Industry News

LFB was judged to be ‘performing well' making it one of the highest scoring fire authorities in the country London Fire Brigade is performing well. That is the verdict of Government watchdog, the Audit Commission, in a report released Wednesday, 9 December. The assessment looks at two key areas - managing performance and use of resources. The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, which runs London Fire Brigade, was judged to be 'performing well' in both o...

Former LFEPA member and Bexley Councillor Colin Tandy unveiled a plaque in the new appliance bay The additional fire engine will significantly improve response times to fires in the borough, improving the safety of residents.Councillor Brian Coleman AM FRSA, Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, hosted celebrations on Friday 4 December, marking the major renovation work that has been performed on Sidcup fire station. Former LFEPA member and Bexley Co...

Ausmus Marburger named recipient of the Association's highest honor - the Golden Sprinkler Award Ausmus Marburger named recipient of the Association's highest honor -- the Golden Sprinkler Award. The Awards Committee of The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), the longest-tenured fire sprinkler advocacy organization in the U.S., has announced that it has named Ausmus Marburger of Fire Protection Industries in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, as the 2010 recipien...

KFRS has provided tips to protect homes for festive fire safety Kent Fire and Rescue Service urges all residents to stay safe this Christmas, and ensure that the celebrations don't end in tragedy. Latest figures from the Fire Kills campaign show a rise in the number of accidental fire deaths and injuries over the festive period. In 2008 there were 33,000 accidental house fires, 10% of which occurred in the run up to Christmas Day. People often get distracted by...

National Fire Academy Course application period closes December 15 Take advantage of an opportunity - there has never been a better time to apply to the National Fire Academy. Due to the current economic conditions, many governments are invoking "no travel" policies. Even though the National Fire Academy reimburses the cost of travel to and from the campus and provides the training and a dorm room at no cost, some governments are not making any exceptions. No travel means "...

Secretary Napolitano Unveils "Virtual USA" Information-Sharing Initiative Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today officially launched Virtual USA, an innovative information-sharing initiative-developed in collaboration with the emergency response community and state and local governments across the nation-that helps federal, state, local and tribal first responders communicate during emergencies. "Our first responders need interoperable tools...

KFRS will organise free home visits to evaluate their fire safety and provide free smoke alarms if required A fire on the morning of December 8 has left a Ramsgate home badly damaged. Fire control room operators sent two engines from Ramsgate and Thanet fire station at 10am following reports of a roof alight in Colombo Square. The fire is thought to have been started accidentally. At the scene, firefighters were confronted with a well developed fire in the...

The Audit Commission's 'One Place' data shows that KMFRA performs well As part of the assessment process, a residents' survey found that over 81 per cent of people in Kent and Medway were satisfied or very satisfied with the service.The Audit Commission's 'One Place' data published online on 9 December shows that Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority (KMFRA) performs well, has strong leadership and manages its finances effectively. KMFRA Chairman Bryan Cope sa...

Secretary Napolitano announces grant guidance for more than $2.7 billion in fiscal year 2010 grant programs Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano has announced the release of fiscal year 2010 grant application guidance kits for 13 DHS grant programs totaling more than $2.7 billion-funds. The funds are meant for state, local, tribal and territorial governments and private sector entities to strengthen USA's ability to prevent, prot...

Around forty firefighters tackled a major blaze at a home in Broadstairs Around forty firefighters tackled a major blaze at a home in Broadstairs on December 8. Crews were sent to the large detached property in Lanthorne Road just before 12.30pm, after a passer-by spotted smoke pouring from the roof. At the fires height, six fire appliances from Whitstable, Ramsgate, Margate, Eastry and Sturry, an aerial appliance and a command support unit attended the...

CMAS is one of many projects within IPAWS to send alerts and warnings to the public of United States The standards will enable wireless carriers to provide its customers with timely and accurate emergency alerts and warnings via their cell phones and other mobile devices.As part of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), the nation's next generation of emergency alert and warning networks, the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Age...

Two separate incidents of cooking-related fires in Kent have led to two residents being treated for burns Two separate incidents of cooking-related fires in Kent have led to two residents being treated for burns. In both incidents - at Rochester and Tonbridge - the occupants were alerted by working smoke alarms but firefighters are reminding people of the dangers of leaving cooking unattended. The first incident happened at 10pm on Friday 4 December when Tonbridge crews we...

KFRS and the Canterbury City Council will work together to keep the streets clean  KFRS Firefighters and Canterbury City Council call on shop owners to help stamp out arsonists putting innocent lives at risk. Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is appealing to business owners to work alongside it and the council in a bid.  It is hoped that by keeping the city clean and tidy, firefighters will be called out to fewer arson-related rubbish fires. These...

The webinar series will feature new community preparedness topics several times each month The first LIVE webinar is scheduled for Monday, December 7 at 2 pm EST and will provide information on the newly created Citizen Corps Volunteer Liability Guide. FEMA's Community Preparedness Division has announced the Community Preparedness Webinar Series. This webinar series will provide up-to-date information on community preparedness topics and resources available to...

Flood damage inspection in ArkansasPhoto by Patsy Lynch/FEMA The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for Arkansas to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on October 29, 2009, and continuing. Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain priv...

A Margate man suffered serious burns after a fire started by tea lights A Margate man suffered serious burns after a fire in his home. Twenty firefighters from Margate, Ramsgate and Thanet were sent to the Grosvenor Road property at 4.50pm after the fire - started by tea lights - broke out. The occupant was asleep when the fire started but managed to escape. He sustained severe burns and smoke inhalation as a result. Firefighters, using breathing apparatus, entered the h...

  London Mayor Boris Johnson and London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson visited Ilford fire station London Mayor Boris Johnson visited Ilford fire station to see the first completed building under the Mayor's building energy efficiency programme (BEEP). Ilford fire station has benefited from a range of carbon busting measures, as part of the Mayor's innovative programme to save energy from public buildings and save money off fuel bills. This includes: photovoltaic pan...

FEMA has extended the comment period on standards selected for the Voluntary PS-Prep Program New deadline for comments is January 15.NFPA 1600, Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs has been designated for adoption under the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification Program (PS-Prep). The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of DHS has extended the comment...

Secretary Napolitano will meet with leaders from real estate, professional sports, financial and media industries(Photograph by M. Broussard, FEMA)  Secretary Napolitano will discuss protection of critical infrastructure among other things. "Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will travel to New York City on Dec. 2-4 to meet with private sector leaders in the real estate, professional sports, financial and media industries to discuss t...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service has two crews at Park Pale Kent Fire and Rescue Service has two crews at Park Pale in Rochester where firefighters are continuing to cool an acetylene cylinder following a blaze that started on December 1. Control room operators received the first call at 4.38pm on 1 December to reports of a van alight. The fire subsequently spread to the roof of the industrial unit housing the vehicle. At the height of the blaze, two crews...

  The Fourth London Safety Plan includes new performance targets   The plan will now be subject to a twelve week consultation to collect the views of Londoners and key stakeholders. Members of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority have recently approved a range of proposals made by London Fire Commissioner, Ron Dobson, paving the way for public consultation on the future of the capital's fire and rescue service. The London Fire and Emergency Plann...

FEMA will host a flood risk information open house for Calhoun County residents Those interested may drop in at any time during the event to discuss mapping issues with MDEQ representatives. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, will host a flood risk information open house for Calhoun County residents on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, f...

  Saxony is the seventh German state to select Sepura TETRA radios for its public safety users   This is the largest contract awarded to date for TETRA radios in the Federal Republic of Germany. The federal state of Saxony is the seventh German state to select Sepura TETRA radios for its public safety users. The contract, for a total of 30,000 radios, was secured by Selectric Nachrichten Systeme GmbH. The terminals will be supplied to police, fire brigades and res...

London Fire Brigade has launched a consultation today for fourth London Safety Plan London Fire Brigade has launched a consultation on its draft London Safety Plan, which sets out how the Brigade will carry forward plans to modernise and improve the fire service in the capital. This is the fourth London Safety Plan, and it explains how the Brigade will build on its reputation as one of the world's leading fire and rescue services. The plan proposes a shake up of how s...

London Fire Brigade's new statistics show fatal fires increase during winter The London Fire Brigade has released new figures about accidental, fatal house fires. As the temperature drops and people spend more time at home using heaters, candles and cooking hot food, serious house fires increase - that's the stark message from London's firefighters this winter. The Brigade has released new figures about accidental, fatal house fires, which show that fatalities in acci...

Flood damage in Cedar Rapids, summer 2008. Photography bySusie Shapira/FEMA The general public is invited to view the floodplain maps and assess the risks of flooding. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in partnership with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), will host , 120 N. 4th Street in Hennepin.Newly released preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps will be displayed so residents can lea...

Canada's professional fire fighters are concerned about their risk of infection during influenza pandemics Firefighters are concerned about their ability to maintain critical public safety services during the height of any type of influenza pandemic. With the influenza A / H1N1 (human swine flu) pandemic now impacting Canada, a new survey of The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) found that Canada's professional firefighters are concerned about their risk...

It took five fire appliances to tackle the blaze caused by a candle The fire was caused by a candle, but tragedy was avoided by a smoke alarm. At 1.55 Sunday morning (29th November, 2010) Kent Fire and Rescue Service were called to a house fire in Penshurst Road, Penshurst.The occupants were already out when the fire service arrived but the fire required five appliances to help tackle the blaze, which was located on both floors.It was discovered that a candle had caused...

Flooded country roadPhoto by Patsy Lynch/FEMA Disaster recovery officials urge recipients of federal grants to keep receipts and other documentation for at least three years as proof the funds were spent as intended. More than $53.2 million in disaster recovery grants was distributed by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following the September storms and floods. "Those approved for federal grants received...

Canterbury firefighters are urging residents to 'watch what they heat' after a fire Canterbury firefighters are urging residents to 'watch what they heat' after a fire, which was caused by unattended cooking, left student accommodation damaged. Two fire crews were sent to Heaton Road, Canterbury just after 9.30 on 26 November after control room operators received a distressed emergency call from the residents. Once at the scene, firefighters in breathing apparatus made the...