Fire and Rescue news

FEMA has advised recipients to use disaster grants for intended purposes only.  Photo: Bdelisle Nearly $9 million in recovery assistance has been approved for disaster affected areas. State and federal disaster assistance payments are bringing needed financial help to homeowners, renters and business owners who suffered damages in the severe storms and flooding of mid-March. However, those payments come with some words of advice from the Federal Emergency Manag...

Use of Methyl Isocyanate is a big security concern for workers and people living in its proximity The Congressionally mandated study was initiated after the 2008 explosion at Bayer’s Chemical Complex in Institute, West Virginia. Congress has also appropriated $600,000 to CSB for current fiscal year. In a Federal Register notice published on April 23, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) announced it is seeking public comment on the design of a Congressionally manda...

iVENCS provides 3D visualisation of critical and disaster situations ASL's iVENCS is a sensor and event fusion environment in which voice, data and video can be filtered, analysed and directed from across the full spectrum of subsystems. iVENCS will be displayed at IFSEC 2010. ASL Safety & Security at Hall 5 Stand D85 will be unveiling iVENCS, the first in a new generation of 3D-based situation management and integrated control platforms. iVENCS is an infrastructure-scale...

Follow simple emergency measures to protect against volcanic eruptions. Photo: Mark A. Wilson Potentially active volcanoes in the U.S. exist mainly in Hawaii, Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. With the recent eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland, it is important to remember that the United States also has the potential for volcanic activity.  When pressure builds up within a volcano's molten rock, it has the potential to erupt, sending forth lava...

Bulk foam units will ward off emergency fire situations across London The highly specialised vehicles introduced in London Fire Brigade enable firefighters to tackle emergencies like aircraft crashes, chemical spills or fires on large industrial sites with large amounts of foam.   Three bulk foam unit appliances go on the run in London this week backed by new training and staffing capabilities dramatically improving London's ability to fight major fires or spil...

The AFG programme is administered by Department of Homeland Security The Department of Homeland Security has posted the FY 2010 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program Guidance on the AFG Web site. The application period is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 26, 2010, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET). Applications for these grants must be received by Friday, May 28, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). Nationally, the AFG awards, which will be distributed in phases...

Transformer pumper features improved handling and maneuverability The Transformer frees up more than 130 cubic feet of pass-through compartment space for mounting equipment, storing equipment and other departmental needs. The Transformer was dislayed at FDIC 2010.  Crimson Fire, Inc. introduced a new pumper designed to meet fire departments' dual needs to respond to emergencies and fight fires at the fire-rescue industry's biggest trade show. Crimson Fire, a subsid...

There will be a record number of visitors and exhibitors from the fire services industry at Intershutz 2010 Interschutz 2010 in Leipzig will attract more than 100,000 international visitors, of whom 95 percent will be emergency and rescue sector professionals. From 7-12 June, 2010, the city of Leipzig, Germany, will be hosting the Interschutz expo, the global shop window for suppliers to the non-police public safety sector. The fair showcases products and services for emergen...

Webinar will be in two phases meant for animal care and preparedness during disasters  Community Preparedness Webinar Series, an initiative of FEMA, features new community preparedness topics several times each month and is free to the public. FEMA’s Individual & Community Preparedness Division organised a two part installment of the Community Preparedness Webinar Series in honor of National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day on May 8th: "The...

The site of the fire and explosion lacked warning signs CSB investigators determined that a lit cigarette or lighter was the likely ignition source for explosion.A fiery explosion that took the life of a 21-year-old member of the public in Weeletka, Oklahoma, on April 14 occurred at an unattended oil and gas production site that was unsecured and likely lacked fire or explosion warning signs, CSB investigators have determined following a four-day field assessment. Investiga...

Crimson Fire provides pumpers and aerials to city of Chicago  Crimson Fire has recently signed a three-year contract with Chicago to provide more than 30 custom aerials. Crimson Fire, Inc. has begun delivering pumpers to the city of Chicago as part of a three-year contract. The Brandon, S.D. based manufacturer of custom fire trucks and other rescue vehicles has already delivered nine custom pumpers to Chicago as part of the contract. The city, which has one more...

The optical beam smoke detector detected the fire in the unmanned  factory Fireray 5000, manufactured by Fire Fighting Enterprises Ltd., is an advanced optical beam smoke detector. Acetone in a production area of a factory in west Hull caught fire, however no-one was injured and the building escaped intact. A recently-installed Fireray 5000 optical beam smoke detector sounded the alarm at 8.45 am, when the area had been temporarily unmanned. When workers had left the...

Pink 2AA ProPolymer sales will support Breast Cancer Research Institute Perfect Mother's day gift, sales will help light the way to breast cancer cure. Streamlight has sold over 70,000 Pink Nano Lights, and hopes to make a sizeable donation to Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Streamlight Inc., a leading provider of high-performance flashlights, has introduced a pink version of its popular 2AA ProPolymer flashlight. Designed to make a difference in the fight against breast...

NIOSH and USFA have joined to study cancer-related issues among fire service professionals The United States Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are partnering on a study to examine the potential for increased risk of cancer among firefighters due to exposures from smoke, soot, and other contaminants in the line of duty. This multi-year USFA supported NIOSH study will include over 18,000 current and retire...

A total of 30 apprenticeships will be created for fire system and security engineers  A total of 30 apprenticeships are being made available across Chubb's fire, security, and integrated technologies businesses. Chubb is expanding its award-winning engineering apprenticeship scheme to include apprenticeships for fire systems engineers, as well as security engineers, for the first time in the company's history. Chubb is part of UTC Fire & Security, a unit...

  The majority of UK's fire and rescue services use managed PPE service centres A substantial increase in the level of demand for managed care services from across the emergency services for personal protective equipment (PPE) is behind Bristol's decision to open a new service centre in the South East to effectively double the level of care contracts the company can service and which is ideally located to supplement the service currently available in the South West. Th...

Crimson Fire aerial vehicles provide dependability and performance Crimson Fire, Inc. has signed a three-year contract with the city of Chicago to build more than 30 custom aerial fire trucks. The Brandon, S.D. based manufacturer of custom fire trucks and other rescue vehicles has begun designing and building five 103-foot rear-mount aerial trucks for the Windy City. Chicago, which also has a three-year contract with Crimson Fire to provide custom pumpers, could purchase...

Navistar and CARB have rached an understanding, ending the lawsuit Navistar International Corporation withdrew a lawsuit it previously filed against the California Air Resources Board (CARB) following an agreement with CARB that addresses the issues that prompted the court action. Navistar had sought a ruling in a San Francisco Superior Court declaring that CARB was improperly certifying 2010 diesel engines equipped with an after treatment system called SCR that is...

Oil and Gas sites are prone to explosions and mishaps due to their highly inflammable property On April 13, 2010, CSB released a safety video aimed at educating young people on the hazards of socialising at oil sites, a common phenomenon in rural areas. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) announced it has sent investigators to a fatal explosion which occurred on April 14, 2010, at an oil site in Weleetka, Oklahoma. The CSB team is headed by Investigations Supervisor...

Tesco has been fined for breaches of fire legislation including not carrying out fire risk assessment The retailer Tesco has been fined £95,000 and ordered to pay £24,321 in costs after pleading guilty to serious breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (the "RRO").   London Fire Brigade prosecuted Tesco following a fire and subsequent inspection of a supermarket at Colney Hatch in Barnet. Firefighters were called to a fire at t...

  FDM's integrated software to help in Computer Aided Dispatch and Record Management FDM's scalable, integrated solution along with their experience in buil ding interfaces to other software applications helped procure the deal. After a detailed procurement process, the Burlington Fire Department, Burlington, Ontario decided that FDM's fully integrated Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Records Management System (RMS) was the best solution to meet their needs. I...

The FRAC features a new pumper and integrated pump First Response All Calls™(FRAC) vehicles on display featured fire suppression and command modules, two of the many uses that will allow emergency-response departments to customise the FRAC specifically to their needs. Crimson Fire, Inc. unveiled a production-ready version of its new First Response All Calls™ vehicle at the FDIC 2010 show, a unique, multi-purpose vehicle that gives departments broad fire-fight...

ONESuit products were displayed at FDIC 2010 ONESuit products meet rigorous National Fire Protective Association (NFPA) requirements and are certified to NFPA 1991 standards. The products were displayed at FDIC 2010. Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics is pleased to announce the opening of its new ONESuit Service and Support Center in Suwa, Japan, demonstrating its commitment to international growth. The service and support center will provide technical assistance and r...

  Foam systems boost the effectiveness of water to fight fires Kimtek exhibited its  FIRELTE Foam Systems at FDIC 2010. At FDIC 2010, Kimtek exhibited its integrated "around-the-pump" foam system that enhances fire fighting capabilities of its FIRELITE units, providing firefighters greater effectiveness in remote or off-road firefighting situations. The rugged, lightweight FIRELITE wild land fire skid units offer quality construction at an affordable...

The newly displayed ambulance by Road Rescue is equipped to tackle critical medical situations Built on a Furion Chassis, the New Ambulance Serves as an Emergency Room on Wheels. The ambulance was exhibited at FDIC 2010. Road Rescue, Inc. unveiled a new "emergency room on wheels" as it made its debut by exhibiting Critical Care Transport vehicle at the fire-rescue industry's biggest trade show. Road Rescue, which is a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPAR), w...

Module M210E-CZR is manufactured by System Sensor Europe M210E-CZR, which was exhibited at FDIC 2010, allows an existing conventional zone to be interfaced to the addressable system, enabling it to be installed in stages without loss of protection. System Sensor Europe has introduced an updated conventional zone interface module, the M210E-CZR, designed for use in addressable fire systems to enable a zone of conventional two-wire detectors to be managed by the contro...

New concept fire vehicles are high in performance and capability FDIC 2010 provided a platform for Crimson Fire to display some of its widest range of innovative products which included Transformer®, a new pumper,  new First Response All Calls™ vehicle, 75-foot Star® series aerial ladder, Legend® series rescue pumper and many more. Crimson Fire, Inc. displayed new vehicles and product innovations at the fire-rescue industry's biggest trade show...

The new green building code is meant for traditional and high performance buildings The International Code Council (ICC) recently unveiled the IGCC Public Version 1.0 at its Washington, D.C., world headquarters office with participants from the fire safety community in attendance. In an answer to the public demand for more energy-efficient and renewable technologies in schools, hospitals, and worksites of all types, the International Green Construction Code (IGCC) is...

Andrew Velasquez brings his work experience in emergency management to the new post Andrew Velasquez III brings extensive experience in emergency management at the state and local level. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate today applauded President Obama's appointment of Andrew Velasquez III as FEMA Regional Administrator for Region V, which encompasses Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. "Regional Administrators...

The programme will analyse policy options and examine the responsibilities of leadership The fellowship programme for fire service leaders is a joint effort between the USFA, IFSTA, IAFC, NFPA, and Harvard. Kelvin J. Cochran, Administrator of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), announced that six senior fire officials have been selected for fellowships to attend the Harvard University's Senior Executives in State and Local Governm...