COVID-19 - News
As part of the Fire Kills Candle Safety Week campaign, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is raising awareness of the fire hazards that come with candles, particularly in the lead-up to Halloween and Diwali. With celebrations looking slightly different this year in light of the COVID-19 control measures in place and with many organized events being canceled, RBFRS is asking residents to take extra care while celebrating in their homes and gardens. Lighting candles with care Gail...
A successful prosecution was brought by Royal Berkshire Fire Authority against a business owner following several serious fire safety breaches. The then business owner - Mr. Sharhan Safie of Paya Restaurant, London Street in Reading, pleaded guilty to nine charges all relating to breaches of the Fire Safety Order at Reading Magistrates Court on 8 November 2019. Nature of breaches Mr. Safie failed to undertake a fire risk assessment and to take adequate fire safety arrangements Following a fi...
The Armed Forces Veterans’ Hub was launched in Royal Berkshire on 7 November, following receipt of the Gold Award in the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme in 2020. This affirms the Fire Authority and Service’s ongoing commitment to the Armed Forces community. The Armed Forces Veterans’ Hub launch event was hosted virtually by the Fire Authority, coordinated jointly between the Service and MP James Sunderland. It coincided with Remembrance Sunday and has b...
Magirus has announced that due to the current spread of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, the globally renowned INTERSCHUTZ exhibition has again been postponed and will now take place from June 20 to June 25, 2022. INTERSCHUTZ exhibition postponed The company said in an announcement that they regret this decision to delay the INTERSCHUTZ event. However, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, this was the only right decision. The health and safety of all concerned is the company&...
Maryland State Fire Marshal Brian Geraci has long been a vocal advocate of residential fire sprinkler legislation in Maryland. Throughout his career in the Maryland fire service, he has excelled in educating about the importance of fire sprinklers from the perspective of the fire service as a life-saving tool that is not only beneficial, but necessary. For all his contributions to the fire protection industry, the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is proud to honor Geraci with its 2020...
Avon Protection is pleased to announce the launch of the CFP100 Particulate Filter, a development driven by increased demand for particulate protection as a result of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The NIOSH approved CFP100 Particulate Filter compliments Avon Protection’s foremost respiratory protection portfolio, adapting proven technology to create their lightest and most comfortable filter canister to date. This development was an immediate response to the changing global operational condit...
‘Simple and worry-free Life Safety compliance’, this is what American Fire Protection Group, Inc. (AFPG) delivers every single day, even during a global pandemic such as the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The current uncertain environment has required everyone to change the way they do business. One thing that has not changed, however, is the requirement to have a licensed Life Safety company conduct annual, quarterly, and other code-compliant inspections of Life Safety systems and equipm...
The safety, health and well-being of all the American Fire Protection Group employees and customers is one of the company’s core values. Because the COVID-19 virus situation continues to evolve, everyone feels that it is necessary to take additional precautions to prevent further spread of the disease. American Fire Protection Group is taking the following precautions while working at the client’s job site: Social Distancing - Maintain a distance of 6 ft. between individuals. Do n...
In March of 2020, the Federal government signed into effect the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. One of CARES’ purposes is to provide relief to businesses affected by the Coronavirus with accelerated tax savings on “qualified improvements” to their business properties. Under Section 168 of the CARES Act, the cost of upgrades to the user’s commercial fire sprinkler, fire alarm, special hazard, or security system may be fully deducted as a busine...
The BSI has made available a number of standards to help guide businesses through these difficult times. They have also a number of free to watch seminars. One can see the details of the standards available and the webinars on the company’s official website. “Following the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), BSI has examined how we can support the collective efforts to mitigate the risks to organizations, caused by this global health issue. After careful consideration, we have...
Like many, teams at Alberta have been working in unprecedented circumstances to both help protect the safety of the employees and customers and to provide customers with the critical service they need to help stay protected during this challenging time. Alberta has achieved significant progress in implementing new safeguards, policies and practices to achieve the goals of team member safety and customer support. And, while they still have work to do, there’s a lot they can share to give t...
BAFSA is disappointed to report that, along with Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service & BAFSA, the organizations have made the difficult decision to postpone their joint sprinkler seminars on 18th and 24th March respectively due to the current Covid-19 fears. While disappointing for everyone involved, they have taken this step in line with NFCC guidance as far as reducing the chance of spreading the virus as much as is reasonably practic...
Automatic fire sprinklers systems are a reliable and effective means of saving lives, protecting firefighters, reducing fire damage and mitigating fire risk, provided the systems are properly designed, installed and maintained. Those responsible for buildings are reminded that even within this challenging situation of COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic. Critical Fire Suppression Systems/Life Safety Protection Systems must be tested and maintained. Postponing these checks, maintenance and servicing m...
Apsana Begum, Labor MP for Poplar and Limehouse, has asked the UK Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government that “Whether he plans to provide funding for remedial work to buildings which do not comply with fire safety regulations but do not have problems relating to cladding.” Fire safety legislation The Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) Christopher Pincher, Conservative MP for Tamworth, reminded building owners and premises manage...
The International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Fighters, National Association of State Fire Marshals, and National Volunteer Fire Council urge governors and state health officials to make career and volunteer firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics a top priority level for COVID-19 vaccines. They are vital parts of the national public health system and should be treated at the same priority as other frontline healthcare workers and hospital staff. The nation’s...
Each year, unintentional poisoning from carbon monoxide (CO) - a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that can be lethal to humans and pets - kills at least 430 people in the U.S. and sends about 50,000 people in the U.S. to the hospital. As part of Carrier's Healthy Homes Program, and to make people more aware of the dangers of CO poisoning and how to prevent it in both their two- and four-legged family members, Kidde is recognizing CO Awareness Week from November 1-7, 2020. Residential smoke a...
FlamePro, a British manufacturer of life-saving garments for firefighters, is celebrating a string of recent appointments within the firm, following recent business success. The specialist FR PPE provider has recently welcomed four new recruits over recent months; Vicki Jackson has joined as Internal Sales Executive, while Lorraine Costello, Zoe Colbeck, and Ellie Smith have all joined FlamePro’s NPD and design team. Enjoying significant growth The new recruits joined shortly before and...
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer announced the re-opening of the City of Orlando’s rental assistance program, a partnership with Heart of Florida United Way (HFUW), which provides support to City of Orlando residents impacted by COVID-19 by providing funding to cover rent payments that have not been made since March 1, 2020. The pre-screening and application process has re-opened. To date, the program, which originally opened for ten days in September 2020, has provided nearly $700,000 in f...
Innovators in fire technology, Geofire, launches the Deaf Alert, a safety device for the deaf and hard of hearing. The Deaf Alert is a digital, vibrating pillow alarm that uses ‘listening’ technology to activate on the specific sound of a home smoke alarm. Geofire has manufactured fire safety products in the UK since 1972. The Deaf Alert will join the Agrippa acoustic product line which includes the battery powered fire door holder and closer. Working smoke alarm The acoustic tech...
Global safety equipment manufacturer MSA Safety Incorporated announced that its next-generation Advantage 290 LS Air-Purifying Respirator (APR) is the first of its kind designed without an exhalation valve to receive approval from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). An elastomeric half-mask device, the Advantage 290 LS Respirator covers a wearer’s nose and mouth and utilizes twin filters to provide respiratory protection. elastomeric half-mask respirators...
It will all be over by Christmas, at least that’s what everyone thought (and hoped) when COVID-19 first hit back in the spring season. However, adapting to life and work in a COVID-19 world has proved a longer and harder road than many ever anticipated. For many unlucky COVID-19 sufferers too, the effects of the virus have been long-term. Whether symptoms are very mild, or more problematic, for most people, COVID-19 infection is a brief, acute illness. However, it is now medically recogni...
In the run-up to the festive period, the HSE is working with local authorities to inspect businesses in the transport and logistics industry to ensure they are managing the risk of coronavirus. With the current lockdown restrictions, the demand for online shopping is already high and is expected to increase over the next few weeks. This will also increase demand in the supply chain for the sector. HSE inspectors and local authority officers will be visiting warehouses and distribution centers...
Unused office space after coronavirus could cost London-based businesses almost £13bn, according to a new report by SpaceThreeTwo, a new office timeshare marketplace born out of lockdown. According to a survey of London office workers, employees want to spend an average of 2.7 days back in the office once all COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, assuming they have the resources to work from home comfortably (e.g. the right equipment, home office set-up, etc). One in ten workers (11%) s...
Global safety equipment manufacturer, MSA Safety Incorporated has announced that its next-generation Advantage 290 LS Air-Purifying Respirator (APR) is the first of its kind, designed without an exhalation valve, to receive approval from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Advantage 290 LS APR An elastomeric half-mask device, the Advantage 290 LS Respirator covers a wearer’s nose and mouth and utilizes twin filters to provide respiratory protection. The U....
Firefighters, climate campaigners and scientists have urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to invest in the fire and rescue service to protect the public and vital infrastructure from the devastating effects of climate change – or risk ruining the chance of a green recovery. In a letter to the Chancellor ahead of the Spending Review on 25 November, the Fire Brigades Union and climate groups including Green New Deal UK, Greenpeace UK, Friends of the Earth, and the Campaign Against Climate Change (...
Chief Robert Valentine and Groveland Firefighters Association President Dave Evans are pleased to announce that members of the Groveland Fire Department delivered turkeys to dozens of residents in a modified version of its annual Turkey Night. Firefighters Traditional Event Traditionally, the Groveland Firefighters Association raffles off 40 turkeys at its annual Turkey Night the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Though the event had to be canceled this year due to safety concerns amid COVID-19, m...
The mission is to develop the Twiceme concept into a global standard and the vision is to create safer adventures and working environments for people exposed to a greater risk of accidents. An essential part of this is building trust and recognition of the Twiceme symbol among rescue professionals and end-users. With increased support from the global rescue community, Twiceme Technology is on the right track to becoming a worldwide pioneer of accessible vital info. A Future Tool for Rescue Pro...
The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) is researching the impact of COVID-19 on first responder organizations and asking for your help. The START project hopes to measure the impact of COVID-19, identify and share best practices, and identify ways to strengthen first responder organizations for future pandemics. Research This research is part of a larger study funded by the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorat...
Code 3 is dedicated to protecting the public and those who serve our communities with industry-leading emergency warning and lighting devices. Through a partnership with Vyv (formerly Vital Vio), Code 3 introduced the Antimicrobial Light for emergency service vehicles, which provides useful white lighting while reducing harmful bacteria and microbes on high-touch surfaces. Recently, other innovative public service organizations began installing Antimicrobial Lights throughout their fleets. As a...
Imagine going into a shop and asking for an item. They tell them they’re out of stock, so what do they do? They ask them for it again and again and again. Employers are doing something rather similar in Fire & Security when it comes to hiring engineers. There’s a finite supply that is dwindling steadily, as older colleagues retire and their potential replacements fail to grasp the attractions of an engineering career. If they look at the job boards, they’ll see &lsqu...
