At least four people were killed and a dozen more injured on Tuesday following a blast at a popular market in Nigeria’s south-eastern state of Anambra, Reuters has reported.
Emeka Umeagbalasi, who heads civil society group Intersociety was a witness at the incident, said the blast took place in a section of the market that sells chemicals, leading to a fire that razed some shops while “four people died and scores (were) injured.”
The Onitsha South local government area chairman Emeka Orji confirmed the death toll to reporters, adding that at least 12 people were injured as people stampeded to leave the market.
An Anambra state police spokesman said the casualty figure was unknown but the situation was under control while the state emergency management agency said it was investigating.
The Director/Fire Chief of Anambra Fire Services, Mr Martin Agbili, said that 80 shops were affected in the chemical market fire explosion. He said: ”It is really a terrible situation but the fire is under control now. The vibration from the explosions caused the collapse of some market buildings.
“A lot of safety measures have been taken to protect the entire market. There are casualties but we can’t ascertain the actual number of death and the injured.”
The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) is has announced it has increased its technical capacity with two new appointments.
Mark Chubb MPP CFPS FCMI MIoD FIFireE has been appointed as the new Technical Director, replacing Peter Wilkinson who has now moved into the role of International President.
Ian Bailey has also joined IFE to work alongside Paul Trew who leads the organisation on all matters relating to alternative fuels.
Over the past year, the technical team have played an instrumental role in raising the IFE’s profile and supporting the sector in a constantly changing world.
With Chubb overseeing the team’s activity and leading on strategic matters, Trew will continue his focus on alternative fuels whilst Bailey will take up the role of UK government liaison to lead our work with the Home Office, Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the new building safety regulator.
Mark leads the IFE in technical matters following a 40-year career in senior, technical and executive positions in fire services in New Zealand and the United States. Upon his appointment, he said: “I am pleased to accept the role of Technical Director from Peter who has played a pivotal role over the last two years shaping the IFE’s technical resource and helping to advance our technical offering for the better of our members and wider society.
“I look forward to developing this resource further with the help of Paul and Ian and the support of our volunteers whose expertise we value so much.
“On behalf of the IFE I want to express my thanks to Peter for his time and commitment and I look forward to working with him in his new capacity as International President.”
Ian Bailey joins the IFE after serving many roles within the London Fire Brigade over the past 30 years. Upon joining the technical team, Ian commented: “I have gained a vast array of skills and experience throughout my career with London Fire Brigade.
“I believe the influential work that the IFE and its members carry out in the built environment, especially post Grenfell, is of such critical importance that I relish the challenge of being part of developing a safer built environment and representing the members to achieve that.”
The UK Fire Brigades Union has raised community awareness that the Fire and Rescue service is weaker than it should be. The proclamation came on bonfire night after new statistics revealed that fire and rescue services slashed.
As bonfire night is traditionally one of fire and rescue services’ busiest nights of the year with a heightened fire risk, new statistics collated by the Fire Brigades Union reveal further real-terms cuts to central funding for fire and rescue services in England.
Funding for 2022-2023 has been boosted by just 1% on last year (2021-22). Inflation is currently running at around 10%. Funding stands at £882m compared to £1,240m in 2013-14 – meaning there has been a huge cut of 29%, or over 40% in real terms.
There have also been significant cuts across parts of the rest of the UK. Scotland’s funding is up just £3m since 2013 and Northern Ireland’s is down by £1m since 2012. These will be both significant real-terms cuts.
Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said: Communities should know that their fire and rescue service is far weaker than it should be. Bonfire night is a massive stress and strain on fire and rescue services and firefighters, and we are hugely concerned as to how a significantly underresourced fire and rescue service will cope.
“Firefighters are facing a cash-starved service every night of the year: their own wages have been cut by £4,000 since 2009 and this year they received a measly 5% pay offer. We need a properly funded fire service that includes decent resources and fair pay for firefighters, and that reflects the extraordinary job they do and their contribution over the pandemic.
Oxfordshire, Surrey, Warwickshire and West Sussex brigades are in particular danger of cuts. These councils agreed to reduce central funding in order to keep more local revenue – local revenue which would have been anticipated but then disappeared in recent years due to the pandemic.
London Fire Brigade has asked people to take extra care this Bonfire Night over firefighter concerns that home fireworks displays could cause a spate of fires.
During last year’s bonfire period (1-6 November 2021), Control Officers took around 2,170 emergency calls. More than 20 per cent of these occurred on Bonfire Night alone, which was the highest number of calls the Brigade has seen on 5 November since 2016.
Concerns that firefighters could see a bumper bonfire weekend due to DIY displays were heightened after crews were called to a fire in Southall caused by a firework just last week. Around 25 firefighters tackled the blaze which destroyed a garage, damaged cars and resulted in a man being treated for injuries.
The Brigade has been preparing for one of their busiest nights of the year by hosting several community events targeted towards promoting firework safety, but last year’s spike in calls has now prompted them to go one step further and appeal to the public to think twice before holding fireworks displays at home.
Organised displays are much safer and controlled, reducing the risk of people being injured at home or causing fires which spread out of control. Those who are unable to find a professional display near them are being asked to familiarise themselves with the Brigade’s advice and celebrate safely.
The Brigade is also urging Londoners to avoid building bonfires in gardens and to check their local authority’s guidance on bonfires. Those who choose to build a bonfire despite the warning are advised to build them far away from buildings, garden sheds, fences and hedges and never leave them unattended.
Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety, Charlie Pugsley, said: “The period around Bonfire Night has traditionally been very busy for our firefighters and Control Officers, but last year calls to our Control Room reached a five-year high, which is really concerning to see. We are ready, willing and able to respond to incidents so please don’t hesitate to call us in an emergency, but we are asking Londoners to help by considering alternative ways to celebrate safely.
“Our advice has always been that it’s safer to attend professional displays rather than using fireworks at home. Often going to an organised display can be cheaper than buying fireworks to use yourself and there are still lots of displays taking place across the capital.
“However, we know with some local events cancelled this year, there will be people considering putting on DIY displays. If you are holding your own it’s important to ensure you are buying safe fireworks. Only buy fireworks from a reputable, licensed seller and make sure they have a CE safety mark. If you’re drinking alcohol, don’t set off fireworks and never return to a firework once it’s been lit. Finally, always keep children safe and supervised – sparklers in particular can quickly cause serious burns even if they appear to be extinguished.”
New research to mark Fire Door Safety Week (31 October – 4 November 2022) has found that a third (32%) of the British public would not report a problem with a fire door, with a perceived lack of personal repercussions being one of the main reasons for not reporting.
Organisers of Fire Door Safety Week said the findings show that there is a “clear lack of accountability” over reporting fire door issues, and that lives are being put at risk as a result.
Despite three quarters (75%) correctly believing that propping a fire door open stops it performing its role in the event of a fire, 44% would not take action over a propped open fire door as they would not know who to report it to, and almost half (49%) do not feel it is their place or role to report it.
Helen Hewitt, CEO of the British Woodworking Federation which founded Fire Door Safety Week, said: “There were 243 fire-related fatalities in England in the past 12 months, so individual action really is crucial in preventing tragedies. Fire doors propped open put lives at risk in the unfortunate event of a fire. Without being properly closed, a fire door cannot hold back the spread of fire and smoke to fulfil its life-saving role.”
The research showed that propped open fire doors are a common occurrence, with 10% of respondents having seen a propped open fire door in their place of residence on some occasions and 20% in the workplace. It also identified that the two most common objects used to prop open a fire door are a wedge and a fire extinguisher.
31% incorrectly believed that a fire door that was propped open with a wedge or a fire extinguisher was safe and 18% did not believe a propped open fire door poses a risk to those in the building so would not take action. 15% believed that keeping a fire door closed stops it performing.
Gavin Tomlinson, National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Chair for Protection and Business Safety said: “We urge everyone to help keep buildings and their occupants safe and Close the Door on Fire. A fire door can only protect from fire and smoke if it is closed. We ask if people see a fire door propped open, they close it. It is a simple ask that could save a life.
“Everyone has a role in ensuring their buildings remain safe from fire, and if you have any concerns, then please ensure these are reported to the building owner or person responsible for the fire safety of that building. If it continues to be a problem or you are concerned about fire doors in a building, you can contact your fire service for advice and support.”
The research also found a lack of understanding over what constitutes a safe fire door with 44% believing that either: a fire door is a normal door covered in fire-resistant paint (13%), a fire door is a normal door but with ‘fire door’ signage (13%), or that any timber door was a fire door (7%).
Helen Hewitt added: “There is clearly still a dangerous lack of understanding and need for education on the role of fire doors. The encouraging news is that when people are better informed about fire doors, they’re more likely to report issues. Half (49%) of respondents said having a better understanding over what fire doors do and how they work would encourage them to take action.
“To Close the Door on Fire, this year’s Fire Door Safety Week campaign aims to help address the lack of education and accountability around fire doors and reporting. This will be a crucial step in reinforcing the message that a closed fire door can be the difference between life and death and driving positive action to reduce fire-related fatalities.”
Darley, a global manufacturer and distributor for military and first responder markets, is has announced the launch of its new website, Darley.com.
The new-look website has a clean, modern design that will focus on the customer experience, the full business offerings come to life in the new website experience.
The site features an enhanced navigation bar to explore by professional role or services that is designed to make finding exactly what you need faster, easier and more efficient for all customers.
“Darley is a purpose-driven business that is known throughout the world for our commitment to customer satisfaction,” said Kimberly Brown, Senior Marketing Director.
“This website is focused on serving our current and potential customers to simplify their online experience. It’s fresh, modern and intentionally built to bring the Darley brand to life.”
Darley has invited visitors to visit the new website and explore its new podcast, In Service, to discover our enhanced equipment offerings and connect with our mission.
The European Commission has revealed the latest European Forest Fire report which found that three of the worst fire seasons on record in Europe took place in the last six years.
The Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) published the latest edition of its Annual Report on Forest Fires in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa in 2021 and concludes that last year’s fire season was the second worst in the EU territory in terms of burnt area (since records began in 2006), after 2017 when over 10,000 km² had burnt.
More than 5,500 km² of land burnt in 2021 – more than twice the size of Luxembourg – with over 1,000 km² burnt within protected Natura 2000 areas, the EU’s reservoir of biodiversity.
The report does not yet cover this year’s fires, which have been even more destructive than the ones in 2021. 2022 is looking even worse, confirming the trend of recent years with an area covering 8,600 km² already burnt this year.
Whilst the area burnt by wildfires has been remarkably extensive in 2022, the number of human casualties has been contained as a result of prevention measures implemented by EU Member States and the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).
In 2021, the EU strengthened this mechanism’s capacity by increasing aerial firefighting means to assist countries during that fire season – support which was extensively used during the fires that hit the Mediterranean region in 2021 and in 2022.
Fire Door Safety Week 2022 has officially begun. Launched in 2013 in response to fire door neglect, Fire Door Safety Week is a ‘mass market’ awareness campaign to increase public understanding of the vital role that fire doors play in protecting life and property.
The campaign is managed by the British Woodworking Federation and is supported by a number of partners, including the Home Office’s National Fire Safety campaign, the National Fire Chief’s Council and London Fire Brigade.
The main objectives of the campaign include raising awareness of the critical role of fire doors, drawing attention to specific issues such as poor installation and maintenance, and encouraging building owners and users to check the operation and condition of their fire doors and to report those that aren’t satisfactory.
It also aims to link together the initiatives of many organisations with common interests in the fire door and passive fire protection industries and engage and educate people, helping the whole building industry and every property owner to understand the correct specification, supply, installation, operation, inspection and maintenance.
Education
To make the start of Fire Door Safety Week, ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland is urging those involved with the specification, installation, and maintenance of fire doors to educate themselves by reviewing its comprehensive Fire Door Guide.
Brian Sofley, Managing Director at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions, explains: “We understand the pressure the industry feels to deliver services faster than ever, at the lowest price point possible. However, this could potentially lead to specification errors with fire safety products, causing ongoing installation and maintenance issues.
“As fire doors are one of the most important safety features in a building, the impact that this can have can be devasting, and in some instances mean the loss of life.
“That’s why we are looking to impart our extensive knowledge on this subject this Fire Door Safety Week, and ultimately help to make buildings safer now and in the future – aligning with the objectives of the Building Safety Act 2022, which we wholeheartedly support.”
Sofley adds: “Our Fire Door Guide has been created to offer guidance on specifying, installing, maintaining and inspecting fire certified doorsets in residential and commercial buildings, and we hope that it can help raise industry standards and provide greater awareness.
“We pride ourselves on our end-to-end approach and being a helping hand at every stage of the journey. From fire door specification using BIM software Openings Studio™, right through to installation and ongoing maintenance and inspections, our team is here to assist in every capacity.”
Laura Kavanagh was been sworn in as New York City’s first ever female fire commissioner, becoming the first woman to lead the FDNY in its 157-year history.
Mayor Eric Adams led the swearing in ceremony at Engine 33, Ladder 9 in Noho, a historic building where John J. Scannell, the city’s first fire commissioner, had his office.
Kavanagh has been serving as acting FDNY commissioner since February, having stood at the helm of the nation’s largest fire department since Daniel Nigro stepped down as commissioner. Nigro appointed Kavanagh as his second-in-command in 2017.
Kavanagh joined the agency in an external affairs role in 2014, quickly moving up through leadership positions. She became the acting commissioner in February, following the retirement of long-time chief Daniel Nigro.
Before joining the department, she worked on election campaigns for Mayor Bill de Blasio and President Barack Obama, among other management and consulting roles.
She will become the first female leader of the nation’s largest municipal fire department. Currently, more than three-quarters of firefighters are white men, and less than 1% are women, according to city data.
Local 2507, the union representing the FDNY’s EMTS, paramedics and fire inspectors, issued a statement about Kavanagh’s appointment saying, “We congratulate her. She’s a great candidate. She’s a champion who fought for EMS and will continue fighting for us.”
US Fire Pump has announced the official launch of the new division of its company, US Fire Apparatus.
On a post on its LinkedIn page, US Fire Pump said that the move is response to the demands of industrial and municipal fire departments across the country, and that US Fire Apparatus was formed to build and deliver heavy-duty fire apparatus, quickly.
Why was US Fire Apparatus Formed?
Custom Pumper
The pump manufacturer said that through existing relationships and feedback from fire professionals, US Fire Pump President and CEO Chris Ferrara had listened and arranged the key elements that will help departments quickly obtain new fire trucks while receiving the customer service they deserve.
The leading statement on the US Fire Apparatus website reads:
Refined Focus on What Fire Departments Need Today. So what does this mean?
US Fire Apparatus was established in direct response to the needs expressed by fire departments across the United States of America.
Its mission is to design and supply robust fire apparatus with expedited delivery.
Drawing on existing connections and input from fire service experts, Chris has attentively considered and organized the essential components that will facilitate fire departments in promptly acquiring new fire trucks while ensuring they receive the high-quality customer service they rightfully deserve.
Key Benefits of US Fire Apparatus
Commercial Pumper
At US Fire Apparatus, their team comprises seasoned industry professionals, from sales and engineering staff to production and quality teams.
They bring a wealth of experience necessary to design, manufacture, and deliver robust fire apparatus.
Their refined fire apparatus manufacturing process harnesses a consistent material supply flow, along with unmatched building processes and expertise within the industry.
This approach significantly reduces delivery times, setting new benchmarks beyond current industry standards.
As important as building fire trucks, US Fire Apparatus prioritizes the cultivation of enduring relationships by actively listening to their customers and consistently delivering excellence in customer service.
Every fire truck undergoes a meticulous engineering, manufacturing, and testing process to meet CEO Chris Ferrara’s rigorous heavy-duty standards, guaranteeing the delivery of the utmost quality and performance necessary for the fire service.
Who is CEO Chris Ferrara?
Chris Ferrara, CEO of US Fire Apparatus. Image credit: USFA
Drawing upon a rich background of experience and insight gained from serving as both a firefighter and a fire apparatus manufacturer, Chris has achieved remarkable success in guiding manufacturing enterprises to produce top-quality fire apparatus and fire equipment.
This journey has also led to the establishment of robust relationships with fire departments worldwide.
Key highlights of Chris’s distinguished career in the fire industry include:
Over 40 years of service as a municipal and industrial firefighter.
Over 40 years of experience in the field of fire apparatus manufacturing.
Founding a prominent fire apparatus manufacturing company.
The successful construction and delivery of more than 6,000 new fire trucks to fire departments globally.
The founding of a leading manufacturer specializing in industrial firefighting equipment.
Serving as the President and CEO of the world’s largest emergency response organization.
To find out more about US Fire Apparatus, visit their new website where there detailed information about the newly-formed company is available.
