Industry News

New police officers and firefighters will increase Barcelona's security and fire safety Spanish city increases number of emergency responders Barcelona City Council's security and rescue services have recently been strengthened with the incorporation of 204 new police officers and 45 new firefighters. They were welcomed by the Mayor Jordi Hereu last Thursday at an event held at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, where he called on them to "defend the rights and freedoms of the publ...

Both programs are available on theNational Hazardous Materials FusionCenter website To ensure the nation's first responders are prepared to handle incidents involving alternative fuels, the IAFC has created two new training packages:Ethanol: Response Consideration focuses on responding to ethanol incidents and was created in partnership with the USFA and the Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. This training package has b...

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill doubling funding for SAFER grants Bill approved will increase funding for EMS staffing The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a Homeland Security Appropriation bill that doubles funding for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program. The bill calls for spending $420 million on the program, which provides grants to help communities hire fire fighters. The bill also provides funding fo...

Olympic hopeful Jonathan Jackson, who was blinded in one eye by a firework, speaks at the conference U.S. Olympic hopeful shares story of fireworks injury The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and its Alliance to Stop Consumer Fireworks hosted a press conference today with the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal's office to warn against the use of consumer fireworks. The event featured Jonathan Jackson, a victim of a childhood fireworks injury that left him blind in...

Nine fire stations across London are to be completely rebuilt Funding will provide complete rebuild for fire stations across the capital Nine ageing fire stations across London will be entirely rebuilt after the government gave the green light for a huge building programme to go ahead. The Private Finance Initiative project will see London Fire Brigade receive £57.4 million to make major improvements to nine of its stations. The new stations will replace fire station...

Phil Smith, Paul Roberts, and Steve Turek, with the signed concordat New intiative seeks to improve NHS facility fire safety NHS staff from hospitals and primary care trusts across London visited London Fire Brigade's training centre in Southwark on the 24th June, to discuss ways of making the capital's health venues safer. The ‘Working together in partnership - Fire Safety Workshop' featured presentations from a range of experts including Paul Roberts, the Depa...

According to a new study, millions of people now prefer to smoke outside the home Smoking ban reaches into the home Millions of people are smoking their cigarettes outside of their home, according to a survey by leading home insurance provider, Swinton. Since smoking was banned from enclosed public spaces nearly two years ago, many people are turning their homes into smoke free zones too. The poll of 2,000 of Swinton's home insurance customers found that 81% ha...

Vermont has now adopted NFPA 1 and NFPA 101 codes statewide Vermont adopts NFPA 1 and 101 statewide The state of Vermont has updated its statewide adoption of the National Fire Protection Association certifications NFPA 1, Uniform Fire Code™, and NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code® to the 2006 edition of the codes. The adoption became effective on June 15, 2009. "Setting statewide minimum requirements for life safety is an essential step in offering the best protect...

Students at the FDNY Fire and Life Safety high school graduating Fifty-seven students graduated from the FDNY High School for Fire and Life Safety on June 25 With the Fire Academy as a colorful backdrop, 57 students from the FDNY High School for Fire and Life Safety graduated on June 25. "What you accomplished to get this far is a huge first step for you," said Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta. "You are truly an example for the other kids at your school and your...

More funding for the FIRE grant program On Tuesday night, the House Rules Committee passed a closed rule for the Fiscal Year 2010 DHS Appropriations bill (H.R. 2892) that would not allow Representatives Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Steve Austria (R-OH), Peter King (R-NY) and Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ) to offer their amendment on the House floor yesterday. The House Rules Committee writes the rules for the consideration of each bill before it goes to the House Floor.  However,...

Never leave your barbecue unattendedor use petrol to light it With the summer season in full swing and temperatures set to soar even further, Kent Fire and Rescue Service is warning the public to take extra care with barbecues. Assistant Director for Community Safety, Steve Griffiths said, "With the weather so good for activities, such as barbecues, it's only natural to want to be outside, enjoying it with family and friends. But there are dangers that lurk behind such fun p...

London Fire Brigade promotes fire safety for children London Fire Brigade launches new child fire safety campaign Firefighters are urging Londoners to keep their community safe and sound by teaching children about the importance of fire safety. London Fire Brigade’s Assistant Commissioner for Community Safety Andy Barrett said, “Parents and carers can become fire safety champions by protecting their children from fire just by talking to them about what to d...

President Obama has approved new rules on the use of SAFER grants In an economic crisis, changes will allow fire departments to use SAFER grants to retain fire fighters President Obama today approved new rules that govern how fire departments can use funding from the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, an important change during an economic crisis that is responsible for widespread layoffs of fire fighters throughout the country. The ne...

London Fire Brigade launches its new fire safety campaign: 'Keep Your Community Safe and Sound.' London Fire Brigade's new fire safety campaign has got underway with a celebrity launch Actor Cliff Parisi, who plays ‘Minty' in EastEnders, joined London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson and the Vice Chair of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Cllr Liaquat Ali to launch the ‘Keep Your Community Safe &Sound' campaign. The new campaign is encouraging all...

More than 1,200 US businesses and organizations have joined the 2009 National Preparedness Month Coalition Over 1,200 US businesses and organizations have supported the 2009 NPM Coalition The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced on June 19 that more than 1,200 national, regional, tribal, state and local businesses and organizations, including the National Volunteer Fire Council, have pledged their support and joined the 2009 National Preparedness Month (NPM)...

FEMA is hosting a roundtable to highlight President Obama's United We Serve campaign Roundtable highlights need for volunteer service in US communities Today, the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency kicked off the President's summer of service by holding a roundtable with volunteer and career first responders, including firefighters, members of FEMA's Fire Corps and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Today's event highlight...

Brian Newstead (left) is congratulated by London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson Retirement of LFB firefighter after over 50 years of public service In 1958 Britain's first motorway was opened, Elvis joined the army and Manchester United lost a generation of talented players in the Munich Air disaster. It was also the year that Brian Newstead joined the fire service and he is now retiring after over half a century of dedicated service to the public. Brian, who lives in Wemble...

Janet Napolitano and Craig Fugate announce the new FEMA grants New grants will improve US readiness for disasters US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano have announced nearly $1.8 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) preparedness grants designed to help states, urban areas, tribal governments and non-profit agencies improve their readiness by enhancing protection, prevention, response and recovery capabilities for all disas...

USFA is recruiting students to attend pilot classes for a new fire protection course New NFA fire protection course pilot classes announced The United States Fire Administration (USFA), Department of Homeland Security, is recruiting students and instructor candidates to attend pilot classes for its new six-day on-campus course Hot Topics in Fire Protection. The pilot will be offered October 18 to 23, 2009 at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland. St...

Les Bowman has been awarded the Queen's Fire Service Medal Prestigious medal awarded to 23-year career firefighter Les Bowman has been awarded the Queen's Fire Service Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, in recognition of his service to Londoners during a 23 year career with the London Fire Brigade. Les, currently a Station Manager at Kingsland Fire Station in East London, joined the Brigade in 1986 as a firefighter at Dagenham Fire Station, where he stayed fo...

Nick Collins, Assistant Commissioner of the LFB, has been awarded the Queen's Fire Service Medal LFB Assistant Commissioner awarded medal for dedication to the service London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Nick Collins has been awarded the Queen's Fire Service Medal (QFSM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, in recognition of his dedication to the fire and rescue service. AC Collins joined the Brigade in 1978 and rose through the ranks to become Assistant Commission...

Damage to buildings from wildfire is increasing throughout the US "Safer from the Start" addresses development in wildfire-prone areas of the US Wildfires that damage homes and businesses are increasing in severity throughout the country, as growth patterns put more homes and neighborhoods in areas naturally prone to fire. While the national Firewise Communities® program has long advocated action in existing communities to minimize fire hazards to homes, its new public...

KFRS is warning of the need for rural fire safety throughout the summer UK fire and rescue service warns of rural fire hazards throughout hot summer With a hot summer predicted, Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is urging people to protect the countryside by being extra careful not to start or cause fires through carelessness. A few days of warm weather can dry out vegetation and grass verges, so crop fields and woodland can easily catch light if people are...

Designed to foster cooperative andcollaborative labor-managementrelationships Labor-management relationships needed to deal with difficulties of the current economic situation Strong labor-management relationships are critical in order to effectively address the financial and operational difficulties most fire departments are facing in the current economic environment. The IAFC/IAFF Labor-Management Initiative, a joint program of the IAFC and the International Associatio...

Two London landlords have been punished for breaching fire safety regulations Case highlights need for responsible fire safety in UK premises Two Haringey landlords have been sentenced to six months imprisonment and ordered to pay £5000 costs each for breaching fire safety regulations, after a successful prosecution by London Fire Brigade. The prosecution followed a fire at a house converted into bedsits, on Hampden Road, N8, on 31 March 2007. Sentencing of the buil...

CSB has released a video detailing the need for chemical emergency preparedness New video is based on findings from a decade of CSB accident investigations The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today released a new safety video showing the need for emergency response agencies, companies, and communities to work closely together to prepare for the kinds of tragic chemical accidents the CSB has investigated over the past decade. The new video, entitled "Emergency Preparedness:...

Fire Corps advises homeowners to test their smoke alarms as part of Home Safety Month June is Home Safety Month, providing a perfect opportunity for Fire Corps teams to reach out to the public and work to reduce instances of unintentional home injury in the U.S. The campaign's theme this year is "Hands on Home Safety," which asks the public to take some simple, hands-on steps to create a safer home environment from the five leading causes of home injury - falls, poison...

The IAFF has thanked the Obama administration for supporting Providence firefighters The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) today thanked the Obama administration for honoring the picket line planned for the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Annual Meeting next week in Providence, Rhode Island. "We appreciate the Obama administration's support of fire fighters. This is another example of the administration's unqualified support for workers and organized labor,"...

Firefighters protest against Governor Ritter's veto of Colorado Senate Bill 180 Colorado fire fighters frustrated by Ritter's veto Colorado Governor Bill Ritter has vetoed a bill that would have allowed fire fighters to unionize without local government approval. Senate Bill 180, which passed the state legislature in May, would have given fire fighters' unions with a minimum of 50 employees equal negotiating status with management in decisions on pay, benefits and workin...

CSU has partnered with the NVFC to offer scholarships to NVFC members Online course format makes learning achievable even for those with busy schedules Have you been wanting to get your Bachelor's or Associate's Degree but felt the economic climate and demands on your time made it impossible? Or were you hoping to attend college in the fall but faced concerns about financing your higher education? The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and Columbia Southern University (...