A Texas A&M Forest Service investigator’s report released on Friday revealed that a power line sparked the largest wildfire in Texas history. The investigation pinpointed the decayed base of a power line pole as the cause of the Smokehouse Creek fire.
San Francisco’s Fire Department announced implementing a new fire code policy, focusing on charging and storing lithium-ion batteries for Powered Mobility Devices (PMDs). This policy responds to a notable rise in fires attributed to lithium-ion batteries. Henceforth, all PMDs in San Francisco must be safety-certified.
The Thompson Professional Firefighters Association raises concerns about escalating call volumes and stagnant staffing levels, warning of potential impacts on public safety. The fire department in the northern Manitoba city is currently short eight full-time members, representing roughly a third of its workforce.
A recent report from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) reveals concerning levels of cancer-causing PFAS and persistent chemicals in the textiles used for manufacturing firefighters’ protective coats and pants.
Persistent drought reduced snowpack levels in Western Canada, and an early onset of wildfires in Alberta have put federal, provincial, and territorial governments on high alert for yet another demanding summer season.
Firefighters combating Texas’ largest wildfire encounter worsening weather conditions this Saturday. Although rain and snow on Thursday aided in containing a portion of the blaze, the National Weather Service in Amarillo has issued a red flag warning for the entire Panhandle from late Saturday morning through midnight Sunday.
The wildfire season in Minnesota started earlier than usual, with a national forecasting group predicting that heightened fire danger in the state would persist at least through April.
The province is allocating close to $3 million to aid Barrie Fire, Barrie Police Services, and South Simcoe Police Services in adopting ‘Next Generation’ 911 technology.
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Local 5219 members celebrate a groundbreaking arbitration decision that brings substantial and overdue salary increases. Moreover, it transitions firefighters from an outdated eight-hour shift schedule to the prevalent 24-hour shift system observed in fire departments across Atlantic Canada.
After experiencing wildfires impacting three of their properties in 2023, a West Kelowna family now faces a steep rise in insurance costs. Despite making claims, their insurer dropped them, forcing them to seek coverage elsewhere. Only one company agreed to insure them, but at a staggering $28,000 annually for their Traders Cove property alone, which was previously insured for about $6,000 annually.