Basing Fire and EMS staffing on statistical demand for service?
One proposal calls for dramatic changes to work schedules such that they concentrate more paramedic shifts during peak times. The union that represents the paramedics agrees with the fire chief that the issue is not, as the firefighters union argues,...
Boeing Dreamliner battery fire report released
A detailed description of a battery fire on board a Boeing 787 Dreamliner at Boston’s Logan Airport has been released by a US regulator but no cause has been specified. All fifty Dreamliners in operation have been grounded....
A wine to support fallen firefighters
Every bottle sold of the new Tribute Wine from Distant Cellars, a family-owned winery in Fiddletown, California, will support the work of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Let’s drink to that. http://firenews.com/
Arson suspect acquitted by jury in federal court but may still face punishment
A US federal jury acquitted a man charged with arranging to start a fire that destroyed a pizza restaurant, but he may still be punished for that crime through something called "acquitted-conduct sentencing."...
A creative way to attract volunteers and promote fire safety
The Skokie, Illlinois fire department invites residents to attend a Citizens' Fire Academy. The eleven week program takes place for three hours each Tuesday evening....
Blame Game Begins as 19 Die in Market Fire
Even though the fire is barely out the blame game begins. It is an all too common story of overcrowding, fire department access issues and illegal construction of buildings that result in tragedy....
Hot Air Balloon Crash in Egypt Kills 19
A hot air balloon flying over the ancient city of Luxor in Egypt caught fire and crashed into a field, killing 19 tourists. http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/02/26/egypt-hot-air-balloon-crash.html
Two Firefighters Killed in Texas Hall Fire
Two Texas fire lieutenants have died after being trapped in a structure fire at a Knights of Columbus Lodge fire. Lt. Eric Wallace called for help from inside the building as he was low on air. Lt. Greg Pickard who led a rescue team to assist Wallace was also...
Hefty Fines for Fire Code Violations But is it Enough?
After a fire in an apartment building fire inspectors identified 78 fire code violations and the owners have been fined $150,000 which is the maximum allowed under state law. Further the owners have been ordered to fix the issues by March 2 and pay the full fine...
Cancer fight continues after the fires are out
Multiple myeloma, a treatable but incurable plasma cell cancer, is one of six types of cancer the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association (OPFFA) is pushing to have added to workplace safety legislation. Also on the list are lung, testicular, breast, prostate...
City hopes to see savings through composite fire department staffing model
Fire departments could save 35 per cent and maintain current response times by switching to composite fire departments according to a study by Adam Found a University of Toronto economics PhD candidate. Fund’s study, entitled “Economies of Scale in Fire and...
The Station Street nightclub fire 10 years later
Four people who wrote books about the Station Street Nightclub fire that killed 100 and injured 200 people are interviewed in this powerful article. John Barylick, author and an attorney, who represented fire victims in what would become a $176 million...
Smart gloves may help firefighters in the future
A University of Minnesota assistant professor, Lucy Dunne, is working to come up with a way firefighters can find their way around a smoke-filled environment without having to touch anything with their gloves. Dunne put a sensor in a standard-issue firefighter glove,...
Municipal Fire Inspection Programs
As a result of some major industrial fires in BC questions are being raised in the media about who is the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for fire safety inspections. In British Columbia municipalities are required by Section 26 (1) of the Fire Services Act...
Frequency of Municipal Fire Inspection Programs
We recently responded to a request for information about the frequency of fire safety inspections required in BC by the Fire Services Act. Our client mentioned that the Fire Commissioners Office said it was up to the local jurisdiction to determine what the frequency...
Legal Action Resulting from Delay Connecting to Fire Hydrant
A fire department received a call to a fire in a building under construction. They arrived and connected to a hydrant located in front of the building. Unfortunately the hydrant, which was installed by the building owner, had not been connected to the...
Do Incandescent Light Bulbs Cause Fires?
There is a lot of technical information available about the temperature generated by incandescent light bulbs. In general terms, the filament temperature inside an incandescent light bulb can exceed 2000 degrees Celsius. Considering the ignition temperature of paper...
Witchcraft, Hocus Pocus and Fire Investigation
Witchcraft is often thought of as the use of magical powers, that witches are an agent of the devil and that witches use their powers to harm people and property. Witchcraft is one way of explaining human misfortune by a supernatural power or person in the community....
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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