COVID-19 - News

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...

Carbon monoxide (CO), also known as the ‘silent killer’, is especially dangerous because it is not visible and cannot be smelt or tasted. The only way to protect against this potentially deadly threat is with a CO alarm. In honor of CO Awareness Month in November, First Alert and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have partnered to create an online CO awareness and CO alarm training course for volunteer fire departments nationwide, supplemented by an alarm donation program f...

An update from Director of Schemes, Chris Auger, outlining issues raised by the new lockdown measures to be introduced on November 05, 2020. Due to the recent second wave of the COVID-19 coronavirus and the subsequent lockdown announced by the Prime Minister on Saturday 31st October 2020, BAFE has had to review the situation regarding refresher certificates and technician assessments. different levels of restriction Although the announcement only applied to England, there are also different...

With Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement made on Saturday (31/10/2020), lockdown measures will be introduced across all of England this Thursday (05/11/2020). Initial guidance, in relation to going to work, published following the Prime Minister’s announcement states: “To help contain the virus, everyone who can work effectively from home must do so. Where people cannot do so (for instance people who work in critical national infrastructure, construction or manufa...

In relation to the Government’s latest announcement regarding coronavirus, Envirograf will be continuing business as usual. Any customer inquiries or orders by phone or online will be processed accordingly with delivery times scheduled as normal. Envirograf has taken appropriate measures on-site to ensure the safety of the staff and visitors. Sanitizer is available throughout the building, with a temperature checker in reception, including guide markings on the grounds to allow for a...

Churches Fire & Security continues to monitor the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation globally, and the safety of the employees, customers, and citizens in the wider community is the top priority. Since Churches Fire & Security provides on-site support for many customers, they want to communicate how they are currently operating during this time. Key Workers Needless to say, this has been an unprecedented set of circumstances; however, the Government and Industry Associations have led th...

The American Fire Sprinkler Association is pleased to announce that Jamil Shamoon, owner of Symons Fire Protection in San Diego, California, been elected by his peers as recipient of AFSA's 2020 Young Professional of the Year award for his efforts and dedication to education and expanding the fire sprinkler industry and the association. The award highlights the efforts of a young and talented fire protection professional, who is under 40 and demonstrates exemplary technical, professional and in...

Incident Response Technologies, Inc. (IRT), makers of the Rhodium Incident Management Suite, has announced the introduction of Rhodium Platinum suite of solutions on Microsoft Azure Government. Microsoft Azure Government Microsoft Azure Government provides cloud services with the highest levels of security, protection, and compliance for United States government agencies and their partners. These organizations can now access Rhodium’s robust cloud-based incident management tools in an en...

E-ONE®, a subsidiary of REV Group, Inc. and a foremost manufacturer of fire apparatus, has received an order for 70 Active Air Purification Systems to be installed into existing fire and rescue apparatus by Marion County Fire Rescue in Ocala, Florida. The Active Air Purification System kills 99 percent of pathogens, including COVID-19, in the air and on surfaces delivering better air quality and a safer cab environment. Designed with advanced photohydroionization™ (PHI) and UV techno...

For the first time, a “corona traffic light” shows the daily development of infections in all German districts and independent cities. The interactive map shows the situation based on the 35 and 50 7-day incidence values.  These values ​​are used to control uniform nationwide measures against the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The interactive map can be accessed on the Internet via the homepage of the Association for the Promotion of German Fire Protection (vfdb). Corona t...

2020 has been a challenging year, so it’s been a real boost to find out that Zitko have been shortlisted in two categories of the Security and Fire Excellence Awards. Back in March, when the lockdown struck, recruitment activity came to an abrupt halt. Zitko decided to stay open to support the clients and industry, sharing knowledge and adding value in whatever ways they could. Zitko COVID-19 initiatives This led to a whole raft of Zitko COVID-19 initiatives:  An outplacement pr...

Contractors working on the build of Theale Community Fire Station have made good progress during recent months, with the new station starting to take shape. The installation of the steel superstructure took place at the end of September 2020, following extensive work to prepare the station’s foundations. Plans to build Theale Community Fire Station got underway in January 2020. It is the latest in a series of investments by the Fire Authority, following the refurbishment of the Hungerford...

While there’s still a lot up in the air at the moment with regards to the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, some offices have returned to business. But was fire safety forgotten during the COVID-19 induced lockdown? Changed retail landscape The UK’s high street is making a slow return to business, thanks in part to the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme and somewhat relaxed social distancing measures. With fewer customers in stores, the retail landscape looks very different n...

Rave Mobile Safety (Rave), the critical communication and collaboration platform that customers count on when it matters the most, has announced the launch of Rave Collaborate, a new solution for Tactical Incident Collaboration. Rave Collaborate Rave Collaborate addresses needs unmet by traditional incident management solutions with an intuitive tool, in order to coordinate preparedness and response for both - planned activities and unplanned emergencies. Rave Collaborate addresses needs unme...

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has published Version 6 of the Site Operating Procedures document. Information from Construction Leadership Council (20/10/2020): Site Operating Procedures Update – Version 6 is now available The Site Operating Procedures have been updated to reflect recent changes in Government guidance. While there are no significant changes to social distancing requirements on sites, the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has taken the opportunity to streaml...

Emergency call handlers will be the focus of a Twitter takeover this week as Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service celebrates International Control Room Week. Blue Watch will be on duty from 8 am until 5 pm on Wednesday (October 21) and posting tweets throughout the shift on the Service’s @cambsfrs Twitter account. Potentially life-Saving advice Area Commander Simon Newton, in charge of the Service’s emergency response, said: “Our Emergency call handlers are a vital part of...

ImageTrend, Inc. is excited to announce a connection between the CrewCare mobile app and All Clear Foundation elevating support for the overall wellness of first responders and those in the healthcare industry. The free CrewCare app was added to the Responder Resources Directory. All Clear Foundation’s extensive network of resources can now be easily accessed in CrewCare helping connect first responders in EMS, fire, dispatch, law enforcement, military, and healthcare workers wi...

South Yorkshire’s emergency services are urging people to be sensible and stay safe over the coming weeks, during what they say will be a ‘very different’ bonfire period for everyone. Trick or treating is being discouraged, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as are Halloween and bonfire parties that break the current social distancing rules set out by the Government. Operation Dark Nights Meanwhile, firefighters are asking people to take extra care with fireworks and to avoi...

Intersec, the world’s renowned security, safety, and fire protection trade fair, has been rescheduled to take place in January 2022, organiser of the trade event, Messe Frankfurt Middle East confirmed on September 24, 2020. The 23rd edition of the three-day event was originally set to run from January 24-26, 2021, at the Dubai World Trade Center, in Dubai, UAE. However, the event has now been moved to 2022, after extensive consultation with key industry stakeholders. Intersec Dubai 2022...

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is joining forces with local authority partners and emergency services, in order to help keep people safe in the upcoming bonfire and fireworks season. With many organized events canceled across the county, emergency services are preparing for a busier night than usual. There is an emerging concern that more people will plan displays and bonfires to celebrate in their own gardens, which could pose significant risk for the people. Safety measures for Bonfi...

Vimpex Ltd, Europe’s independent manufacturer of fire alarm ancillaries, has added a Fire Door Coordinator - which ensures that a pair of self-closing fire doors will always close in the correct sequence, enabling each door leaf to shut fully, and help to maintain the fire integrity of the doors - to its door holder product range. If double fire doors don’t close in the correct sequence they will not close in the middle and leave a gap for dangerous smoke and gases to pass through....

Former Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) Director of Operations - Sean Bone-Knell and current Head of Procurement at KFRS, Tina Butler, have been recognized in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Sean Bone-Knell, who retired from KFRS in March 2020, after 33 years of service, has been awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal – a prestigious medal given to members of the fire services in the UK and Commonwealth for distinguished services or gallantry. Steering national pol...

Trade fairs are starting up again in Frankfurt: in the last quarter of 2020, a series of events is taking place on Messe Frankfurt’s exhibition grounds - including Hypermotion, the first hybrid event to be held at its Frankfurt base. Numerous guest events will also be opening their doors to visitors, adhering to the strictest hygiene and security standards at all times. Hypermotion is to take place in Frankfurt from 10 to 12 November - as a multimodal innovation platform, it will be focus...

Since 1922, the National Fire Protection Association has sponsored the public observance of Fire Prevention Week. It is a week in which they renew their commitment to fire safety and educate the public about safeguarding their communities and homes against the threat of fire. With Fire Prevention Week taking place this week, the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) would like to take the opportunity to recognize individuals and organizations for their dedication and commitment to the na...

When their annual stair-climb event was sidelined back in March 2020, due to the global COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic spread concerns, LION and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) didn't let that stop their event. Instead, the LLS went virtual with their annual firefighter star-climb event. The event was renamed, 'Big Virtual Climb’. Big Virtual Climb event On June 13th, 2020 rather than gathering at San Francisco's Salesforce Tower, where the climb was originally scheduled to take...