Training & Education - News

Gain an understanding of the potential dangers associated with lithium battery fires, safeguards for avoiding a fire, and strategies for extinguishing lithium battery fires. Given the ubiquity of lithium-ion batteries in many modern electronics, knowledge of the proper steps to take in the event of a fire is essential. What Causes Lithium Batteries to Ignite? Thermal instability known as thermal runaway can occur if a lithium battery overheats. This occurs when gaseous material is released fr...

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) is pleased to announce it has moved to its new head office in Coventry. The new building provides the ASFP with greater capacity, enabling it to offer even more support and services to its members. The new premises, which will be opened in two phases, provide office space, as well as housing the new ASFP training academy. It offers a practical training facility, catering facilities, meeting and break-out/rest areas, and provides a permanent...

Firefighting involves more than just summoning courage during a crisis; it encompasses dedication to serving, rescuing, and protecting.   Six women from diverse backgrounds, including members from St. Paul, MN Local 21 and Edina, MN Local 1275, recently embraced this commitment during their mission overseas, joining over two dozen firefighters, emergency medical professionals, and volunteers from the state.  Capacity of fire departments It’s unique because we’ve bee...

For business owners in the hospitality sector, fire safety should be one of their top priorities. Fires can cause extensive damage to property and put customers and employees at risk. Astoria provides tips on reducing the risk of fires in business and what to do if a fire breaks out. Astoria also discusses some common causes of fires in the hospitality industry and the steps taken to prevent them.  Fire Safety in Hospitality Fire safety is a top priority for any hospitality business. Fro...

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released its final report into the fatal explosion and fire at the KMCO production facility in Crosby, Texas, USA. On April 2, 2019, KMCO was producing sulfurized isobutylene as a lubrication additive. The explosion and fire occurred after isobutylene leaked from a fracture in a segment of piping and formed a flammable vapor cloud, which ignited. Fatal injury One KMCO employee was fatally injured, and two others were seriously inju...

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) is delighted to have been shortlisted for three awards in the Trade Association Forum’s (TAF’s) Awards. The Awards recognize, reward, and promote best practices among trade associations in the United Kingdom (UK).   Ignite The Association’s magazine, Ignite, has been shortlisted for Magazine of the Year. Ignite caters to the needs and interests of professionals within the passive fire protection (PFP) indus...

Fire fighters are being urged to take extra precautions when approaching structure fires involving residential energy storage systems (ESS), an increasingly popular home energy source that uses lithium-ion battery technology. The findings are part of an exhaustive report released by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and UL Solutions, based on a two-year research project examining the characteristics of fires resulting from the overheating of lithium battery systems stored in...

Public buildings, like schools, libraries, and offices, are places where people come together. Keeping these places safe from fires is super important. Fires can start quickly and spread even faster, putting everyone inside at risk. That’s why the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) offers tips to keep these buildings safe. By following these fire safety tips, establishments can help ensure that everyone can get out safely, if a fire starts and the damage is kept as low as possibl...

Warringtonfire, a global pioneer in Fire Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC), has announced plans to open a new facility in Warrington, United Kingdom (UK). Expected to open in 2025, the new facility will be the largest in the UK and provide fire testing, technical and certification services. Warringtonfire’s testing capacity Customer demands for Warringtonfire’s product testing are set to continue to grow significantly, due to increasing regulatory requirements, the intr...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, announced Canada-based dealer Commercial Emergency Equipment Co. has secured a 10-year contract with the Calgary Fire Department (CFD), focusing on the provision of custom tenders in an as-needed quantity.   Building upon the earlier established contract in 2022, which was centered on the supply of aerial platforms and ladders, this new agreement also places significant emphasis on apparatus standardization. Tandem-axle Enforcer&t...

Christopher Orr, an apprentice from Northern Irelands, South Eastern Regional College (SERC) has beaten off competition to lift the Nittan Shield Fire Engineering Apprentice of the Year title for 2023. Christopher (27), from Lisburn, employed by Crane Communications, successfully achieved the EAL Level 3 Fire & Security Apprenticeship NI at SERC’s Lisburn Campus. Engineering Apprentice of the Year SERC Fire and Security Lecturers, Christopher Patterson and Robin Hamill, said, "This...

A group of Fenland youngsters have been benefitting from fire service training to help develop teamwork skills, increase self-esteem and confidence, and understand the consequences of risk-taking decision-making. Learnings Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service has been hosting students from Thomas Clarkson Academy at Wisbech Fire Station. Led by the Service’s Community Development Instructors, the groups have been learning how to use hose reels, ladders, and breathing apparatus, and le...

Gain an understanding of the potential dangers associated with lithium battery fires, safeguards for avoiding a fire, and strategies for extinguishing lithium battery fires. Given the ubiquity of lithium-ion batteries in many modern electronics, knowledge of the proper steps to take in the event of a fire is essential. Lithium Batteries ignition cause Thermal instability known as thermal runaway can occur if a lithium battery overheats. This occurs when gaseous material is released from the l...

It’s been another busy year for the fire safety industry, with higher risk building registration and the new Building Safety Regulator under reforms of the Building Safety Act. Designed to provide greater accountability and management of higher-risk buildings, the Building Safety Act 2022 mandated two new roles for managing building safety – Accountable Persons and Principal Accountable Persons. FIREX International 2023 FIREX also returned to ExCel this year, covering the latest i...

Over 100 colleagues, contractors and local civic dignitaries warmly welcomed Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal to the new Huntingdon Fire Station and Service training center for a tour and to officially open the building with the unveiling of a plaque. The Princess Royal was greeted by the Lord Lieutenant for Cambridgeshire, Mrs. Julie Spence OBE QPM, and introduced to Fire Authority Chair - Edna Murphy, Deputy Chief Executive for Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service (CFRS) - Matthew W...

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection announced the winners for its 2023 Passive Fire Protection (PFP) Awards on 23 November at the Association’s Awards Dinner at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in London. ASFP Managing Director Mike Ward was joined by guest speaker, and comedian Hal Cruttenden, to present the awards to each worthy winner. The winners are:  ASFP Installation of the Year: Coopers Fire for its work in the Great Mosque of Mecca, Mataf Tunnels, installing a series of...

In the face of mounting pressure from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and others, Newark, New Jersey, officials recently proposed several safety measures after two fire fighters – Augusto “Augie” Acabou and Wayne “Bear” Brooks Jr. – died responding to a July cargo ship fire. The suggested changes reported by NJ.com, the state’s largest news and information site include: creating a special joint task force to consider legislative an...

The City of London Crime Prevention Association (CoLCPA) has proudly relaunched the Building Security Assessment Scheme in collaboration with the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) at Fishmongers’ Hall in the heart of the City of London. Security and fire safety Formerly known as CoLCPA’s Building Security Accreditation, this long-standing initiative, developed from a collaboration involving the City of London Police, the City of London Corporation, representatives of managing ag...

Since 2019, CHEMTREC® has partnered with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to help volunteer fire departments become better equipped to respond to hazardous materials incidents. In 2023, five NVFC members have been selected to receive $10,000 for their fire departments through the CHEMTREC® Hazmat Emergencies Local Preparedness (HELP) Award. The award will allow the departments to obtain critical training, equipment, and resources they wouldn’t otherwise be able to a...

The latest two winners of the 2023 MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway, conducted in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), have been selected. The Ellis Grove (IL) Volunteer Fire Department and Ripton (VT) Fire & Rescue will each receive four new jackets, pants, and helmets to better protect their responders. EGVFD The Ellis Grove Volunteer Fire Department (EGVFD) serves a population of 1,000 people in the Village of Ellis Grove and the surrounding area in so...

Rosenbauer receives award in the ‘Cooperation and Organization’ category with the eAward 2023. What for? The new RDS Connected Command app has been available in app stores since July 4, 2023. But the app for emergency response organizations has been around for much longer. For more than 150 years now, Rosenbauer has been tackling the question of how to make the everyday life of emergency response organizations simpler, more efficient, and safer. If the problem requires it, digital s...

ARA Fire is proud to be celebrating 14 years since the establishment of the ARA Endowment Fund. The ARA Endowment Gala Event was held on the 20th of October at the Ivy Ballroom in Sydney. The Gala Event generated donations of approximately $450,000. The principal balance in the ARA Endowment Fund is almost $3.5 million.  principal balance The principal balance in the ARA Endowment Fund remains in the Fund in perpetuity, while the income earned by the Fund is donated to the Partner Founda...

Marking the 35th anniversary of the Construction Industry Council (CIC), they reflect on the remarkable journey of CIC and look into its future. It all began in 1988 with the establishment of the organization as the Building Industry Council (BIC) under the visionary leadership of Professor Sir Edmund (Ted) Happold, who, along with five founder members - CIBSE, CIOB, IStructE, RIBA, and RICS - laid the foundation for what was to become the Construction Industry Council. CIC now stands as a unif...

CIC, the foremost membership body representing professionals within the built environment sector, is thrilled on Wednesday, 1 November 2023 to celebrate their 35th anniversary. Since its establishment in 1988, CIC has played a pivotal role in advancing the construction industry by promoting collaboration, knowledge sharing, and excellence among professionals. visionary idea CIC was born from a visionary idea: to unite professional bodies across the diverse built environment sector. In the p...

Over the last few years, the fire protection industry has been defined by large-scale regulatory shifts. As pioneers in fire protection compliance, CLM welcomes any changes that raise the bar on safeguarding buildings and their occupants. That’s why this article, will be covering a series of regulatory changes that are on the horizon. Fire Safety Reform Program The Fire Safety Reform Program enters its third phase on 1st October 2023. This will introduce changes to The Regulatory Refor...

The Special Operations branch of the Palm Beach County Fire Chief’s Association will conduct a multi-agency training drill from Monday, Oct. 30, through Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. The primary location for the drill will be Currie Park at 2400 North Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, Florida. There will be both morning and afternoon training sessions each day. Scenario simulation The drill will simulate a scenario involving a disabled vessel with role players on the boat and in the water, as w...

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) is celebrating the hard work of those who answer when users call for help – as part of International Control Room Week. The awareness campaign is running from Monday 23rd October for one week to highlight the amazing work of the staff in control rooms and to raise awareness of the crucial work they do. Control Room The Control Room is the first port of call for anyone who needs assistance from WYFRS. Its Fire Control team deals with hundred...

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection has announced the shortlist for its 2023 Passive Fire Protection Awards, with the winners due to be announced on 23 November at the Association’s Awards Dinner at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in London. As well as showcasing the award winners, the event will feature a special guest speaker, comedian Hal Crutten.  Each award recognizes excellence within the passive fire protection industry, at the company and individual levels. Shortlisted co...

First Direct Arena in Leeds played host to a major multi-agency exercise, when West Yorkshire’s emergency services came together to test their joint plans in responding to a major incident. live-action exercise West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS), West Yorkshire Police, and Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) joined forces with Counter Terrorism Policing North East, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, and Humberside Fire and Rescue Service for a live-action exercise, simula...

In the realm of passive fire protection, longevity and commitment to excellence are key indicators of a company's reliability and expertise. innovation, and commitment Nullifire, a renowned manufacturer of passive fire protection solutions, has recently been nominated for the prestigious Long Serving Member Award, 40 Year Gold by the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP).  With an impressive 40 years as a serving and proud member, Nullifire stands as a true industry pioneer,...