Greece introduces rescEU firefighting fleet

by Featured News

Following an extreme wildfire season 2021, Greece has announced a new initiative to help prevent a reoccurrence of last year´s disastrous fire season with the introduction of the rescEU firefighting fleet. 

The EU has pre-positioned some heavy duty fire fighting forces to Greece from six member countries: Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Norway and Romania. These countries are a part of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) and are deploying more than 200 firefighters to Greece in total,.

The firefighters will be stationed in Greece with their equipment for the two most dangerous months of the fire season, July and August.

The European mechanism has also announced the rescEU firefighting fleet for the 2022 summer season. Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Sweden are hosting the aerial firefighting fleet and they stand ready to fight ever stronger fires in Europe.

The pre-installation program that started within the framework of the European Civil Protection Mechanism was a Greek initiative.

The missions will be based in three main regions:  Athens, Larissa and Tripoli in order to assist in the fire protection of the country and to exchange know-how, knowledge and experience with Greek firefighters.

Higher temperatures for Greece

Fire season 2021 in Greece was one of the least windy fire seasons in the last 20 years, however the the average temperature was 1.6 °C higher than normal. 

The rainfall of the winter and the summer season was down and two heat waves with high intensity and and great duration occurred during the season, leading to the relative humidity levels falling below 10% from the beginning of July, which in turn created extreme wildfire events. The forest fire season 2021 burned with very high intensity and destroyed more than 101.000 hectares.

During the forest fires in Greece, the European Union mobilized one of the largest ever European deployments of firefighters and aircrafts in history. In total, 24 firefighting aircrafts, 1301 firefighters and 277 vehicles from 22 countries around the world participated in the efforts to tackle the wildfires in Greece.

Ziegler delivers fire engines to two German fire departments

by Featured NewsProductsVehicles

ZIEGLER has delivered the second batch of the total of six LF 10 with ALPAS and Z-Control of the latest generation to the fire departments of the city of Kehl and the municipality of Meißenheim on 24 June.

ZIEGLER was awarded the contract within the scope of inter-municipal cooperation after the tender and the demonstration of the vehicle at the beginning of 2021. Four of these vehicles were delivered to the city of Kehl and two to the municipality of Meißenheim.

The six identical vehicles are built on a MAN new TG chassis. As a result, the fire departments are now in the possession of new compact and manoeuvrable vehicles with a low centre of gravity, favourable extraction height and extensive equipment. In addition, 2,500 litres of water are available for firefighting operations.

The control and pump operation works via Z-Control of the latest generation. The operation of the vehicles with the new operating concept of the ZIEGLER Group is simple and self-explanatory, which is why it is very popular with fire departments worldwide and has become indispensable for the operation of a firefighting vehicle.

This could also be seen in the reactions of the firefighters from Kehl and Meißenheim on site: Familiarisation with the operating concept was easy for everyone involved, and within one day the firefighters had been trained and were then able to transfer the vehicle to its new home.

Forest fire threatens ancient sequoia trees in Yosemite National Park

by ActiveAmericas - Featured NewsFeatured News

A grove of ancient sequoia trees in Yosemite National Park are in danger as the Washburn Fire grew to more than 2,300 acres the US Forest Service has said. Firefighters are working in difficult terrain to protect some of the largest and oldest redwood trees in the world.

Firefighters on scene have been using a 4-foot tall sprinkler system to tackle the fire and maintain air-moisture to prevent extensive damage to the area.

The fire, which started on 7 July, is threatening around 500 giant sequoias in the Mariposa Grove, including a famed ‘Grizzly Giant’ which is thought to be around 3,000 years old.

The Washburn Fire has already caused nearly 1,600 people to evacuate the area, including the Wawona community located inside the national park and hundreds of campers staying close to Wawona.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated. Fire officials have said that warm and dry weather conditions are making it difficult to control the flames.

Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley have been protected since President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation in 1864. It has a long history of prescribed burning to reduce the negative impacts of high-severity fires, the National Park Service said in a statement.

The fire was downgraded from 25% contained to 22% containted on Monday night. Stanley Bercovitz, a spokesman with the US Forest Service, said: “We don’t want to say everything’s fine and we’re getting a good handle on this fire and it’s downhill from here on out, because all it’s going to take is one hour of wind.”

EU mobilises firefighting fleet as Portugal declares state of alert

by ActiveFeatured News

Portugal activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism to request emergency assistance for the fires in the central part of the country the European Commission said in a statement. It noted that as an immediate response, the European Commission sent two Canadair fire-fighting aircraft from its fleet in Spain.

Portugal and Spain have been affected by high temperatures that have increased the risk of fire, which is expected to worsen in the coming days. Forest fires in Portugal have left 29 people injured as temperatures are predicted to reach up to 45C in parts of the country from Tuesday. On Saturday, the country recorded 125 fires, the highest number in a single day this year with around 1,500 firefighters fighting three big blazes. The government declared a state of alert across the country, from Monday to Friday 15 July as the weather has caused further concerns due to expected high temperatures.

Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said: “With our quick response to the Portuguese request for assistance, the EU demonstrates its full solidarity in facing the destructive forest fires in central Portugal. I thank Spain for swiftly mobilising two firefighting planes via the RescEU this morning. Our thoughts are with those affected, and with the fire fighters and other first responders on the ground. We stand ready to provide further assistance.”

In addition, the EU’s Copernicus Emergency Mapping Service was activated by Portugal on 8 July for the forest fires affecting Leiria and Santarem districts in Ourém municipality. These maps support first responders with an assessment of the impact and damage of the fires. 

The EU Civil Protection Mechanism exists to strengthens cooperation between and among Member States and Participating States in the field of civil protection, with a view to improving prevention, preparedness and response to disasters. Through the Mechanism, the European Commission plays a key role in coordinating the response to disasters in Europe and beyond.

When the scale of an emergency overwhelms the response capabilities of a country, it can request assistance via the Mechanism. Once activated, the Emergency Response Coordination Centre coordinates assistance made available by its Participating States through spontaneous offers. Should the emergency require additional assistance, the rescEU reserve can be activated.

To date, all EU Member States participate in the Mechanism, as well as Iceland, Norway, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Turkey. Since its inception in 2001, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has responded to over 600 requests for assistance inside and outside the EU.

Union backlash as firefighters sent into fires with breathing equipment turned off

by Breathing ApparatusFeatured NewsProducts

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has reported two fire and rescue services to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and identified several others in relation to bringing in policy which would see firefighters sent into fires with their breathing equipment turned off, in a newly published letter.

The policy change involves instructing firefighters to go beyond the point of safe air with their breathing equipment turned off in high-rise building fires which the union say breaks health and safety law. The policy had previously been struck down in London by the fire service’s health and safety advisory panel due to being unsafe.  

The letter calls for the HSE to “investigate our complaint and use its statutory powers to bring an end” to this policy. Hampshire & Isle of Wight and Dorset & Wiltshire fire and rescue services have both brought in the change. 

Riccardo la Torre, Fire Brigades Union national officer, said: “This procedure is unsafe, unlawful and unprofessional, and puts firefighters and the public at greater risk. It tears up half a century of health and safety law, best practice guidance, manufacturers’ instructions, and firefighter training. It will not make living and working in high rise buildings safer or tackle the wider crisis in building safety. It simply puts firefighters and residents at greater risk.

“Those chiefs imposing this policy have worked harder to take the breathing masks off of firefighters’ faces than they have to get flammable cladding off of people’s homes. It is scarcely believable that the recent fire and rescue white paper appears to propose giving fire and rescue chiefs more power over decisions such as these, and reducing workers’ voices. Some fire and rescue chiefs simply cannot be trusted to get vital decisions like these right.

“The policy aims to push firefighters beyond the duration of a breathing set, let’s be clear that means placing firefighters beyond the point of rescue if they become injured or trapped. Fire Bosses would do well to remember that the safety procedures they are ripping up exist for a reason, they were borne from the death and injury of firefighters. The NFCC and local fire services need to do the right thing and turn their backs on this policy.

“Following the IARC categorisation of the profession as class 1 carcinogenic, the highest level of certainty, it’s nothing less than scandalous that the NFCC continue with attempts to remove the very PPE that helps protect firefighters from that risk. Firefighters aren’t cannon fodder and don’t deserve to be treated as such”.

The Fire Brigades Union, which represents firefighters across the UK, said the policy is dangerous because:

  • Rapid expansions of fire may mean that firefighters cannot turn on breathing equipment before they are overwhelmed
  • Breathing apparatus are designed to be started in clean air conditions, with manufacturer instructions and user manuals making this clear
  • Any faults with BA sets may only be discovered when they have been started and firefighters are in the middle of the fire
  • Firefighters may breathe in toxic gases that are difficult to detect, such as carbon monoxide
  • Changing conditions may mean firefighters with their breathing equipment off may end up beyond the point later firefighters (with their own breathing equipment time-limited) can reach to rescue them
  • The union is also concerned that its officer members who are made to implement the policy could be subject to criminal charges, due to health and safety law breaches

DripDrop donates oral rehydration solution to volunteer fire departments

by Featured News

DripDrop Hydration, an electrolyte powder company and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have teamed up for a third year to provide dehydration relief to volunteer firefighters.

DripDrop is donating 400,000 servings of its oral rehydration solution (ORS) to volunteer fire departments across the US so to help ensure firefighters stay hydrated as they battle wildfires and other strenuous response situations.

DripDrop is a fast, clinically-proven way to replace lost fluids and replenish electrolytes. Through the donation, volunteer firefighters can request up to two 80-count multi-flavor packages of DripDrop ORS to use in their department.

“We are very pleased to partner with DripDrop for a third year to promote the health and safety of our nation’s volunteer firefighters,” said NVFC chair Steve Hirsch. “Dehydration is a significant risk for firefighters and can cause decreased performance, weakness and muscle fatigue, dizziness, confusion, and even heat stroke or heart attack. This donation of DripDrop ORS will provide medical-grade dehydration relief to protect the health of firefighters as they do their jobs and keep them performing safely and effectively.”

“Dehydration should never impact firefighters’ ability to do their job or compromise their safety,” said Dr. Eduardo Dolhun, founder and creator of DripDrop. “Firefighters experience substantial electrolyte losses. I developed DripDrop ORS to work fast and efficiently, something water alone could never do.”

Active volunteer firefighters located in the U.S. can request a product donation at www.dripdrop.com/nvfc-2022. To help the most firefighters, only one order per department will be processed. In addition, firefighters can receive a 20% discount on their DripDrop ORS order at any time by using code NVFC20 at checkout on dripdrop.com.

Exclusive: Flourine Free Foam Solutions from Fomtec

by Breaking NewsProductsPumps

John Olav Ottesen, CEO and founder of firefighting foam developer and manufacturer Fomtec, talks foam, fluorine and INTERSCHUTZ 2022

In 2001 I founded Dafo Fomtec AB with the goal of producing and supplying high quality firefighting foam agents and associated foam hardware. 21 years on our main manufacturing location remains in Helsingborg, Sweden. I have a small dedicated team of industry professionals as we maintain our strong customer focus and I am proud to say that we supply our products to over 65 countries around the world. Fomtec will again be exhibiting at Interschutz 2022 and we are looking forward to welcoming our existing customers and potential new clients to Stand C17, in Hall 13.

Why use foam?

Since humans started to use liquid hydrocarbons as an energy source we have strived to find a more effective extinguishing agent than water. Whilst other agents such as water, dry chemical powder and gaseous agents are also effective with liquid hydrocarbon fuel fires, foam adds the additional life safety factor of providing a foam ‘blanket’ that prevents vapour escaping thereby preventing re-ignition post extinguishment. The water draining from the foam also has a cooling effect on the fuel and surrounding structure, aiding the extinguishment process.  Compared to DCP and gaseous, agents foam is also relatively inexpensive.

Offering high performance foam concentrates and tested systems of hardware with foam are critical for our clients to be truly protected. Performance extends to Fomtec manufacturing and delivering our products when we promise we will and in our current fiscal year we have achieved a better than 95% on-time delivery.

Trust is closely linked to performance and Fomtec invests heavily in fire performance testing and then having our products approved through independent third parties to the appropriate international standards. We also make our approval data readily available to all who visit our website, and Fomtec remains one of the few foam manufacturers who do this.

With the transition away from PFAS based foams based on the environmental impact of the PFAS chemicals, it is vital that sustainability is part of our business. Starting with the selection of raw materials and the evaluation of all our suppliers, through to the treatment of water used in our facility, through to the evaluation of travel needs for supporting the business.

Fomtec at INTERSCHUTZ

At the last Interschutz in 2015 all the talk in the firefighting foam world was about the transition to shorter chain C6 PFAS containing foam, and now 7 short years later those discussions will now be about the transition away from these foams to fluorine free foams. This transition is not being driven by the foam manufacturers and it is certainly not because the new fluorine free foams outperform the fluorinated foams. Nor is it because the fluorine free foams are lower cost that their fluorinated alternatives. The transition away from fluorinated foams is entirely due to environmental restrictions and legislation in relation to a family of chemicals know as PFAS.

In the last 20 years we have seen the PFAS chemicals PFOS and PFOA, which were used in fluorinated foams, declared Persistent Organic Pollutants and use of foams containing these chemicals are banned or are restricted with defined periods to stop using the foams. As stated above in 2015 all foam manufacturers were talking about their new C6 foams at Interschutz, but the PFAS chemicals in these foams are now scheduled for restriction and eventually will no longer allowed to be used.

The Enviro Programme

There is no doubt that the addition of the fluorine-based chemicals in firefighting foams played an important part in their performance. As we always like to point out fluorine free foam agents have been around for many years including protein foams, as well as many Class A and synthetic detergent foams. Developing high performance Class B fluorine free foams is a challenge and since 2014 nearly all of Fomtec’s research and development money has been invested in the Enviro Programme.

This is the name that Fomtec gave to the project to develop high performance Class B fluorine free foams. Fomtec quickly realized that expansion ratio, drain time and bubble structure are even more important with fluorine free foam agents, and achieving positive results against fires means that the foam agents need to the tested and approved with the associated foam hardware to ensure that the finished foam has foam qualities that match those that were used to successfully meet the requirements of UL 162 and FM 5130.

At Interschutz 2022 we will be promoting our range of Synthetic Fluorine Free Foams (SFFF), which are marketed under the Enviro (by Fomtec) brand name. The Enviro by Fomtec range is a range of foam concentrates which are a direct result of Fomtec determining that foams needed to be designed and formulated for the different firefighting missions. Extensive research and development, including more than 1500 fire performance tests, has led to Fomtec offering a range of Enviro branded products. These products are supported by international approvals within relevant sectors: industrial (UL/FM), marine (IMO), aviation (ICAO), military (US Mil Spec), emergency response (EN/UL) and wildland (US Forest service).

In May 2021 Enviro USP and Enviro ARK achieved FM approval for use with non-aspirated sprinklers, with Enviro ARK being the first SFFF to achieve this approval for use on polar solvent fuels. Enviro USP and Enviro ARK have class leading FM approvals with non-aspirated sprinklers from 6’ (1.8m) up to 45’ (14m).

Fomtec has always held the belief that decisions should be based on information. These independent approvals mean that the information Fomtec supplies can be considered as solid data and not just an opinion. For many end-users making the transition from PFAS containing foams this data provides peace of mind that they can make this transition without compromising the safety of their personnel or increasing the risk to their facility or business.

Fomtec will also exhibit and have information available on our foam solutions for multiple applications based on our C6 PFAS containing foams and foam hardware. After the extended period between the shows the Fomtec team look forward to welcoming our existing customers and all who want more information on the Enviro range, or other Fomtec solutions.

This article was originally published in the June edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Electra fire reaches over 4000 acres in Northern California

by ActiveFeatured News

The Electra fire in Northern California’s Amador and Calaveras counties reached 4,112 acres on Wednesday as firefighters increased containment to 40%, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The fire, which has been active for two days, was moderated by cool temperatures and higher humidity, but remained active where wind and slope aligned. Firefighters continue strengthening control lines and mopping-up hot spots.

The Electra fire is one of of the largest wildfires this season. It ignited on Monday afternoon near the North Fork of the Mokelumne River and spread quickly through dry brush and steep terrain, according to Cal Fire officials. The fire was active for the first half of the night, but humidity in the early morning hours helped limit its activity, officials said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

More than 1,300 firefighters continue to battle the blaze, as of Wednesday morning. Electra fire spokesperson Chris Dargan said on Wednesday morning that the biggest issue in fighting the fire is the terrain and topography.

Mandatory evacuation orders and warnings combined impacted 700 residents in Amador county and 300 to 400 people in Calaveras county, officials said. Evacuation centres have been set up for people and animals. CalFire said the number of threatened structures remained at 1,217 but there were no reports of structures destroyed or damaged. 8,000 Pacific Gas & Electric customers in Amador and Calaveras counties remained without power Wednesday due to the fire, and many were still under mandatory evacuation orders.

Car-wreck emergency rescue strategy overhaul being considered

by Featured NewsFirefighting EquipmentProducts

A new study by Devon air ambulance led by emergency medical consultant Dr Tim Nutbeam has found growing evidence that current extrication methods used by fire services cutting people free from motor vehicle collisions may be harmful.

“Since at least the 1980s, firefighters have been trained with movement minimisation as the absolute paradigm,” said Dr Tim Nutbeam, “They’ve been told that one millimetre of movement could turn someone into a wheelchair user, so will often disassemble the car around the patient, to avoid movement of the neck.”

Upon discovering, however, that this extrication method took an average of 30 minutes, Nutbeam began researching the issue after noticing a disconnect between concerns about spinal movement, and the injuries he was seeing in his patients who had suffered serious injuries during the collision – including experiencing people die in their vehicles, or shortly after they were removed.

His research found that that trapped patients were almost twice as likely to die as those who were rapidly freed from the wreckage and that the prevalence of spinal injuries among such patients was extremely low at just 0.7% and in around half of these cases, they had other serious injuries needing urgent medical attention.

“Our absolute focus on movement minimisation works for maybe 0.3% of patients, but it extends the entrapment time for 99.7% of them,” Nutbeam said. “Potentially hundreds of people in this country have died as a result of extended entrapment times, and if you multiply that worldwide, it’s many, many people.”

In a consensus paper, UK stakeholders including the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and the College of Paramedics reviewed the existing evidence, and have agreed a set of principles for future guidance, which will include a recommendation that self or minimally-assisted extrication should be the standard “first line” for trapped patients who are conscious and likely to be able to stand with assistance, and that minimising entrapment time should be the goal for all patients.

The NFCC is also planning further tests, in light of Nutbeam’s research. “The main aim of the UK fire and rescue service is to save lives and prevent injury, therefore we will always look to update and change guidance,” said Chris Lowther, chair of NFCC’s operations committee. “As a result of this research, further work will be undertaken as to how extrication could be [performed]. Once we have this, we will look as to how any changes could be introduced into our national operational guidance.”

Fol-Da-Tank: Behind the innovation

by Breaking NewsFirefighting EquipmentProducts

Joel Wright, CEO at Fol-Da-Tank, discusses how the company is utilising lean manufacturing to innovate solutions for customers

Firefighting is a profession which is both physically and mentally demanding. It is also a highly dangerous task and so teams are looking for equipment that is efficient and durable in order to handle any high-pressure task. Going above and beyond the basics, innovators in the mobile water supply industry are ensuring that their newest developments are making the intensive day-to-day work of firefighters a little bit easier.

Joel Wright, CEO at portable water tank manufacture Fol-Da-Tank says its team relies on one of the basic principles of its lean manufacturing training to successfully incorporate innovation into its culture. “The lean principle is value is in the eye of the customer,” he explains. “That’s why we listen to our customers in order to create products that make their jobs and lives easier.”

Fol-Da-Tank is built on a 66-year legacy of innovation in the firefighting industry. The founder’s first innovation, the folding frame drop tank, was revolutionary: “He saw his firefighter friends lashing four ladders together and throwing a tarp in the middle,” tells Wright. “This was an effective temporary auxiliary water tank, and it took valuable time to set up and clean up. His infant daughter was home in her playpen which was easy to set up and looked a lot like the tank formed by the ladders and tarp. The first drop tank was built modelling the playpen and it revolutionised rural water supply.”

Inspired Innovation

Since purchasing the company from the founding family, the team has defined its innovation challenge as one of our three core strategies. Simply stated: “We drive demand for innovation.” Wright says that in every interaction with its customers the company has trained itself to listen for unmet needs and wants. “This active approach yields insights that are especially helpful to industry newcomers. While we search for another revolutionary idea, we know our success depends on a steady stream of evolutionary innovation,” he tells.

One of its first innovations was born from a large number of unpleasant conversations about freight damage: “Our drop tanks are long and light. They don’t ship well. When they arrive damaged, it starts a frustrating process for the customer, distributor, carrier, and us. Da-Tank-Stand was our innovative answer and it dramatically reduced freight damage in our domestic shipments.”

Every innovation has a good story. An example Wright gives is when a firefighter visited Fol-Da-Tank’s shop and commented on the colourfulness all the vinyl rolls in the racks. “He said he’d been on a cloudy midnight call and the lighting at the scene was poor,” tells Wright. “He asked if we could make the drain sleeves a different colour than the liner so he could see them easier at the end of the call. This was a simple change to incorporate, and we call it the Hi-Viz drain sleeve.”

One innovation came about from a wildland firefighter who came to the company with stories of sudden wind shifts which triggered the immediate need to move people and equipment: “He told us our standard drain sleeves took too long to drain the tank which consumed valuable time. From this firefighter’s vivid story, we developed the Jumbo Drain which empties our tanks six times faster than a regular drain sleeve,” explains Wright.

Another example was borne when the Fol-Da-Tank team attended a rural water supply class by the team at Got Big Water, when they were struck by the improvised techniques to hold drain sleeves to the frame. “Our design included a rope hold which we RF welded to the outside of the tank wall, a pull through strap, and a carabiner clipped through grommets at the end of the drain sleeve,” he says.

“By design, the carabiner clipped to the rope hold was a perfect way to hold all the water in the tank. When it was time to release the water, all one had to do was unclip the carabiner and pull on the strap. This simple motion pulled the drain sleeve through the tank wall. At the class, we observed how difficult it was to unclip the carabiner while wearing gloves. This is the genesis for our Rapid Release mechanism which is a new standard on tanks and comes in a retrofit kit for existing tanks.”

Repair and replace

Firefighting is an intensely physical, demanding profession and so occasionally equipment is damaged, and Wright says they have received more than one email late at night from a fire chief who returned to the station after an event where equipment was damaged.

Wright explains: “When a truck accidentally backs into a tank, they need a replacement or repair fast. We used our shop software to identify the most popular items. Building finished goods or subassemblies for these items is low risk.  As a result, we commit to our customers 1 to 2-day lead times for the items on our Quick Ship list.”

He adds: “As a lean organisation, we understand that value is in the eye of the customer. When we had to choose where to spend our time, we found bringing innovation to life was easy to justify.”

This article was originally published in the June edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.