Posts in category: Events

In just a few days 300 competitors from across 25 UK fire and rescue services will take part in this year’s UKRO Festival of Rescue. This years event, which takes place on 17 and 18 of September, is being hosted by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.

67 teams will go head-to-head to showcase a wide-range of activities firefighters undertake every day. The teams will be looking to be crowned best in their field of expertise.  The UKRO challenge is an annual event that is staged in a different city from year to year. 

As a charitable organisation UKRO (United Kingdom Rescue Organisation) prides itself in advancing professional rescue through the direct benefits from the rescue challenge, education workshops and the UKRO Academy. 

The five disciplines include:  

• Vehicle Extrication (in partnership with Newcastle City Council) 
• Trauma Care (in partnership with Gateshead Council) 
• Urban Search and Rescue (in partnership with Sunderland City Council) 
• Rope Rescue (in partnership with South Tyneside Council) 
• Water Rescue* (in partnership with North Tyneside Council) 

Chief Fire Officer, Chris Lowther of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said:  “The focus of the festival is to celebrate the skills, dedication and devotion of our firefighters, who put their lives on the line to keep the public safe from harm on a daily basis. It provides a national stage to shine a spotlight on to those specialist disciplines that prove critical during real life incidents and emergencies. 

“The Festival of Rescue is going to be a fantastic occasion that everyone in attendance will remember for years to come. The scale and ambition of this two-day showcase will be a lasting legacy for as this is the biggest event of its type ever to be staged in the United Kingdom.  “It promises to be an action-packed programme and will provide an opportunity for visitors to learn more about the fire and rescue service.  

Neil Odin, Chair of the UKRO and Chief Fire Officer of Hampshire and Isle of Wight FRS added: “We are all very much looking forward to this event. It is the highlight of our year and to be able to host it at such a fantastic venue is extremely exciting for all UKRO personnel. 

“We would like to thank all involved at Tyne & Wear FRS along with our fantastic UKRO volunteers for enabling this event to take place after such a difficult 18 months for us all. A fantastic welcome awaits you all and bring on the event!” 

Vehicle Extrication Challenge: Teams face a series of scenarios simulating a road traffic collision with people trapped inside. They have to use all of their skills and knowledge to rescue the casualty safely within a set time limit

Trauma Care Challenge: Teams will face a challenging scenario where a casualty has been involved in an accident causing them physical injury. The Trauma Teams will have to use all of the skills and knowledge to deal with the hazardous scenario in a safe a speedy manor within a set time limit.

Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Challenge: The USAR Teams will face a set number of challenging scenarios where their skills will be tested to the max. They will face a shoring scenario, where a coach has to be stabilized to rescue a casualty from underneath the vehicle.  Also a Lifting and Moving scenario where teams have to move a one-tonne block over obstacles; and a Technical Search scenario where Teams use specialist cameras and listening equipment to locate someone trapped in a simulated collapsed building.

Rope Rescue Challenge: Teams face a series of challenging scenarios simulating a casualty to be rescued from an area requiring the Teams to use rope rescue equipment. These include rescues from the Millennium Bridge, the top of the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, and down the embankment beside The Sage Gateshead. Teams will have to use all of their skills and knowledge to rescue the casualty safely within a set time limit.

Water Rescue Challenge: Water Rescue Teams will face a series of scenarios over two days. Simulating possible incidents where persons require rescuing from the water. The Teams will have to use all of their skills, knowledge and expertise to rescue the casualty safely within a set time limit. With 8 teams taking part over the two days this is sure to be an exciting challenge to watch.

The Emergency Responders Drone Conference 2021 will be available as a live virtual event on the 17^th & 18^th November 2021 plus a Further 30 Day On Demand Event.

This Year, the Emergency Responders Drone Conference 2021 is being hosted on a Virtual Online Conference & Exhibition platform that will allow all visitors, no matter where they are, the opportunity to watch live Key Note conference presentations and participate in live Q & A’s to learn, share and participate in the discussion.

Topics areas that are to be covered:

• *Case Studies & End User Experience
• *Legislation & Regulation
• *Drone Technology
• *Application
• *Drone Program Project Management
• *Training
• *Operational Logistics
• *Disaster Response

*Speakers and Topic Areas Subject To Change*

The Emergency Responders Drone Conference 2021 is Live for 2 days when you can interact with live video meetings, chat, network in the lounge and then On Demand for a further 30 Days, with continued access to all booths, documents & videos and Subject Matter Expert Presentations without having to leave the office.

During the 2 live days, visitors can meet and chat with each other online in the dedicated Conference Chat rooms and also directly over video with fellow visitors and equipment and technology suppliers who are exhibiting & collate all product information electronically and communicate it directly via email with colleagues without having to leave the desk or laptop or tablet or phone.

With globally recognised Public Safety UAS subject matter experts the Emergency Responders Drone Conference 2021 provides a unique opportunity to learn directly from end users and industry experts the benefits of a Public Safety drone program and how to develop and manage the program.

To register to attend this unique event visit the Emergency Responders Drone Conference website

The Emergency Responders Drone Conference speakers

Global Fire Equipment (GFE) will showcase the latest additions to its product portfolio of world-class fire detection solutions at The Fire Safety Event 2021.

GFE is a ‘Premier Partner’ of this year’s show and the company’s experts will be on hand on Stand 4/L10 to showcase latest product developments, including the G-One, a versatile addressable single loop fire control panel with advanced connectivity which has been designed with affordability and flexibility in mind.

Having recently been awarded EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 system compatibility approval for its entry level and high-end addressable fire detection and alarm systems, GFE is ideally placed to talk to the show’s visitors about the importance of understanding the certification and approval processes when specifying fire detection and alarm products.

Joining the GFE team on stand will be representatives from Global Fire Equipment (UK), the sole importer for all GFE products throughout the UK.

For further information on Global Fire Equipment, please visit the GFE website. 

300 people were evacuated after a fire broke out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on at around 10:00am on Thursday.

London Fire Brigade spent an hour putting out the blaze, with reports now stating that the fire is now under control. The club have allowed the stadium to be used as a vaccination center for the local area, and it is believed that the 300 evacuees were from the center.

It is believed the fire started in one of the kitchens in the stadiums. A statement from the club read: “Following a number of inaccurate and sensationalist reports, we can confirm that Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is operational as normal after a small fire, caused by an air compressor, broke out in one of the kitchens this morning (Thursday September 2). The fire was contained to a very small area and quickly put out with a fire extinguisher by the first person on the scene.

“The building was briefly evacuated as per standard safety procedures following the triggering of the fire alarm system, while a London Fire Brigade crew attended the stadium and carried out a safety inspection before departing the scene.”

The stadium has been operational since 2019, when the club moved from their old stadium White Hart Lane.

New dates for the 4^th edition of Intersec Saudi Arabia have been confirmed, with the Kingdom’s largest trade fair for security, safety, and fire protection, scheduled to take place from 13-15 September 2022, at the Riyadh Exhibition Center.

The annual three-day event is organised by Saudi-based Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions (ACE) Group under licence from UAE-headquartered Messe Frankfurt Middle East, which organises Intersec, the world’s leading exhibition for security, safety, and fire protection.

Alexandria Robinson, Intersec Saudi Arabia’s Show Director, said: “We’re pleased to lock in the dates for Intersec Saudi Arabia 2022 at the Riyadh Exhibition Center, and can now look forward to a successful edition with our government partners and international exhibitors.

“Planning is already underway, and we’re expecting a sell-out show with plenty of new updates and business connections in the Middle East’s largest and fastest growing market for security, safety, and fire protection.”

Intersec Saudi Arabia is supported by key government entities including the Saudi Ministry of Interior, Saudi Civil Defense, and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), together with the industry at large.

More than 120 exhibitors from 20 countries are expected to participate next year, while the customary wide range of value-added conferences covering much needed discussions and topics will also return.

According to analysts 6WResearch, Saudi’s market for video surveillance, access control, and intrusion detection, along with fire safety equipment, is estimated to be worth US$906 million in 2021, a seven percent increase over the previous year (US$846.6 million).

The market is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.3 percent over the next five years, and is estimated to reach US$1.2 billion in 2026.  More information for Intersec Saudi Arabia is available at www.intersec-ksa.com. 

Patol will be using the Fire Safety Event to introduce FibreSense, a new Fibre Optic linear heat detection cable (LHDC) and controller suite.

The Fibre Optic distributed temperature sensing solution is available in two primary forms: Thermoplastic Tube (TT) and Armoured Tube (AT). The Thermoplastic Tube cable is suited to many environments, including those characterised by high levels of electro-magnetic (EMC) activity. The cable is Flame-Retardant Non-Corrosive (FRNC) and Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSOH), with a Kevlar strength layer protecting a central structure comprising a gel-filled thermoplastic loose tube. 

The new FibreSense systems can provide protection of up to 10 kilometres per channel with controllers available in 2km, 5km or 10km versions, with 1, 2 or 4 sensing channels.

Alongside FibreSense, Patol will also be showing its FireSense range of analogue and digital LHDC, and VisionTIR which offers an excellent solution for thermal imaging heat detection applications.

Lexipol has announced its second annual user group conference, Connect 2021. The virtual event will take place on Sept. 8, 2021 and provide thousands of attendees the opportunity to connect with subject matter experts, Lexipol customer support and product managers, and other attendees.

Under this year’s theme of “Striving for Excellence,” the Connect 2021 user conference will engage public safety and local government professionals from across the United States in dynamic sessions on current events and public safety responses. The sessions will further demonstrate the value Lexipol’s products and services provide leaders amid today’s operational challenges. Featured speakers include Lexipol co-founder and risk management expert, Gordon Graham; clinical psychologist and Cordico president, Dr. David Black; fire service legal expert Curt Varone; veteran corrections instructor, Lt. (ret) Gary Cornelius and more. Sessions will be recorded and made available on demand for 30 days after the event.

“We are excited to bring back our user conference for its second year after a successful event in 2020,” said Lexipol Chief Executive Officer Chuck Corbin. “Connect 2021 will provide our customers with crucial knowledge and resources to optimise operations in their organisations and increase safety for their personnel and their communities.”

Hosted on a state-of-the-art virtual event platform, Connect 2021 will feature an auditorium, exhibit hall and the ability for participants to connect via chatrooms. Attendees will also have opportunities to learn about Lexipol’s latest product offerings, including the Cordico wellness app , Focal Point and Master Class series of online courses, new wellness training from Dr. Kevin Gilmartin and more.

Connect 2021 is a free event and registration is now open. Learn more and register for the virtual half-day event.

Join MSA at ESS to experience the Company’s Connected Technology Platform In Use and Top-To-Toe Firefighting Protection Range

After nearly a year-and-a-half of virtual and remote technology to engage firefighters, MSA Safety will once again give fire brigades from around the United Kingdom the opportunity to engage with its technologies in real time as the annual Emergency Services Show returns this September.  As a global leader in firefighter safety equipment and technology, MSA will showcase LUNAR – the company’s latest breakthrough innovation to help make firefighting a safer profession.  Over the two days of the conference, the company plans a new, immersive and interactive experience on the trade show floor. 

LUNAR is a cloud-connected, comfortable to carry in hand and wireless device to provide enhanced thermal imaging, what’s beneficial for firefighters’ situational awareness, combined with Search and Rescue capabilities enabled by the Firefighter Assisting Search Technology (F.A.S.T.).

With LUNAR:

• Firefighters know who’s in distress and who needs help;
• F.A.S.T. provides first responders with direction and distance information to help find separated teammates and decrease response time; and
• Incident commanders receive alerts as to who’s down and who’s searching for them – all while still having the ability to monitor the scene.

According to Jason Traynor, MSA’s General Manager of Global Fire Service Products, the introduction of LUNAR delivers on the company’s vision of being a leader in introducing new-to-world technology that protects lives.  “We’ve always viewed LUNAR, and its many potential applications, as a major leap forward and game-changer when it comes to enhancing firefighter safety.

“Based on firefighter feedback that our team gained through extensive LUNAR testing and evaluations with hundreds of firefighters around the world, we believe LUNAR has genuine potential to change the way fires are fought.” 

LUNAR is designed for every firefighter on-scene, both those on air and off and is the latest addition to MSA’s Connected Firefighter platform – a suite of products that offer accountability and keep everyone on scene connected to each other.

“Accounting for all firefighters on a fire ground has been a consistent need expressed by the fire service profession, but it’s also been a challenge for many manufacturers to solve,” explained Mr. Traynor. “When we looked at what we could do to enhance firefighter safety, we used a holistic approach to build a connected ecosystem of products where the sum of the individual components is the key to keeping firefighters better connected – and safer – than ever before.”   

Other products comprising MSA’s Connected Firefighter platform, which will also be on display at ESS, include:

• The company’s industry-leading M1 Breathing Apparatus which was specifically designed for the U.K. and International markets;
• The MSA HUB base station – a small, modular device that enables on scene data and asset management;
• FireGrid, which gives incident commanders the ability to evaluate and manage multiple situations at one time from any location;
• A new M1 Control Module that monitors the proper functioning of a respiratory protective device;
• A dedicated Entry Control Board for incident monitoring; and
• The C1 voice communication module that allows for exceptional voice transmission when wearing breathing apparatus.

In addition to LUNAR and the Connected Firefighter suite of products mentioned above, MSA will also showcase a comprehensive line of industry leading fire helmets as well as the latest offerings in MSA Bristol fire protective clothing, all of  which represent a step forward in the company’s cutting-edge PPE of Top-To-Toe protection. On display at the show will be: 

• The GALLET F2XR fire and rescue helmet – for specialised tasks and non-fire related incidents.  Touting modular “click-in” accessories, including an internal ocular visor, integrated dual-beam headlamp with tail light, and responder goggles, the GALLET F2XR is designed and third-party tested to meet the latest EN standards for Technical Rescue, Wildland Firefighting, and Water Rescue operations.
• A refreshed version of the company’s iconic GALLET F1XF helmet, which  has been serving firefighters since 1985. The refreshed design features complete protection of the head, eyes, face and ears and now incorporates an enhanced lighting module and improved soft goods. Its extended face shield is the largest on the market. 
• MSA Bristol’s EOS line of firefighter protective apparel, representing the latest addition to the structural firefighting equipment. The new line is sleek, modern and ultra-flexible, enabling superior maneuverability, all while providing protection against the build-up of toxic smoke particles.

Other MSA activities at ESS include official sponsorship of expert seminars at the Health & Wellbeing Theatre and the Emerging Technologies Theatre.

A fire has engulfed a residential tower block in Milan, leaving rescue workers to frantically knock down doors inside the building to ensure that the 70 families inside the building were evacuated.

The blaze, which started on Sunday, is believed to have started on the upper floors of the tower which then sent plumes of smoke to billow down to the lower floors of the structure. In images posted on social media, debris can be seen falling from the building.

It has also been confirmed that there were no fatalities reported, however, 20 people have received treatment for smoke inhalation.

As a result of the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, AFAC21 have made the decision to make the event, powered by INTERSCHUTZ a virtual event. The event is due to be hosted on 5-8 October 2021.

A statement on the AFAC21 stated: “Safety will always be our top priority and it has become clear over recent days that given the current situation and advice of health authorities, our ability to deliver the event in person to the scale it warrants is not possible this year.”

This means that for the first time in their 26-year history, AFAC21 will be delivered virtually with content available to delegates online and on-demand.

Australasia’s most comprehensive emergency management exhibition will come to life from 5-7 October in a state-of-the-art virtual environment. It will be a showcase like no other of the latest and best equipment, technology and service providers via an easily accessible, feature-rich platform.

Over 100 conference presenters – including keynotes – will be available to watch from the comfort and safety of your home or workplace over 5-8 October 2021.

Bringing the fire, emergency service and first responder community together has always been a celebratory experience. By taking AFAC21 online, we remove risk and uncertainty to allow us to fully focus on all the industry has achieved and what we strive for in the future.

The face-to-face event will return at AFAC22 in Adelaide, 23-26 August 2022.