San Francisco introduces new fire code for lithium-ion battery safety.
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,...
Thompson at crisis point on firefighter vacancies union.
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,...
Forever chemicals in protective gear could be killing Colorado firefighters.
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. CBS News Colorado
Be prepared for the worst’: governments, Indigenous leaders receive ‘alarming, but not surprising’ wildfire forecast.
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. HillTimes Storey Alberta
Firefighters face difficult weather conditions as they battle the largest wildfire in Texas history.
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...
Minnesota’s wildfire season has already started, and fire risk is heightened through the spring.
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. Star News Minnesota
Ontario injects nearly $3M to upgrade 911 technology in Barrie and South Simcoe.
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. Barrie CTV News
Charlottetown PEI firefighters welcome significant gains in arbitration award
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...
Insurance rates soar for Traders Cove family after wildfire
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...
The US Needs Wildland Firefighters More Than Ever
The US Needs Wildland Firefighters More Than Ever, but the Federal Government Is Losing Them - Black Butte, an inactive volcano in eastern Oregon, saw a group of United States Forest Service smokejumpers arrive by turboprop plane in May 2022. Among them was Ben...
BC issues first fire ban of the season as drought worry grows
BC issues the first fire ban of the season. The B.C. Wildfire Service has declared a prohibition on fires in the Cariboo region starting at noon on Thursday, March 28, citing "unusually dry conditions from fall through winter leading to heightened drought levels."...
Smokehouse Creek Fire, second-largest in U.S. history, merges with another to stretch across huge swath of Texas Panhandle
Smokehouse Creek Fire, now the second-largest in U.S. history, combines forces with another blaze, expanding across the Texas Panhandle CBS NEWS
Zombie Fires burning at an alarming rate in Canada
The remains of last year's wildfire season in Canada persist even during the harsh winter. Zombie fires, hidden beneath thick layers of snow, are actively burning at an alarming rate, causing concerns about the potential challenges the upcoming summer might bring. BBC...
Government should prep for fires given low snowpack
The 2024 wildfire season will begin in just a few months. A consensus among studies forecasting future fire potential in B.C. agrees that wildfires will persist in their growth throughout the 21st century due to rising temperatures. The record-breaking wildfire season...
North Texas fire department using high-tech tool to enhance skills, save lives
In collaboration with a video game developer, a fire department in North Texas has joined forces to innovate a unique simulator aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of firefighters, potentially contributing to the preservation of lives and property. CBS NEWS
Researchers make life-saving breakthrough in fire retardant technology that could ‘make homes much safer’: ‘Chokes out the oxygen supply to the fire’
A fire retardant that is environmentally friendly has the potential to extend the time for homeowners to evacuate during fires and reduce the ability of flames to spread. THE COOLDOWN
Son of retired Cambridge, Ont. firefighter inspired to create chemical-free gear
Inspired by his mother, the son of a recently retired Cambridge firefighter is starting on a groundbreaking mission, inspired to create chemical-free gear . KITCHENER CTV NEWS
Notoriously challenging: BC wildfire fuel data inaccurate, study finds
A recent study reveals that the accuracy of government data in British Columbia's Interior, specifically regarding forest fuel loads, may hinder effective decision-making in wildfire fighting and forest management. GLOBAL NEWS
Recent Articles
Yellowknife to Fort McMurray: lessons from the frontlines of Canada’s worst wildfires.
Volunteer firefighters see doubling in tax credit.
Oro-Medonte fire chief smokes out several ways to boost revenue.
Ahead of likely ‘ferocious’ wildfire season, fire chiefs lament drop in volunteers.
Vancouver firefighters get $2.8M from city to procure gear free of cancer-causing chemicals.
