Fire and Rescue news

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment, a pioneer in maritime safety solutions, has secured a new order for 11 ambulance boats from the Hellenic Coastguard, expanding the coverage provided by VIKING Norsafe vessels to support emergency services for Greek island communities. The new VIKING Norsafe Munin S-1200 ambulance boats will be used to support emergency services and auxiliary healthcare in remote areas, including the islands of Thassos, Psara, Agios Efstratios, Fournoi, Kea, Lipsi, Kasos, North Evia...

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S is pleased to announce that its newly appointed CEO, Henrik Helsinghof, will start on 1 May 2024 – one month earlier than previously stated. This positive news will allow VIKING to accelerate its dynamic leadership transition as it looks to build on two years of recording breaking results. VIKING’s recent success Henrik Helsinghof began his career at VIKING in 2006 and remained with the company “I’m extremely pleased to be starting bac...

VIKING has appointed Mira Nielsen as the new CFO, effective from 4 March. This follows a thorough recruitment process that began in the autumn and was completed before Christmas when then-CEO Henrik Uhd Christensen and Mira Nielsen reached an agreement. With Mira Nielsen, VIKING adds a financial profile with extensive international experience. She has worked in several large companies in Europe and the USA, including as VP of Finance Management Support and part of the General Management Team in...

Marine Evacuation Systems (MES), served by liferafts, is an efficient and widely used method for mass evacuation at sea. With passenger ship capacities increasing, the ability of MES to evacuate hundreds of people in a matter of has been tested exhaustively in Beaufort Sea State 6 conditions. MES and liferafts–five things To be compliant, liferafts must be designed in accordance with SOLAS Chapter lll and the LSA Code. All VIKING liferafts are compliant with these standards and are ful...

When it comes to sustainability reporting, the so-called Scope 1, 2 and 3 definitions are slowly becoming the global standard by which companies account for their Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. In brief; Scope 1 emissions cover the Green House Gas emissions that are owned or controlled by a company. For example, emissions coming from owned vehicles and boilers are included in this Scope. Scope 2 emissions account for the indirect emissions originated from the purchased electricit...

Ever since VIKING was founded in 1960, they have led by example and have taken responsibility for the environment. In 2023, they continued this important work across all three ESG pillars: Environment, Social responsibility, and Governance. The sustainability efforts continue to be anchored in VIKING’s top management team, who have stood by the decision to execute a long-term sustainability strategy based on a structural approach to engage the entire global organization and value chain....

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation business, and the City of Madison Fire Department, announce the first Pierce® Volterra™ electric pumper production unit ordered is now in service with the City of Madison Fire Department in Wisconsin. This milestone represents the culmination of years of collaboration and commitment to advancing zero-emissions technology in the fire service industry. Evaluate the Pierce Volterra platform The City of Madison Fire Department becam...

Shipowners and operators of EU vessels must take steps to ensure that all new firefighting suits on board comply with changes to European regulations which enter into force from June 2025, according to urgent advice from VIKING Life-Saving Equipment. The leading life-saving equipment solutions provider is recommending fleet managers undertake a full risk assessment of their firefighting suits to verify compliance with requirements applying under MED regulations (EU) 2024/1975. New firefighting...

Hochiki, a pioneer in life safety solutions, is celebrating the first anniversary of its Training Academy. This milestone marks a significant achievement in Hochiki's commitment to education and advancement within the fire safety industry. With over a century of experience, Hochiki has earned a reputation for manufacturing reliable and innovative life safety products. The Training Academy builds upon this legacy, providing fire safety professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to eff...

Fire and Rescue NSW investigators are focusing on a charging e-bike battery as the cause of a fatal house fire at Guildford in Sydney's west. FRNSW crews have confirmed there were no working smoke alarms in the Rowley Road house that caught alight. Firefighter Rescue Attempt Responding to multiple Triple Zero calls, firefighters found a bedroom in the home well ablaze. There were reports of a person trapped inside and crews quickly entered the burning building to carry out a search. Five oth...

Frequentis marks the debut of its LifeX3020 solution in Southeast Asia, improving emergency call handling and response coordination across three major centers and nationwide blue light agencies. This effort supports Malaysia’s Next Generation Emergency Services 999 (NG999) project, an upgrade designed to replace the current Malaysian Emergency Response System (MERS999). The initiative underscores Malaysia’s strong commitment to enhancing public safety across the nation. Responses f...

Accidental home fires can catch people unawares. Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is urging the community to prepare a home escape plan so that families can escape safely should a fire occur. Having a home escape plan in conjunction with a working smoke alarm will greatly increase ones chances of getting out safely. Every second counts. Evacuation Plan A home fire escape plan involves identifying escape routes from each room of the home as well as a place to meet once safely outside. Know your fi...

Fire and Rescue NSW is seeking to attract a new generation of first responders in the region, taking to the streets of Broken Hill to recruit for local on-call firefighters. The isolated community, which is home to around 17,000 people, is facing a firefighter shortage, with the fire station currently looking to fill multiple paid on-call firefighter roles. Recruitment Drive FRNSW is undertaking a comprehensive recruitment strategy in the area to safeguard a sustainable model of service deliv...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) believes a lithium-ion battery caused a house fire at Umina on the Central Coast overnight, which left a man seriously injured with burns and two others suffering from smoke inhalation. Three fire trucks and 12 firefighters were called to the home on Gwendolen Avenue shortly after 4:30 am. On arrival, they found smoke issuing from the townhouse and quickly got to work to extinguish the blaze. FRNSW investigators FRNSW provided emergency medical treatment to three p...

The sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT has been awarded a contract extension for the Eurofighter Mk1 radar worth approximately 350 million euros. Following approval by the German and Spanish Ministries of Defence, further development tasks were commissioned by Airbus Defense and Space. next-generation E-Scan radar   The ECRS Mk1 project (Eurofighter Common Radar System Mark 1) is the next-generation Eurofighter radar that is to be fielded by the air forces of Germany and Spain.  T...

With the rapid rise of digitization, cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, data centers are becoming increasingly important. The expensive equipment deployed in data centers, the high economic importance and the often irreplaceable data make fire protection for data centers crucial. A new Euralarm guidance document provides insight on aspects to consider and some of the options available when protecting data centers. The document is now available in Eng...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is currently on scene monitoring a partial wall collapse in Fairfield, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of residents from a high-rise residential building and children from a neighbouring primary school. Firefighters were called to the property on the corner of Fairfield Street and Vine Street, where a 10-meter-high wall was observed bulging from the residential building. Building Safety Concern FRNSW specialists including Urban Search and Rescue teams are on s...

Fire and Rescue NSW has heralded the Lunar New Year with a special Chinese Lion Dance at the nation’s busiest fire station. FRNSW Commissioner, Jeremy Fewtrell, his executive team and the crew from 001 City of Sydney station welcomed the dynamic demonstration by the Chinese Youth League’s Lion and Dragon dance troupe. Celebrating Heritage The performance symbolises the warding off of evil spirits at the 141-year-old station and the promotion of good fortune and happiness. Commiss...

Fire and Rescue NSW crews have extinguished a fire in a large two-story home in East Killara in Sydney’s Upper North Shore. Six trucks and 22 firefighters responded to the blaze in Koola Avenue, after reports of smoke and fire issuing from the property. Complex Fire Situation Firefighters quickly got to work however the home, believed to be used as an AirBnB, had multiple occupancies and various entry points making it difficult to locate the fire. It took crews approximately one hour to...

Dozens of Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) personnel from across the state will descend on Jindabyne, in the Snowy Mountains, next week to raise vital funds for kids with burn injuries. The annual fundraising event by the FRNSW volunteer group, ‘Beat the Burn’, runs from 17-21 February. FRNSW staff and families FRNSW staff and their families will tackle sporting challenges such as running In its 20th anniversary year, FRNSW staff and their families will tackle sporting challenges such...

Amthal Group Companies has appointed Richard Parker as its new Group Head of Sales. With over three decades of experience in the fire and security industry, Richard brings a wealth of expertise in sales leadership, business development and strategic growth to the company. Richard joins Amthal from Walker Fire UK Ltd., where he served as Group Sales Manager UK, successfully building and pioneering high-performing sales teams while driving business expansion across multiple sectors. Prior roles...

Dräger, an international pioneer in the fields of medical and safety technology, has appointed former Chief Fire Officer of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, Gary Walsh, as its strategic advisor on fire and rescue services (FRS) matters to ensure that Dräger’s safety technology continues to serve and reflect the needs of modern firefighting. Prior roles of Gary  Gary, an operational firefighter for more than 30 years, was the NFCC respiratory protective equipment (RPE)...

A fire broke out on the roof of the gymnasium at Mashpee Middle-High School just after 9 a.m. Monday morning, prompting an immediate evacuation of students and staff. Thanks to regular fire drills and safety inspections, the evacuation was swift, with no injuries reported. Regular fire drills Mashpee Fire Chief Joseph Pelletier told WCVB he observed heavy smoke and fire emanating from the gym area upon arrival. Crews used a ladder truck to access the roof, where a heating unit had...

A fire in the business setting can truly cause severe damage, disrupt operations and put lives at risk. Effective fire safety plan ensures that the employees know how to prevent fires, how to respond in case of emergency and how to evacuate safely. In this guide, they can learn everything about how to create an effective fire safety plan for their business. Why business needs a safety plan A well-designed fire safety plan goes way beyond just a legal requirement A well-designed fire safety p...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is urging the public to wake up to the risks of lithium-ion battery products amid a spate of dangerous fires. FRNSW crews have responded to 13 lithium-ion battery fires across NSW since Sunday 2 February, including four incidents in a 12-hour period last week. So far in 2025, there have been 25 lithium-ion-related fires. Lithium-ion battery-related fires Two men sustained injuries, one from flying shrapnel and the other from smoke inhalation In one incident in Syd...

A working smoke alarm has saved the lives of two adults and one teenager following a house fire in Hurstville Grove in southern Sydney overnight. Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews were called to a two-level residential property in Whitfield Parade after reports of a house fire just after 3.30 am. Arrival of firefighters Firefighters quickly got to work and contained and extinguished the blaze within 20 minutes Seven trucks and more than 30 firefighters arrived on scene and were faced with la...

Ship fires are on the rise, posing serious risks to crews, vessels, and operations. Ensuring 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 users need to know to stay compliant and protect the crew. Enhanced crew safety What does this mean for sh...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews are still working to extinguish a fire in a heavy-duty industrial conveyor belt in Rooty Hill near Blacktown in Sydney’s west. Firefighters were initially called to the steel manufacturing premises in Kellogg Road just before 6.00 am after reports of a fire in an underground concrete structure. smoke plume and potential hazards The blaze, originating from a 100-metre-long heavy-duty rubber conveyor belt system that has collapsed into a concrete pit, rem...

Fire and Rescue NSW is warning of an alarming spike in lithium-ion battery fires, after responding to four separate e-bike and e-scooter fires in Sydney within the past 12 hours. These four fires bring the total number of battery related fires across the state to 11. Dangerous Device Detonates The latest incident occurred where two men suffered injuries after an explosion and fire involving an e-scooter battery at a house in Sadlier in Sydney's southwest. Three fire trucks and 12 firefig...

Lorient and ASSA ABLOY are excited to announce their debut at the UK’s fastest-growing fire safety exhibition, The Fire Safety Event 2025, taking place at the NEC, Birmingham, from 8th to 10th April 2025. Located at stand 4/G30, together they will exhibit a complete range of fire door hardware and sealing system solutions. Spanning an impressive 84SQM, the stand will highlight the critical role of door hardware and intumescent sealing systems in fire safety, showcasing how these component...