Wildfires - News

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...

Testing has found that a revolutionary PPE fabric, developed for wildland firefighting by Hainsworth Protective Fabrics and woven using Merino Wool, provides 17% more breathability than alternative blends. The brand’s ECO-DRY fabric was Thermal Evaporative Resistance (RET) tested by an accredited independent test house against a prototype wildland fabric made from a 100% meta-aramid blend. RET testing is a type of fabric testing that quantifies moisture vapor transfer and breathability....

In the bustling cities of Houston and Austin, where commercial buildings house countless businesses and schools, the importance of fire safety cannot be overstated. With the potential for devastating fire disasters, property managers and school systems must prioritize implementing advanced fire suppression systems to protect their investments, occupants, and community. FireTron, a pioneering provider in the area, offers state-of-the-art solutions designed to enhance safety and minimize risk. U...

Investigators reviewing the emergency response to last year's wildfire that killed 102 people on Maui said in a report released Friday they found “no evidence” Hawaii officials made preparations for it, despite days of warnings that critical fire weather was coming. That lack of planning hindered efforts to evacuate the historic town of Lahaina before it burned, the report said. unprecedented warning A forecaster with the National Weather Service emailed fire m...

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. impacts, risk, and preparedness The report reveals no single factor led to the devastation. Instead, a complex set of factors, including weather and its impacts, risk and preparedness, decades-old infrastructure, organizational structure, and incident...

In Honolulu, Hawaii Attorney General - Anne Lopez released the phase two report conducted by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) regarding the Lahaina fires that occurred on Aug. 8, 2023. In August 2023, Anne Lopez selected the independent, third-party FSRI to assess the performance of state and county agencies in preparing for and responding to the Maui wildfires in a three-phase report. FSRI has extensive experience researching fire dynamics, structure-to-structure fire spread, and nea...

The scale of a tragic wildfire that swept through a Hawaiian island last year, killing over 100 people, was the result of a complex interaction of factors that were "years in the making," an official report said Friday. Downed power lines are believed to have set fire to vegetation on the holiday idyll of Maui on August 8, with the rapidly spreading blaze leveling the historic town of Lahaina. Fast-moving flames Fast-moving flames caught islanders unaware, with some people only learning there...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has completed a major hazard reduction operation to protect residents at Allambie Heights on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Eleven fire trucks, from FRNSW, the Rural Fire Service and Kuring-Gai Council, and their crews were tasked with burning around 11 hectares within Allenby Park. FRNSW Fire crews Fire crews worked all day yesterday to reduce the heavy fuel load ahead of summer FRNSW invested 30 hours in planning for the operation, which had been delayed three...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has carried out a major hazard reduction burn at South Turramurra, on Sydney’s upper north shore. The burn will help to protect hundreds of homes, which would potentially be put at risk in the event of a large bush fire. FRNSW conducts hazard reduction operations on behalf of land managers in many areas where bushland meets built-up areas across the state. Clearing the bushland On behalf of Ku-ring-gai Council, more than 28 FRNSW firefighters, in seven f...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is currently responding to a significant grass fire in Horningsea Park, in Sydney’s south west. Shortly before 2 pm, firefighters from FRNSW and the Rural Fire Service (RFS) were called to the blaze at the intersection of Camden Valley Way and Cowpasture Road. FRNSW Bushfire Tankers More than 20 fire trucks and 80 firefighters are on scene or on route, including FRNSW Bushfire Tankers and a Mobile Command Center. Firefighters are working to contain the fire a...

Fire crews have gained control of a large grass fire that had threatened homes at Horningsea Park this afternoon, in Sydney’s south-west. The blaze broke out just before 2 pm, at a former amusement park site at the corner of Camden Valley Way and Cowpasture Road. FRNSW with the RFS Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) responded with the Rural Fire Service (RFS) and the Rail Fire and Emergency Service, supported by NSW Police, NSW Ambulance and Transport for NSW. FRNSW closed the local rail corr...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has donated a decommissioned fire truck to the Yurruungga Aboriginal Corporation (YAC) on the NSW Mid North Coast to help protect and maintain culturally significant land. The bushfire tanker, which is no longer fit for purpose for FRNSW needs, will assist YAC’s Waagay Julu (fire team) to conduct cultural burns and hazard reduction within Gumbaynggirr Country in the Bellingen and Coffs Harbor local government areas. Reduce bushfire risks These habitats will b...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is donating a decommissioned fire truck to the Yurruungga Aboriginal Corporation (YAC) on the NSW Mid North Coast to help protect and maintain culturally significant land. The bushfire tanker, which is no longer fit for purpose for FRNSW needs, will assist YAC’s Waagay Julu (fire team) to conduct cultural burns and hazard reduction within Gumbaynggirr Country in the Bellingen and Coffs Harbour local government areas. Traditional smoking ceremony A traditional...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation business, in partnership with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), is pleased to announce the 2024 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year honorees. Volunteer Fire Chief C. Reid Vaughan of the Cuba Fire Department in Alabama and Career Fire Chief Randy Royal of the Colorado Springs Fire Department in Colorado have been named this year’s recipients. Since 1996, the IAFC has annually recognized one volunteer and one career fire chief for...

“America Burning” was released 51 years ago. The publication and the momentum that it created produced a measurable change in the fire service. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Fire Academy were created. Financial resources became available to begin to understand fire-related risk, and nationally coordinated efforts were instituted. The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) was conceived to begin to understand the quantity and type of eme...

The increasing incidence of wildfires and floods due to climate change has altered the requirements for personal protective equipment for firefighters. In response, Rosenbauer has completely redesigned the HEROS H10, creating a helmet that meets all the demands of combating wildfires, vegetation fires, and technical rescues. Development began in July 2021, resulting in a versatile and robust helmet that meets five European standards. The helmet stands out for its lightweight design of only 800...

Rosenbauer America has initiated delivery on a major contract with the Oregon State Fire Marshal. With a total contract award of (27) Type 3 Pumpers and (30) Water Tenders, the first (12) Type 3 units and first (15) Water Tenders have been placed into service across the state of Oregon. The contract was awarded to Rosenbauer America, through its authorized sales and service dealer, General Fire Apparatus. “So many communities are now being protected with the latest firefighting technology...

“We have to do better,” said Victoria Fire Chief - Daniel Atkinson, while sharing his frustration in response to a beach fire on Dallas Road. Early Thursday morning, firefighters responded to a fire along the Dallas Road bluff that had spread from a beach fire. Open fires are not permitted in Victoria any time of year and they pose a serious risk to people, pets, nearby homes, and coastal ecosystems. Fines of up to $2,000 can be issued to those having beach fires. Primary cause of...

Babcock International has supplied four extreme weather response vehicles to the London Fire Brigade (LFB), which will be trialed this summer to respond to the growing threat of grass fires and wildfires. The four new vehicles have off-road capabilities and technology that enable firefighters to tackle fires quickly and safely. Able to pump water while driving and carry approximately 500 liters of water, these unique vehicles are also equipped with wildfire beaters and leaf blowers that can con...

XyloPlan has officially brought its wildfire risk start-up company to market, powered by a grant from the renowned Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. data-driven decision-making With a mission to use data-driven decision-making in wildfire risk management, XyloPlan introduces its Fire Pathways™ modeling technology, designed to support fire-adapted communities by assessing and mitigating risk from potentially destructive wildfires. By quantifying and decreasing risk, XyloPlan also works...

Wildfires pose a significant challenge to travel and can be associated with substantial health risks for travelers. Experts predict that wildfires' frequency and intensity will increase dramatically in 2024. The free 'Wildfire Informer' provides a comprehensive overview of the global wildfire situation, categorized by the economic regions of EMEA, AMER, and APAC. mapping fires Safeture, a platform for professional people risk management, has published the report in collaboration with Ri...

Perimeter Solutions, a pioneering manufacturer of high-quality fire retardant, has donated a 260-gallon tote of PHOS-CHEK® LCE20-Fx long-term fire retardant to the Logan Lake Fire Department in British Columbia, Canada. Located in the Highland Valley, Logan Lake is at risk of wildfire as it is surrounded by forests that incur frequent lightning storms.  The PHOS-CHEK fire retardant can be applied by the fire department as active wildfires are approaching to protect property. It can als...

A versatile, modern fire truck, stationed at Merimbula on the state’s far South Coast, has received the “thumbs up” from local firefighters. Regarded as a “Jack-of-all-trades” appliance, the Mercedes Atego Class 1 tanker is valued at $660,000 and arrived in station last month. The tanker boasts a ‘pump and roll’ feature which allows it to extinguish fires whilst on the move and it provides the latest ‘HALO’ cabin protection system which spr...

Fire protection in the Lake Macquarie region has been bolstered with the arrival of a new bushfire tanker at Fire and Rescue NSW’s Tingira Heights station. The Isuzu Category One tanker, valued at $450,000, is the latest of the 34 new appliances funded by the NSW Government, in line with the recommendations of the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires. It is a multi-purpose, off-road capable truck that can carry more water than typical urban fire tankers. Modern features on the truck The...

For the sixth consecutive year, Anheuser-Busch and its wholesaler partners are joining forces with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to deliver over 1.5 million cans of emergency drinking water to volunteer fire departments across the country. This donation will prepare local volunteer firefighters with vital resources ahead of the annual summer wildfire season, rather than waiting until after disaster strikes. The continued partnership builds on the brewer’s longstanding history...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has boosted its fleet of fire engines in the Blue Mountains with the arrival of a new bushfire tanker at Blackheath. The Class 1 tanker is valued at $450,000 and is the latest of 34 new appliances funded by the NSW Government after the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires. FRNSW’s new bushfire tanker One of its most impressive features is its ‘Halo’ cabin protection system The four-wheel drive Isuzu is an off-road vehicle that can carry more water than...

The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's (DACF) Maine Forest Service (MFS) has been awarded two Community Wildfire Defense Grants (CWDG) to support at-risk communities in Northern and Downeast Maine. These grants, totaling $258,000 ($141,000 and $117,000, respectively), will safeguard homes, businesses, forestland, and infrastructure from catastrophic wildfires. Both regions face significant wildfire risks and are considered underserved. Competitive CWDG awards Maine is New...

Industrial Fire & Hazard Control, a company based in South Africa, has developed a new wildland firefighting vehicle called the SENTRY Wildland Interface Pumper. The SENTRY Wildland Interface Pumper vehicle is built on a MAN TGM18.240 commercial 4×4 chassis and fitted with a Darley Hornet CAFS and Darley HM500 PTO driven pump with a Trident FOAMATE ATP system. SENTRY Wildland Interface Pumper The SENTRY Wildland Interface Pumper vehicle offers an Elkhart Sidewinder deck monitor and...

A new, state-of-the-art Bushfire Tanker has arrived in Goulburn to protect the communities of the state’s Southern Tablelands.  Valued at $450,000, the Category One tanker is the latest of 34 new appliances funded by the NSW Government after the devastating 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires. Isuzu - multi-purpose tanker The four-wheel drive also incorporates a new ‘Halo’ cabin protection spray system to protect its crew The Isuzu is a multi-purpose, off-road-capable tanke...

Fire protection in the state’s North-west Slopes has been bolstered with the arrival of a new Bushfire Tanker. Valued at $450,000, the Category One tanker is the latest of 34 new appliances funded by the NSW Government, after the devastating 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires. The Isuzu is a multi-purpose, off-road-capable tanker that can carry more water than typical urban fire engines. The four-wheel drive also incorporates a new ‘Halo’ cabin protection spray system to prot...