United States of America (USA) Fire Industry News

The Program Guidance document for the FY2009 SAFER Grants provides a wealth of information on the SAFER program The FY2009 SAFER program has approximately $210 million available for grants. The application deadline is December 18. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the posting of the Program Guidance for the FY2009 SAFER Grants. The Program Guidance document for the FY2009 SAFER Grants provides a wealth of information on the SAFER program including t...

116 Georgia cities, counties and other public organisations have applied to GEMA for public assistance In just over six weeks, more than $82 million have been channelled to survivors of the Georgia floods to help them on their way towards recovery. "While much has been done to help thousands of people, there are still those who have not registered for help," said Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) Director Charley English.  People and businesses in 17...

Voters and legislators across the United States had consistently rejected TABOR initiatives In Maine and Washington, voters rejected the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR). On Tuesday, November 3, voters in many states went to the ballot box. In two states - Maine and Washington - ballot initiatives that would have severely impacted professional fire fighters and other public safety personnel were roundly rejected. In both states, voters rejected a proposal known as...

IAFF members can call their local country radio stations and request "My First Ride" The IAFF Disaster Relief Fund assists the US and Canada members who suffer financial hardship as the result of a federally declared disaster area. BLEVE Entertainment Group, LLC continues to work to raise money for the IAFF's and Fraternal Order of Police's (FOP) disaster relief funds from sales and performances of the country music single, "My First Ride," featuring recording a...

The project aims to determine the best way to communicate fire safety messages to children aged 3-9 Through this project, the two organisations are seeking to encourage safety-conscous behaviour in children. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Center for Injury Research and Policy at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH) announced a joint project titled Strengthening the Impact of Fire and Life Safety Messages...

  Fire Sprinkler Initiative, a project of NFPA, is a effort to encourage the use of home fire sprinklers   Home fire sprinklers can be integrated with local water supply systems with ease, according to a new study.  The study - Integration of Residential Sprinklers with Water Supply Systems (PDF, 842 KB) - was released by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Conducted by Newport Partners of Maryland, it looked at deta...

  Fire Sprinkler Initiative, a project of NFPA, is a effort to mandate the use of home fire sprinklers   NFPA has called the vote a critical step toward reducing deaths and destruction caused by home fires National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) President James M. Shannon applauded the recent vote by the International Code Council (ICC) to retain the code provision in the next edition of the International Residential Code (IRC) that all new...

EPA workers locating hazardous material moved by Ike in Texas The funds will go toward developing an all-hazard multi-jurisdictional mitigation plan The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $437,325 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to Cook County, Ill., for the development of an all-hazard multi-jurisdictional mitigation plan. This plan will identify and propose ways to reduce the risks of na...

USFA launched an effort to encourage everyone to install and maintain home smoke alarms and sprinklers The nationwide ‘Install. Inspect. Protect. Campaign' will emphasise how important smoke alarms are to the saving of lives. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has launched an effort to encourage everyone to install and maintain home smoke alarms and, if possible, sprinklers. More than 3,000 people die in home fires each year, and the majority of them have...

The National Volunteer Fire Council has an online resource to help applicants The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin accepting applications for FY 2009 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Services (SAFER) Grants beginning November 16, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The deadline for receipt of the SAFER Grant applications will be December 18, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The automated applications will be accessible from the web site for the Assistan...

There was flash fire at the same refinery in January,  when a flammable vapour cloud ignited A six-member team from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is deploying to the scene of today's explosion and fire at the Silver Eagle Refinery in Woods Cross, Utah. According to local officials, the explosion in the diesel hydrotreater unit caused damage to homes in the surrounding area and was felt several miles away from the facility. The CSB is investigating a January 2009...

Membership of the National Volunteer Fire Service has many great benefits Incentive rewards for hours to be a benefit of membership Junior firefighters can now take advantage of the many great benefits of being a member of the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). The NVFC is offering a new membership option especially designed for junior firefighters. A year-long Junior Membership to the NVFC can now be purchased for just $10 at www.nvfc.org/membership. The membership wi...

The International Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Association of Fire Fighters issue joint statement The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) today reaffirmed their support for fire service-based emergency medical service and urged public officials to support all efforts to broaden emergency medical care and ambulance transport by the fire service to better protect the public. The IAFC Boa...

This acquisition will bring wider customer base and strong position for the group in the foodservice sector Superior Uniform Group announced the acquisition of Blade Sportswear, Inc. (“Blade”),  effective November 2, 2009.  Blade, founded in 1991, a privately owned company specializes in the design, manufacture and distribution of uniforms to major domestic restaurant and foodservice chains throughout the U.S. Blade’s award-winning image app...

A Malaysia-based office will give customers a valuable point of reference in the region Sepura has opened a new office in Kuala Lumpur as part of the company's continuing global expansion.  With Sepura's business increasing in the Asian continent, a Malaysia-based office will give customers a valuable local point of reference in the region. Sepura has its headquarters in Cambridge UK, and offices in Germany, Korea, China and Jordan.  The official opening was...

An image taken during the fires that struck Puerto Rico late last week Meeting covered partnership and recent fire, explosion The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate met today with Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuño to discuss FEMA's partnership with Puerto Rico, as well as the response to the explosions and fires that struck the island late last week. Over the weekend, President Obama signed an Emerg...

Ichor Systems, Inc. has acquired the operating assets of the systems integration business of Celerity, Inc AIP announced that its newly formed company Ichor Systems, Inc has acquired the operating assets of the systems integration business of Celerity, Inc. American Industrial Partners Capital Fund IV, L.P. ("AIP") announced that its newly formed company Ichor Systems, Inc. (“Ichor” or the “Company”) has acquired the operating assets of the systems int...

  Surrey Fire Services has gone live with FDM Software's eLink FDM eLink allows fire departments and the BCAS to work together seamlessly resulting in a higher standard of public safety.On October 1st, 2009, Surrey Fire Services went live with FDM Software's eLink, software that links BC Ambulance Service (BCAS) to FDM Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), used by the majority of Fire Dispatch Communication Centers in British Columbia. When someone calls 911 in BC, the call ge...

FEMA and GEMA advise citizens to create emergency kits Agencies advise families to create plans, prepare emergency kits Just as every home should have a smoke alarm, every home should have an emergency supply kit packed and ready. And being prepared doesn't have to cost a lot of money. While emergency preparedness is ongoing at the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), it's also an individual responsibility. "You sh...

Firefighters on scene in Puerto Rico, in the area hit by fire and explosions Action enables FEMA to coordinate disaster relief efforts The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and ordered federal aid to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area struck by explosions and fire beginning on October 23...

The company reported 29% increase in net earnings in the current quarter despite the tough market conditions Superior Uniform Group registered a substantial amount of profit as it declared the third quarter operating results. Superior Uniform Group, Inc., manufacturer of uniforms, career apparel and accessories, announced that for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009, net sales were $27,605,397 compared with 2008 third quarter net sales of $30,613,175. Earnings from co...

NFPA warns people to be aware of Halloween fire safety risks Add important fire safety tips to your bag of tricks Halloween plans typically include frightful activities, and paying attention to a few safety tips can make the difference between having a frightfully-fun experience versus a frightfully-tragic one. Decorations were the first item ignited in an estimated average of more than 1,000 home structure fires per year during 2002-2005, according to the National Fire Pr...

A firefighter adjusting her SCBA. USFA and NIST are investigating whether SCBA facepieces can be made safer Study follows incidents of SCBA face piece failure The United States Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have started a research study to examine the enhancement of thermal performance of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) face pieces to increase the protection of firefighters. "There have been incidents o...

President Obama and former President George H. W. Bush at the Presidential Forum on Service President Obama highlighted the national importance of service On October 16, two representatives from the Johnson County Rural Fire District (RFD) #1 Fire Safety Team attended the Presidential Forum on Service, held at the Texas A&M University campus in College Station, Texas. The event was hosted by the Points of Light Institute to discuss the role of government in volunteer se...

Streamlight has appointed Mike Dineen has been appointed Vice President of Sales and Marketing New appointee has "tremendous expertise" in markets including public safety Streamlight, Inc., a leading manufacturer of high-performance lighting equipment for professional and consumer applications, today announced the appointment of Michael F. Dineen to the position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In his new role, Dineen will be responsible for overall sales managemen...

A House-Senate Conference Committee has approved an increase in SAFER grant funding New funding will enable hiring of thousands of firefighters A House-Senate Conference Committee has approved a final version of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriation for FY 2010 that doubles funding for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. HR 2892 increases the SAFER appropriation to $420 million, providing funding to hire thousands of firefight...

Extricating collision victims requires advanced medical care After a vehicle collision of significant force - as in the case of high-speed impact - it is likely that the occupants of the car, particularly the driver and front seat passenger, will be entrapped. Brendon Morris, Holmatro Rescue Equipment's Consultation & Training Manager, and a rescue paramedic in South Africa for many years, discusses the need for an advanced level of care for entrapped patients in vehicle e...

The deadline for applications for the FP&S Grants is October 23, 2009 Submissions still open for FY 2009 Fire Prevention and Safety Grants There is still time to submit an application for the Department of Homeland Security, FY 09 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants! Applications for FP&S grants must be received by October 23, 2009 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time. Fire Prevention and Safety Grants projects can include arson prevention, sprinkler awareness, smoke a...

FEMA Administrator Fugate addressed the annual NCAI convention Speech highlighted the importance of tribes to US emergency response capabilities Yesterday, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate addressed the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) 66th Annual Convention in Palm Springs, CA. At the convention, Administrator Fugate underlined the critical role that tribes play as a partner and member of our nation's emergency response team. Over 1,500 tribal leaders from acro...

HAZUS 2010 will be held in Indianapolis Next year's conference will be held in Indianapolis The 4th annual HAZUS conference will be held August 23-25, 2010 in Indianapolia, Indiana.  The HAZUS conference provides a unique opportunity for users of all levels in a wide variety of professions, including all public safety operatives, to share expertise and experience in the development and use of HAZUS-MH. Those who should attend include: First responders Local...