Lighting Accessories news

A fire officer has said he was 'honored' to take part in the State Funeral after being one of just sixteen firefighters nationally chosen to do so. Richard Hawley, who has worked for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) for the best part of two decades, was thrilled when he was selected to take part in the procession for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. He and the other firefighters solemnly marched behind the Household Cavalry, which guarded the coffin, at the once-in-a-lifetime even...

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs) released a joint statement PDF warning firefighters that synthetic chemicals in their protective gear are associated with various health risks, including an increased risk of liver and kidney cancer. The chemicals responsible are a group of fluorinated compounds called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances commonly referred to as PFAS. They are used in firefighter turnout gear to incr...

This week the Advancing Mass Timber Construction Conference will be held in Boston and feature Mighty Fire Breaker (MFB) President Steve Conboy who will speak on a variety of fire prevention and elimination topics including adding coating science to lower risk premiums, increased worker safety and to create a potential carbon trade. The Mass Timber Movement is a growing, worldwide effort to build tall structures out of wood rather than steel and concrete for environmental reasons, and for a mor...

Firefighters and other blue light workers are teaming up to spread safety messages as part of a family event at Odsal Stadium. The Family Fun Day, which includes fire, police, and ambulance, will take place on Sunday, 11 September, before Bradford Bulls’ last rugby game of the season against Widnes Vikings.  West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) will be showcasing the work they do to help rescue people with the help of their new water safety flume, fire and rescue boat,...

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) is strengthening moorland firefighting resources thanks to a generous contribution from Yorkshire Water. The utility company has given £50,000 towards the procurement of new all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), which will enhance the current wildfire fleet allowing our firefighters to access hard-to-reach areas such as moorland. WYFR’s ‘Be Moor Aware’ campaign Yorkshire Water has been a key supporter of WYFR’s ‘Be Moor...

Community members and business owners must understand the importance of protecting their structures from ember and fire exposures (radiant, conductive, and convective heat). Preparing for all fire exposures, not picking and choosing only one, is vital for improving home and building survival chances. Information for the community Wildfires spread primarily by: Ember generation and deposition: Burning or smoldering pieces of material generated during a wildfire event can land on combustible...

Landing a medical helicopter is a delicate operation that requires skilled flight crews and trained personnel on the ground following well-rehearsed, pre-planned procedures for the safety of all involved. Fire and emergency medical services agencies can access free resources to review their procedures for establishing a safe air medical transport landing zone: A June 2022 FirefighterCloseCalls.com article provides tips and links to training videos on landing zone safety. Responder Safety Le...

Integrations will enable alerting authorities to disseminate wireless emergency alerts to the public in near real-time through vehicle navigation and entertainment systems. The Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate concluded a proof-of-concept demonstration of the wildland urban interface (WUI) integration model that integrates next-generation technologies with FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) and GPS navigation applications and cutting-ed...

Firefighters across South Yorkshire are urging members of the public to be extra careful over the coming days, following a new extreme heat warning from the Met Office. The national weather forecaster has also raised the fire severity risk level to ‘exceptional’ for some parts of the country–in addition to its four-day Amber weather warning. SYFR’s fire officers This has prompted South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s fire officers to issue another plea to the publi...

To use the fluorine-free foams currently on the market safely and effectively, fire departments will need to adopt different tactics and new training on how to select, use and dispose of these new foams. Fire Service Roadmap outlines the transition from the fluorinated aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) currently used to extinguish flammable liquid (Class B) fires to fluorine-free foams (FFFs). AFFFs going away AFFFs use of a class of chemicals containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances,...

As those first on the scene to respond to disasters and emergency events, first responders prioritize the safety and well-being of the communities they serve. This often means first responders are facing dangerous and challenging situations, to high-stress levels, and possible development of burnout, compassion fatigue, or unhealthy coping mechanisms. The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently featured 2 behavioral health resources for first responders. Disast...

The small fire, which started in a room at the back of the school, was contained and prevented from spreading by a sprinkler system, however, two people were taken to hospital with minor burns. Derbyshire’s Chief Fire Officer, Gavin Tomlinson, said Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service are calling for a change in legislation that would ensure more schools have sprinklers. Author's quote Gavin said: “Nationally, through the Fire Chiefs Council, and locally across Derby and Derbys...

Europe’s most important fire safety event, FIREX International 2022 (FIREX), is coming back to London ExCeL and Hochiki Europe are thrilled to be exhibiting and meeting customers old and new face to face after such a long time. The European team will be demonstrating a range of market-renowned products, as well discussing what the future holds for fire system design, why the industry must think green and how customer insight is driving innovation at Hochiki. Demo of the new L@titude syst...

When people store and charge their mobility devices inside their homes, garages, or businesses, there is the potential for battery fires to lead to structure fires. Just one example is a recent apartment fire in New York City that resulted in injuries to 12 citizens and a Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) firefighter. Best practice tips Motivated by the surge of fires started by batteries in mobility devices, the FDNY has created best practice tips for firefighters confronted by...

A Yorkshire property company has been fined £20,000 for failing to carry out safety and fire safety improvement works on a property in Kirkburn, Driffield after ignoring requests to do so by housing officers. GAP Properties (Yorkshire) Ltd, which is based in Doncaster, was represented at Beverley Magistrates Court by director George Plant, who pleaded guilty on its behalf to two counts of failing to comply with improvement notices served under the Housing Act 2004. East Riding of Yorkshi...

The Fire Investigation Fire Standard focuses on ensuring fire and rescue services (FRS) deliver effective, efficient, and valid fire investigations into the origin, cause, and development of fire. One of the desired outcomes of the Fire Investigation Fire Standard is that services will have a competent and resilient capability to undertake fire investigations, adhering to relevant legislation, guidance, and codes of practice. The Fire Investigation Fire Standard also makes reference to the ISO...

NIST released the WUI Structure/Parcel/Community Fire Hazard Mitigation Methodology (HMM) PDF to provide guidance for homeowners and communities to protect themselves from wildfires. Integrating the latest post-fire field observations and fire science research, this report defines dozens of clear, measurable, and cost-effective protective actions homeowners can take to defend their homes. Wildfires can spread through a community very quickly, especially one with dense housing. Often, the progr...

Be visible – always and everywhere. This was an essential goal in the development of the HEROS H30 firefighting helmet. For this purpose, the well-known HEROS helmet lamp HL3Ex was integrated into the H30 in the tried and tested position (front center) and ensures optimal lighting of the area around the emergency personnel. But what about the rear? A so-called position light has been integrated into the rear of the helmet so that emergency personnel can also be seen from behind in poor li...

Global fire and life safety systems manufacturer, Advanced, has appointed Hanif Ghodawala as the company’s new Business Development Manager for its Emergency Lighting Division. In his new role, Hanif Ghodawala will draw on more than 20 years’ experience, working for high-profile fire detection and emergency lighting manufacturers and distributors, to grow awareness and understanding of Advanced’s emergency lighting range. He will place particular focus on the LuxIntelligent an...

Footage filmed from nearby buildings, and shared on social media, showed the fire raging and starting to spread from a flat on the 17th floor of the building. The alarm was raised shortly after 4 pm, and over 125 fire personnel responded, with crews from Whitechapel, Shoreditch, Dowgate, Bethnal Green, Dockhead, Old Kent Road and Islington all in attendance. The fire was brought under control by 7 pm after London Fire Brigade had mobilized a 64-meter turntable ladder - the tallest firefighting...

A new study suggests that the presence of very highly reflective markings may decrease drivers’ ability to see first responders working adjacent to their vehicles. Traffic incident scenes are a dangerous place. Secondary crashes, including struck-by incidents, are a leading cause of line-of-duty deaths among emergency responders. One significant variable impacting the safety of responders operating along a roadway is their visibility to approaching and passing motorists, especially at ni...

A host of fire protection solutions from UK manufacturer, Advanced, have been installed to protect approximately 140,000 sq ft of Grade A office space at Westferry House, Canary Wharf. As a cornerstone office building situated at the western gateway to Europe’s largest and most successful business district, Westferry House consists of 11 storeys, complete with its own retail promenade on the ground floor. At the core of the active fire protection for the building are six Advanced MxPro 5...

External wall fire review process forms, known as EWS1 forms, were developed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and are used as part of the valuation process for high-rise residential buildings with cladding. Seven mortgage lenders provide EWS1 data to the department and these represent most of the lending market, according to the data release published on 17 February. This is the second time the Department for Leveling Up has published EWS1 lender data on mortgage valuation...

Efficient response to dangerous situations is paramount to any Fire and HazMat incident. This makes connected safety technology a valuable asset for every First Responder team. Having suitable and easy-to-use equipment and technology will enhance the speed, efficiency, and safety of an incident response. There are relatively recent developments in technology that can be game changers in an effective response including real-time visibility of the safety of every team member, integrated plume mode...

Fire safety training is vital in any environment, but fire safety training in the workplace is essential for any business or organization working in a commercial building. Everyone working in the building needs to know how to recognize potential fire hazards, practice regular fire safety and prepare to deal with emergencies safely and sensibly. Investing in fire safety training is a non-negotiable benefit to a business that will, in return, potentially save lives and protect the building from d...

FoxFury Lighting Solutions, the global pioneer in safety lighting, welcomes Aaron Beckman as the new lighting application specialist.  For over 21 years, Aaron has served as an active firefighter in Norfolk, Nebraska, and has a strong background in fire science and scene documentation. Aaron works with several agencies and has aided in numerous cases.  certified FAA 107 pilot and instructor As a certified FAA 107 pilot and instructor, Aaron leads the mapping and investigations...

The tragic loss of life from the 19-story apartment building fire that occurred in New York City on Jan. 9 reminds of the fire and life safety challenges that tall buildings present to the emergency services and to the occupants who live or work in them. Challenges and features Because of the inherent nature of tall buildings and a series of historic fires, the practice of protecting the people who live and work in high-rise buildings has evolved over the years. Very specific sets of precautio...

Following the unprecedented year prior, 2021 continued to present significant challenges for everyone, but Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service continued to deliver its vital services, while also providing support for partner agencies. The year began with mopping up from significant flooding across the county over the Christmas period. The country was also in the midst of another national lockdown, with those that were able to still working from their homes. Staff across the Service pulled o...

Following a year off, Intersec is back and Hochiki Middle East FZE, part of the Hochiki Group, is excited to announce that they will be at the event in January. The expert Middle East team will be sharing a range of greener products, as well as discussing what the future holds for fire system design and how customer insight is driving this innovation. The Hochiki Middle East team of experts will be on hand to demo the new L@titude system. With huge investments made in the research and developme...

To help communities plan for the threats and hazards of climate change, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released its updated Long-Term Community Resilience Exercise Resource Guide: Designing Whole Community Exercises to Prepare for the Effects of a Changing Climate PDF in November 2021. Increase preparedness As the impacts of climate change are being felt across the country, this resource offers communities low-risk and cost-effective ways to increase preparedness with: Tools...