Industry News

  Deadly explosion at PCA corrugated mill in Wisconsin The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) recently issued a safety bulletin warning of the hazards of conducting hot work in a variety of industries and identifying seven key lessons aimed at preventing worker deaths during hot work in and around storage tanks containing flammable materials. Hot work is defined as any work activity that involves burning, welding, cutting, brazing, grinding, soldering, or similar spa...

A level of safety can be achieved by installing LD1 detection and combining it with a sprinkler system The NHBC study recognises that by installing detection to the LD1 fire alarm system category (BS 5839-6) and combining this with a sprinkler system, a level of safety can be achieved that is at least as good as a similar Approved Document B design. Some 80% of all fire deaths in the UK occur in dwellings - some 450 to 500 deaths a year.  In dwellings where there is no...

Craig Fugate participated in a panel discussion at 2010 Harvard Social Enterprise Conference The 2010 Social Enterprise Conference is a joint effort of Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate participated in a panel discussion Sunday at the 2010 Harvard University Social Enterprise Conference on preparing for disasters in the 21st century. Fugate talked about the increasing role t...

The Haitian National Palace, located in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, heavily damaged after the earthquake of January 12, 2010 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel and members of FEMA-trained Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams from California, Florida, New York, and Virginia today joined other personnel and teams involved in the United States response to Haiti for a Rose Garden ceremony with President Obama. The President thanked all who participated in the U.S. A...

Pierce, received a new order from the Arlington County Fire Department for six Pierce®Arrow XT™ pumpers Pierce Manufacturing, an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) company, received a new significant order from the Arlington County Fire Department in Arlington, Va., for six Pierce®Arrow XT™ pumpers. The order represents the first year of an annually renewable, seven-year contract. Over the length of the contract, the department will replace pumpers, rear m...

E-ONE Vacuum Tanker helped Byram Volunteer Fire and Rescue department during record-low temperatures The new Water Master vacuum tanker fom E-ONE provided water for HVAC systems during extreme cold.When the Byram Volunteer Fire and Rescue department in Byram, Miss., purchased their new Water Master vacuum tanker they knew it would protect property and save lives, but never imagined it would help keep a city warm during a record-breaking cold-snap. On January 12th, cities an...

Don Holmstrom has updated the public on CSB's investigation of the catastrophic accident at Kleen Energy A transcript of the statement by CSB Lead Investigator Don Holmstrom."Good morning. I am CSB Lead Investigator Don Holmstrom; thank you for coming to this CSB news conference. The Chemical Safety Board is an independent federal agency that investigates and reports to the public on the causes of major chemical accidents at industrial sites across the country. The CSB...

The USFA report examines the causes and characteristics of winter residential building fires The report, "Winter Residential Building Fires", was developed by USFA's National Fire Data Center and is further evidence of FEMA's commitment to share information with fire departments and first responders around the country to help them keep their communities safe.The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) United States Fire Administration (USFA) issued a special report exam...

The month of March celebrates the contributions made by women in fire fighting industry and EMS Message from USFA:"Since 1981, this nation has recognized the month of March as an opportunity to celebrate the contributions made by all women to this great nation of ours. I am honored to join with many others in recognizing the countless and unselfish acts of so many women serving their communities in fire and emergency medical services (EMS) organizations as firefighters...

FEMA funds 75 percent of the approved costs for eligible public assistance projects The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management announced that briefings to explain the application process are being held this week.State and local governments and certain nonprofit organizations in the southern New Jersey counties that may be eligible for disaster assistance following the Dec. 19 - 20 snowstorm are urged to begin the process of applying for federal assistance. "Requests from...

Portable generators are useful when temporary or remote electric power is needed, but they can be hazardous Portable generators are useful when temporary or remote electric power is needed, but they can be hazardous. The primary hazards to avoid when using portable generators are carbon monoxide poisoning, electric shock or electrocution, and fire. The United States Fire Administration (USFA) would like you to know that there are simple steps you can take to prevent th...

Fire Corps advice - help communities deal with winter weather Fire Corps teams can help their community cope with inclement winter weather. If your Fire Corps team is able to safely navigate the community after a storm, there are several ways volunteers can assist and protect citizens: • Help shovel walkways, sidewalks, and common areas and lay salt or sand. This includes around fire stations so emergency vehicles can come and go safely. • Check on the elderly, d...

The new facility will provide professional instruction in fire fighting and disaster management Beginning in 2011, the new training facility will be the first of its kind organized by the private sector.   The Fire Science Academy, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (FSAKSA) in Jubail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will, with ongoing consulting assistance from the University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy Worldwide (FSAW), soon be breaking ground on its new train...

No Smoking Day (Wednesday 10 March), smokers are being urged to quit their habit To mark No Smoking Day (Wednesday 10 March), smokers are being urged to quit their habit or realise its danger, as national statistics reveal that cigarettes and smoking products are the biggest killer in accidental fires in the home. Despite this shocking wake-up call, less than half (40%) of smokers are aware that smoking is the biggest cause of deaths in accidental house fires.2 In the last...

FSA wildland fire classes meet all National Wildland Coordinating Group standards As areas of the West continue to struggle with drought conditions, another year of tinder dry grass and the threat of large wildland fires await. The University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy (FSA) offers a set of Wildland Fire classes which meet all applicable National Wildland Coordinating Group (NWCG) standards. The FSA's Wildland Fire curriculum consists of Wildland Firefigh...

Senators Carper and Collins have introduced the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act (S. 2947) The NVFC strongly supports the House and Senate versions of the bill.On January 22, Senator Thomas Carper (D-DE) along with original co-sponsor, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced S. 2947, the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act, which would reduce the tax depreciation time on fire sprinklers installed in non-residential property from 39 years to only five years. Senators Carper and Collins...

  MD Volunteers launch Volunteer Fire-Rescue Recruiting Station in Montgomery county   The new volunteer fire-rescue recruiting station will meet the needs of the 19 volunteer fire and rescue departments in Montgomery County.Many departments across the country are struggling with a decline in fire-rescue and EMS volunteers while at the same time facing higher call volumes and increased demands on the department. The Montgomery County (MD) Volunteer Fire Rescue...

  Pierce delivers 12 industrial firefighting vehicles to Venezuela Pierce Manufacturing, an Oshkosh Corporation company, announced that it has delivered 12 vehicles - one rescue, one aerial platform and 10 industrial pumpers - to Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA) through three contracts. All 12 vehicles will be placed into service beginning in March 2010. The total value of all three contracts is more than $15 million. "Pierce industrial firefighting appa...

Ten states have passed laws limiting or outright proscribing sales of novelty lighters On February 2, Maryland's House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on House Bill 191, which would prohibit novelty lighter sales in that state.Toy-like or novelty lighters have been responsible for injuries, deaths, and accidents across the country. Children are attracted to novelty lighters because they look like toys. A number of accidents involving novelty lighters have been documented,...

FIA has welcomed the publications of new Corporate Manslaughter Guidelines The Fire Industry Association (FIA) has welcomed the publications of new guidelines relating to the sentencing of organisations under a charge of Corporate Manslaughter. The new Guidelines, published on 9 February 2010, are long awaited and follow the draft guidelines distributed in October last year. They are designed to assist courts in dealing with those that cause death through a gross breac...

Firefighters convey the message that chip pan accidents can cause serious burns and injuries National Chip Week has the backing of Shropshire firefighters who are urging people to get a portion of their favourite food from the chippy or takeaway instead of cooking at home after a night out. Fire crews are aiming their fire safety message at revellers who often feel hungry after a night out but set fire to their kitchen after putting the chip pan on - and then fall asleep in...

  Most of the residents acted on hearing the mains smoke alarms and left the premises. Photo: Vicky Curtis, KFRS Folkestone firefighters are urging residents to 'watch what they heat' after a fire, caused by unattended cooking, resulted in a man being rescued from a block of flats. Three fire appliances were sent to the building in Marine Terrace, Folkestone just before 8.30 pm (18 February) after control room operators received emergency calls from a pass...

The President's budget request proposes funding allocations for all federal departments The President's budget request proposes funding allocations for all federal departments, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through which the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, and other programs vital to the emergency services are funded. For FY 2011, the...

The briefing will provide the latest vision of the government's security procurement requirements Any company that has an interest in the security of the Olympic and Paralympic Games is invited to attend this exclusive second briefing. Following on from the success of the first Olympic and Paralympic Security Business Briefing which took place 12 months ago, and with the 2012 Games getting ever closer, this year's briefing event will give an up-to-date vision of the Gov...

Horton, AEV and Leader are some of the longest standing and most respected brand names with AIP American Industrial Partners Capital Fund IV, L.P. ("AIP") has announced that it has acquired Horton Emergency Vehicles, American Emergency Vehicles, and Leader Emergency Vehicles through the purchase of Halcore Group, Inc. American Industrial Partners Capital Fund IV, L.P. ("AIP") announced that it has acquired Horton Emergency Vehicles, American Emergency Vehicles, and Leader Eme...

  Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and California adopt sprinkler requirements National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) President Jim Shannon praised the work of fire officials and fire safety advocates after three states adopted the 2009 edition of the International Residential Code (IRC) which will require home fire sprinklers in all new one- and two-family homes. "The nation's fire service and other fire safety advocates deserve tremendous recognition for their ef...

Previously unavailable safety services will now be provided to the Santa Clarita motion picture industry Within the next three to six months, Southern California FIRE & EMS and Symons Event Safety will be expanding by providing basic and advanced life support services to the Santa Clarita motion picture industry.With the news of Disney's plans to build studios at Golden Oak Ranch virtually transforming Santa Clarita into the next Hollywood, Southern California FI...

NFPA's new digital catalogs allow users to access information in a new interactive format The first two catalogs released center around NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace® and NFPA 70, National Electrical Code®.The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has launched new high-resolution digital catalogs to allow users to access information in a new interactive format. Items related to specific topics or codes and standards ar...

The BRE Global research investigates the spread of fires in car parks with sprinkler systems BRE Global has recently completed a research project for The British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA). The project investigates the growth and spread of a fire in and between cars in a car park stacking system installed with a sprinkler system. This follows the 'Fire Spread in Car Parks' testing BRE Global completed for Communities and Loc...

24-7 Fire is the new professional education and fire training series from HSI 24-7 Fire is a new series of professional training programme developed with the assistance of the new 24-7 Fire Advisory Board.Health and Safety Institute (HSI) family of brands, inclusive of American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI), MEDIC First Aid, 24-7 EMS, is proud to announce the release of 24-7 Fire. This new professional education and fire training series from Health & Safety Instit...