Firefighter Health and Safety - News

A traumatic event like a wildfire can have devastating effects on the community. Pre-fire planning including home hardening and landscape maintenance at the home and in the community can help reduce the risk of loss from wildfire and help neighborhoods and cities be more resilient after a wildfire. pre-fire planning Communities that complete pre-fire planning usually recovers more quickly because they have developed support networks. The recovery process may take many years. Al...

Contractors working on the build of Theale Community Fire Station have made good progress during recent months, with the new station starting to take shape. The installation of the steel superstructure took place at the end of September 2020, following extensive work to prepare the station’s foundations. Plans to build Theale Community Fire Station got underway in January 2020. It is the latest in a series of investments by the Fire Authority, following the refurbishment of the Hungerford...

While there’s still a lot up in the air at the moment with regards to the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, some offices have returned to business. But was fire safety forgotten during the COVID-19 induced lockdown? Changed retail landscape The UK’s high street is making a slow return to business, thanks in part to the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme and somewhat relaxed social distancing measures. With fewer customers in stores, the retail landscape looks very different n...

On the 16th of October, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, answered the following question from Andrew Dismore (Labor): What dangers do you believe that buildings under 18 m with dangerous cladding pose to residents? The Mayor of London answered: “Several recent damaging fires in buildings below 18 meters have demonstrated the danger that unsafe cladding presents to residents. I have always been clear that fire risk does not adhere to strict height thresholds." Fire safety requirements in...

Rave Mobile Safety (Rave), the critical communication and collaboration platform that customers count on when it matters the most, has announced the launch of Rave Collaborate, a new solution for Tactical Incident Collaboration. Rave Collaborate Rave Collaborate addresses needs unmet by traditional incident management solutions with an intuitive tool, in order to coordinate preparedness and response for both - planned activities and unplanned emergencies. Rave Collaborate addresses needs unme...

Rockland Custom Products, a pioneer in first responder health and safety solutions, announces that they have released their long-awaited UVC Germicidal Light for their Patented Gear Clear Venting System®. Prestigious fire departments With hundreds already sold and in use in many of the nation's most prestigious fire departments, the Gear Clear Venting System® has been protecting firefighters and their passengers from the harmful effects of toxic off-gassing emitted from their soiled tu...

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has published Version 6 of the Site Operating Procedures document. Information from Construction Leadership Council (20/10/2020): Site Operating Procedures Update – Version 6 is now available The Site Operating Procedures have been updated to reflect recent changes in Government guidance. While there are no significant changes to social distancing requirements on sites, the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has taken the opportunity to streaml...

Big Bear Fire Department has some 'Hot Tips for Cold Weather' to ensure safe winter heating. With the change in seasons in Big Bear Valley comes the need to warm homes and businesses. Stay warm and safe during the winter months by following some simple tips. Conventional Heating Have a professional check and service the heating system each year. Always keep combustibles away from heat sources. Check the manufacturer’s specifications for clearance distances. Portable Heaters Always use...

Emergency call handlers will be the focus of a Twitter takeover this week as Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service celebrates International Control Room Week. Blue Watch will be on duty from 8 am until 5 pm on Wednesday (October 21) and posting tweets throughout the shift on the Service’s @cambsfrs Twitter account. Potentially life-Saving advice Area Commander Simon Newton, in charge of the Service’s emergency response, said: “Our Emergency call handlers are a vital part of...

ImageTrend, Inc. is excited to announce a connection between the CrewCare mobile app and All Clear Foundation elevating support for the overall wellness of first responders and those in the healthcare industry. The free CrewCare app was added to the Responder Resources Directory. All Clear Foundation’s extensive network of resources can now be easily accessed in CrewCare helping connect first responders in EMS, fire, dispatch, law enforcement, military, and healthcare workers wi...

CU First Responders Finance (CUFR) is excited to welcome Baton Rouge Fire Department Federal Credit Union (BRFDFCU) to the Referral Credit Union program. BRFDFCU is looking forward to offering business loan services to its membership. CUFR’s business lending program provides the avenue for first responder credit unions to refer commercial real estate, apparatus, equipment, and other business loans for potential funding. The referring credit union gets business loans on their books and th...

The dangers of cancer-causing particulates have never been in sharper focus in firefighting than they are today. Indeed, firefighters are becoming more aware of the risks associated with their job and exposure to carcinogens. But are all firefighters aware of the different measures that should be taken to reduce their contact with particulates? Reece Buchner, Technical Sales Manager at FlamePro, a British specialist manufacturer of life-saving garments for firefighters, explains five steps that...

South Yorkshire’s emergency services are urging people to be sensible and stay safe over the coming weeks, during what they say will be a ‘very different’ bonfire period for everyone. Trick or treating is being discouraged, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as are Halloween and bonfire parties that break the current social distancing rules set out by the Government. Operation Dark Nights Meanwhile, firefighters are asking people to take extra care with fireworks and to avoi...

A draft of PAS 8672 is now available for public comment and contains competence requirements for the Principal Contractor, a role set out in the Building Safety Bill. The Principal Contractor is one of three roles with oversight of building safety at each stage of the building’s lifecycle. The Principal Contractor will be responsible for planning, managing, and monitoring the building work, and coordinating matters relating to the building work to ensure compliance with all relevant requi...

Branchville Volunteer Fire Company (Company 11) would like to thank PGFD’s Volunteer ALS Coordinator, Paramedic Jonathan Hoerner from Company 1, for holding an excellent ALS Assist class at Branchville, on October 18, 2020. The Branchville Volunteer Fire Company members learned how to better support Branchville’s two county-approved medics, putting the paramedic ambulance in service, as well as all of the ALS resources that the company frequently run with.

Twiceme Technology enters a new product category by integrating the digital solution of easily accessible vital info into fall protection harnesses. Together with the industry frontrunner - Fall Safe®️, the partnership aims to develop the safest and most innovative fall protection equipment in the market. Digital Solution to Fall Protection Equipment After entering the construction segment, while adding Twiceme Technology into safety helmets, a lot of interest was shown by companies devel...

Pioneering integrated fire and security systems business - Evolution has entered into a new, exclusive agreement with Zitko Consulting to manage all of its staff resourcing requirements across engineering, operations and management. The two companies have been working together successfully for several years on national and international recruitment projects. The new managed service contract will embed a senior Zitko consultant, Paul Gooding, into the organization to provide close support. indu...

InciWeb is an interactive mapping resource available from the U.S. Forest Service to show where wildfires are burning in areas close to a location, allowing users to better prepare their community for wildfire safety. It is a trusted reporting tool for public affairs specialists and a single source of incident-related information for the public. Official announcements include evacuations, road closures, news releases, maps, photographs, and basic information on an incident. web-based program...

MSA Safety, DuPont, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) are helping volunteer fire departments obtain much-needed gear through MSA’s and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway. In 2020, 13 departments will each receive four new sets of turnout gear and four new helmets to help enhance the safety of their firefighters. The first 500 applicants also received a one-year NVFC membership, courtesy of MSA. The latest recipients of MSA’s and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway are th...

BAFE is pleased to announce the SP207 Evacuation Alert Systems Scheme Document.  BAFE SP207 Scheme Supporting British Standard 8629 (Evacuation Alert Systems for use by fire and rescue services in buildings containing flats), the BAFE SP207 Scheme document covers demonstrating quality evidence of competency for the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of evacuation alert systems. The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government published the outcome of the cons...

Cool fall weather has arrived, winter is fast approaching, and Big Bear Fire Department encourages everyone to practice safe winter heating. Big Bear Valley residents and tourists alike will soon be lighting pilot lights and finding other ways to keep warm during the chill of the season. When not functioning properly, the heating appliances that are keeping users warm can turn deadly quickly. Carbon monoxide “Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless and can kill its victims while they&...

On Oct 14, 2020, the women of Branchville serve the community with a full engine and two ambulances. This is the first time in over 10 years that Branchville Volunteer Fire Company (Company 11) has placed in service a wagon that is fully staffed by women. The Officers and members of the Branchville Volunteer Fire Company would like to congratulate the women staff on this massive accomplishment.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is joining forces with local authority partners and emergency services, in order to help keep people safe in the upcoming bonfire and fireworks season. With many organized events canceled across the county, emergency services are preparing for a busier night than usual. There is an emerging concern that more people will plan displays and bonfires to celebrate in their own gardens, which could pose significant risk for the people. Safety measures for Bonfi...

Howe & Howe Inc., a subsidiary of Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. company, announced the first domestic sale and delivery of its robotic firefighter, the Thermite RS3, to the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) through authorized sales distributor Municipal Emergency Services (MES) Fire. This acquisition by the LAFD marks the first commercial sale of a robotic firefighting vehicle in the country. Firefighters Life-Saving Capability “This is our first step in bringing...

Renowned UK manufacturer of fire safety solutions, Application Solutions (Safety and Security) Ltd (ASL), located in Lewes, East Sussex has been recruiting apprentices since early 2012, via the UK Apprenticeship Service. Working with local training provider Sigta Training (SIGTA Limited), ASL currently employs three apprentices, across engineering and business administration, at ASL’s head office in Lewes. An apprenticeship is a genuine job combining practical training, while working with...

Former Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) Director of Operations - Sean Bone-Knell and current Head of Procurement at KFRS, Tina Butler, have been recognized in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Sean Bone-Knell, who retired from KFRS in March 2020, after 33 years of service, has been awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal – a prestigious medal given to members of the fire services in the UK and Commonwealth for distinguished services or gallantry. Steering national pol...

ImageTrend, Inc. announces the release of the exposure tracking module in the free Aware™ mobile app. Users can easily document and track personal exposures throughout the entirety of their career and into retirement. The personal exposure module in Aware is available at no cost for all public safety individuals to download and use, regardless of the records management system or ePCR vendor. Promotes the health and safety Aware is designed for rapid and accurate entry on the go and allo...

Suffolk FRS was mobilized to a commercial Kitchen fire in a unit contained within a multi-occupied Shopping Centre. The BS EN 12845 sprinkler system operated via 1 quick response sprinkler head which not only suppressed but extinguished the fire prior to the arrival of operational crews. Fire/smoke damage was contained to the room of origin, operational crews assisted with salvage and worked extremely hard/well with center staff. The unit of origin was planning to reopen in the afternoon with a...

A blueprint to improve competence for those working on higher-risk buildings and drive culture change has been set out by a cross-industry group representing more than 150 organizations in the fire and built environment industries. Setting the Bar is the second and final report of the Competence Steering Group (CSG) and is an update of its Interim Report, Raising the Bar, published in August 2019. The work was initiated by the recommendations in Dame Judith Hackitt’s review Building a Saf...

American Fire Protection Group, Inc. (AFPG) is powered by APi Group, a multi-billion dollar company that has been a globally renowned player in the Construction and Life Safety industry, since 1926. APi Group operates over 200 locations in North America and continues to grow. APi Group Being a part of the APi Group family provides confidence to American Fire Protection Group’s customers who want to mitigate risk related to financial stress. Being a part of APi Group also creates opportun...