Active Fire Protection (AFP) - News

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...

As of their last update in September 2021, the Irish standard for servicing fire extinguishers is known as Irish Standard I.S. 291:2015 – ‘Code of Practice for the Selection, Commissioning, Installation, and Maintenance of Portable Fire Extinguishers’. Irish Standard I.S. 291:2015 This standard provides guidelines for the proper selection, commissioning, installation, and maintenance of fire extinguishers in Ireland.  It covers various aspects, including the types of fi...

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...

Anheuser-Busch, together with its wholesaler partners and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), will provide another one million cans of clean drinking water to volunteer fire departments that respond to wildfires. Through the Emergency Drinking Water for Wildland Firefighters program, 1.5 million cans were allocated to over 600 departments during a previous application period in March. This addition means over 1,000 departments will receive 2.5 million cans of water in 2023. Hydration i...

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...

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) 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...

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...

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...

CCTV (Closed-Circuit Television) systems are widely used for commercial purposes to enhance security, monitor activities, and ensure the safety of personnel and assets. Whether it’s a retail store, office building, warehouse, or any other commercial establishment, CCTV systems can play a vital role in maintaining a secure environment. Listed below is some key information about CCTV systems for commercial purposes: Camera Selection: Choose cameras based on specific requirements. Consid...

Tyco Fire Protection Products announces it will discontinue the production and sale of fluorinated firefighting foams by June 2024, including Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) and related products, and will transition to non-fluorinated foam alternatives. "We have long been a leader in delivering the most innovative, life-saving fire protection solutions in the industry," said Chris Eichmann, Vice President and General Manager, Global Fire Solutions. Firefighting foam solutions Chris Eichmann...

They offer an extensive range of safety courses that will ensure the staff are confident enough to deal with an emergency, in any situation. They offer: Basic Fire Awareness Fire Warden & Fire Marshal Training Abrasive Wheels Training Basic First Aid Training Chemical Safety Awareness Training Emergency Response Team Training Manual Handling Occupational First Aid Patient Handling Working At Heights Basic Fire Awareness Training & Fire Warden Training The chosen staff me...

When it comes to installing gates and railings for a client, meticulous planning and attention to detail are paramount. Creating comprehensive blueprints is a crucial step in this process, enabling a clear visualization of the outcome. By investing time and effort into designing accurate and detailed blueprints, TFS engineers can ensure a smoother installation process and, ultimately, deliver a more successful outcome for the client. collaborative approach Ultimately, the success of any gate...

Fire extinguishers play a fundamental role in the commercial fire safety of every organization, helping to provide businesses with firefighting equipment that can be used if the worst happens. As well as being used to extinguish a blaze should one occur, fire extinguishers can help prevent a fire from spreading- protecting both the life of those on the premises and the property itself.  importance of fire extinguishers The importance of fire extinguishers cannot be underestimated, and wi...

Helmets are an important safety product used by people around the globe, ranging from the cyclists in the Tour de France to firefighters helping to keep their communities safe. In 2023, the Tour de France is making its first-ever stop in the 'World Capital of Fire Helmets', as MSA Safety’s own Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne, France, manufacturing facility welcomes the world’s best cyclists for Stage 13 of the race. MSA Gallet fire helmet Home to the iconic MSA Gallet fire helmet, Chatil...

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have launched voluntary guidelines for retailers on the sale of disposable barbecues (DBBQs). The guidelines provide retailers with principles to support wildfire risk reduction at both a local and national level. Voluntary guidelines for retailers The guidelines support responsible retailing and outline the steps that retailers can take The guidelines support responsible retailing and outline the steps that reta...

Fire suppression techniques have progressed substantially over time since the birth of Oshkosh® ARFF vehicles. Oshkosh technology has always been a catalyst for continuous improvement and outstanding performance within Oshkosh Airport Products ARFF vehicles. Oshkosh Snozzle® HRET ARFF truck attributes which have evolved most significantly over the years are elements supporting advanced fire suppression. Oshkosh Airport Products’ team members engineer the Oshkosh Striker®...

The UK government is committed to achieving its legally binding target of net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. As net-zero policies are designed and implemented, and collaborative initiatives to achieve ambitious carbon emission targets are developed, credible standards and accredited conformity assessment will be key enablers of their robustness, effectiveness, and sustained impact. UN Sustainable Development Goals UKAS has an established track record in deploying accreditation t...

A Commemoration Service has been held at the James Braidwood statue on Parliament Square in Edinburgh to pay tribute to fallen Firefighter - Ewan Williamson who lost his life in 2009. A minute’s silence was observed, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony involving members of Ewan's family alongside the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Chief Officer - Ross Haggart. event attendees SFRS colleagues, representatives from the public sector, and charity organizations from across the cit...

POC has been the EF Education-EasyPost’s riders’ helmet and eyewear sponsor since 2014. Through their partnership, EF Education-EasyPost and POC have worked together on product development with safety central to every advancement. Because of POC, the team wears the highest levels of head and eye protection available as they race across the globe. Now they can, too. Ventral Air Mips This is the helmet the fans have been asking for for many years. Developed with a focus on...

In response to increased reports of fires caused by batteries and electricals containing batteries in the waste and recycling system. Material Focus is strengthening its work to help address this issue. A new public safety film ‘Stop Battery Fires’ created in partnership with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), has been launched and is available for local authorities to share. Material Focus is also calling on local authorities to participate in the 2023 ‘Stop Battery Fi...

The number of hazmat incidents occurring annually continues to increase based on 10-year incident summary data from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. This data underscores the need for firefighters to be trained and ready before an incident or emergency occurs. CHEMTREC® HELP Award Volunteer fire departments can now apply to receive US$ 10,000 in funds through the CHEMTREC® HELP Award to enhance their hazardous materials response capabilities and improve resp...

‘Odd Hours, No Pay, Cool Hat’ takes audiences behind the lines of America’s volunteer fire service with upcoming theatrical & TVOD/digital release this summer. Sub-Genre Media began the release of the engaging documentary – ‘Odd Hours, No Pay, Cool Hat’, a Vignette Production and Hold Fast Features Project from filmmaking, co-directing team - Gary Matoso & Cameron Zohoori, in theaters beginning on July 7, 2023, in New York and Los Angeles, as well as...