A national paramedic shortage is severely impacting the New Haven Fire Department. According to Fire Chief John Alston, with 53 vacancies among over 300 budgeted firefighter positions, the department is operating with only about one-third of its usual paramedic staff.
In 2023, the Saskatoon Fire Department handled 25,176 calls for service, a 57% increase from 2019’s 16,029 calls. This incident rise was highlighted in the 2023 SFD Year in Review presented at this week’s environment, utilities, and corporate services committee meeting.
Researchers in Melbourne, Australia, have developed a solar chimney that’s both energy-efficient and fire-safe, a first-of-its-kind innovation for sustainable building features.
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A Texas A&M Forest Service investigator’s report released on Friday revealed that a power line sparked the largest wildfire in Texas history. The investigation pinpointed the decayed base of a power line pole as the cause of the Smokehouse Creek fire.
San Francisco’s Fire Department announced implementing a new fire code policy, focusing on charging and storing lithium-ion batteries for Powered Mobility Devices (PMDs). This policy responds to a notable rise in fires attributed to lithium-ion batteries. Henceforth, all PMDs in San Francisco must be safety-certified.
The Thompson Professional Firefighters Association raises concerns about escalating call volumes and stagnant staffing levels, warning of potential impacts on public safety. The fire department in the northern Manitoba city is currently short eight full-time members, representing roughly a third of its workforce.
A recent report from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) reveals concerning levels of cancer-causing PFAS and persistent chemicals in the textiles used for manufacturing firefighters’ protective coats and pants.
Persistent drought reduced snowpack levels in Western Canada, and an early onset of wildfires in Alberta have put federal, provincial, and territorial governments on high alert for yet another demanding summer season.
Firefighters combating Texas’ largest wildfire encounter worsening weather conditions this Saturday. Although rain and snow on Thursday aided in containing a portion of the blaze, the National Weather Service in Amarillo has issued a red flag warning for the entire Panhandle from late Saturday morning through midnight Sunday.
The wildfire season in Minnesota started earlier than usual, with a national forecasting group predicting that heightened fire danger in the state would persist at least through April.