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.
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 successfully.
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 apparatus and come with zooming and panning capabilities.
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 ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees”.
A second charge pertains to failure to carry out risk assessments at work.
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.
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.
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 a soothing British aristocratic voice that nicely asks motorists to please move over.
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.