Fire department declines donation linked to proposed data centre project

by AmericasHealth and SafetySafety

Data centre donation declined in Rock

The Rock Volunteer Fire Department in Oklahoma, United States, has declined a $250,000 donation offer made during community discussions over a proposed data centre near Highway 97.

KTUL ABC 8 reported that the offer was made by Google after public meetings about the project, and the department later decided not to accept the funding following discussions with its board of directors.

Fire Chief Charley Pearson confirmed the decision during an ongoing local debate about the proposed development.

Concerns raised by residents have focused on the possible effect of the project on traffic and safety along Highway 97.

Pearson described increased traffic as a factor that could raise the risk of road accidents in the area, reflecting incidents he has responded to during his years as a volunteer firefighter.

Community trust and department role

The department operates with 28 volunteers, two stations and ten trucks, and Pearson described it as relatively large for a volunteer fire service that relies heavily on local support.

According to KTUL ABC 8, Google representative Kate Franko referred to data centres as a “golden ticket for communities across America” during one of the public meetings before later contacting Pearson with the donation offer.

Pearson acknowledged that the funding could have helped a department staffed entirely by volunteers.

Leadership within the department concluded that accepting the donation could create tensions with residents who have voiced opposition to the proposed data centre.

Pearson explained that the department’s equipment, facilities and operations have been supported by the community for many years, which shaped the final decision.

Pearson said: “All of us here are volunteers. We serve the community, whatever happens.”

The department stated it will continue serving the public regardless of the outcome of the proposal.

Rosenbauer deliver 100th RTE Robot to Munich

by Featured NewsFirefighting EquipmentVehicles

Rosenbauer handed over the 100th RTE Robot to the district of Munich, alongside its regional sales partner BAS.

The anniversary vehicle will go to the Gräfelfing Volunteer Fire Department. The RTE Robot is based on the 800 chassis (payload: 625 kg) and is equipped with a T5 remote control including video transmission, an RM15 thrower module (1,600 l/min) and a positive pressure fan that can be operated together with the thrower. The fire department will install a larger fan on another empty base module.

Before placing the order, a comprehensive market survey was conducted, during which all candidates underwent practical testing. The RTE Robot was chosen for its compact design (pallet size), off-road capability, modularity, and versatility, leading to Rosenbauer being awarded the contract.

Munich District Fire Inspection’s statement

Munich District Fire Inspection spoke on the arrival of the RTE Robot saying: “With the delivery of the third RTE Robot to the Gräfelfing Fire Department, the Munich district now has excellent area coverage in case of emergencies.

“This location was the missing piece identified during the evaluation of applications from fire departments two years ago, ensuring efficient coverage of the western and southwestern parts of the district,”

Features of the robot

The Munich District acquired three fully equipped RTE Robots. Heimstetten, Hohenbrunn, and Gräfelfing were chosen as bases. The first two devices were ordered in 2023 and delivered in March 2024. In June 2024, the district placed the order for the third RTE Robot, stationed in Gräfelfing.

Each RTE Robot order included the chassis with thrower module, ventilation module, and a module for transporting roll containers, including roll containers from Rosenbauer. These RTE Robots can function as fire-fighting robots, ventilators, smoke extractors, and for transporting heavy equipment in difficult terrain. The modules can be quickly and easily swapped at the site without tools or effort.

During the procurement phase, the specific needs of the fire departments were taken into account, and practical experience was incorporated into the design. After delivery, a development partnership was established with the Heimstetten and Hohenbrunn fire departments to test new accessories in practice and implement feedback into technical improvements.

Area Sales Manager Equipment/ Firefighting Systems, Rosenbauer Germany, Martin Lazar’s statement

Martin Lazar, Area Sales Manager/ Firefighting Systems at Rosenbauer Germany said: “The 100th RTE Robot for the Munich District represents our ongoing innovation and close collaboration with fire departments.

“It is a great honor to be part of this development and to see how our technologies make a real difference in action.”

Over 100 RTE Robots have now been produced, more than half of which were assembled in 2024. The roll containers are manufactured in Neidling, while the assembly of the tracked vehicles and superstructure modules takes place in Leonding.

In addition to Germany, the RTE Robots are already in use by fire departments in Austria, Denmark, Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia and the USA.

Munich District has recieved the 100th RTE Robot from Rosenbauer: Summary

Rosenbauer has delivered the 100th RTE Robot to the district of Munich, a moment that has been recognised by Rosenbauer as being a great honour and a chance to see the impact of their technology in action.

Illinois fire department warns against leaving hand sanitiser in cars after dashboard fire

by Americas - Featured News

An Illinois fire department is warning drivers not to keep hand sanitiser in their parked cars amid the coronavirus after authorities said a bottle with high alcohol content appeared to have been left on a dashboard and helped spark a fire.

“The fire appeared to be caused by the owner’s small bottle of hand sanitiser that was left on the dashboard,” the Waukegan Fire Department wrote on Facebook.

The driver’s bottle contained 80 percent alcohol sanitiser that was left in direct sunlight, according to the department.

According to an April video from the National Fire Protection Association, while hand sanitiser is certainly flammable, it still requires an ignition source to catch fire. And the World Health Organisation (WHO), citing a 2007 study that looked at decades of hand sanitiser use in hospitals, said that fire hazards were extremely rare: There were a total of seven “non-severe fire incidents.”

“It appears sunlight shining through the windshield onto the sanitiser was enough to cause ignition,” the Waukegan Fire Department wrote in its Facebook post.

Photos of the damage show a melted dash, thick soot stains on the windshield and damage to the sun visor and headliner. The plastic frame of the rear-view mirror looks like it liquefied and dripped toward the floor before hardening again.

Authorities in Wisconsin issued, deleted and then clarified a similar warning last month after it went viral.

The Western Lakes Fire District had posted an image of a burned driver-side door along with a warning against keeping hand sanitiser in cars, The Hill reported. But after the post went viral, authorities removed it and said the image of a burned car door was not taken in the district and was not necessarily caused by “an exploding container of hand sanitiser.”

In its clarification, the fire district said that clear bottles – whether full of water or hand sanitiser or something else – could focus sunlight on a combustible surface and start a fire. It would be similar to aiming a magnifying glass near a piece of paper.

If the plastic container happens to contain alcohol that adds an “additional issue,” the district noted.

People have been increasingly using hand sanitiser when going out amid the coronavirus pandemic, in part due to state and federal health suggestions.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued safety guidelines designed to help Americans keep themselves safe as COVID-19 continues to flare up around the country. They include wearing face masks and disposable gloves or frequently washing or sanitising one’s hands.

The CDC recommends using hand sanitisers that contain at least 60% alcohol.