The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the European Union’s centrepiece organisation for the promotion and delivery of aviation safety recently visited the International Fire Training Centre (IFTC) at its Teesside operation.

2012 edition contains the most current information and training programs for fire and emergency service providers.

The testing of compressed air foam systems will be carried out at the CNPP test facility at Vernon, France the week commencing 21 May 2012.

The move to the new offices enables Cosalt to consolidate its business departments and to build on recent successes such as the contract to supply a fully managed service to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. The new premises are located in Stockport in Cheshire.

DNV has signed an MOU with Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS), South Korea’s state-run gas corporation, to cooperate on research and development in the LNG sector. While this is DNV’s second MOU with KOGAS, following the first in 2010 to cooperate on EHSQ issues, DNV is the first international risk management organisation in Korea to cooperate with KOGAS on research and development projects in the LNG sector.

This week, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service in the UK has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bay Search and Rescue which specialises in providing 24/7 emergency response to incidents in involving quicksand and mud flats.

VdS Fire Safety is the first fire protection trade fair in the German Rhineland and will include a specialist conference programme.

Following a successful pre-market engagement exercise, the Fire Service College will be sold to a private sector company to continue operating as a training centre.

Changi Airport Group (CAG) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) have announced the formalisation of a partnership that will foster closer collaboration between both organisations in the areas of emergency preparedness.

Fire safety testing company Exova Warringtonfire brings Mississauga laboratory (near Toronto) into its global network.

Mounting recognition for the CO safety test product campaigning for life-saving change: Detectagas shortlisted for two more awards

The Prince’s Trust is looking for employers in the fire sector to offer work placements for young people who are struggling to find a job.

The Business Sprinkler Alliance (“BSA”) is calling on UK businesses to install automatic fire sprinklers as an active measure to save billions of litres of water every year, in advance of the water crisis talks being held by environment secretary, Caroline Spelman, on Monday, 20th February with utility companies, environmental NGOs and farming groups to discuss how to mitigate the impact of persistent dry conditions.

620 Actros chassis ordered by Rosenbauer are destined for Saudi Arabia.

NFPA will be the official sponsor of "The Big Test", an acrobatic, comedy show in which a cast of real characters goes through a series of hysterical antics as they try to become volunteer firefighters.

Funding opportunities released for PhD studies – topics include modelling of the Buncefield explosion.

Dave Fanning created Phil the Fire Engine in a bid to help educate young children about the dangers of fires and how they start.

As an international manufacturer of protective equipment for first responders, Lion has announced that Haagen Fire Training Products and BullEx Digital Safety, manufacturers of fire and safety training systems and centres, are joining the organisation.

Because safety and comfort are a must for ski instructors, ski-lift workers, rescue and safety crews working in ski resorts, Garmont has partnered with Vibram to introduce a protective and high-performance ski boot for professional resort workers, called the Garmont Delirium FR 130+  which features a Vibram X-POWDER sole.

Scientists at the University of Greenwich have released the next generation of their evacuation and crowd simulation software, buildingEXODUS.

Industrial Fire Journal reports on the 1st National Foam Forum and Workshop on Fire Fighting Foam that was held as part of the Contaminated Site Remediation Conference ‘CleanUp 2011’ in Adelaide, 11th September 2011.

A study commissioned by FM Global, one of the world’s largest business property insurers, reveals that a natural catastrophe in China on the scale of the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami would have an even more severe impact on supply chains, given China’s critical role in global manufacturing.

An all-new range of marine firefighting PPE, designed to meet the introduction of upgraded European MarED standards from December 2011, has been introduced by Bristol Uniforms (UK).

The Russian Government is considering implementing a massive two billion dollar reform in the national system of fire service, writes Eugene Gerden from Moscow.

A revolutionary new type of cigarette could save one life every five days in the UK by cutting the number of fires caused by smoking, according to the London Fire Brigade.

Peli Products is announcing its 2011 Peli Photo Competition. This time juried by award-winning photographer Gary Eastwood.
The competition takes place at www.facebook.com/PeliProducts  and is open to all Peli products users from anywhere in Europe.
Participate in this contest by clicking on the “Photo Competition” tab.

As the EU, and the world, faces an increasing number of disasters, Italian EPP member Elisabetta Gardini is calling for more effective and coordinated disaster management and simplification of the "too bureaucratic" European Civil Protection Mechanism.

As part of National Preparedness Month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission has released new tips for consumers aimed at preparing them for major disasters.

Forensic scientists at Anglia Ruskin University have revealed a novel tool that could be used to help catch arsonists – cat litter.

The Health & Safety Executive (UK) releases a safety alert following recent inrush of water and material at Gleision Mine in South Wales which resulted in the deaths of four miners.

Chief Fire Officers Association says the continuation of MIRG is ‘essential for public safety’.

Hummels Wharf Fire Company in Pennsylvania revealed its tribute to the people who lost their lives during 9/11 at the recent anniversary of the atrocious attacks.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with nine manufacturers and distributors, announced a voluntary recall of all pourable gel fuels made or sold by these companies.

A coalition has been formed by the fire industry that aims to bridge the gap between the need for the protection of life and property and the need for the protection of the environment.

Albert Ziegler GMBH has been declared insolvent by a German court. Sollicitor Bruno M Kuebler has been appointed as the provisional liquidator, and the wages of the 1,000 employees are guaranteed by the insolvency fund for the next three months. 

Domino’s Pizza is teaming up with fire departments to help spread the message about home fire safety.

The first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System will take place November 9, 2011 at 2pm (EST).

The Middle East order for gas and flame detection represents the largest single order in the company's history.

Traffic chaos as smoke billows from the Brynglas tunnels at Newport, Wales (UK).

Source: BBC

The Hummels Wharf Fire Company in Pensylvania has revealed an artist’s rendition of the 9-11 Memorial that is being built at the local fire station. The memorial will include a glass enclosed archived steel beam from the World Trade Center, some archived soil from the Flight 93 Memorial site in Shanksville, PA., and an archive piece of limestone from the Pentagon. 

Florida’s inaction and failure to adopt a CSB recommendation to provide federal-level workplace protections for state and municipal public workers is an ‘unacceptable response.’

Gent by Honeywell has released a new CPD guide on the design and application of emergency lighting central power systems.

Tyco International Ltd. announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire privately-held Chemguard Inc., a leading provider of firefighting foam concentrates and equipment, foam systems, services and specialty chemicals. Chemguard will be integrated into Tyco’s Fire Protection Products business unit.

Our new website for Fire and Rescue, Industrial Fire Journal, Fire Trade Asia Middle East and Fire Trade Europe, www.Hemmingfire.com is packed full of fire-friendly features, including RSS feeds, links to our fast-growing social media, video, photo gallery, company profiles, equipment data, up-to-date industry information, as well as in-depth analysis and latest news. Oh, and did you know the industry's most popular light-hearted take on the fire world is back? Yes, Fire Mad has returned!

The Middelburg-Vlissingen Fire Service in the Netherlands has taken delivery of a unique multi-functional truck, which combines a powder and a CAFS unit in one.

Award-winning ADPRO FastTrace 2 video and audio transmission technology from Xtralis has won yet another accolade, as the Best Central Station Equipment (Remote Video Monitoring Equipment/Software category) in the 2011 Maximum Impact Awards at the Electronic Security Expo (ESX) in Charlotte, North Carolina.

True North, a manufacturer of quality bags, backpacks and fire resistant clothing, has announced the second 2011 Training  Scholarship. The scholarship will provide an eligible Fire Department, Fire Academy or Organized Fire Training Group up to $3,000 in training with On Scene Training Associates.

Investigation finds accidents in Belle, West Virginia, resulted from numerous safety deficiencies including lack of safe equipment design, ineffective mechanical integrity programs, and incomplete investigations of previous near misses.

Technology solutions company for the storage terminal industry enters into strategic alliance with industrial fire fighting company Williams Fire & Hazard Control.

Holistic approach to CO2 emissions results in public recognition.

The Sherwin-Williams Company announced has closed a definitive agreement to acquire Leighs Paints, a protective and marine and fire protection coatings business.

Xtralis, a global provider of powerful solutions for the early detection of fire, gas and security threats, today announced the acquisition of Germany-based HeiTel Digital Video GmbH. 

Cooking equipment and smoking materials remain the biggest dangers.

In the next few days we’ll be launching our new hemmingfire.com website – and we think you’ll like it!

Read the latest issue of Industrial Fire Journal online!

A report by the National Audit Office has slammed the project managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) and Wiltshire Police are to use a single ‘hosted’ CORTEX Software Integrated Communications Control System (SICCS) service to counter budget cuts and share services.

As of 27 June 2011, the law regarding PFOS-containing firefighting foam changes in Europe: IFJ talks to Richard Hawkins of the Environment Agency of England & Wales to find out what this means for sites that still store PFOS foam.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) will be offering free live web updates on changes to NFPA sprinkler-related codes.

The UK Fire Industry Association’s (FIA) Fire Risk Assessment Council has released the ‘Competency Criteria for Fire Risk Assessors’ draft document which is available for public comment.

What is the use of an emergency service that puts its personnel’s safety above that of the people it should be protecting,  asks Roger A Klein, Cambridge (UK). 

Fire and Rescue is looking for interview subjects for an article in Fire and Rescue on how social media is affecting response during large emergencies!  Ex-head of Journalism for BBC, Nigel Kay, is a crisis communications consultant,  who reported on the Hillsborough Tragedy and the 7/7 bombings. He is now looking to speak to firefighters who are engaged in social media, and who want to talk about this. If you are interested, please get in touch with Ann-Marie Knegt at am.knegt@hgluk.com

The Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs), a section of both the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), held its 2011 annual conference in Charlotte, North Carolina May 13-18, 2011. At the meeting, members elected new officers, engaged in educational sessions, recognized outstanding achievements and took a firm position on proposed U.S. federal budget cuts. 

Officials of Japan's hard-hit Fukushima city will begin handing out radiation measuring devices to 34,000 children in a plan to help calm fears about radiation, reports CNN.

The scheme gives main contractors assurance that LPCB Red Book-listed passive fire protection installers use the correct passive fire protection product for the application, have traceability of the products manufacture and carry out installation according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

The future of fleet management – new philosophies for tough times.

Are firefighters too risk-averse? The dangers of excessive safety regulatory regimes.

A wildfire that has charred more than 350 square miles in eastern Arizona forced the evacuation of a third town on Monday and crept near populated areas along the New Mexico border as it raged out of control for a ninth day, writes David Schwartz (Reuters).

The explosion occurred at the Chevron refinery at 1820 BST on Thursday 2nd June.

The Emergency Office solution has won ‘Most Innovative Product’ at this year’s Business Continuity Awards (UK), ahead of eight other finalists in that category.

Source: BBC

Read the statement by CSB Chairperson Rafael Moure-Eraso.

Source: Wall Street Journal.

A UK wholesale voice and data communications provider launches a new white label website through which its customers can provide location information to the emergency services, supporting Ofcom’s recent extension of General Condition 4 to VoIP services.

UTC Fire & Security appoints Mark Barry as President, Global Fire Products; and Kelly Romano is appointed President, Global Security Products.

Source: The BBC

For the next 2.5 years the LFB will be using fire fighting and training foam from Auxquimia.

The Stop message for the forest fire at Swinley Forest, Crowthorne, was issued at 17:43 on Sunday 8 May. The incident involved 12 of the 46 fire and rescue services in England, and was the largest incident (in terms of resources and length of operations) ever dealt with by Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Spring flooding, severe storms, and earthquakes have recently reminded Canadians of the importance of emergency preparedness, making this year’s Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week) especially relevant.

“We must ensure that our highest-risk mass transit systems receive the funding and assistance they need from the federal government” – said the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security Peter T King.

Deutsche Telekom and Gemalto together announce that BMW automobile is embedding their Machine-to-Machine (M2M) solution in its latest car models to enable emergency call (eCall) services. 

Firefighters have spent a fourth day tackling three large moorland fires in Lancashire (UK).

Source: BBC (UK)

Federal Emergency Management Agency faces challenges in modernizing information technology, says the DHS’s Office of Inspector General.

The death toll from a fire that swept through an illegally constructed Beijing building this week rose to 18 when one of the two dozen people injured died, state media reported Thursday.

Source: Latest China

Two people were injured, one critically, in a chemical explosion Tuesday at a Santa Rosa company, authorities said.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Roel Nizet has found that vehicle procurement has changed completely since the onset of the recession, and it is still not clear what the exact consequences will be for fire brigades all over the world. Iveco Magirus is based in Ulm, Germany and manufactures high-tech fire appliances for every part of the globe. Ann-Marie Knegt reports.

The Solberg Company has announced that its firefighting foam research  and manufacturing operation in Bergen, Norway, has been awarded Eco-Lighthouse certification,  a prestigious status that is supported by the Norwegian Ministry of the Environment. 

Source: The Guardian (UK)

Under an unprecedented agreement announced today by the Natural Resource Trustees for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (Trustees), BP has agreed to provide $1 billion toward early restoration projects in the Gulf of Mexico to address injuries to natural resources caused by the spill.

UK and other governments oppose EU regulations aimed at preventing oil leaks at deepwater drilling operations.

Source: The Guardian (UK)

World governments pledge millions for the construction of a 20,000-tonne steel arch to prevent further radiation leaks. 

Source: The Guardian (UK)

Honeywell (formerly Sperian) has launched a series of videos on YouTube featuring real-life examples of managing safety in challenging environments.

‘Invaluable’ is the verdict of Group Commander Paul Burnham when asked to describe the contribution made by the BGAN mobile satellite terminal taken by the UK International Search and Rescue teams to Japan in the wake of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. 

The UK Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) issues guidance to reassure firefighters and police officers that heroics will not lead to prosecutions. 

Fire Ade 2000 at a concentration of 1% was used in all the burns – the fuel was mainly diesel mixed with some gasoline. The fires were extinguished by the Hamburg Airport Fire Service, who have become the first European airport to purchase the concentrate.

Industrial Fire Safety and Security is a learning and networking event for the vital industrial and energy emergency planning and response markets. In its 6th year, IFSS will be co-located with the 21st Annual Clean Gulf Conference & Exhibition in San Antonio, Texas. The 2011 Industrial Fire Safety and Security Conference is issuing an industry-wide call for participation. A government/industry-based committee is fully charged with programming this event. Prospective authors are invited to submit a 200-300 word abstract(s) for consideration by the program committee by Wednesday, April 20th.

Following a redesign the latest issue of IFJ is looking more stylish than ever!

Articles that  you won't want to miss include:

• LASTFIRE – the latest research and projects
• Fire fighting foam and risk assessment – essential points for storage tank protection
• The latest developments in a new foam labeling system
• CAFS and airports – the beginning of a breakthrough?
• Dealing with fires that are deep, deep down - could the same method be used for road/rail tunnels?

Acting U.S. Fire Administrator Glenn Gaines remembers the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, which lead to the introduction of codes for life safety.

The US Chemical Safety Board is deploying a team to the site of a flash fire at the Hoeganaes Corporation in Gallatin, Tennessee. The incident occurred during maintenance on a burner and is the second flash fire that has occurred at the Hoeganaes facility since January.

The first annual CBRN-E Asia Pacific conference and exhibition has been launched and the organiser SMi says it will be the largest gathering of high level government, military and industry CBRN-E experts in Asia Pacific.

Chemguard’s three-day Design and Application Training Seminar provides sprinkler contractors and design engineers with information about state-of-the-art foam systems. A combination of classroom and hands-on activities, the seminar includes live fire burn demonstrations at Chemguard’s Mansfield, Texas, headquarters.

Streamlight, a provider of flashlights, has introduced the PolyTac 90 LED, a super-bright and compact right-angle personal light featuring C4 LED technology. The light features three modes, high, low and strobe, and adds the versatility of a right-angle housing and D-ring, so it can be easily attached to a jacket, belt or head strap. The PolyTac 90 with Gear Keeper includes a retractable attachment system.
 

AMKUS Rescue Systems now offers a single connection coupler. The mono coupling allows connecting and disconnecting of tools while the line is under flow (in most cases it’s not necessary to place the directional control of the power unit in the neutral position).  The mono coupling can convert standard AMKUS twin line hoses into a single connection allowing customers to retrofit existing AMKUS Rescue tools

Tyco Fire Protection Products will launch its groundbreaking SKUM AP3x3 environmentally friendly, fluorine free foam concentrate foam concentrate this year at International Firex, the UK’s largest dedicated fire safety show.

The fatal accident took place in a facility in Louisville (Kentucky) that produces calcium carbide products.

Hochiki Europe, a manufacturer and supplier of fire detection and emergency lighting systems, has announced that its life safety products are to be installed throughout 16 government funded polyclinics in Libya.

In the next issue of Fire and Rescue we are featuring a whole range of interesting subjects, and we would love your input. We look forward to hearing from you, even if you have a story suggestion that is not on the schedule. To advertise in the next issue, get in touch with Kelly Francis, k.francis@hgluk.com 0044 207 973 4666. Please see what is on the editorial plan below.

Amerex, a manufacturer of hand portable extinguishers and fixed special-hazard fire suppression systems, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Solberg Scandinavian AS, one of the largest independent firefighting foam agent manufacturers in Europe.

The Fire Industry Association (FIA) warns that if the Fire and Rescue Services charge to attend false alarms, as proposed in the new Localism Bill, it could have a serious impact on fire safety in England and Wales.

Together, the PlantCML CORP25 digital trunked-radio access solution and Zetron’s digital Acom console are providing Cumberland County with improved 9-1-1 dispatch functionality, enhanced radio coverage, and true interoperability among the public safety agencies it serves.

The UK Health and Safety has issued a warning in conjunction with The UK Petroleum Industry Association, Tank Storage Association and EEMUA regarding the tank jacking operations.

DuPont Protection Technologies announces global price increases.

Sembcorp Utilities has selected the RescueSim Emergency Response Training platform as one of its training tools to prepare its incident response teams. A continuous focus on Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) lies at the core of Sembcorp’s business. As a leading supplier of essential utilities to major international companies at one of the UK's largest and most important manufacturing sites, Wilton International, any incident can result in disruption to operations. Preventing incidents from occurring and effective response if incidents do occur is a core part of Sembcorp’s strategy of managing HSE risks associated with its activities.

Oshkosh Airport Products Group, a division of Oshkosh Corporation today announced that its first new generation Oshkosh Striker aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicle has been sold to Roberts Field, Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) in Redmond, Ore. The new Striker 3000 model will be placed into service at RDM in early fall 2011. The new Striker was unveiled last April at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC).

Gary Parsons, Station Officer and Paul Calland, Deputy Station Officer of Bay Search and Rescue based at Flookburgh and Milnthorpe (UK), have recently traveled over to Dublin, Ireland, at the invitation of Acting Chief Civil Defence Officer John Moriarty. The Cumbrian team was contacted by Dublin Civil Defence which have recently acquired a Hagglund for Flood and Snow Rescue operations. After accrying out extensive research the Civil Defence Force found out that the Bay Search and Rescue has the most experience in operating these vehicles.

This two-day event has been running since 2004 and gives participants a unique opportunity to experience firsthand the issues and decisions faced by the British Red Cross international emergency response unit (ERU).

The second edition of ‘The Handbook of tunnel fire safety’ is in preparation now and is expected to be published by ICE Publishing (Institution of Civil Engineers) during 2011. 

Summary of the report by the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and offshore drilling

Kingfell's clients span both public and private sector organisations, especially transport, infrastructure and utilities, property development, facilities management and construction. What all our clients have in common is both a responsibility for large numbers of people as well as an extremely low tolerance of disruption of their normal operations.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs has joined Masimo and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) to announce the launch of "The Silent Killer," an educational campaign aimed at raising awareness of the duty-related dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and reducing the known risk factors that unnecessarily kill or injure fire fighters each year.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that the application period for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) programs Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grants opened at 8 am EST on Monday, January 3, and will close at 5 pm EST on Friday, February 4, 2011.

Industrial Fire Journal talks with John Coates about how he built up industrial emergency response capabilities at the Sangachal Terminal in Azerbaijan.

New technology means that prevention and decontamination plans involving substances such as Anthrax and toxic gases can be accurately set up for airports and railways stations. Jose Sanchez de Muniain talks to Raymond Andrieu of HyGie-Tech.

Foam for ARFF operations: why we need the Environmental Impact System and Qualified Products List, by Roger A Klein, Cambridge.

Click on the picture to read the free online magazine.

In the next issue of Fire and Rescue we will be featuring a whole range of subjects that might be of interest to your organization or company. To get involved with editorial get in touch with Ann-Marie Knegt (am.knegt@hisdorset.com or call 0044 1935 374001) To advertise in the next issue or to sign up for an exclusive company profile on our website to increase traffic to your own web portal, please contact Kelly Francis at k.francis@hgluk.com or call 0044 (0) 207973 4666. Read all about upcoming features below.

In order to support faster progress in the offshore floating wind industry, DNV and key players are developing a common design standard. The conclusions from this joint industry project will provide best practices on principles and technical requirements and guidance for design, construction and in-service inspection work. 

US Chemical Safety Board chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso has issued a statement regarding the International Code Council’s decision to prohibit indoor purging with an emergency amendment to the International Fuel Gas Code and the International Residential Code.

Chief Del Re is the Fire Department of New York’s Chief in Charge of the Haz-Mat Group, believed to be the most robust and hazmat-capable response group in the USA, if not the world. Since the tragic events of September 11, FDNY’s hazmat capabilities have expanded tremendously both to reflect the lessons learned in terms of public protection and personnel safety as well as response to the post 9/11 challenges. Chief Del Re talks exclusively to Jose Sanchez de Muniain.

Cuts in public sector budgets are resulting in job losses at John Dennis Coachbuilders (JDC). The Guildford-based fire engine manufacturer will be making around 45 people redundant at the end of November 2010.The redundancies will include shop floor workers as well as office staff.

Welcome to the latest exciting issue of Industrial Fire Journal, where you will notice an increased focus on fire engineering and the latest thinking in fire prevention, detection and of course suppression or extinguishment. Of course that is not to say we are neglecting to bring you important reports on active response as well, and you’ll notice some high-profile case studies and reports in this issue, including the story of the birth of a new firefighting team for an aluminum smelting complex in Abu Dhabi, and the latest research on silo fires and firefighting techniques.

We would like your participation for the Q1 2011 issue of Industrial Fire Journal. If you have any news, developments or interesting case studies that you would like us to consider for publication, please get in touch with the editors. Please see the editorial schedule below:

Rosenbauer, the Austrian manufacturer of firefighting vehicles, has received a contract from the UMW Group for the supply of 21 aircraft rescue firefighting (ARFF) vehicles to the Malaysia Airport Holding Berhad (MAHB). The order, which has a value of

In March of this year and after a long and distinguished career, Kelvin Hardingham, European Manager and Lead Fire Fighter of Williams Fire & Hazard Control (WF&HC), decided to hang up his boots. 

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is expanding the scope of its original memorandum of understanding with SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden for joint product certification and testing.

To serve a growing customer demand Marioff Oy (part of UTC Fire & Security) has expanded its North America operations by adding technical support and customer service capability in Ashland, Massachusetts.

London-based fire engineering company Kingfell plc has been awarded LPS 1048 certification by the UK’s foremost fire accreditation organization, the Loss Prevention Certification Board.

The European Commission is reminding companies that they must register the most widely used or most dangerous chemicals by the deadline of 30 November this year. Registration is one of the milestones of REACH, the EU Regulation on chemicals and their safe use.

FM Global, one of the world’s largest commercial property insurers, has rolled out significant modifications to its fire protection standards with the introduction of a new Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet 2-0, Installation Guidelines for Automatic Sprinklers and a revised version of its Data Sheet 8-9, Storage of Class 1, 2, 3, 4 and Plastic Commodities.

A car was dramatically set on fire in a car park in a ‘world first’ test scenario at Warringtonfiregent to help develop safety standards at European and international levels, that will ultimately save lives.

This audio search tool cuts the time taken to search and review audio content in over 30 languages

Ten bursaries are available for the 9th International Short Course and Advanced Research Workshop (ISCARW) starting in two weeks and running from the 11th -15th of October at the University of Ulster.

An unusual substance known as "dry water," which resembles powdered sugar, could provide a new way to absorb and store carbon dioxide as well as provide a safer way to store and transport potentially harmful industrial materials, scientists reported today at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.

As part of the largest ever investigation into public sector jobs paying £100,000 ($156,000) or more, a UK TV documentary maker (Panorama) with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (a not-for-profit organisation based out of City University London) has examined the pay culture of British Fire & Rescue services revealing an annual wage bill of over £17m ($26m).

Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a global leader in product safety testing and certification, is expanding the scope of its original memorandum of understanding with SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden for joint product certification and testing.

Exercise Orion has run for three days at Fort Widley on Portsdown Hill (UK) and during that time more than 800 crew and support staff have simulated the devastation and chaos resulting should an earthquake strike the UK.

Captain Charles J. Metivier, Rescue Operator Kalani Abreu and Rescue Specialists Roy Constantino and Francisco Garcia of Fire Rescue 3 of the County of Kaua’i Fire Department have been honored with the 2010 International Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Award for Valor. Battling unfavorable weather and unforgiving terrain, these heroes—who had been a team for only five days—turned a deadly situation into a dramatic rescue, saving the lives of three men on two different ridges.

A first-of-its-kind mutual-aid training exercise designed to demonstrate the feasibility of dispatching, mobilising and deploying hundreds of emergency vehicles and personnel during a state-wide incident came off without a hitch last week during a timed demonstration broadcast live over the Internet.

In the next issue of Industrial Fire Journal we will be featuring the subjects mentioned here.

Find out what we cover in this issue, read our magazine online and download the articles individually as pdfs.

Chemguard, a producer of firefighting foam concentrates and foam systems, has acquired Williams Fire & Hazard Control as a wholly owned subsidiary.

The X PRIZE Foundation has launched its sixth major incentive competition, the $1.4 Million Wendy Schmidt Oil Cleanup X Challenge.



A special suit designed for firefighters attending incidents by motorcycle has been tested and certified by SATRA. Designed by Bradford-based Universal Carbon Fibres Limited (UCF), this protective garment meets both EN 13595 part 1 (a motorcycle standard) and the firefighters' clothing standard EN 469, and is thought to be the first suit ever produced that meets both requirements. 

Awe-inspiring, exhilarating and challenging, a recent Snowdon climb in aid of The Fire Fighters Charity and Help for Heroes was a test of fitness, determination and, unusually, Draeger breathing apparatus (BA).

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) Crew Commander Gavin Miller from Limavady Fire Station has received the Queen’s Gallantry Medal, one of the highest civil decorations awarded in the UK for exemplary acts of bravery. 

For the first time in three years, the number of on-the-job firefighter deaths in the United States has dropped below 100. The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) annual Firefighter Fatality Report (PDF, 267 KB), released in June at the NFPA Conference & Expo, shows a sharp drop in the number of fatalities in 2009.

Industrial Fire Journal and Fire and Rescue magazine will be promoting the correct use of CAFS (Compressed Air Foam Systems) by supporting ICAFA. From now on readers will see regular updates and features on this organisation and new developments in CAFS technology on the website and in the print versions.

Firebuy, a specialist body established by the Department for Communities and Local Government to support procurement of kit by Fire and Rescue Services, has cost nearly twice as much to set up and run as the total savings it claims to have delivered.

Click for the e-mag!	Click for the e-mag!

You can access the articles in pdf format here, or as an e-magazine here. If you wish to subscribe to the hardcopy version, please click here.

Many organisations are good at understanding the technical causes of major accidents but struggle to gain a deeper understanding of why the people involved behaved as they did – Jim Bennett believes a deeper understanding of an organisation’s safety maturity is a core indicator of their effectiveness.

At the end of April, just ten days after explosion and fire erupted on Deepwater Horizon, President Obama directed the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a thorough review of the event and to report, within 30 days, on what additional precautions and technologies, if any, might be required to improve the safety of oil and gas exploration and production operations on the outer continental shelf. Carol Debell reports.

Fire suppression industry invited to join the discussion

Motherwell Control Systems 2003 Ltd, which is in voluntary liquidation and was not represented, has been convicted of the offence at St Albans Crown Court, the Health and Safety Executive said.

In an exciting extension to the Hemming online fire portfolio the 2010 editions of FireTrade Europe and FireTrade Asia & Middle East are now published on the web providing easy access to over 4,000 companies selling active and passive fire equipment.  Easy to use and full of up-to-date information, these directories offer the most comprehensive guide available to manufacturers and suppliers in this sector.  Click here to discover just how easy it is to find the products you are looking for from a supplier located near you.  www.firetradeeurope.com and www.firetradeasia.com


Carol Debell
Publisher Fire Portfolio, Hemming Information Services

Fire and Rescue Q2, which will be distributed at Interschutz in high numbers, is now available online. To read all about how Canada made the Winter Olympics safe and how Jumbo Jets are used in the fight against wildfires, please go to www.hemmingfire.com and sign up. Other topics covered in this issue are:

 The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) through their Safety, Health and Survival Section are urging all fire chiefs and officers to immediately issue a stand down in their departments due to two separate, but similar confined space rescue incidents that nearly took the lives of several firefighters. During a stand down, personnel are directed to postpone non-emergency tasks to focus on critical safety training.

The US Department of Homeland Security has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a contract to design, develop, conduct, evaluate and provide operational support for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regional preparedness exercises.

Transportable gas detection has entered a new era with the launch of the Draeger X-zone 5000 wireless monitoring unit.  Easily positioned and providing clear alarms, these robust, waterproof units ensure increased levels of safety by detecting and communicating the presence of a wide range of toxic, combustible and explosive gases over longer distances.  Bringing Zone 0 ATEX performance, longer sensor life, enhanced battery life and more flexibility to area monitoring, the Draeger X-zone also offers a lower cost of ownership. 

Newly re-elected MP for Wrexham, Ian Lucas, spent some of his pre-election campaign visiting Prysmian’s factory in Wrexham, North Wales and confirmed his backing for the ACI in the process. Prysmian is a lead supporter of the ACI and is at the front of the fight against non-approved and counterfeit cables.

The Fire and Emergency segment of Oshkosh Corporation is participating in the first Cabinet-level trade mission of President Obama’s administration to China and Indonesia. The May 15-25 trade mission is designed to advance the export of leading U.S. technologies in this rapidly growing region of the world.

Global mobile satellite communications provider Iridium Communications Inc. has announced the launch of its fourth annual “Test Your Satellite Phone” (TYSP) Week initiative, reminding users to make sure their satellite phones are ready to deploy at a moment’s notice when natural or manmade disasters strike.

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has received the prestigious European Process Safety Centre (EPSC) Award 2010 for the CSB Safety Video series, Centre officials announced. The award is given to acknowledge “progress toward a less-hazardous Europe” and is made to an individual or team which “has considerably advanced the theory or practice of process safety.”

EPA’s directive to BP required them to evaluate available, pre-approved dispersants for toxicity and effectiveness and report back to EPA within 24 hours. After receiving their response late Thursday night, EPA immediately called a meeting with BP to discuss the issue on May 21.

A FABIG meeting on 'Innovations for the Prevention, Detection, Control and Mitigation of Fires and Explosions' will take place on 15 and 16 June 2010 in London, Aberdeen and via webcast.

Fire & Rescue, the UK’s official exhibition and conference for the fire and rescue industry, will take place at the Harrogate International Centre from 29 – 30 June 2010. Hosted in partnership with the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA), the Fire Protection Association (FPA) and the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), Fire & Rescue 2010 will provide industry professionals with a focused opportunity to see and test the latest products and services and learn about recent industry developments free-of-charge.

Scotland's eight fire and rescue services have become the first in the UK to begin operating a new state-of-the-art digital communication system. Airwave, now operational in over 1,100 fire service vehicles and 368 fire stations in Scotland, is part of a UK-wide project to provide the fire and rescue service with the equipment needed to respond to major emergencies including terrorism. When fully rolled out in July 2010, Airwave will be the new national communications service for the FRSs of England, Scotland and Wales.

Moditech Rescue Solutions will be one of the exhibitors for the six day event, being held from June 7th to the 12th. With the theme of “Know What’s Inside”, Moditech will be showcasing the different solutions available to emergency responders that can be used on-scene to access technical specifications of the involved vehicles in traffic collisions. This knowledge is becoming more and more important, in particular because recent incident reports show that rescuers are nowadays frequently struggling with new vehicle technology issues. Among those, hybrid and electric vehicles are a real hot-topic.

FOGTEC Fire Protection is equipping the Eurotunnel with its water mist fire fighting technology, making an important contribution to tunnel safety. The full-scale fire tests recently performed for this project have been the largest ever of their kind.

Estonian and Hampshire firefighters have been working together to develop the rope rescue skills of the Eastern Europeans. For one week three firefighters from the Estonian fire service worked with the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service rope rescue team learning new techniques and different approaches to support this important area of work.

The Passive Fire Protection Federation (PFPF) has announced a series of seminars on built in fire protection, to be held at venues around the country.  The seminars, which begin on 25^th May with a “breakfast briefing” at the Building Centre in London, aims to promote better understanding of a range of issues relating to residential and commercial properties and current regulations governing fire safety.

Honeywell today released a universal remote input/output (I/O) module for its Safety Manager platform that allows process manufacturers to integrate more safety devices while simplifying installation and maintenance.

U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules aerial spray aircraft maintainers from the 910th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Youngstown-Warren Air Reserve Station, Ohio, remove the ground load station after refilling a C-130 with oil-dispersing chemicals on the runway of the Stennis International Airport, Miss., on May 9, 2010. Members of the 910th Airlift Wing are in Mississippi to assist with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The 910th AW specializes in aerial spray and is the Department of Defense’s only large-area fixed-wing aerial spray unit. (U.S. Air Force video by Staff. Sgt. Prentice Colter.)

Custom fire apparatus manufacturer Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc. has finished the expansion and renovation of its new fire apparatus delivery centre.

Bronto Skylift, a leading manufacturer of truck mounted aerial platforms, will be exhibiting a whole host of interesting equipment at its stand B & C 120 at the Interschutz trade fair in Leipzig on 7- 12 June 2010

The US Coast Guard says it has found a new leak beneath the site of last week's offshore drilling rig explosion, adding that five times as much oil was leaking as previously estimated.

Alexium has been selected as one of three candidates to provide the chemical protective suit component for the Modified Joint Fire Integrated Response Ensemble (“JFIRE”) for the US Air Force Fire Emergency Services. 

EADS Defence & Security and Alcatel-Lucent have signed a strategic alliance to provide advanced broadband solutions to the US public safety market – and the cooperation may eventually be expanded to worldwide markets and other frequencies.

IRM, together with publishers Kogan Page, today launched a new book by IRM Director and examiner Paul Hopkin on ‘Fundamentals of Risk Management’. 

Road tunnels are becoming more and more complex to operate, due to important increase of safety provisions in new or renewed tunnels in recent years: installation of Automatic Incident Detection systems based on video analysis, installation of complex ventilation systems operated with support of wind velocity measurements from anemometers, etc.

An explosion like an "earthquake" at the Hertfordshire oil depot in Buncefield (UK) may have damaged the environment for decades, St Albans Crown Court (UK) has heard.

While rescuers are still looking for survivors in the earthquake hit area of Yushu county, in the remote Tibetan mountain area, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao promised to rebuild a quake-hit region.

Swedish remote-controlled water cannon manufacturer, UNIFIRE AB, has launched a new website, www.Unifire.com.

We present the majority of the presentations from the Fourth International Symposium on Tunnel Safety and Security, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, March 17-19, 2010, edited by Anders Lönnermark and Haukur Ingason, of SP Fire Technology, Sweden.

The good news is that both Industrial Fire Journal and its sister publication Fire & Rescue are going fully digital in the next few weeks (in addition to our print versions, worry not), so look out on our website (www.hemmingfire.com) for our new e-books. “What are you talking about? You’ve been publishing your magazines in pdf format for a long time.” Yes we have, but we felt that having an e-book would heighten the reading experience as well as increase the ease of accessibility to our world-renowned titles. Oh, and have we mentioned that we are also sending out an e-newsletter on a regular basis? If you haven’t already subscribed to this free service, visit www.hemmingfire.com and sign up, it’s quick and easy. The e-newsletter will alert you to when our new titles have been published, so you can enjoy the content even before the magazines hit desks. And of course the e-newsletters contain plenty of additional news and features that will keep you abreast of the latest firerelated developments. Jose Maria Sanchez de Muniain, Editor. 

Hazard detection specialist Groveley Detection has shipped its 600th gas detection aspirator. Groveley has supplied its gas detection aspirators (sampling systems) to oil, gas and energy installations around the world since 1993, monitoring smoke, flame and toxic gases. This unit - to be installed at ATCO Power’s Muskeg River cogeneration plant in Alberta, Canada  will monitor a gas turbine enclosure for potential methane leaks. It is the latest aspirator of five supplied to ATCO Power in Canada for gas turbine monitoring. 

Frequent contributor to our fire magazines Kevan Whitehead is joining the International College of Management and Engineering (ICEM) in Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman, as Head of Marketing and Business Development.

Environmental Tectonics Corporation's Simulation Division has received acceptance for the delivery of ADMS to the Saudi Arabian Civil Defense.  ETC's contract was awarded in December of 2008 for 3 ADMS simulators which have now been installed at three training institutes in Saudi Arabia:  Riyadh, Dammam and Abha.

After having supplied heavy duty slides to the UK for the last twenty years, Chambrelan, the French based sliding systems' manufacturer, announced earlier  that it will be launching a UK operation that aims to deliver its popular range of heavy duty slides currently being used throughout the Fire, Defense and Blue Light Industries.

Ebrary, a leading provider of digital content products and technologies, has announced that it has created a publicly available research center featuring hundreds of important government documents related to natural disasters and extreme weather.  The site is available at http://site.ebrary.com/lib/disaster/home.action.

Download the PDFs of Fire and Rescue Q1 (2010) on our website .
 For the latest know-how and intelligence on a new fleet of vehicles for Munich Fire and Rescue Service, glass management during extrication, the truth behind protective properties of fire turn-out gear, LNG response, international views on the use of AFFF and AR-AFFF foams, and an exclusive report on the use of High Volume Pump Units, please click the link below.

The IAFC (International Association of Fire Chiefs), in partnership with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), is working to develop a stakeholder-driven resource-management data system. The system—the IMAS Resource Data, Dispatching and Demobilization (RD3) System—will support the American emergency-response community by automating resource-management activities associated with intrastate mutual aid.

On September 26th 2010 members of the fire community across the UK will join fire fighters across the world for the New York Tunnel to Towers Race, in memory of Stephen Siller – just one of the heroes who died in the in the devastating 9/11 attack.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jens Peter Larsen. Mr. Larsen had been a member of the airport rescue and firefighting service since 1977 – of which he spent the first 23 years in the Danish Air Force.

Please let me introduce myself. My name is Ann-Marie Knegt and yes, I am Dutch by name and by nature. I take over as Editor from Jose Maria Sanchez de Muniain (who as his name suggests is half Spanish), although Jose will continue to work on F&R as the Managing Editor. An international team for an international publication, and that is a message we can’t underline enough in this magazine, in which we aim to bring the global

Hidalgo Limited has announced that the Equivital Physiological Monitoring system has been chosen for use by Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service (CFRS) in an effort to improve fire-fighter safety.

Recent humanitarian and environmental disasters across the Asia-Pacific region have prompted a massive response from the International community to help deliver humanitarian aid and assistance to countries affected by tsunami’s, earthquakes and wildfires.A new exhibition and two day conference that will bring together those involved in providing aerial support during humanitarian and environmental disasters, as well as other types of relief, will take place on 27-28 October 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Mutiara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

LION, worldwide suppliers of firefighter equipment and protective clothing, has launched an interactive social media community for first responders.

UL has joined forces with SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden to provide testing for the CE Mark.

Safety Media, working with Speech Bubble, has announced the launch of the Fire Safety iPhone App.

Behind the scenes with the UK ISAR team that attended the aftermath of the Haiti devastation.

An emergency life-saving throwline designed and manufactured by UK based Balcan Engineering, which is normally used to rescue people from water, ice and mud helped avert a diesel spillage disaster, which threatened to contaminate Lake Michigan in the United States.

UL partners with SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden to provide testing for the CE mark.

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has deployed a seven-person team to the site of a fatal explosion at the Kleen Energy Plant in Middletown, Connecticut.  The team arrived on site midday on Monday, February 8.

The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Fire Safety Educational Memorial Fund Committee has selected the Chautauqua County Hazardous Materials Response Team from New York as the recipient of the 2010 Warren E. Isman Educational Grant.

The Welsh Assembly has voted in favour of making sprinklers mandatory for all new homes in Wales, but the Passive Fire Protection Federation believes this may cause problems, writes Chairman David Sugden.

Today the Ministry of Defence(MoD) and the Department for Transport (DfT) have selected Soteria as the preferred bidder for the Search and Rescue – Helicopter (SAR-H) programme.

ill Jackson MRICS is Head of Estates at the National Library of Scotland. He is secretary of the National Fire Protection Association Cultural Resources Committee producing Fire Safety Codes for Cultural Properties; and UK representative for the International Association of Museum Facility Administrators.

The project to upgrade the building’s fire detection system was awarded to Telectron, who have operated in the UAE for 35 years.

Allan has worked for the last 20 years for FM Global in their Loss Prevention Engineering Department.  FM Global is the world's largest commercial and industrial property insurance and risk management organization specialising in property protection.

Andy manages fire safety for B&Q on a national basis and tends, apart from policy issues, to view the duties from an auditor’s perspective.

Ian Gough joined the fire service as a Fire-Fighter in 1972 and served in the West Midlands, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Services.

Nick Groos is a mechanical engineer and began his career in the fire sprinkler industry with the Viking Group back in 1989.  Currently based in Luxembourg, he is employed by Viking as its International Group Vice President.

Steve is currently an Assistant Commissioner with the London Fire brigade. He joined London in 2006 after serving for more than 30 years with the New Zealand Fire Service from Firefighter to Commander of the Auckland Fire Region.

Chief Stewart is a thirty-eight year Fire Service veteran having served in the former City of North York Fire Department for 26 years prior to the amalgamation of the new City of Toronto on January 1, 1998.  He has served as an operations fire fighter, Captain, Administration Chief, Assistant Deputy, Deputy Chief and the Fire Chief since May 1, 2003.

The Institution of Fire Engineers in Scotland ran a major technical seminar on the 20th of January at the National Library of Scotland.

Alan is the Executive Director of the European Fire Sprinkler Network and a chartered chemical engineer.

Versar, Inc (NYSE Amex: VSR) announced today that it has acquired Professional Protection Systems, Ltd. (PPS).

To celebrate Industrial Fire Journal's 20th anniversary we are be re-publishing throughout 2010 some of the best articles from the last 20 years. Here, from issue number 3 (1991) of Industrial Fire Journal, is a report from Kuwait, where every 24-hours oilfield fires were burning up six million barrels of Kuwait’s oil reserves – a figure almost double the peak production of three million barrels per day (bpd) in 1979 and four times the pre-invasion Kuwaiti output in 1990.

A cutting-edge simulator that recreates the devastating effects of a flood has been created to test products designed to defend homes, businesses and people from flooding.

A plea for help from the Firefighters Volunteer Association of Nepal

Following a thorough review of its Management Science curriculum, the United Stated Fire Administration’s (USFA) National Fire Academy (NFA) has decided to include new course content that addresses the issues currently faced by the nation’s fire and emergency medical services.

NFPA Americas’ Fire and Security Expo will join with the 2010 NFPA Conference & Expo, the largest and most prestigious fire and life safety industry event in the United States.

Fike announced today it has received UL Listing on its SigniFire video smoke detection system.  Approved to the new UL 268B standard for video smoke detection, Fike's SigniFire is the only system in the world to have both the UL listing and FM approval.

Pelican Products, Inc., the corporate headquarters of Peli Products S.L., and a leader in the design and manufacture of advanced lighting systems and virtually indestructible cases, has announced its contribution of $100,000 worth of head lamps and lights to the Haiti relief effort.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service has won a top EU award for its excellent road safety work. It was recognised as the best institution among those signing up to the European Road Safety Charter for innovative and successful schemes in the annual Excellence in Road Safety Awards run by the European Commission.

The British Pipeline Agency has decided to retract its not guilty plea over the explosion at the Buncefield Oil Depot on December 11 2005.

BullEx Digital Safety has announced the launch of a new interactive search and rescue manikin that can listen for rescuers and even call out for help.

David Sugden, Chairman of the Passive Fire Protection Federation, calls into question the fire safety strategy of the Channel Tunnel

In 2008 the COMAH Competent Authority (CA) initiated a fundamental review of its approach to regulating onshore major hazards in the UK – the CA has remodelled its key regulatory processes, and will implement a series of changes in April 2010.

Robotics experts from Sheffield Hallam University have been working with firefighters from South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue to showcase a unique group of firefighting robots.

Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a world leader in product safety and conformity testing and certification services, today announced UL International (UK) Ltd. (UL UK) has been appointed as a Notified Body to the Construction Products Directive (CPD).

Leading marine safety equipment and servicing provider VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S has again invested in the North American market with the acquisition of Colorado-based fire suit manufacturer Quest Enterprises, Inc.

Crowcon Detection Instruments has appointed Peter Wilbourne its new Product Manager for the HVAC and gas leak location markets.

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is seeking input from the public on the approach to use in developing its federal standard for combustible dust. In its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) on Combustible Dust, OSHA identified five National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) combustible dust standards that address the hazards of combustible dust processes. Of the five NFPA dust-specific standards mentioned by OSHA, NFPA 654 provides fundamental safety practices to be followed

Download the pdfs of Industrial Fire Journal, quarter 1 (2010) on our website. For the latest know-how and intelligence about the future of AFFF foams, the past and present of the Russian State Fire Service, responding to an LNG spill, new combustible dust principles, exclusive coverage of the latest watermist conference, special guide on how fire kit actually works, and many other highly informative articles on high risk fire safety, follow the link below.

Annually, the Honeywell Users’ Group (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) comes together to find out the latest developments in all aspects of process, whether in safety, engineering, security, or simply output optimisation. This year’s theme in Portugal was “return on imagination”, and IFJ went along to the conference and mini-exhibition to find out what the future may bring in terms of industrial safety.

Yes, we do need to raise the competency and knowledge of fire resistant glazing in the fire industry, says Peter Barker of Chiltern International.

Many firefighters think of their fire kit as little more than a piece of industrial clothing. Yes, it has some reflective tape on it and it may even have a radio loop or similar, as well as the word “fire” on the back, but surely it’s little more than a fancy “donkey” jacket? Not so! Kevan Whitehead goes back to basics and debunks a few myths whilst he’s at it.

Walk through the centre of an industrial plant or any city and the chorus of sirens that greets you can be as diverse as the calls of a bird-filled rainforest. The sounders and sirens market is a widereaching one, and in 2010 it looks set to broaden further with the help of new technologies and initiatives, writes Jon Severs.

John Frame is an independent fire, explosion and emergency response consultant. His long career has involved assignments in every continent, every climate and culture – and for the vast majority of the world’s oil and gas companies. He found that working with the Russian fire authorities was to be one of his most challenging projects. Here he gives a very personal view of the conditions and difficulties faced by Russian responders who operate outside of the main cities. His observations were over a five-year period in the north, centre and south of the country, including two years when he was the de-facto fire protection consultant for an international consortium operating a gas stabilisation facility in eastern Siberia.

During his time responding to major incidents all over the world, marine firefighting world expert Gert-Jan Langerak has gained some strong views on how shipboard response safety standards could be improved, writes Ann-Marie Knegt.

Although the shipping industry has the experience and know-how to handle potential incidents, new events continue to highlight weaknesses or issues that were not previously addressed. What is vital is that each incident be contained as far as possible to prevent a crisis developing. Kingfell’s Paul Bryant, a fire, risk and crisis management specialist, introduces its new iCap methodology for crisis planning.

When responding to an LNG spill, aside from life safety issues there are typically two major goals. These are vapour control and fire control – and the key word here is “control”, because with large LNG spills and pool fires, vapour suppression and extinguishment are unlikely to be an option. World expert Kirk Richardson answers some questions on tackling LNG incidents with high-ex foam.

Foam experts Tom Cortina, Jan Knappert, Matt Boyle, Steve Smith and Chang JHo express their views on the future of AFFF foam.

To celebrate Industrial Fire Journal's 20th anniversary we will be re-publishing throughout 2010 some of the best articles from the last 20 years. Here, from issue number 1 (1990) of Industrial Fire Journal, is an interview with Red Adair, described by one US president as "the man who has probably saved more oil than any single individual in the world".

The Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) has appointed Peter Shelley as director of the Explosives Notified Body. The Explosives Notified Body (ENB) is the UK’s independent authority providing assessment and CE-mark certification of explosives for non-military use.

Two-piece coupling design makes it faster and easier to install, maintain and retrofit piping systems up to 60”/1525mm in diameter.

Less than 12 months after appointing PAC Fire as their principal distributor in Australia, Bristol and Pac Fire have successfully tendered for the supply of “front line fire PPE” in a contract to provide 1400 sets of Structural protective clothing to Airservices Australia.

The HSE has published the report Safety and Environmental Standards for Fuel Storage Sites, compiled by the Process Safety Leadership Group (PSLG). The main purpose of the report is to specify the minimum standards of control which should be in place at all establishments storing large volumes of gasoline.

The IAFC is requesting that interested organizations provide information that will help the IAFC as it develops an RFP to create an electronic learning community. This new community will be targeted specifically at volunteer and combination fire and EMS departments across the nation and more generally to the fire and EMS community as a whole.

Excelerate Technology, the leading supplier of satellite and wireless-based data, voice and video solutions to the emergency services, has announced the immediate availability of FAST-mask, a new positive pressure breathing apparatus.

Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc., America’s premier custom fire apparatus manufacturer, has been awarded a three-year contract by the City of New York to manufacture FDNY’s new 100’ rear mount aerials. With the initial purchase orders, which stem from a competitive bid this past summer, Ferrara will provide ten aerial apparatus.

The Stationery Office and AssestCo Integrated Services are pleased to announce the launch of Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Guidance; based on the pioneering techniques of Jim Segerstrom, the founder of swiftwater rescue and anchored to the recommendations produced by the UK Chief Fire Officers Association (UK CFOA), this is the first comprehensive, UK-based, training manual for water rescue.

After 42 years of distinguished service, Deputy Chief Officer Alan House has announced he intends to retire from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service in April 2010.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) has launched a short film to highlight the dangers of drinking and cooking.

At their October, 2009 Standard Council meeting, the Council reviewed a request for a new project on fire service training in thermal Imaging and voted to publish the request for public review and comment.

The prime minister today published a radical programme to put the frontline first by streamlining government.
 

It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden death of John McGrath, PPE & Stores Manager, Northern Ireland FRS, who died on Wednesday 11th November 2009.

London’s only rapping firefighter is using his music as a channel to encourage ethnic minorities to join the fire service.

GSF, one of the largest suppliers of sliding systems in the UK, has announced its latest development: the Draw-front, Push-button Slam-lock (DPS). As part of its drive to constantly evolve and develop its ranges in line with the requirements of the Fire, Defence, Police and Ambulance industries, the DPS is the most recent addition to the GSF Vehicle Component Range.

Oil company Total UK has admitted health and safety breaches relating to the explosion at the Buncefield oil depot in Hertfordshire in 2005 that left 43 people injured and forced 2,000 to leave their homes.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) has implemented a new mobile print facility which allows Fire Safety letters and documentation to be printed and delivered at the point of inspection. 

This year for the first time fire fighters from Canada and all seven Emirates will compete against each other in the UAE International FireFit Championships, a three-day event involving fire fighting and rescue challenges divided into six different categories. The event will run alongside Intersec 2010 and is supported by Dubai Civil Defence and organized by 911 Fire Fighting and FireFit Canada.

Holland’s Groningen province has recently become the third in the country to sign a contract for the supply of Bristol‘s firefighter PPE under the European Tendering Process, adding substantially to the company’s coverage of the Netherlands’ municipal fire services for the supply of protective fire clothing and its penetration of the PPE market in the European Union.

Allison Transmission, the premier global provider of commercial duty automatic transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems, is to supply 58 3000R Series transmissions to the Munich fire brigade as part of an order for new Mercedes-Benz Atego fire-fighting vehicles.

Following heavy flooding, the leader of Gloucestershire County Council, Cllr Barry Dare, has offered the use of the county’s two hovercrafts to the Chief Fire Officer of Cumbria, Dominic Harrison. A formal request for assistance was channelled through the National Co-Ordinating Centre (West Yorkshire) late last night, which culminated in Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service mobilising at 5am.

Hertel Defence & Offshore has announced that it has signed a contract with BP for the manufacturing and installation of a Blast Resistant Office Building for their Rotterdam refinery.

A unique fire engine specially made to tackle radioactive metal fires at Dounreay has been saved from the scrap heap, thanks to a group of local vehicle enthusiasts.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) has implemented a new mobile print facility which allows Fire Safety letters and documentation to be printed and delivered at the point of inspection. 

Akron Brass Company has announced a number of personnel changes.

Fike, a leader in commercial and industrial safety solutions, announced today that it has acquired Rafiki Protection Ltd., a UK-based manufacturer of fire alarm systems. The acquisition also includes Santana Solutions Ltd., a building security systems integration company. Both companies were previously owned by Red Dot Technologies Ltd.

The eagerly awaited presentations from the Fourth Firefighting Foam Conference that took place earlier in the year in the Reebok Stadium can now be downloaded from our website - simply click here to see the titles of each presentation. These can then be downloaded in PDF format.

Ion Science introduces the ATEX approved 3 wire TVOC monitor, for use without safety barriers in Zone 2 hazardous areas.

The US Fire Administration (USFA) has a new Deputy Administrator, Chief Glenn Gaines, former Fire Chief of Fairfax County in Virginia, US. He talked to Fire & Rescue magazine about the challenges facing USFA in the coming years, and its evolution as an educational and research organisation.

What is the strangest incident you have responded to recently?
“Not long ago, a Singapore Airlines freighter due for Amsterdam was forced to make an emergency landing at Munich airport because the onboard detectors had gone off. When we arrived at the Boeing 747, there was nothing wrong and everyone on board was absolutely fine. We did not figure out what the cause of the alarm was until we contacted Singapore Airlines. Their first reaction to the incident was just: “Oh no, not another one!” It turned out that the jet was transporting a certain type of flower whose smell was so strong that it had set off the alarms. And this was definitely not the first time a Singapore Airlines plane had had to make an emergency landing for this reason.