Industry News

The International Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Association of Fire Fighters issue joint statement The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) today reaffirmed their support for fire service-based emergency medical service and urged public officials to support all efforts to broaden emergency medical care and ambulance transport by the fire service to better protect the public. The IAFC Boa...

Edward Matthews was so impressed with the firefighters' helpfulness that he bequeathed them a third of his estate Kind-hearted Ashford pensioner, Edward Matthews, has left over £60,000 in his will to The Fire Fighters Charity, simply because of the kind nature of the local firefighters who installed a smoke alarm in his property, shortly before he died. Retired welder, Edward, had lived in his council property in Arlington, Ashford until he died in April 2009, aged 88...

  Chief Fire Officer attempts world record - to go where no man has ever been before! The expedition's goal is to reach the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility, at the Arctic Pole.Chief Fire Officer for Devon and Somerset, Lee Howell is planning a trip of a different kind. He is raising money for The Fire Fighters Charity by embarking on a daring expedition to one of the most inaccessible places on earth, the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility - the Arctic Pole! Th...

An image taken during the fires that struck Puerto Rico late last week Meeting covered partnership and recent fire, explosion The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate met today with Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuño to discuss FEMA's partnership with Puerto Rico, as well as the response to the explosions and fires that struck the island late last week. Over the weekend, President Obama signed an Emerg...

London Fire Brigade has won an award at the Mayor of London's Green Procurement Code Awards Brigade given award for focus on environmental issues London Fire Brigade has won an award and was highly commended in another category at the Mayor of London's prestigious Green Procurement Code Awards 2009. Open to London based organisations signed up to the Green Procurement Code, the awards took place on Monday 26 October at the Royal Institute of British Architects, recognising...

Finalists from the competition pose with trainers from London Fire Brigade’s LIFE team Teenagers were all graduates of Brigade's local intervention programme Young Londoners who demonstrated their firefighting skills, fitness and commitment in a London Fire Brigade competition have had their achievements recognised. The ten youngsters who competed in the ‘London Life Challenge' received special awards from London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson at a presentation...

Be safe during firework season Remember, remember, stay safe in November With 5 November fast approaching London Fire Brigade (LFB) is urging people to act safely and responsibly during the firework and bonfire season, and to remember to be wary at all time of the need for fire safety. The Brigade expects to be called to hundreds of incidents on and around Bonfire Night this year - ranging from out of control bonfires to fires caused by fireworks. Brand new figures releas...

FEMA and GEMA advise citizens to create emergency kits Agencies advise families to create plans, prepare emergency kits Just as every home should have a smoke alarm, every home should have an emergency supply kit packed and ready. And being prepared doesn't have to cost a lot of money. While emergency preparedness is ongoing at the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), it's also an individual responsibility. "You sh...

Firefighters on scene in Puerto Rico, in the area hit by fire and explosions Action enables FEMA to coordinate disaster relief efforts 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 the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and ordered federal aid to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area struck by explosions and fire beginning on October 23...

NFPA warns people to be aware of Halloween fire safety risks Add important fire safety tips to your bag of tricks Halloween plans typically include frightful activities, and paying attention to a few safety tips can make the difference between having a frightfully-fun experience versus a frightfully-tragic one. Decorations were the first item ignited in an estimated average of more than 1,000 home structure fires per year during 2002-2005, according to the National Fire Pr...

A firefighter adjusting her SCBA. USFA and NIST are investigating whether SCBA facepieces can be made safer Study follows incidents of SCBA face piece failure The United States Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have started a research study to examine the enhancement of thermal performance of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) face pieces to increase the protection of firefighters. "There have been incidents o...

President Obama and former President George H. W. Bush at the Presidential Forum on Service President Obama highlighted the national importance of service On October 16, two representatives from the Johnson County Rural Fire District (RFD) #1 Fire Safety Team attended the Presidential Forum on Service, held at the Texas A&M University campus in College Station, Texas. The event was hosted by the Points of Light Institute to discuss the role of government in volunteer se...

A House-Senate Conference Committee has approved an increase in SAFER grant funding New funding will enable hiring of thousands of firefighters A House-Senate Conference Committee has approved a final version of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriation for FY 2010 that doubles funding for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. HR 2892 increases the SAFER appropriation to $420 million, providing funding to hire thousands of firefight...

The deadline for applications for the FP&S Grants is October 23, 2009 Submissions still open for FY 2009 Fire Prevention and Safety Grants There is still time to submit an application for the Department of Homeland Security, FY 09 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants! Applications for FP&S grants must be received by October 23, 2009 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time. Fire Prevention and Safety Grants projects can include arson prevention, sprinkler awareness, smoke a...

FEMA Administrator Fugate addressed the annual NCAI convention Speech highlighted the importance of tribes to US emergency response capabilities Yesterday, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate addressed the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) 66th Annual Convention in Palm Springs, CA. At the convention, Administrator Fugate underlined the critical role that tribes play as a partner and member of our nation's emergency response team. Over 1,500 tribal leaders from acro...

Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, for whom the new Fire Prevention Act is named Congresswoman Tubbs had introduced Fire Prevention Act in last four sessions U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced the introduction of The of 2009. The late Congresswoman Tubbs Jones introduced the College Fire Prevention Act in each of the last four sessions of Congress and passed a resolution regarding Campus Fire Safety Month. Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S....

Jim Ridley has been appointed IAFF Director New appointee a career firefighter with 29 years' experience International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Harold Schaitberger has appointed James Ridley director of the IAFF Hazardous Materials and Weapons of Mass Destruction Training Department. Ridley, a career firefighter for 29 years, was president of IAFF Local 124 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for 11 years. "I'm honored to be asked to take over a program t...

The IAFF has announced Elizabeth M. Harman is the intended nomination for Assistant Administrator at FEMA Former firefighter and paramedic is Obama's intended nomination U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced President Obama's intent to nominate Elizabeth M. Harman, a former firefighter and currently a Director at the International Association of Fire Fighters, to become an Assistant Administrator at the Federal Emergency Manag...

The application period for the FY 2009 FP&S grants is now open FP&S grant application period deadline is October 23, 2009 The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) FY 2009 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant application period is now open. Help your department apply for funds to support important programs including Fire Corps activities. The application deadline is October 23. FP&S grants support projects that enhance the safety of the public and fire...

An arrangement of traditional diya lamps set out in celebration of Diwali LFB offers advice for fire safety during the Festival of Lights London Fire Brigade is wishing a safe and happy Diwali to people across the capital. Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, is a key celebration in the Hindu calendar.This year Diwali begins on Saturday 17th October. To celebrate, people often light small earthenware oil lamps called diyas, as well as setting off fireworks. A spokesperson fo...

FPA Australia will continue to implement the Ozone Protection act Contract will uphold FPAA's leadership position on environment FPA Australia has recently signed a four year contract to continue operating as the implementing agency for those parts of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 that relate to the fire protection industry. Scott Williams, CEO of FPA Australia says, "The fire protection industry will continue to take a leadership po...

The BBC estimates nearly half of England's new schools are without fire sprinklers BBC says almost half of England's new school buildings are without fire sprinklers Following up stories on Radio 4's Today programme and on Radio 5 Live, the BBC has criticised local authorities which are still building new schools without sprinklers. Almost half of new school buildings in England do not have fire safety sprinkler systems, the BBC has learned. The government...

The campaign will see fire fighters communicate fire safety messages to Key Stage 1 children Supported by The Department of Children, Schools and Families, this year's campaign will focus on 'planning a safe escape' and will be specifically targeted at Key Stage 1 children. The Fire Fighters Charity and the Communities and Local Government Fire Kills Campaign are working together to encourage Fire and Rescue Services to work with their local primary schools...

A firefighter at the mall where sprinklers extinguished the fire 19 sprinkler heads prevented disaster A fire in a shopping mall in Vilnius, Lithuania, was extinguished by a sprinkler system. The fire began in a deep fat fryer in the Chilli China restaurant in the Akropolis shopping mall on Tuesday, 6th October. The fryer was not fitted with a local suppression system so the fire got into the duct, which was coated with fat. It spread through the duct and into...

Agency officials walk past flooded mobile homes along Douglas County Sweetwater Creek, Georgia Emergency management agencies's focus turns to long-term recovery Two weeks after a federal major disaster declaration for parts of Georgia swamped by heavy rains and flooding, the emergency response is winding down and the focus of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has turned to long-term recovery. "The response of...

Students training at FEMA's Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) Speech applauded the significant contribution made by the Center The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Deputy Administrator, National Preparedness Directorate, Tim Manning, spoke at FEMA's Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) graduation ceremony today in Anniston, Alabama where he recognized CDP's 500,000th graduate. "The training provided by the Center for...

Fred G. Allinson has been given the NVFC's Lifetime Achievement Award Award presented at NVFC Board Meeting The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) bestowed its 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award to Fred G. Allinson, a volunteer firefighter from Washington State. With a distinguished record of service, including six years as NVFC Chairman and 39 years as a volunteer firefighter, Allinson's accomplishments exemplify outstanding performance. The NVFC Lifetime Achievement Awar...

The NVFC urges you to vote to retain a provision requiring fire sprinklers in new residential construction Join ICC by October 14 to be eligible to vote Vote to retain a provision in the International Residential Code (IRC) requiring the installation of fire sprinklers in new residential construction at the International Code Council's (ICC) Code Development Hearings on October 28 in Baltimore, MD. You must join the ICC by October 14 in order to participate in the vote....

An image from CSB's new safety video on the Imperial Sugar explosion Video includes 3D animation of explosion The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today released a new nine-minute safety video on the combustible dust explosion at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia, which claimed the lives of 14 workers, injured 36, and caused extensive property damage on February 7, 2008.Entitled "Inferno: Dust Explosion at Imperial Sugar," the video includes a new four-...

The ESC says fire protection in tower blocks must be prioritised Statement follows BBC report into fire risks Fire integrity of tower blocks must be made a priority, says safety charity, the Electrical Safety Council (ESC). Commenting on the BBC's report on the fire risks in London's tower blocks, Phil Buckle, director general of the ESC said: "It's crucial that electrical work undertaken on behalf of council landlords is rigorously checked to ensure that fire regulations...