LEADING lights from the world of wildfire have been announced as speakers at this year’s UK Wildfire Conference to be held in Aberdeen. Keynote addresses will be given by Marc Castellnou, Commander in the Catalan Fire Service; Prof Tiago Oliveira, Agency for Integrated Rural Fire Management; Val Charlton, Landworks South Africa; Francesca Osowska, NatureScot; and Jim Savege, Aberdeenshire Council. Alongside the keynote speakers, the event will feature presentations from sector experts from Norway, Switzerland, The Netherlands and France as well as ‘home-grown’ specialists such as Sarah Baker ..read more

The World Firefighter Games is an international sporting event that welcomes all full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters and their immediate direct family from all across the globe. The games are held biennially in different countries and offer more than 50 different sports and challenges including archery, rugby sevens, windsurfing, poker, swimming, athletics and softball, with the “Toughest Firefighter Alive” being the blue riband event. John Hartley is Executive Director at World Firefighters Games and this year the games will be held in Aalborg from 7 – 14 September 2024. To listen ..read more

At last, emergency responders can get a foot up on comfort. Fire-Dex, a leading innovator in personal protective gear for fire services, introduces the FDXL90 Boot offering best-in-class breathability and dual NFPA 1951 (Technical Rescue) and 1999 (EMS) certification. Designed solely for non-fire emergencies that constitute over 90% of calls, the new boot considers the modern firefighter who knows how different each mission can be. Combining versatile protection, lightweight design and breakthrough breathability, the FDXL90 is set to redefine expectations in frontline footwear. Protecting Agai ..read more

Dafo Vehicle, a global leader in fire safety for vehicles in high-risk industries, has released its new and improved Forrex EVO suppression agent in line with incoming rules to reduce fluorine content in agents around the world. Forrex EVO supersedes Dafo Vehicle’s original Forrex agent, upholding its effective flame knockdown, high penetration capability and fast cooling effect, while enhancing the environmental credentials as a fluorine-free alternative. The suppression agent is designed to suppress fires by creating a resistant foam blanket on top of the catalyst fuelling the fire and addin ..read more

On Aug. 2, 1978, a fire at a Brooklyn Waldbaum’s supermarket claimed the lives of six firefighters. Twelve firefighters who were working on the roof plunged into the seat of the fire when the roof suddenly collapsed 32 minutes after the first company arrived.  Six of the firefighters fell to the floor and were seriously injured. The other six were hung up in the truss area between trusses 4 and 6, and ultimately died from severe burn injuries. Lt. James E. Cutillo, Battalion 33 (working in Ladder 156) Firefighter Charles S. Bouton, Ladder 156. Probationary Firefighter William O’Connor, La ..read more

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment has signed a strategic agreement with HeliService USA, ensuring that the helicopter service provider has a single and continuous source of fully certified personal protective equipment to uphold offshore wind industry safety standards along the U.S. East Coast. Building on enduring relations between the companies, the agreement includes personal protective equipment (PPE) for the aircrews and service technicians who support turbine installation and maintenance. Rhode Island-based HeliService USA will hold a complete inventory of ETSO-approved VIKING PPE at Quonset ..read more

Traditionally, the electrical system of a fire apparatus has been viewed as a series of ad-hoc additions rather than a cohesive, critical system. However, with the rapid evolution of firefighting tools and technologies, there is a pressing need to rethink this approach. A holistic bumper-to-bumper plan for an electrical platform is essential for creating a robust, future-proof infrastructure that can support any advanced tool throughout the typical 20-year lifespan of a fire apparatus. This article discusses the need for such a comprehensive strategy and the key components that should be consi ..read more

The management of electric vehicles (EV) and their batteries is currently a complex and controversial issue to be addressed, especially following accidents. Damaged batteries can trigger a whole series of chemical reactions, finally leading to the development of smoke and flames: this phenomenon is also known as ‘thermal runaway’, which can occur either immediately after mechanical abuse or even hours or days later through spontaneous ignition, despite all prevention measures by Automotive OEMs. It has become a necessity to be prepared and know exactly about how to deal properly with a potenti ..read more

The modern-day Fire and Rescue Service (FRS), much like the world around it, has evolved following generations of technological development and improvement.  Technology must enhance and not impede operations, with fire-safety equipment designed with the wearer in mind. Communication channels must be live at all stages of a mission, and firefighters must be sufficiently aware of any potential hazards and complex structural challenges before entering an incident.  Similarly, the physical and mental condition of the wearer, and their location, must be constantly monitored in real time t ..read more

Australia’s vast expanse, well-developed infrastructure and robust regulations set the stage for a national industry to thrive. We have access to sovereign technology and capability that leads the world when it comes to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). However, while some industries like agriculture, and communities like surf lifesaving, are embracing drones’ endurance capabilities, many are slow to catch on.  This is most apparent within our emergency services. Despite the clear benefits, our firefighting services have not yet fully integrated drones into their operations. Considering Au ..read more