Another reminder for fire apparatus drivers
Fourteen people, including five firefighters, were injured when two fire trucks collided sending one careening across a sidewalk and into a restaurant. One of the victims is in critical condition, officials said....
Fire department seeks new inspection fees, increase in fines
Public safety may be priceless, but the same probably can't be said for long about fire inspections intended to protect it. “We were charged (by council) to look at what other municipalities are doing, and more often than not they charge for inspections,” Fire Chief...
Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association launches petition to stop planned removal of pumper trucks
The Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association (TPFFA) has launched a petition to protest the city’s planned removal of four pumper trucks from fire stations. The TPFFA says the removal will compromise safety in the communities surrounding the stations by...
Letter to the Editor – “Four person fire crews are absolutely essential”
A paid-on-call firefighter was astonished to read a letter to the editor calling for reduced numbers of firefighters in Langley City. He said he is not an IAFF member but has been a paid-on-call (POC) firefighter for 33 years. He goes on to say, “The minimum...
Phoenix Fire Department can’t account for 850 keys
More than half of the keys that Phoenix Fire Department uses to access commercial buildings throughout the city have gone missing, officials said. The keys open lock boxes attached to the exterior walls of retail businesses, office buildings, apartment complexes,...
State of the art technology helping firefighters on the front lines
A team of experts holed up in trailers set up at a wildfire base camp in Arizona helped the fire managers and crews on the front lines. They were the actual "intelligence" behind the fire. Computers inside the mobile command post were giving officials...
Cost of new fire truck could go up by $65,000 due to US exchange rate
Recent changes in the US exchange rate have increased the price of American apparatus significantly. The value of the Canadian dollar has gone down which has caused a significant price increase on top of the normal manufacturer’s price which purchasers now have...
Volunteer Fire Department Cost Savings Calculator
The US National Volunteer Fire Council Foundation's Volunteer Fire Department Cost Savings Calculator will help you determine your department's contribution to the community and provide data for municipalities who fund those departments. A 2013 report by the...
Titanium alloy golf clubs pose brush fire risk
Titanium alloy golf clubs can potentially ignite dry brush when the lightweight metal is swung and struck against a rock, researchers said Wednesday. The study conducted by scientists at the University of California, Irvine, found that under the right conditions,...
Massive dust devil sweeps through fire creating an unbelievable sight
This video shows a fire that started as a controlled 150-acre burn and everything was going well until a dust devil formed nearby. The dust devil swept fire and tumbleweeds into the air while firefighters ran for safety. This serves as an excellent reminder fire can...
New NFPA videos available
Quality fire, life, and workplace safety instruction reduces injuries and deaths. NFPA can help you deliver high-quality instruction and enhance your public education programs. They have several new videos focusing on the importance of smoke alarms....
Social media a key factor in catching young arsonists in Windsor
With two young offenders in custody and a warrant issued for a third suspect, Windsor Police are crediting social media with playing a key role in their investigation. Through a resident’s home security system and social media, police were able to identify three...
Recognition of heart disease in B.C. firefighters restored
The Government of British Columbia has tabled legislation under the Workers Compensation Act to restore heart disease in firefighters as a presumptive disease recognized by WorkSafeBC. Under the proposed amendment, if a firefighter suffers from heart disease or a...
Fire crews to attend automatic fire alarms no longer
In a bid to lower how many calls there are to false alarms fire crews will no longer be sent to automatic fire alarms. During 2012/13, Chesire crews responded to more than 2,500 alarms but only 29 of these calls involved a fire, which meant 98.7 per cent could...
ISO fire prevention ratings explained
To establish a municipality's Public Protection Classification, the ISO uses a comprehensive 105.5 point scoring system called the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule that analyzes data across three categories of a community's fire-fighting capabilities: Emergency...
Recalled smoke alarm causes fire
The investigation into a house fire found the smoke detectors were originally installed in 2005 and that they had been recalled by General Electric in 2010 because a capacitor could overheat - which this unit did.
Manitoba creates task force to look into sprinkler retrofits
The Manitoba government said it is looking at sprinkler retrofits in personal care homes if further improvements need to be made in hospitals, personal care homes and other facilities. The province also said it is dedicating up to $7 million annually for...
Fire codes forcing elderly out of their homes
Fire codes in New Hampshire require residents of care facilities to be able to evacuate the building within thirteen minutes. The president of the New Hampshire Association of Residential Care Homes said the problem of elderly residents being forced out of assisted...
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