Fire and Rescue news

The Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Commissioner, Jeremy Fewtrell, has unveiled a station upgrade and two new fire engines to protect the community of Ulladulla on the state’s south coast. The improvements include a $1.7 million station refurbishment, which began in April last year, and two new fire trucks valued at $1.23 million. Commissioner Fewtrell said the six-month upgrade is significant as the station was constructed in 1972 and was last upgraded in 1998. The changes include: Exte...

Since the onset of the pandemic, most companies have become familiar with issuing alcohol gel in the form of hand sanitizer for staff, customers and visitors. This is understandable because it’s a good way of ensuring no germs, viruses and bacteria are passed on when surfaces are touched. But, as a manager or procurement officer, just how au fait are users with storing these highly-flammable liquids? It’s important to do so carefully because of the high alcohol content in the gel &n...

Perimeter Solutions, a pioneering manufacturer of high-quality fire retardant and firefighting foam, is introducing the Perimeter Solutions Industrial Foam School, a comprehensive, two-day training program designed for industrial firefighters, hazmat teams, and municipal firefighters who support industrial facilities. The first Industrial Foam School session will take place at the Delaware State Fire Academy in Dover, DE, on May 28-29, 2025. Fluorine-free firefighting foams “Firefightin...

Fire and Rescue NSW fighters have extinguished a fire that occurred in a commercial laundry in Parramatta. Remote Site Survey The site has been declared a crime scene and handed over to NSW Police as a matter of procedure. Investigators will return to the site tomorrow, following consultation with engineers, to continue examining the origin and cause of the fire. FRNSW Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (drones) have been used to safely assess the site and will be deployed again tomorrow to ass...

As a pioneer manufacturer of high-performance sealing systems for fire doors – they have shown unwavering support for Fire Door Safety Week since its inception in 2013. Kicking off on marks a momentous 10 year anniversary of the campaign. Fire Door Safety Week (FDSW) was launched in response to a legacy of fire door neglect. Know Fire Door Basics The campaign is managed by the British Woodworking Federation and is supported by a number of partners It's a ‘mass market’ aware...

Hannay Reels will showcase its line of custom hose and cable solutions designed for fire and emergency applications at the 2025 Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC). Located at booth 4069 in the Indianapolis Convention Center, Hannay will exhibit reels manufactured with extremely durable materials that can be customized to meet vehicle requirements. Innovations for Emergencies Hannay can be customized to meet vehicle requirements with extremely durable materials Hannay will exhibit...

At FireRite, they are proud of the associations in business that they have built up over two decades in the fire safety industry. That’s because it is the number of associations they align with that give they the edge over the competitors and ensure the fire health and safety advice is both contemporary and as good as it can possibly be. To the extent that they were awarded Best Fire Safety & Compliance Consultancy Business 2020 & 2021 at the recent Welsh Enterprise Awards.&n...

Cygnus, a pioneering developer and manufacturer of EN 54-certified and 100% wireless fire detection and alarm systems, will be celebrating an important milestone at this year’s Fire Safety Event, the two-year anniversary of SmartNet achieving EN 54 certification. The Fire Safety Event is the UK's largest show dedicated to fire and life safety and takes place at the NEC in Birmingham from 8-10 April 2025. Fire detection and alarm system Cygnus will celebrate its two-year anniversary of o...

Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) has announced that it has created a new Level 3 Award in Compliance & Safety of Fire Resisting Roller Shutter Doors training course. Launched in response to member feedback, the course provides a full day of learning, which is mapped to the National Occupational Standards for the installation, maintenance, and repair of fire-resisting roller shutter doors. It serves as a natural progression from DHF’s Level 2 Award in Industrial & Garage Door S...

Since they invested in the Fire Consultancy division, they were aware of the perceived ‘conflict of interest’ in the fire industry for companies like ourselves; Why? As they assess client fire safety risks and are then providing Active & Passive fire solutions to address the findings within the assessment. For some people, informing a company that they need to improve their fire safety and then, later on, assessing those improvements may appear conflicting. Because yes, they hav...

If they are a new business – or an existing business, for that matter – and are wondering whether or not they need fire safety training, then read on. The bad news is fire is easily started and can spread quickly through a building – to the extent it can completely raze it to the ground. In other words, they could be left with no premises at all for them and their staff to work in. Fire safety training In a worst-case scenario, they might face court proceedings and even up t...

Here at FireRite, they were saddened to learn of the huge fire that completely destroyed a recycling plant at Blaenavon in South Wales last month. Around 600 tonnes of plastic melted while 60 firefighters with 14 appliances and using specialist equipment tackled the blaze. There was also a huge upheaval for the community after roads were closed and harmful fumes polluted the atmosphere. This particular fire in October at Capital Valley Plastics followed recycling plant fires in W...

A dry riser is, in fact, simply a set of permanently installed pipework (water inlets, pipes, and outlets) spread through a building on all levels and which firefighters can access to help them fight a fire on an upper floor of a building. An air valve is fitted at the top of the pipework so that air can be released when the system is full of water. Fire-resisting enclosures surround the pipework. It is called a dry riser because it should always remain empty and only be filled w...

Fire and Rescue NSW will be undertaking a hazard reduction burn on North Head located near Manly on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Smoke from the planned hazard reduction burn may settle in and around the Manly area and will be visible from a long distance away. Planned hazard reduction This is an important prescribed burn which will reduce the risk to people and properties from future bush fires. If users have asthma or a lung condition, reduce outdoor activities if smoke levels are high a...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have extinguished a fire in a townhouse in Mayfield, in the Hunter region. Just before 2am, firefighters responded to Triple Zero (000) calls to a fire in a two-level building located on the corner of Maitland Road and Woodstock Street. On arrival, crews were met by an intense and rapidly expanding fire in the complex of eight townhouses. Fortunately, all occupants had self-evacuated with the assistance of neighbours. Four of the occupants were transported by N...

RISCO has announced the release of its revolutionary wireless LuNAR FireWatch, a three-in-one smoke, heat, and PIR detector designed for optimum safety and security. The device signifies a breakthrough for the security industry, as it combines the functions of three individual functions into one cohesive, streamlined detection solution. safety and security device The wireless LuNAR FireWatch is designed for ceiling mounting, prioritizing improved detection coverage and minimizing blind spots....

Very few people in the UK can be unaware of the devastation caused by the Grenfell tower block fire five years ago now. For those involved in the horrors of that night are replayed over and over again as the fatal accident inquiry into apportioning blame - and ensuring a similar event never occurs again - continues. To this end, the government has introduced new legislation in the form of the Fire Safety Act 2021. Fatal accident inquiry The Act considers the recommendations introduced by Sir...

The largest UK fire and rescue service convoy is set to deliver more than 15,000 pieces of life-saving firefighting equipment to Ukrainian firefighters. Donated by UK fire and rescue services, working with FIRE AID, the eighth convoy - including 26 donated fire engines - will make its way across Europe next month (April). This eighth convoy adds to the 119 vehicles that have been donated, alongside 200,000 pieces of equipment since the invasion began. Full-scale invasion in 2022 The war...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is taking to the streets of Warren to recruit the next generation of on-call firefighters.   The small rural town, which is home to around 1,300 people, is facing a firefighter shortage and needs to fill multiple paid on-call firefighter roles. Hosting an information session Throughout March, firefighters will be available to answer questions about building a rewarding career at FRNSW: Saturday 22 March, 10am: The crew will be at the finish line of the Wa...

Ranger Fire and Security has announced its first acquisition of 2025, with McGoff & Vickers Fire & Security Systems (MGV) becoming the latest business to join the rapidly growing Ranger Group. Run by industry specialists and service business experts, Ranger brings together high-quality fire and security (F&S) businesses in partnership to share industry expertise, resources and boost cross-selling opportunities. Fire protection services North-West-based F&S business MGV has a h...

It’s important for any organization to be able to reduce risk, manage the situation and mitigate any impact that might arise from an emergency. One of the first approaches is to identify the best man – or woman – for such a job/s. Their course can help prepare staff for such an emergency. In it, they take senior staff (managers and supervisors) through a series of confidence-building stages. This allows them to check their existing knowledge, look at their current skills and a...

Regarding the notion of fire safety in the workplace, fire signs are an essential part of this. These signs guide people to safety should a blaze occur, after all. They also point to where fire-fighting equipment such as extinguishers and safety blankets can be found. So important are they that the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 legislation insists certain signs are a legal requirement for commercial premises. Legal requirement for commercial premises So, what are these signs, and...

It’s not unusual to find fire safety training low on the demands of an innovative start-up business or even an SME. There always seems to be something more ‘urgent’ to deal with first. But what’s more urgent than finding new business premises because their existing one has burned down? And users may not be allowed to continue operating the business since failing to ensure the staff are protected against a fire outbreak is against the law. Fire risk assessment The Regul...

Now that many businesses are again up and running following the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, government thoughts are turning to housing – and social housing in particular. In their latest report, in October last year, the Housing Regulator pointed out there were still a number of risks facing the social housing sector. Providers, it said, should be taking steps to manage those risks. Those include local authorities, and councils, of course. Fire risk assessments @RSHEngland: “Board...

Anyone in charge of a building – whether residential, commercial or industrial – needs to get a fire risk assessment carried out on it. Getting a fire risk assessment done on a building doesn’t only make sense, it can be a life saver. It’s also a matter of staying on the right side of the law. @LondonFire: “If we believe people are at risk, we may even have to close your business until you can make it safe for employees and members of the public.” Fire safet...

Renewable hydrogen is set to play a crucial role in the energy transition. European member states are already experimenting with this promising energy carrier, and they are testing how they can repurpose existing natural gas distribution networks to bring hydrogen to the consumer. Hydrogen is a highly flammable gas. That is why technical staff working on these hydrogen distribution networks will need to be trained for safety. They will also need to be equipped with the right tools to detect hy...

Bosch Building Technologies has launched the AVENAR IO (input/output) module 4000 series, a new range of interface modules designed to elevate the efficiency and adaptability of fire safety systems.  The launch debuts with the FLM-430-I2M1, a smart interface module engineered to enhance connectivity and control across multiple applications. It is fully compatible with the AVENAR fire detector 4000 series. Role of Interface Modules Interface modules are important parts that connect fire a...

Britannia Fire, a pioneer in the manufacture of composite fire extinguishers, has invested more than £1m in the refurbishment of its factory in Norfolk, UK. The investment comes in direct response to growing demand for its groundbreaking P50 range of fire extinguishers which are both cost-effective and environmentally-friendly. Installation of new machinery The refurbishment has involved a total reconfiguration of the factory layout The company has produced fire extinguishers from its...

Fire and Rescue NSW’s (FRNSW) Merrylands Fire Station has marked its 100th birthday. The Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib, Member for Granville, Julia Finn MP and Mayor of Cumberland, Councillor Ola Hamed, joined FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell at the Station in Sydney’s west to celebrate the milestone. Firefighters were first stationed at Merrylands in February 1925, with the original eight-member crew equipped only with a hose-reel. Several months later, approval was...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews responded to a light aircraft that crashed into the top of a hangar at Wedderburn in the Campbelltown area. At approximately 9.50 am this morning, multiple Triple Zero (000) calls were received, prompting a multi-agency response to the Airport at Lysaghts Road. Controlled descent technique Specialist FRNSW rescue crews, including hazardous materials (HAZMAT) experts attended alongside NSW Ambulance (NSWA) and NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS). Emergency services...