential key reasons for the spread of fire in roofing voids were identified in a new major study by fire safety experts commissioned by the Government. The study, commissioned by the Department for Communities and Local Government, investigated a number of specific issues relating to fire compartmentation in roof voids, carried out by a team of experts from Exova Warrington...

Fire Industry Association warns of a decreased firefighter attendance to fire detection and alarm systems The Fire Industry Association (FIA) is urging businesses in Essex to review their fire risk assessments and seek advice to ensure their emergency procedures reflect changes in response by their local Fire Service which could result in no attendance to Automatic Fire Alarm (AFA) signals.Essex Fire and Rescue Service has published an AFA Frequently Asked Questions guide on t...

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service regularly carry out "blue light" fire emergency journeys North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service is backing a national campaign which advises motorists on how to react when faced with an emergency service vehicle. A new video, "Blue Light Aware" has been launched by the GEM Motoring Assist Road Safety Charity. The five-minute video seeks to offer advice to members of the public on how best to help an emergency service drive...

NFPA and PiP have been involved in the wildland fire safety field for several decades NFPA and PiP have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to serve as the framework of cooperation, concerning the delivery of wildland/urban interface (WUI) education and wildland fire risk mitigation programs.As wildfire risk to people and property continues to be a growing problem throughout North America, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a recognised leader on fir...

The IAFF represents the health & safety of full-time firefighters and paramedics in North America  International Association of Fire Fighters General President Harold Schaitberger recently joined President Obama at a wreath-laying ceremony at Ground Zero, where 343 members of the FDNY died in the line of duty, saving the lives of others on September 11, 2001. “The solemn ceremony will hopefully provide some closure to a horrific event in our nation&rsq...

The NIST has issued a report on its study of the fire at the Sofa Super Store, Charleston, S.C NIST’s final report on its study of the fire at the Sofa Super Store in Charleston, S.C states the major factors involved in the rapid spread of fire. The fire trapped and killed nine firefighters, the highest number of firefighter deaths in a single event since 9/11. The final report is strengthened by clarifications and supplemental text based on comments...

The Fire Industry Association aims to promote the professional s tatus of the UK fire and safety industry The Scottish government has emphasised the importance of third-party certification when it comes to fire safety.This advice - aimed at Duty Holders, who play an important fire safety role in commercial buildings and houses of multiple occupancy - comes after the Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) recommended the measures. In order to spread the news in the fastest possible way,...

FEMA and the National Commission on Children and Disasters are promoting fire safety awareness USFA have issued a new report on the high risks fires pose for children based on the latest available data released by the National Centre for Health Statistics.With home fires on the rise in winter months and a new study showing that young children are at an especially high risk of getting seriously injured or dying in residential fires, the Federal Eme...

Fire Corps has also teamed up with First Alert to provide a smoke alarm donation program Smoke and toxic gases from a home fire are as deadly as heat and flames. Smoke alarms save lives, prevent injuries, and minimise property damage by detecting fires early and alerting residents.Every year, approximately 2,600 Americans die in home fires. Over half of these deaths (52%) occur between the hours of 10:00pm and 7:00am, when residents are typically sleeping.Smoke and toxic g...

PHS Compliance' event stand will be staffed with experts in electrical, gas, water and fire safety Workplace safety expert, PHS Compliance, has announced that it will be highlighting the path "from risk to compliance" at the Facilities Show and revealing the appointment of a major industry expert to help raise awareness of the requirements for electrical, gas, water and fire safety.  The launch will be held on the first day of the show, 17 May, in hall one, at 11am...

Oshkosh Defense sponsors Honor Guard Gala, supporting the families of fallen military members Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is supporting the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) as a sponsor of its Honor Guard Gala, held April 5 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. The event salutes and supports the families and loved ones of military members who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. “Nothing can...

Ian Neal is distributing aid with a ShelterBox Response Team in the Sendai area of Japasn A British firefighter has paid an emotional tribute to the Japanese fire officers who lost their lives during the recent earthquake and tsunami.Ian Neal is a crew manager for the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service and a volunteer for international disaster relief charity, ShelterBox. He is currently distributing aid with a ShelterBox Response Team in the Sendai area of Japan; one of the are...

The Chemical Safety Board conducts root-cause investigations of chemical  accidents The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has deployed a four-person team to the site of an explosion in a fireworks storage facility near Honolulu, Hawaii. According to media reports, the incident occurred in a bunker used to store confiscated fireworks at Donaldson Enterprises, Inc. on Friday April 8. Five workers were fatally injured as a result of the incident.  CSB Investiga...

Protex Arabia was launched in response to increased demands for fire services and alarm systems Saudi Arabia’s homeland security market is forecast to become the second largest in the world after the United States, with an expected worth of a massive US$97 billion in the next 7 years. This equates to a massive US$12 billion spend per year, highlighting very real business opportunities in this rapidly evolving market.As tensions increase...

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service attends nearly 100 fires on moorland and woodland every year  Visitors to the Yorkshire Dales National Park and North York Moors over Bank Holiday weekend are being asked to be particularly vigilant to reduce the risk of moorland and grassland fires.  With the warm weather set to continue over the holiday weekend, the risk of a fire is becoming a concern. Fire risk warning notices are being put up around the National Pa...

Dany Cotton of the London Fire Brigade makes London's top 40 most influential women list Dany Cotton, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, LFB ranks alongside 40 women on the most influential women list. The list includes Princess Diana, Margaret Thatcher and Dame Judy Dench.The highest ranking operational woman firefighter in the UK has been included in a poll to find the most influential woman in London over the last 100 y...

Bunker Hill students can now receive certificates from the National Fire Academy, part of the DHS The National Fire Academy has recognised the Bunker Hill Community College Fire Protection and Safety Program as meeting all requirements for the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) Curriculum. FESHE online and classroom courses are taught by professional firefighters, including deputy chiefs and chiefs of area fire departments. Students who complete the required...

Specialist firefighters from KFRS along with U.S. teams set up their base in Ofunato city, Japan The UK-ISAR team, including seven specialist firefighters from Kent Fire and Rescue Service, has set up its base in a school in Sumita, north Japan, near Ofunato, along with teams from the United States. This is in an area 20km outside of the city area that has been assessed as being completely safe from any further aftershocks or resultant tsunamis. There have been difficulties e...

2011 NVFC award winners special banquet will take place on April 5th in Alexandria The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has announced the winners of its four national awards. A special banquet to honor the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Fire Prevention Award, Junior Firefighter of the Year Award, and Junior Firefighter Programme of the Year Award took place during the NVFC’s spring meeting on April 5 in Alexandria, VA. “We are very pleas...

The London Fire Brigade reports that 6 out of 10 schools weren't planning to install fire sprinklers Almost two thirds of new or refurbished schools planned for the capital have not been built with potentially life saving sprinklers installed, the London Fire Brigade warns. This is despite Government guidelines introduced three years ago recommending they should be fitted. Sprinklers stop fire from spreading and greatly reduce the chance of death or serious injury, says the B...

NVFC International Relief Fund is set up to support the Japan Firefighters Association in their relief efforts NVFC is supporting the Japan Firefighters Association with rescue and cleanup efforts by making a contribution to the International Relief Fund.The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and Fire Corps join with the rest of the world in expressing sorrow at the loss and devastation in Japan that has resulted from the recent earthquake and tsuna...

MedeFile International, Inc supports American Red Cross for Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Fund 15% of all new MedeFile membership revenues through April 15th to be donated to American Red Cross for Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Fund.MedeFile International, Inc. a leader in Internet-enabled Personal Health Record (iPHR) management solutions, announced that in response to the magnitude 8.9 earthquake and massive tsunami tragedy that recently struck Japan, the c...