Fire contained near US consulate in Dubai after drone incident

by Featured NewsIncidentsMiddle East - Breaking News

Dubai fire near US consulate contained

A fire near the US consulate in Dubai was contained and later fully extinguished after what was described as a drone-related incident, with no injuries reported.

Dubai’s media office posted online that authorities had confirmed the fire was successfully contained and that emergency teams responded immediately.

Dubai’s media office wrote: “Dubai authorities have confirmed that a fire resulting from a drone-related incident near the US Consulate has been successfully contained.”

Dubai’s media office later described the fire as fully extinguished and said no injuries were reported.

What was reported about the drone strike

The incident involved a drone striking a parking lot adjacent to the consulate building.

The Guardian reported that a US official and Dubai’s government media office provided details to the Wall Street Journal, describing a drone strike on the consulate parking lot, and that video footage shared on social media showed black smoke rising near the consulate.

BBC News reported that bystander video verified by the BBC showed an explosion followed by flames and smoke from a building next to the consulate.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: “All personnel are accounted for. As you’re aware, we began drawing down personnel from our diplomatic facilities in advance of this.”

Related embassy updates reported in the region

The incident followed reports of drone strikes affecting other US diplomatic facilities in the region.

The Guardian reported that the US embassy in Saudi Arabia was struck by two drones on Monday, that the embassy urged Americans in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dhahran to shelter in place, and that the US embassy in Kuwait announced it would be closed until further notice.

Rubio also described efforts to help Americans in the Middle East leave, including charter flights, military flight options and expanded commercial flight options.

The State Department efforts Rubio described were discussed after airspace closures affected some flights.

Air Systems introduces AQM monitor for Breather Box filtration equipment

by Breathing ApparatusBreathing ApparatusFeatured NewsProducts

Air Systems announces new AQM monitor for breathing air equipment

Air Systems International has introduced a new Air Quality Monitor (AQM) for its Breather Box portable filtration units, filtration panels, breathing air monitoring products and high-pressure compressors.

Air Systems described the AQM as a monitor designed to help ensure Grade-D breathing air delivery through measurement of carbon monoxide (CO), oxygen (O2) and dew point levels.

The monitor includes a 3-inch colour digital resistive touchscreen that guides users through monitoring, maintenance and calibration steps.

Features include automatic calibration with guided on-screen instructions, service icons for calibration reminders, sensor replacement and battery life, and a built-in instruction manual accessible through the display.

The system also includes a 120 dBA audible and visual alarm, multi-language support in English, Spanish and French and a universal power supply rated 110 – 230 VAC and 12-20 VDC.

Product specifications, options and transition from legacy monitors

Air Systems confirmed that the standard AQM version is currently available and that an intrinsically safe version has been submitted for review and certification.

From January 1, 2026, all new orders and some back orders are expected to include the new AQM monitor due to a back-order consuming existing legacy monitors.

Legacy monitors are defined as units in a black metal case, with model examples including CO-91, CO2-91, CO91-14LAC, CO-91 PM and CO-91IS series products.

The CO sensor and alarm cannot be disabled, while the O2 alarm can be enabled or disabled and the humidity sensor – dew point – can also be enabled or disabled.

Six AA batteries provide approximately 40 hours of operation, with power options including 12-12 VDC input from vehicles or commonly used cordless tool batteries.

The company is also working on retrofit logistics to install the AQM monitor into existing equipment in the field, including a process allowing products to be sent to the factory in Chesapeake, Virginia for modification.

A limited number of parts will remain available for legacy monitors in the near future, and the O2 sensor supply for legacy models has already been exhausted.

An adaptor – O2-NS-ADPT – is now being used to allow a new sensor – O2-NS – to be fitted in legacy models.

Pierce confirms first high flow industrial pumper delivery to South Korea

by Featured NewsVehicles

South Korea SK Group orders Pierce high flow industrial pumper via MS Trade Company

SK Group has ordered a Pierce High Flow Industrial Pumper through Pierce dealer MS Trade Company.

Pierce Manufacturing said the apparatus will be the first Pierce High Flow Industrial Pumper in service outside of the United States.

Hwang YoonSeong, General Foreman, Safety Team, SK Group, said: “Our recent tank fire incidents made it clear we needed a higher-performance solution, and the Pierce High Flow Industrial Pumper stood out immediately.

“After reviewing multiple global options, Pierce delivered an exceptional combination of performance, mobility and maintainability.

“Since 2018, every one of our seven new fire trucks has been a Pierce, supported reliably by MS Trade Company.

“Seeing the High Flow Industrial Pumper firsthand during testing and hearing strong feedback from current Pierce industrial apparatus customers gave us full confidence to move forward. Pierce has become our trusted partner for critical emergency response.”

South Korea apparatus configuration and specifications

Pierce said the truck was engineered for SK Group facilities where narrow roadways and access points can limit apparatus positioning.

The company described the configuration as shaped through evaluation and engagement among Pierce, MS Trade Company and SK Group safety personnel.

The specified build includes a Velocity custom chassis and a Cummins ISX15 600 hp engine.

It also includes a 5,500 GPM Darley 2ZSM pump, with up to 10,000 GPM using a pressurised supply.

The truck is specified with an 8,000 GPM deck gun and a 1,000-gallon foam tank.

The specification also lists a rear collision avoidance system, side and backup cameras and an alarm system.

The intake and plumbing configuration includes a 6-inch front inlet with 4-inch plumbing and a 6-inch rear inlet with 5-inch plumbing, described as supporting flexible positioning around narrow refinery roads.

Kristopher Zweiger, Product Manager, Pierce Manufacturing, said: “SK Group’s refineries operate across large-scale, high-risk environments where response performance, reach and reliability are critical.”

VdS joins Euralarm as associate member in Extinguishing, Fire, Security and Services

by Featured NewsFire DetectionSafetyTraining

Euralarm adds VdS as associate member

Euralarm has welcomed VdS as a new associate member in Zug, Switzerland, in March 2026.

VdS will become a member of its Extinguishing, Fire, Security and Services Sections.

VdS services and areas of work

VdS described its work as covering fire protection, security, cyber security and natural hazard prevention.

Its services include risk assessments, testing and certification, inspection services, information systems for natural hazards and a training programme.

The institute also publishes guidelines that it said set international safety and security standards.

How Euralarm described member benefits and section roles

Euralarm said companies joining the association gain insight into other European markets and opportunities, alongside access to EU policy expertise and connections with technical and political experts and potential business partners.

It added that membership enables organisations to gain expertise on standardisation and support and direct standardisation and legislative processes.

The association outlined its four sections as Extinguishing, Fire, Services and Security, with VdS joining all sections.

AEI Cables urges cabling beyond minimum safety requirements in modern buildings

by Featured NewsSafety

Safety and cabling selection in higher-risk buildings

AEI Cables has said cabling choices in modern buildings should meet and exceed minimum safety requirements where there is high risk to people and property.

In a press release, the company referred to recent legislation and guidance affecting electrical and fire safety, including the Building Safety Act 2022.

Stuart Dover, General Manager of AEI Cables, said: “Meeting the legislation and guidance can sometimes seem challenging but the systems powered by these cables – including smoke and heat extraction systems – assist fire services in firefighting and a safe evacuation in the case of life safety.

“This legislation and guidance should be the minimum criteria for relevance in buildings where vulnerable people move about will help firefighters trying to execute a safe evacuation.

“These areas present a higher risk in the event of a real fire and if in doubt those in the supply chain should seek advice. This may mean going beyond the minimum level of cabling to meet this category of relevance but may make all the difference in the event of fire.”

The Act defines higher-risk buildings as those at least 18 metres in height or at least seven storeys containing at least two residential units.

Category 3 Control guidance linked to evacuation and communications systems

AEI Cables also highlighted Category 3 Control fire performance cables identified under the revised British Standard BS8519: 2020 Code of Practice.

The cables are designed to reduce harmful smoke, toxic gases and flame spread in the event of a real fire.

Guidance for Category 3 Control fire performance cables applies to evacuation alarms for disabled occupants in care homes, emergency voice communications systems and voice alarm systems.

Relevant buildings include tall buildings, office spaces, hospitals, shopping malls and stadia.

Certifications, categories and third-party approvals

AEI Cables also referenced its Firetec Enhanced cabling, which has been approved and certified by LPCB to BS8519 (Annex B), Category 3 Control, as well as Category 2 Control.

BS8519 sets out six cable categories, with three covering power cables and three covering control cables, each with survival times of 30, 60 or 120 minutes.

Products supplied by AEI Cables carry approvals from independent bodies including BASEC and LPCB.

The company also holds approvals from organisations including Lloyds, the MoD, Network Rail and LUL and states that it works to international standards around the world.

Philippines launches Fire Prevention Month campaign nationwide

by EventsFeatured News

Fire prevention month launched in the Philippines

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has officially launched Fire Prevention Month in the Philippines with an assembly of more than 3,000 people and over 300 vehicles on March 1.

The Manila Bulletin reported that the event was led by BFP chief Director Jesus Fernandez.

The launch brought together BFP personnel, national government agencies, local and barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices, fire volunteers, fire brigades, private partners and non-government organisations.

The programme included a ceremonial signing of a “Wall of Support”.

Government and partner messages during the launch

Maria Liavel C. Badillo-Crisostomo, Assistant Secretary for Communications and External Affairs, represented Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla at the event.

Badillo-Crisostomo emphasised that fire safety depends on everyday decisions made at home, in workplaces and within communities, and stated that the public should not rely solely on the BFP as first responders.

She also urged the public to report incidents promptly and to remember the Unified 911 System as the direct emergency contact line.

Representatives from several sectors delivered messages of support, including Engr. Liza B. Silerio of SM Supermalls, Pasay City Mayor Imelda “Emi” Calixto-Rubiano, PCCI President Ferdinand “Perry” Ferrer and Deputy Chief PNP for Administration, Pol. Lt. Gen. Bernard M Banac.

The event concluded with a motorcade from the MOA Globe to Quezon Memorial Circle.

In a statement, the BFP said the month-long campaign aims to intensify public awareness on fire safety and reinforce a shared commitment to a fire-safe nation.

MAGB launches Technical Committee and cavity fire barrier construction guidance

by Associations and OrganisationsConstructionFeatured NewsPassive

Construction guidance on cavity fire barriers

The Masonry Association of Great Britain (MAGB) has launched a new Technical Committee and published its first Technical Note on cavity fire barrier installation.

MAGB announced the cross-sector group alongside Technical Note TN-01/26, which addresses cavity fire barriers and raises concerns about increasing use of zero-compression products.

MAGB said the Committee brings together senior technical specialists from across the masonry supply chain, including brick and component manufacturers, fire barrier and insulation suppliers, façade contractors, structural engineers, warranty providers and training bodies.

TN-01/26 marks the first step in a programme intended to raise awareness of long-term fire safety performance within masonry construction.

What TN-01/26 sets out on compression

In Technical Note TN-01/26, MAGB states that zero-compression cavity barriers may achieve compliance in laboratory fire testing, and that buildings change over time.

The guidance outlines structural frame shortening caused by creep and shrinkage, brickwork settlement, mortar movement, thermal expansion and construction tolerances as factors that can increase cavity dimensions.

Barriers installed without positive compression rely on exact geometry at the point of installation.

As movement occurs, gaps of only a few millimetres may allow flame and hot gases to bypass the barrier.

Because these interfaces are concealed once construction is complete, failures are not detectable through routine inspection.

The Note recommends installing horizontal and vertical cavity fire barriers with compression, with a nominal minimum preload of 5mm unless greater compression is justified by manufacturer testing.

Committee remit and next publications

Keith Aldis, chair of the Masonry Association Technical Committee, said: “This Committee has been formed to bring senior technical expertise from across the masonry sector into one forum with a clear purpose – to identify emerging risks and provide practical, evidence-based guidance to the industry.

“Our first Technical Note (TN-01/26) reflects our collective assessment of how buildings behave in reality over time.

“Laboratory fire testing is conducted under controlled conditions, but real structures are subject to settlement, shrinkage and differential movement.

“Positive compression in cavity fire barriers is fundamental to maintaining contact and continuity as that movement occurs.

“Our guidance is intended to support long-term fire integrity and promote durable, movement-tolerant solutions across the sector.

“This publication is the first in a series of Technical Notes intended to support long-term fire integrity and promote movement-tolerant, durable solutions across the sector.”

MAGB confirmed that further Technical Notes and guidance documents will follow as part of its ongoing technical programme.

Aspen partnership brings AI-powered wildfire suppression aircraft to WUI operations

by Aerial FirefightingFeatured NewsFire SuppressionProjectsWildland Fire

Coordinated autonomous system ordered for Colorado wildfire response

Aspen Fire Protection District is set to receive a coordinated autonomous wildfire suppression system from Seneca in summer 2026.

Seneca announced the five-year, multi-million dollar partnership in a PRNewswire release.

The Seneca Strike Team will comprise five autonomous suppression aircraft, a mobile operations base and five years of software, connectivity and maintenance.

Each strike team has a capacity of approximately 500 gallons of finished foam per sortie.

A single pilot can operate multiple aircraft due to the system’s artificial intelligence and autonomy capabilities.

The system is intended to support operations in the wildland – urban interface (WUI).

Funding, intended uses and training timeline

According to the PRNewswire release, the aircraft system acquisition was supported through public private partnerships involving Aspen Fire Protection District (AFPD), the Aspen Fire Foundation and local donors.

Over the coming years, Seneca and AFPD aim to deploy additional autonomous aerial response bases.

Those bases are designed to respond within seconds of detection to reach new starts earlier.

The system is intended to help with starts in inaccessible areas, support night operations, maintain the safety of pile and prescribed burns and carry equipment on incidents in complex terrain.

Stuart Landesberg, Founder and CEO of Seneca, said: “Aspen has a unique blend of high-risk terrain, exceptional collaboration across their valley, and a highly skilled and forward-thinking team.

“They understand the importance of modernizing wildfire response to safeguard communities across the American West.”

Chief Jake Andersen, Fire Chief and CEO of Aspen Fire, said: “We are partnering with Seneca because this technology will help us save homes and save lives.

“Wildfires in our region are moving faster and growing more complex every year.

“Stu and the full Seneca team have listened to firefighters and built a system designed for the realities we face on the ground.

“This gives us another critical tool to protect our community before small starts become major incidents.

“We are grateful to the donors who partnered with Aspen Fire to make this possible, and we are proud to bring this capability to Aspen this summer.”

Aspen Fire expects training to begin in the early summer, with firefighters integrating Seneca into their core operations as fire season intensifies.

Southern Spain research identifies drivers of suppression performance

by Featured NewsFire SuppressionResearchWildland Fire

Southern Spain study reports what suppression achieved in Andalusia

An assessment of wildfire management in Andalusia found that suppression operations protected an estimated 67% of the potentially burnable area across 39 wildfires recorded between 2011 and 2019.

The findings were published in 2026 by Ortega M, López Sancho A and Molina JR in the International Journal of Wildland Fire.

The study estimated that for every unit of cost invested in suppression, about three units of potential economic losses were averted.

The authors concluded that operational performance and economic return varied according to province, fire behaviour and timing within the season.

Provincial, seasonal and fire behaviour patterns shaped results in Spain

The analysis identified consistent differences between provinces in southern Spain, with Córdoba and Sevilla recording higher effectiveness and higher cost-benefit values than Huelva and Cádiz.

Fire growth rate was linked to lower effectiveness, with faster-growing fires more difficult to contain.

Longer control times were associated with improved cost-benefit and cost effectiveness values.

The study reported lower containment effectiveness for fires occurring in June compared with July and August.

Later-season fires were associated with higher cost effectiveness.

Wildfires igniting during daytime were less effectively contained than those starting at night.

Higher rates of spread and longer flame lengths were linked in the modelling to increased technical efficiency values, alongside longer control times.

Modified index proposed to reflect area saved rather than area burned

The paper reported that the traditional Management Index relates suppression costs to total area burned, which can produce low values when fires are kept small.

To address this, the authors proposed a modified Management Index that links suppression costs to the area saved from burning.

The mean technical efficiency value reported in the study was 0.61, and the mean modified index value was 0.33.

The authors stated that combining measures of operational effectiveness and economic efficiency provides a multidimensional framework for assessing wildfire suppression performance in Spain.

MSA Safety sets out seven reasons to pair gas and flame detection

by Featured NewsFire Detection

MSA Safety on gas and flame detection systems

A blog post from MSA Safety outlines how flame detection can be integrated with gas detection in industrial environments where flammable or toxic gases may be present.

The article describes gas detection systems as tools designed to identify combustible, toxic or asphyxiating gases in air and provide early warnings before conditions become dangerous.

It states that gas detection does not address what happens if a leak ignites and presents flame detection as a complementary layer that identifies the presence of fire, including in cases where gas concentration has not reached detectable levels.

Seven reasons from MSA Safety to add flame detection

MSA Safety sets out seven reasons for including flame detection within a gas detection system.

First, combining gas and flame detection is presented as a way to mitigate hazards by addressing both leaks and ignition events.

Second, flame detection is described as enabling a faster response to fire emergencies where a gas leak ignites within seconds.

Third, it is positioned as helping to eliminate blind spots where a leak occurs outside monitored zones or ignites directly.

Fourth, the blog highlights high-risk industries such as oil and gas, petrochemicals and manufacturing where flammable gases may be present.

Fifth, it notes that safety regulations can require both gas and flame detection systems to meet legal and industry standards.

Sixth, early flame detection is said to support activation of suppression systems, limit fire spread and reduce equipment damage and downtime.

Seventh, integrating both systems is described as contributing to operational safety and continuity by reducing the likelihood of accidents and enabling quicker recovery following an incident.

The post also addresses perceived barriers such as cost, complexity or maintenance and states that reliance on gas detection alone may overlook how quickly a leak can escalate into a fire.