Fire and Rescue news

Drinking large amounts of alcohol and cooking is a "dangerous cocktail" at Christmas Drinking large amounts of alcohol and cooking is a "dangerous cocktail" at Christmas, warn community fire safety officers. Shropshire fire crews have been giving out the message at fire safety events across the county in a bid to prevent house fires during the festive season. "Our message is especially important at Christmas and the New Year as people celebrate and drink small amounts of a...

  Kimtek Corporation is to supply FIRELITE units for service with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan   Kimtek Corporation has announced a significant order of their FIRELITE units for service with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. The company manufactured and shipped ten of their top of the line FIRELITE Transport FDH-09 skid units to fit Military Polaris and John Deere Gator 6x6 UTVs. Built from aluminum diamond plate, aluminum tubing, and stainless steel, these rugge...

FLAME-SIM allows AFD firefighters to understand and follow SOGs and safety procedures on the fireground With budgets tightening and the number of fires decreasing, more departments are turning to the benefits brought about by simulation software.  Allen Fire Department, in Allen, Texas, has been working with FLAME-SIM since October 2008. They have seen the cutting edge simulation software positively impact their training program, as well as their budget. Th...

  Morrisons has installed smoke and gas detection technology from Chubb Fire   Sophisticated smoke and gas detection technology from Chubb Fire is protecting the staff and equipment at Rathbones, the bakery arm of Morrisons supermarket. Chubb Fire is part of UTC Fire & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp (NYSE:UTX). The systems had to be installed without disrupting baking production. Pervez Khan, General Manager of Rathbones (Wakefield and Middlesbr...

Operation Carmageddon will demonstrate the consequences of careless driving "Reckless driving: cut it out before we have to cut you out," is the stark message from firefighters who will be demonstrating their role in the aftermath of a serious car crash with a special demonstration in Chatham High Street on Thursday, 17 December. Crews from Chatham and Medway fire stations will rescue a mock casualty from car wreckage alongside staff from Kent Police and the Kent Air Ambula...

Tower blocks or high rise buildings are designed to hold back fire and stop it from spreading Firefighters in London are specially trained to respond to fires in high rise buildings, and are regularly called out to such fires.Following the fire at Lakanal House in Camberwell this year, some reports in the media may have left you confused about what to do if a fire starts in your building. Tower blocks or high rise buildings are designed with walls, ceilings and doors that h...

The completion of both boroughs' 50th LIFE courses a passing out parade was held on 11 December at Dagenham A successful London Fire Brigade scheme that works with young people at risk of social exclusion to raise their self esteem has marked its 50th pass out parade in two boroughs. Since being introduced in Newham in December 2004, 800  young people have completed Local Intervention Fire Education (LIFE) courses there, while over 650 teenagers have completed the...

  London Fire Brigade has welcomed new government guidance on sprinkler systems for new buildings   The London Fire Brigade has welcomed new government guidance for new buildings with sprinkler systems. The guidance would ensure that new and refurbished school buildings, including those built under the Building Schools for the Future programme, are likely to have sprinkler systems. They will be working to make sure that decision makers and the general public...

LFB campaign to ensure the safe use, signage and storage of acetylene cylinders The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has been working hard to reduce the disruption caused to London by incidents involving acetylene gas cylinders.The campaign is to ensure the safe use, signage and storage of acetylene cylinders and to create a greater awareness of the additional dangers they bring when they are involved in fires and other incidents. Alongside the awareness campaign, the Brigade...

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties and tribes within the state.The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for the State of Louisiana to supplement state and local recovery...

  The CFOA president has called for adopting sprinklers as a significant measure to protect life CFOA says that the wider use of sprinklers in domestic, commercial and residential premises will support the environment and save the economy millions of pounds. CFOA President, John Bonney, in his address at the launch of the ABI paper 'Tackling Fire - a call for Action' spoke of the valid and significant contribution sprinklers could and should be making in...

The aims of this seminar are to alert all sleeping accommodation premises owners The seminar aims to create awareness on the benefits of incorporating fire safety management protection measures. Fires in commercial sleeping accommodation premises, especially those catering for the elderly, infirm or those people not familiar with the building present their own serious hazards. In particular evacuation of the building at night with limited staff may prove difficult especi...

The one day course contains details on the European Regulations for safe handling of halon Ozone Depleting Substances (Minimum Qualifications) Regulations Certification course is a one-day course for companies handling halon. Who should attend? The course is intended for any company that is involved in servicing or maintaining the critical uses of halon gases i.e. aircraft extinguishing systems, aircraft portable extinguishers, police and military use. Why? It is a legal...

FEMA is excited to announce the second webinar in the Community Preparedness Webinar Series FEMA's second webinar in the Community Preparedness Webinar Series begins December 14. The webinar series provides up-to-date information on community preparedness topics and resources available to citizens, community organizations, and Citizen Corps Councils. This LIVE webinar is scheduled for Monday, December 14th at 2pm EST and will provide information on the Resolve to Be...

FEMA has assembled a list of gift ideas for the holidays to help keep your family and friends prepared This year Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has assembled a list of gift ideas for the holidays to help keep your family and friends prepared. Emergencies can happen at any moment; these gifts can serve as a great starting point to ensure that your friends and family have an emergency communications plan, a disaster supply kit, and stay informed about emergencie...

CSB today issued urgent safety recommendations calling on CITGO to improve its emergency water The U.S. Chemical Safety Board  (CSB) has issued urgent safety recommendations calling on CITGO to immediately improve its emergency water mitigation system.The recommendation comes in the event of another release of potentially deadly hydrogen fluoride (HF) vapor, as occurred following an explosion and fire July 19, 2009, at CITGO's Corpus Christi refinery. The...

The FIA has announced the first company to achieve ISO 9001 quality accreditation and BAFE certification Western Isles Fire Protection was formed as a new business in February 2009 by Mark Robb.The company provides fire extinguisher supply, service and maintenance throughout the Western Isles from its base in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. Mark, who had successfully achieved registration under the BAFE ST104 Portable Fire Extinguisher Service Technicians Sche...

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...

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 "...

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...

Navistar acquired Continental Mfg. Company, Inc., the largest mixer manufacturer in North America Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) has announced it has acquired Continental Mfg. Company, Inc., the largest privately-held mixer manufacturer in North America. "This deal is another example of how Navistar is growing the business by leveraging what we have and what others have built," said Jack Allen, president of Navistar's North American truck group. "Adding...

Navistar school buses are compliant with the 2010 diesel emission requirements In a ceremony held earlier at the Columbus, Mississippi Municipal School District, Navistar delivered the first school buses certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be compliant with 2010 diesel emissions requirements. The 28 IC Bus™ CE Series school buses were purchased by the Columbus Municipal School District with funding received earlier in the year from...

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...

  Navistar International Corporation has acquired Continental Mfg. Company, Inc. Navistar International Corporation has announced it has acquired Continental Mfg. Company, Inc., the largest privately-held mixer manufacturer in North America. "This deal is another example of how Navistar is growing the business by leveraging what we have and what others have built," said Jack Allen, president of Navistar's North American truck group. "Adding Continental gives us ano...