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First place in the Femtec Award 2022 for Macarena Varela, a Scientist at the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing, and Ergonomics FKIE. In the category 'Innovation' she prevailed in public voting and accepted the award from Femtec Managing Director Marion Zeßner at the Femtec summer party in Berlin. In the category 'Leadership', Prof. Dr. Angela Ittel, President of the TU Braunschweig, was awarded, and the prize in the category 'Social Impact' went to the DokFo...

Both FireQual and BAFE are deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen was a bastion of integrity and service to the United Kingdom, which both FireQual and BAFE profoundly respected. Her death is a huge loss for everyone. respects and condolences The Queen had a strong link to the Fire Service College in Moreton-in-Marsh (where FireQual and BAFE are based), having officially opened the site in May 1974. Both give respects and condolences go out to The Royal Fam...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Ross Fork Fire burning in Blaine County, Idaho, USA. The US state of Idaho’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was approved by FEMA Region 10 Administrator Willie G. Nunn on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, at 4:09 p.m. PT. He determined that the Ross Fork Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. This is the se...

A new fire detection and alarm systems competition to enable apprentice engineers to boost their skills has been launched by the charity, WorldSkills UK. Program training  Run in partnership with Skills for Security, apprentice engineers will have the opportunity to undergo training ahead of the national final in November, with a chance to compete at the international ‘Skills Olympics’ in France in 2024. The program builds on WorldSkills UK’s electronic security systems...

At approximately 16:30 in the afternoon on Friday, 2 September 2022, SACFS personnel were alerted to a truck fire on the Port Wakefield Highway, approximately 25km south of Port Wakefield, South Australia. The SACFS dispatched 9 fire trucks to respond to the vehicle fire. Upon arrival, the fire crews found a cement powder distribution truck ablaze on the side of the highway.  Damage caused The crews worked to contain the fire and to ensure that there were no hazardous materials contained...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is pleased to announce that it will host its signature health and safety focused educational conference, the NVFC Training Summit 2023, from June 23 to June 24, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. The NVFC is now accepting proposals from qualified instructors and speakers for presentations to educate first responders about critical issues in the fire and emergency services. Submit proposal by September 30, 2022. NVFC Training Summit 2023 The theme...

Water mist systems use finely dispersed water to fight fires, thus displacing oxygen and absorbing heat – combining the effects of gas extinguishing and traditional sprinkler systems. The small droplet sizes (≤1 mm diameter) significantly enhance the effect of the water used, also minimizing water damage. VdS now backs up manufacturers, as well as users with a basic product standard, systematically testing effectiveness and reliability. New regulations for Water mist systems Until no...

Dräger, an internationally renowned company in the fields of medical and safety technology, will showcase five fire safety technologies designed to further firefighter health and well-being at The Emergency Services Show (ESS) 2022, including the FireGround Accountability System; the newly launched BG ProAir (Long Duration); the PSS® AirBoss; Dräger’s cleaning solution; and the FireCore® thermal imaging camera. With a focus on how connectivity and firefighter communicati...

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service will be recruiting for Wholetime Firefighters this autumn. Ahead of the portal opening for applications, the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service is encouraging members of the public to consider a career in the Fire and Rescue Service, by joining them for a Firefighter ‘Have a Go’ day. ‘Have a Go’ events give an insight into the life as a firefighter, the opportunity to speak to current firefighters to find out more, and the chanc...

Preparing for all fire exposures, not picking and choosing only one, is vital for improving the home and building survival chances. What the community needs to know Wildfires spread primarily by: Ember generation and deposition. Burning or smoldering pieces of material generated during a wildfire event can land on combustible material. Radiant heat. The heat from the fire raises the temperature of a combustible material until that material reaches ignition temperature and burns....

The London Fire Brigade has issued another e-bike safety warning after five people were rescued from a flat fire in St John’s Wood. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters attended the scene at around 2am, which was under control by 02:56. Around half of the flat on the second floor of a block on Frampton Street was damaged by the fire. One resident was taken to hospital as a result. Correct safety standards The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by a lithium-ion b...

FireQual are proud to support the WorldSkills UK Fire Detection and Alarm Systems Competition. WorldSkills UK is delighted to launch the new Fire Detection and Alarm Systems Competition, run in partnership with Skills for Security. As well offering apprentices the chance to boost their skills, they also have the unique possibility of competing at the ‘international skills Olympics’ in France in 2024. Undergoing intensive training The competition, which kicked off in May at the IFS...

A development for three new blocks of flats near Totterdown, Bristol, United Kingdom (UK) has been approved despite serious fire safety concerns. Housing developers - Donard have been granted permission to construct 221 flats over three blocks between York Street and Mead Street, two of which will be 11 storeys tall. The third tower, however, has only one escape route, and is at the centre of calls for a design overhaul. Council planning officers The apartments form a part of the wider Mead S...

WAGNER, based in Langenhagen, near Hanover, Germany, will be showing its holistic solutions for individual fire protection at Security Essen 2022, taking place in Essen, Germany, from September 20 to September 23, 2022. Particular focus will be on the TITANUS aspirating smoke detection systems for early fire detection and the WinGuard system for organization/hazard management. The fire protection solution provider will be presenting its innovative technologies in the Fire/Intrusion/Systems sect...

Coatings company, Hempel A/S, announces the promotion of Steen Niemann Madsen to Executive Vice President, Energy & Infrastructure. Steen will succeed Michael Hansen in the position from 15 October 2022, when Michael Hansen steps into the position of Group President and CEO of Hempel A/S. With the appointment, Steen Niemann will become part of the Executive Group Management. Vast Industry experience  Steen Niemann comes from his current position at Hempel as Vice President, of Infras...

Michael Hansen announced to succeed Lars Petersson as Group President and CEO of coatings company, Hempel A/S. Michael will step into his new position on 15 October 2022. Michael Hansen joined Hempel in May 2017 as Chief Commercial Officer and has delivered remarkable results as a central driver of the global transformation in Hempel. Michael is part of the Executive Group Management as Executive Vice President, Energy & Infrastructure. Strong social engagement Michael Hansen has extensiv...

Paul, Chris, and Tim Galvin are announcing that they have made the decision to let go of the sand-casting section of its factory. Its last pour is currently scheduled for the middle of December 2022. Although this has been a tough decision, it has been made to better focus on the core, which is the design and manufacture of safe, green, and smart water solutions for high-risk and high-care environments. Customer service It is important to note that while Galvin will no longer be doing casting...

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has detailed a potential safety weakness in a large number of building ventilation systems. BESA have issued the warning, alongside a revised edition of their technical bulletin VH001 Fire and Smoke Damper Maintenance V3, following the revelation that annual inspections found ‘a huge number of dampers’ had been incorrectly installed. Building ventilation systems Graeme Fox, Head of Technical for BESA, said: “We have been a...

The American Wood Council (AWC) is an independent organization that offers information about wood products to builders. Working in association with the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), the International Code Council (ICC), and other knowledgeable stakeholders, the AWC has created a set of guidelines to help reduce life and property loss from fire in buildings under construction based upon pre-existing codes and standards. Keeping construction site safe Let’s examine why these gui...

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), in partnership with Pierce Manufacturing Inc., announced the 2022 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year honorees. Volunteer Fire Chief, Marshall Turbeville, of the Northern Sonoma FPD in Sonoma County, California, and career Fire Chief, Gary Ludwig, of the Champaign Fire Department in Champaign, Illinois, have been named this year’s honorees. The IAFC began recognizing one volunteer and one career Fire Chief of the Year in 1996. A selection commi...

Technology and change do not need to be dirty words in the fire service. There are limitless applications of using technology, like virtual reality, to address the most pressing and potentially catastrophic challenges facing the fire service. From recruiting the next generation of firefighters to dealing with the unknowns of mental health, the National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) Recruitment, Training, And Mental Health: How To Embrace Immersive Learning Technology webinar, which is...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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 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...