United States of America (USA) Fire Industry News

The NVFC, with the Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation, has awarded grants to ten junior firefighter programs Ten outstanding applicant programs selected to win grants The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), in partnership with the Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation, has selected 10 outstanding junior firefighter programs and Explorer Posts from departments nationwide to receive a $5,000 grant through the NVFC National Junior...

A fire and rescue search team operating in severe flooding NVFC support fund designed to help first responders affected by severe weather incidents FEMA has announced that 17 counties in Georgia have received federal disaster designations due to the devastating floods and severe weather. When tragedies like this strike, we must remember that the firefighters and EMS personnel relied upon to respond are also victims. The National Volunteer Fire Council's (NVFC) Volunteer Fir...

An image taken after the explosion at the Imperial Sugar Refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia in February 2008 Report concludes inadequate equipment design, maintenance and housekeeping led to explosions In a final draft report released today, CSB investigators said the February 7, 2008, explosion at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia, resulted from ongoing releases of sugar from inadequately designed and maintained dust collection equipment, conveyors, a...

USFA has released a report into US firefighter fatalities in 2008 Heart attacks the most common cause of US firefighter death in 2008 The United States Fire Administration (USFA) today released the report Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2008. The report continues a series of annual studies by the USFA of on-duty firefighter fatalities. The USFA is the single public agency source of information for all on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States each...

FEMA community education specialists will take part in Lowe's Safety Saturday Event part of National Preparedness Month Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) community education specialists will be participating in Lowe's Safety Saturday. This information-sharing, public safety, preparedness event will be held Saturday, September 26, 10am - 2pm, in Augusta, ME. "Disasters can strike at anytime with or without warning," said FEMA Deputy Federal Preparedness Coordinator...

Two firefighters were honoured with the title of Canadian Fire Chief of the Year at the CAFC conference Firefighters honoured at closing ceremonies of CAFC conference Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Fire and Emergency Services Chief Les Karpluk and Selkirk, Manitoba Fire Chief Dan Thorsteinson have been respectively named Full-time Career Fire Chief of the Year and Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC). Both awards were announced la...

The DHS has announced new grants for increased preparedness initiatives including fire station construction Grant funds made available by Recovery Act Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced more than $380 million in grants - funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) - to pay for fire station construction and port and transit security initiatives nationwide while creating jobs and stimulating local economies. "Inf...

NFPA Firewise Learning Center now offers a new tool to improve community wildfire safety Firewise Learning Center offers new online seminar free to all Fire and forestry professionals have a new tool to help make communities safer from wildfire. "Conducting a Community Assessment in the Wildland/Urban Interface: Beginning the Firewise Process" is the latest offering of the NFPA's Firewise Learning Center. The online course is aimed at fire and forestry professionals an...

Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics has unveiled a new YouTube channel offering online training videos Educational, how-to videos available for emergency responders Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics has launched a new YouTube channel devoted to instructional training for individuals who work with hazardous materials. The channel was created as part of a broader effort to provide fire-fighters, military and other emergency response teams with educational tools on how to effec...

A FEMA image showing flooded homes in central Georgia Entire state remains under flash flood watch IAFF members across the state of Georgia are responding to flooding that has taken the lives of at least seven citizens and flooded homes, interstates and roads. IAFF 12th District Vice President Larry Osborne and Professional Fire Fighters of Georgia President Jon Dorman are reaching out to affiliates, especially those in the hard-hit metro-Atlanta area, to assess any potent...

An image from the new safety video issued by CSB, which depicts the fatal chemical accident at T2 Laboratories Video depicts reactive chemical accident at T2 Laboratories that killed four, injured 32 The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today released a new nine-minute computer animated safety video depicting the tragic reactive chemical accident that devastated T2 Laboratories in Jacksonville, Florida. Entitled "Runaway: Explosion at T2 Laboratories," the video detai...

Attendees of the IAFF International Burn Camp, held in Washington DC Event helps heal emotional wounds of burn injuries More than 40 burn survivors from the U.S. and Canada are attending the 14th annual International Burn Camp, an event in the nation's capital organized by the International Association of Fire Fighters' Burn Foundation to help teenagers cope with their injuries. Burn survivors on Tuesday will visit FedEx Field, home of the Washington Redskins, to meet Reds...

Governor Schwarzeneggar talking to firefighters in California after recent wildfires Directs Cal/OSHA to carry out largest heat enforcement effort in its history Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today mobilized the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to prepare for increased wildfire potential as unseasonably hot and dry conditions are forecast for much of California this week. Additionally, the...

Canadian fire chiefs aim to limit children's access to lighters, matches Project aims to decrease fires caused by play or deliberate firesetting A pilot project to limit the access that children have to lighters and matches was announced today by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) at its annual conference in Winnipeg. The project is a joint initiative between CAFC, Health Canada and The Arson Prevention Program for Children (TAPP-C), a program developed at the...

Registration deadlines are fast approaching for FHETS Registration deadline for FHETS is approaching It's almost here! The 2009 FIREHOUSE Software Education and Training Seminar (FHETS), to be held October 13th - 16th at the Disney Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida is approaching quickly. We would like to take this time to give you some helpful information for this year's conference. Hotel reservations If you have not made your hotel reservatio...

Streamlight will donate $1 for each pink Nano Light (pictured) sold to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation Streamlight to donate $1 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation for each pink Nano Light® sold Streamlight® Inc. a leading provider of high-performance flashlights, announced it has introduced the pink key-chain Nano Light®, designed to help make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. Streamlight will donate $1 to the Breast Cancer Research Fo...

The Fire Protection and Safety in Tunnels conference brings road and rail tunnel professionals together Upcoming conference will advise attendees on industry standards The Fire Protection and Safety in Tunnels conference, taking place 17 - 18 November 2009 in Paris, France, will help you to comply with industry safety standards, optimise your risk management and achieve safety excellence. This exceptional conference brings together road and rail tunnel professionals under...

U.S. Fire Administrator Kelvin Cochran will address the NVFC Board of Directors at their Fall Meeting Fire Administrator Cochran will speak during general session U.S. Fire Administrator Kelvin Cochran will address the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Board of Directors on Friday, September 25 during the NVFC Fall Board Meeting in Coralville, IA. Cochran will be speaking during the General Session, which is open to all meeting attendees. Cochran was confirmed by...

The scene of the explosion at T2 Laboratories in December 2007 Report notes company did not recognize hazards of chemical process The massive December 2007 explosion and fire at T2 Laboratories in Jacksonville was caused by a runaway chemical reaction that likely resulted from an inadequate reactor cooling system, investigators from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) said in a final draft report released today. The Board is to vote on the report findings and recommendatio...

A hurricane-damaged home - Fire Corps is calling for an increase in hurricane preparedness Fire Corps highlights dangers of US hurricane season It's National Preparedness Month, and each week Fire Corps is releasing information regarding a particular preparedness topic. September is not only National Preparedness Month, but it is also in the peak of hurricane season. In recent years, tragedies like hurricanes Katrina and Rita have emphasized the need for prepared...

The Imperial Sugar refinery following the fatal explosion in 2008 Board will consider final investigation report on fatal dust explosion at Imperial Sugar refinery The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) announced that it will convene a public meeting on Thursday September 24, 2009, in Savannah, Georgia, to review the final CSB investigation report on the causes of the February 2008 dust explosions and fire at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia. The me...

The application period for FY2009 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants begins on September 21, 2009 Primary goal of grants is to target high-risk populations The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has posted the FY2009 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants Program Guidance on the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program website. The application period is scheduled to begin on September 21, 2009 at 8:00 am Eastern Standard Time (EST). Applications f...

US fires in 2008 caused over $15.5 billion in direct property loss NFPA Journal publishes new fire loss statistics In 2008, fires caused more than $15.5 billion in direct property loss throughout the United States; fires in residential properties accounting for $8.6 billion of the total. Findings from the newly released report "U.S. Fire Loss in the United States in 2008" appear in the latest issue of NFPA Journal®, the official magazine of the National Fire Protection...

Navistar has unveiled MaxxForce TV, an online channel allowing customers to see MaxxForce engines in detail Innovative online entertainment channel gives customers a closer look at MaxxForce engines As Navistar completes its final testing stages and prepares for the upcoming launch of its 2010 MaxxForce® engines, a new online entertainment channel - MaxxForce TV - is making its debut. Starting this month, customers will be able to learn about the benefits of Navistar's...

Forty percent of US home fire deaths throughout 2003-2006 occured in homes without smoke alarms NFPA releases report on smoke alarms in U.S. home fires Four of every ten home fire deaths resulted from fires with no smoke alarms in 2003-2006, according to a new report released today by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). "Smoke alarms are one of the greatest fire protection devices of our time and have significantly contributed to the decline in home f...

The NVFC has released guidelines to improve health and safety procedures amongst volunteer firefighters New guidelines aim to improve volunteer firefighter health and safety The health and safety of our nation's volunteer fire service is a primary concern for the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). Each year, first responders are killed or injured due to factors that could have been avoided with the proper safety and health precautions. To help keep firefighters and em...

A new publication offered by Quality Parks Improves the way we respond to fire disasters With fires raging in the LA area, schools opening up for the start of the school year, and the upcoming fire prevention week this October, what better time is it than now to raise fire prevention awareness? Anywhere is fire prone, both in the wildlands and in our communities. Wherever fire strikes, we must be ready and better prepared. This is especially true of the wildland urban int...

The US Girl Scouts and DHS Citizen Corps have announced a new alliance, promoting community preparedness New initiative will bolster community preparedness Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano and Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Kathy Cloninger today unveiled a Girl Scout preparedness patch - designed to engage Girl Scouts and their families in personal preparedness for all emergencies-and announced a new affiliation between DHS Citizen Corps and the...

A digitally-created preview image of the 9/11 memorial site Projects in all 50 states mark first time 9/11 will be officially recognized as a national day of service and remembrance Americans across the country will honor the victims and heroes of the 9/11 tragedy by serving their neighbors and communities as part of the first-ever federally recognized September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. Service projects marking the eight year anniversary of 9/11 will tak...

FEMA is urging students to remember to prepare for possible emergencies Readiness urged on students across the US As millions of students return to campus or arrive for the first time, FEMA reminds everyone of the need to be prepared for emergencies before they strike. By visiting ready.gov, students can learn a learn few simple steps they can take now to get ready. "Emergencies can happen any time, any where, even on campus," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "By gett...