Brazilian fire service welcomes Magirus FireBull to its fleet

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The Brazilian state of Ceará has received its first FireBull from Magirus. A delegation with high-ranking representatives of the Governor, the fire brigades and partners were guests at the Magirus Experience Center in Ulm for the technical acceptance and handover of the world’s first tracked fire engine as well as a MultiStar combination vehicle and several portable fire pumps.

The FireBull tracked fire engine from Magirus combines the AirCore extinguishing technology, flexible set-up options and the extremely all-terrain PowerBully chassis from Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG to form a globally unique, versatile special fire-fighting vehicle. The AirCore water mist technology enables efficient fire-fighting with high penetration depths and throwing distances of up to 80 metres, but also an excellent cooling effect with minimal water consumption.

The FireBull can transport high volumes of extinguishing agent (9,000 litres of water, 2,000 litres of foam) with a minimum ground pressure of 0.300 kilograms per square centimetre at a permissible total weight of 30 tonnes, an central advantage in impassable and difficult-to-access terrain.

In the future, the FireBull will be used in the region around Porto do Pecém. In addition to being called out for use in vegetation fires or operations in the nearby reserve and protected area, the region has a large port, beaches and numerous large industrial operations ranging from recycling plants to steel production, some of which have difficult-to-access terrain.

Carlos Décimo de Souza from the Secretariat for Research, Technology and Education of the Governor of Ceará expressed his thanks for the very good, trusting and cooperative partnership: “We are thrilled to be able to take delivery of these state-of-the-art Magirus vehicles here in Ulm.

“With the consistent renewal and constant expansion with innovative, unique deployment technology such as extinguishing robots and powerful special vehicles such as the Magirus FireBull, we want to ensure that our emergency forces can make a sustainable contribution to the protection of people, material and companies in our region and are themselves always protected in the best possible way.”

Winnipeg firefighter shortages creating ‘unsafe situation’

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The United Firefighters of Winnipeg, the union that represents Winnipeg firefighters, has called out staffing shortages at city fire stations which it said are leading to an “untenable and unsafe situation” putting its members and the public at risk.

United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg president Tom Bilous said that all shifts are being affected and the shortages are causing engines and sometimes entire squads to be unavailable.

“That’s a safety issue for our members … it’s also unsafe for the (public) that’s waiting (while) those valuable seconds are ticking by and machines have to come from further away,” he told Global News Winnipeg Morning

Bilous blamed the city’s hiring practices and “an inadequate and outdated staffing ratio” for the shortages.

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) has acknoledged that it is going through a repeated short-staffing issue. Assistant Chief of the WFPS, Jason Shaw, said several factors are at play, including Covid-19, burnout, long-term disability and mental health issues.

Bilous said at least 50 new firefighters are needed to fix the immediate issues, and the union is proposing a hiring blitz.

He said overtime shifts are starting to affect firefighters. “We have a very busy fire department, so we need that time off,” he said. “We’ve stretched the rubber band as far as we can and something’s going to snap.”

Shaw said nine people have recently been hired, and the service is working with the union to further address the shortages.

“We’re working through the processes, we’re communicating with our union partnerships,” he said. “We’re really doing our best to makes sure that we can get everyone back.

“It’s been challenging. We’re talking about very high call volumes and it’s been a busy time and we’re hopefully coming out of this.”

MSA Safety launches new line of Firefighter Protective Clothing

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured NewsPPEProducts

MSA Safety Incorporated, a global leader in firefighter safety equipment and technology, today marked the opening of Interschutz 2022 with the unveiling of a new line of firefighter protective clothing (FPC) that is specifically designed to meet the needs of firefighters in Germany, the Netherlands and across continental Europe, offering enhanced comfort and compatibility with MSA’s advanced safety equipment and solutions. 

MSA Bristol X4 is the new line of FPC integrates MSA Bristol’s expertise in creating high-performance protective clothing with MSA’s market-leading experience in firefighting technologies and connected solutions. 

The result is a range of new FPC options that are designed to provide enhanced comfort, ergonomics and full compatibility with MSA’s suite of firefighter equipment, from helmets and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), to the very latest in monitoring accountability and communication devices. 

“The development of the MSA Bristol X4 line represents a great new addition to the MSA portfolio of innovative safety solutions for firefighters,” said Bob Leenen, President of MSA’s International Business Segment. “We’re excited to be back at Interschutz because we will be able to demonstrate how the new X4 line of FPC integrates with other MSA products to provide additional capabilities for use in extreme environments.”

Working seamlessly with the company’s Gallet F1XF structural helmet and the M1 SCBA, both of which are widely used among fire services across continental Europe, the MSA Bristol X4 has been created with input from hundreds of firefighters in Germany and the Netherlands to deliver a solution designed for these specific markets.

As an example, the German fire service market requires an Integrated Harness System and Drag Rescue Device.  To meet this need, the X4’s Integrated Harness System offers added safety when working at heights.  The X4 jacket features an integral belt, lanyard and carabiner that can be easily accessed via a pocket and flap.  The Drag Rescue Device, accessed from the upper back of the jacket and via a pocket near the knee, can be used to carry or pull a downed firefighter to safety in an emergency. 

In the Netherlands, firefighters expressed the need for stronger kneepads for comfort when crawling or operating in confined spaces, and special reflective elements for additional visibility.  To address this customer preference, MSA Bristol designers incorporated ergonomic shaping and a streamlined fit, reducing bulk and weight, all while maintaining full range of motion.

Jason Traynor, General Manager of MSA’s Global Fire Service Products, noted that with the launch of the new X4 line, MSA is now able to provide a full line of fire service products  to firefighters Germany, the Netherlands and throughout continental Europe. He said: “We will continue to listen to the needs of our customers and develop the innovative products and solutions they want – and need.”  

The X4 line is manufactured with the latest high quality fabric combinations from leading fiber and fabric manufacturers, including WL Gore, PBI Performance Products and Hainsworth.  The line has been designed to meet the requirements of CEN standard EN469 Level 2, is available in a wide range of color combinations to suit regional preferences, and can be customized with a selection of optional pockets and loops to accommodate specific equipment. 

Connected Firefighter Platform

At INTERSCHUTZ, MSA Safety is also showcasing its Connected Firefighter Platform – a suite of advanced safety technologies that work in concert to significantly improve firefighter monitoring, accountability and communication. Two key components of the Connected Firefighter Platform are the LUNAR Connected Device and MSA’s FireGrid software services.

A multifunctional handheld device, LUNAR provides personal thermal imaging and several other innovative features that are designed to enhance firefighter safety and accountability.  These innovations include MSA’s proprietary Firefighting Assisting Search Technology (F.A.S.T.) network, which alerts and guides teammates to downed team members. 

In addition, cloud connectivity provides incident command with an overview of on-scene operations by aggregating data from other MSA devices, such as the M1 breathing apparatus.  In use, it can transmit key self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) information such as cylinder air pressure, battery status and various alarm indicators. FireGrid gives incident commanders the ability to evaluate and manage multiple situations in real time and from any location.

Finally, at this year’s show, MSA is previewing several enhancements to some of its leading-edge technologies:

M1 Control Module – LUNAR Compatibility: Leveraging the integrated Bluetooth capabilities of the M1 Control Module, cylinder air pressure and other alarm indicators can be aggregated by LUNAR and transmitted to FireGrid to provide incident commanders with real time fireground information.  Additionally, incoming alerts from incident command (such as evacuation requests) can be relayed through LUNAR to the M1 Control Module to alert firefighters to immediately exit the structure.  The M1 Control Module and LUNAR devices are designed to work together as one system – when paired, LUNAR’s motion alarm capabilities will default to the M1 Control Module to not distract firefighters with have to managing two motion sensing devices.

Map View: Leveraging the GPS capability in devices such as LUNAR, incident commanders will now be able to monitor their crew’s location in the FireGrid application.

Fotokite Partnership: Tethered drone technology from Fotokite will be on display, featuring its aerial video capabilities that will be integrated into MSA’s Connected Firefighter Platform through future development projects to help increase situational awareness.

“Firefighting is a challenging profession, requiring courage and composure in the face of highly dangerous situations,” Mr. Traynor said. “To operate effectively, firefighters must have confidence in themselves, in their crew and in their safety equipment. At MSA we pride ourselves on listening to the needs of firefighters on the ground, and providing them with innovative solutions and technologies, so that when they arrive at an incident they know we have them covered.” 

MSA is at Interschutz in Hall 14, Booth H20 or visit www.MSAsafety.com/Interschutz. 

Read IFSJ’s exclusive interview with Jason Traynor, General Manager at MSA from our latest issue.

Wildfire forces thousands to evacuate in Arizona and California

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Authorities have issued evacuation orders for communities in the path of a wildfire that broke out over the weekend in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles and was burning toward populated areas.

The so-called Sheep Fire, which broke out on Saturday evening in the Angeles National Forest, had burned across some 990 acres of brush and vegetation as of Monday afternoon in an area that had been affected by the ongoing drought plaguing California and much of the US Southwest.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office ordered evacuations for Wrightwood, a ski town of some 4,500 people at along the Pacific Crest Trail, as well as homes dotted along Highway 2.

The blaze was listed as only 5 percent contained as of Monday morning. Nearly 700 firefighters were thwarted by flames burning in dense vegetation and steep terrain, fanned by erratic winds, fire managers said on tracking website InciWeb.

No casualties had been reported and no structures burned, according to fire managers, but downed power lines were hampering communications. An evacuation center for pets and small animals had been set up in San Bernardino.

California has endured a string of devastating wildfires over the past several years as a lingering drought and warmer temperatures have left forest and grasslands bone dry.

Meanwhile, in Arizona, hundreds of residents near Flagstaff were evacuated over the weekend due to the ‘Pipeline’ fire, burning to the north of Flagstaff, Arizona, which grew to an estimated 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) after igniting on Sunday, fueled by gusty winds through the desiccated grasses and brush. The windy, warm conditions complicated containment efforts, according to officials, who added that the fire continues to be active on all sides.

At the height of the fire threat, more than 2,100 homes were placed under mandatory evacuation orders, and at least one home was confirmed to have gone up in flames.

The cause of the blaze is still under investigation and there have not been any destroyed structures, but a 57-year-old man has been arrested with reports stating he was disposing of toilet paper by setting it on fire.

JBS launches forest fire taskforce to protect Brazilian Pantanal

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A new JBS-funded Pantanal forest fire taskforce comprising one degree, Brigada Aliança, Instituto Homem Pantaneiro (IHP) and Polo Socioambiental Sesc Pantanal, has been launched with the aim of protect 2.5 million hectares of the biome through early fire detection, big data analysis and rapid response. 

The Embrace the Pantanal initiative will combine highly equipped and qualified forestry brigades with next generation analytical, operational and community impact data, to avoid an estimated 15 million tons of CO2 throughout the project. JBS is investing R$ 26 million (US$ 5.33 million) in the initiative.

Initially more than 2.5 million hectares (an area roughly the size of Belgium) will be monitored in Serra do Amolar, the central Pantanal region, overseen by IHP which had more than 90% of its protection network affected by the 2020 mega fires. 

Early detection of outbreaks will be facilitated by Pantera software developed by umgrauemeio. The 24/7 system processes high resolution images captured from the communication tower through an artificial intelligence algorithm and automatically identifies the fire teams outbreaks and notifies the cameras. There are plans to triple the scope of the area protected in a second phase.

Embrace the Pantanal is part of a larger Embrace the Forest initiative providing a holistic approach to monitor and manage firefighting in real time, while protecting biodiversity through the integrated Pantera platform for managing forest fires. 

Umgrauemeio aims to expand the preserved area in the Pantanal after the first phase as well as extend the project to other national parks and reserves, such as Chapada dos Veadeiros (Goiás), Chapada dos Guimarães (MT), and areas of the Amazon. 

“These resources and satellite information provide a  breakthrough for fire outbreak detection,” commented  Liège Correia, JBS Friboi’s director of Sustainability. “ Actions like this benefit the entire livestock value chain, as fires devastate the ecosystem, seriously harm rural properties and release polluting gases into the atmosphere that causes global warming.”

“In 2020, it was disturbing to see 26% of the Pantanal, one of the world’s main UNESCO biosphere reserves, be consumed by fire, compromising more than 4 million hectares, killing about 17 million vertebrates and emitting millions of tons of CO2 in the atmosphere”, commented Osmar Bambini, Chief Innovation Officer and co-founder of umgrauemeio,  when describing the motivation to design the Pantanal monitoring strategy and resilience plan. 

The task force brings together Public Ministry representatives, scientists and researchers, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector with the common goal of supporting local institutions that historically fight fires in the biome.

Fire Safety Enforcement in NYC strengthened by new bill

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams has signed five pieces of fire safety legislation into law aimed at strengthening enforcement, education, and outreach efforts in the wake of the tragic Bronx apartment fire in January which saw the death of 17 people.

The new laws include shortening the timeline of re-inspection for self-closing door violations, increasing the fine for building owners who do not fix violations, banning the sale of certain space heaters that do not meet certain safety standards and codifying increased fire safety outreach.

“More than a dozen New Yorkers, some just children, were killed in the fire at the Twin Parks apartments. We mourn their passing but that is not enough — we must ensure that a tragedy at that level never happens again,” said Mayor Adams. “In March, I signed an executive order to immediately improve fire safety coordination and outreach. Today, I’m proud to work with the City Council to create long-term solutions that strengthen enforcement and education and will keep all New Yorkers safe.”

The mayor signed the following bills into law:

Intro. 104 which clarifies the definition of a self-closing door to mean a door equipped with a device that will ensure the door, when opened and released, returns to the closed position and self-latches shut.

Intro. 105 which shortens the timeline for correction of self-closing door violations from 21 days to 14 days, requires HPD to reinspect a self-closing door violation no later than 20 days after the expiration of the 14-day correction period, and increases penalties for building owners who do not cure those violations. It also establishes a civil penalty range of $250-$500 for the violation of the self-closing door requirement and a $250/day penalty from the date set for correction of the violation until it is corrected, increases civil penalties for the false certification of corrections for Class A, B, and C violations of the Housing Maintenance Code.

Intro. 106 which bans the sale of electric space heaters that do not have automatic shut off capabilities if the heater falls over or overheats, and requires that space heaters sold in New York City be labeled by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.

Intro. 131 which expands fire safety education to require FDNY to provide educational materials and conduct outreach relating to the safe use of electric space heaters in residences. The law — which takes effect as FDNY continues to conduct a robust fire safety education program — also requires that such educational materials be made available to tenants in the top 10 most common languages in New York City.

Intro. 155 which prohibits the DOB from charging filing fees for a permit to repair fire damaged conditions of one-, two- or three-family homes. If construction defects are discovered at such fire-damaged locations, this fee exemption would extend to other dwellings within the same homeowner or cooperative association to correct the same construction defect. The law will diminish repair costs for owners remediating fire-damaged properties and construction defects found during the remediation process and task DOB with conducting targeted outreach showcasing the fee-exemption program.

Commenting on the new legislation, New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Acting Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said: “Educating New Yorkers on fire safety and prevention is key to the Department’s lifesaving mission. These bills, and the mayor’s Executive Order increasing coordination between our department and HPD, will strengthen the FDNY’s ability to reach the neediest residents in our city with critical messages of fire education and prevention.”

National Weather Service issues critical fire warning across US south-west

by ActiveAmericas - Featured NewsFeatured News

The National Weather Service has issued critical fire condition warnings across the US South West as wind gusts have been predicted to case fire-jumps across containment lines.

The warning comes as fire crews in New Mexico continue their efforts to stop growth of the country’s biggest wildfire – the result of two fires that merged to create the largest wildfire in the history of New Mexico.

The seven-week fire has burned 491 square miles of forest and rugged terrain east of Santa Fe since the beginning of April after being started by two intentionally-set blazes by authorities.

The National Weather Service has now issued a red flag warning of critical fire conditions for parts of Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah with predictions of strong winds, low relative humidity and dry vegetation.

Bruno Rodriguez, the fire management team’s meteorologist, said that forecasts predict wind gusts up to 50mph, with critical fire conditions continuing into Monday, followed by more favourable weather later in the coming week.

John Chest, a fire operations manager, commented: “Imagine traveling in your car and the fire can outpace you. That’s the kind of extreme fire behavior that we’re talking about.”

New Jersey earmarks Covid fund for fire departments

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New Jersey is set to use $10 million in federal coronavirus relief funds to help provide fire departments with more safety and sanitary equipment, officials announced Monday.

The state’s Firefighter Grant Program will allow local and regional fire departments to apply for the taxpayer money from the American Rescue Plan, which Congress passed to provide stimulus funds in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We know how hard the pandemic was on our firefighting community,” said Governor Phil Murphy during an event championing the program at the Hackensack Fire Department. “We know the stress that all of you are under each and every day, not knowing what you may up against while on call … while simultaneously worried about the health of your families.”

Murphy said the money would be used not just for helmets, gloves, and boots but for chemical-free protective clothing and cleaning equipment and products to help prevent the spread of illness, noting that firefighters faced many health and safety risks during the pandemic.

“Firefighters have been working on the front lines with our health care and law enforcement professionals throughout this pandemic, and Governor Murphy and I are grateful for the heroic work they do every day to save lives,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.

“The Firefighter Grant Program is going to help provide them with the essential resources they need to ensure their safety and well-being so they can continue to do their jobs.” 

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus said “We’re now clawing back even more federal dollars to support our local fire departments and first responders, particularly for our smaller ones where resources are even more stretched. This critical investment will not only keep our communities, families, and brave first responders safe, but it will also help lower our property taxes and make life more affordable for Jersey families.

“The new American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grant program claws critical federal resources back from Washington for Jersey fire departments – to protect our communities, our families, firefighters, and EMTs. We must always get the backs of our first responders.”

Kyle Hughes, a Paterson firefighter and president of the New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association Local 2 union, welcomed the funds as firefighters across the state deal have dealt with the pandemic in addition to fires, floods, chemical spills, and downed wires the last two years.

“Despite this even greater risk, our members never wavered to their duties,” Hughes said. “They put others before themselves time and time again. … Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

South Williamsport Fire Department fire deal considered ‘revolutionary’

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Officials involved in a proposed five-year cooperative agreement with Loyalsock Township and its fire department have labeled it as ‘revolutionary’ and one that could incorporate future municipal partners to provide fire and rescue services for their communities.

South Williamsport Borough Council in Pennsylvania approved the proposal earlier this week and township supervisors continue to review it as minor revisions get ironed out.

The agreement, a copy of which was provided to the Sun-Gazette, includes provisions for paid fire protection and rescue services that funds the departments and apparatus and equipment through existing fire taxes.

Under the banner of Susquehanna Mutual Aid Regional Team, or SMART, the dwindling manpower of the South Williamsport Volunteer Fire Department was given new legs this week.

The cooperative fire agreement, meanwhile, creates a legal mechanism to provide sufficient funding to the participating fire companies from participating municipalities and other third party sources, he said.

SMART will begin with an initial paid staff of five fully trained firefighters and rescue responders consisting of four full-time, 40-hour-per-week positions, Monday through Friday, with one shared administrative position providing the administrative oversight for the services administered under the SMART program, according to the terms, the SunGazette reported.

The four full-time positions will be assigned into two separate firefighter crews, with one crew to be stationed at Loyalsock Township, and with one crew to be stationed at South Williamsport Volunteer Fire Department.

The agreement provides necessary personnel, training, and equipment required to supplement the participating fire companies with paid firefighters that will provide for adequate paid fire protection and rescue services within the participating municipalities.