Excellence in Fire & Rescue Awards: SFRS nominated

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The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has been nominated for emergency service of the year at the Excellence in Fire and Rescue Awards 2019.

As well as being nominated as the top performing fire and rescue service in Britain, the service was also nominated for Emergency Services Collaboration of the year and the service’s director of finance and contractual services, Sarah O’Donnell, was also nominated for the Most Influential Woman in Fire award.

Martin Blunden, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s chief officer, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to be shortlisted for these awards alongside colleagues from across the UK. To be shortlisted is in itself an achievement, particularly given the incredible, innovative work that is taking place the length and breadth of the country –  not only by  fire and rescue services, but by the partners and organisations that work alongside us every day to help keep communities safe.

“My congratulations also go to Sarah O’Donnell – this is a much-deserved award nomination. Sarah’s role in ensuring SFRS continues to deliver a world-class service in a difficult financial environment can never be understated. I am incredibly proud of what this Service has achieved so far, and my thanks has to go to every one of our staff members. It is your hard work and dedication that has earned these nominations. Our best wishes go to all nominees on the big night.”

O’Donnell added: “It is an honour and privilege to be nominated for this award alongside esteemed colleagues from across the UK. The standard of nominees in this category is incredibly high, and I have to give thanks to all the staff in my directorate who have helped make such a nomination possible.”

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at One Great George Street in Westminster next month on December 6.

FSC to deliver NFPA accredited training outside of UK

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The Fire Service College (FSC) has become the first centre outside of North America to achieve Pro Board approval to deliver training in overseas territories to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards.

Under the rules for Pro Board Accreditation, centres are restricted to deliver training within the territory in which they operate. The approval from Pro Board allows the delivery of training outside of the United Kingdom, which is a significant development for the FSC.

In order to gain this approval, the FSC worked closely with the International Safety Training College (ISTC) Malta, where the College delivered a NFPA Pro Board certified course to Maltese learners, whilst being assessed and validated by a member of the Pro Board executive team.

This latest development supports the FSC’s vision of “becoming a true Centre of Excellence for both UK and international Fire and Rescue Services”. As the home of firefighter development, the FSC is a “unique resource in the UK and is one of the world’s premier fire training venues”, attracting customers from across the world to train in a world-class facility with internationally recognised credentials.

Frederick Piechota, Pro Board accreditation manager, commented: “As the result of the Site Visit conducted by a representative of the Pro Board to observe certification testing conducted by the FSC in Malta, the Pro Board has determined that the parameters for Out of Country Certification Testing, that were established by the Board of Directors of the Pro Board, have been met and that any certifications that were issued are valid and may be processed into the Pro Board’s International Certification Registry. Our thanks to the College for its support.”

Ted O’Brien, director of product and quality at FSC said: “This approval underlines our position as a leading provider of firefighter training both at home and abroad. It acknowledges that the FSC is working to the most widely recognised fire and prevention standards in the world – those of the North American Fire and Rescue Services. This new approval from Pro Board opens up new opportunities for the Fire Service College, allowing us to extend the delivery of recognised, accredited training to new and existing international customers.”

Road safety initiative from DSFRS awarded military commendation

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A prestigious military commendation has been awarded to the staff from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS).

The military commendation was awarded to DSFRS for its bespoke road safety initiative Survive the Drive – aimed at reducing road traffic collisions within the Armed Forces, Royal Navy, RAF and Marines.

DSFRS watch manager Chris Boston, station manager Laura Pratt, and SAFE South West charity co-ordinator Steve Smith and crew manager Dan Lester were awarded the Vice Chief of Defence Staff Commendation alongside the Queen’s Birthday Honours. The awards were made by Admiral Tim Fraser CB ADC at a ceremony at the Ministry of Defence Main Building in Whitehall at the end of October.

A “high quality and thought-provoking” training programme was designed and produced by the team, and Survive the Drive was delivered across military bases in the south west with the aim of reducing incidents of road traffic collisions within the armed services, which are statistically at an increased risk of a road traffic collision than civilians.

Laura Pratt, station manager at Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, commented: “Survive the Drive, builds on the strong partnership network between defence and the Fire and Rescue Services. We are delighted to receive this commendation and to have played a part in creating this valuable addition to road safety initiatives”.

London Fire Brigade nutritonist scoops top award

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A London Fire Brigade nutritionist has been awarded for his efforts to improve the healthy eating habits of firefighters.

The first ever dedicated nutritionist employed by a fire and rescue service, Greg Lessons won ‘Nutritionist of the Year’ at the Caroline Walker Trust awards. Lessons was selected from leading nutritionists around the country competing for the prize.

A firefighter for 17 years at Shoreditch, Leyton and Hornchurch fire stations, Lessons began studying for a masters in Nutrition at London Metropolitan University five years ago. His dissertation focussed on firefighter nutrition, and how firefighters could improve their health by eating better on duty.

After graduating with a distinction, Lessons was appointed as a full time nutritionist for London Fire Brigade and is now on a long term secondment. Working with firefighters to develop personalised nutrition plans, Lessons helps them make healthier food choices and also holds food preparation masterclasses with firefighters across the capital.

Lessons commented: “To be awarded the title of ‘Nutritionist of the year 2019’ is fantastic and I’m thrilled beyond belief! I was judged against four eminent UK nutritionists and I’m so proud to be chosen. It was also an honour to represent the Brigade and to raise the profile of nutrition, health and wellness in the workplace. A huge thanks goes to everyone who has supported me along the way.

“Firefighters work extremely busy shifts and can be called out on a shout any second. For that reason, they tend to eat large portions and quickly. They also work anti-social hours and, like many other night workers, often want quick energy so their choice of snacks are often not the healthiest.

“We know firefighters need to be fit to do their job and eating the right diet is essential to achieve this. Also, nutrition can significantly impact mental health and be used as a valuable tool in reducing stress, anxiety and depression.”

E-ONE supplies Titan 6×6 ARFF vehicles to Civil Aviation Authority

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E-ONE, the fire apparatus manufacturer and a subsidiary of REV Group, has delivered several new TITAN 6X6 Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) vehicles to the Civil Aviation Authority of Taiwan R.O.C.

The trucks will be deployed at several airports around the island country, and include the following features:

  • E-ONE unique cab design manufactured from welded aluminum extrusion with 3/16-inch (4.76 mm) plate, exceeding ECE R-29 safety standards
  • Scania 566 Kw (770 HP) Engine delivering 2483 Nm of Gross Torque at 2100 rpm.
  • Hale 11,355 lpm (3,000 gpm) Single Stage Centrifugal Pump
  • 12,000 liter (3170 gallon) water / 1680 liter (445 gallon) Class B foam tank
  • Structural Fire Fighting System driver side pump panel
  • (8) Large Side Compartments w/ 9.0 Cubic Meters (320 Cubic Feet) of useable storage
  • Akron StreamMaster II Dual Flow 6000 lpm (1500 gpm) / 3000 lpm (750 gpm) Roof Turret
  • Akron StreamMaster II Single Flow 1,135 lpm (300 gpm) Bumper Turret

Matt Reda, ARFF product manager for E-ONE, commented: “E-ONE is excited to deliver the new TITAN 6X6 ARFF vehicles to the Civil Aviation Authority. These units are part of an ongoing effort by the Civil Aviation Authority to upgrade and replace the ageing fleet of (27) TITAN vehicles delivered over 20 years ago. With our track record in Taiwan, we are honoured that the Civil Aviation Authority has continued to trust E-ONE and the outstanding after-sales service support provided by our local representative for the critical mission of protecting lives and property.”