United States of America (USA) Fire Industry News

Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, for whom the new Fire Prevention Act is named Congresswoman Tubbs had introduced Fire Prevention Act in last four sessions U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced the introduction of The of 2009. The late Congresswoman Tubbs Jones introduced the College Fire Prevention Act in each of the last four sessions of Congress and passed a resolution regarding Campus Fire Safety Month. Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S....

Registration for FDIC 2010 is now open Imagine the impact ON YOU Join us for FDIC 2010 - the fire service's premier event and largest annual gathering of fire professionals in North America. We have put together another thorough and challenging training program. H.O.T. evolutions and pre-conference workshop schedules have been revamped for more convenient scheduling and to give you the opportunity to get the most out of your training experience. Below are just a few of the...

Jim Ridley has been appointed IAFF Director New appointee a career firefighter with 29 years' experience International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Harold Schaitberger has appointed James Ridley director of the IAFF Hazardous Materials and Weapons of Mass Destruction Training Department. Ridley, a career firefighter for 29 years, was president of IAFF Local 124 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for 11 years. "I'm honored to be asked to take over a program t...

The IAFF has announced Elizabeth M. Harman is the intended nomination for Assistant Administrator at FEMA Former firefighter and paramedic is Obama's intended nomination U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced President Obama's intent to nominate Elizabeth M. Harman, a former firefighter and currently a Director at the International Association of Fire Fighters, to become an Assistant Administrator at the Federal Emergency Manag...

The application period for the FY 2009 FP&S grants is now open FP&S grant application period deadline is October 23, 2009 The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) FY 2009 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant application period is now open. Help your department apply for funds to support important programs including Fire Corps activities. The application deadline is October 23. FP&S grants support projects that enhance the safety of the public and fire...

The Road Rescue manufacturing facility in South Carolina Investments in facilities and equipment will increase productivity In a move to strengthen its operations and performance, Road Rescue has received additional capital investment and leadership support from its parent company, Spartan Motors, Inc. As part of a strategic initiative announced six months ago, Spartan Motors has made capital investments in facilities and equipment to strengthen the Marion, S.C. manufactur...

A Type 6 Light Brush Unit model for wildland use from KME Fire Apparatus New contracts for KME following reach-out to wildland community KME Fire Apparatus recently announced that it has made major efforts in reaching out to the wildland fire community. The company believes that such efforts are a good fit with its existing product lines and will only help in sustaining the growth that the company has experienced over the several years. "KME has always made good wildland p...

FLAME-SIM training software has been purchased by Leduc Fire Services Company's training software has been purchased by Leduc Fire Services FLAME-SIM continues to expand its Canadian client base thanks to The City of Leduc Fire Services (LFS), located in Alberta, Canada. Leduc, a combination department, recently purchased four seats of the training simulation software as well as the Rugged Mobile Center. FLAME-SIM will be used by LFS in order to strengthen a unique new p...

Agency officials walk past flooded mobile homes along Douglas County Sweetwater Creek, Georgia Emergency management agencies's focus turns to long-term recovery Two weeks after a federal major disaster declaration for parts of Georgia swamped by heavy rains and flooding, the emergency response is winding down and the focus of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has turned to long-term recovery. "The response of...

Students training at FEMA's Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) Speech applauded the significant contribution made by the Center The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Deputy Administrator, National Preparedness Directorate, Tim Manning, spoke at FEMA's Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) graduation ceremony today in Anniston, Alabama where he recognized CDP's 500,000th graduate. "The training provided by the Center for...

A new ISO report will aid in the design of more fire-safe buildings Report gives advice on emergency people management A new ISO technical report on how people behave when fire breaks out will help in designing safer buildings that make escape easier and reduce exposure to flames and heat. ISO/TR 16738:2009, Fire-safety engineering - Technical information on methods for evaluating behaviour and movement of people provides information on engineering methods used for the eva...

Fred G. Allinson has been given the NVFC's Lifetime Achievement Award Award presented at NVFC Board Meeting The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) bestowed its 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award to Fred G. Allinson, a volunteer firefighter from Washington State. With a distinguished record of service, including six years as NVFC Chairman and 39 years as a volunteer firefighter, Allinson's accomplishments exemplify outstanding performance. The NVFC Lifetime Achievement Awar...

Streamlight is warning against the use of inferior quality flashlight batteries Use of substandard lithium batteries in flashlights can lead to fire, explosion or burn hazards Streamlight, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance flashlights for industrial, fire and rescue, law enforcement professionals and sporting enthusiasts, today issued another warning about purchasing and using inferior quality lithium 123A batteries with its flashlight products or other product...

The NVFC urges you to vote to retain a provision requiring fire sprinklers in new residential construction Join ICC by October 14 to be eligible to vote Vote to retain a provision in the International Residential Code (IRC) requiring the installation of fire sprinklers in new residential construction at the International Code Council's (ICC) Code Development Hearings on October 28 in Baltimore, MD. You must join the ICC by October 14 in order to participate in the vote....

An image from CSB's new safety video on the Imperial Sugar explosion Video includes 3D animation of explosion The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today released a new nine-minute safety video on the combustible dust explosion at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia, which claimed the lives of 14 workers, injured 36, and caused extensive property damage on February 7, 2008.Entitled "Inferno: Dust Explosion at Imperial Sugar," the video includes a new four-...

Streamlight has announced it is now introducing a new basic performance standard for flashlight manufacture Company helped lead effort to create standardized tests, uniform rating system Streamlight® Inc., a leading provider of high-performance flashlights for automotive repair, industrial, fire and rescue, law enforcement professionals and sporting enthusiasts, reported it has begun implementing a new basic performance standard for flashlights. The company was instru...

As part of Fire Prevention Week the NVFC is issuing tips on preventing kitchen fires, burns and injuries New tips aim to increase fire safety in the kitchen It's Fire Prevention Week, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and Fire Corps have joined forces with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), firefighters, and safety advocates nationwide to increase awareness about fire safety. This year's campaign focuses on burn awareness and prevention. Visit th...

Workers clearing debris in American Samoa - FEMA continues to respond and give federal support to the region Donations welcomed by partner agencies such as Red Cross The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is into its sixth day of response and federal support to American Samoa. FEMA and federal teams, through the Federal Coordinating Officer, continue to work closely with American Samoan Governor Togiola Tulafono and Delegate Eni F....

A screenshot from FLAME-SIM showing three firefighters in a virtual scenario New customer hopes FLAME-SIM will provide helpful virtual experience to firefighters FLAME-SIM is excited to announce the addition of Red Deer Emergency Services to the rapidly growing FLAME-SIM family! Red Deer Emergency Services (RDES), FLAME-SIM’s first international customer, is located in Alberta, Canada and serves the City of Red Deer and the surrounding region. RDES maintains a profess...

The scene following the explosion at the Slim Jim plant in June 2009 Advice follows fatal June, 2009 accident at processing plant In a new safety bulletin based on preliminary findings from the ConAgra Foods natural gas explosion in Garner, North Carolina, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) urged companies, gas installers, and contractors to follow safe practices during gas purging operations, including venting purged gases outdoors whenever practicable.The explosion, whi...

Firefighters who give emergency medical care should receive the H1N1 vaccination, say FEMA, USFA First responder agencies should receive treatment in first wave of vaccine With the first deliveries of the H1N1 vaccine already underway, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as part of its mission to support first responders, joins the United States Fire Administration (USFA) in recommending that firefighters who provide emergency medical services (EMS...

Members of the crowd at the Candlelight Service, part of the Memorial Weekend Memorial weekend events will be broadcast online live The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced today that two of the major events taking place during the 2009 Memorial Weekend (October 3 - 4, 2009) will be available live via satellite and Internet, for easy viewing. The URL for this broadcast is http://mfile.akamai.com/22330/live...

USFA is urging the US fire service to support fire-safe cigarette initiatives Fire-safe cigarettes lessen risk of home fire deaths Smoking is the leading cause of home fire fatalities in the United States, despite the fact that the numbers of smokers continue to decline. The victims of the fires are not only the smokers but their children, spouses or partners, and even neighbors or friends. On top of the human tragedy, millions of dollars of property is damaged or d...

Governor Schwarzeneggar at the site of the Station fire in Los Angeles County California governor acknowledges need for review Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued a statement following an announcement by the U.S. Forest Service that they will be reviewing the way the Station fire in Los Angeles County was fought: "It is very clear that a thorough investigation and review of the Station fire response by the federal government is absolutely necessary." "I can assure...

An image from one of the public service advertisements unveiled during National Preparedness Month FEMA continues to encourage every American to be ready for emergencies As September comes to an end, so does the 6th annual National Preparedness Month (NPM), but FEMA continues efforts to ensure every American is prepared. NPM, sponsored by the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps, in conjunction with FEMA, is held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to pre...

DHS Secretary Napolitano delivered a speech focusing on the need for shared responsibility Individual and community preparedness will help build readiness Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today marked the conclusion of National Preparedness Month by delivering a speech emphasizing America's shared responsibility for preparedness and stressing the important role that individuals play in building a national culture of readiness and resilience....

IFSTA has launched an online survey to determine the level of interest for audio books Firefighter training publisher issues audio book title survey IFSTA has recently considered publishing our most popular titles in an audio book format. By answering these 21 questions, you will help us to determine the level of interest for audio books and related electronic products. This survey should take approximately four minutes or less to complete. IFSTA strives to meet our custo...

The OASIS Emergency Interoperability Summit  and NIEM Training Event will be held in conjunction Events will give attendees insight into interoperable solutions The DM Program will have a significant role at the OASIS Emergency Interoperability Summit, being held in conjunction with this year's National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) National Training Event in Baltimore, Maryland, September 29 - October 2, 2009. The purpose of the summit is to provide attendees wit...

Fire Corps is highlighting the need for awareness of increasing wildfire risks Fire Corps urges action on wildfire risk Throughout National Preparedness Month Fire Corps has been releasing weekly information bulletins regarding a particular preparedness topic. September is the peak of wildfire season, and, according to The Blue Ribbon Panel on Wildland/Urban Interface, it is estimated that 100,000 wildland fires destroy nearly 1 million acres every year in the United States...

This year's Fire Prevention Week runs from October 4 - 10, 2009 Fire Prevention Week runs from October 4 - 10 Fire Prevention Week is October 4 - 10, and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), along with local fire departments and other safety advocates nationwide are urging people to "Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned." Fire departments responded to an estimated 1.5 million fires in 2008. These fires resulted in 3,320 civilian fire fatalities, 16,705 civilian...