Wildfires - News

Firefighters at Grafton have received a new multi-purpose Tanker to handle emergencies in the state’s Northern Rivers. Valued at $660,000, the Mercedes Atego Class 1 Tanker is a 'jack of all trades' fire engine. It features a ‘pump and roll’ capability that allows it to tackle grass fires and bushfires while moving. It also boasts a ‘HALO’ sprinkler cabin protection system, designed to spray water over the cab to protect the crew from enveloping flames during a bus...

Firefighters at Fire and Rescue NSW’s station at Rutherford have received a new multi-purpose Tanker to deal with emergencies in the Hunter Valley. The FRNSW crew has spent several days familiarizing itself with its new Mercedes Atego Class 1 Tanker, valued at $660,000, before the truck’s official installation. The Class 1 is a ‘jack of all trades’ vehicle for FRNSW, capable of traveling off-road to reach fire scenes. Specialist Hazmat tanker It boasts a ‘pu...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) recently hosted its first Wildland Fire Assessment Program (WFAP) Advocate train-the-trainer event for a new network of regional representatives that will teach the WFAP curriculum and advocate for mitigation and safety in wildfire-prone areas across the U.S. The WFAP is a joint effort by the U.S. Forest Service and the NVFC to provide fire service volunteers with training and resources to conduct safety assessments for homes located in the wildland-ur...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) recently hosted its first Wildland Fire Assessment Program (WFAP) Advocate train-the-trainer event for a new network of regional representatives that will teach the WFAP curriculum and advocate for mitigation and safety in wildfire-prone areas across the U.S. The WFAP is a joint effort by the U.S. Forest Service and the NVFC to provide fire service volunteers with training and resources to conduct safety assessments for homes located in the wildland-ur...

Firefighters at Fire and Rescue NSW’s Glen Innes station have received a new multi-purpose Tanker to deal with emergencies in the state’s Northern Tablelands. The FRNSW crew has been familiarizing itself with its new Mercedes Atego Class 1 Tanker this week following the truck’s installation at the fire station. Additional safeguard for the crew Class 1 is a ‘jack of all trades’ vehicle for FRNSW, capable of traveling off-road to reach fire scenes The Class 1 is...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has deployed a new firefighting tanker at Kiama, boosting protection measures for the state’s south coast. Valued at $450,000, the Isuzu Category One tanker is the latest of 34 new tankers funded by the NSW Government after the devastating 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires. Cabin protection spray system The Isuzu is a multi-purpose, off-road-capable tanker that can carry more water than typical urban fire engines The Isuzu is a multi-purpose, off-road-capable t...

Veteran Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighter, Paul McGuiggan AFSM, has been promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner – Field Operations. The appointment sees Mr McGuiggan rise from Assistant Commissioner – Metropolitan Operations and will take effect immediately. Deputy Commissioner McGuiggan is a 38-year career firefighter with extensive local, interstate, and international experience in emergency management, including deployments to the 2009 Victorian Black Saturday Bus...

Senior Victorian firefighting officials have thanked NSW crews for their assistance, dealing with that state’s challenging bushfire crisis this week. The Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Strike Team of five crews, from Windsor, Picton, the Central Coast, Albury and Wagga Wagga, are heading home now after providing valuable assistance to their Victorian counterparts. FRNSW crews and NSW RFS Strike The FRNSW crews and four NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Strike Teams were assigned to a variety of...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) now is deploying a Strike Team to western Victoria, where it will help protect communities facing a bushfire emergency and forecast of extreme heat in the coming days. Fifteen firefighters and three incident management experts will deploy with five vehicles, including state-of-the-art bushfire tankers, light tankers and bulk water carriers, as they support Victoria's Country Fire Authority (CFA) crews.  They'll form part of a larger NSW contingent also involvin...

KIMTEK Corp, makers of MEDLITE®, FIRELITE®, and LEOLITE® Transport skid units for off-road rescue and wildland firefighting, have announced plans to celebrate the company's 40th anniversary with a number of events planned throughout 2024.  KIMTEK Transport skid units fit easily into most utility vehicles and pick-up trucks, enabling first responders to travel over rough terrain and through tight clearances with essential fire and/or medical rescue equipment and attendants. Mark...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is seeking qualified individuals with backgrounds in wildfire mitigation, safety, and instruction to join a new corps of qualified instructors, in order to help teach the Wildland Fire Assessment Program (WFAP) curriculum and advocate for mitigation and safety in wildfire-prone regions across the U.S. NVFC’s Wildland Fire Assessment Program Advocate Network NVFC is looking for a variety of folks from across different topographies NVFC is lookin...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, announced Canada-based dealer Commercial Emergency Equipment Co. has secured a 10-year contract with the Calgary Fire Department (CFD), focusing on the provision of custom tenders in an as-needed quantity.   Building upon the earlier established contract in 2022, which was centered on the supply of aerial platforms and ladders, this new agreement also places significant emphasis on apparatus standardization. Tandem-axle Enforcer&t...

The positioning of the portable fire pump requires four firefighters, and the deployment of a B nozzle at least two. Moreover, these activities require a lot of energy and sometimes have to be carried out in the middle of a danger zone. These two striking examples quickly show how much modern auxiliary equipment such as the multi-functional RTE Robot firefighting robot can support everyday operations.  Rosenbauer presented the petrol-powered tracked manipulator back in 2010. This meant tha...

LifeSafe, a fire safety technology business with innovative fire extinguishing fluids and fire safety products, announces the launch of its new patent-pending wildfire extinguishing fluid, Wildfire Pro. Wildfire Pro is a non-toxic and fluorine-free wildfire fluid engineered to suppress, extinguish, and prevent the spread of devastating wildfires. Unlike current fluorine-based fluid solutions, Wildfire Pro’s non-toxic and fluorine-free properties pose no chemical threat to wildlife or natu...

A Hunter Valley firefighter, who lost his home and possessions in a devastating bushfire, but kept working to protect his neighbors’ properties, has been issued with replacement service medals by the Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Commissioner. Senior Firefighter, Steve Cox, was temporarily working out of a fire station at Kurri Kurri on October 16, when neighbors rang him to warn that a wall of flames was bearing down on his Girvan home. 60-year-old Steve raced home as his wife, Lyne,...

The Island of Maui’s Engine 1 and 6 crews were among those fighting the wildfire in Lahaina on August 8 when both were trapped by the fast-moving fire. With the streets blocked by cars, visibility almost zero, and heat roasting their equipment, it appeared all hope was lost.   They all survived thanks to the actions of one Hawaiian Islands Local 1463 member. The incredible story was told on 60 minutes on November 19. Metal melting Even as crew members around him were texting their...

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has reported nine attacks during eight hours. The attacks happened in Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Blantyre in South Lanarkshire, and Blackburn in West Lothian, in the United Kingdom (UK). bonfire night There were no injuries reported to the crews involved however a fire appliance in West Lothian had a windscreen smashed by a brick and had to be removed from operational service. These attacks have followed four previously reported attacks on crews i...

The wildfire burning above Mililani Mauka grew by 200 more acres on Saturday to about 1,300 acres scorched so far. The Honolulu Fire Department says the fire remains 70% contained. The blaze is about four miles from the Mililani Mauka community. water on the flames Air crews continue to drop water on the flames and there is currently no threat to homeowners. 4th November 2023 marks the sixth day since the fires started. Some believe the air campaign to drop water on the flames likely...

Firefighters with the Verdunville VFD said that wildfires on Dingess Mountain in Logan County have been going on for the past few days, with crews going out to the area about six or seven times. Firefighters said fires burned down an abandoned house on the mountain on the 4th of November 2023 evening, and about 10,000 - 15,000 gallons of water have been used as of that night to protect homes from exposure. water tankers and manpower Verdunville firefighters said other departments have also as...

Fire crews in Henderson County are actively working to control a wildfire that has caused damage to homes in the area. According to Edneyville Fire and Rescue, crews initially responded to the scene of a brush fire on Poplar Road off of Green Mountain Road on Friday. In a Facebook post, officials said early Saturday morning, that fire conditions had changed due to wind. As of 5 p.m. Saturday, the fire grew to an estimated 175 acres in size and was 5% contained. According to the NC Forest...

A wildfire that ignited more than a week ago has continued to spread across the Collett Ridge in Western North Carolina. The U.S. Forest Service and North Carolina Forest Service have provided an update on the Collett Ridge fire, four miles south of Andrews in the Nantahala National Forest. The Citizen-Times reported that the fire was caused by a lightning strike on Oct. 23, 2023. Personnel at scene As of Nov. 4, 2023, the fire had consumed 677 acres and there was 0% containment. A total...

Following the devastating and deadly fires on Maui, and subsequent questioning before Congress on its role in the disaster, the Hawaiian Electric company on Friday issued a news release concerning its Wildfire Safety Strategy. Reduce the risk of wildfires Hawaiian Electric announced actions it is taking as part of its Wildfire Safety Strategy, particularly in drought-stricken areas at elevated risk for wildfires. “With the events of Aug. 8 fresh in our minds, safety remains our top...

Crews have been bombarded with fireworks, bricks and bottles after being mobilized to tackle a series of outdoor fires. This included twice on Monday night at Ardrossan in North Ayrshire followed by two further attacks in the Southhouse and Sighthill areas of Edinburgh on Halloween. Crews had to request the assistance of Police Scotland to provide an escort to enable them to attend and extinguish the fires. There were no injuries reported to the crews involved however a number of fire appliance...

AX’s FireScout AI, a groundbreaking solution harnessing advanced AI technology and tailored algorithms, is the pioneering provider that has the capability to identify the early stages of a wildfire. Once smoke is detected, notifications are sent to emergency response teams reducing response time by up to two hours, safeguarding lives and property, while mitigating the impact of natural disasters. Recognizing the growing significance of AI technology, AX is set to expand its global pr...

Firefighters from across North Carolina are still busy battling a series of fires that are threatening homes outside of Asheville. The U.S. Forest Service said the fire quickly grew to 250 acres as it consumed extensive dry brush, and was 5% contained by Sunday. Edneyville Fire and Rescue  "Firefighters were able to hold the fires within most of the lines (Saturday) night, however, containment was lost in a few of the areas," the Henderson County Sheriff's Office said in an update S...

Grafton’s Fire and Rescue NSW crew is singing the praises of its recent, new drone capability, declaring it a ‘game-changer’ for local firefighting. The Grafton Fire Station first received its drone or Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) licence in February 2021. Almost two years on and Captain, Garry Reardon, describes it as revolutionary for firefighting. Providing aerial intelligence “The RPAS is deployable in so many different situations, from assessing ha...

In the run up to Bonfire Weekend, families have been urged to attend organized fireworks displays – to ensure everyone gets home safely. Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) have asked residents not to set off shop-bought fireworks or start bonfires in public places. The Service has already revealed how deliberate fires in public areas increased by 94% over the school holidays and Bonfire weekend last year. While this Bonfire season has already seen fire crews responding to an i...

Firefighters distinguished 500 square meters of fire in Helmstedt on Wednesday. Germany is experiencing stormy weather and dry temperatures, both increasing the risks of fire. But in most of the country, the weather is expected to improve this weekend. Following stormy weather in southwest Germany, meteorologists are predicting additional thunderstorms, which they say carry a risk of forest fires. German Weather Service Thunderstorms, hail storms, and stormy gusts are likely to occur thr...

Viasat, Inc., a communications company, announced it has welcomed Insign Solutions, a provider of bespoke Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled solutions and services, to its ELEVATE program. ELEVATE is a growth program, ecosystem, and marketplace for providers of software, hardware and solutions, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in commercial land markets. As an ELEVATE partner, Insign Solutions will provide customers with an IoT-enabled monitoring solution to mitigate the environmental...

Deliberate fire-setting in Scotland has reduced by more than a third in the period heading up to Bonfire Night. This is always the busiest time of the year for the emergency services in Scotland, which typically witnesses a spike in anti-social behavior. deliberate fire reduction However, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) figures show that since 2018, the number of deliberate fires in the three weeks before 5 November has fallen from 1,302 to 907 – a reduction of 35%.  This...