Fire Industry News for September 2025

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) investigators are now at the scene of a house fire, which has claimed the lives of two people in Sydney's south-west. Neighbors phoned Triple-Zero (000) around 6:45 am as the property in Lily Street, Wetherill Park became engulfed in flames and their own attempts to rescue the occupants proved unsuccessful. FRNSW immediately deployed 24 firefighters and six fire trucks. Fire crews When fire crews arrived on-scene, they used tools to force their way into the home&...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is further encouraging respectful and honest conversations and the sharing of Traditional Knowledge by opening a Yarning Circle at its training center at Orchard Hills, in Sydney’s west. Officially unveiled off the back of NAIDOC Week, the new outdoor space at the Emergency Services Academy (ESA) is a tangible step towards Reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous people. It is lined with a dozen sandstone blocks fo...

Responding to reports regarding culture in the fire and rescue service, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has reiterated that the behaviors outlined are wholly unacceptable, making it clear there is no place for harassment, bullying or discrimination in any workplace. NFCC is committed to working with all fire and rescue services to support open and inclusive workplace cultures. Responding to the reports, National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Chair - Mark Hardingham said: “I am appal...

A South Yorkshire recruitment campaign aims to change perceptions of women in the fire service. South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s ‘A Firefighter Is A Firefighter’ campaign includes a new hard-hitting video, which highlights the fact that all firefighters meet the same standards and do the same job regardless of their gender. At the same time, the service will be publishing a fresh episode of its official podcast, Shout, featuring women from across the service. The service h...

The Fire Standards Board (FSB) is delighted to announce the launch of two new Fire Standards - Fire Control and Communications & Engagement. The development of the Fire Control Standard was driven by recent major incident events, such as Grenfell and the Manchester Arena bombing. It addresses the fundamental and strategic role that Fire Control plays from initially receiving the first contact through to the very close of an incident. Standardizing and refining This Fire Standard’s...

Gavin Skelly, CEO of growing fire safety industry body - Fire Aware, spoke of the moral and behavioral changes in culture needed to improve standards at the Scotland Housing Leaders’ Summit. He called for unity of all of those working across the entire fire safety supply chain to consider their moral responsibility, including national and local housing associations, local councils, and developers across the UK. Cultural change of the built environment To change the culture of the built...

Using the highest-rated fire performance cables will help firefighters in the event of a fire in some of the largest new buildings being developed, says pioneering cable supplier AEI Cables. AEI Cables has been highlighting the need for the use of Category 3 fire performance cables, which are designed to withstand heat and flames for up to 120 minutes, helping to protect equipment, property and even lives, supporting critical safety circuits in tall buildings, office spaces, hospitals, shopping...

Bosch’s cloud services, such as Remote System Management, VideoView+, and Alarm Management, offer seamless monitoring, management, recording, and replay of video security footage. The alerting capabilities facilitate quick decision-making and reactions, particularly from remote locations. Real-time decision making is enhanced with instant event notifications. Forensic search accelerates investigations, while Remote System Management enables the management, organization, and monitori...

Ship fires are on the rise, posing serious risks to crews, vessels, and operations. Ensuring the firefighting equipment meets the latest safety standards is not just essential — it’s lifesaving. The latest update to the Marine Equipment Directive (MED), (EU) 2024/1975, mandates significant changes to the approval and use of firefighting suits onboard European vessels. Here's what they need to know to stay compliant and protect the crew. Key regulation updates From August 20...

One of the many challenges faced when working on large-scale projects is putting together a plan of action of how the alarm system will look in the most efficient way possible. Thanks to Countfire, A.M Security now has the tools to improve how it operates with their own business. Before Countfire, a lengthy manual process was needed to count every single component that would be used within a fire system, so that an estimate could then be made.  Human errors This here had the possibility...

The new Academic Building at the University of Sussex has been a great addition to the university. The job of securing the building fell to AM Security’s team, and they were more than happy to take on the project. With a high-end security design consisting of a 100 circuit Honeywell intruder alarm system, 50 Bosch IP video cameras with Genetec Security Center Software, plus a Salto access control system, the installation team had a large project on their hands. With a deadline to meet, i...

A Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crew was faced with an usual challenge at Queanbeyan, near Canberra, at the weekend – a Husky puppy whose head became stuck in a chair. The emergency unfolded at a home in Crawford Street, just before 8.30 on Saturday night, when 14-week-old ‘Ace’ became entangled in the chair’s metal spokes. The Queanbeyan fire crew used hydraulic cutting tools to carefully cut ‘Ace’ free. Still curious, the puppy was quick to assess the cr...

A mobile crane truck, which caught fire in the Lane Cove Tunnel earlier in the day, has been removed. A heavy tow truck removed the truck that caught fire around 6.30 am. The tunnel's sprinkler system controlled the blaze whilst Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews extinguished the fire completely. Quick Response by FRNSW Firefighters then mopped up a hazardous oil spill and made the area safe. There were no reported injuries. The incident has caused major traffic delays, and motorists...

The Fire and Rescue NSW fleet at Lake Macquarie has been significantly boosted with the arrival of a state-of-the-art Rescue Pumper, valued at almost half-a-million dollars. The Iveco-brand Class 2 pumper will provide firefighters working out of the Morisset Fire Station with another major resource to combat structural, chemical, fuel and grass fires. The $470,000 truck is fitted with an environmentally beneficial Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS), which means it can pump a water and foam...

Fire protection in the state’s Upper Hunter region has been boosted with the arrival of a new, state-of-the-art Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) engine at Denman. The $470,000 Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) Iveco Class 2 pumper enables firefighters to tackle structural, chemical, petrol, and grass fires, using up to five times less water than normal.  The highly efficient system combines foam concentrate with compressed air to supply fire hoses with superior ‘knock down’ c...

Veteran Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighter, Paul McGuiggan AFSM, has been promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner – Field Operations. The appointment sees Mr McGuiggan rise from Assistant Commissioner – Metropolitan Operations and will take effect immediately. Deputy Commissioner McGuiggan is a 38-year career firefighter with extensive local, interstate, and international experience in emergency management, including deployments to the 2009 Victorian Black Saturday Bus...

In an Australian firefighting innovation, Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is rolling out a driving simulator to help emergency crews build their confidence behind the steering wheel in high-risk environments. The mobile technology has been unveiled at FRNSW’s Emergency Services Academy, in Sydney’s west, where it is being used to train recruits before it is moved across the state to strengthen the capabilities of local brigades. The software The software has been specially tailored to...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has held a ceremony at Gunnedah, in the state’s north-west, formally recognizing employers who allow workers to step away from their jobs and protect their communities as on-call firefighters. Sixteen primary employers – including the local council, energy and resource companies, and small businesses – received a certificate of appreciation and promotional stickers acknowledging their ongoing support of FRNSW. Each of the employers continually acce...

A Hunter Valley firefighter, who lost his home and possessions in a devastating bushfire, but kept working to protect his neighbors’ properties, has been issued with replacement service medals by the Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Commissioner. Senior Firefighter, Steve Cox, was temporarily working out of a fire station at Kurri Kurri on October 16, when neighbors rang him to warn that a wall of flames was bearing down on his Girvan home. 60-year-old Steve raced home as his wife, Lyne,...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has teamed up with the Rural Fire Service (RFS) to visit a large retirement village in Bargo, south of Sydney, and deliver key summer safety messages for their most vulnerable, leading into Christmas. Over 50 firefighters from each agency gathered over the weekend at the Waratah Highlands Retirement Village as part of a joint agency initiative. The idea for the engagement was hatched when local MP for Wollondilly, Judy Hannan, received feedback from local reside...

Two Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters have tied the knot, taking their vows to new 'fahrenheits' by stopping at the fire station where they first met, immediately after the wedding ceremony. Captain, Amon Burkill, and his 'flame', fellow on-call firefighter Jenna Giesler, met at work in mid-2021 and quickly 'sparked' a romance, dating each other from November the same year. Over the weekend, they became a 'crew of two' by walking down the aisle and exchanging the all-important vows....

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is crediting a smoke alarm for saving the lives of two people as fire engulfed a townhouse at Auburn, in Sydney's west. Around 20 firefighters and six fire trucks responded to the blaze, which broke out on Park Road, near York Street, just before 6 am. Flames consumed the upper level of the two-floor home, burning so intensely they caused the roof and walls to collapse. Containing the fire FRNSW crews battled for almost an hour to contain the fire, preventing...

Two teens have been treated for smoke inhalation after a garage fire at Scone in the state's Hunter Valley. Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews from Scone and Aberdeen rushed to Kookaburra Avenue just before 1.30 yesterday afternoon after numerous Triple Zero (000) calls about a large volume of smoke and flames from the property. Extinguishing the flames They believe the fire began in a camping swag, which contained spent batteries from a lamp Two youths, aged 13 and 16, escaped the garage but...

Grafton’s Fire and Rescue NSW crew is singing the praises of its recent, new drone capability, declaring it a ‘game-changer’ for local firefighting. The Grafton Fire Station first received its drone or Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) licence in February 2021. Almost two years on and Captain, Garry Reardon, describes it as revolutionary for firefighting. Providing aerial intelligence “The RPAS is deployable in so many different situations, from assessing ha...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) experts are investigating the cause of a fatal unit fire overnight at Young, in the state's South-Western Slopes. The blaze broke out in Stoneridge Street, just before 11 pm. Four fire trucks and 20 firefighters from FRNSW and the Rural Fire Service (RFS), arrived at the scene to find the fire threatening to spread to an adjoining villa complex. Quick response from fire crews Fire crews acted swiftly to prevent the flames from extending to the neighboring prop...

Modular construction has gained significant popularity in recent years. As the name suggests, it involves modular components of the structure being shipped to the site to be assembled – much like a piece of flat pack furniture. Due to its efficiency, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness it has become much more common in the construction industry.  However, like any building method, it comes with its own set of challenges. One critical concern is fire safety. In this blog post, they...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) investigators believe a faulty Lithium-Ion battery was responsible for a weekend e-bike fire that led to the evacuation of 30 people from a high-rise apartment block at Wolli Creek in Sydney's south. The blaze broke out just after 6 pm on Saturday night in a seventh-floor apartment within the Arcliffe Street complex. Residents rushed from their units to safety after the e-bike, on charge, burst into flames, setting fire to a bed. A 30-year-old woman was treated for...

Compartmentation is the unsung hero of the fire safety world. It is the practice of dividing a building or structure into separate, fire-resistant compartments or sections, designed to prevent the spread of fire, smoke, and toxic gases. Compartmentation plays a pivotal role in containing fires, saving lives, and minimizing property damage. In this blog post, they’ll explore the importance of this vital part of the fire safety arsenal. What is Included in Compartmentation This fire safet...

To be truly inclusive in the workplaces, they must ensure that everyone has accessible ways to be safe during a fire. This article explains how to identify those who may be more vulnerable in an emergency and how to cater to their needs when considering fire safety.  How Can Vulnerable People Be Affected by Fire Safety Measures? Children, as well as those who are differently abled or elderly, can be affected by insufficient fire safety considerations in a multitude of ways, including: In...

Fire doors are an essential component of keeping a building safe from the damage and danger to life that fire causes. By keeping the blazes at bay, they also give first responders crucial extra time. In this blog for Fire Door Safety Week, Total Fire Group are focusing on where these key parts of the fire safety arsenal can best be placed in the commercial building. What Features Make Fire Doors so Important? Fire doors have a set of requirements that make them an effective defense method aga...