Industry News

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...

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...

Model Twiggy and fire fighters from Battersea Heliport in London washing cars for National Car Wash Day Supermodel Twiggy Lawson is getting all in lather in preparation for The Fire Fighters Charity National Car Wash Day! The fundraising event which provides drivers across the UK with the chance to brush up on their knowledge of home fire safety, whilst their cars receive a gleaming polish from local fire fighters, takes place on Saturday 19th September - also coincidentally...

Children and young people are likely responsible for half the fires Children and young people are thought to be responsible for half The number of grass and woodland fires being started deliberately is on the rise in Kent. Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is warning that deliberate fires have the potential to get out of hand, causing serious injury or even death and are asking residents to be extra vigilant in the fight to stop the perpetrators. Since the beginning of...

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...

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 Fire Fighters Charity asked the public to support the work of the UK's Fire and Rescue Services The 9th September 2009......was the only day for another 100 years that we could abbreviate to 9.9.9! To pay tribute to this occasion, The Fire Fighters Charity asked the public to show their support to the work of the UK's Fire and Rescue Services by taking part in a 999 Fitness Challenge whilst raising money for injured fire fighters and burns survivors. The C...

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...

Firefighter Janine Culley with her trophy, donated by The Worshipful Company of Firefighters London Fire Brigade officer won for record medal haul Firefighter Janine Culley has been named the Fire Service Sports and Athletics Association (FSSAA) sports personality of the year. Janine becomes only the second woman to win this prestigious award and she is also the first in the award's history to be presented with a trophy which has been donated by The Worshipful Company of F...

Chief Jeff Johnson has been named President and Chairman of the Board of the IAFC New appointee will act as association's primary spokesperson The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) has installed Chief Jeffrey D. Johnson, EFO, CFO, MIFireE, fire chief and chief executive officer of Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue in Oregon, as IAFC president and chairman of the board for 2009-2010. The installation took place on August 28 during the IAFC's Fire Rescue Interna...

DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano introduces the ads in New York Ads designed to highlight National Preparedness Month across US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today joined with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate and the Ad Council to launch a new series of Ready Campaign public service advertisements (PSAs) designed to encourage all Americans to take steps to prepare for emergencies, kicking off September's...

The 2009 Phillip L. Turner Fire Protection Scholarship has been awarded to student Benjamin Eschner OSU student was nominated as "outstanding rookie" by his peers The Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association (FAMA) has awarded the 2009 Phillip L. Turner Fire Protection Scholarship to Oklahoma State University student Benjamin Eschner. Eschner, a sophomore from Chicago majoring in fire protection and safety technology, will receive a $3,000 scholarship in recognition o...

The site of the fatal 2007 explosion at T2 Laboratories, Inc. Final report will be presented; first responders invited to attend The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) announced today that it will convene a public meeting on Tuesday, September 15, 2009, in Jacksonville, Florida, at which CSB investigators will present their final report on the causes of the fatal December 2007 explosion at T2 Laboratories Inc., a local chemical manufacturer.The meeting will begin at 6:00 pm a...

Secretary Napolitano met with NCR leaders to discuss shared emergency response plans Meeting focuses on collaborative emergency plans in the area Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today met with Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian Fenty, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine to discuss coordination on emergency preparedness and response efforts in the National Capital Region (NCR). "The National Capital Region po...

Since 2000, 135 people have died in campus-related fires across the US This year marks the fifth anniversary of National Campus Fire Safety Month with the goal of having more schools, communities, students and parents aware of the dangers of fire and engaged in learning what they can do to make sure tragedy does not strike. Since 2000, at least 135 people have died in campus related fires with over 80 percent of them occurring in off-campus housing according to information...

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Executive order to waive fees and help victims of wildfires Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger visits Oak Glen Fire III in San Bernardino County for Briefing.Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger visited the Oak Glen Fire III in San Bernardino County to receive a briefing on the status of firefighting efforts statewide. The Governor also proclaimed a state of emergency in San Bernardino County due to fires that have burned hundreds of acres, forced an entire...

Members of the AFS tackling a fire on Oxford Street during World War II National event will highlight the contribution of AFS officers London Fire Brigade is hosting a national event to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS), which was mobilised at the outbreak of World War Two on 1st September 1939. The AFS played a vital role in protecting the country from fires and other emergencies for over 30 years. Its members worked tirelessly alongs...

FEMA has approved the use of federal funds to help California fight fires Increased funding will improve state's firefighting resources The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help the state of California fight the PV Fire in Rancho Palos Verdes. The authorization makes FEMA funding available to reimburse 75 percent of the eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managin...

Governor Schwarzenegger surveys damage caused by the 49 fire Firefighting resources will be directed to battle ongoing fires throughout California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today visited the 49 fire in Placer County to tour damage caused by the 49 fire and receive a briefing on the status of firefighting efforts statewide. The 49 fire began on August 30 and has burned approximately 275 acres and is 50 percent contained. "My administration is working around the clock...

Governor Schwarzeneggar has signed an order to aid wildfire victim recovery Order will help increase aid to those affected by wildfires throughout California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed Executive Order S-16-09 to waive fees and help recovery efforts for the victims of wildfires in Los Angeles, Mariposa, Monterey, Placer, Santa Cruz and Yuba Counties. Today, the Governor announced the establishment of a Local Assistance Center to help victims of the 49 fir...

The new U.S. Fire Administrator, Kelvin Cochran is officially sworn in by DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano Experienced former Atlanta Fire Chief now officially in office U.S. Fire Administrator Kelvin Cochran was sworn into office today by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate at the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) 2009 Fire Rescue International conference in Dallas, Texas. Cochran will oversee and...

Recipients of AFG awards this week include Texas, Arkansas fire depts Grants this week made available in Texas and Arkansas Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $580,595 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program to local fire departments and organizations in the state of Texas; and $69,853 to local fire departments and organizations in the state of Arkansas. Nationally, the fiscal year 2008 AFG...