Fire Safety Policies - News

National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) members can enter to win a personalized Cairns XF1 Fire Helmet, courtesy of MSA Safety Incorporated (MSA Safety). Cairns XF1 Fire Helmet The jet-style design of the Cairns XF1 Fire Helmet reduces snag hazards, provides a personalized fit, and houses its own integrated light module, and the soft goods are removable, washable, and replaceable. This is the second of three opportunities to win an XF1 helmet in 2022. One recipient will be randomly selected, a...

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority (SYFRA) has appointed a new Assistant Chief Fire Officer. Andy Strelczenie was appointed following a selection process, which included a written application, operational assessment and three interviews – including a final one with members of the Fire Authority’s appointments committee. Andy has worked within the fire and rescue service for 26 years, originally at Hereford and Worcester Fire & Rescue Service before transferring to South...

The episode begins with Jonathan O’Neill OBE, FPA Managing Director, speaking with Chris Miles, Regional Business Director at UL, to explore how international testing practices could benefit the UK’s own building safety. Their discussion starts with a look at the Building Safety Act receiving royal assent, and whether a clearer, more transparent, and more effective specification and testing regime for construction products was being achieved. Chris casts doubt over whether this has...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service is proud to announce during Pride Month, that it’s the first emergency service to achieve the Pride in Care quality standard for its commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Awarded by the national charity, Opening Doors, the standard is given to organizations that commit to strengthening their inclusion of LGBTQ+ people over 50. comprehensive accreditation process The fire service underwent a comprehensive accreditation process to receive the...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is delighted to announce it has been awarded the Investing in Volunteers (liV) quality standard, in recognition of its commitment to volunteering.  The celebrations also mark the start of national Volunteers’ Week, which begins on 1 June.  recruits; supports and manages volunteers Throughout the process to achieve the accolade, KFRS worked with an IiV assessor to examine how it recruits, supports, and manages volunteers, to ensure they have...

Fire safety and protection are more prevalent now than ever before. There is a huge push on competency and compliance for the installation and products in the fire industry in 2022, following tragic recent events such as Grenfell. Just like a plumber would need to showcase that they are competent to service a boiler, the demand for fire protection installers to show they are competent is essential. What is Passive fire protection (PFP)? Passive fire protection (PFP) is a crucial component of...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is pleased to announce that Dr. Candice McDonald will join the staff as deputy chief executive officer. In this role, she will assist CEO Sarah Lee in managing the internal operations of the NVFC, including grants oversight, budget development, organizational planning, and more.   “We are very excited for Dr. Candice McDonald to join the NVFC as a key part of our staff leadership team,” said Lee. “Candice brings a myriad of...

Alongside the Fire Safety Act, the UK government has now committed to Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and a raft of new measures that are designed to ensure a full response to the Grenfell Tower inquiry recommendations. The launch, coming at the same time as the commencement of the Fire Safety Act 2021, is described as ‘the most comprehensive plans for fire reform in decades’. The plans will be set out in the UK government’s Fire Reform white paper, in order to strength...

Fire crews used an aerial platform to bring a distressed tawny owl to safety after it had become stuck in overhead phone lines. West Yorkshire Fire Service control center received a call at 06:15 after noisy crows had raised the alarm to residents. Rescuing the owl Station Manager - Ronnie Goldwater attended the scene followed by animal rehabilitation volunteer Vikki Clarke, who took the bird to a specialist vet and left it in rehab. Mr. Goldwater said, "It was so distressed and flapping...

Possibly the most common question asked. The simple answer is quite probably, yes. Every property (excluding a single occupancy domestic home) from an HMO to a block of flats, care home, nursery, school, community center, warehouse, hotel the list goes on MUST by law, have a “regular” fire risk assessment completed.  Fire risk assessment Under the “Regulatory Reform (fire safety) Order 2005” it is law that "The responsible person must make a suitable and sufficient...

A safety warning on the use of lithium-ion batteries is being issued by Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) following several battery related fires this month. A safety warning on the use of lithium-ion batteries is being issued by Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) following several battery related fires this month. Lithium-ion batteries, or li-ion batteries (sometimes called LIBs) are commonly found in many items including mobile phones, laptops, e-bikes, hover boards, vaping devices and sco...

When it comes to the correct selection of fixed fire-fighting suppression systems, there are many external influences that can affect the correct specification of fire suppression for the protection against fire of many buildings. By far the two biggest influences are cost and space, when the decision should be based on hazard, risk, effectiveness, longevity of water supply, fire strategy, third-party approvals, standards, research & testing, proven track records, and insurability. Fixed f...

Avon Protection will showcase its full range of integrated personal protection solutions at Eurosatory 2022, including full-face respirators, ballistic helmets, escape hoods, SCBA systems, modular PAPR units, underwater equipment, and CBRN protective equipment. There, the Group will demonstrate its position as a world-renowned company in CBRN protection, with its respiratory technology solutions that are designed to meet the modern threat environment and enhance the capability of the tactical m...

West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service welcomes the commencement of the Fire Safety Act in England and Wales, and the Fire Safety Regulations in England, as important steps forward in improving fire safety. responsible persons The service is also urging responsible persons (RPs) for multi-occupied residential buildings to prepare for legislation that will commence in January 2023. The Act clarifies that RPs for multi-occupied residential buildings must manage and reduce the risk of fir...

A fire that engulfed six buses at a Hertfordshire town center transport depot has been linked to an electric bus catching fire while charging. Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) arrived in the afternoon on Sunday, 22 May, 2022, where a local resident described the scene, saying: "I just heard an unbelievable noise that sounded like a jet and when I looked out my window, one of the buses exploded in a ball of flames." Causing further damage The smoke from the blaze was so heavy that...

Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association (CVVFA) President, Chief Joe Kroboth has released a message stating - Fellow members, for several years the association and individual members benefited from a relationship with the PA Fireman Magazine. The magazine has covered CVVFA’s events, published their articles, and informed readers about the association’s activities. With the steady long-term growth of the Emergency Responder Safety Institute, there is a need to provide...

The National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) People Programme has launched four new tools, in order to support fire and rescue services in the selection, recruitment, nurturing and growth of diverse talent. The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Hub, Recruitment Hub, Talent Management Toolkit and Coaching and Mentoring Portal are the culmination of months of hard work, by National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) project teams and colleagues from across the fire and rescue sector. Each tool champi...

Zitko is delighted to welcome Eagle Eye Networks, the world’s major smart video surveillance company, to the Zitko Talent program. It gives trainees insider access to Eagle Eye Networks' renowned product training and technology workshops, covering key digital concepts, such as CCTV systems integration and networking, video analytics and AI, and the deployment of cloud/VSaaS solutions. From the conversations with employers, they know this is good news. Many have large numbers of experience...

As excitement for the extra bank holiday builds, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has issued important advice to ensure everyone enjoys the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee safely. six steps to safety These six steps to safety will help ensure a royally good four-day weekend in commemoration of Her Majesty’s 70-year reign. 1) Do not use sky lanterns (also known as Chinese lanterns) due to the fire hazards and risks they pose to property, crops, animals, and the environment. They are...

West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service is making final preparations for Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend celebrations, to be held at Halifax Piece Hall, where crews will take part in an Emergency Services Day. emergency vehicles Firefighters from Rastrick, Halifax, Todmorden, and Bradford will be showcasing a fire engine, boat, and wildfire vehicle, while Fire Prevention staff will be on hand to share safety advice. There will also be other emergency vehicles on show, including a...

The government is facing criticism from across the fire safety sector, as well as from campaign groups and bereaved relatives of the Grenfell Tower residents, having previously promised to implement the inquiry’s recommendations in full.  The Home Office published a consultation document that outlined its reasoning, stating that they believe it is not "proportionate" to follow the recommendations and will continue to place its faith in "stay put" advice in most buildings. PEEPs in h...

EarthSafe Chemical Alternatives is known for developing the EvaClean Infection Prevention Solution, which firefighters use to mitigate pathogens in their fire stations and emergency vehicles. In a continuing effort to help protect the health of first responders, EarthSafe launched a safer, more sustainable line of industrial-strength products, in order to address hazardous spills and inhibit harmful molds. Joe Finn, the former Boston Fire Commissioner, Chief of the Department, and current First...

AudioLINK+ is now faster, quieter, and more reliable than ever before. The second iteration of Aico’s award-winning AudioLINK technology makes it easy to access real-time data from alarms via the free AudioLINK+ app. AudioLINK+ AudioLINK+ extracts the same data as AudioLINK, but does this quicker and quieter than before to reduce disturbance and does not affect any other functionality of alarms. With the average time to take a report taking between 4-7 seconds, AudioLINK+ technology make...

Kentec Electronics, a global manufacturer of life-critical control systems, is celebrating the third anniversary of its Kentec Installation Program (KIP), at this year’s FIREX International 2022. With more than 200 installers now registered, across 19 countries, the company will take the opportunity to celebrate the success of scheme and thank installers for their support. Since its launch at Firex 2019, installers have been benefiting from the scheme’s key features, which include t...

Forest Service Fire crews will continue to take advantage of favorable spring weather conditions for more prescribed burning in the Bluff Mesa area southwest of Big Bear Lake, potentially beginning on Thursday, May 21 and continuing through Friday, May 22, 2022.  The work helps create safe spaces for firefighters to be placed between communities and natural areas should a wildfire occur. This week will be a continuation of a broadcast burn for up to 150 acres located east of Forest Service...

Global safety experts, Ardent Group (Ardent Vehicle Fire Protection) have announced significant new investment in machinery and robotics at its site in Roecliffe, York, United Kingdom (UK), as the company expands its portfolio of market-renowned fire suppression and electronic systems, for a wide range of vehicles, as well as static and mobile plant. Investment in machinery and robotics Explaining the investment, Neil Crowther, the Managing Director at the Ardent Group, said “In recent y...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, announced that authorized dealer Golden State Fire Apparatus, Inc. will open its second service center, a new 45,000 square-foot facility in Tracy, California, to serve customers in central California, particularly the Bay Area. The project is currently in the design stage with construction expected to be completed in the next 18 to 24 months. The new facility will also serve as Golden State Fire Apparatus’ service hub for the rev...

More than 8,600 people traveled to Long Beach, California, USA, in order to attend the recent Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo 2022, North America’s largest advanced transportation technology and clean fleet event. Major retailers were in attendance, looking to decarbonize their fleets, gaining insight into the latest developments, policies, and technologies in clean transportation solutions. ACT Expo 2022 ACT Expo 2022 featured the largest collection of clean vehicle and fuel s...

Personal protective equipment, a well-enforced protection program, and safeguards are the essential building blocks for the safety of workers in the field. If only one of these aspects is lacking it could spell disaster for the workers that these things are in place to protect. Luckily they have seen some amazing improvements to PPE in these last years. Though they still have quite a bit to go, they wanted to expose them to some of the tech that has them excited and that they think will have, o...

Thank Hedy Lamarr for Wi-Fi, Marie Curie for radioactivity, Evelyn Boyd Granville for successful space missions, Rosalind Franklin for the double helix structure of DNA, and Ruby Hirose for vaccines against polio. Those are a few examples of fearless women in science who changed the world with their research and innovation. The world benefits when more women and gender-diverse people find inspiration in careers in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics.  Sponsorship of Ope...