Mine Draw Fire currently being fought six miles south of Mount Rushmore

by Americas - Featured News

Firefighters in the Black Hills are attacking a fire that was discovered at 11:19 Wednesday morning in Custer State Park six miles south of Mount Rushmore. The Mine Draw Fire had grown to 150 acres by 4:30 p.m. and was being attacked by firefighters on the ground and in the air north of Highway 16A and east of Highway 87.

The blaze is west of the Custer State Park maintenance shop on the north side of 87 and seven miles east of Custer. Map showing the location of the Mine Draw Fire June 24, 2020.Scott Jacobson, a spokesperson for the Great Plains Interagency Dispatch Centre said firefighting resources working on the fire included fire engines from several agencies, dozers, and the Tatanka Hotshots.

A variety of firefighting aircraft were seen over the fire Wednesday afternoon:Two large air tankers: T-02, a BAe-146; and T-162, an RJ85; they were dispatched from Pueblo, CO and Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport near Denver, respectively. Three Single Engine Air tankers, all Air Tractor 802s;Two helicopters, a Sikorsky S-61A and an Airbus AS50; Plus a lead plane and air attack.The air tankers were refilling with retardant the Rapid City Air Tanker Base at the Regional Airport.

Aircraft over the Mine Draw Fire at 4:39 p.m. MDT June 24, 2020.The Black Hills are in a moderate drought, and the weather Wednesday has been on the high side of moderate from a firefighters’ point of view. Since the fire started, the weather station not far away at the Custer State Park airport has recorded temperatures in the mid 80s, relative humidity around 30 percent, and winds out of the east or northeast at 4 to 8 mph gusting at 12 to 16 mph. The Mount Rushmore area in the Black Hills of South Dakota is currently in “Moderate Drought.”

E-ONE introduces new 2020 CYCLONE® cab with voice recognition

by Americas - Products

E-ONE, a subsidiary of REV Group, has introduced the 2020 Cyclone® cab following feedback from firefighters, which features significant updates and refinements, including more interior space, greater visibility and easier access.

The new 100” wide cab provides more interior space, including a 4” raised roof for more headroom and a generous 27 inches between door and engine cover for both driver and officer.

The Cyclone cab provides excellent visibility for driver and crew with its low-profile dash, one-piece door glass, and a reduced profile interior A/C system.

The new rugged dash, constructed from heavy-duty cast aluminum, features a redesigned centre console area. It is available in both a low profile and a raised design for mounting of sirens, radios, and other electronic equipment. The officer’s side also has a very low-profile designed to provide additional legroom.

Other critical features of this new cab design include:

  • New vertical pull handles on cab doors along with extended lower and full-width intermediate steps
  • High-capacity air conditioning system, closer to the ceiling for greater visibility, with eight vents in rear and six in front.
  • LED strip lights configured as daytime running lights or turn signals, allowing for additional forward warning lights.
  • Heavy wall extrusions and 3/16” plate for the floor, roof, walls, and doors for maximum strength and durability.
  • Five cab length options with a flat roof (low or 4” raised) or one of four raised “vista” designs.

“We’re very excited about this new Cyclone cab. The increased interior space, combined with its rugged construction, and classic styling make the Cyclone cab a perfect choice for fire departments adding to their fleets,” said Joseph Belle, E-ONE Vice President, and General Manager.

www.e-one.com

Prime Minister warns £25m cut to London Fire Brigade

by Featured News

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has vowed to fight “unthinkable” proposals to cut the budget for the London Fire Brigade by £25m over two years, as part of the Mayor of London’s £500m saving plans.

The FBU has condemned the “huge damage to the fire service” left over from Boris Johnson’s time as Mayor of London. Central government have so far refused to bail out the GLA’s budget shortfall accrued during the coronavirus pandemic.

The union has criticised Mayor Sadiq Kahn for “passing on Tory cuts to the very emergency services that keep people safe” and has vowed to hold him to his commitment to protect frontline services.

David Shek, FBU executive council member for London said, “London is the epicentre of the UK’s building safety crisis and there is no safe way to manage funding cuts of this magnitude. A £25 million cut to London Fire Brigade’s funding is unthinkable and we will fight it to the bitter end.

“We have just marked the third anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire and in the years since have dealt with a number of fires in buildings with similar combustible materials. The dangers of cutting the fire and rescue service right now are blatantly obvious.

“The Mayor has committed to protected frontline emergency services and we will hold him to that. We will not accept any reduction in frontline services – whether that be crewing reductions, shift changes, or a recruitment freeze. Make no mistake – any reduction in fire cover will put lives at risk.”

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary said, “The scale of these cuts is devastating and is a gross insult to firefighters in London who have gone above and beyond to support their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The public will not support these cuts, and we intend to fight them.

“Sadiq Khan made a commitment to protect vital frontline services and he must do that. The government should support regions facing financial difficulties as a result of COVID-19 but there is no excuse for a Labour Mayor to be passing on Tory cuts to the very emergency services that keep people safe across the capital.

“Boris Johnson did huge damage to the fire and rescue service as London Mayor by pushing through the biggest cuts in history. These cuts impacted the response on the night of the Grenfell Tower fire and the London Fire Brigade has still not fully recovered. To be considering more spending cuts is downright reckless and would show contempt for the public’s safety.

“This pandemic has demonstrated the value of the fire and rescue service and we should actually be talking about new investment to make the service better and safer. The government must step up to provide whatever financial support is necessary or the prime minister’s talk of ending austerity will ring hollow across London. If that support is not forthcoming, the Mayor must pledge to scrap these dangerous cuts.”

www.london-fire.gov.uk/

Rosenbauer America donates 24,000 KN95 facemasks to first responders

by Americas - Featured News

Rosenbauer America has donated 24,000 KN95 facemasks to first responders as a thank you for their dedication through the COVID-19 pandemic – distributed to fire departments across the United States and Canada.

“Our communities rely on first responders answering calls for service; we need to protect their health and safety,” said John Slawson, Chairman and CEO of Rosenbauer America. “COVID-19 is personal; the virus literally follows responders home, subsequently, threatening the family members of our first responders with infection. Never before have our first responders been so concerned that they have chosen to self-isolate away from their families.”

Rosenbauer’s partner network has been surveying fire departments to determine where this donation can fill gaps in KN95 supplies. “In early March our network partners were going on product demo calls to fire departments; their focus has transitioned to that of ally against COVID-19,” said Slawson. “More than 40% of fire departments lack adequate PPE according to industry experts. We wanted to help in whatever way we could to keep our first responders safe. We are all in this together; we are an ecosystem, and we must continue to be vigilant and support our first responders.”

www.rosenbaueramerica.com/

SA Fire Protection launch the ‘Robot-TINO’ for firefighters

by ActiveProducts

SA Fire Protection, Italian manufacturer of fixed firefighting systems and equipment, have recently developed a highly customisable emergency response unit named the “Robot-TINO” for firefighters. The Robot-TINO allows fire fighters to get closer than ever to the fire while remaining at a safe distance.

The Robot-TINO was specifically designed for fighting fires in industrial process areas, tunnels and storage terminals, but it can also be used for terrorist incidents, urban areas, and whenever firefighters need to deal with hazardous substances or extreme temperatures. The unit is protected against heat radiation with a cooling system which allows the Robot-TINO to get closer to the fire origin to suppress it with higher probability of success. In this regard, the fire brigades are better equipped to deal with fires while keeping the risks to firefighters at a minimum.

In terms of manoeuvrability, the Robot-TINO gives the user complete flexibility to adjust direction (left/ right; forward/ backward) and height (up/ down movements & tilt). In addition to the high-visibility LED headlights and blinkers the Robot-TINO comes with, the unit can be fitted with cameras or sensors which can be used as a means of gathering intel when assessing the risks in inaccessible or dangerous areas, as well as assisting in search and rescue operations.

Due to its robust and durable design, the Robot-TINO can enable emergency responders to perform their duties better and more safely. Furthermore, this remote-controlled solution including the firefighting monitor can be installed with other accessories to allow complete operation from a remote location. Depending on what is required, it is possible to fit the Robot-TINO with a wide variety of accessories to suit the needs of the fire brigade such as monitors, dry chemicals, foam, gas detectors or Infrared camera systems. All options available can be tailored and adapted to the specific application and requirements of the Emergency Response Team.

With robotics already playing a key role in firefighting, it is the duty of manufacturers like SA Fire Protection to ensure that there are reliable solutions available to meet the needs of modern firefighters while keeping them as safe as possible.

www.safireprotection.com/

Kent FRS and Bristol Uniforms partner up to deliver PPE Framework benefits

by Breaking NewsProjects

Thirty-three Fire and Rescue Services (FRS), comprising over 33,500 firefighters, are now benefiting from the Local Authority Collaborative PPE Framework. Launched three years ago in June 2017, the Framework gives UK FRSs access to high quality PPE ensembles and volume discounts through a streamlined procurement process. The Framework was set up in response to calls from government and the industry for FRSs to work together to share best practice and deliver efficiencies.

It is run by Kent FRS, with PPE supplied by Bristol Uniforms, who was selected as the preferred supplier following a rigorous two-year tender process. Signing up via a purchase only or fully managed service contract, FRSs continue to reap the benefits of the Framework, which guarantees quality PPE that has been independently evaluated and tested, and can save considerable time and costs.

Utilising the latest technology

So far this year through the Framework, Bristol has delivered new PPE to seven FRSs, including Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service who opted for a Fully Managed Services Contract. Despite the Coronavirus pandemic, they were measured and received their kit on 1 June.

The safety of our firefighters is of the utmost importance to us here in Oxfordshire”

Chief Fire Officer Rob MacDougall said: “Bristol Uniforms uses the latest technology in firefighter clothing, and they design PPE to provide fire crews with the very best protection. The safety of our firefighters is of the utmost importance to us here in Oxfordshire. The kit is lighter in weight, breathable and offers more support for the wearer and we are proud to know we are now one of many fire and rescue services in the country to utilise this latest technology in protective clothing for our staff. Thank you to Bristol Uniforms for providing us with a first-class service.”

Fire And Rescue Service

Chris Colgan, Director of Operations at Kent Fire and Rescue Service, and Chair of the NFCC PPE/Clothing Committee, said: “The National Collaborative PPE Framework is the first of its kind for the fire and rescue service, enabling borderless provision of standardised critical kit.”

“So far, working with the team at Bristol Uniforms, we have made significant progress in demonstrating that the sector can work as one customer. However, more can be done. The pandemic has shown us that it is not an impossible target to expect all FRS to sign up to national arrangements delivered through the National Fire Commercial Transformation Programme and we are committed to continuing to build on the success of this arrangement.”

Working partnership

The selected styles combine innovative and ergonomic designs with the use of high-performance fabrics and fibres. 

“Bristol Uniforms has done a sterling job ensuring service continuity for all FRS throughout the disruptions caused by COVID-19, working closely with the contract management team at Kent FRS on behalf of the Sector. This has been one of the greatest tests of strategic relationship and service management and I am incredibly pleased that the result has been a real proof of concept.”

Roger Startin, Joint Managing Director at Bristol Uniforms said: “The demand for our cutting-edge PPE through the Collaborative Framework has been unprecedented as FRSs learn about the benefits of joint working. The Framework has significantly improved and simplified the procurement process and despite very challenging circumstances, we continue to size firefighters for their new kit, manufacture and deliver it on time and to budget.”

High-Performance Fabrics

PPE supplied by Bristol Uniforms within the Framework includes Full Structural Ensemble, a Layered Jacket, Rescue Jacket and USAR Ensemble. The selected styles combine innovative and ergonomic designs with the use of high-performance fabrics and fibres, offering maximum comfort, manoeuvrability and protection.

Seven Anaheim firefighters have tested positive for coronavirus

by Americas - Featured News

Seven Anaheim firefighters have now been tested positive for coronavirus with the most recent case facing complications and put on a ventilator. The first case among the firefighters is believed to have originated on May 27, but the source of their infections is still unclear.

Officials did not reveal the names of the two stations that were impacted to protect the privacy of those impacted. Four firefighters have recovered and are expected to return to work in a few days, one is isolating at home and doing well and two are hospitalised.

“We believe the first original case was related to exposure on a call serving our community,” said Anaheim City Spokesperson Mike Lyster. “That is just the nature of coronavirus and risk of exposure that we might all encounter in our daily lives.”

“Our stations are regularly disinfected. We go through health screening checks for our firefighters and paramedics up to three times a day,” Lyster said.

The Anaheim Fire and Rescue department strongly encourages the community to continue to wear masks and practice social distancing.

Oxfordshire firefighters launch new lightweight uniform

by Featured NewsProducts

Thanks to a new lightweight, fire resistant uniforms, Oxfordshire firefighters will be better equipped to keep residents safe.

The new highly visible ‘rescue jackets’ with updated safety tunics offer enhanced fire protection and are available in a wide range of sizes to accommodate both male and female firefighters. They are reportedly lighter to wear; essential as crews often attend incidents for lengthy periods of time.

Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer, Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Our crews need first-class uniforms to protect them when fighting fires, freeing people trapped in cars, during water rescues, and entering collapsed structures.

“It is essential they are wearing kit that’s designed with the latest safety features. A uniform that gives them complete confidence.”

The gold-coloured kit clearly shows signs of dirt, such as soot or other contamination, meaning it can be spotted quickly and removed; a simple but innovative feature.

Firefighters begin wearing the new kit, designed and supplied by Bristol Uniforms, this month. The uniforms will be standard across the region, following a national collaborative procurement process.