Training & Education - News

This September, fire service staff and volunteers will be hosing down cars at Cambridge, Burwell and Chatteris Fire Station to raise money for The Fire Fighters Charity. Vehicles of all shapes and sizes are welcome. Previously, cars, bikes, vans, trucks, and even tractors have been known to come along. Fire Fighters Charity The event will be raising money for The Fire Fighters Charity, which is currently celebrating 80 years of providing support and rehabilitation to both serving and retired...

Firefighters from both ends of the county had a busy morning on August 23, 2023, tackling fires caused by incorrect disposal of batteries. A crew from Cambridge was called just after 7 a.m. on Wednesday morning to a fire involving refuse from a lorry on Hauxton Road in Trumpington. Local recycling center Less than an hour later crews from Dogsthorpe and Stanground were called to a lorry fire in Bretton, Peterborough. Both fires were caused by batteries being discarded in household refuse. Ac...

A contribution from Dow has increased the number of volunteer fire departments to receive US$ 10,000 through the 2023 CHEMTREC® HELP Award in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). The CHEMTREC® Hazmat Emergencies Local Preparedness (HELP) Award is designed to help volunteer fire departments increase local preparedness and response capabilities for hazardous materials incidents. Thanks to Dow, a total of five recipients will be selected to receive US$ 10,000 each i...

The US state of Oregon’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was approved by FEMA Region 10 Administrator - Willie G. Nunn on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at 10:00 p.m. PT. He determined that the Liberty Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. This is the second FMAG declared in 2023 to help fight Oregon wildfires. At the time of the state’s request, the wildfire threatened homes in and around the communities of Liber...

Teledyne Gas & Flame Detection will showcase its latest technology developments for any utilities involved in hydrogen transition projects. From booth E25 in hall 7, the company will highlight the brand new high-performance GS700-Hydrogen gas detector and the recently launched ultra-fast Spyglass SG50-F-IR3-Hydrogen flame detector. Gat | Wat Gat | Wat is the largest annual meeting of the gas sector, providing a central forum for industry professionals to discover the latest technological...

One of Scotland’s newest firefighters has told how he was inspired by the bravery of rescue teams after witnessing devastating earthquakes in South America. Cesar Colorado successfully completed his firefighter training with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), following a grueling 13-week training course. He graduated at a ceremony in Motherwell Civic Center on Friday, 18 August, alongside 44 new Wholetime Firefighters and three Operations Control Firefighters. Early fascination...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, announced Spartan Fire and Emergency Apparatus, the Pierce dealer for South Carolina, has marked its milestone 50th year with an exclusive celebration at the South Carolina Fire Conference in June 2023, and plans for future expansion. In preparation for the 2023 South Carolina Fire Conference - Fire-Rescue 2023, Spartan Fire team members dedicated months to compiling a rich history of customer photos, ranging from the 1970s to the prese...

As the global workplace safety market continues to grow — estimated to reach $42.96 billion by 2032, with an annual growth rate of 11.8%, according to Polaris Market Research — pioneering safety technology provider - Blackline Safety Corp. has announced a 50% increase in its fire-hazmat personal and area gas monitor business in the last year alone. This translates to more than $2 million in total contract value of Blackline’s real-time, cloud-connected safety devices and servi...

As the warm weather looks set to continue for the coming days, leading up to the bank holiday weekend, residents are being urged to stay fire safe, while enjoying the sunshine. Many people may be looking to dust off the BBQ, as opportunities have been limited so far this summer, along with lighting bonfires or firepits. As much as these can be enjoyable, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service wants to ensure residents are aware of the risks and keep themselves and their families safe. Basic sa...

3M has announced the appointment of Bryan C. Hanson as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the independent health care company, when it is spun off from 3M. Bryan Hanson will join 3M on Sept. 1 as CEO of the Health Care Business Group. Hanson comes to 3M from Zimmer Biomet, a global MedTech innovator with annual revenue of more than US$ 7 billion. He has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since 2017, and Chairman since 2021. Extensive industry experience Bryan Hanson is a proven exe...

Each year, MSA Safety Incorporated, DuPont Personal Protection, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) partner to award volunteer fire departments much-needed personal protective equipment through MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway. Since the program began in 2012, 663 sets of turnout gear have been donated to 147 departments. In 2023, an additional 13 volunteer fire departments will be selected to each receive four new sets of turnout gear and four new helmets. The first 500 ap...

For the first time, SentrySafe, the global pioneer in fire storage and security solutions, has teamed up with Master Lock, the enduring name in padlocks, to launch the new Next Generation Fire Safe. Available to purchase, the Next Generation Fire Safe is a first-of-its-kind product from the brand featuring all-new exclusive “Master Lock Security, Built-In” technology that empowers consumers to be ready for the unexpected. With unparalleled fireproof and waterproof storage for docume...

West Yorkshire emergency services tested their joint incident response plans and procedures during a simulated training exercise in Leeds city center last week. On Thursday 17 August, a live exercise simulating a terrorist attack was carried out by the three regional emergency services: West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS), West Yorkshire Police (WYP), and Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS).  Hosted by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), the scenario saw first responders f...

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service has been assessed as 'Outstanding' in one of eleven categories inspected earlier this year by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS). They also received six Goods, three Adequates and one Requires Improvement. The inspection team, who visited the Service in April, gave the highest score possible for how CFRS manages its resources, highlighting innovative practices for its ‘comprehensive financial and r...

The Fleur Lombard Bursary aims to advance the education of junior members of the fire and rescue service, by the grant of bursaries to enable them to travel and study fire and rescue service-related issues at other fire and rescue services elsewhere in the UK, Europe, or worldwide. If interested in finding out more about an issue affecting fire and rescue service or want to improve the understanding of fire and rescue service issues, may be interested in applying for the bursary. Members o...

Johnson Controls, the pioneer of smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, announces the launch of Simplex Foundation Series fire detection systems for small to mid-size building protection. The Foundation Series is a complete, off-the-shelf fire detection solution featuring both addressable and non-addressable models and a full range of reliable, proven Simplex devices. Complete fire detection solution “Today’s installers are busier than ever and don’t always have time to...

Just before schools broke up for the summer holidays, Safety Zone made its welcomed return after being put on hold following the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme first returned to St. Neots Fire Station, where more than 300 pupils from St Marys, Little Paxton, Middlefield, Buckden, Bushmead, Priory, Great Paxton, Eynesbury CoE, and Whinhills took part. road safety, CPR, fire safety Various partners attended the day, including, Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Cambridgeshire County Council, Woodgreen...

Zenitel, the globally renowned supplier of intelligent and interoperable communication solutions, announced the hiring of a key relationship executive in its Americas Onshore Business Unit. Allan Barinque has been named Southwest Regional Sales Leader.   Extensive industry experience Allan Barinque is an experienced Sales Executive and Account Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the security integration and fire life safety industry. He is a seasoned professional who...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, in partnership with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), announced the 2023 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year honorees. Volunteer Fire Chief Thomas Bell of the Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department in Pennsylvania, and Career Fire Chief Brian Fennessy of the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) in California, have been named 2023’s recipients. IAFC Fire Chief of the Year Annually since 1996, the IAFC has honored both a v...

Fire emergencies are critical situations that can pose significant risks to the safety and well-being of occupants in buildings, and having a fire evacuation strategy is crucial. Understanding human behavior in such emergencies is crucial for Coopers Fire, as it enables the team to design and install effective fire protection measures. Cooper highlights factors that influence human behavior during fire incidents and the importance of tailored fire protection solutions. The Psychology Of Panic...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) regional administrator authorized the use of federal funds on August. 9 to assist the state of Hawaii to combat the Pulehu Fire burning in Maui County. On August. 9, the state of Hawaii submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). At the time of the request, the fire threatened approximately 375 homes in and around Kihei, with mandatory evacuations in place for approximately 750 people. The fire also threatened local b...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) regional administrator authorized the use of federal funds on Aug. 9 to assist the US state of Hawaii to combat the Mauna Kea Beach Fire burning in Hawaii County. On Aug. 9, 2023, the US state of Hawaii submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). At the time of the request, the fire threatened approximately 100 homes in and around Mauna Kea Beach, with mandatory evacuations for approximately 100 people. The fire also...

British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association’s (BAFSA) Chief Executive - Ali Perry has been appointed by the Health & Safety Executive to the Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) new Industry Competence Committee (ICC). Industry Competence Committee The Industry Competence Committee (ICC) has been set up to support the work of the Building Safety Regulator. Its aim is to provide insights and guidance from industry stakeholders, in order to help improve competence levels across the...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) joins with other national fire service organizations to strongly oppose proposed cuts to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants programs provide critical funding to help fire departments secure needed equipment, training, and staffing to adequately protect their communi...

RealWear, the pioneer of industrial extended reality (XR) wearables, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Chris Parkinson as RealWear’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). HMT-1® flagship headset Dr. Parkinson, Co-Founder, and former CTO of RealWear®, is the visionary mind behind the HMT-1® flagship headset that started the RealWear story in 2016. The HMT-1 was RealWear’s first industrial head-mounted tablet computer on the market and catapulted RealWear into the s...

When choosing a technology provider for a safety program, there's so much more to think about than just the equipment.  Comprehensive services are equally essential otherwise the costs can be high. A lack of customer support can contribute to a poor user experience and adoption challenges. Limited scalability might hamper the growth. change management The right partner besides the user, offering change management and best practices expertise, can set the safety technology program up for...

Following a robust selection process, a new Deputy Chief Fire Officer has been announced at the North East’s largest fire and rescue service - Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS). Stewart Nicholson has been announced as the new Deputy Chief Fire Officer at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and will take up his post by November 2023. Stewart joins Tyne and Wear from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, where he has served as Deputy Assistant Chief Officer. He is the first s...

Amthal has announced the appointment of Reece Paprotny to Commercial Director, having initially joined the company as an apprentice. The promotion comes as the company announces a strategic shift in its approach to fire safety and security services. Business development Reece, who joined Amthal as a finance apprentice in 2015, instantly identified a strong drive to succeed and a keen eye for business development opportunities. He quickly established himself as a valuable asset, rising to...

Dräger, an international provider in the fields of medical and safety technology, celebrated its partnership with women in the fire service UK last week, reinforcing its commitment to equality of opportunity, improved representation of women in the industry, and how Dräger is designing equipment fit to meet the challenges of an increasingly diverse workforce in the fire service. Hosted at South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, 46 delegates across 16 Fire and Rescue Services, Hazardo...

Homes and businesses are stuffed full of technology and depend on electricity for the completion of numerous daily tasks. As the 21st century progresses, they are becoming more and more reliant on digital devices to streamline work processes, and provide with entertainment, and keep everyone connected. As such, electrical fires are always a possibility, especially if equipment is outdated or neglected. It is important to look out for potential electrical hazards and rectify them promptl...