Fire and Rescue news

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters are working to identify the cause of a blaze that has destroyed three boats at a marina at Church Point on Sydney's northern beaches. The fire broke out on board one of the vessels moored at the marina on McCarrs Point Road around 5 am. Flames spread from one boat to two others nearby. Crews managed to prevent the fire Crews managed to prevent the fire from spreading to at least 20 other vessel Six FRNSW trucks and 22 firefighters arrived at the...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have saved a house and two pet rabbits from a possible Lithium battery fire this afternoon in Sydney's west. The blaze broke out around 2.40 pm in the garage of the home in Solander Road, Kings Langley. Two occupants made it safely out of the two-floor house and alerted firefighters about their pet bunnies, still inside. Team of firefighters As other fire crews averted flames from spreading throughout the dwelling, a team of firefighters As other fire crews...

Keeping firefighting equipment in good condition is essential to protect and secure individuals and their assets. Keeping firefighting equipment in suitable condition safeguards and connects individuals and their support. The presence of appropriate equipment can significantly impact one’s chances of survival or death during a fire emergency. By conducting routine upkeep and evaluations, it can be ensured that firefighting gear such as fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, sprinklers, hoses,...

This is the most common reason for a house fire. It is advisable to always switch off the main knob of the gas cylinder whenever it’s not used and keep children away from that. If they smell gas leakage, then urgently bring to someone’s notice. Electrical Appliances Electrical heaters, geysers, and grills are good to go appliances and can also lead to a house fire. Be careful when there are any fluctuations in voltage. Moreover, keep fabrics away from them. Candles Aromatic candl...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Regional Administrator authorized the use of federal funds on Aug. 8 to assist the US state of Hawaii to combat the Kohala Ranch Fire burning in Hawaii County. On Aug. 8, the US state of Hawaii submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). FEMA authorizes FMAG funds for State of Hawaii At the time of the request, the fire threatened approximately 200 homes in and around Kohala Ranch, with evacuations taking place for...

FEMA announces that President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. made additional funds available for the state of New Mexico to help local communities in Los Alamos and Sandoval counties recover from the 2022 Cerro Pelado Fire. The state of New Mexico received a major disaster declaration on May 4, 2022, following the wildfires, straight-line winds, flooding, mudflows and debris flows that occurred from April 5 to July 23, 2022. Emergency protective measures Under the President's order, federal funds for F...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) regional administrator authorized the use of federal funds on August 9 to assist the state of Hawaii to combat the Lahaina Fire burning in Maui County. On August 9, the state of Hawaii submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). At the time of the request, the fire threatened an unknown number of homes in and around Lahaina, with mandatory evacuations for approximately 7,500 people. The fire also threatened local busi...

Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings has issued a message of advice to those working in the protection of structural steel who are affected by the new Building Safety Act 2022 as the date approaches for it to become enforceable to ensure users understand their obligations. High-risk buildings From October 2023, all buildings must be registered with the newly established Building Safety Regulator (BSR), and those of at least 18 meters in height or with at least seven stories contai...

Successful and high-performing fire and EMS departments support their members and make health and well-being top priorities. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has launched a new initiative to motivate and recognize departments that are taking the important steps needed to create a psychologically healthy fire department (PHFD). Departments can take part in the initiative by pledging their commitment to support their members. To participate, departments must do the following: Have at...

British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association’s (BAFSA) Chief Executive - Ali Perry has been appointed by the Health & Safety Executive to the Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) new Industry Competence Committee (ICC). Industry Competence Committee The Industry Competence Committee (ICC) has been set up to support the work of the Building Safety Regulator. Its aim is to provide insights and guidance from industry stakeholders, in order to help improve competence levels across the...

International media report a configuration error of RDS Connected Fleet. The hacker group ‘ZER - Reverse Engineering Zentrum’ is behind this media coverage. This group is specialized in finding security holes in companies. By using the telematics modules installed in the trucks, they succeeded in reading out names of emergency organizations and, in the case of individual vehicles with a SIM card installed, their whereabouts including time stamps. No personal data was affected. After...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) joins with other national fire service organizations to strongly oppose proposed cuts to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants programs provide critical funding to help fire departments secure needed equipment, training, and staffing to adequately protect their communi...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is using traditional cultural practices to reduce bushfire risk on the Far South Coast, an area devastated during the horrific ‘Black Summer’ crisis. The 2019-20 bushfire season was the state’s worst on record, with 26 people killed, nearly 2,500 homes destroyed, and more than five million hectares burnt-out. Hazard reduction efforts The site is home to a diverse range of native trees, plants, forest bird species, and insects During that period,...

Lorient designs and manufactures high quality intumescent air transfer grilles that combine air movement with fire protection – making buildings safer & more comfortable for occupants to live in. In everyday use, intumescent grilles allow air to circulate freely throughout a building; but in a fire, the intumescent expands to form a solid block that stops the fire from spreading. What types of air transfer grille products should be used? Lorient manufactures a wide range of high-per...

The City of Victoria is proud to be one of the first municipalities in Canada to purchase an electric fire engine to add to its growing electric vehicle fleet. The City is taking steps to prepare for the arrival of the Rosenbauer Revolutionary Technology (RT) pumper fire engine, which is currently being assembled and is expected to arrive by the end of the year. The electric fire engine will be stationed at the new Victoria Fire Department Headquarters and public safety building on Johnson Stre...

Are familiar with instances where firestopping installations may not have been entirely compliant? Maybe a fire collar was not mechanically fixed, a wrap was used in an oversized hole, or PU foam was used to seal around services? If so, it’s okay, give the benefit of the doubt were working to the best of knowledge at the time! Acknowledging how worked in the past is the first step towards improvement. Fire-stopping guidelines Understand that the challenges of construction projects can s...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) joins with other national fire service organizations to strongly oppose proposed cuts to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants programs provide critical funding to help fire departments secure needed equipment, training, and staffing to adequately protect their communi...

RealWear, the pioneer of industrial extended reality (XR) wearables, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Chris Parkinson as RealWear’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). HMT-1® flagship headset Dr. Parkinson, Co-Founder, and former CTO of RealWear®, is the visionary mind behind the HMT-1® flagship headset that started the RealWear story in 2016. The HMT-1 was RealWear’s first industrial head-mounted tablet computer on the market and catapulted RealWear into the s...

Eight Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters have been honoured for their bravery, dealing with a life-threatening siege at Broken Hill, in the state’s far west. On 29 May last year, crews from FRNSW stations, 238 Broken Hill and 239 Broken Hill South, assisted NSW Police during a reported stand-off at a local home. Possibly armed, a man was allegedly barricaded inside the house, reportedly with children, during a domestic violence incident. Received Unit Commendations Police wer...

The International Water Mist Association (IWMA) has announced that Bogdan Raciega has joined the IWMA Scientific Council. Bogdan Raciega works as Fire Laboratory Director for the Baltic Fire Laboratory in Tuchom, Poland. Bogdan Raciega first dealt with water mist nearly ten years ago. He is an expert in the Polish Committee for Standardization in Warsaw and also a member of the CEN / TC 191 / WG 10 in Brussels. Water mist systems As far as his marine expertise goes, some of the experiences un...

When choosing a technology provider for a safety program, there's so much more to think about than just the equipment.  Comprehensive services are equally essential otherwise the costs can be high. A lack of customer support can contribute to a poor user experience and adoption challenges. Limited scalability might hamper the growth. change management The right partner besides the user, offering change management and best practices expertise, can set the safety technology program up for...

Following a robust selection process, a new Deputy Chief Fire Officer has been announced at the North East’s largest fire and rescue service - Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS). Stewart Nicholson has been announced as the new Deputy Chief Fire Officer at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and will take up his post by November 2023. Stewart joins Tyne and Wear from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, where he has served as Deputy Assistant Chief Officer. He is the first s...

Amthal has announced the appointment of Reece Paprotny to Commercial Director, having initially joined the company as an apprentice. The promotion comes as the company announces a strategic shift in its approach to fire safety and security services. Business development Reece, who joined Amthal as a finance apprentice in 2015, instantly identified a strong drive to succeed and a keen eye for business development opportunities. He quickly established himself as a valuable asset, rising to...

EPIC-FSC, the nonprofit Fire Safe Council for Calabasas, is thrilled to announce the launch of its revamped and improved website, designed to provide residents with comprehensive and easy-to-navigate resources for emergency preparedness. With a focus on curated content specific to Calabasas, the new website aims to empower individuals and families with crucial information and resources to safeguard their loved ones and homes during emergencies. knowledge and tools "We are excited to unveil ou...

Where school groups are faced with budgetary constraints, decision-makers can’t afford to neglect fire safety. Sue Corrick of Allegion UK explains how responsible persons can use the summer break to extend the service life of fire doors in school buildings.  By the time August arrives, it’s official - school is out for summer. For students and staff alike, the summer holiday is a precious period of recreation and recuperation, but for most education facilities, the annual break...

A Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crew from the state's Central Coast is proving an unstoppable force in the firefighting championships, blitzing the latest major event to again claim the silverware. 'Wyong A' notched up an impressive 1,235 points - 313 more than its closest competitor - at the event held in Parkes, in the Central West, at the weekend. Experienced team The experienced team also placed first in the 'Urban Pump Collector and Ladder', 'Booster Valve and High Rise Bag', 'Urban Pumper...

The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Sophia is a heritage-listed church located in Paddington, NSW. Having been consecrated in 1927, the Cathedral has a storied history as one of the first Greek Orthodox Cathedrals in Australia. The Cathedral had been exposed to multiple elements since it’s construction. As a result, there was significant accumulated structural damage. Parts of the building were crumbling, and large cracks had appeared. ARA Building Services The front fa&cced...

The Deck Box, manufactured by First Fix Formwork, is a product widely used in the construction industry. Used to create an opening in the concrete slab for service penetrations to pass through, it can be made to suit the specific requirements at any width, length, or depth (subject to practicality) and is supplied with a structural ply lid. profiled key Manufactured and assembled in a factory off-site, it is created from a mild steel frame that is coated with zinc. The perforations...

Dräger, an international provider in the fields of medical and safety technology, celebrated its partnership with women in the fire service UK last week, reinforcing its commitment to equality of opportunity, improved representation of women in the industry, and how Dräger is designing equipment fit to meet the challenges of an increasingly diverse workforce in the fire service. Hosted at South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, 46 delegates across 16 Fire and Rescue Services, Hazardo...

A number of hazard reduction burns are scheduled for the Greater Sydney Metropolitan, Hunter Valley areas. Smoke from these burns is likely to settle across residential areas for the coming days due to light forecast winds. It is expected that smoke will start to clear on Saturday afternoon, with any remaining smoke clearing during Sunday. Smoke from bushfires and hazard reduction burning can affect some people more than others. Asthma Action Plan NSW Health reminds people that children,...