Blackline Safety announces equipment trade-in programme

by Featured NewsFirefighting EquipmentProducts

Blackline Safety Corp, a global leader in connected safety technology, has unveiled an equipment trade-in program designed to make it easier for fire departments and emergency response teams to acquire cutting-edge gas detection equipment and the monitoring software.

The Blackline Safety program allows fire departments and emergency response departments to trade in older safety monitoring equipment that is either end-of-life or not working properly, in exchange for credit towards the purchase of next-generation Blackline Safety G7 EXO area monitors or G7 personal gas detectors.

“Emergency responders are in a class of their own when it comes to safety,” said Blackline Safety Business Development Specialist Doug Mayer. “They need to be prepared to face any situation in order to protect not only themselves, but potentially the community at large. It’s critical they have the most advanced safety monitoring technology at their fingertips.”

The incentive is important because fire departments and response teams are relied on to use the best methods and equipment available to enhance safety, yet most are publicly funded and therefore have tight budgets. “We’re taking old equipment off their hands and giving them an affordable way to upgrade to a replacement that is leading edge,” Mayer explained.

The opportunity to upgrade also gives first responders access to equipment with longer battery life, ensuring it outlasts even the longest response scenario.

“In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to be prepared around the clock for the unexpected,” he said. “We can help and we offer free evaluations of all our technologies.”

More information about the trade-in program can be found at: www.blacklinesafety.com/refresh

Lord Greenhalgh thanks fire industry for Ukraine convoy

by Featured NewsProductsVehicles

Lord Greenhalgh, the Minister of State for Building Safety and Fire at the Department for Levelling Up, Communities & Housing and Home Office, has expressed his gratitude to the fire industry for their commitment and time in providing the 22 vehicle convoy to Ukraine in a letter to the Fire Industry Association

FIA CEO Ian Moore has received a letter from Lord Greenhalgh, thanking the fire industry for their commitment to providing much-needed fire and rescue equipment to Ukraine after the industry sent a the largest ever single donation of fire and rescue equipment from the UK. 

The Minister stated “The success of the convoy in delivering sorely needed equipment exemplifies what can be achieved when fire and rescue services, the charity and industry sectors, and government work together – and is a testament to your commitment and dedication.”

Lord Greenhalgh continued: “I have been particularly impressed by the scale of the collaboration between a wide range of stakeholders; not only between the fire and rescue services, FireAid and the industry sector, but also the NFCC, the National Resilience Assurance Team in Merseyside, which co-ordinated the activities of the services, UK ISAR and officials in Cabinet Office and Border Force who worked so hard to speed up the administrative processes.”

He concluded “I would also like to pay homage to the fire and rescue services generally for their generosity in donating this quantity of equipment in support of their fire and rescue colleagues in Ukraine.

“I hope you all take pride in what you have achieved in making this convoy happen in support of the Ukrainian fire and rescue services and the Ukrainian people.”

Man’s body found on fire in West London park

by ActiveFeatured News

A body has been found on fire in a west London park, according to reports.

Police were called to Belvue Park, Northolt, just after 4.30am today following calls from the public.

The Metropolitan Police said work is ongoing to identify the body, who is believed to be male, and inform their family.

The death is being described as “unexplained” and there have been no arrests. A cordon remains in place at the scene.

Fire engines were initially sent after a fire in the West London park was reported to 999.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: ‘Firefighters were called to reports of a fire in a park on Rowdell Road in Northolt.

‘Sadly, a person was pronounced dead at the scene.

‘The Brigade was called at 0419 and the incident was over for firefighters by 0456. One fire engine from Northolt Fire Station attended the scene.

‘The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service.’

Fire breaks out at Smurfit Kappa’s Birmingham recycling plant

by ActiveFeatured News

More than 100 firefighters have been on scene to bring a large blaze at a Smurfit Kappa recycling plant in Nechells, Birmingham, under control.

West Midlands Fire Service was called to the plant at 19:40 BST on Sunday. The fire service said 30 appliances had been sent due to the scale of the fire, including two aerial hydraulic platforms, multiple fire engines, a high volume water pumping unit, and one of our drones.

The fire was been declared a major incident, due to the amount of resources in use and the likely extended nature of the incident. Area commander Sam Burton said: “When we arrived on scene, there was around 8,000 tonnes of compressed cardboard on fire.”

Ireland’s Smurfit Kappa is Europe’s largest paper packaging producer. The Birmingham plant is one of two paper mills it operates in the U.K. and it produces 500-700 tonnes of packaging paper every day, which is later converted into cardboard boxes.

Crews from stations across the West Midlands are working to tackle the blaze using main jets. They are working with police and ambulance colleagues, the Environment Agency, Severn Trent Water, and on-site staff, to bring the incident to a safe conclusion. There are no reports of any casualties.

Smurfit Kappa has confirmed that its paper mill in central England was unaffected by a large fire that spread from an adjacent premises and that it did not expect any material impact on production.

Warringtonfire study finds new fire hazards in residential care homes

by Featured NewsPassive

Warringtonfire has completed the second in a series of three studies at the request of the Flemish Government, that focus on the fire safety in residential care buildings.

Pieter Poppe, Project Manager of the second study, also called the VIPA2 study, and Head of the Consultancy Department of the Institute for Fire Safety (ISIB), said: “We wanted to identify the effectiveness of smoke control measures by means of five large-scale fire tests and additional CFD-simulations (CFD: Computational Fluid Dynamics) as part of the evacuation strategy for non-self-reliant occupants of a residential care building.”

The results of the VIPA2 study revealed new ways of considering fire safety for more vulnerable members of society, such as citizens who reside within care buildings. Since common areas within these buildings can currently include combustible materials (e.g. kitchens, sofas, etc.), a possible fire hazard is inherent in these evacuation routes. This risk is currently not considered within the concept of the current (Belgian) fire safety regulations.

“The VIPA2 study has scientifically demonstrated the effectiveness of different kinds of applications of a smoke control system in a residential care building,” explained Poppe. “This kind of smoke control system is not only limited to residential care buildings, but can also be applied to all types of structures with similar geometry. Such application is not mentioned in any normative document related to Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilation systems (SHEV-system) and is therefore very innovative.”

This research, completed by Warringtonfire has informed a further third study, the VIPA3 study.

On the next study, Poppe said: “In the VIPA3 study, an assessment framework has been developed where minimum fire safety measures are determined as part of the evacuation strategy (i.e. immediate evacuation or Defend in Place) in case of non-self-reliant occupants of a residential care building. These fire safety measures can be active (e.g. residential smoke control system, fire screen, automatic extinguishing) or passive safety measures (e.g. fire resistant door, smoke control door, fire resistant damper).

“The effectiveness of the applied fire safety measures has been demonstrated through large-scale fire tests and additional CFD simulations (CFD: Computational Fluid Dynamics) as described in the VIPA1 and VIPA2 studies.”

The three studies will act as crucial stepping stones in creating a safer and more secure future for non-self-reliant individuals, by potentially guiding future regulations.

JBS launches forest fire taskforce to protect Brazilian Pantanal

by ActiveAmericas - Featured NewsFeatured News

A new JBS-funded Pantanal forest fire taskforce comprising one degree, Brigada Aliança, Instituto Homem Pantaneiro (IHP) and Polo Socioambiental Sesc Pantanal, has been launched with the aim of protect 2.5 million hectares of the biome through early fire detection, big data analysis and rapid response. 

The Embrace the Pantanal initiative will combine highly equipped and qualified forestry brigades with next generation analytical, operational and community impact data, to avoid an estimated 15 million tons of CO2 throughout the project. JBS is investing R$ 26 million (US$ 5.33 million) in the initiative.

Initially more than 2.5 million hectares (an area roughly the size of Belgium) will be monitored in Serra do Amolar, the central Pantanal region, overseen by IHP which had more than 90% of its protection network affected by the 2020 mega fires. 

Early detection of outbreaks will be facilitated by Pantera software developed by umgrauemeio. The 24/7 system processes high resolution images captured from the communication tower through an artificial intelligence algorithm and automatically identifies the fire teams outbreaks and notifies the cameras. There are plans to triple the scope of the area protected in a second phase.

Embrace the Pantanal is part of a larger Embrace the Forest initiative providing a holistic approach to monitor and manage firefighting in real time, while protecting biodiversity through the integrated Pantera platform for managing forest fires. 

Umgrauemeio aims to expand the preserved area in the Pantanal after the first phase as well as extend the project to other national parks and reserves, such as Chapada dos Veadeiros (Goiás), Chapada dos Guimarães (MT), and areas of the Amazon. 

“These resources and satellite information provide a  breakthrough for fire outbreak detection,” commented  Liège Correia, JBS Friboi’s director of Sustainability. “ Actions like this benefit the entire livestock value chain, as fires devastate the ecosystem, seriously harm rural properties and release polluting gases into the atmosphere that causes global warming.”

“In 2020, it was disturbing to see 26% of the Pantanal, one of the world’s main UNESCO biosphere reserves, be consumed by fire, compromising more than 4 million hectares, killing about 17 million vertebrates and emitting millions of tons of CO2 in the atmosphere”, commented Osmar Bambini, Chief Innovation Officer and co-founder of umgrauemeio,  when describing the motivation to design the Pantanal monitoring strategy and resilience plan. 

The task force brings together Public Ministry representatives, scientists and researchers, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector with the common goal of supporting local institutions that historically fight fires in the biome.

LFRS urges people to take fire safety precautions at home

by Featured NewsSafety

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) are urging people to take fire safety precautions in the home to stay safe as the cost of living rises across the UK. The advice has been issued as part of of NFCC’s national Home Fire Safety Week taking place between this week (13-19 June), which aims to keep people safer from fire in their homes.

NFCC is concerned that people may put themselves at additional risk as the cost of living increases and remind people to buy, charge and run electrical products safely and ensure they keep warm safely as taking a few simple steps can reduce the risk of fire in the home. NFCC is also urging people not to take additional risks and be alert to how simple measures could save lives and reduce injuries.

The week of action covers a range of areas such as electrical safety, the dangers of illegal cigarettes and the offer of home safety fire checks and fire safety advice. People are being urged to buy electrical products from reputable retailers, to register appliances and always sign up to the national product safety alerts and recalls: https://www.gov.uk/product-safety-alerts-reports-recalls

With rising energy costs and many people look to reduce heating bills, LFRS want to ensure people are keeping warm safely. It is encouraging residents to ensure they have smoke and carbon monoxide alarms fitted and to ensure portable heaters and electric blankets are in good working order, not subject to any recalls and used correctly.

With older relatives and neighbours thought to be particularly vulnerable and at a higher risk in the home and, LFRS is offering a home fire safety check, vital safety help, advice and solutions, as well as help from a range of organisations. Registering for personalised fire safety advice can be done here.

LFRS Prevention lead Kirsty McCreesh said “As the cost of living increases across the entire UK, we are offering help and advice to help people stay safer in their homes. This ranges from simple steps such as smoke detection and checking electrical items to how fire services can assist people who are more vulnerable.

“While we understand the pressures people are currently facing and affordability is a major factor for many, I am hoping that by giving practical help and advice, we can raise awareness and offer useful assistance. Prevention work is at the heart of all fire and rescue service work and we are here to help.”

Wheely-Safe appoints Woodway Engineering as emergency services distribution partner

by Featured NewsProductsVehicles

Emergency Services lighting and equipment supplier Woodway Engineering has agreed a new distribution contract with Wheely-Safe. The Coventry-based business will now supply Wheely-Safe’s latest generation of intelligent tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), wheel loss and wheel rim temperature sensors to its customer base across the UK and Ireland.

Woodway Engineering will offer Wheely-Safe’s products both as original equipment through tender bids and as a retrofit option for fleets across the blue light sector.

Established in 1961, Woodway Engineering is a successful family-run business offering warning lights and equipment, supplying everything from lightbars and sirens, to lighting masts and bespoke mast solutions. The business is the exclusive UK distributor of Whelen lights, sirens and control systems, as well as manufacturing its own Night Owl masts.

Chris Butcher, Managing Director at Woodway Engineering, commented: “I have been aware of Wheely-Safe since the first fleets began trialling the technology, and when the opportunity arose to add this range to our portfolio we jumped at the chance.

“It’s a safety critical system that fits perfectly within the emergency services market. As a brand, Wheely-Safe has already developed a strong reputation within the sector. The technology is excellent; it’s easy to install and brings instant benefits in terms of safety, compliance, fuel savings and longer tyre life – it ticks every box.”

Paul Henson, Sales & Marketing Manager at Woodway Engineering, said: “There is great synergy with the product and what we are already supplying. We work with virtually every emergency services fleet in the country, and we will be offering the technology to the same converters which already fit our lights and sirens onto new vehicles prior to delivery – be it a fire appliance, ambulance or police vehicle.

“Another strength of Wheely-Safe’s systems is that they can be easily retrofitted. This allows operators to protect their fleets almost immediately, and then make it a standard feature on all future orders.”

Steve Jackson, Managing Director at Wheely-Safe said: “We’ve had great successes in the emergency services sector, and Woodway Engineering is the ideal partner to help us ensure even more fleets are protected against the risk of wheel loss, tyre under-inflation and brake or hub issues involving high temperatures. Partnering with a business that has such a long history in this market makes perfect sense.”

Motorola opens new flagship office in Edinburgh

by Featured NewsSafety

Global leader in public safety and enterprise security, Motorola Solutions has opened an innovation hub in Edinburgh, Scotland, expanding its mobile video, video security and access control businesses and creating new employment and commercial opportunities for Scotland.

Motorola Solutions’ Edinburgh R&D teams will focus on cloud-based evidence management software, video security solutions and body-worn cameras, highlighting the Scottish capital’s global reputation for strong engineering talent and position as the U.K.’s top innovation city outside of London. 

“The opening of Motorola Solutions’ new Edinburgh facility is a real vote of confidence and again highlights the attractiveness of investing in Scotland,” said Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture. “Innovation is key to ensuring that Scotland is able to develop smart digital solutions to meet the needs of the future. The Motorola Solutions Innovation Hub will contribute to this work by creating video security and evidence management solutions for emergency services, not just in Scotland but internationally as well.”

Motorola Solutions’ video security innovations from Scotland are trusted by organisations worldwide, including U.K.-based NHS England ambulance trusts, National Highways and the Co-op, as well as international organisations, such as the French Ministry of the Interior, Malta Police, MetrôRio and Romanian Border Police.

“Edinburgh has a proven track record for some of the most exciting advancements in video innovation,” said Richie McBride, senior director of international mobile video, Motorola Solutions. “Our growing local presence reinforces Motorola Solutions’ commitment to investing in diverse talent to create next-generation, mission-critical technologies that are depended on by frontline workers all over the world.”

The Edinburgh office is located at Caledonian Exchange, 1st Floor, 19a Canning Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EG.

Vintage fire engine parade to close INTERSHUTZ

by EventsFeatured NewsProductsVehicles

On the final day of INTERSCHUTZ 2022, around vintage 50 fire engines will drive through Hanover in a long procession, closing out the week-long conference. Together, the vehicles have around 2,000 years or more under their belt.

This convoy will make its way from INTERSCHUTZ to downtown Hannover in the morning and, after a stop in front of the New Town Hall, back to the exhibition ground, tying into the 29th German Firefighters’ Day.

But not only vehicles from yesterday and the day before yesterday are on the road: The oldies meet together with the motorcycle-riding fire brigade fans “Red Knights” (International Firefighters Motorcycle Club): Tradition meets modernity.

Both at INTERSCHUTZ and during the planned two-hour stop in front of the town hall, there will be an opportunity to have “petrol talks” with the drivers of the fire engines and motorcycles – as experts like to call their shop talk about the various high-horsepower models.

“Right at the opening of the last INTERSCHUTZ day, the participating vehicles will be available for visitors to visit on the INTERSCHUTZ site,” commented Thomas Ruß from the Lower Saxony State Fire Brigade Association, who is organizing the event as project manager for the German Fire Brigade Association (DFV). “In the late morning, the start towards the city center is planned.”