FireWatch
FireWatch is a service that provides links to news stories from the fire community that have attracted our attention.
Ontario requires sprinklers in retirement homes
Ontario has become the first province in the country to make it mandatory for all retirement homes and long-term care facilities to have automatic water sprinkler systems....
NIOSH LOD Report- Fire Fighter/Driver Operator Suffers Sudden Cardiac Death
NIOSH recommendations call for annual medical evaluations, stress tests, medical clearance to wear SCBC, mandatory fitness program and annual physical fitness evaluation. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face201229.html
Goosestep in around the fire hall
Scientists call her Branta Canadensis, but the locals call her Burnice, an expecting Canada Goose who made herself at home in a planter in front of Sherwood Parks Fire Station #1....
Wanted: Volunteers to fight fires in Brandon Manitoba
This is the kind of article that may help recruit volunteers. http://www.brandoninfo.com/article/20130424/NEWS/130424006/1001
Newer, bigger, faster planes to fight forest fires
The US Forest Service will have access to several models of aircraft, including a converted DC-10 jumbo jet, which can carry about five times as much flame-resistant liquid as any aircraft in regular use. Each of the planes can carry more than 3,000 gallons of...
L.A. fire chief under pressure for shifting firefighters from engines to ambulances
The changes are designed to address an increase in medical calls. This may be a new trend to deal with first responder call volumes. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-lafd-cummings-ambulance-20130503,0,1812096.story
Women settle law suit with Chicago Fire Department over physical abilities test
The women were part of a group of 187 who had passed the written test in 2006 but were later denied jobs because they failed the department’s physical abilities test. Many will now have the opportunity to reapply....
Profit-making plan to rescue fire service – Fire Department Forms Company
The idea seems to be that all commercial buildings need fire risk management services so the fire department will compete for the business. They also plan to sell health and safety, first aid and extinguisher training. ...
Fires in hospital operating rooms
Root cause analysis clearly shows the high concentration of oxygen and general lack of appreciation for what constitutes risk by staff were contributing factors. The staff simply did not appreciate the risk that existed. A simple risk analysis can prevent...
Fire breaks out in collapsed garment factory
Fire service officials said the blaze was started by sparks from cutting equipment used by rescuers.
38 dead in Russian psychiatric hospital fire
Russian psychiatric hospital housed patients with severe mental disorders who were under sedatives. Most of them did not wake up. Investigators say 38 people - 36 patients and two doctors – were lost in the fire.
West VFD loses five firefighters in deadly explosion
West VFD is without two-thirds of their members as five firefighters died and eleven others were hospitalized after the deadly fertilizer plant explosion. They also lost three fire trucks and an emergency medical services vehicle....
Bullying in the workplace may have contributed to suicide
Montreal’s fire chief recently admitted the department has a serious problem with bullying. He said there was a terrible environment in the fire prevention department and the people there were very, very unhappy....
Firefighters suing siren manufacturers for hearing loss
Firefighters claim the companies knew or should have known that the sirens were inherently dangerous, defective and hazardous to human hearing. http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/3891224-74/lawsuit-firefighter-firefighters#axzz2RLVZ6o15
Dishwasher fire hazard
Due to an increase in fires it is recommended that people do not turn on appliances before they go to bed. A simple bedtime routine which includes switching off all electrical appliances at night will reduce the risk of having a fire in your home....
OSHA issues advice for emergency workers at combustible dust fires
This booklet is described as an excellent resource for explaining the hazards associated with combustible dust and outlining the best practices for pre-incident operational preparation by emergency responders....
Forest service “let it burn” policy
Article explains what criteria are used to determine suppression actions for wildland fires. http://www.hcn.org/blogs/goat/the-who-what-where-and-why-of-letting-it-burn
Court rules against City over exams used in fire chief competition
Judge rules that the City set qualifications specifically to exclude members of their fire department from the chief's position. http://www.firehouse.com/news/10920092/judge-rules-against-ny-dept-in-fire-chief-exam-suit
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