People living on a First Nations reserve in Canada are 10 times more likely to die in a house fire than people in the rest of Canada, according to a 2010 federal study on fire safety on reserves, a sombre figure highlighted by the deaths of two young boys in a northern Saskatchewan fire last week.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/fire-safety-on-first-nations-a-national-problem-1.2512633
A CBC investigation discovered more than half of 125 licensed personal care homes in Manitoba do not have full sprinkler systems; 37 had no sprinklers, while 55 had partial protection.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/fire-safety-review-overdue-242888091.html
A thirteen-year-old girl sat down in a classroom and heard a pop, and smoke began billowing from the back of her pants.
http://www.wmtw.com/news/iphone-catches-fire-in-students-pants/24224410#mid=16319809
Three Chicago firefighters searching a burning basement became trapped when flames quickly moved around them, cutting off their exit.
E-ONE, Task Force Tips and Zoll made presentations highlighting new items to keep firefighters safe and make their jobs easier. The new products include Collision Mitigation Radar, Road Safety (a system that proactively gives drivers feedback) and monitor controllers with digital readouts that will give operators information about flow and pressure.
http://www.firehouse.com/news/11297622/new-fire-ems-safety-products-to-be-introduced-at-fdsoa
A new piece of Evidence Based Predictive Modelling computer software will help the Kelowna Fire Department evaluate existing day-to-day operations and determine the best use of staff deployment. The software can be used to support initiatives such as location, construction and staffing of new fire halls or whether a new hall is even necessary.
http://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/106502/Fire-Dept-spends-165K-on-smart-tech
Firefighter Patrick Jackson has developed an app for Google Glass, Google’s experimental head-mounted computer, which feeds important information directly to the eye-line of firefighters in an emergency.
State and local officials want to say thank you to neighborhood firefighters. Monday January 27th is Fire Service Appreciation Day, established by the Oregon legislature in 2007 to recognize local and state efforts to keep the public safe in their homes and outdoors.
http://www.kajo.com/news/local/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1390631198&ucat=2
Since the Dublin fire department purchased new breathing equipment there have been a total of six unexplained occurrences while firefighters were wearing the sets. The face mask collapses in on the firefighter leaving them without an oxygen supply.
A pigeon dropping a discarded cigarette down a chimney and a dog turning on a toaster were among some of the most bizarre causes of fires in 2013.
http://www.independent.ie/world-news/and-finally/bizarre-causes-of-fires-revealed-29868711.html