Underground fire burning since 2010 nears nuclear waste dump
Beneath the surface of a St. Louis-area landfill lurk two things that should never meet: a slow-burning fire and a cache of Cold War-era nuclear waste, separated by no more than 1200 feet.
Cities pull back on firefighter fundraising, citing safety concerns
At least seven U.S. cities and counties have stopped firefighters from collecting charitable donations at busy intersections, citing safety concerns.
Hoverboard safety warning on Back to the Future Day
London Fire Brigade is warning “hoverboard” owners to keep an eye on their new gadget while it is charging after being called to two fires in two weeks involving personal transporters that were on charge.
Is firefighter PPE being cleaned effectively?
A newly funded research project aims to determine if current methods are sufficient for removing toxins from firefighters’ personal protective equipment.
NASA adapts heat shield technology to fire shelters
When19 Granite Mountain Hotshots were trapped by a raging wildfire in Arizona in 2013 and died inside their emergency shelters Mary Beth Wusk, a materials expert at NASA Langley Research Center, took notice.
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High tech fire prevention
A Kelowna tech company has launched a new product that can help prevent kitchen fires.
Firefighters battle to change narrative around PTSD
Post traumatic stress disorder is a dangerous aspect of the job for firefighters. But until recently, it was rarely talked about. “You always thought you had be to macho and not accept any responsibility for what is going on in your mind,” said City of Nanaimo firefighter Captain Mike Rispin.
Apple patents smart smoke detection system for iPhone
According to a patent granted to Apple iPhones, iPads and other branded equipment could one day sport onboard smoke detection hardware to alert users, and interested parties, of a potentially dangerous situation. Apple’s patent sounds a lot like similar network-connected products. However, the solution described by Apple offers a number of benefits over today’s fixed location setups. Click Click here to read more.
Food truck fire safety hazards remain a concern
The popularity of food trucks over recent years hasn’t waned, likely due to their mobility and trendy menu items. As the food truck industry grows, so do the fire risks. The International Association of Fire Chiefs partnered with FEMA to present a webinar on Fire/Life Safety Considerations for Street Vendors,Fairs and Festivals, in which much of the focus was on food trucks. Click Click here to read more.
How firefighters can embrace fire prevention
In general, fire prevention is not a coveted assignment. Although some departments do a better job integrating prevention and community education than others, there is still an overall perception that prevention lies outside the “core” duties of a firefighter. The tasks associated with prevention are considered less exciting, require less work and bravery, and are simply less important than responding to fires, traffic collisions and other emergency calls. Increasing respect for and involvement in fire prevention involves cultural change. Click Click here to read more.