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• Reflections on the events of April 15, 2013 - Boston Marathon Bombing

  'We are fickle, stupid beings with poor memories and a great gift for self-destruction.'   ~ Suzanne Collins

• CSB deploys to a massive explosion and fire at fertilizer plant near Waco, Texas.

  A large investigation team from the US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is deploying to the scene of a massive fire and explosion at the West Fertilizer Plant located in West, Texas, north of Waco.

• Rosenbauer launches a new short firefighting boot range – Twister-cross

  With its new Twister-cross, Rosenbauer has launched a short boot with a Class C shaft. The boot is suitable for all firefighting and rescue operations and has EN 15090:2012 F2A HI3 CI AN SRA certification instead of the 280mm shaft length stipulated in Austria by ÖBFV-RL KS – 06. The new boot meets the requirements of both countries’ fire and rescue services. In fact, it differs from all other fire service boots because it is shorter than conventional boots.

• Singapore-based Alert Disaster Control purchases emergency management software solution

  The iResponse Emergency Management software is used in over 20 countries for consequence modelling for thermal, dispersion and overpressure scenarios.

• Interoperability: Fact or Fiction

  Interoperability, mutual aid response, multi-department response pre-planning, local emergency response coordination. Are any of those ringing a bell?

• Video: test drive of Rosenbauer's new AT fire truck

  Watch the video of Rosenbauer's new Advanced Technology vehicle.

• Metro Chiefs Association meets in Phoenix and appoints new board members and officers

  The Metropolitan “Metro” Fire Chiefs Association, a section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) held its 2013 annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona, April 5-11. Approximately 110 Metro chiefs from Canada, China, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States attended the conference and elected the section’s 2013-2014 officers and board members. Chief Bob Khan and the Phoenix Fire Department staff hosted the conference.

• New campaign focuses on reducing cancer deaths by installing emissions extraction systems in the fire station

  Ryan Pennington of ViewsFromTheJumpseat.com, and Kerry Falzone of Plymovent Corporation have joined forces to create a campaign focused on the importance of hooking up an exhaust extraction hose in emergency service stations. ‘Every minute firefighter's and EMS are risking their lives to save ours, we need to stress the importance of protecting them in their stations,’ commented Pennington.

• Fire Fighting Foams with Perfluorochemicals – Environmental Review, by Dr Jimmy Seow, Manager, Pollution Response Unit, Department of Environment and Conservation Western Australia

  Hemming Fire exclusive: download the most exhaustive paper on the subject to date.

• REAS - Emergency Exhibition and Interschutz join powers.

  The REAS - Emergency Exhibition held in Montichiari, Italy, from October 4-6, 2013, has announced its new partnership with Interschutz, the largest and most important fire exhibition in the world. Hannover Fairs international GMBH  and Centro Fiera Di Montichiari signed an agreement to become official partners, so the next edition of REAS is ‘powered by Interschutz’.

• OSHA issues new resource to protect emergency workers at combustible dust fires

  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has published Firefighting Precautions at Facilities with Combustible Dust, a new, informative booklet that outlines safe procedures for emergency responders who may face fires and explosions caused by combustible dust. 

• Extraction systems help to protect firefighters against vehicle exhaust emissions.

  A firelighter’s profession is to protect lives, property and the environment of our community, but who protects our firefighters? Kellie Murphy from Auto Extract Systems reports on how vehicle emissions extraction systems can help save lives.

• Draeger Safety UK is awarded major BA contract

  Draeger Safety UK will supply breathing apparatus (BA) and associated equipment to both Northamptonshire (NFRS) and Buckinghamshire (BFRS) Fire and Rescue Services.

• The Emergency Services Show relocates to the NEC Birmingham, UK

  The organisers of The Emergency Services Show are pleased to announce that the event will be moving to The NEC, Birmingham. In addition, the show is moving from its traditional November dates and will be held this year from 25-26 September to take advantage of longer daylight hours for outdoor exhibitors.

• Managing contaminated fire water – procedural guide (free to download)

  This guide has kindly been provided to Hemming Fire by Nigel Holmes, Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, Australia.

• The fire ninja strikes... for the first time

  We are a modern, industrial firefighting brigade. We are highly disciplined, highly trained and uniquely experienced. We call ourselves… FIRE NINJAS!

• Industrial Fire Journal Spring 2013

  Click here to read the Spring 2013 eMagazine.

• Launch of the FLIR K-Series

  At FIREX International FLIR Systems will be unveiling a brand new range of uncooled radiometric cameras.

• Fire brigade Amsterdam-Amstelland calculates risks with QlikView

  QlikTech a leader in business discovery – user-driven business intelligence (BI) has announced that the fire brigade Amsterdam-Amstelland has deployed QlikView to map the risks in the region and proactively respond to those risks. QlikView serves as the basis for a risk profile, that combines 600,000 objects in Amsterdam (buildings, rails, roads) and possible incident types (house fires, traffic accidents, carbon monoxide poisoning). 

• Foam – What are the issues?

  Why the timing is perfect for the Fifth International FireFighting Foam Conference, Reebok Stadium, Bolton (UK) 18-19 March 2013.

• Emergency response planning: why working in harmony is essential

  Marcelo D’Amico, Fire Protection Engineer/Principal at Orcus Fire Protection LLC, Houston, Texas, writes on the benefits of project collaboration on emergency response planning.

• Fire and Rescue Q1 2013 has been published!

  Fire and Rescue Q1 2013 has been published. Click here or on the cover to read it.

• Iveco flies as aviation sector grows – new mid sized crash tender launched

  A new range of mid-sized crash tenders is hitting the runways. Ann-Marie Knegt went to see the new face of aviation safety.

• New INSARAG accredited USAR team for Spain

  Many countries have specialized operational units for responding to major structural collapse incidents, universally known as Urban Search and Rescue teams. Fully operational and equipped USAR units exist in 20 European countries, two in the Middle East, two in the Pacific region and four in Asia, and in the USA there are 28 Task Forces located around the country. writes George Potter.

• Have you booked your place?

  This year's Reebok Firefighting Foam Seminar will again be held at the Reebok Stadium Conference Centre, 18-19 March 2013, Bolton, Greater Manchester (UK).

• Fight or flight

  In this first installment of a two-part series on cooperation between flight crew and fire crew, Zoltán Szilvási addresses non-technical-skills, including communication, decision making, leadership, and the associated regulatory training issues.

• Why rapid response combined with mobile water mist applications is the way forward

  A rapid response to any fire is vital, but this is especially so at a motor racing or rally circuit where fuel and speed create a highly dangerous scenario. For this, the rapid deployment of firefighters and equipment is of paramount importance,  writes Olaf Hempel, Sales Director, Advanced Firefighting Technology (AFT).

• CSB hopes Chevron pipe rupture report serves as corrosion warning to refiners.

  CSB technical report on Chevron 2012 pipe rupture and fire compiled in cooperation with California division of OSHA.

• Towards implementation of Seveso III revised COMAH regulations

  The UK Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) is to run a one-day course on Seveso III on 19th March 2013.

• Report on Carbide Industries explosion

  Company ignored years of smaller, similar incidents in electric arc furnace, says CSB.

• StocExpo to break records

  StocExpo (19–21 March, Antwerp Expo) is on target to be the biggest event yet for Europe’s terminal operators, oil companies, traders and regulators.

• Lighting systems for rugged terrains

  Introduction to rechargeable remote-area lighting systems from Peli.