May 8, 2014
This is a graphic video of the danger of putting water on a grease fire. You may want to add it to your fire prevention video collection. The article says the previous advice from fire prevention personnel to throw a damp tea-towel over a pan on fire was scrapped by the government in 2008 after fears it did more harm than good. A quick search of the internet provides many examples of where this advice is still the norm.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/chip-pan-fires-what-chip-7021101
May 8, 2014
This state wide volunteer firefighter recruiting and retaining program includes an online “Train the Recruiter” course. It only takes about an hour and the course is full of useful information and tips for conducting recruitment activities. It includes available resources for promoting recruitment, tips for turning potential volunteers into department members and recommendations for getting the word out.
http://www.recruitny.org/index.php
May 8, 2014
Members of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association went to the site of a warehouse fire to hand out flyers warning of the peril Toronto residents would face when the city proceeded with a plan to save money by closing one fire station and taking four fire trucks out of service.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/fireside-protest-toronto-unions-alarmism-tries-to-scare-the-public/article18317282/
May 8, 2014
New statistical information highlights firefighter work-related illnesses that present later in life. The report, which was prepared by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and MassCOSH, states that 19 percent of worker deaths that occurred in Massachusetts in 2013 were firefighters, representing one of the largest concentrations of death for any occupation. Of the nine instances, four were attributed to work-related cancer and five were attributed to work-related heart disease.
http://www.golocalworcester.com/news/worcester-fire-fighters-dying-at-an-alarming-rate-not-from-fires/
May 8, 2014
Several train cars carrying crude oil derailed and caught fire with three black tankers ending up in the water and leaking some oil. It is the most recent crash involving oil trains that has safety efforts pushing for better oversight.
May 8, 2014
The NFPA recently announced that its Standards Council has approved the development of a test for open-flame sources, such as candles, matches and lighters. NFPA believes that the test will give furniture manufacturers a clear marker for determining fire resistance of upholstered furniture and will hopefully provide consumers with an important layer of fire protection.
May 8, 2014
Fourteen people, including five firefighters, were injured when two fire trucks collided sending one careening across a sidewalk and into a restaurant. One of the victims is in critical condition, officials said.
http://www.castanet.net/news/World/113279/Firetruck-slams-into-restaurant
Apr 22, 2014
Public safety may be priceless, but the same probably can’t be said for long about fire inspections intended to protect it. “We were charged (by council) to look at what other municipalities are doing, and more often than not they charge for inspections,” Fire Chief Amy Biggs said. “We tried to come up with a blend that is representative of our area. Our fees are conservative in nature and take into account the time it takes to do what we do.”
Apr 22, 2014
The Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association (TPFFA) has launched a petition to protest the city’s planned removal of four pumper trucks from fire stations. The TPFFA says the removal will compromise safety in the communities surrounding the stations by impacting response times and will result in the permanent loss of 84 firefighter jobs. The association points out that the cost of keeping the trucks in service would be only $8 year a person.
Apr 22, 2014
A paid-on-call firefighter was astonished to read a letter to the editor calling for reduced numbers of firefighters in Langley City. He said he is not an IAFF member but has been a paid-on-call (POC) firefighter for 33 years. He goes on to say, “The minimum four-man staffing is not only industry-standard but essential. I have responded to calls on apparatus with two and three personnel, and I can tell you that you quickly find yourself short of manpower for almost anything. You become almost ineffectual”.
