FEMA Emergency Vehicle Safety Initiative – 2014
If you asked the public what is the most dangerous part of a first responder’s job chances are they would say during firefighting (fire ground) operations. The truth is first responders are more likely to die in a motor vehicle related incident than during the course...
Owners plead guilty to fire code violation
A Hamilton landlord has been convicted of failing to equip a residential building with window closures that meet Ontario Fire Code requirements. The case was heard at Hamilton's Provincial Offences Court and the landlord received a $3,000 fine. Building owners...
City fires most prolific shift-trading firefighter
The city has terminated the last Cleveland firefighter to plead guilty in the department's shift-trading scandal. He was considered the most brazen of the 13 firefighters accused of illegally paying coworkers to work their shifts. Prosecutors said he...
Fire ambulance idea ridiculed
This controversial idea would involve firefighters driving individuals to hospital in ambulances. However, the Fire Brigades Union ( FBU ) has lambasted the concept, saying it was akin to "playing Russian roulette with fire safety", as it could result in property...
Prince George BC suspicious wildfires
Prince George (BC) Fire Centre has responded to 23 fires over the past two weeks, nine of them being investigated as suspicious. . All of these fires are being reported within the Fort St. John Fire Zone. The Wildfire Management Branch and the RCMP suspect...
Spate of fires may be linked Victoria police say
Victoria police want the public to assist with information on at least nine suspicious fires that have occurred in Victoria since April 25. The graphic in the link below shows where and when the fires occurred and their nature. This leads to the question “is this...
Fire apparatus manufacturing in North America 2014
This report examines the business of the manufacture of fire apparatus in North America. Product types examined include aerial ladders, aerial platforms, pumpers, rescue trucks, wildland/brush trucks, and aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) trucks. The study is a...
Pickering couple fined $30,000 for illegal seniors’ home
A Pickering couple has been fined $30,000 for operating an illegal seniors’ home out of their house. According to court documents Murney Brook and his wife Jane Brook both pleaded guilty to fire code violations and were fined $15,000 each. This isn’t the first...
Lithium-ion batteries that won’t catch fire
Scientists have discovered a new way to create high-output lithium ion batteries that do not pose a fire risk as the world continues to make greater use of the technology. These batteries are the first of their kind to have both high output and high life-span despite...
Dehumidifier recalled after 92 fires, $4 million in property damage reported
A major appliance manufacturer has reissued a recall for 12 brands of dehumidifiers, affecting about 2.5 million units in the U.S. and 55,000 units in Canada. More than 90 fires, and over $4 million in property damage have been reported. This recall involves...
What not to do if there is a grease fire in your home
This is a graphic video of the danger of putting water on a grease fire. You may want to add it to your fire prevention video collection. The article says the previous advice from fire prevention personnel to throw a damp tea-towel over a pan on fire was...
Recruiting and Retaining Volunteer Firefighters the New York way – RecruitNY 2014
This state wide volunteer firefighter recruiting and retaining program includes an online “Train the Recruiter” course. It only takes about an hour and the course is full of useful information and tips for conducting recruitment activities. It includes available...
Fireside protest: Toronto union’s alarmism tries to scare the public
Members of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association went to the site of a warehouse fire to hand out flyers warning of the peril Toronto residents would face when the city proceeded with a plan to save money by closing one fire station and taking four fire...
Worcester fire fighters dying at an alarming rate, not from fires
New statistical information highlights firefighter work-related illnesses that present later in life. The report, which was prepared by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and MassCOSH, states that 19 percent of worker deaths that occurred in Massachusetts in 2013 were...
Another derailment of tanker cars carrying crude oil results in fire
Several train cars carrying crude oil derailed and caught fire with three black tankers ending up in the water and leaking some oil. It is the most recent crash involving oil trains that has safety efforts pushing for better oversight.
NFPA’s open flame test will become an important fire prevention resource
The NFPA recently announced that its Standards Council has approved the development of a test for open-flame sources, such as candles, matches and lighters. NFPA believes that the test will give furniture manufacturers a clear marker for determining fire resistance of...
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...
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Movers & Shakers
Clarington Fire Chief Dave Speed recognized for Ontario Leadership Award- Mt. Pleasant introduces new Fire Chief Mark Kraisinger
- Orillia Fire Chief Capt. Glenn Higgins retires after nearly 30 years
- Canyon Fire Deputy Chief Wiley Harp retires after 42 years of service
- Captain Mark McCarthy retires from Butte Silver Bow Fire Department after 30 years