California ‘Apple Fire’ forces thousands to evacuate

by Americas - Featured News

California fire services are currently battling a massive wildfire that has forced thousands of people from their homes east of Los Angeles.

More than 1,300 firefighters, backed by helicopters and water-dumping planes, have been tackling the blaze dubbed the Apple Fire which started on Friday 31st July.

Parts of the fire are on steep, rugged hillsides, making it hard for fire engines to reach.

Around 7,800 residents have been told to evacuate the area.

Images show flumes of smoke filling the sky over the mountainous region. In a tweet, the National Weather Service said some smoke had blown east to Phoenix, Arizona – nearly 300 miles (482km) away.

The wildfire began as two adjacent blazes in Cherry Valley, an area near the city of Beaumont.

It has since stretched out to 20,516 acres (8,302 hectares), San Bernadino National Forest said in a tweet on Sunday 2nd August.

NFPA announces new FPRF study ‘Modern Vehicle Hazards in Parking Structures & Vehicle Carriers’

by Americas - Featured News

The NFPA has released a new report, detailing an analysis of the current scientific literature regarding the fire hazard modern vehicles represent to parking garages and marine vessels.

Vehicles have changed significantly over the years. Modern Vehicles present new hazards due to the incorporation of larger quantities of combustible materials (e.g. fuels, plastics, synthetic materials, etc.) into their designs. As alternative fuel vehicles are popularised, concerns regarding their unique hazards, burn characteristics, and typical burn duration have been raised.

Compared to older vehicles, modern vehicles burn differently. Modern parking garages have optimised space requirements for vehicle parking and storage and often implement automated retrieval features and car stacking, which presents unique hazards as well. Thus, it raises the question if the safety infrastructure of these parking structures and vehicle carriers (i.e. maritime vessels) have kept pace.

Vehicle fires in parking structures developing into large, out of control incidents are fairly rare and the rate of civilian injuries is low. However, fires in parking structures can lead to significant economic losses, as evidenced by recent fires at Liverpool’s Echo Arena in the UK and Stavanger Airport in Norway. These incidents involved hundreds of automobiles and resulted in severe structural damage.

Visit https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Data-research-and-tools/Building-and-Life-Safety/Modern-Vehicle-Hazards-in-Parking-Garages-Vehicle-Carriers to download the report.

Melinda Williams promoted to new role at Telgian

by Americas - Featured NewsPeople

Telgian Engineering & Consulting (TEC) recently announced the promotion of Melinda Williams to Director of Government and Business Affairs. In this role, she will be responsible for business development and sales, with a focus on fire, life safety and security technology and requirement trends within federal, state and local government entities.

“Melinda is an invaluable member of the TEC team,” says Telgian Engineering & Consulting President Leonard Ramo. “As TEC continues its rapid growth providing service to the government sector, her innovation and vision, as well as the depth and breadth of her experience in the fire, life safety and security industry will prove essential for our government clients.”

In addition to a diverse background, which includes work as a policy advisor and educator, Williams brings over 14 years of fire, life safety and security experience to the new position. She will partner with executives and officials, providing innovative solutions to the specific challenges faced by government entities. “Melinda’s proven ability to communicate a clear understanding of the various challenges in the industry is one of her greatest strengths,” continues Ramo.

Melinda Williams holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Brown University and completed post-graduate studies at National University.

www.telgian.com/

UL Fire Council appoints Telgian’s Leonard Ramo

by Americas - Featured NewsPeople

Telgian Engineering & Consulting President and fire protection expert Leonard Ramo was recently invited to join the Fire Council of UL for a three-year term. The Fire Council is one of nine councils whose esteemed members provide support to UL by sharing practical experience on a wide range of engineering and safety topics.

The Fire Council selects members based on their fire protection industry expertise, integrity and a proven commitment to furthering public safety. Council members include academic experts, building officials, federal government agencies, fire service members, independent fire safety experts and representatives from the insurance industry, all of whom share a collective goal to identify safety challenges arising from new products and innovative technology.

For over 100 years, the Fire Council has provided vital insight and advice on building designs and materials, as well as safety performance requirements for fire suppression, passive fire test methods, and alarm and detection equipment.  As a member, Ramo will be instrumental in the development of effective programs, which address fire safety needs throughout the US and abroad.

In addition, Fire Council members work towards the establishment of requirements regarding the installation of products and materials, components and systems, interpretation and development of standards, and suitability of test methods, as well as regulatory needs and acceptance. Members also provide insight to UL on safety requirements and research related to fire resistant building designs, the flame and smoke characteristics of building materials and a variety of fire suppression equipment and fire safety products.

“It’s an honour to be selected as a member of the Fire Council,” says Ramo. “Together, the Council will continue to develop crucial safety solutions as new products and technologies emerge and the impact of this work we do will have a positive effect around the globe.”

As a Fire Council member, Ramo brings significant industry experience to the table. His career spans more than twenty five years as a practicing fire protection engineer, consultant, and executive. Currently, Ramo is President of Telgian Engineering & Consulting, a full-service global engineering and risk mitigation consultancy specialising in complex, multi-discipline public and private sector projects.

Professional accreditations include registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in all fifty U.S. States, District of Columbia, and select Territories, as well as a P. Eng. in select Canadian Provinces. In addition, Ramo is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) and holds a U.S. Department of Homeland Security CVI certification.

As a globally recognised industry professional, he plays an integral role in international codes and standards development by serving on select National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) committees. He is also a member of Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) and on both the SFPE Standards Making Committee on Performance-Based Fire Safety Design and the SFPE Committee on Outreach and Advocacy (COA). Ramo is the past president of the Central Gulf Coast Chapter of SPFE, as well, and a member of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME).

www.telgian.com/

21 injured after an explosion and fire on a naval ship in San Diego

by Americas - Featured News
Twenty-one people were injured after an explosion and fire on board a ship at the US Naval Base in San Diego, US Navy officials said.
“Seventeen Sailors and four civilians are being treated for non-life threatening injuries at a local hospital,” the US Navy said in a statement.
The sailors on the USS Bonhomme Richard had “minor injuries” from the fire and were taken to a hospital, Lt. Cmdr. Patricia Kreuzberger told CNN earlier Sunday.
The sailors are in stable condition, Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck told journalists Sunday evening. All of the crew is off the ship and accounted for, according to a tweet from the US Pacific Fleet Naval Surface Forces Sunday afternoon.
Firefighters battled a three-alarm fire on the ship Sunday morning, SDFD’s Mónica Muñoz said. Several different agencies worked to fight the blaze.
Two fires crews were still on board the ship Sunday afternoon, Federal Fire San Diego Division Chief Rob Bondurant said in a statement.
“Federal Fire is rotating their crews aboard the ship with U.S. Navy firefighting crews from the waterfront to fight the fire in order to find the seat of the fire and extinguish it,” Bondurant said. “Navy Region Southwest tugs are also continuously combating the fire from the bay.”
As of Sunday evening, firefighters were “at the seat of the fire, if you will,” Sobeck said. The firefighters are clearing compartment spaces in order to close in on the fire, Sobeck said.
“Sailors across this waterfront are absolutely doing a magnificent job,” Sobeck said, “They are saving their ship. We’re seeing just incredible results.”
It’s unclear what started the fire. When the fire was first reported Sunday morning, it was said to be in the lower vehicle storage area, Sobeck said, a “huge, open area where you store a lot of marine equipment and everything else.”
There is no ordnance on board, Sobeck said, “which was our initial concern” in ensuring safety on and around the ship. A safety zone has been set up around the ship, he said.
It is unclear what caused the explosion, Sobeck said. Initial reports indicated a “sort of a backdraft,” or over-pressurisation as the compartment started heating up.
The ship had about a million gallons of fuel, but it’s “well below” many of the heat sources, Sobeck said.
The ship could burn for days, “down to the water line,” San Diego Fire Chief Colin Stowell told CNN’s Erica Hill Sunday afternoon.
Sobeck, though, said the ship will probably be salvageable. “We’re absolutely going to make sure it sails again,” he said.
“She was in a stage of repair anyway,” Sobeck said. “So we’re just gonna get right back at it once we get this thing contained and put out.”
There was an explosion just as personnel were leaving the ship, Stowell said. The Navy has moved two nearby ships away from the scene, it said in a statement.
Secretary of Defence Mark Esper has been briefed on the situation, according to a defence official. Officials called for San Diego Fire Department’s assistance about 9 a.m. local time, Muñoz told CNN.
A second alarm was called at 9:09 a.m. and a third at 9:51 a.m., according to SDFD tweets. The USS Bonhomme Richard is an amphibious assault ship, according to the US Navy.
There were 160 people on board when the fire started, according to the Naval Surface Forces. The ship, which has a crew of 1,000, was undergoing maintenance.

Telgian’s Russell Leavitt named NFPA 1st Vice Chair

by Americas - Featured NewsPeople

Russell B. Leavitt, Executive Chairman of Telgian Holdings, Inc. was recently elected 1st Vice Chair by the Board of Directors for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). NFPA is a global, nonprofit organisation devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The organization focuses on fire codes and standards, as well as public education for fire safety, outreach and advocacy, training and essential research.

NFPA Board Members are selected based on fire industry experience, as well as the respect of peers in the safety community, a proven commitment to the association’s goals and an appreciation for the relationship NFPA must maintain with society as its needs evolve.

As NFPA 1st Vice Chair, Leavitt will work with the association as it delivers information, knowledge and training nationwide. In addition to this leadership position within NFPA, Leavitt also serves as chair of the NFPA 13 Sprinkler System Discharge Criteria Technical Committee, on the NFPA 13 Installation Technical Committee, as well as NFPA 3, NFPA 4 and the Cultural Resources (NFPA 909 and 914)  Technical Committees.

With almost four decades of industry experience, Leavitt has long been recognised for his expertise, which he shares as a sought-after speaker and presenter. Leavitt is a senior instructor for AFSA and Fire Smarts and conducts fire and life safety seminars nationally and internationally on a variety of related subjects. Examples include Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office fire sprinkler training events, such Fire Sprinkler Systems – Plan Review and Acceptance Testing for AHJ’s, Marketing for Contractors in Fire Protection for Expo Fire Protection Mexico & International Congress and NFPA 25 Step-by-Step Testing Procedures for FireCon, among others.

During the course of his career, Leavitt has also authored numerous industry training materials and informational articles including “Fire Safety Codes and Standards: What You Need to Know,”  “Understanding Fire Protection Classifications,” “International Fire Sprinkler Opportunity” and AFSA’s ITM Inspector Development Program.

Leavitt will hold the position of NFPA 1st Vice Chair for two calendar years.

www.telgian.com/

Crews stop nearly 50-acre wildfire in Oregon

by Americas - Featured News

A new wildfire broke out and quickly put up a billowing smoke column on Sunday 5th July near Paulina Lake Road in the La Pine area in the state of Oregon, burning nearly 50 acres before crews in an intense air and ground attack got a line around it.

The Paulina Lake Fire was reported just after 1 p.m., burning on Bureau of Land Management land east of U.S. Highway 97 and north of Paulina Lake Road (Forest Road 21).

The fast-moving fire burned in timber and brush 1-2 miles northwest of Ogden Group Camp, off Forest Road 9735, and was estimated at 15-20 acres around 3:30 p.m. in tweets from Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch.

Six engines, a bulldozer and a water tender were among initial resources called in to attack the fire, which burned near the Deschutes National Forest boundary, Forest Service spokeswoman Kassidy Kern said. One heavy air tanker, a Type 2 tanker and a single-engine air tanker were called in to support firefighters on the ground.

Firefighters stopped forward progress of the blaze before 6:30 p.m. and had containment lines around its perimeter, officials said. The fire was estimated at 48.5 acres. Crews will work through the night to secure the perimeter and patrol for spot fires, Kern said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation as the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said there had been no evacuations. Several other brush fires were tackled around the region on Sunday, including a small brushfire off Southwest Brookswood Boulevard in Bend that residents went after with extinguishers and rakes, and one off Ten Bar Ranch Road and Highway 20 east of Bend that reportedly burned about two acres late Sunday afternoon.

“Central Oregon is currently in high fire danger, meaning fuels are very receptive to ignitions,” Kern said in a news release. “If you are recreating on public lands, remember to remain diligent about ensuring all campfires are ‘dead out’ and cold to the touch when you leave them, all spark arrestors are properly installed, and trailer chains are secured.”

US fire departments anticipate busy 4th July as fireworks sales skyrocket

by Americas - Featured News

Fireworks sales are skyrocketing across the US as most public displays are canceled due to the coronavirus, prompting concerns among fire departments that this year’s Fourth of July weekend could lead to record numbers of injuries and blazes.

“Despite the warnings against at-home displays, firefighters across the country will be ready to respond as more people turn to do-it-yourself shows,” said Doug Stern, a spokesman for the International Association of Fire Fighters. “A firework-less Fourth of July may be a disappointment, but it doesn’t make firecrackers and bottle rockets any safer at home, and a severe traumatic injury or burn—or starting a house or vehicle fire—is a lot worse way to spend the holiday.”

This year’s scarcity of professional pyrotechnic displays—which many local leaders have declared a no-go in the age of social distancing—presents a unique challenge for fire safety officials, who usually centre their Independence Day outreach campaigns on encouraging people to attend public fireworks shows instead of attempting to create them at home.

“While fireworks are an emblem of July 4 celebrations, in the absence of public displays this year, we strongly encourage people to find safe and creative alternatives for celebrating the holiday,” Lorraine Carli, vice president of outreach and advocacy at the National Fire Protection Association, said in a statement. “Fireworks are simply too dangerous and unpredictable to be used safely by consumers.”

Fireworks sparked roughly 19,500 fires in 2018, causing five deaths, 46 injuries to civilians and $105 million in direct property damage, according to data from the association. More than 7,000 people reported injuries related to fireworks around the 4th of July holiday last year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. More than half of those injuries were burns.

But that hasn’t dampened amateur enthusiasm for sparklers and cherry bombs. Sales of consumer fireworks for some retailers have doubled or tripled in the past month compared to last year, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association, which expects record-breaking sales numbers over the holiday weekend.

“The APA predicts an all-time high in backyard consumer fireworks sales and use as families prepare to celebrate Independence Day at home due to the pandemic and cancellation of large public celebrations,” Julie L. Heckman, the association’s executive director, said in a statement. The group recommends that firework users follow safety guidelines, such as reading the directions, not allowing children to handle fireworks and setting them off from a “hard, level surface.”

Cities across the country are already reporting higher-than-normal numbers of calls about illegal fireworks, including noise complaints. Police in Raleigh, N.C. received 105 reports of fireworks between June 12 and June 25, up from just 16 in the same time period last year. Officials in New York City fielded more than 13,000 complaints about fireworks between June 1 and June 22, compared to 32 calls in the same time period in 2019. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh told reporters in early June that calls to police about illegal fireworks in May increased by 2,300% compared to last year.

“This is a serious issue,” he said. “People are frightened. People are losing sleep. Babies and kids are woken up. Pets are terrified. Our veterans and others with PTSD are experiencing real harm, and it’s a real fire hazard in our city.”

In addition to the nuisance, Carli said, an increase in at-home fireworks mishaps could overwhelm a public health system that’s already taxed from responding to Covid-19. Emergency rooms treated an estimated 9,100 fireworks injuries last year, according to federal data.

“Fireworks cause thousands of needless fires and injuries each year,” Carli said. “By simply choosing not to use consumer fireworks, these types of incidents can be easily prevented, lessening the strain on already overtaxed first responders and emergency room workers.”

Firefighters still working on Leverett, Massachusetts forest fire

by Americas - Featured News

A fire that has burned trees and consumed undergrowth on about 66 acres of woodland between Montague Road and Route 63 north of Leverett Pond is mostly contained following five full days of firefighting.

Leverett Fire Chief John Ingram said Tuesday that firefighters have gained control of the blaze by establishing a secure fire line, which runs about 1½ miles around the perimeter of the fire and is designed to prevent its continued spread.

The fire line was cut by a bulldozer, donated by Wagner Wood of Amherst for use for two days. The bulldozer scraped away ground cover to get to bare ground. Then, firefighters dug a trench at the fire line by hand, with the aim of breaking the greenery and ensuring the fire has no way of escaping.

“We’re in a much better place than we were,” Ingram said.

At the peak of the fire over the weekend, more than 100 firefighters from throughout the region were on scene to battle the blaze.

Ingram estimates that the fire is now 80% contained. The continued challenge is due to the landscape’s significant ledge and not being able to make a perfect circle around the fire.

For the rest of the week, at least through Saturday, there will just be crews of two Leverett firefighters going out, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, to make sure the fire remains under control, Ingram said. They will get assistance from the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation and state wildlife management employees.

The work began last Thursday when the department got calls from Rattlesnake Gutter Road residents and identified the plumes of smoke were coming from what is known as Joshua Hill. The cause of the fire is not yet known and remains under investigation.

The wet weather this week has helped, but Ingram said it won’t be enough to get down into the roots and fully douse the blaze.

“That whole area will be hot for a while,” Ingram said. Because of that, Ingram said hikers and those who are curious should not venture onto the land.

“It’s still too dangerous to be in that inner circle,” Ingram said, adding that some trees continue to be consumed and burning limbs and entire trees are occasionally falling.

As firefighters did work in the woods, residents and area businesses helped to bring breakfast, lunch and dinner to them. Leverett Connects, the town’s e-newsletter, served as a way to get people to get the necessary food and drink to the Leverett Safety Complex.

The work included arranging for the delivery of pizzas by Amherst House of Pizza, purchase of sandwiches and grinders from Big Y Supermarket, donation of bananas by Atkins Farms Country Market and 40 pounds of ice by Liquors 44 in Hadley, a half-pallet of water bottles from Home Depot and a mixed box of apples and pears from the Leverett Village Co-op. Stop & Shop provided gift cards for supplies.

Elkhart Brass launch HydroBlast Remote Control Monitor System

by Americas - Featured News

Elkhart Brass have produced a HydroBlast Remote Control Monitor System for fire protection and cleaning needs. The product is suitable for fire protection applications, construction equipment and dust mitigation. The HydroBlast Remote Control Monitor is seen to be extremely reliable/ efficient and can be suited to individual needs.

The operator will find options when using the wash sequences to reduce manpower and save washdown when using the product on different sized vehicles. Elkhear Brass have built the Hydoblast out of corrosion resistance silicon bronze to ensure durability. With product design being the main focus, user safety was also at the forefront. The HydroBlast has mechanical stop limits to ensure safety and accuracy whilst in operation. 

www.elkhartbrass.com/