Wildfires - News

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) will host its inaugural Regional Wildland Symposium on March 17-18 in Box Elder, SD. This wildland fire-focused event will bring together fire and EMS personnel from across the region and country to participate in valuable classroom training and idea exchange. interactive classroom training The symposium will provide an opportunity to learn from interactive classroom training and share ideas and best practices with wildland firefighters and other stak...

2020 was a standout year for the worst possible reasons, including natural disasters. In 2020, 2005's record for tropical storms was surpassed with 30 confirmed storms with winds over 39 mph and 13 hurricanes with top winds of 74 mph or greater. Wildfires that doubled the previous record of approximately 2-million acres of land in 2018 was also withnessed. Larger and more increased storms are producing soaring natural disaster costs. The U.S. alone witnessed 16 natural disasters by September 20...

MSA Safety Incorporated, a global pioneer in firefighter safety equipment and technology, will be introducing a new line of firefighter protective clothing for the Middle East fire market at Intersec 2023. MSA® Bristol X4 The MSA® Bristol X4 uses the very latest fabric and fiber technology alongside modern streamlined styling to provide enhanced comfort, ergonomics, and protection. Originally launched at Interschutz for firefighters on the continent, the Bristol X4 design has been ada...

With the ever-increasing danger of state and national wildfire based on global climate change conditions, Alchera X, an international AI software development company, has launched the most effective, dynamic, and innovative SaaS (Software as a Solution) product that will be incorporated into the wildfire early detection and monitoring program on SJW lands. With a 24/7 capability to detect and alert wildfires within minutes and often before a 911 call comes into first responders, FireScout&...

Bioex and Leader are exhibiting at the HEAT & FIRE Expo 2022, part of the NATURAL DISASTERS EXPO. Meet their team and learn more about their range of fluorine-free foams effective on Class A fires (wildland fires, forest fires, urban fires, structural fires), as well as class B fires (hydrocarbon and polar solvents fires) at the event. Event details include: Date: 7-8 December 2022 Location: Singapore expo Booth: 631 HEAT & FIRE Expo is igniting actions to control wildfires and...

Emergency responders looking for the perfect technical rescue glove can end their search. Fire-Dex, the manufacturer of PPE for first responders, introduces the Dex-Rescue Glove, which is a cut above when it comes to technical rescue responses. Dex-Rescue Glove Designed to be a first responder’s best friend, the Dex-Rescue Glove is the industry’s first non-structural glove certified to NFPA 1951 (“Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue...

Johnson Controls, the pioneer for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, announces the Johnson Controls Foundation’s $500,000 donation to the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) to support future disaster responses across the U.S. Since 2012, the Johnson Controls Foundation’s support of the Red Cross ADGP has helped the Red Cross pre-emptively prepare to meet the rapid needs of those impacted by disasters. Annual ADGP donations help to improve the organizatio...

Media and the public are advised that TOTAL FIRE BANS have been declared for 26 November 2022 in the following Fire Ban Districts: Eastern Eyre Peninsula - Extreme Mid-North - Extreme Yorke Peninsula - Extreme Where Total Fire Bans have been declared, very hazardous fire weather conditions are predicted. The Total Fire Ban will apply for 24 hours from midnight tonight to midnight tomorrow. The CFS recommends implementing Bushfire Survival Plan. Fire Danger Rating If users don...

For the first time since the 1970s, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is now recruiting to increase its firefighter headcount. This £1.5m investment is a direct result of the increase in the council tax precept last year. The service, like all public sector bodies, has experienced significant cuts to its budget since 2010, when austerity measures began. As a result, firefighter numbers have reduced over the last 12 years from 1,490 to 900. This was through not replacing firefighters...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (VCOS), and the International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI) joined together to release a new operational training guide for firefighters. The new operational training guide – ‘Training Volunteer Firefighters to Be Combat Ready’ is designed to help fire departments develop a training program that meets the needs of the community an...

Firefighters and staff have been praised for keeping communities across Tyne and Wear safe this Bonfire Night. Senior officers at Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue Service (TWFRS) have revealed the busy Bonfire weekend passed without serious incident. TWFRS saw a 1.1% decrease of total incidents from the 1st to the 6th November (Bonfire reporting period) across Tyne & Wear, when compared with the same time last year. Pockets of anti-social behavior, and calls about illegal bonfires, meant it...

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigations Board’s (CSB) safety video released on October 27, 2022 has reached one million views in just over a week, passing the one million mark on Friday, November 4, 2022. The video titled ‘Wake Up Call: Refinery Disaster in Philadelphia,’ details a fire, explosions, and toxic hydrofluoric acid (HF) release that occurred at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, on June 21, 2019. CSB&rsq...

At 02h28PM on Sunday afternoon, 6 November 2022, SACFS crews were alerted to a truck fire on the Eyre Highway approximately 105 kilometers west of Ceduna, South Australia. Upon arrival, the SACFS firefighters found a prime mover engulfed in flames. Damage due to fire Eight SACFS firefighters in 4 fire trucks managed to save the second trailer on the prime mover, however, the prime mover and the first trailer were destroyed by the fire which caused more than $400,000 in damage. Farm Fire Unit...

Fire crews were called to fewer incidents over the Bonfire weekend than in previous years, despite videos of attacks on emergency service workers circulating. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) has reported that the number of call-out crews attended on November 5, 2022, was down compared to recent years. Bonfire Night's anti-social behavior Attacks on emergency workers, including on police, have been shared across media channels highlighting Bonfire Night's anti-social behav...

The service dispatched a number of firefighters after fire control received a call from the site confirming that multiple explosions were coming from inside a shipping container. On arrival, fire crews found that there were two shipping containers that required careful monitoring. Firefighters were forced to remain at a safe distance as the large explosions continued, and they set a 1 km cordon around the two containers, which was later reduced to 600 m. A police drone was used to assist with v...

Fire officers say that thousands of hours a year are wasted on calls about small bonfires in gardens, building sites, and farmland across West Yorkshire.  Area Manager, Scott Donegan at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) says that if people call them to inform them a fire is being lit, it will stop firefighters attending false alarms where they are not required. Recent findings Recent figures show that hundreds of calls are being made about bonfires and controlled burning, wa...

Despite recent major fire events and media coverage, about 1 in 5 South Australians living in bushfire-risk areas do not have a decision or plan for bushfires. Reducing complacency and increasing preparedness is the objective of the Be Bushfire Ready campaign, being launched by the South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS). Bushfire Survival Plan CFS Chief Officer - Brett Loughlin said South Australians should not underestimate the importance of having a Bushfire Survival Plan, with current...

Media and the public are advised that Total Fire Bans have been declared for 31 October 2022 in the following Fire Ban Districts: Northeast Pastoral – Extreme Total Fire Ban Where Total Fire Bans have been declared, very hazardous fire weather conditions are predicted. The Total Fire Ban will apply for 24 hours. The CFS recommends implementing Bushfire Survival Plan. Fire Danger Rating Where fire ban districts have an Extreme forecast fire danger rating, only well prepared,...

South Yorkshire’s police and fire services are urging people to be fire-safe and 999-wise around Halloween and Bonfire Night this autumn. This comes after the county’s firefighters saw an increase in call-outs on Bonfire Night last year, compared to previous ‘Dark Night’ periods. Crews were called to 96 incidents on Friday 5 November last year, compared to 80 on the same date in 2020–an increase of 20 percent. Many of these callouts involved bonfires that...

Fire-Dex is officially an exclusive gear partner for the Fire Dept. Coffee. Protecting people is mission-critical for the two companies.  Fire-Dex is now the exclusive gear partner (including helmets, gloves, jackets, pants, and hoods) for the Fire Dept. Coffee, a pairing that brings industry-renowned PPE together with freshly roasted gourmet coffee and entertaining, educational online content for firefighters. Fire Dept. Coffee's successful years Fire Dept. Coffee is run by active and r...

This month’s edition of International Fire Buyer, a UK publication, addressed the current climate of wildfires, examining causes, effects, and responses. Jeff Berry, Director of Business Development at Conair, was asked to comment on global aerial firefighting trends, where the industry is headed in response to the changing environment. Growing fleets, adopting modern aircraft, expanding emergency response ability with multi-role air assets, and investing in safety using specialized aeria...

California will become the first state in the nation to require insurance premium discounts for owners of homes and businesses that are made safer from wildfires. The new rules mandate that insurance companies reward consumers who take wildfire safety and mitigation actions under the state’s Safer From Wildfires framework, the Department of Insurance announced Monday. The framework includes a list of expert-recommended actions that home and business owners can take to better protect thems...

General Enterprise Ventures, Inc., GEVI Subsidiary, Mighty Fire Breaker LLC featuring its MFB-31-CitroTech is proud to be the first and only Wildfire Fighting Chemistry product in the U.S. to be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and receive the designation in their "Safer Choice Program". EPA Clean Water Act Mighty Fire Breaker recently completed laboratory testing for its firefighting chemistry, MFB-31-CitroTech with the U.S. (EPA), Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Green-Gua...

  Taking responsibility is at the heart of Rosenbauer’s future success. They will change the world of firefighting in a sustainable way. They live sustainability in all aspects and are the first point of contact for decision-makers and opinion makers in the firefighting sector. Rosenbauer focus on pioneering spirit, innovation, and customer orientation. They recognize and understand the current trends and the needs of their customers and offer the appropriate solutions wit...

Shortages in personal protective equipment (PPE) are a widespread issue for many volunteer fire departments. To address this need, MSA Safety Incorporated, DuPont Personal Protection, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have been partnering since 2012 to give away state-of-the-art gear to volunteer fire departments in need. In 2022, a total of 13 fire departments will be awarded with four new sets of turnouts and four new helmets. Additionally, the first 500 applicants received a one...

Mindless thugs have been warned they are putting lives at risk after they bombarded fire crews with stones at the weekend. Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) have condemned a group of louts who left a fire appliance in Newcastle with a smashed windscreen.  Abuse at fire crews  In two separate attacks, the same group of teenagers hurled stones and abuse at fire crews as they responded to reports of fires in the west end of the city. The Service has revealed that attacks on...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Nakia Creek Fire burning in Clark and Skamania Counties, in the state of Washington, USA. The US state of Washington’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was approved by FEMA Region 10 Administrator, Willie G. Nunn on Sunday, October 16, 2022, at 10:21 p.m. PT. He determined that the Nakia Creek Fire threatened to cause such destruction,...

BK Technologies Corporation announced the launch of its first BKRplay service, InteropONE, the only PTToC service that enables operational interoperability to first responders through the on-demand creation of user groups without requiring network pre-provisioning or gateways. multi-agency incident response InteropONE, in cooperation with its PTToC platform partner, STREAMWIDE SA, a communications software technology provider, facilitates multi-agency incident response and mutual aid in plan...

Welcoming the winter period with bursts of color is a great way to celebrate and enjoy the experience, but doing so safely is far more important. According to the NHS, there were a whopping 116 hospital admissions of people injured by fireworks in the United Kingdom (UK) during the 2020/21 period. Coopers Fire Ltd recommends that party-goers attend an organized bonfire or firework display, rather than a DIY event at home, as an event will have all of the security in place, in order to keep atte...

Climate change poses a serious risk to businesses globally, but which of the facilities are at the highest risk, and in what ways? And how can users best protect their business and ensure users prosper in the future? FM Global answered these questions for policyholders by introducing two new first-of-their-kind climate resilience products: the FM Global Climate Risk Report and the FM Global Climate Reporting Aid. Both are available to FM Global clients, which include many of the...