Fire Safety


To fight any fire effectively, the person operating the extinguisher must be able to move around easily and safely while holding the extinguisher. (Johnson Controls photo)

Taking Control with the Right Flow, the Right Extinguisher for Class B Fire Suppression

Is your plant prepared for pressurized flammable liquids and pressurized gas fires?

PG&E Announces Community Wildfire Safety Program

PG&E is working closely with first responders, civic and community leaders, and customers for this program. Their goal is to reduce wildfire threats and improve safety before the wildfire season begins in Northern and Central California.

CAL FIRE announced that law enforcement investigators concluded a faulty gas water heater sparked one of the fires that merged to become the Rocky Fire, one of 16 active wildfires in the state as of Aug. 19, 2015.

USDA Chief Praises Wildfire Funding Fix

Until the funding solution was achieved, the fire suppression portion of the Forest Service budget was funded at a rolling 10-year average of appropriations, while the overall USFS budget remained relatively flat. Because fire seasons are longer and conditions are worse, the 10-year rolling fire suppression budget average kept rising, consuming a larger percentage of the total Forest Service's budget each year and forcing the agency to take funds from prevention programs to cover fire suppression costs.

Report Warns Some States Falling Behind on Electrical Safety

NFPA noted that from 2010 to 2014, an annual average of more than 61,000 fires in the United States were attributed to electrical failures or malfunctions, causing more than $2 billion in losses and killing an average of 432 people each year.

WorkSafeBC Publishes Bulletin on Preventing Pentane Gas Fires

"Manufacturers should, and generally do, build in a period for off-gassing that will reduce the amount of pentane within the EPS foam before shipping," it says. "Despite this, residual amounts of pentane remain in shipped EPS foam blocks and other products."

Ohio Boosts Grants for Firefighters' Health Protection

"When we call firefighters for help, they're at our door as fast as humanly possible," said Ohio BWC Administrator/CEO Sarah Morrison. "It's only right that we do the same when they need equipment critical to their health and safety. We want every qualifying fire department that applies for these grants to get their funds as soon as possible."

Two Injured, One Missing After Texas Chemical Plant Explosions

At least two people are injured and one person is missing after two explosions March 15 at a chemical plant in Hood County, Texas.

Drought Declaration Signed for Klamath County, Oregon

Gov. Kate Brown's news release said at the end of February, the snow-water equivalent in Klamath County was 40 percent of a normal water year, and forecasted water conditions are not expected to improve. Drought, severe weather conditions, and the upcoming fire season are significant threats to the local economy, agriculture and livestock, natural resources, and recreation in the county.



Two New Members Join NFPA Standards Council

New members Jack Poole of Poole Fire Protection Inc. and Rodger Reiswig of Johnson Controls are serving three-year terms effective Jan. 1, 2018.

Fire Authorities Urge Smoke Alarm Checks at Daylight Savings

Daylight Saving Time starts Sunday, March 11, and fire authorities are issuing reminders to change the batteries in your smoke alarms when setting your clocks forward.

Six FDNY EMS Veterans Promoted

The six have prepared the bureau's emergency response to major events and have managed mass casualty incidents across the five boroughs, ensuring the safety of millions of New Yorkers and tourists.

DOJ Seeks Contempt Order Against Pesticide Manufacturer

A May 2017 court order required the defendants to comply with the 2011 consent decree, but HPI and Garvey continue to store thousands of pounds of uncharacterized, often unidentified, chemicals, some with labels indicating they have been stored for a dozen years or more, according to DOJ, which said many of HPI's facilities lack functional fire suppression equipment.

New York Places 250 Apartment Buildings in Alternative Enforcement Program

The announcement said the 250 buildings have a total of 4,859 immediately hazardous (C-class) violations, 21,442 hazardous (B-class), and 7,602 non-hazardous (A-class) violations; immediately hazardous violations include inadequate fire exits, evidence of rodents, lead-based paint, and the lack of heat, hot water, electricity, or gas

First Home Fire Sprinkler Day Set

NFPA's Fire Sprinkler Initiative and the coalition want safety advocates across the United States to host simultaneous events, such as live burn and fire sprinkler demonstrations and fire department open houses, on May 19 and hope to see them take place in all 50 states.

New Tool Helps Prioritize Remediation of Buildings with Combustible Facades

EFFECT™, an Exterior Facade Fire Evaluation Comparison Tool, was needed because enforcement authorities and those responsible for managing large portfolios of high-rise buildings have lacked a tool to assess and prioritize remediation work, according to NFPA.

California Grant Speeds Up Tree Removal

"Not only will the counties be able to decrease the risk of trees falling on critical infrastructure, homes, and possibly people, but it also creates a safer area for firefighters when responding to a wildfire," said Rick Carr, Southern Region staff chief of Resource Management.

Washington Governor Rejects Oil Terminal Application

Gov. Jay Inslee's letter said several issues compelled his decision, including seismic risks at the site that "present an unacceptable and potentially catastrophic risk to the public," the inability to sufficiently mitigate oil spill risks into the Columbia River or the Pacific Ocean, and the potential safety risks of a fire or explosion.

New Ohio Fire Academy Superintendent Sworn In

Jack Smith is the new superintendent of the Ohio Fire Academy. He is responsible for overseeing all operations of the academy, including curriculum, training programs, training grounds, and personnel.

IAFF Firefighter Cancer Summit Set for Feb. 1

"Cancer can be devastating for fire fighters, and we are just beginning to understand the scope of this problem," said IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger, who is scheduled to deliver opening remarks at the event. "That's why we're bringing together the best and brightest minds on this subject. We must continue to learn all that we can to save more lives."

2018 Wildfire Mitigation Award Winners Announced

Sponsored by the National Association of State Foresters, International Association of Fire Chiefs, NFPA, and the U.S. Forest Service, the awards are the highest commendation for innovation and leadership displayed by individuals and organizations committed to wildfire mitigation.

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