Eaton - Experts & Thought Leaders

Following the tragic fire at London’s Grenfell Tower back in June 2017, it has become more important than ever to check third-party fire certification for goods and services. Although the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety Report into the incident in which 72 people lost their lives failed to mention third-party certification, the government’s own guidance certainly does. Fire safety officers It states: “Third-party quality assurance can offer comfort, both as a means of satisfying you that goods and services you have purchased are fit for purpose, and as a means of demonstrating that you have complied with the law.” BAFE is the independent registration body for third-party certificated fire safety service providers in the UK. It provides third-party certification for both individuals and companies so that fire safety officers can prove they are ‘competent individuals’. What does third-party certification mean? A person or company that has third-party credentials has shown themselves to be competent in their field An individual or company that has third-party certification has shown themselves to be competent in their field, in this case, fire safety. Stephen Adams, BAFE Chief Executive, said it meant the individual or company being hired were up to speed with industry practices and knowledge. @BAFEFIRE added: “A (fire) duty holder should not have to know every minute detail of the relevant codes of practice and standards for the fire safety provisions they require, but they should have access to categorically know if the company they choose does (and keeps this level of knowledge and competency up to date). Clear and reliable evidence of this is third-party certification.” Checking who has certification One way to check if an individual or company has third-party certification is to check with the BAFE Fire Safety Register. This is available online and lists all contractors who are qualified with the organization, including in which particular areas of fire safety they are fully qualified and, therefore, experts. BAFE’s third-party certification is assessed via UKAS accredited Certification Bodies. Here, they will find a list of names from individuals and small two-person companies to large national firms employing hundreds of people. Fire risk assessments Fire risk assessments like fire doors and the care of fire alarm systems are all important for saving lives Carrying out a check shows that a fire duty holder has made reasonable steps to verify the competency of the third-party provider. Fire risk assessments, the provision of firefighting equipment, such as fire doors and the maintenance of fire alarm systems are all important for saving lives in fires. And yet, too many people take it for granted that safety checks are carried out and firefighting equipment maintained, say BAFE representatives. People’s lax attitudes came to light in a recent study carried out by the international power management company, Eaton. In a survey of more than 2,000 UK individuals, they discovered that 54 percent of those who responded didn’t concern themselves with whether or not the building was capable of coping with a fire caused by an electrical fault. The Fire Safety Act 2021 An Amendment to the Fire Safety Act 2021 was made law in April this year and clarified that it also applied to the structure and external walls of a building, including any common parts. It extends to attachments to external walls (such as cladding and balconies).

Firefighters fought to maintain the upper hand on a huge and rapidly moving wildfire that swept through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles and resulted in more than 50,000 people being put under evacuation orders or warnings. The Hughes Fire broke out late Wednesday morning and, in less than a day, had charred nearly 16 square miles (41 square kilometers) of trees and brush near Castaic Lake, a popular recreation area about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that are burning for a third week. Warning for critical fire risk Though the region was under a red flag warning for critical fire risk, winds were not as fast as they had been when those fires broke out, allowing for firefighting aircraft to dump tens of thousands of gallons of fire retardant on the latest blaze. By Wednesday night, about 14% of the Hughes Fire had been contained. “The situation that we’re in today is very different from the situation we were in 16 days ago,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Wednesday evening. Palisades and Eaton fires Red flag warnings were extended through 10 a.m. Friday in LA and Ventura counties Red flag warnings were extended through 10 a.m. Friday in LA and Ventura counties. Officials remained concerned that the Palisades and Eaton fires could break their containment lines as firefighters continue watching for hot spots. An evacuation warning was issued for Sherman Oaks after a brush fire broke out on the Sepulveda Pass near the I-405 Freeway. The blaze was first reported just after 11 p.m. Wednesday, but the Los Angeles Fire Department announced early Thursday that forward progress had been stopped at about 40 acres (16 hectares) and the evacuation warning was lifted. No structures were damaged and no injuries were reported, fire officials said, but firefighters remained at the scene. Water-dropping aircraft More than 31,000 people have been ordered to evacuate from the Hughes Fire, and another 23,000 are under evacuation warnings, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said. There were no reports of homes or other structures burned. Parts of Interstate 5 near the Hughes Fire that had been closed reopened Wednesday evening. A 30-mile (48-kilometer) stretch of the major north-south artery had been closed for emergency vehicles, to move equipment and to prevent accidents due to smoke billowing across it. Crews on the ground and in water-dropping aircraft tried to prevent the wind-driven fire from moving across the interstate and toward Castaic. Fire retardant on the south side of the fire Aircraft crews were able to drop fire retardant on the south side of the fire Marrone said that because winds were not as strong as they were two weeks ago, aircraft crews were able to drop fire retardant on the south side of the fire, where the flames were moving, he said. More than 4,000 firefighters were assigned to the fire, he said. Winds in the area were gusting at 42 mph (67 kph) in the afternoon. They had reached as high as 65 mph (105 KPH) in some mountain pockets by Wednesday night, according to David Roth, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Castaic’s Stonegate neighborhood Kayla Amara drove to Castaic’s Stonegate neighborhood to collect items from the home of a friend who had rushed to pick up her daughter at preschool. As Amara was packing the car, she learned the fire had exploded in size and decided to hose down the property. “Other people are hosing down their houses, too. I hope there’s a house here to return to,” Amara said as police cars raced through the streets and flames engulfed trees on a hillside in the distance. Amara, a nurse who lives in nearby Valencia, said she’s been on edge for weeks as major blazes devastated Southern California. “It’s been stressful with those other fires, but now that this one is close to home it’s just super stressful,” she said. Fire-impacted communities Fire crews were filling sandbags for communities while county workers installed barriers To the south, Los Angeles officials began to prepare for potential rain even as some residents were allowed to return to the charred Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas. Gusty weather was expected to last through Thursday and precipitation was possible starting Saturday, according to the weather service. “Rains are in the forecast and the threat of mud and debris flow in our fire-impacted communities is real,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said during a Wednesday morning news conference. Fire crews were filling sandbags for communities while county workers installed barriers and cleared drainage pipes and basins. Latest Santa Ana wind event Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned that winds could carry ash and advised Angelenos to visit the city’s website to learn how to protect themselves from toxic air during the latest Santa Ana wind event. LA County public health director Barbara Ferrer cautioned that the ash could contain heavy metals, arsenic and other harmful materials. “Even a brief exposure can potentially cause skin irritation and lead to more serious problems,” Ferrer said Wednesday, asking people to wear protective gear while cleaning up. Victims of wildfires Containment of the Palisades Fire reached 70%, and the Eaton Fire was at 95% California Republicans are pushing back against suggestions by President Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans that federal disaster aid for victims of wildfires should come with strings attached. Trump plans to visit the state to see the damage firsthand Friday, but it wasn’t clear whether he and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom will meet during the visit. The low humidity, bone-dry vegetation and strong winds came as firefighters continued battling the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures since they broke out Jan. 7. Containment of the Palisades Fire reached 70%, and the Eaton Fire was at 95%. Causes of the fires Luna said Wednesday his department was still investigating 22 active missing person reports in both fire zones. All reported missing are adults, he said. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms is investigating the causes of the fires but has not released any findings. Several lawsuits have been filed by people who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire, alleging Southern California Edison’s equipment sparked the blaze. On Tuesday, a judge overseeing one of the lawsuits ordered the utility to produce data from circuits in the area where the fire started.

Facing mounting questions over a chaotic evacuation, top L.A. County officials say they want to build a database of residents with disabilities who require help fleeing a neighborhood engulfed in flames. L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told county supervisors at a public meeting Tuesday that the ongoing wildfires underscored the need for a “database to track people who have mobility challenges or health challenges.” “Trying to do it during an emergency is very, very difficult,” he said. majority of fire-related deaths The assessment comes as the county faces fresh scrutiny over the tumultuous evacuation The assessment comes as the county faces fresh scrutiny over the tumultuous evacuation of Altadena, the site of the majority of fire-related deaths since Jan. 7. At least eight of the 27 fire victims to date were at least 80 years old, and some had disabilities that hampered their efforts to evacuate. Anthony Mitchell Sr., an amputee in his 60s, for example, died in his Altadena home along with his son Justin, who had cerebral palsy, as they waited to be rescued. Firefighters and sheriff deputies Mitchell’s other son, Anthony Mitchell Jr., told The Times he wanted to see a better accounting of residents with special needs, saying officials should “put those addresses down as priorities.” Marrone said first responders had moved roughly 500 people to safety after the fire broke out. Some were unable to leave on their own. Others might have but waited too long. “Far too many stories I have heard of people that did not leave during the evacuation order, and our firefighters and our sheriff deputies had to evacuate those people,” Marrone said. “People must protect themselves.” Unprepared for a future Supervisor Holly Mitchell warned the region was unprepared for a future in which the county was routinely blackened by wildfire, while the people who called it home were rapidly graying. “We look at the aging of our society — people wanting to age in their own homes,” Mitchell said. “As a community, we are not prepared.” Fesia Davenport, the county’s chief executive officer, said she planned to return to the board with more information on a possible database. Fire-related discussions Supervisors also voted to temporarily bar landlords in unincorporated parts of the county Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Altadena, said she plans to ask for a review of the county’s evacuation policies and emergency alert notifications system. On Tuesday she asked for names of consultants to lead such a review. Her request comes after The Times reported that parts of Altadena didn’t receive evacuation orders until hours after the Eaton fire started. The plans were part of a flurry of fire-related discussions and motions Tuesday about how the county could bolster recovery efforts. The supervisors also voted to temporarily bar landlords in unincorporated parts of the county from evicting tenants who have evacuees — or their pets — staying with them in violation of their lease and to suspend some restrictions on short-term rentals to ramp up available housing. State and federal government “This is a time for all Angelenos to come together, step up and do their part to help victims,” said Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. The board also agreed to send a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Trump asking for assistance footing the mammoth bill for recovery efforts. “We are continuing full throttle on the gas pedal to maximize every resource we can get from the state and federal government,” said Kevin McGowan, the head of the county’s Office of Emergency Management. New Trump administration Supervisor Janice Hahn said, though she wasn’t concerned about support from the state, she was wary of what the county could expect from the new Trump administration. “I’m concerned about the potential strings that we’ve been hearing might be connected to this disaster assistance,” said Hahn, noting she’d watched talk shows in which politicians blasted the county’s “empty reservoirs and empty hydrants.” Yacht with 1,000 Rounds of Ammunition and Fireworks Burns in CA CA Firefighters Battle Fire at Amazon Warehouse Questions Raised Over Millions in Donations Raised by L.A. County Fire Documentary All disaster assistance costs “We’ve heard some pretty pointed words that suggest, if certain things didn’t change, we might not get the money,” Hahn said. Barger, the sole Republican on the board, countered that she was “looking forward to working with this administration” and planned to prove to the White House that the county was “justified in what we are asking for.” Former President Biden had pledged to cover all disaster assistance costs for the next half year, but local politicians say it’s not clear if that support would continue under Trump. Handling of the wildfires The president, like other Republicans, has lambasted California’s liberal pioneers for their handling of the wildfires. Trump has accused Newsom on Truth Social of hoarding water and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has hinted that federal relief funding could be cut because of the state’s leadership. “If Gavin Newsom and local pioneers made decisions that made this disaster exponentially worse — which it appears there were — should there be some consequence of that?” Johnson asked reporters last week.