Global attention is growing over PFAS, dubbed “forever chemicals”, found in firefighting foam and gear, with Australia banning a few and the EU aiming to outlaw the entire class. Firefighters, scientists, and health advocates are pushing for urgent change, but what’s really at stake for first responders and their communities? Find out how this global debate could reshape firefighter safety.
A Boulder Creek-based startup has designed an AI-powered network of sensors, cameras and drones to spot wildfire smoke the moment it appears, and even send drones to drop suppressants in hard-to-reach spots. This could transform how communities spot and squash fires before they spread. Learn more about the tech in action.
A team at Oak Ridge National Laboratory drew inspiration from a fun kitchen experiment, oobleck, to develop a lithium‑ion battery additive that instantly solidifies on impact, helping to prevent fires if the battery is dropped or smashed. This drop‑in solution can be used with little change to existing battery production. Learn how oobleck could be the next big breakthrough in battery safety.
A pair of innovative homes in Colorado were 3D-printed using fire-resistant concrete in just 16 days, offering a faster and stronger option for those in wildfire-prone areas. These 1,100‑square‑foot houses use A1‑rated walls that resist burning, while cutting both time and labour dramatically. See how this high-tech approach could reshape housing in fire‑risk zones.
The BC Wildfire Service is cautioning the public about AI‑generated wildfire images that are being shared online, and may mislead people about real fire conditions. “Someone scrolling past could believe this image is real when it is not,” officials warn. Discover why verifying visuals during fire season matters now more than ever.
Premier John Hogan announced on August 12, 2025, that the Newfoundland and Labrador government will begin compensating volunteer firefighters for their extraordinary service during this summer’s wildfire season. Discover how volunteers are finally being recognized, and what’s being planned next.
Volunteer fire departments in Newfoundland and Labrador are raising concerns that their heavy bunker gear, designed for house fires, is putting them at risk out in the woods. Carrying 40‑pound suits in scorching heat slows crews down and heats them up fast, making “like wearing a snowsuit in the summer” all too real. Discover how volunteers are calling for proper wildland gear, and what the province is doing about it.
Wildland firefighters across the U.S. are getting cancer, cardiovascular disease, and even dying – yet many go out into toxic smoke without any masks. Decades of internal warnings went unheeded as agencies failed to heed the dangers. Learn how this failure to act is putting lives in danger.
Bill Chafe Announced as South Glengarry’s New Deputy Fire Chief –
Keremeos and District Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief, Jordy Bosscha, Announced Retirement After 37 Years –