Firefighter Health and Safety - News

Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) and East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (East Con) announced staffing of the new, but previously unopened, Fire Station 55 in Oakley. The station is fully staffed for the first time with a three-firefighter engine company equipped to dispatch on either the station’s standard Type 1 Engine 55 or its wildland firefighting Engine 355. Positive impacts The addition of this fire crew is expected to have positive impacts on fire a...

Fire safety and protection are more prevalent now than ever before. There is a huge push on competency and compliance for the installation and products in the fire industry in 2022, following tragic recent events such as Grenfell. Just like a plumber would need to showcase that they are competent to service a boiler, the demand for fire protection installers to show they are competent is essential. What is Passive fire protection (PFP)? Passive fire protection (PFP) is a crucial component of...

Alongside the Fire Safety Act, the UK government has now committed to Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and a raft of new measures that are designed to ensure a full response to the Grenfell Tower inquiry recommendations. The launch, coming at the same time as the commencement of the Fire Safety Act 2021, is described as ‘the most comprehensive plans for fire reform in decades’. The plans will be set out in the UK government’s Fire Reform white paper, in order to strength...

A safety warning on the use of lithium-ion batteries is being issued by Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) following several battery related fires this month. A safety warning on the use of lithium-ion batteries is being issued by Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) following several battery related fires this month. Lithium-ion batteries, or li-ion batteries (sometimes called LIBs) are commonly found in many items including mobile phones, laptops, e-bikes, hover boards, vaping devices and sco...

Avon Protection will showcase its full range of integrated personal protection solutions at Eurosatory 2022, including full-face respirators, ballistic helmets, escape hoods, SCBA systems, modular PAPR units, underwater equipment, and CBRN protective equipment. There, the Group will demonstrate its position as a world-renowned company in CBRN protection, with its respiratory technology solutions that are designed to meet the modern threat environment and enhance the capability of the tactical m...

A fire that engulfed six buses at a Hertfordshire town center transport depot has been linked to an electric bus catching fire while charging. Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) arrived in the afternoon on Sunday, 22 May, 2022, where a local resident described the scene, saying: "I just heard an unbelievable noise that sounded like a jet and when I looked out my window, one of the buses exploded in a ball of flames." Causing further damage The smoke from the blaze was so heavy that...

Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association (CVVFA) President, Chief Joe Kroboth has released a message stating - Fellow members, for several years the association and individual members benefited from a relationship with the PA Fireman Magazine. The magazine has covered CVVFA’s events, published their articles, and informed readers about the association’s activities. With the steady long-term growth of the Emergency Responder Safety Institute, there is a need to provide...

The National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) People Programme has launched four new tools, in order to support fire and rescue services in the selection, recruitment, nurturing and growth of diverse talent. The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Hub, Recruitment Hub, Talent Management Toolkit and Coaching and Mentoring Portal are the culmination of months of hard work, by National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) project teams and colleagues from across the fire and rescue sector. Each tool champi...

The East of England Ambulance Service Charity has secured a grant of more than £116,000 for an innovative approach to help patients get the help they need. The charity won the funds from NHS Charities Together for developing a way to signpost patients with ‘unmet needs’ to wider community support pathways. The funds have been awarded thanks to the Ambulance Grants Programme which was launched by NHS Charities Together in March 2021 in recognition of the vital work that am...

EarthSafe Chemical Alternatives is known for developing the EvaClean Infection Prevention Solution, which firefighters use to mitigate pathogens in their fire stations and emergency vehicles. In a continuing effort to help protect the health of first responders, EarthSafe launched a safer, more sustainable line of industrial-strength products, in order to address hazardous spills and inhibit harmful molds. Joe Finn, the former Boston Fire Commissioner, Chief of the Department, and current First...

AudioLINK+ is now faster, quieter, and more reliable than ever before. The second iteration of Aico’s award-winning AudioLINK technology makes it easy to access real-time data from alarms via the free AudioLINK+ app. AudioLINK+ AudioLINK+ extracts the same data as AudioLINK, but does this quicker and quieter than before to reduce disturbance and does not affect any other functionality of alarms. With the average time to take a report taking between 4-7 seconds, AudioLINK+ technology make...

Kentec Electronics, a global manufacturer of life-critical control systems, is celebrating the third anniversary of its Kentec Installation Program (KIP), at this year’s FIREX International 2022. With more than 200 installers now registered, across 19 countries, the company will take the opportunity to celebrate the success of scheme and thank installers for their support. Since its launch at Firex 2019, installers have been benefiting from the scheme’s key features, which include t...

Global safety experts, Ardent Group (Ardent Vehicle Fire Protection) have announced significant new investment in machinery and robotics at its site in Roecliffe, York, United Kingdom (UK), as the company expands its portfolio of market-renowned fire suppression and electronic systems, for a wide range of vehicles, as well as static and mobile plant. Investment in machinery and robotics Explaining the investment, Neil Crowther, the Managing Director at the Ardent Group, said “In recent y...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, announced that authorized dealer Golden State Fire Apparatus, Inc. will open its second service center, a new 45,000 square-foot facility in Tracy, California, to serve customers in central California, particularly the Bay Area. The project is currently in the design stage with construction expected to be completed in the next 18 to 24 months. The new facility will also serve as Golden State Fire Apparatus’ service hub for the rev...

More than 8,600 people traveled to Long Beach, California, USA, in order to attend the recent Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo 2022, North America’s largest advanced transportation technology and clean fleet event. Major retailers were in attendance, looking to decarbonize their fleets, gaining insight into the latest developments, policies, and technologies in clean transportation solutions. ACT Expo 2022 ACT Expo 2022 featured the largest collection of clean vehicle and fuel s...

Kentec Electronics, a manufacturer of life-critical control systems, is celebrating the third anniversary of its Kentec Installation Programme (KIP) at Firex 2022. With more than 200 installers registered, across 19 countries, the company will take the opportunity to celebrate the success of the scheme and thank installers for their support. Kentec Installation Programme (KIP) Since its launch at Firex 2019, installers have been benefiting from the scheme’s key features, which include t...

The unique set of stressors encountered on the job by first responders can create mental health challenges for them and their families. To address this reality, first responders must learn how to take care of their mental health and they need a support network tailored to their individual requirements. 3 agencies' programs 3 agencies' programs have recently been updated with new resources to help first responders take care of their mental health and support the mental health of their families...

Nedbank has made an equity investment into an industry-leading technology led emergency response platform, RapidDeploy. The bank is the first South African firm to invest in RapidDeploy, which was established in South Africa, after its Founders - Steven Raucher and Brett Meyerowitz experienced the antiquated, legacy technology that was available within the country’s public safety sector. Nedbank invests in RapidDeploy Steven Raucher experienced a personal tragedy, when his brother drown...

The new Rosenbauer RFC CAFS Cube S compressed air foam system is the ideal addition to fire departments’ standard extinguishing equipment. Wetting agent, a water/foam compound mixture, and also wet and dry compressed air foam can all be generated by the ‘little brother’ of the all-in-one RFC CAFS Cube. However, the RFC CAFS Cube S is driven by a water-powered motor, rather than a combustion engine. Every fire engine with a fire pump on board can, therefore, be tactically u...

Effective immediately, Rob Kreikemeier has been appointed to the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rosenbauer America. John Slawson has left Rosenbauer America. Rosenbauer thanks John Slawson for his contributions and wishes him well in his future endeavors. Rob Kreikemeier is well-known, trusted, and respected throughout the fire industry for many decades. He has over 50 years of manufacturing and operations experience. This includes being the Founder of R.K. Aerials in...

Gear Wash is now the firefighting industry’s largest turnout gear cleaning and repair operation, having acquired Minerva Bunker Gear Cleaners and its six locations. The agreement, which closed on May 13, also marks the largest Gear Wash acquisition to date and greatly expands our company’s growing roster of service providers committed to first-class care for the equipment worn by firefighters. “Minerva has been a leader in NFPA 1851 services—the indus...

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has expanded its range of guidance with the release of three new and three updated documents. The new Advisory Notes 27, 28 and 29 released by the ASFP offer advice on particular issues of concern to the industry. Advisory Note 27 Advisory Note 27 provides advice on the structural fire protection of steel beams with corrugated webs. These fabricated sections, which were recently introduced to the market, offer a thinner steel plate than can...

Civil protection organizations are challenged now more than ever before. In addition to their tasks in everyday life, fire brigades, The Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), the German Life Saving Society (DLRG), the German Red Cross (DRK), Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe (JUH), Malteser Hilfsdienst (MHD) and the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB) are increasingly in demand for large-scale operations. Whether it is the corona (COVID-19) virus pandemic, flood disaster, forest fires or refugee crisis -...

The families of two much loved mother,s who lost their lives in a tragic care home fire, have backed the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) campaign urging the government to improve sprinkler regulations in England. Daphne Holloway, 88 and Ivy Spriggs, 91 sadly lost their lives, after an accidental fire ripped through Newgrange Care Home, in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, on 8th April 2017.  NFCC’s ‘Think Sprinkler’ campaign Daphne & Ivy’s daughters,...

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) will once again be hosting the ASFP Pavilion on stand FI1224 at FIREX International 2022, at London Excel from 17 May - 19 May, 2022. It will feature a Learning Zone, the ASFP Pavilion aims to help visitors to gain a greater understanding of the essential role of passive fire protection within the current built environment.  ASFP will be showcasing its range of training courses, guidance documents, and membership services and offering a...

The Fitness for Human Habitation (Wales) Act comes into effect 15 July, and will affect all landlords, whether social or private. The act identifies 29 hazards within the property where landlords need to meet minimum requirements. The FFHH act requires a smoke alarm, in proper working order, to be present on every storey of a dwelling. Landlords must ensure that each of these alarms is in proper working order and interlinked with all other smoke alarms connected to the electricity supply. Batt...

Marion Body Works, a renowned national manufacturer of commercial truck bodies, fire & emergency apparatus, custom cabs, custom engineered vehicles, and defense bodies, announces plans for expansion. This milestone marks an exciting new chapter in the company’s 117-year history of family ownership. As of May 1, Marion Body Works has acquired additional manufacturing space located in Shawano, Wisconsin, USA, just 22 miles east of their main headquarters. New additional manufacturing s...

CertAlarm, an organization offering a pan-European quality mark in the fire protection and security systems industry, has confirmed the completion of its 4th cycle of round-robin test series. Round-robin tests are comparative tests, performed by the participating laboratories, at regular intervals and using the same test sample. As such, they are an important monitoring tool for CertAlarm’s partners and recognized test laboratories. Round-robin tests Round-robin tests enable quality sup...

Dräger (Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA), a globally renowned company in the fields of medical and safety technology, has launched the UCF FireVista, a Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC) that can be activated one-handed with just one button, thereby providing split-second access to critical visual support, within a firefighting incident. TICs (thermal imaging cameras) TICs (thermal imaging cameras) provide vital insight when visibility is significantly reduced, due to fire, smoke, or darkness...

It is with deep regret that Mill Creek DE Fire Company announces the passing of Deputy Chief Emeritus John P. Fox. John had been battling failing health for several years. John was a go-getter from the moment he joined Mill Creek in April of 1963, holding many positions within Mill Creek, during his lifetime. He shaped many future officers within Mill Creek as an Advisor to Explorer Post 921. He was elected Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief, Deputy Emeritus, Member of the Board of Directors and Com...