Fire and Rescue news

Fire-Dex, the country’s fastest-growing manufacturer of PPE for first responders, is growing again with the opening of a new production facility in Old Fort, North Carolina, USA. As the company’s fourth major production center, the 25,000-square-foot Old Fort facility, located at 59 Commerce Street, will play a vital role in ensuring quality craftsmanship, fast shipping, and attentive service to customers for years to come. Position Critical Resources “While our footprint is...

Concerned fire officers and trading standard experts have warned of the dangers of e-bikes and e-scooters after a devastating fire in Newcastle. Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) and Newcastle City Council have issued the warning after a residential fire in Elswick recently. Fires By e-Bike Firefighters from Newcastle Central Community Fire Station responded to the blaze on July 11th when a lithium-ion battery on an e-bike caught fire while charging in a bedroom. The occupant...

At RFC Fire and Security Systems, they offer full Pat Testing for companies of all sizes ensuring that employers are compliant with the current Pat Testing Regulations within Ireland. In Ireland, the key points related to PAT testing are as follows: Legal Requirement: The General Application Regulations require employers to ensure that electrical equipment is maintained in a safe condition and regularly inspected. PAT testing is one of the ways to fulfill this requirement. Responsibility: E...

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has announced several new dates for its Foundation Course in Passive Fire Protection at both level 2 and level 3. The seven-day classroom-based level 3 courses will take place in Manchester, commencing on 15 August; Reading starting on 17 August; and Dublin on 7 September. The four-day level 2 courses will take place in Coventry from 1 September, and Dublin commencing on 7 September. Revision courses to help learners prepare for the Institut...

At the Kissimmee Fire Department in Florida, 105 paid operations personnel train regularly for garden apartment and taxpayer fire scenarios on The Fire Chief training model. Customized to handle the specific training demands of the department, the impressive structure was opened in 2019. “We chose this Fire Facilities structure as opposed to any other type of training unit because of the different options we had to choose from for the price,” says Battalion Chief Eric Gentry, a 22-y...

EMSHelp.org, a non-profit organization committed to advancing suicide prevention among EMS providers, launched its 'Stop Our Stigma' campaign on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at the AFCA/AFDA Fire and EMS Leadership Conference and Expo 2023. Board members - Rob Brewster and Dale Crogan were in attendance to request all attendees sign the pledge to 'recognize and commit to reducing the stigma associated with mental health and seeking mental health help'. Suicide rates According to a study conducte...

Oil and gas facilities typically have thousands of connections and fittings that require regular inspection for fugitive emissions. To reduce the time necessary to complete this task with traditional 'sniffer' technology, increasing numbers are turning to optical gas imaging (OGI) cameras from Teledyne FLIR. The company’s innovative G-series OGI cameras give operatives the power to spot invisible gases as they escape, locating fugitive emissions faster and more reliably. Importantly, the...

Following a decision of its Board, Euralarm has welcomed ExxFire as a new member.  The company will join the Extinguishing Section of Euralarm whose activities cover automatic extinguishing systems using gas, water, foam, powder, and aerosols, oxygen reduction systems, portable equipment, and other manual means of fire-fighting as well as fire-fighting agents used in either fixed automatic systems or in portable equipment.  ExxFire joins Euralarm as new member ExxFire (Noordwijk, th...

Calls for building owners to speed up fire safety remediation work have been backed by the county’s fire service. South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue supports a joint statement from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and regulatory bodies which warns building owners that they need to get on with remediation work or face enforcement action. Making buildings safe The DLUHC statement - issued jointly by the government, Building Safety Regulator, the Local Government Ass...

Fire safety and security specialist Amthal is excited to mark a new chapter in the company’s evolution with a refreshed brand identity and vision for future growth in the industry. The rebranding initiative represents a strategic move to align the company's visual identity with its growth targets, core values, commercial expertise, and commitment to excellence in the fire and security industry. Brand transformation Amthal has undergone a comprehensive brand transformation, including a r...

Following the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) Culture and Inclusion Conference on 27 and 28 March 2023 and the spotlight report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) entitled ‘Values and culture in fire and rescue services’, released on 30 March 2023, the NFCC has developed a Culture Action Plan to address culture and inclusion within the fire and rescue sector. NFCC’s fire and rescue services protect the pub...

Johnson Controls, the globally renowned company for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, announced the launch of Autocall Foundation Series fire detection systems for small- to mid-size building protection. The Foundation Series is a complete, off-the-shelf fire detection solution featuring addressable and non-addressable models, and a full range of reliable, proven Autocall devices. economical and effective package “This new, simplified series provides all the benefits and reliab...

MSA Safety, DuPont Personal Protection, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have partnered for the 12th year to help volunteer fire departments obtain much-needed personal protective equipment. Through MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway, 13 fire departments will be awarded four new sets of state-of-the-art turnout gear and helmets in 2023. The first 500 applicants also received a one-year NVFC membership, courtesy of MSA. Outdoor recreation accidents The first two recipien...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) partnered with DripDrop Hydration, PBC, an electrolyte rehydration company, for the fourth year to provide dehydration relief to volunteer firefighters. More than 2,700 cases (547,000 servings) of DripDrop’s electrolyte drink mix have been donated to 1,544 volunteer fire departments to help keep their firefighters at their best while serving their community. Dehydration is a serious concern for firefighters and can cause decreased performance as...

Cameron Carmichael became the milestone number when he donated his stem cells to help save someone’s life. The volunteer on-call firefighter is based at Kilmelford Community Fire Station near Oban, where he’s served for around 11 months. blood cancer charity Cameron Carmichael, 20, who signed up to the blood cancer charity’s stem cell register when he was 16, was surprised to discover he was a match for someone in need, and the 100th donor. He said, “It took a few days...

People from across Silsden gathered at the fire station to watch as TV presenter - Katie Rushworth officially opened the allotment and orchard.  Katie, who lives in the countryside just outside Leeds and is a Presenter on ITV’s Love Your Garden, cut the ribbon to officially open the green space that has been transformed over the last few months. plants and trees The area at the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) station used to be just covered in grass, but firefighters...

On Tuesday, July 11, 2023, the National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Candice McDonald, participated as a featured presenter at the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ (IAFC) webinar on ‘Igniting Firefighter Retention’. The webinar provided strategies and tips for volunteer fire departments to utilize to boost retention and create a dynamic team.

Volunteer fire and EMS personnel regularly go from their normal daily routines to a response mode that can expose them to acute, and sometimes traumatic, stress. Unfortunately, this can sometimes lead to serious behavioral health issues, including PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and substance abuse. NVFC's new course examines PTSD The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) offers a new course that examines PTSD and the various types of substance abuse that is frequently seen in the fire...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Newell Road Fire burning in Klickitat County, Washington. The state of Washington’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was approved by FEMA Region 10 Administrator Willie G. Nunn on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at 12:14 a.m. PT. He determined that the Newell Road Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. This...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Golden Fire burning in Klamath County, Oregon, USA. The state of Oregon’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was approved by FEMA Region 10 Administrator - Willie G. Nunn on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at 4:34 p.m. PT. He determined that the Golden Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. This is the fir...

The UK’s pioneer firefighter for road rescue has welcomed the news that real-time road crash data could soon be made available to the emergency services, helping to speed up collision response times and save lives describing it as a ‘breakthrough.’ In the event of a collision, the TeCall system, which is about to be piloted, will provide detailed information about the vehicles involved to the fire service, police, paramedics, and highway operators, almost instantly. road safe...

CIC is seeking three Specialist non-executive Directors to join its statutory Board. These are voluntary, non-executive (non-renumerated) roles and it is expected that the role will average eight hours per month. Meetings are generally held in Central London and are hybrid. Specialist directors would normally serve for three years and are eligible to be reappointed for one further term by mutual agreement. Leadership teams and workforce CIC is seeking specialist input in the following ar...

It’s a world cup win for England as the veteran team lifted the trophy on the final day – and among them was WYFRS Fire Officer - Simeon Bambrook. Simeon, who is Assistant District Commander at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS), was thrilled when the finals in Thailand saw the England Veterans walk away with the cup. The father-of-two has been involved in football from a young age when he played in the Youth Team at Leeds United. He said the atmosphere at the stadi...

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has published its new Member Strategy, setting out its ambitions to continuously improve, and to firmly establish NFCC and the UK Fire and Rescue Service as among the best in the world. The Strategy, which has been shaped by extensive engagement and consultation with NFCC members, demonstrates how NFCC will achieve its mission of working with fire and rescue services over the next three years, to achieve safer communities through collaboration, partnershi...

Fire safety businesses across Scotland are being offered the chance to bid for potential work worth up to £20 million to support a wide range of public bodies.  A Scottish procurement firm has invited businesses to apply for it its new fire safety framework, which launches in early 2024. Potential suppliers include consultants, assessors, and experts who can install safety measures from fire doors and alarms to sprinkler systems.  registration details It also covers vital reme...

Siderise has launched the first edition of its new Technical Deep Dives, which marks the start of a series of free e-learning modules. They are designed to help construction professionals build the breadth and depth of their knowledge by getting to grips with key areas of passive fire protection and noise control in the built environment. Edition 1 ‘Movement Matters’ explores the challenges imposed upon perimeter firestops resulting from curtain wall façade and building movem...

Command™ Brand announces its first official Director of Dorm Design, Bobby Berk, who will provide style inspiration for students and young adults to help transform their space to match their current aesthetic ‘era’ this Back to College season and fearlessly express themselves with ease. Bobby Berk is a design expert, Emmy-nominated host of Queer Eye and author of ‘Right at Home: How Good Design is Good for The Mind,’ publishing September 12, 2023. Former college...

Sutphen Corporation, the largest family-owned fire apparatus manufacturer in the nation, recently received a 14-apparatus order from the Orlando Fire Department. The recently ordered apparatus include 10 custom pumpers, three SPH 100 mid-mount aerial platforms and an SLTDA 105, the department’s first tractor drawn aerial. Mid-mount aerial platforms “Sutphen Corporation is proud to work with the Orlando Fire Department and continue a partnership dating back to the 1960s,” sai...

"We are thrilled to have achieved the EcoVadis Silver Sustainability Rating. It is a testament to our team's hard work and dedication towards building a more sustainable future.” “We firmly believe in walking the walk, not just talking the talk, and this recognition reaffirms our commitment to creating a positive impact on the environment, society, and our industry." - Vicki Wells, Sustainability Manager at Apollo. Providing holistic sustainability ratings They have demonstrated...

Four new fire engines are responding to emergencies in South Yorkshire for the first time, in the first stage of a multi-million pound investment by the county’s fire and rescue service. The £280,000 vehicles are greener, cleaner and more reliable than South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s existing fire engine fleet, which is nearing the end of its operational life. The first four fire engines are to be based at Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Central (Sheffield) fire station...