Industry News

Kent Fire and Rescue Service has two crews at Park Pale Kent Fire and Rescue Service has two crews at Park Pale in Rochester where firefighters are continuing to cool an acetylene cylinder following a blaze that started on December 1. Control room operators received the first call at 4.38pm on 1 December to reports of a van alight. The fire subsequently spread to the roof of the industrial unit housing the vehicle. At the height of the blaze, two crews...

  The Fourth London Safety Plan includes new performance targets   The plan will now be subject to a twelve week consultation to collect the views of Londoners and key stakeholders. Members of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority have recently approved a range of proposals made by London Fire Commissioner, Ron Dobson, paving the way for public consultation on the future of the capital's fire and rescue service. The London Fire and Emergency Plann...

FEMA will host a flood risk information open house for Calhoun County residents Those interested may drop in at any time during the event to discuss mapping issues with MDEQ representatives. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, will host a flood risk information open house for Calhoun County residents on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, f...

  Saxony is the seventh German state to select Sepura TETRA radios for its public safety users   This is the largest contract awarded to date for TETRA radios in the Federal Republic of Germany. The federal state of Saxony is the seventh German state to select Sepura TETRA radios for its public safety users. The contract, for a total of 30,000 radios, was secured by Selectric Nachrichten Systeme GmbH. The terminals will be supplied to police, fire brigades and res...

London Fire Brigade has launched a consultation today for fourth London Safety Plan London Fire Brigade has launched a consultation on its draft London Safety Plan, which sets out how the Brigade will carry forward plans to modernise and improve the fire service in the capital. This is the fourth London Safety Plan, and it explains how the Brigade will build on its reputation as one of the world's leading fire and rescue services. The plan proposes a shake up of how s...

London Fire Brigade's new statistics show fatal fires increase during winter The London Fire Brigade has released new figures about accidental, fatal house fires. As the temperature drops and people spend more time at home using heaters, candles and cooking hot food, serious house fires increase - that's the stark message from London's firefighters this winter. The Brigade has released new figures about accidental, fatal house fires, which show that fatalities in acci...

Flood damage in Cedar Rapids, summer 2008. Photography bySusie Shapira/FEMA The general public is invited to view the floodplain maps and assess the risks of flooding. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in partnership with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), will host , 120 N. 4th Street in Hennepin.Newly released preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps will be displayed so residents can lea...

Canada's professional fire fighters are concerned about their risk of infection during influenza pandemics Firefighters are concerned about their ability to maintain critical public safety services during the height of any type of influenza pandemic. With the influenza A / H1N1 (human swine flu) pandemic now impacting Canada, a new survey of The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) found that Canada's professional firefighters are concerned about their risk...

It took five fire appliances to tackle the blaze caused by a candle The fire was caused by a candle, but tragedy was avoided by a smoke alarm. At 1.55 Sunday morning (29th November, 2010) Kent Fire and Rescue Service were called to a house fire in Penshurst Road, Penshurst.The occupants were already out when the fire service arrived but the fire required five appliances to help tackle the blaze, which was located on both floors.It was discovered that a candle had caused...

Flooded country roadPhoto by Patsy Lynch/FEMA Disaster recovery officials urge recipients of federal grants to keep receipts and other documentation for at least three years as proof the funds were spent as intended. More than $53.2 million in disaster recovery grants was distributed by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following the September storms and floods. "Those approved for federal grants received...

Canterbury firefighters are urging residents to 'watch what they heat' after a fire Canterbury firefighters are urging residents to 'watch what they heat' after a fire, which was caused by unattended cooking, left student accommodation damaged. Two fire crews were sent to Heaton Road, Canterbury just after 9.30 on 26 November after control room operators received a distressed emergency call from the residents. Once at the scene, firefighters in breathing apparatus made the...

The aftermath of a serious car crash will be played out to students at North West Kent College in Dartford The aftermath of a serious car crash will be played out to students at North West Kent College in Dartford on Wednesday, 2 December. Entitled "Operation Carmageddon", the demonstration involves firefighters from Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) cutting free a mock "casualty" from the wreckage of a crashed car. Staff from Kent Police and the South East Coast Ambulanc...

The life-saving technology of fire sprinklers has been around for more than 100 years The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) has announced the availability of a new, online resource toolbox to provide community leaders with the latest available assets and information to assist with planning issues at the local level. The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), the longest-tenured fire sprinkler advocacy organization in the U.S., has announced the availabili...

London Fire Brigade's rapping firefighter, Stephen-remell Coleman Stephen-remell has written the track to tell people that London Fire Brigade is looking for new firefighters from all walks of life. "Follow me my people this is the way, sign your name for fire brigade open days. Oh what a rush, no job can touch, the job that I got this job is too much. We need more brothers and sisters let's go, don't matter if you're x or y chromosome". The line above is from a new hip...

NFPA and DRI have joined forces to offer an interactive 4.5 day certification program The program deals with both existing and emerging requirements in the industry. NFPA and the Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRI), the leading certification and education body in business continuity planning, have joined forces to offer an interactive 4.5 day certification program that provides training, tools, and hands-on experience. Course materials delve into existing...

Firefighters are warning Kent residents to cook with safety in mind Firefighters are warning Kent householders to cook with safety in mind. The alert follows a fire in Herne Bay in the early hours of yesterday morning (22 November). Crews are specifically advising residents not to drink and cook after a man had to be pulled to safety from his smoke-filled flat by firefighters. The warning comes after the man, in his forties, who had been drinking, fell asleep w...

NFPA 1600 and 14 other NFPA first responder codes and standards have received DHS's QATT designation  This is the first block of standards to receive this “Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology” designation by the DHS. NFPA 1600, Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs and 14 other NFPA codes and standards have been designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as "Qualified Anti-Terrorism Tec...

New Look was fined £400,000 after pleading guilty to breaches of fire safety Sentencing of New Look took place at Southwark Crown Court on 25 November, 2009 after they pleaded guilty to two breaches of the RRO. The high street retailer New Look has been fined £400,000 and ordered to pay £136,052 in costs after pleading guilty to serious breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (the "RRO"). It is the largest fine under the RRO. Lon...

The NFA's Fiscal Year 2010 second semester application period is open now through December 15 The National Fire Academy's Fiscal Year 2010 second semester application period is open until December 15.  The second semester includes classes running from April 1 through September 30, 2010.  Interested applicants can submit their completed FEMA Form 75-5, General Admissions Application right away. For complete application information and course schedule i...

At the Tory party conference, Caroline Spelman called for greater localisation and independent decision-making FIA delegates met recently with Stewart Jackson, Conservative Shadow Spokesman on Fire. Discussions were based largely on those covered with the Fire Minister a few weeks earlier. The FIA held the meeting in order to determine as fully as possible future government policy on the FIA's primary concerns should the Conservatives come to power next year. O...

City of Westminster Magistrates' Court fined the landlord for seven breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) A landlord has been ordered to pay over £20,000 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to breaches of fire safety legislation. City of Westminster Magistrates' Court fined Mohammed Khan, £10,150 for seven breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Mr Khan has managed the property since 1997. The prosecution followed a numbe...

North Kent firefighters recently took part in a training exercise to learn tackling fires in high rise buildings North Kent firefighters have been back to college for a training exercise to tackle blazes in high rise buildings. Around 25 staff and four appliances were involved in the drill which simulated a fire and required the rescue of people trapped on the sixth floor of a special tower at Dartford's North West Kent College. The practice is part of ongoing training tak...

NFPA Firewise Communities program encourages local solutions for wildfire safety by involving others The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is celebrating the milestone achievement of surpassing 500 communities participating in its national Firewise Communities Program. The program is an interagency effort designed to encourage wildfire safety by involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, firefighters, and others at the local le...

FIA delegation met Ravinder Walia, Assistant Director of the Services Directive Implementation team The Government Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) leads the implementation of directives in the UK. An FIA delegation met recently with Ravinder Walia, Assistant Director of the Services Directive Implementation Team, and several of his departmental colleagues. FIA outlined the concerns of industry regarding compliance with exist...

London Fire Commissioner, Ron Dobson, this week celebrating 30 years service with the London Fire Brigade Ron was awarded with the Queen's Fire Service Medal in 2005 and received a fire mark for his 30 years service from the Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Councillor Brian Coleman AM FRSA. London Fire Commissioner, Ron Dobson, is celebrating thirty years service with the London Fire Brigade, but as Chief Fire Officer of the UK's largest fire...

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate addressed students and faculty at Savannah State University The event was sponsored by the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Student Organization (HSEMSO). FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate addressed students and faculty at Savannah State University, in Savannah, Georgia. The FEMA Administrator praised students for choosing to study emergency management and recognized the administration of Savannah State, a Historical...

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano. Photograph by Manuel Broussard, FEMA Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano has unveiled a new website for veterans. The new website has been designed to provide a one-stop location for veterans and veterans organizations to learn about DHS' many veteran outreach initiatives and hiring and contracting opportunities. "This new website reflects the shared commitment across th...

 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano ( Manuel Broussard, FEMA) The meetings were held to discuss critical infrastructure security. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today hosted the first in a series of roundtable meetings with private sector leaders. She also unveiled a new web site designed to inform the public about the Department's critical infrastructure protection, readiness and resiliency e...

Fire Corps is administered through the National Volunteer Fire Council The 2009 Award of Excellence was presented during the meeting to the Mesa (AZ) Fire Department. The Fire Corps National Advisory Committee (NAC) met on October 26 at the Fire Corps national office in Greenbelt, MD. The NAC, which is comprised of representatives from many national fire and emergency service organizations as well as other prominent leaders in the industry, came together to provide e...

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano Photograph Manuel Broussard, FEMA. The forum was designed to encourage stakeholders to provide direct input and ideas for disaster recovery. The Long Term Disaster Recovery Working Group recently held its third of five planned stakeholder forums in Los Angeles. The Working Group - co-chaired by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Department of Housing and Urban Development Secret...