Industry News

London Fire Brigade says "Don't drown in toxic smoke" Major new government fire safety campaign launches in London Drowning in the toxic smoke of a house fire is the risk you take if you don't have a working smoke alarm. That is the stark message being delivered by London Fire Brigade in support of the government's national "Don't drown in toxic smoke" advertising campaign launching today (October 5). After just two to three breaths of this toxic smoke, your lungs fill up...

Workers clearing debris in American Samoa - FEMA continues to respond and give federal support to the region Donations welcomed by partner agencies such as Red Cross The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is into its sixth day of response and federal support to American Samoa. FEMA and federal teams, through the Federal Coordinating Officer, continue to work closely with American Samoan Governor Togiola Tulafono and Delegate Eni F....

In the incident, a flat fire was virtually extinguished by a sprinkler system Fire sprinkler system protects lives and property in incident Recently East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service received a call from a resident in Warrior Square, Hastings, who was concerned about a smell of smoke. Two fire appliances were dispatched to the building and upon arrival, discovered a fire in the basement flat. The fire, which had started in the bedroom of the property, had bee...

A FEMA image showing the effects of the recent tsunami in Indonesia UK USAR team deployed to aid relief efforts Kent Fire and Rescue Service's Urban and Search and Rescue (USAR) Team is set to join the humanitarian relief effort in Indonesia. This specialist team of eight staff is among nine fire and rescue service units from the UK which have been deployed to fly from Gatwick today to help in the aftermath of Wednesday's earthquake which killed at least 1,000 people and i...

The scene following the explosion at the Slim Jim plant in June 2009 Advice follows fatal June, 2009 accident at processing plant In a new safety bulletin based on preliminary findings from the ConAgra Foods natural gas explosion in Garner, North Carolina, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) urged companies, gas installers, and contractors to follow safe practices during gas purging operations, including venting purged gases outdoors whenever practicable.The explosion, whi...

Firefighters who give emergency medical care should receive the H1N1 vaccination, say FEMA, USFA First responder agencies should receive treatment in first wave of vaccine With the first deliveries of the H1N1 vaccine already underway, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as part of its mission to support first responders, joins the United States Fire Administration (USFA) in recommending that firefighters who provide emergency medical services (EMS...

USFA is urging the US fire service to support fire-safe cigarette initiatives Fire-safe cigarettes lessen risk of home fire deaths Smoking is the leading cause of home fire fatalities in the United States, despite the fact that the numbers of smokers continue to decline. The victims of the fires are not only the smokers but their children, spouses or partners, and even neighbors or friends. On top of the human tragedy, millions of dollars of property is damaged or d...

Governor Schwarzeneggar at the site of the Station fire in Los Angeles County California governor acknowledges need for review Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued a statement following an announcement by the U.S. Forest Service that they will be reviewing the way the Station fire in Los Angeles County was fought: "It is very clear that a thorough investigation and review of the Station fire response by the federal government is absolutely necessary." "I can assure...

DHS Secretary Napolitano delivered a speech focusing on the need for shared responsibility Individual and community preparedness will help build readiness Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today marked the conclusion of National Preparedness Month by delivering a speech emphasizing America's shared responsibility for preparedness and stressing the important role that individuals play in building a national culture of readiness and resilience....

The London Fire Brigade has run a LIFE course for young people with autism Course part of "Local Intervention Fire Education" programme  A successful London Fire Brigade scheme designed to improve the self-esteem of young people and promote fire safety has run a course for young people with autism. The specially adapted Local Intervention Fire Education (LIFE) course ran between 21-25 September at Dagenham Fire Station. Originally set up to improve community relatio...

The NVFC, with the Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation, has awarded grants to ten junior firefighter programs Ten outstanding applicant programs selected to win grants The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), in partnership with the Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation, has selected 10 outstanding junior firefighter programs and Explorer Posts from departments nationwide to receive a $5,000 grant through the NVFC National Junior...

A fire and rescue search team operating in severe flooding NVFC support fund designed to help first responders affected by severe weather incidents FEMA has announced that 17 counties in Georgia have received federal disaster designations due to the devastating floods and severe weather. When tragedies like this strike, we must remember that the firefighters and EMS personnel relied upon to respond are also victims. The National Volunteer Fire Council's (NVFC) Volunteer Fir...

An image taken after the explosion at the Imperial Sugar Refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia in February 2008 Report concludes inadequate equipment design, maintenance and housekeeping led to explosions In a final draft report released today, CSB investigators said the February 7, 2008, explosion at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia, resulted from ongoing releases of sugar from inadequately designed and maintained dust collection equipment, conveyors, a...

USFA has released a report into US firefighter fatalities in 2008 Heart attacks the most common cause of US firefighter death in 2008 The United States Fire Administration (USFA) today released the report Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2008. The report continues a series of annual studies by the USFA of on-duty firefighter fatalities. The USFA is the single public agency source of information for all on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States each...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service personnel make their way down one of the tunnels Exercise designed to improve crews' tunnel emergency preparedness The Secret Wartime Tunnels deep within the cliffs of Dover was the set of a important drill that took place yesterday evening (22 September). The exercise, called Henry, saw staff from Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) and English Heritage responding to a serious fire deep underground in the tunnels which date back to the Middle A...

The DHS has announced new grants for increased preparedness initiatives including fire station construction Grant funds made available by Recovery Act Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced more than $380 million in grants - funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) - to pay for fire station construction and port and transit security initiatives nationwide while creating jobs and stimulating local economies. "Inf...

NFPA Firewise Learning Center now offers a new tool to improve community wildfire safety Firewise Learning Center offers new online seminar free to all Fire and forestry professionals have a new tool to help make communities safer from wildfire. "Conducting a Community Assessment in the Wildland/Urban Interface: Beginning the Firewise Process" is the latest offering of the NFPA's Firewise Learning Center. The online course is aimed at fire and forestry professionals an...

London Fire Brigade's Fire Safety Week included work with children in schools across the capital Fire Safety Week highlights importance of safety awareness to Londoners London Fire Brigade has successfully staged its first ever Fire Safety Week which highlighted the work it is doing to get its fire safety messages across to Londoners. Fire Safety Week was part of the Brigade's new Keep Your Community Safe & Sound fire safety campaign which is encouraging all Londoners...

Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service firefighters in action during the event, which raised nearly £20,000 Event raised nearly £20,000 for the Fire Fighters Charity Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service would like to send a message of thanks to all those that supported the latest Fire Fighters Charity National Car Wash which took place on Saturday 19th September at local stations across Greater Manchester. The total amount raised was almost £2...

The NHBC has released a research report recommending the use of sprinkler systems in open plan flats NHBC report results from a study into Building Regulations and guidance Partly in response to international influences, there has been an increase recently in open plan flat layouts in the UK with bedrooms located as inner rooms. While these designs may appeal to the market, such layouts can pose problems for designers and developers particularly where they may not accord ea...

A defibrillator - one of several items included in the IEC kits Emergency care packs will aid treatment of casualties Fire crews in Ealing are better prepared than ever to treat casualties at incidents, after being kitted out with life saving emergency care packs. The new gear, called "Immediate Emergency Care" equipment, will be carried in a specially designed backpack on all fire engines at Acton, Ealing, Northolt and Southall fire stations. London Fire Brigade's Borough...

A FEMA image showing flooded homes in central Georgia Entire state remains under flash flood watch IAFF members across the state of Georgia are responding to flooding that has taken the lives of at least seven citizens and flooded homes, interstates and roads. IAFF 12th District Vice President Larry Osborne and Professional Fire Fighters of Georgia President Jon Dorman are reaching out to affiliates, especially those in the hard-hit metro-Atlanta area, to assess any potent...

Governor Schwarzeneggar talking to firefighters in California after recent wildfires Directs Cal/OSHA to carry out largest heat enforcement effort in its history Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today mobilized the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to prepare for increased wildfire potential as unseasonably hot and dry conditions are forecast for much of California this week. Additionally, the...

Canadian fire chiefs aim to limit children's access to lighters, matches Project aims to decrease fires caused by play or deliberate firesetting A pilot project to limit the access that children have to lighters and matches was announced today by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) at its annual conference in Winnipeg. The project is a joint initiative between CAFC, Health Canada and The Arson Prevention Program for Children (TAPP-C), a program developed at the...

Model Twiggy and fire fighters from Battersea Heliport in London washing cars for National Car Wash Day Supermodel Twiggy Lawson is getting all in lather in preparation for The Fire Fighters Charity National Car Wash Day! The fundraising event which provides drivers across the UK with the chance to brush up on their knowledge of home fire safety, whilst their cars receive a gleaming polish from local fire fighters, takes place on Saturday 19th September - also coincidentally...

Children and young people are likely responsible for half the fires Children and young people are thought to be responsible for half The number of grass and woodland fires being started deliberately is on the rise in Kent. Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is warning that deliberate fires have the potential to get out of hand, causing serious injury or even death and are asking residents to be extra vigilant in the fight to stop the perpetrators. Since the beginning of...

A hurricane-damaged home - Fire Corps is calling for an increase in hurricane preparedness Fire Corps highlights dangers of US hurricane season It's National Preparedness Month, and each week Fire Corps is releasing information regarding a particular preparedness topic. September is not only National Preparedness Month, but it is also in the peak of hurricane season. In recent years, tragedies like hurricanes Katrina and Rita have emphasized the need for prepared...

The Imperial Sugar refinery following the fatal explosion in 2008 Board will consider final investigation report on fatal dust explosion at Imperial Sugar refinery The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) announced that it will convene a public meeting on Thursday September 24, 2009, in Savannah, Georgia, to review the final CSB investigation report on the causes of the February 2008 dust explosions and fire at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia. The me...

The application period for FY2009 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants begins on September 21, 2009 Primary goal of grants is to target high-risk populations The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has posted the FY2009 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants Program Guidance on the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program website. The application period is scheduled to begin on September 21, 2009 at 8:00 am Eastern Standard Time (EST). Applications f...

US fires in 2008 caused over $15.5 billion in direct property loss NFPA Journal publishes new fire loss statistics In 2008, fires caused more than $15.5 billion in direct property loss throughout the United States; fires in residential properties accounting for $8.6 billion of the total. Findings from the newly released report "U.S. Fire Loss in the United States in 2008" appear in the latest issue of NFPA Journal®, the official magazine of the National Fire Protection...