NFPA and MODON partner to advance fire safety standards in Saudi Arabia

by Associations and OrganisationsBreaking NewsMiddle East - Breaking News

NFPA and MODON partner to advance fire safety standards in Saudi Arabia

NFPA and MODON formalise collaboration at Intersec Saudi 2025

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON).

The agreement was signed at Intersec Saudi 2025 in Riyadh by Eng. Ali Al-Oliwah, Director of the Safety and Security Department at MODON, and Jim Pauley, President and CEO of NFPA.

According to NFPA, the collaboration aims to elevate fire safety standards in industrial facilities across Saudi Arabia through education, research and knowledge-sharing.

Both organisations confirmed that the partnership will support the implementation of NFPA’s Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem across the Kingdom.

Partnership focuses on education and knowledge exchange

Under the MoU, NFPA and MODON will jointly organise conferences, training sessions and certification programmes for MODON employees and other stakeholders.

They will also promote awareness of NFPA codes and standards, and share fire safety research relevant to industrial cities.

The two parties said these activities are intended to improve understanding of fire risks and strengthen prevention strategies across Saudi industrial zones.

They added that the collaboration will encourage the development of practical fire prevention guidelines for industrial facilities nationwide.

NFPA CEO outlines aims of the agreement

Jim Pauley, President and CEO of NFPA, said: “We are honored to join with MODON in elevating safety standards within industrial zones.

“It also allows us to develop comprehensive fire prevention guidelines, conduct thorough incident investigations and provide expert training to MODON’s workforce.

“By sharing NFPA standards, we aim to significantly reduce risks within industrial facilities of the Kingdom.”

NFPA stated that the partnership reflects a long-term commitment to improving fire safety outcomes across Saudi Arabia’s industrial and technological sectors.

The organisation added that combining expertise and resources through this collaboration will help create a safer and more resilient industrial environment.

How firefighters can win prizes in the Step Strong Challenge

by Associations and OrganisationsFeatured NewsHealth and Safety

Step Strong Challenge launches for first responders

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has announced the launch of its Step Strong Challenge, a month-long walking competition designed to promote health and wellbeing among first responders across the United States.

The challenge begins on Wednesday 1 October at 12:01 a.m. ET and runs until Friday 31 October at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Participants can register through the NVFC Step Strong Challenge app, available to download on smartphones.

According to the NVFC, the initiative provides firefighters and emergency personnel an opportunity to engage in friendly competition while earning chances to win prizes for reaching step goals.

Registration and participation details

Participants must select the “NVFC Step Strong” Challenge within the app, complete registration and pair their activity tracker.

Supported devices include iPhone, Android phone, Fitbit, Garmin and Apple Watch.

The NVFC confirmed that smartphones alone can track activity through inbuilt systems such as Google Fit or Samsung Health.

To ensure accuracy, step data must be synced at least once every 24 hours and before the challenge closes on 31 October.

The council stated that participants should use the “Tap to sync steps” function at the top of the Summary tab within the app.

Questions about the challenge can be directed to NVFC’s Caroline Stachowiak, while technical support is available from Heka Health.

Bonus activities and rewards

Participants can earn additional “bonus steps” by engaging in specific NVFC educational activities throughout October.

Each completed activity provides a 5,000-step boost.

Eligible activities include completing the NVFC’s Power of Hope: Strengthening Resilience and Wellbeing in First Responders course, visiting the NVFC’s Resources for Families of Volunteer Responders webpage, joining the Roundtable Talk: Mentorship in the Fire Service webinar on 28 October, and completing a members-only task announced via email.

Those who are not members can join by 16 October to qualify for the exclusive activity.

Prizes and recognition

The NVFC outlined several prize tiers based on total steps completed by the end of the challenge.

Participants reaching 200,000 steps (approximately 6,500 steps per day) will be entered into raffles for prizes including DripDrop electrolyte sticks, DripDrop water bottles and pickleball sets from Provident.

Those achieving 300,000 steps (around 9,700 daily) will enter raffles for Fire Department Coffee and Rosenbauer coffee bundles and an NVFC Yeti mug.

All participants reaching the 300,000-step goal can also request free posters and stickers promoting health and safety messages for their departments.

The NVFC confirmed that the top ten steppers (ranks two to eleven) will be entered into a separate raffle for $100 in Visa gift cards.

The top overall stepper will win a Bluetooth headset courtesy of David Clark.

Prize winners will be contacted via email in early November.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The Step Strong Challenge highlights the NVFC’s ongoing focus on supporting firefighter health and wellness.

For firefighters and emergency service personnel, the initiative provides structured encouragement to prioritise physical activity and mental wellbeing.

Departments can use the challenge as a team-building activity, promoting fitness and engagement outside operational duties.

Fire chiefs and training officers may find the programme valuable for integrating wellness goals into departmental culture.

The challenge also reinforces the NVFC’s educational resources by connecting participation with professional development activities such as resilience training and mentorship.

FBU urges Labour to deliver 5,000 more firefighters and reverse cuts to public services

by Associations and OrganisationsFeatured News

Labour conference supports wealth tax to rebuild public services

Delegates at the Labour Party conference have voted in favour of a motion calling for a wealth tax on the richest individuals to fund public services.

The motion was submitted by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), the Communication Workers Union (CWU), the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) and Unite the Union.

It urges the government to reverse austerity measures, adopt progressive taxation and increase investment in public services.

The motion includes a proposal to rebuild the fire and rescue service with an immediate increase of 5,000 firefighters, alongside a review to consider further expansion and improved firefighter pay.

FBU calls for action on fire service cuts

The FBU said the fire and rescue service has lost one in five firefighters since 2010.

FBU General Secretary Steve Wright said: “Workers in Britain are paying the price for a broken economic model.

“The ultra-rich continue to reap the benefits of a rigged system that rewards wealth – not work.

“Meanwhile, public services are on the brink of collapse without the investment desperately needed after fifteen years of austerity.

“The fire and rescue service is in a state of emergency, with the loss of 1 in 5 firefighters to cuts since 2010.

“We need an immediate increase of 5,000 firefighters to begin addressing this crisis in public safety.

“The government must act decisively by introducing a progressive wealth tax to rebuild public services, create jobs, and support struggling households.”

Motion highlights links between economic policy and public safety

The motion aligns the rebuilding of the fire and rescue service with wider efforts to strengthen public services through wealth redistribution.

It positions investment in emergency services as central to reversing the effects of long-term austerity.

The proposal’s emphasis on recruitment and fair pay reflects ongoing concern about workforce shortages and pay stagnation in public sector roles.

Support from multiple trade unions

The motion received joint backing from four trade unions: the FBU, CWU, TSSA and Unite.

Their support underlines a shared demand for sustained public investment and systemic change to address service cuts and rising living costs.

The approval of the motion at the Labour Party conference signals continuing debate about the role of wealth taxation in funding essential services.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The motion’s call for an additional 5,000 firefighters directly affects local authority fire and rescue services across the UK.

If implemented, the expansion would increase operational capacity and could reduce response pressures currently faced by fire crews.

Senior fire officers and service managers would need to plan for recruitment, training and resource allocation to integrate new personnel effectively.

Procurement officers may also need to assess future equipment and uniform requirements to accommodate an expanded workforce.

Improved firefighter pay, if introduced, could influence sector-wide wage benchmarking and impact budget planning for service leadership teams.

The motion’s approval reflects a growing political focus on restoring public sector resilience, which may shape funding priorities for fire protection, emergency response and workforce wellbeing initiatives.

Labour conference backs FBU motion to expand public services with wealth tax funding: Summary

Delegates at the Labour Party conference have supported a motion calling for a wealth tax on the richest individuals to raise funds for public services.

The motion, proposed by the Fire Brigades Union, the Communication Workers Union, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association and Unite the Union, calls for the reversal of austerity and increased public investment.

It includes a demand to rebuild the UK fire and rescue service by adding 5,000 firefighters, with a review to consider further expansion and improvements to pay.

FBU General Secretary Steve Wright said the fire and rescue service is in a “state of emergency” after the loss of one in five firefighters since 2010.

The motion’s approval reinforces the link between economic policy and the sustainability of emergency and public services across the UK.

This article contains information from the following source: The Fire Brigades Union (FBU)