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
Are you ready for barbecue season?
Longer days and warmer temperatures signify the start of barbecue season. This is a good article on barbecue fire safety you may want your media to reprint.
Fire captain dies in fire, firefighter injured
Captain Michael Goodwin, a 30 year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department, was killed when a third floor roof collapsed. Firefighter Andrew Godlewski was injured while trying to rescue Goodwin and is in stable condition in the hospital....
Fire department deploys new emergency medical technology
Two new devices being used by fire departments are a carbon monoxide monitor that helps paramedics tell if people have been exposed to carbon monoxide and a handheld device that uses light technology to help find people's veins, allowing IVs to be started quickly and...
The next generation of technology
New technology may provide a direct satellite video link that allows operations specialists located in a central command centre to watch fire-fighting operations live in support of the Incident Commander on the scene. The cameras can be installed on top of fire...
Scottish fire service charged criminally in death of firefighter
The Scottish Crown has now decided to invoke criminal charges under their health and safety laws against the fire service. They are charged with breaching section two of the Health and Safety at Work Act, which states "it shall be the duty of every employer to...
Facebook and Twitter used to help fight grass fires
The fire department is using social media as part of a new initiative to make appeals and provide arson awareness messages after incidents. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22019012
Can egg whites cure burns?
There is an email going around suggesting that egg whites may be a miracle cure for burns. Urban Legends discounts this claim. http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/medical/a/Egg-Whites-For-Burns.htm
Best April Fools story we came across
After a five-year study, a leading research group has concluded that loud, blaring sirens on fire trucks are ineffective at getting cars to clear a path. In response to the study there is a new standard for apparatus sirens that replaces the familiar sirens with...
Hire slow and fire fast
If you substitute "fire chief" for "business owner" and "organization" for "business" you will see this article is very relevant to the fire service. http://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickhull/2013/03/27/hire-slow-fire-fast/
City and union clash over 24 hour shift schedule
The city says it needs to save millions of dollars and one way is to put the firefighters onto a 24 hour shift. The union argues the move would represent a cut to their hourly pay and also consider the new schedule potentially unsafe, citing fatigue near the end...
GPS units in emergency response vehicles pose a concern to fire and police unions
Some fire departments have had GPS units in their vehicles for only about a month, and already there is an internal investigation of at least two fire battalion chiefs who were traveling in excess of 100 mph in city-issued SUVs. Firefighters are upset that...
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Movers & Shakers
Trevor Pike Retires as Sechelt Fire Chief After 35 Years- Assistant Chief of Operations Daniel Walston appointed as next chief
- Clay Fire Chief Timm Schabbel retires after 35 years of service
- Winter Harbor welcomes new fire chief Roy Chandler
- Leonard Whitney, has been hired as the new Melfort fire chief
- Christopher Clarkin Sworn in as its new Fire Chief/Fire Marshal