COVID-19 - News

Nine on-call firefighters from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service have been seconded to the ambulance service. The on-call firefighters will temporarily be seconded to East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) while they experience high demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. Having now received their training, they will be using their skill as blue light trained drivers to assist in driving frontline emergency NHS ambulances alongside EEAST paramedics. The move to the NHS frontline...

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer launched a new online COVID-19 data tracker. The platform uses data provided by the Florida Department of Health to show an updated look at the latest data on COVID-19 positive cases specific to the City of Orlando.  “As we continue to respond to the impacts of COVID-19, getting critical information out to our community continues to be a top priority,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. Data integration “Facts and data are one of the most critical t...

Ian Moore CEO of the FIA encourages business to join Dame Carolyn Fairbairn (Director-General, CBI) and The Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP (Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) for an invaluable discussion on UK business and economy - including: An update on the government’s major support packages including the JRS, and access to finance An overview of the government’s thinking on the UK’s recovery plan Advice on how businesses can help the government ef...

BAFE announces that the Furlough scheme cut-off date has been extended to 19 March, 2020. Thousands of more employees will able to receive support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), after the eligibility date was extended to 19 March 2020, the government announced recently.

Thousands more employees will able to receive support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) after the eligibility date was extended to 19 March 2020, the government announced.

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is working to help volunteer firefighters, EMS providers, and rescue workers who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These volunteers are on the frontlines helping their communities every day. A donation to the NVFC’s Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund goes directly to help these responders in their time of need. Emergency responders answer the call whenever disaster strikes, yet often they are the victims of the same disaste...

The Construction Industry Council are providing two opportunities that may be of benefit. The first is a Webinar on Employment and Jobs during the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis focusing on the self-employed and freelance workers, which will take place today (15/04/2020) at 2pm. The webinar will last for one hour and is being led by Charles Homan of UHY Hacker Young. Zoom webinar 15 April 2020 02:00 PM on the topic of: Help for the self-employed in the age of Coronavirus. The second is t...

BAFE, British Approvals for Fire Equipment has announced that it welcomes the statement from the UK Home Office, regarding the Key Worker status for all fire industry employees, providing essential services, as published by the FIA, Fire Industry Association. The BAFE statement added that the organization was grateful for the FIA initiative to clarify this. Key Worker Status directly to FIA The Minister of State for Security, the Rt. Hon James Brokenshire, MP in the UK Parliament, has written...

Rosenbauer has developed a face cover with which people who often come into close contact with others, even in times of the Coronavirus, can better protect themselves: employees in supermarkets, delivery personnel, as well as emergency services personnel, healthcare workers, etc. Tried-and-tested components of the HEROS-titan firefighting helmet are used for the new face cover, the helmet harness system, in particular, has been adapted to current needs. It can be quickly adjusted in multiple dir...

Kentec Electronics, a renowned manufacturer of life-critical control systems, has achieved EN 54-2 and 4 VdS approval for Taktis, its most powerful and sophisticated analog addressable fire panel. The approval will enable the business to expand its global operations into the central European market. As one of central Europe’s leading independent testing institutions, VdS certification is required for manufacturers to sell and install fire safety systems in Germany and other central Europe...

Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) warns against deliberate fires after several callouts since lockdown began.    Despite the current government guidance on staying at home to help alleviate the Coronavirus pandemic, AF&RS continues to be called to mindless cases of arson that put both crews and the community in danger.  Since the start of the government’s stay at home directive on Monday 23rd March, crews have attended 58 deliberate fires across...

SSAIB were overcome with pride upon discovering that registered firm PLP Fire Protection have been providing invaluable assistance in the building of the Government’s first emergency field hospital at the ExCel in London. The temporary NHS Nightingale hospital has been set up to treat up to 4,000 coronavirus patients, with Dorset-based PLP Fire Protection helping to transform the ExCel exhibition space – which was due to host IFSEC International and FIREX International next month, be...

Firefighters across South Yorkshire are asking people to pledge not to have a garden fire during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This latest plea comes as South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue saw a huge spike in garden fires during the last week in March, a 161 percent increase compared to a normal week. Impact of air pollution The service has also been contacted by several residents who have found it hard to physically leave their homes to exercise, due to the smoke coming from local garden fire...

Kent firefighters are supporting their blue light colleagues in the fight against COVID-19 by lending their services to the wider community. Crews and staff at Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) are working alongside South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) to help meet the growing demand for medical response across the county, as a result of the worldwide pandemic.  Firefighters will undergo training before being deployed to drive ambulances, while other KFRS employees have been...

G4S announces the release of the G4S facility disinfection solution that helps provide a healthier and safer environment for staff and visitors. G4S facility disinfection solution G4S offers a complete range of sanitization and disinfection services for workplace, vehicles and commercial spaces. Regular sanitization of the facility between shifts; as directed in the government guidelines, can help reduce the risk of infections, thus helping to reduce employee sick days. Some key features of...

Whilst the Grenfell Inquiry has been paused due to COVID-19, ministers have announced another overhaul of building regulation to improve fire safety. The measures, which will apply to all new builds over 11 meters, come as part of a wider government initiative to improve fire safety following the tragic Grenfell Tower. This new fire safety program comes a month after Rishi Sunak announced £1bn to remove all types of dangerous cladding with the new Building Safety Fund. A new system of fi...

The Gorman-Rupp Company (Gorman-Rupp) has announced a change in the format of its 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (‘Annual Meeting’), from in-person to virtual-only meeting. Due to the emerging public health impact of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic and to support the health and well-being of the company’s shareholders, employees, and their families, Gorman-Rupp will hold its annual meeting in a virtual meeting format only, via webcast. 2020 Annual Meeting of Sharehol...

Emergency Reporting® (ER), the pioneer in secure, cloud-based reporting and records management software (RMS) for fire and EMS agencies, recently released new features and resources in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis. “All of us at Emergency Reporting recognize the responsibility we have to support our large customer base of first responders, who are on the front line of this health emergency in many communities across the country and the globe,” said David Nokes, CE...

The City of Orlando continues to take necessary precautions to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus), while maintaining business to keep city projects, programs, and services moving ahead. In keeping with this goal, the Orlando City Council will hold its regular meeting by teleconference on Monday, April 13, at 2 p.m. The teleconference meeting format allows for social distancing among council members, staff, and the public in accordance with policies from federal, state, and co...

While the Grenfell Inquiry has been paused due to COVID-19, ministers have announced another overhaul of building regulation with the aim to improve fire safety. The measures, which will apply to all new builds over 11 meters, come as part of a wider government initiative to improve fire safety following the tragic Grenfell Tower. This new fire safety program comes a month after Rishi Sunak announced £1bn to remove all types of dangerous cladding with the new Building Safety Fund. announc...

The BAFSA Executive have now written to its members and outlined immediate action as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak. BAFSA (British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association Ltd.) announced in a statement that they will continue to work within the current Government guidelines (both national and devolved) throughout this COVID19 pandemic outbreak. They have provided links below to HM Government advice, Scottish Government advice, Welsh Government advice and Northern Ireland Government advice we...

ImageTrend, Inc. announces a special study supplemental question has been added in Elite™ to be included in the National Fire Incident Reporting System’s (NFIRS) national-level special study. The U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA) National Fire Data Center (NFDC) is implementing a special study to assist fire departments in recording responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in a consistent manner. The study question will determine if COVID-19 impacted fire department calls by having...

Cabinet Office moves to further protect suppliers after COVID-19 (Coronavirus). A new Procurement Policy Note (PPN) has been published by the Cabinet Office to further protect suppliers during and after the Coronavirus outbreak. BAFE welcomes this initiative to protect the vital provision of fire safety services during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak. Many companies are suffering the financial consequences of being unable to carry out routine work. However, they recognize that when more no...

Rentokil, whose North American headquarters are located in Wyomissing, calls itself “The experts in pest control.” Traditionally, pests referred to bugs and rodents, possibly other unwanted animals. Now, the term includes infectious diseases such as COVID-19. As many Berks County businesses attempt to shift production to life-sustaining products that protect people from coronavirus, others are offering to help fight the disease on the ground. For Rentokil, that meant adding commerci...

Big Bear Fire Department personnel are wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) during 911 medical calls for service, as a part of their updated safety procedures, due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Out of an abundance of safety, Big Bear Fire Department staff members are wearing PPE that includes, masks, eye protection, gowns, and gloves, during many patient contacts. They feel it was important to let the public know, that although their appearance might not be typically what they...

Advanced has announced via a company statement that while they continue to manufacture products and provide customer service and technical support in spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic spread. The company is taking great care to operate within the UK Government’s guidelines for business operation and protect the staff. As a result, Advanced is seeing growing challenges around resourcing which are having a significant effect on the company’s ability to maintain the usual service l...

Yorkshire Ambulance Service welcomes additional COVID-19 support from fire and rescue colleagues. Firefighter colleagues from the region’s four fire and rescue services will be joining the Yorkshire Ambulance Service to provide additional support during the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. The 48 volunteers (12 from each fire and rescue service – North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, and Humberside) will be carrying out tasks including driving ambulances and othe...

As the COVID-19 emergency continues to evolve, fire departments and fire protection contractors must ensure fire prevention and life safety systems and equipment are in working order at all times. These fire and life systems and products are essential functions in safeguarding the public, businesses, and institutions. CAL FIRE - OSFM regulations The CAL FIRE - Office of the State Fire Marshal (CAL FIRE - OSFM) regulations continue to be in effect and relevant deadlines apply. The California Fi...

In these unprecedented times, as the UK’s national fire safety organization, the Fire Protection Association is offering businesses its wealth of knowledge and advice. Of particular relevance to the coronavirus crisis is ‘Unauthorized occupation of non-residential premises’ – a guide to managing the risk, which is available as a free download. As many businesses have had to move out of their buildings temporarily – and at some speed, owners may not have had time to...

An appeal has been launched by Suffolk County Council for businesses in the county to donate any unused Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure our critical front-line staff working in care homes, children's homes and people’s own homes can continue to give care and support to Suffolk's most vulnerable residents. The council specifically needs: Fluid repellent face masks Nitrile non powdered disposable gloves Disposable aprons Disposable eye protection/splash goggles Sanitize...