Wildfires - News

In 2026, INTERSCHUTZ in Hannover will feature an exciting addition to its program: on June 3 and 4, 2026, around 300 international chief fire officers and strategic pioneers in the fire service will come together at the trade fair for the premiere of the 'FEU Leadership Conference'. To formalize this collaboration, the FEU and INTERSCHUTZ signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the 56th FEU Council meeting in Limassol, Cyprus, on November 8, 2024. Best practices The FEU is a stron...

On Friday, September 13, 2024, Hawaiʻi Attorney General Anne Lopez announced the results of the Lahaina Fire Incident Analysis Report, the second report of the three-part evidence-based investigation into how state and county governments responded during the Maui wildfires. The report revealed that a complex set of factors including weather and its impacts, risk and preparedness, decades-old infrastructure, organizational structure, and incident management and coordination created a histor...

Testing has found that a revolutionary PPE fabric, developed for wildland firefighting by Hainsworth Protective Fabrics and woven using Merino Wool, provides 17% more breathability than alternative blends. The brand’s ECO-DRY fabric was Thermal Evaporative Resistance (RET) tested by an accredited independent test house against a prototype wildland fabric made from a 100% meta-aramid blend. RET testing is a type of fabric testing that quantifies moisture vapor transfer and breathability....

In the bustling cities of Houston and Austin, where commercial buildings house countless businesses and schools, the importance of fire safety cannot be overstated. With the potential for devastating fire disasters, property managers and school systems must prioritize implementing advanced fire suppression systems to protect their investments, occupants, and community. FireTron, a pioneering provider in the area, offers state-of-the-art solutions designed to enhance safety and minimize risk. U...

Investigators reviewing the emergency response to last year's wildfire that killed 102 people on Maui said in a report released Friday they found “no evidence” Hawaii officials made preparations for it, despite days of warnings that critical fire weather was coming. That lack of planning hindered efforts to evacuate the historic town of Lahaina before it burned, the report said. unprecedented warning A forecaster with the National Weather Service emailed fire m...

Hawaiʻi Attorney General - Anne Lopez announced the results of the Lahaina Fire Incident Analysis Report, the second report of the three-part evidence-based investigation into how state and county governments responded during the Maui wildfires. impacts, risk, and preparedness The report reveals no single factor led to the devastation. Instead, a complex set of factors, including weather and its impacts, risk and preparedness, decades-old infrastructure, organizational structure, and incident...

In Honolulu, Hawaii Attorney General - Anne Lopez released the phase two report conducted by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) regarding the Lahaina fires that occurred on Aug. 8, 2023. In August 2023, Anne Lopez selected the independent, third-party FSRI to assess the performance of state and county agencies in preparing for and responding to the Maui wildfires in a three-phase report. FSRI has extensive experience researching fire dynamics, structure-to-structure fire spread, and nea...

The scale of a tragic wildfire that swept through a Hawaiian island last year, killing over 100 people, was the result of a complex interaction of factors that were "years in the making," an official report said Friday. Downed power lines are believed to have set fire to vegetation on the holiday idyll of Maui on August 8, with the rapidly spreading blaze leveling the historic town of Lahaina. Fast-moving flames Fast-moving flames caught islanders unaware, with some people only learning there...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation business, in partnership with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), is pleased to announce the 2024 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year honorees. Volunteer Fire Chief C. Reid Vaughan of the Cuba Fire Department in Alabama and Career Fire Chief Randy Royal of the Colorado Springs Fire Department in Colorado have been named this year’s recipients. Since 1996, the IAFC has annually recognized one volunteer and one career fire chief for...

“America Burning” was released 51 years ago. The publication and the momentum that it created produced a measurable change in the fire service. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Fire Academy were created. Financial resources became available to begin to understand fire-related risk, and nationally coordinated efforts were instituted. The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) was conceived to begin to understand the quantity and type of eme...

The increasing incidence of wildfires and floods due to climate change has altered the requirements for personal protective equipment for firefighters. In response, Rosenbauer has completely redesigned the HEROS H10, creating a helmet that meets all the demands of combating wildfires, vegetation fires, and technical rescues. Development began in July 2021, resulting in a versatile and robust helmet that meets five European standards. The helmet stands out for its lightweight design of only 800...

Rosenbauer America has initiated delivery on a major contract with the Oregon State Fire Marshal. With a total contract award of (27) Type 3 Pumpers and (30) Water Tenders, the first (12) Type 3 units and first (15) Water Tenders have been placed into service across the state of Oregon. The contract was awarded to Rosenbauer America, through its authorized sales and service dealer, General Fire Apparatus. “So many communities are now being protected with the latest firefighting technology...

“We have to do better,” said Victoria Fire Chief - Daniel Atkinson, while sharing his frustration in response to a beach fire on Dallas Road. Early Thursday morning, firefighters responded to a fire along the Dallas Road bluff that had spread from a beach fire. Open fires are not permitted in Victoria any time of year and they pose a serious risk to people, pets, nearby homes, and coastal ecosystems. Fines of up to $2,000 can be issued to those having beach fires. Primary cause of...

Babcock International has supplied four extreme weather response vehicles to the London Fire Brigade (LFB), which will be trialed this summer to respond to the growing threat of grass fires and wildfires. The four new vehicles have off-road capabilities and technology that enable firefighters to tackle fires quickly and safely. Able to pump water while driving and carry approximately 500 liters of water, these unique vehicles are also equipped with wildfire beaters and leaf blowers that can con...

XyloPlan has officially brought its wildfire risk start-up company to market, powered by a grant from the renowned Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. data-driven decision-making With a mission to use data-driven decision-making in wildfire risk management, XyloPlan introduces its Fire Pathways™ modeling technology, designed to support fire-adapted communities by assessing and mitigating risk from potentially destructive wildfires. By quantifying and decreasing risk, XyloPlan also works...

Wildfires pose a significant challenge to travel and can be associated with substantial health risks for travelers. Experts predict that wildfires' frequency and intensity will increase dramatically in 2024. The free 'Wildfire Informer' provides a comprehensive overview of the global wildfire situation, categorized by the economic regions of EMEA, AMER, and APAC. mapping fires Safeture, a platform for professional people risk management, has published the report in collaboration with Ri...

Perimeter Solutions, a pioneering manufacturer of high-quality fire retardant, has donated a 260-gallon tote of PHOS-CHEK® LCE20-Fx long-term fire retardant to the Logan Lake Fire Department in British Columbia, Canada. Located in the Highland Valley, Logan Lake is at risk of wildfire as it is surrounded by forests that incur frequent lightning storms.  The PHOS-CHEK fire retardant can be applied by the fire department as active wildfires are approaching to protect property. It can als...

For the sixth consecutive year, Anheuser-Busch and its wholesaler partners are joining forces with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to deliver over 1.5 million cans of emergency drinking water to volunteer fire departments across the country. This donation will prepare local volunteer firefighters with vital resources ahead of the annual summer wildfire season, rather than waiting until after disaster strikes. The continued partnership builds on the brewer’s longstanding history...

The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's (DACF) Maine Forest Service (MFS) has been awarded two Community Wildfire Defense Grants (CWDG) to support at-risk communities in Northern and Downeast Maine. These grants, totaling $258,000 ($141,000 and $117,000, respectively), will safeguard homes, businesses, forestland, and infrastructure from catastrophic wildfires. Both regions face significant wildfire risks and are considered underserved. Competitive CWDG awards Maine is New...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) recently hosted its first Wildland Fire Assessment Program (WFAP) Advocate train-the-trainer event for a new network of regional representatives that will teach the WFAP curriculum and advocate for mitigation and safety in wildfire-prone areas across the U.S. The WFAP is a joint effort by the U.S. Forest Service and the NVFC to provide fire service volunteers with training and resources to conduct safety assessments for homes located in the wildland-ur...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) recently hosted its first Wildland Fire Assessment Program (WFAP) Advocate train-the-trainer event for a new network of regional representatives that will teach the WFAP curriculum and advocate for mitigation and safety in wildfire-prone areas across the U.S. The WFAP is a joint effort by the U.S. Forest Service and the NVFC to provide fire service volunteers with training and resources to conduct safety assessments for homes located in the wildland-ur...

KIMTEK Corp, makers of MEDLITE®, FIRELITE®, and LEOLITE® Transport skid units for off-road rescue and wildland firefighting, have announced plans to celebrate the company's 40th anniversary with a number of events planned throughout 2024.  KIMTEK Transport skid units fit easily into most utility vehicles and pick-up trucks, enabling first responders to travel over rough terrain and through tight clearances with essential fire and/or medical rescue equipment and attendants. Mark...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is seeking qualified individuals with backgrounds in wildfire mitigation, safety, and instruction to join a new corps of qualified instructors, in order to help teach the Wildland Fire Assessment Program (WFAP) curriculum and advocate for mitigation and safety in wildfire-prone regions across the U.S. NVFC’s Wildland Fire Assessment Program Advocate Network NVFC is looking for a variety of folks from across different topographies NVFC is lookin...

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...

The positioning of the portable fire pump requires four firefighters, and the deployment of a B nozzle at least two. Moreover, these activities require a lot of energy and sometimes have to be carried out in the middle of a danger zone. These two striking examples quickly show how much modern auxiliary equipment such as the multi-functional RTE Robot firefighting robot can support everyday operations.  Rosenbauer presented the petrol-powered tracked manipulator back in 2010. This meant tha...

LifeSafe, a fire safety technology business with innovative fire extinguishing fluids and fire safety products, announces the launch of its new patent-pending wildfire extinguishing fluid, Wildfire Pro. Wildfire Pro is a non-toxic and fluorine-free wildfire fluid engineered to suppress, extinguish, and prevent the spread of devastating wildfires. Unlike current fluorine-based fluid solutions, Wildfire Pro’s non-toxic and fluorine-free properties pose no chemical threat to wildlife or natu...

The Island of Maui’s Engine 1 and 6 crews were among those fighting the wildfire in Lahaina on August 8 when both were trapped by the fast-moving fire. With the streets blocked by cars, visibility almost zero, and heat roasting their equipment, it appeared all hope was lost.   They all survived thanks to the actions of one Hawaiian Islands Local 1463 member. The incredible story was told on 60 minutes on November 19. Metal melting Even as crew members around him were texting their...

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has reported nine attacks during eight hours. The attacks happened in Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Blantyre in South Lanarkshire, and Blackburn in West Lothian, in the United Kingdom (UK). bonfire night There were no injuries reported to the crews involved however a fire appliance in West Lothian had a windscreen smashed by a brick and had to be removed from operational service. These attacks have followed four previously reported attacks on crews i...

The wildfire burning above Mililani Mauka grew by 200 more acres on Saturday to about 1,300 acres scorched so far. The Honolulu Fire Department says the fire remains 70% contained. The blaze is about four miles from the Mililani Mauka community. water on the flames Air crews continue to drop water on the flames and there is currently no threat to homeowners. 4th November 2023 marks the sixth day since the fires started. Some believe the air campaign to drop water on the flames likely...

Firefighters with the Verdunville VFD said that wildfires on Dingess Mountain in Logan County have been going on for the past few days, with crews going out to the area about six or seven times. Firefighters said fires burned down an abandoned house on the mountain on the 4th of November 2023 evening, and about 10,000 - 15,000 gallons of water have been used as of that night to protect homes from exposure. water tankers and manpower Verdunville firefighters said other departments have also as...