Fire Safety Policies - News
In April 2013, an explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, TX, just north of Waco, killed 12 firefighters and three residents of the West community. The firefighters who lost their lives were all volunteer first responders. According to federal officials and investigators from the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office, the source of the blast was ammonium nitrate, which detonated with the force of 15,000 to 20,000 pounds of TNT. (It’s believed a small fire initially triggered the disast...
Mike Cottam has been appointed as Sales Director at the globally renowned fire protection solutions company, Advanced. He joins Advanced from global science-based technology company, 3M, where, over the past 19 years, he has held a variety of roles covering sales and marketing, integration and Lean Six Sigma. In his latest position as EMEA Segment and Channel Leader within 3M’s Abrasive Systems Division, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mike Cottam successfully headed up the sa...
An estate agent in Dawlish has received the maximum allowed fine for breaches of fire safety regulations at a residential property. David Force, retired but formerly of Force and Sons estate agents, pleaded guilty to three charges at Newton Abbot Magistrates Court on Monday, 15 August. The breaches were found at Mr. Force’s property at 9 Queen Street and related to the flat above the commercial let on the ground floor. Lack of fire escape means Business Safety Officers from Devon...
The UK Armed Forces defend the UK and its interests. They are busy working around the world, promoting peace, delivering aid, tackling drug smugglers, providing security, and fighting terrorism. This is a chance to celebrate and recognize the UK Armed Forces community and particularly to champion the men, women, and families that make up the Armed Forces community within the NHS and here at NEAS. Look out for more about how what NEAS does to support veterans, reservists, and those se...
A leading UK politician has praised staff at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS), after visiting their headquarters to learn how they are keeping children safe. On Wednesday, August 17, 2022, the UK Shadow Education Minister, Bridget Phillipson MP, visited the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service to discover more about their educational input into their community. The Chief Fire Officer at the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS), Chris Lowther spent time with Ms. Phillipson...
BS7858 is a British Standard instituted by the BSI for the screening of individuals wanting to be employed in the security sector, or in roles where screenings are necessary for the safety and reassurance of the public, such as IT or banking. The screening provides employers with peace of mind that their hires are suitable and possess the integrity required to carry out such important roles. This in turn ensures trust between employer and employee and prevents any humiliating incidents that mig...
The cause of the fire between London Bridge and Waterloo East stations has been identified as a pedicab. Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters tackled a fire at a commercial property under railway arches on Union Street in Southwark, which crews described as ‘completely alight.’ Smoke could reportedly be seen for miles around. Affected train services A railway arch in Southwark used as a garage, and another nearby unit storing vehicles, including electric scooters and bikes,...
FASQUAL is a fire and security Contractor registration scheme developed by the BSIA and the FIA. The scheme aims to provide reassurance to employers, offering the peace of mind necessary when hiring contractors who prove they are qualified, suitable, and low-risk. Although often an arduous and time-consuming task, vetting candidates and making sure the right one is hired is paramount in this industry. national database FASQUAL is a national database that stores all the information emplo...
If the user is a holiday let owner, they should know that fire risk assessment (FRA) is a legal requirement in ensuring the safety of the occupants. So, as the holiday season approaches, it’s important to get it done and signed off soon. Discover the importance of fire risk assessments for holiday lets and what they entail. Holiday Let Fire Risk Assessment As part of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 FSO, performing a fire risk assessment on a holiday let property is a legal...
DMP would like to extend a warm welcome to Pheng Vang as he joins the West Sales team as Dealer Development Manager for Northern California. Dealers across this region can look to Pheng for continued service and support. “We believe Pheng will be a great representative of DMP” said Jeff Spatz, Director of Sales, West at DMP, adding “His background experience gives him a unique perspective both our dealers and sales team will appreciate. In the short time in his new position, P...
Camden Door Controls is pleased to bring to market its 1500 line of Fire Rated electric strikes for mortise and cylindrical lockets. The line includes a CX-ED1500LP low profile strike with one latch monitor, as well as a CX-ED1500L2 strike with two latch monitors. They’re available in a range of faceplate packs for both deadbolts and latch bolts. UL1034 and UL 294 listed strikes Camden’s CX-ED1500 strikes for mortise and cylindrical locksets combine the high quality of European br...
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) was called upon to respond to a large blaze at Balmoral Drive, Borehamwood on Friday 12 August, where a shed fire had spread to the nearby block of flats. The three-storey block, owned by Clarion Housing Association, was evacuated of all residents as the fire impacted 21 flats, with 15 of them being destroyed. An emergency reception center was set up at a nearby leisure center where displaced residents received support with their accommodation needs,...
The new Fire Safety Act 2021 came into force on 16th May 2022, and with it came a clearer direction about compliance. This article outlines the updates to the legislation and explain what this means for FMs. The Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017 and the subsequent enquiry highlighted the need for changes to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Sadly, it is only when events like this happen that legislation changes. New Fire Safety Act 2021 The new Fire Safety Act 2021, which came into...
As educational facilities revel in a summertime of empty hallways and classrooms, Sue Corrick of Allegion UK explains why it’s the perfect time to assess fire door hardware. The great British summertime has arrived, known for its quintessential rainy days, packed out beach fronts and extended educational term breaks. By the time its August, students of all ages - from primary schools to universities – would have dashed out the doors, in preparation for a summer of fun, leaving behin...
Cambridgeshire fire crews have continued to face challenging conditions and increased demand as the summer heatwave persists. Having already seen unprecedented temperatures and calls to incidents in July 2022, which include the two busiest days ever for the fire service, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service staff have continued to face record levels of calls and incidents. Busy July month for Cambridgeshire fire crews Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Area Commander, Stuart Smi...
In the UK, ensuring fire safety is not just a moral responsibility; it’s a legal obligation for businesses that own or lease commercial buildings. Complying with tight fire safety governance and policies is crucial for safeguarding business and the people within premises. In this piece, KBO Fire and Security will discuss the rules and regulations that business owners must adhere to and the risks associated with non-compliance. Fire Safety Regulations for Commercial Buildings UK fire saf...
Geofire is celebrating 50 years in business, a milestone that shows its commitment to innovation in the fire safety industry. Established in 1972, Geofire continues to expand its work force, design innovative products and diversify into new sectors. Originally established as an electromagnetic brake and clutch manufacturer in the north east of England, near Bishop Auckland, the company has grown significantly into a major specialist in electromagnetic fire door safety solutions and its products...
Firefighters have been praised for saving dozens of homes after a huge grassland fire in Newcastle threatened to spread into a village. Just after 3 pm on Thursday, 11th August, 2022, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) received a call about a grass fire in Walbottle. Deploy resources fast TWFRS Fire Control staff was quick to deploy resources and within minutes the first appliances had arrived on scene. It was evident the fire was growing and spreading rapidly, with more than 30 fi...
The Home Office has released statistics that provide a new analysis of automatic fire alarms by confirmed type. The figures include a count of the number of incidents classified as Automatic Fire Alarms at the time of call, by Fire and Rescue Service, by confirmed incident type at scene attendance, and by Financial Year, covering 2016/17 to 2021/22. Automatic Fire Alarms incidents The work shows that in the year 2021/22, there were nearly 130,000 incidents classified as Automatic Fire A...
The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) announces the completion and opening of Fire Station 86 in Bay Point. The new station became operational on August 10, replacing the historic Fire Station 86, located one mile to the east, which had been in continuous use since 1949. Strategically located adjacent to the Highway 4 interchange at Willow Pass Road, Fire Station 86 supports the unincorporated areas of Bay Point, nearby Pittsburg, and other communities along the busy Highw...
Rosenbauer America announces new executive leadership. Mark Fusco is appointed as President, and Randy Brummel as Executive Vice President Operations. The company’s purpose remains unchanged, Rosenbauer exists to support the mission of saving lives and protecting property. This new structure allows the American custom fire truck builder to expand its growth plans and further focus on operational excellence, dealer development, financial discipline, customer satisfaction, and serving firs...
The agenda for this year’s AFAC22 Conference and Exhibition (AFAC22) is loaded with big topics, such as reducing risk in the changing climate, the new Australian Fire Danger Rating System, women in emergency management, lithium battery fires and so much more. It is the first time since the start of the COVID-19 global pandemic that the Australian and APAC emergency management industry is coming together in person. AFAC22 Conference and Exhibition will be held in 2022 at the Adelaide Conve...
South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue staff members are celebrating a double award win at the Cutlers’ Company Police and Fire Service annual awards in recognition of their exemplary service. The Service’s Sprinkler Advocate, Roger Branson, received the Individual Award in recognition for his expertise, dedication and relentless championing of sprinklers which has had a monumental impact in his service, community and sector. His pioneering role in the retrofitting of sprinklers i...
Firefighters across South Yorkshire are urging members of the public to be extra careful over the coming days, following a new extreme heat warning from the Met Office. The national weather forecaster has also raised the fire severity risk level to ‘exceptional’ for some parts of the country–in addition to its four-day Amber weather warning. SYFR’s fire officers This has prompted South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s fire officers to issue another plea to the publi...
The child, now named as Sahara Salman, four years old, died after a terraced house collapsed as a result of the explosion. Three others are being treated in the hospital for their injuries. Merton Council has described the explosion as a "major incident." The gas explosion, which occurred in Thornton Heath, south London, happened at about 07:10 am on 8 August, damaging neighboring houses. Around 80 nearby homes were also evacuated, affecting around 100 people, who are being housed by the counci...
Safe Fleet’s Fire, EMS, and Industrial divisions (FRC, FoamPro, Elkhart Brass, ROM) is excited to announce the addition of Chris Thwaits as the Southeast Regional Sales Manager. In his new role, Chris Thwaits will continue to build and strengthen relationships with Fire & EMS customers in the Southeast US region. His territory will include the US states of Florida and Georgia. Vast industry experience Chris Thwaits brings many years of industry experience to Safe Fleet. That experie...
Crews from two Norfolk Fire Stations are working with the East of England Ambulance Service to respond to some medical incidents in Norfolk, United Kingdom (UK). The scheme, which is currently underway, sees Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) crews responding to adult cases of cardiac arrest within areas surrounding Sheringham and North Walsham Fire Stations. The Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service crew are co-responding to incidents, along with the East of England Ambulance Service. The trial...
The British Standards Institution has published three new standards which set out competence requirements for building safety management, sponsored by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC). new standards The new standards support industry reform in line with the new Building Safety Act and are intended to minimize safety risks and improve protection for consumers and occupants, including residents, in and about buildings. They also cover requirements for Prin...
The most significant fires seen in the county so far this summer ignited in Dartford when two simultaneous wildfires resulted in more than 150 firefighters being deployed to tackle flames in record-breaking temperatures. Now, with a second heatwave set to begin, the Met Office has issued a Heat Health Alert for Kent and Medway, and the fire service is again urging the public to do all they can to stay safe and help reduce preventable grass, crop, and woodland fires. Author's quote KFRS A...
Con Fire’s automated phone system helps working media more quickly and easily reach the on-duty public information officer (PIO) 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Pushing timely information Between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., the media line will direct to voicemail unless the on-call PIO is responding to an active incident. For overnight periods when there is no working incident requiring PIO presence, voicemails will be returned before 8 a.m. the next morning. RSS feeds continue to...
