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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...

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority is asking residents to have their say on proposals to increase the fire service’s share of council tax for 2022/23. The Service is looking for a below inflation increase of £1.44 (around 2%) for the year, making the total contribution for the year £74.97 for a resident living in a Band D property. Following the financial settlement confirmed by the government at the end of December 2021, which confirmed the level of funding for th...

A Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) Project Manager has been recognized for his outstanding contribution to supporting the vaccination rollout in Cambridgeshire. John Barlow, who’s been with the Service for over 35 years, has been supporting the COVID-19 vaccination program since January 2021. In celebration of his efforts, John Barlow was invited by the Duchess of Cambridge on behalf of the Royal Foundation to attend a Christmas Carol Concert at Westminster Abbey. The event t...

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds, in order to help with firefighting costs for the Marshall Fire burning, in Boulder County, Colorado, USA. Fighting Marshall Fire FEMA Acting Regional Administrator, Tammy Littrell approved the state’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG), after receiving the request and determining that the fire threatened such a level of destruction that it would constitute a major disaster. At...

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...

A popular road safety initiative aimed at motorcyclists has returned to a county fire station. Biker Down offers motorcyclists the opportunity to learn practical skills to help avoid being involved in a crash, as well as essential first-aid training and advice on what to do should they find themselves first on the scene of a crash where someone is injured. The free course The free course, lasting around three hours, returned to St Ives Fire Station last week, with trained community developmen...

Pierce Manufacturing, an Oshkosh Corporation company, has announced the groundbreaking of a 90,000 square foot expansion, to the company’s 360,000 square foot main facility, located at 2600 American Drive, in Appleton, Wisconsin, USA. Additional production space An additional 60,000 square feet of production space will also be added to Pierce Manufacturing’s Neenah, Wisconsin facility. Along with facility expansions, recruitment efforts have begun for the hiring of more than 200 jo...

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service announced that the fire service has issued three top safety tricks, in order to help prevent unnecessary Halloween hazards during the festive period. Working with West Yorkshire Police and other partners, the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is campaigning for people to be mindful about keeping themselves and others safe, in the build up to Halloween, Sunday, October 31, 2021. Safety tips to prevent Halloween hazards The West Yorkshire Fire and Res...

In July 2021, MSA Safety Inc. completed its acquisition of Bacharach, Inc. to bring two pioneers in gas detection together, all headquartered in western Pennsylvania. This acquisition enables our newly combined organization to serve a wider range of markets with gas detection measurement and monitoring tools while advancing a common mission focused on workplace safety. Aaron Tufts Since July, a diligent cross-functional integration team, made up of both MSA and Bacharach functional leaders, h...

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) has come out with one of the best scores from 13 other fire and rescue services in the first tranche of the Government’s second round of inspections for fire and rescue services. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has assessed the Service as Good across the three main pillars of efficiency, effectiveness and how it looks after its people.   The inspection took place in April just aft...

Cambridge fire station welcomed visitors to the station as part of Open Cambridge on Friday, September 10th, 2021. The city’s fire station, on Parkside Place, took part in the longstanding event along with many other venues across the city Due to precautions taken in response to the pandemic, the station itself remained closed, but the fire engines were parked outside and staff was on-hand to welcome visitors. The event During the event, members of the public could meet firefighters, lo...

Agility Technologies (ATC) is excited to announce a new addition to its global reseller network in Indonesia, PT. Anugerah Mekatama Sejahtera (PT-AMS). Since 2006, PT-AMS has been providing the best fire fighting and rescue equipment/tools to all the government agencies and private companies in Indonesia. The Agility team welcome PT-AMS to the family and encourage all fire rescue/USAR departments to call or email them for an in-person or virtual demonstration of the #FirstLook360 camera system...

HURST Jaws of Life has been nominated for the NC Chamber’s Coolest Thing Made in N” competition, a contest that allows the public to both nominate and vote for their favorite North Carolina-manufactured product. “We’re proud to call Shelby, North Carolina, home, and we’re honored to have HURST Jaws of Life recognized as one of the ‘coolest things’ made in North Carolina,” said Britt Hawkins, Manager, Marketing Services, for the rescue tool whose n...

Agility is excited to announce the addition of LN Curtis & Sons as the first exclusive authorized dealer for the Western US. Curtis – Tools for Heroes have been providing safe, reliable, and effective fire rescue tools for first responders since 1929. LN Curtis will oversee, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii. The Agility team are very excited to have LN Curtis as a partner and encourages all depart...

Merseyside firefighters are among those rescue personnel, who are being deployed to help Greece fight wildfires that continue to devastate parts of the country. The team is made up of firefighters from Merseyside, Lancashire, London, South Wales, West Midlands, and NRAT (National Resilience Assurance Team) officers. They will be flying to Athens, the capital of Greece, to help with the firefighting task. National Resilience Assurance Team The team deployment comes, following a formal request...

HURST Jaws of Life has introduced eDRAULIC 3.0, taking its fastest and most powerful battery-powered extrication tools and making them faster, operational in both fresh and salt water, and now also the smartest through a smart dashboard display that provides operators with real-time feedback on tool status. “We’re continually evolving HURST Jaws of Life extrication tools to make first responders’ jobs safer, easier, and more efficient, and eDRAULIC 3.0 takes tool innovation to...

Granite workwear is back with industry spotlight article series where it takes a look at all the different industries they stock workwear for and look at what may be required from head to toe. Currently, the focus is on the Utility industry. So anything to do with the gas, electric, and water industry. Headwear A helmet with a visor and ear defenders can help further protect the head, eyes, and ears from loud noises Starting with the headwear and in most cases, a helmet will be required. Dep...

Since 2015, the United States has averaged 100 more large wildfires every year than the year before, creating conditions in which wildfires overwhelm response capabilities. wildfire management  On June 30, 2021, the White House released a statement summarizing the actions it is already taking, and those it intends to take once the FY2022 budget is passed, to address the growing wildfire threat. The statement acknowledges that the management of wildfires is a multi-agency effort,...

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service has invested in two new turntable ladders to add to the fleet. The new specialist appliances will assist in the Service’s response to incidents involving working at height. Replacing two multi-star aerial appliances, the new high-spec vehicles will be based at Stanground, in the north of the county, and at Cambridge, in the south. Both are a Magirus32L/AS, which have been supplied by Emergency One and are mounted on a Scania chassis, which was chose...

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority appointed a new chair and vice chair at their first meeting since the latest round of council elections. Councillor Edna Murphy has been appointed the new chair of the authority, with Councillor Mohammed Jamil appointed vice chair. Liberal Democrat councillor Murphy, who has recently joined the authority, is the first woman chair in the authority’s history. She takes over from Councillor Kevin Reynolds, who remains on the authority after cha...

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) has been recognized for its work in promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion at the Asian Fire Service Association (AFSA) Personal Fair and Diverse Awards. The award celebrates Services that demonstrate strategic and operational awareness and understanding of how to challenge, promote and advance equality, diversity, and inclusion at senior levels of their organization, as well as for demonstrating visionary leadership, capacity, capability, and...

When Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) upgraded its Mobile Data Terminals (MDT) to Panasonic TOUGHBOOK 33 devices in 2018, it was also one of the first fire services in the country to install demountable devices in the rear of the appliances to accompany firefighters when they leave the vehicles. Operational tool Three years on and these demountable Panasonic TOUGHBOOK notebooks have become more than a computer; they are viewed as an “operational...

Local community fire departments have an important role in wildfire prevention and prevention messaging. Did people know that almost 90% of wildfires in the United States are human-caused according to the Insurance Information Institute's statistics? The importance of reducing human-caused wildfires Wildfires do not stay within artificial boundaries, and a wildfire burning in a natural area can quickly spread to areas where people live. According to Verisk's Wildfire Risk Analy...

Task Force Tips (TFT), a fire service pioneer in innovative and life-saving firefighting equipment, announces a new partnership with Hoosier Burn Camp (HBC). The partnership is a natural fit for TFT, which was founded on the legacy of firefighter Clyde McMillian, who was severely burned in the line of duty. TFT has committed to a significant, multi-year sponsorship to bolster the important work Hoosier Burn Camp is already doing to improve the lives of young burn survivors and their families....

The Agility team is excited to announce the addition of Rutger van Dujin and his company RVI TOOLS as the new exclusive dealer in The Netherlands and Belgium. With the addition of #FirstLook360 to the RVI TOOLS product portfolio and Rutgers's years of experience with visual inspection tools, we expect great things to come. Contact Rutger by phone or email him for an in-person or virtual demonstration of the first wireless 360° spherical imaging search and rescue camera, FirstLook360.

BSI, the business improvement and standards company launches BSI Connect, an integrated platform supporting audit, risk governance, and supply chain services, for improved operational visibility, commercial efficiency, and organizational resilience. Organizations can choose from a range of tools to manage internal and supplier risk. Features include the ability to review audit findings, and performance analytics and manage information for their critical business functions and suppliers whilst o...

A report by David Wales, funded and supported by IFEDA (Independent Fire Engineering & Distributors Association), has been published discussing fire extinguishers (released 30/03/2021). The report, an evaluation of the role of fire extinguishers, “was produced with the aim of providing an evidence-based assessment of the role of portable fire extinguishers within dwellings.” This includes private dwellings and HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation). Within this document, it is re...

Task Force Tips revolutionized portable monitors over 20 years ago with the introduction of its BLITZFIRE. BLITZTAC joins TFT BLITZTAC joins TFT’s product offering with fire service best features that include: SAFETY of crew. Unlike competitors’ models, the BLITZTAC has a standard integrated safety valve that engages if there is unintentional movement, yet minimizes any water hammer.  Once engaged, the firefighter can quickly and easily re-align the hose line in an instant...

Fire safety logbooks are critical for all non-domestic premises with fire alarm systems. A fire alarm logbook should remain on business and commercial premises at all times for a fast and efficient overview of existing fire systems, condition, testing history, and more. Although there is no statutory requirement to have a fire alarm logbook, having one is pivotal to remaining compliant and meeting requirements for relevant fire regulations. To help businesses understand the regulations concer...

1 in 6 people in the UK are deaf or have hearing loss, therefore it is critical that safety systems in domestic and commercial buildings cater to this large group of people otherwise left at risk in the event of incidents. As specialist fire and security solution installers with over 40 years’ experience, the team at A.P.E Fire and Security has put together this guide to fire alarms for the deaf and hard of hearing. Fire Alarms for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Fire alarms play a crucial...