Public Education - News

Confronting new video from Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) demonstrates just how quickly Christmas decorations can become fire hazards, with the potential to destroy a home faster than it takes to microwave your festive lunch leftovers. The controlled demonstration video shows a power board arcing and igniting, due to an overload of household appliances and Christmas lights, before causing the entire room to explode in flames in less than three minutes. FRNSW wants to prevent Christmas catastrophe...

London Fire Brigade has submitted a planning application for the refurbishment of its site at 8 Albert Embankment. The application also includes plans to modernize Lambeth Fire Station, which forms part of the building. The building at 8 Albert Embankment was constructed by the Brigade in the 1930s as a combined fire station and office block. The fire station occupies the ground and first floors of the building, with six floors of office space above. Brigade’s own estate The office spac...

The fire broke out at noon, around 1:30 PM on October 18, just 9.8 miles away from the place where the firestorm of 1991 that claimed 25 lives took place. Luckily, with prompt action from the fire department, the fire was completely contained by October 23, and there were no casualties or injuries reported. Swift response by fire department Though at least 500 individuals were evacuated and an order issued, it was quickly lifted as the fire was contained. The swift response by the fire depart...

The Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) has once again endorsed its commitment to fire safety by supporting Fire Door Safety Week, the national awareness campaign first launched in 2013 in response to widespread neglect of fire doors. The Fire Door Safety Week initiative was created to raise public understanding of the vital role that fire doors play in protecting life and property. Quality standards to proper installation Something as simple as propping a fire door open can prevent it from...

Rosario Sicari, Risk Analyst in TECSA, completed the PECB ISO 31000 Risk Manager course organized by PECB in collaboration with Chaos Consulting last November, 27th. The course, lasting 3 days, allows students to acquire a complete knowledge of the fundamental principles, structure, and process of risk management based on ISO 31000, also providing an in-depth knowledge of best risk management practices.  It is preparatory to the certification exam aimed at applying for the title of &ldquo...

Senior firefighters have expressed concern over a sharp rise in residential fires in New South Wales this winter, urging the public to end the complacency over household smoke alarms. There were 337 residential fires in the first month of winter this year, an increase of 24 fires (8%) over June 2022. There’s been a 28% rise in kitchen/cooking area fires over the same period, from 117 to 150, while fires in bedrooms/sleeping areas have risen 19% from 26 to 31. Fires in lounge rooms The...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation business, in partnership with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), is proud to announce the 2025 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year honorees. Volunteer Fire Chief Daniel Krushinski of the East Franklin Fire Department in Somerset, New Jersey, and Career Fire Chief Jeremy Craft of the Lehi Fire Department in Lehi, Utah, have been named this year’s recipients. Since 1996, the IAFC has annually recognized one volunteer and one car...

Luca Fiorentini, Director of TECSA S.r.l., publishes with the prestigious publishing house John Wiley and Sons, the first international book dedicated exclusively to risk management with barrier-based methodologies, including Bow-Tie and Barrier Failure Analysis, explained with references to theory and exemplified through a series of case studies from different sectors. The book stems from the author’s internationally recognized experience in the application of qualitative and quantitativ...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have saved a home from a large Lithium-Ion battery fire at Warrawee, on Sydney’s upper north shore. A resident was charging the battery used to power a leaf blower in the carport of the home on Finlay Road, just before 5 pm, when the cells went into ‘thermal runaway’ and caught fire. The flames destroyed the carport which collapsed. Neighbors used garden hoses in an attempt to extinguish the fire on the battle-axe property. FRNSW Reminder F...

A number of hazard reduction burns are scheduled for NSW, including the Greater Sydney Area, over the coming days. Smoke from these burns is likely to settle across residential areas, especially in the afternoon and evening. Heavy smoke may be experienced by residents close to the burns and in eastern parts of the metropolitan area. Smoke is expected to remain over parts of Sydney until early next week. Smoke from bush fires and hazard reduction burning can affect some people more than others....

The Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Firefighter Championships at Wagga Wagga have come to a close, following three days of hard-fought competition and skills development. Making a return to its inaugural birthplace, the 2024 State Championships proved to be full of camaraderie, community spirit and teamwork. Victorian visitors, Echuca Country Fire Authority (CFA) took out the top spot after an exhilarating display of teamwork and skill, inching ahead of FRNSW’s Wyong and Kootingal Rural Fire...

Fire and Rescue NSW has hosted a special Chinese Lion dancing ceremony to welcome prosperity and happiness during the service’s 140th year. With the Lunar New Year festivities starting on Saturday, 10th March, FRNSW Commissioner, Jeremy Fewtrell, and other firefighters welcomed the performance in the station’s engine bays by the Chinese Youth League Lion and Dragon dance troupe. The procession through Number One Station, City of Sydney, Australia’s busiest, aims to promote go...

PAW Patrol fan favorites will bolster fire education and awareness among children in a unique partnership between Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) and Paramount Australia, announced. The alliance will see the characters from the hit animated franchise, airing on Nickelodeon and produced by Spin Master Entertainment, convey age-appropriate fire safety messaging to preschool and primary school-aged children. It follows the outstanding response to PAW Patrol’s association with the FRNSW Open Day...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has marked its 140th birthday with a special ceremony at one of Australia’s most historic fire stations. NSW Governor, Her Excellency the Honorable Margaret Beazley AC KC, joined Emergency Services Minister, Jihad Dib MP; FRNSW Commissioner, Jeremy Fewtrell AFSM, and a host of other dignitaries at a birthday party at the City of Sydney station in Castlereagh Street. The officials cut a birthday cake to honor the occasion, marking FRNSW’s unique history a...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have door-knocked more than 60 homes at Macquarie Fields, in Sydney’s south-west, in the wake of a devastating house fire in the neighbourhood. On 28 May, 10 people made a narrow and very lucky escape when their two-storey house in Groundsel Avenue went up in flames. FRNSW had installed working smoke alarms in the home just a few days earlier, allowing the mother and her nine children to safely evacuate upon hearing the alert. Alarm testing and provisio...

A lithium-ion battery from an e-bike has caused a fire in a unit at Lethbridge Park in Sydney's west earlier today. Crews were called to the second-floor unit in Hawaii Avenue just before 3.00 am after reports of a blaze in the three-storey complex. Upon arrival, 16 firefighters quickly got to work to contain the fire, which is believed to have started in the kitchen area of the premises where the lithium-ion battery was located. Initial reports It took crews approximately 20 minutes to exti...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters and administration staff have raised a staggering amount of donations for children suffering serious burns. The volunteer fundraisers today presented a cheque for $215,406 to the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation (SCHF) at FRNSW’s official number ‘002’ Station, The Burns Unit at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. The significant total is the culmination of year-long efforts by FRNSW’s ‘Beat the Burn&rsquo...

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) is changing the way it responds to Automatic Fire Alarms in certain types of buildings as of 01 August 2025. Following a public consultation, HIWFRS will no longer automatically send crews when there is an automatic fire alarm notification in buildings with no sleeping risk, during the hours of 08:00 and 18:00hrs, unless there are confirmed signs of fire. Automatic fire alarm notifications  This policy applies to commercial, no...

The Task Group Domestic Life Safety of Euralarm has issued a new guidance document on fires caused by unattended cooking and how to avoid them. Many residential fires start in the kitchen and/or are related to cooking. In Europe, the Zurich insurance company mentions cooking equipment as first in an overview of common causes of house fires. New guidance document The new guidance document on fires caused by unattended cooking and how to avoid them In the USA, where the NFPA has actively resea...

When it comes to preventing the spread of any fire, a fire extinguisher is the first line of defense, either at home or in the workplace. The use of fire extinguishers is easy, but at the same time, it’s crucial to learn the proper, effective, and safe way to extinguish a fire. There are still some common mistakes that people make when using fire extinguishers and those mistakes should be avoided in the event of an emergency. Not Pulling the Extinguisher Pin Removing the safety pin from...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has recognized the International Day of People with Disability by holding a fire safety education initiative in the Hunter. Firefighters from FRNSW’s Metro North Command, including a crew from Wallsend Fire Station, took part in the initiative coordinated by ConnectAbility, this morning at Warabrook in Newcastle. The event featured interactive demonstrations, safety advice and hands-on activities, tailored to individuals of all abilities. Attendees enjoyed a fu...

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and W.S. Darley & Co. (Darley) are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2024 Thought Leadership Essay Competition, a platform that celebrates the fire service's forward-thinking leaders. Founded by Congress in 1992, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) honors fallen firefighters and supports their families, providing resources, counseling, and educational assistance. NFFF also collaborates on initiatives to prevent firefi...

Both Braintree and Witham Fire Stations will be hosting recruitment taster sessions this month for those considering joining their team of on-call firefighters. Witham Fire Station will host its session on Saturday, 25 November, 2024, while Braintree Fire Station will hold its event on Sunday, 3 December, 2024. These sessions provide a unique opportunity to learn more about this vital role in the local community. Recruitment taster sessions During the taster sessions, attendees will meet with...

The Historical Novel Society Australasia, in collaboration with the ARA Group, proudly announced the winners of the 2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize at a celebratory event, held at NSW Parliament House, on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. 2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize This prestigious award, boasting the largest individual literary prize in Australasia with a total prize pool of $150,000, honors the exceptional talents of novelists who bring historical narratives to life, offering insights into t...

Historically, disasters linked with fire are known to badly impact communities all over the world. Nevertheless, in recent years, there has been a notable drop in damage caused by fires in countries that have put into action detailed programs for awareness about fire safety. This amazing improvement is proof of how teaching and readiness can safeguard lives and properties. The Evolution of Fire Safety Education The way they manage fire safety has grown a lot from just 'stop, drop, and roll' i...

On Friday, September 13, 2024, Hawaiʻi Attorney General Anne Lopez announced the results of the Lahaina Fire Incident Analysis Report, the second report of the three-part evidence-based investigation into how state and county governments responded during the Maui wildfires. The report revealed that a complex set of factors including weather and its impacts, risk and preparedness, decades-old infrastructure, organizational structure, and incident management and coordination created a histor...

London’s iconic Shakespeare’s Underglobe Theatre set the stage for the much-anticipated Women in Security Awards 2024. With places booked months in advance, the event was filled, bringing together outstanding women from diverse roles across the security sector.   Talent and dedication Organized annually by Professional Security magazine in collaboration with patron - Una Riley, the Women in Security Awards are widely regarded as a prestigious platform celebrating the ach...

Advanced, a global pioneer in fire safety solutions, is set to participate for the first time in Intersec Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom’s premier exhibition and conference for the security, safety, and fire protection industries. The Intersec Saudi Arabia 2024 event will take place from 1st-3rd October 2024, at the Riyadh International Convention Centre, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.   Axis AX, Axis EN, and MxPro 5 Located at stand 3-C36, Advanced will showcase its innovative range of...

The Minister for Building Safety and Homelessness has made a statement regarding construction products.  This announced an extension of the recognition of CE marking for construction products in Great Britain. This extension, and the longer-term future of CE/UKCA marking, is conditional on a commitment from the Government to system-wide reform of the construction products regulatory regime.  announcement summary: CE marking will be accepted past 30 June 2025 for construction pro...

Two people have been treated for burns and smoke inhalation after a lithium-ion battery from an e-skateboard exploded in a Roseville home overnight. Two Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) trucks and 8 firefighters responded to calls for assistance at 2:20 am in the morning. A sleeping 26-year-old male woke to the sound of popping and crackling, finding the room full of smoke and the e-skateboard battery starting to flame. He and another occupant removed the device from the house, sustaining burns...