Fire and Rescue news

Customers are being supported through a more flexible control room solution          Designed and developed by Initsys, Merlin 3 has enabled VSG to boost productivity in the ARC by over 15% by speeding up the control processes used in a range of day to day operations and enabling a higher level of activity. VSG, one of the UK's leading providers of integrated security services, has installed Merlin 3 control room software in its ce...

C-TEC's Quantec addressable call system at new inpatient unit C-TEC's Quantec addressable call system is playing a key role safeguarding staff at a new Child and Adolescent Mental Health Inpatient Unit in Belfast. Specifically constructed to provide Tier 4 and assessment services for young people aged 13 to 18, the new Beechcroft Unit now boasts an extensive range of C-TEC's high-quality brushed stainless-steel Quantec call system components. The main building and two extende...

Heavy smog in Kriusha, Ryazan, 155 miles south of Moscow   Emergency action is reported to have 'stabilized' the situation at Sarov, the now-closed town where first Soviet nuclear bomb was built. Forest and peat fires have killed at least 52 people, made more than 4,000 homeless, diverted many flights and pushed air pollution in Moscow to six times its normal level. Russia's Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu has warned that wildfires raging in the west of the...

The junior firefighter program is open to all youths aged between 13 and 18 The National Junior Firefighter Program serves as an umbrella program  for junior firefighter schemes nationwide to promote youth participation within the fire and emergency services community. The National Volunteer Fire Council's (NVFC) National Junior Firefighter Program, in partnership with Spartan Motors, Inc., California Casualty, and Firehouse Expo, presented the inaugural National Junior...

Pipe-cleaning has claimed a number of lives in recent times  Statement by CSB chairperson Dr. Rafael Moure-Eraso has urged OSHA to adopt the CSB recommendation prohibiting flammable gas blows during pipe cleaning operations. On June 28, 2010, at a public meeting in Portland, Connecticut, the Chemical Safety Board voted to issue eighteen urgent recommendations to various recipients, including OSHA, aimed at halting the dangerous practice of releasing larg...

Bushfire research institute established for the findings of Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission A national bushfire research institute is to be established in response to the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.A national bushfire research institute is to be established to build upon the gains of the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre and the findings of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. The Royal Commission final report released indicates how much more...

To date, Hurricane Alex has caused$1.8 billion of damage  FEMA encourages disaster victim to apply for disaster assistance. Both a toll-free registration telephone number and online registration are now operational for homeowners, renters and business owners in the Texan counties that have suffered property damage or loss from Hurricane Alex. These counties include Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Maverick, Starr, Val Verde, Webb and Zapata. Officials from the U.S. Departmen...

Proper communication network helps people to cope with emergency situations IAFC President and Chairman of the Board Jeff Johnson, chief of Tualatin Valley (Ore.) Fire & Rescue, has testified before Congress in support of allocating the 10 MHz of the D Block portion of the 700 MHz band of spectrum directly to public safety to establish a 20 MHz wireless broadband network. In his testimony before the Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response Subcommittee of the H...

DCNR announced $666,553 fund for Pennsylvania's rural firefighters to helpthem save their undeveloped areas The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has announced record funding for rural firefighters to fight against threats of fires in forests and undeveloped areas. A record $666,553 will be awarded to help Pennsylvania's rural communities guard against the threat of fires in forests and other undeveloped areas, Department of Conservation a...

Folkstone has witnessed about 112 road traffic collisions recently involving mostly young drivers Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is stepping up its road safety campaign in Folkestone aimed at young drivers. New statistics for the last three years reveal that there have been 112 road traffic collisions in Folkestone involving drivers aged 17-24, out of which 148 people were injured, 1 fatally and 7 seriously. As part of the KFRS's road safety initiative 'Operation Carmag...

Smart Grid Intiative focusses on next generation of power distribution NIST and other government agencies are undertaking a comprehensive series of programs to develop technology and information to enable the rapid transition to the next generation of power distribution through the Smart Grid initiative. The Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), an affiliate of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), was awarded $250,000 from the National Institute of Standards...

Small grass fires can turn intocatastrophes if not checked in time Grass fires can be set deliberately or started accidentally. Either way they pose a huge risk to wildlife, parkland and even people's lives. The number of grass fires across London has shot up and, with the hot weather set to continue, the London Fire Brigade fears further fires. Compared to this time last year, grass fires across London are up 25%. Weather experts recently declared that last month was o...

The course has a varied program with background literature, lectures on gaming and play sessions E-Semble will be one of the guest speakers in this course. The postgraduate course will have lectures of teachers and guest speakers. In the fall of 2010, TU Delft is organizing the first accredited postgraduate course in 'Serious Gaming for Professionals.' The target group consists of professionals with a higher vocational or university training who want to become (more) proficie...

USFA made available new NFIRS web-based data entry tool known as the Data Entry Browser Interface The FEMA’s United States Fire Administration (USFA) has recently made available a new National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) web-based data entry tool known as the Data Entry Browser Interface. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) United States Fire Administration (USFA) has recently made available a new National Fire Incident Reporting System (NF...

The conference is organized to celebrate the 10th anniversary with all users of XVR and ISEE E-Semble's International User Conference meeting to be held on 30th September, 2010. This year's E-Semble user meeting is dedicated to their 10th anniversary. To celebrate this milestone with all users of XVR and ISEE, E-Semble organizes a two-day international user meeting with a comprehensive program, including a festive dinner. The meeting will take place in Delft on September 30....

Many people killed in house fires are asleep at the time Many people killed in house fires are asleep at the time. A smoke alarm will wake you up and give you vital extra time to escape. Costing from as little as £5, there really is no excuse for not having a smoke alarm in your home. You can get a free smoke alarm and fire safety check by booking a home fire risk assessment, but if you want to choose your own, get clued up with this advice from the Greater Man...

Support of FBU lead Mr Bennett'scase towards victory The Fire Brigades Union and Thompsons Solicitors have secured a ground-breaking victory for firefighter Christopher Bennett after he was sacked for sending an email to colleagues about the fire service's insistence that he used a chair that was injuring his back on nightshifts at work. The Tribunal found that his right to freedom of expression under the Human Rights Act had been breached and that his dismissal was unfa...

Two special reports focusing on US fires have been released by USFA The USFA has announced the release of two special reports: "One- and Two-Family Residential Building Fires" and "Multifamily Residential Building Fires On The Causes And The Characteristic Of Fires". The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) announced the release of two special reports focusing on the cause and characteristics of fires in one- and two-family and multifamily residential buildings. The reports, One-...

National Preparedness Month is a great way to train communities in coping with disasters The seventh annual National Preparedness Month, in September, encourages Americans to take steps to prepare. This year, NPM focuses on encouraging all Americans to take active steps towards getting involved and becoming prepared. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that, to date, more than 1,900 national, regional, tribal, state and local organizations and busin...

The First International VictimBase Workshop wasbroadcast online, allowing participantsglobally to join in E-Semble and CAE are the sponsors of VictimBase project. This project is to develop a standardized victim template and an online disaster victim database. Together with Professor Michel Debacker, research director of the EMDM Academy, and Jana Lee Tryan from CAE Canada, Wiljan van Norel led the First International VictimBase Workshop. This workshop was organized in Novara...

Firex will be live in Manchester this October After a success of Firex South, the roadshow it is now looking forward to Firex North, the roadshow from 27th – 28th October 2010. After a successful Firex South, the roadshow is once again travelling up north from the 27-28 October 2010. This year sees us move to the new venue of Manchester Central and also co-locate alongside the SME event, Business Northwest. Firex North is the ultimate event for fire safety professional...

A trial license of XVR to the Schipholfire department by E-Semble for firefighting training and education A unique to the Schiphol Fire Department environment has been customized and offered by E-Semble.E-Semble has offered a trial license of XVR to the Fire Department from Schiphol so that they can educate and train their personnel in command procedures. Through a partnership with CAE, the XVR environment that is supplied to the Schiphol Fire Department will contain a...

The new campaign initiated by DHS and TSA would help in providing better and effective security measures Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John S. Pistole launched two major enhancements to general aviation security the general aviation component of DHS's nationwide "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign, and a streamlined system for vetting passengers and crew on general avia...

UK Fire Training has developed a more professional approach for fire risk assessment We all know insurance companies don't like paying up. A fire risk assessment is the only sure way a business can protect its premiums in case of a real fire. Fire risk assessments are proving more than just a legal requirement, as insurance companies tighten their belts against the inevitable fall out from the world wide financial slump. Unless a company can prove that it has carried out a fu...

Fire Minister for England, Bob Neill MP EADS Defence and Security welcomes Fire Ministers comments on FiReControl programme.EADS Defence & Security (DS) has welcomed the comments made by Fire Minister for England, Bob Neill MP, with reference to the ongoing FiReControl programme. The comments were made in a recent speech to the Fire and Rescue Conference in Harrogate.The Minister said: “It was time to put FiReControl on a sound and stable footing, and that the projec...

A number of fire training courses are run by UK Fire Training which helps in lowering fire risks Obtaining adequate fire safety training is essential, but it's also important to make sure that the training is delivered to the right people and at the right level. UK Fire Training provides a solution that's trusted across the UK. When it comes to fire safety training, it is critical that businesses and organisations get it right, but all too often the fire safety training cours...

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service proposals would bring down safety and security measures   Warwickshire FBU Officials are planning branch meetings across the county to gauge members' response to plans to close three fire stations. The move follows last weeks decision by Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Authority to close Studley, Warwick and Brinklow stations and replace a whole time day crewing appliance with a small fires unit. The Fire Authority met in full on 2...

New operating zone vice presidents will aid Rural/Metro Corporation  Rural/Metro is an excellent and experienced operating company with a long track record as an industry leader. The company has appointed industry leaders as zone vice presidents. Rural/Metro Corporation, a leading provider of ambulance and private fire protection services, announced that it has implemented a new regional zone structure in order to enhance its strategic and organic growth o...

Cadets and their trainers celebratepassing out with Commissioner Ron Dobson and Chair of LFEPA’s Cllr Susan Hall The first 20 youngsters to complete London Fire Brigade’s Community Fire Cadet Course have attended a special Passing Out Parade.  The programme was launched in Tower Hamlets and Hackney in February 2009 and to mark the end of the course the Cadets received certificates from London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson at a special ceremony at the Brigade&r...

Ara Safety proves useful in bringing down the effects of catastrophic fires and harmful smoke When flames engulfed an attic of a home in Forestburg, Alberta, the local Fire Department and its Chief Kevin Lunty used Ara Safety's Fire Interruption Technology to contain the damage and save the home from total loss. The fire had gone unnoticed for a while. When fire fighters arrived on scene, the flames had spread throughout the attic. With an exhausted water supply, and the rese...