Firefighter Health and Safety - Editor's Dispatch

Thousands of industry professionals gathered at the 2024 NFPA Conference and Expo in Orlando in June. The event brought together educational sessions, networking opportunities, and an exhibitor showcase. NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. The NFPA annual meeting allowed members and the public to discuss and vote on proposed changes to fire codes and standards. “It’s a gathering place for people in the industry,” says Dr. Rodger Reiswig, Vice President of Indust...

Wildfires swept through the Panhandle region of Texas earlier in 2024. The Smokehouse Creek Fire and the Windy Deuce Fire, both starting on Feb. 26, were the most significant outbreaks. The Smokehouse Creek Fire went on to become the second largest in U.S. history, burning over a million acres across Texas and Oklahoma before it was contained in mid-March. worst-ever wildfire As Texas battled its worst-ever wildfire, firefighters worked to mitigate fire and smoke damage. Among the challenges...

The world is changing and challenging the fire service to keep up. The core missions of firefighting and fire prevention have not changed, but the environments in which those missions operate are changing faster than ever before. Technology, sustainability, shifting demographics in recruitment and retention, and an increasing need for partnership and collaboration are among the factors that will impact the fire service and the fire industry in 2024. Let’s consider some of the big issues...

Chemicals broadly labeled as PFAs provide important properties to turnout gear used by firefighters, including better resistance to heat, water, and other hazards. Unfortunately, human exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) has also been linked to heightened cancer risk. Research on the concentration of PFAs The U.S. National Defense Authorization Act of 2021 directed the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to identify the prevalence and concentration of PFAs...

Not so long ago, there was a time when a dirty helmet symbolized firefighter bravado. A dirty helmet was seen as a testament to how hard a firefighter worked and the horrible conditions he or she withstood when completing their duties. Sometimes, there was even concern that washing and cleaning a helmet would somehow reduce the likelihood of catching another fire in the near future.  A dirty helmet no longer necessarily shows anything about a firefighter's competency or dedication to thei...

In Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, in May 2022, a helmet camera recorded firefighters extinguishing a truck fire along I-94, catching every detail as sparks flew and firefighters hosed down the truck to suppress the blaze. Firefighters also hosed down the grass on the side of the freeway to put out hot spots and prevent a grass fire, MLive.com reported. The helmet-cam was part of a voluntary program that involves Ann Arbor firefighters wearing cameras when responding to active structure fires to cap...

Electric fire vehicles, virtual reality (FR), and firefighting robots are among the new technology innovations in the fire market. They are also among the topics covered in the articles that attracted the most attention (i.e., received the most clicks) at thebigredguide.com in 2022. summary of important issues and technologies Also attracting eyeballs in 2022 were timely issues such as the labor shortage and the ongoing risk of cancer for firefighters. Fire garments were also among the topics...

Drones provide a useful tool for multiple functions within a modern fire department. The Los Angeles City Fire Department has been among the first to embrace the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) or drones, and the program has continued to grow in the last seven years, always guided by professionalism and accountability. training, standardization, and professional development What can other fire departments learn from the Los Angeles example? “You have to crawl first, then walk after...

Among the ways, garments protect firefighters is by reducing the heat stress and discomfort created by the need to carry heavy gear. Making the garments more comfortable to wear means less physical stress. Garments also help to protect firefighters from the toxic elements in the fire environment. The extent to which plastic materials can generate toxic smoke when they burn has previously been ignored but is now better understood. Concerted effort to understand end user As a manufacturer of fi...

Firefighters must be trained once or twice a year to keep their skills sharp. Providing that training in a safe environment is a challenge, and virtual reality (VR) enables exposure to the experience of firefighting. VR training In 2017, W.S. Darley & Co. first began offering VR training by partnering with virtual reality startup FLAIM, becoming their exclusive distributor in the United States. Today, Darley has sold VR systems from several manufacturers successfully to medium size fire d...

Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging tool in the fire service. In addition to its role in firefighter training, it is also emerging as a useful means of education about fire prevention. Home Fire Sprinkler Association (HFSA) is using VR to demonstrate up close and personal the revelatory fire prevention role of home fire sprinklers at the early stages of a fire. VR experience A VR video available from HFSA demonstrates how fire spreads in two identical rooms in a single-family home in Ashland C...

In firehouses around the world, firefighters must co-exist with diesel-fueled apparatus. When a diesel engine is running in a firehouse apparatus bay, the diesel exhaust can cause a variety of health issues for firefighters who occupy the firehouse. Diesel exhaust can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs, and it can cause coughs, headaches, lightheadedness, and nausea. Breathing in diesel exhaust can cause lung irritation and/or make pre-existing asthma worse. Long-term exposure may lead...

FIREX International 2022 was bustling with visitors, glad to be back networking, demonstrating new technologies, and sharing ideas. Education was high on the agenda across the three days at London’s Excel, with various live seminars and panel discussion sessions held throughout the show. Fire Education Seminars covered topics ranging from social sustainability to safety leadership, while the Fire Protection Association (FPA) InfoZone hosted sessions on sprinklers in schools, the safety...

Firefighters are flocking to Indianapolis for FDIC International. Much of the week-long event is dedicated to classroom instruction and hands-on training. Connecting and networking In addition to learning, firefighters are connecting and networking on a scale unprecedented since the pandemic. There is also a spirit of gratitude to first responders for keeping communities safe. For the first time, FDIC International is co-locating with the JEMS Conference and Expo for the EMS market. Equipment...

Firefighting has undergone more than enough change in the last couple of years, some of it the result of the coronavirus pandemic. As the pandemic wanes, there is talk about the “new normal.” But what does that mean for the fire service? At the very least, fire departments need to be aware of changing trends, including everything from new health concerns and preparedness requirements to an evolving social climate that is spilling over in the fire service.  More online and &ldqu...

Firefighting is among the riskiest professions, and cancer is one of the biggest related medical risks. Fortunately, research is ongoing to better understand the nature of the cancer risk, new protective equipment and practices are evolving to manage the risk, and support is available for cancer survivors and families. Cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters, who are at greater risk of some cancers than the public. Hazardous substances in the firefighting environment include doz...

A new floating fire station in San Francisco, USA is designed to provide fast response to a variety of emergencies, to adapt to the rise and fall of the natural tide of the bay, and to withstand future sea level changes tied to global warming. Fireboat Station 35 Fireboat Station 35 is berthed at Pier 22-1/2, just north of the Bay Bridge, along the Embarcadero at Harrison just south of the Ferry Building, in San Francisco, California, USA. It is a 14,900-square-foot, two-story fireboat station...

Technology has transformed the role of lighting in the realm of firefighting. The rise of USB-rechargeable flashlights and headlamps now enable firefighters to recharge on-the-go. New, multi-fuel flashlight ‘systems’ use a rechargeable battery, but also can accept disposable batteries for alternate sources of power. New scene lights are waterproof and offer powerful brightness in situations involving smoke or water. Work lights that fit in tight spaces can be used hands-free or hangi...

Under a new law taking effect in February 2022, homes in Scotland must have multiple fire alarms linked by radio frequency, either sealed battery alarms or alarms wired to the electrical system main. Smoke alarms are now required in the living room or most-used room, and also in each hallway or landing. Furthermore, a heat alarm is required in the kitchen. All smoke and heat alarms should be mounted on the ceiling. Interlinked alarms In the case of interlinked alarms, if one alarm goes off, th...

In the case of mixed commercial and residential premises, approaches to ensure fire protection can be complicated. While one fire protection approach might be best suited to a commercial facility, a different process might be optimal in case of a residential fire. Combining the two types of facilities requires a delicate balance to serve both sets of needs. Towyn fire incident Recently in Towyn, in Wales, UK, for example, a serious blaze was reported in a residential flat above a takeaway rest...

New technologies for the fire service were a predominant topic at TheBigRedGuide.com in 2021, based on the most-visited articles at the site during the past year. Looking back at the top articles of the year -- as measured by those that received the most "clicks" -- provides a decent summary of emerging technologies in the fire service. The list of articles also highlights some of the biggest challenges in the fire service, including wildfires and emerging fire risks. Timely and important issue...

Trends, such as social distancing and breakdowns in group interactions are changing the emergency response needs in Suffolk County, New York, and other communities around the world. In the new normal, there are also fewer opportunities to identify someone, who might need mental health services or be in crisis. Residents are more likely to push aside signs of anxiety and depression, until they become more severe. Suffolk County affected by COVID-19 Suffolk County was an epicenter of the COVID-1...

Electronic devices help to manage the flow of information at a fire scene, but how to provide the information that each firefighter needs in a simplified format, which is conducive to high-stress, minute-by-minute decision-making? That’s the mission of Qwake Technologies and their C-THRU platform, which seeks to improve the performance and safety of critical workers, in dangerous environments. C-THRU platform with AI The C-THRU platform simplifies a flood of complex data from multiple so...

Electric bikes and scooters are a newly popular way to travel through urban environments. However, the nifty devices come with a fire risk that could be deadly. In London, firefighters have responded to more than 25 fires, involving e-bikes or e-scooters in recent months, some of them significant incidents with serious injuries. Lithium-ion batteries pose fire risks The fire hazards of e-bikes and e-scooters stem from their use of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that can erupt into flames....

Back in Indianapolis for the first time since 2019, FDIC International 2021 offered a full slate of conference sessions, hands-on training and equipment exhibitions. Attendance was down, but everyone appeared happy to be back at the show, after cancellations and delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Masking compliance was low, despite continuing concerns about COVID-19 and the Delta variant. There was little social distancing. In many respects, the show seemed back to normal. A highlight of t...

We are currently seeing fewer fires in the United States than in past decades. However, statistically, if a fire is reported in your home, you are more likely to die today than 40 years ago. Today’s homes with their synthetic furnishings and open floor plans burn faster than homes did in the past. Occupants might have fewer than three minutes to escape after a fire starts. Every 24 seconds, a U.S. fire department responds to a fire somewhere in the country. Nationwide, a civilian dies in...

Immediate evacuation is often the appropriate response in case of a fire emergency, but correctional facilities are built on the premise of keeping inmates inside. Such is the apparent conflict, when it comes to responding to a fire in a prison, jail or correctional facility. Fire safety challenges The unique characteristics of a correctional setting present challenges in case of fire. For example, how can locked doors be consistent with the need for easy egress in case of fire? Because doors...

While wildfires can be beneficial and necessary for some species and ecosystems, there are various negative impacts on our air, water, and land, as well as, subsequent impacts for human health. Given the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) mission to protect human health and the environment, the EPA’s Wildland Fire Research focuses on the impacts these fires have on human health and ecosystems. Examining ambient air quality EPA researchers are examining the worsening of a...

Many restaurants around the world are suffering from loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation has made fire prevention a lower priority. Fire authorities should work with restaurant owners and associations to address this issue and offer guidelines and training to increase awareness in the community. Restaurant fires account for about 6% of all non-residential building fires reported to fire departments each year, according to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS...

When you think about the 21st-century innovations that will drive the future of the fire service, almost every new technology depends on faster and more dependable digital communication. In short, the future of technology in the fire service demands that we embrace 5G technology. 5G (fifth generation telecommunications) promises faster data speeds, less latency, and greater reliability. Increased connectivity and technologies From increasing connectivity to enabling wearable technologie...