Big Bear Fire department orders Pierce fire Apparatus

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Pierce Manufacturing Inc. has announced that the Big Bear, California Fire Department placed an order for three custom Pierce fire apparatus, including two Pierce Arrow XT 4×4 pumpers and an Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower with mid-mount configuration.

The new fire apparatus purchase is part of a fleet upgrade and replacement initiative for the Department and was coordinated through authorized Pierce dealer, South Coast Fire Equipment, Inc.

Big Bear Fire Department Captain Norman Dykesten explained: “Due to economic challenges and a consolidation nearly 15 years ago, fire apparatus replacements were on hold, making upgrade and replacement initiatives a major priority in recent years.

“As we began the bid process, we appreciated South Coast Fire Equipment’s responsiveness and efforts to introduce configurations we didn’t know existed. The value and quality construction we received from Pierce within our available resources were immense, and we are confident the new fire apparatus will be exactly what we need to continue serving our community.”

Big Bear Fire Department’s new fire apparatus will feature:

Pierce Arrow XT 4×4 Pumpers

  • Arrow XT chassis
  • 500-gallon water tank
  • 1,500 gpm pump
  • Cummins X12 engine
  • Command Zone™ Multiplex Electronics

Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower

  • Arrow XT chassis
  • Mid-mount configuration
  • 300-gallon water tank
  • 2,000 gpm pump
  • Cummins X15 605 hp engine
  • Integrated ground pads
  • 20’ setback capacity
  • 20-degree below grade operation
  • TAK-4 T-3™ Independent Suspension

The fire apparatus order is the first the Big Bear Fire Department has placed with South Coast Fire Equipment. Fleet upgrades also include the addition of a Type 3 Model 34 Wildland vehicle from Boise Mobile Equipment.

The Big Bear Fire Department operates out of four fire stations with 58 personnel and responds to over 4,500 calls per year. The service area is a unique mix of rural, mountainous, and urban neighbourhoods. The jurisdiction includes two resorts offering skiing and snowboarding in the winter, as well as mountain bike trails and golfing in the spring, summer, and fall seasons.

The population for this resort community can fluctuate from approximately 17,800 full time residents to upwards of 250,000 on any given day or holiday weekend, depending on tourist activity. This creates an ever-evolving basis of fire suppression and ambulance needs, for which the Big Bear Fire Department must always be prepared.

Captain Dykesten added: “Although San Bernardino County Fire is able to provide immediate assistance should mutual aid become necessary, one of the biggest challenges Big Bear Fire Department faces is significant additional resources are farther away. The next closest community is 25 miles from us. The commute on mountain highways makes accessibility to critical equipment particularly important for our crew.”

Tim Olley, sales representative at South Coast Fire Equipment commented: “We enjoyed having the opportunity to share all of the advanced features Pierce offers to help the Big Bear Fire Department select apparatus to best fit their needs. Our team looks forward to building our relationship and providing dedicated service support for many years to come.”

California firefighters slow the spread of Oak Fire near Yosemite

by ActiveFeatured News

According to the latest update from Cal Fire, Monday was a successful day for aircraft and firefighters, resulting in minimal growth of the Oak Fire that that began on Friday and has since spread rapidly in forcing thousands of evacuations in the nearby area.

Helicopters dropped 300,000 gallons of water on the fire and crews continued to construct control lines and extinguish hot spots along existing lines. Cal Fire said fire is moving in a northeast direction and fire crews are working aggressively using bulldozers, hand crews and aircraft. Evacuation orders were reduced to fire advisements in some areas.

Fire restrictions and closures near the fire area are in place on the Sierra National Forest. This closure will support public safety by keeping public members out of hazardous burn areas and will allow firefighting resources to combat the Fire without public interference. 

The Oak Fire that closed within half a mile (0.8 km) from the town of Mariposa Pines, 10 miles (16 km) from Yosemite. By Monday evening, the fire had consumed 17,241 Acres and was 16 per cent contained.

More than 2,000 first responders from state and federal agencies were reportedly battling the blaze, attacking it both from the ground and the air. Fire officials said at least 21 homes and 34 other structures have been destroyed.

Around 3,800 people were under evacuation orders, Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese told a public briefing at a crowded auditorium in the town of Mariposa, the county seat. Cal Fire officials said they had robust firefighting teams on scene early on, but the fire progressed atypically and overran their best efforts.

HAIX sponsors Team GB at the British Firefighter Challenge 2022

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Global functional footwear specialist HAIX is sponsoring Team GB at the British Firefighter Challenge which will take place this weekend (July 30-31) in Hull. The international competition is an annual sporting event that pushes firefighters to their limits while also raising money for the Fire Fighters Charity. 

The challenge is open to all operational and retired firefighters around the world, with some travelling as far as India, the USA and Australia in previous years. The event was initially organised to promote the benefits of exercise on firefighters’ health and today showcases the huge physical and mental demands that firefighters face in their day-to-day jobs. 

Competitors in the event wear their own approved personal firefighting equipment including breathing apparatus and compete in a series of strength and endurance challenges. Challenges include a 70kg Casualty Rescue; a Fire Hose Drag and a Stair Ascent. Last year, the Challenge managed to raise £5,394.58 for the charity, with 250 firefighters competing. 

Simon Ash, UK & Ireland Sales Manager at HAIX, commented: “HAIX is excited to be once again sponsoring Team GB to help raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity, helping operational or retired firefighters and their families with physical, financial or mental health support. We want to help where we can, supporting Team GB, and acting as the official footwear sponsor.”

Event organiser John Gregory added: “Team GB love their HAIX Fire Eagle boots for their comfort and agility during pre-competition training. I’m looking forward to testing out HAIX’s latest addition to the range – the Fire Eagle 2.0. The boots feature the HAIX RapidFit system, a world-first in firefighter boots that allows the boot to be fitted and tightened in a flash with just one hand, critical when a call comes in and every second counts.”

As well as providing Team GB with footwear, HAIX will be giving away various goodies at the event and will have the full range of Fire Eagle boot sizes on display, so that visitors can feel for themselves why Team GB wear them for competition and training.

Every outside component of a HAIX firefighter boot must survive ten seconds of flame treatment without damage or burning and be able to withstand 250°C for 40 minutes without major damage to the sole. 

HAIX said it looks forward to showing its commitment to providing functional and protective footwear to fire service professionals ahead of the highly anticipated competition. The British Firefighter Challenge will take place on King Edward’s Street in Hull City Centre on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st of July.

For more information about HAIX’s range of EMS boots visit, www.haix.co.uk/firefighter-boots.  For more information on the British Firefighter Challenge, visit, www.britishfirefighterchallenge.co.uk.

Nevada Division of Forestry invests in air support for wildland firefighting

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The Nevada Division of Forestry (NDF) has announced a partnership with Rutledge Airborne Applications to provide critical air support for wildland firefighting throughout Nevada. The three-year partnership contract increases fire response capabilities by utilising state-of-the-art single engine air tankers (SEATs).  

SEATs are compact, versatile aircraft that can launch from smaller regional and local airports, such as those in Minden and Elko. They are capable of flying multiple missions within an hour, depending on proximity to a refill base. The aircrafts can also cover a greater range and fly at higher speeds than NDF’s current helicopter fleet.

Because of their smaller size, SEATs can safely manoeuvre in areas that are difficult to access. “We can go virtually anywhere, and we’ll work out from whatever base is closest to the fire to keep us efficient.” – said Cade Boeger, a pilot for Rutledge.

With fire seasons growing longer and more extreme each year, with the new partnership Nevada is reimagining their approach to fire preparedness to meet today’s challenges, including climate change impacts.

“This new partnership with Rutledge gives us more flexibility and efficiency in our response to wildfires. Our priority is to protect firefighters and first responders, Nevada families, communities, and natural ecosystems,” said Nevada’s State Forester Firewarden Kacey KC.

The first two SEATs arrived in Reno on Sunday night and are ready to assist firefighters on the ground anywhere in the state.

California wildfire: Thousands evacuate as Governor declares state of emergency

by ActiveAmericas - Breaking NewsBreaking News

Fuelled by extreme heat, dry forests and underbrush, the Oak Fire that began on Friday has spread rapidly in California forcing thousands of evacuations in the nearby area, with more than 400 firefighters battling the blaze

Governor of California Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Mariposa County on Saturday due to the effects of the Oak Fire. He said the state has secured a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help ensure the availability of vital resources to suppress the fire.

Firefighters have deployed air tankers, bulldozers and hand crews to battle a fast-moving wildfire just west of Yosemite National Park on Sunday that suddenly and unpredictably grew into what has become one of the largest fires of the year.

The Oak Fire that closed within half a mile (0.8 km) from the town of Mariposa Pines, 10 miles (16 km) from Yosemite. By Sunday evening, the fire had consumed 15,603 acres (6,314 hectares) and was zero percent contained, according to the latest update from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

Around 3,800 people were under evacuation orders, Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese told a public briefing at a crowded auditorium in the town of Mariposa, the county seat. Cal Fire officials said they had robust firefighting teams on scene early on, but the fire progressed atypically and overran their best efforts.

The fire was moving east up into the sierra, toward the town of Mariposa Pines and in the direction of Yosemite, Justin Macomb, a Cal Fire operations section chief, told the public meeting.

“The fire quickly outflanked us. We couldn’t even attack it with the resources that we had on hand,” Macomb said. “In my career, I haven’t seen fire behaviour like that.”

Daniel Patterson, a spokesman for the Sierra National Forest, said that climate change has made the region much warmer and drier over the past 30 years which has led to California experiencing increasingly large and deadly wildfires.

Patterson said: “The fire is moving quickly. This fire was throwing embers out in front of itself for up to two miles yesterday. These are exceptional fire conditions.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Surrey Fire and Rescue declares Farnham grassland fire ‘major incident’

by ActiveFeatured News

The police have closed roads and urged people to stay clear of the areas where a grassland fire took place around Hankley Common near Farnham, Surrey, which saw the fire brigade declare a major incident on Sunday.

At least eight hectares of land were affected by the blaze which was scaled down from being a major incident on Sunday evening. Three surrounding roads have been closed.

Crews are expected to remain on the scene today and people have been advised to avoid the area and to keep doors and windows closed amid large volumes of smoke.

The fire service later tweeted to ask those nearby to stop calling 999 to report smoke clouds, after receiving “an incredibly high” number of calls, adding some local roads had been closed as a result of the incident.

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service issued a plea to the public, asking people to: “Please help keep our outdoors safe: pack a picnic instead of a disposable barbecue and dispose of cigarettes correctly.”

People were also warned to stay “far away from the fire as it can travel quickly”.

The grassland area is known for its appearance in the James Bond film Skyfall.

Texas on high alert as temperatures soar

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured News

Wildfires have been seen across in the weeks following Texas Govenor Abbott declaring a drought disaster for 164 counties across the state.

As of 20 July, 254 of Texas counties were put under a burn ban as drought and rising temperatures, fuels, or grasses, have become drought stressed and vulnerable to sparking wildfires.

About 99% of Texas had some level of drought conditions as of 20 July. The lower the fuel moisture, the more likely it is for a wildfire to start and spread, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.

Heather Gonzales, a program specialist who focuses on wildfire prevention for the Texas A&M Forest Service, warned Texans against  doing any activities that may cause sparks such as welding, cutting and grinding materials outdoors.

This year has been a “much drier year than average,” Gonzales said, and the state has not had this many active burn bans since 2011.

By Saturday, fire danger is expected to increase across the state, according to the TFS’ forecasting tool.

Active fires

As of 7 am 21 July 21, there were 10 active wildfires over an estimated 16,426 acres of land.

Two two-day-old North Texas wildfires continued to resist containment Wednesday after destroying 21 homes, officials said.

The Chalk Mountain Fire near Glen Rose, Texas, destroyed 16 homes and damaged five others as it remained on the move Wednesday after scorching almost 10 square miles (26 square kilometers) of mostly short grass, brush and juniper as of midday Wednesday, said Alexandra Schwier, a Texas A&M Forest Service spokeswoman.

A fire at Possum Kingdom Lake destroyed five homes as it spread along its western shore, charring 500 (200 hectares) acres about 70 miles (113 kilometers) west of Fort Worth. That fire was 15% contained Wednesday, the Forest Service said.

Tenerife fire threatens 200 hectares of forest

by ActiveFeatured News

A forest fire in Tenerife that started yesterday afternoon has continued to spread today, affecting around 200 hectares of public forest.

The fire is now thought to be the 12th affecting the Spanish territory as a heatwave sweeps across large parts of Europe.

According to data provided by the technicians the flames have so far affected some 200 hectares and the fire has a perimeter of 5 kilometers of public forest, without affecting, for the time being, any homes.

The head of the Executive announced that 150 troops were dispatched to help with the fire extinction, amounting to a total of 230 people including the security forces. A total of 10 aerial means have been operated.

Following compatisons to a similar fire that took place in 2007 in the same area, President of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres said that there are: “Better conditions because there are no relevant gusts of wind and it is expected that this will continue in the coming hours.”

High temperatures, together with low humidity, represent a potentially aggravating factor, so the President said their aim is to try and stabilize the fire today.

Slovenia calls in assistance as forest fires break out near Italian border

by ActiveBreaking News

Slovenia has requested assistance to tackle forest fires in the Karst of Gorica region of the Miren Kostanjevica municipality. The fires forced the evacuation of three villages.

The EU Civil Protection Mechanism is providing Slovenia with 3 firefighting helicopters, (one from Austria, one from Croatia, and one from Slovakia), and a Croatian forest fire fighting team, consisting of 4 trucks and 9 firefighters.

an amphibious firefighting plane from the rescEU reserve stationed in Croatia has been deployed.

Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, said: “This is, no doubt, one of the biggest wildfires in the history of Slovenia. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Croatia, Austria, and Slovakia. Their help via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to Slovenia, my home country, is deeply appreciated. This is EU solidarity at its best.

“At the same time and in view of ever more devastating impacts of climate change, which we are currently witnessing across Europe, I reiterate the need for immediate action at every level across the sectors in every Member State, with support of the EU, as to strengthen our response capacities but foremost preparedness to prevent the worst.”

EU Civil Protection Mechanism

The EU Civil Protection Mechanism 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.

When the scale of an emergency overwhelms the response capabilities of a country, it can request assistance via the Mechanism. 

To date, all EU Member States participate in the Mechanism, as well as Iceland, Norway, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Turkey. 

Firefighters tackle blazes across South of England as temperatures soar

by ActiveFeatured News

Firefighters across the south of England are being faced with large outbreaks of fire as the country records its hottest day ever.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) has declared a major incident as fire has broken out in Wennington, Essex. The grass fire broke out and reports have said at least two houses have been destroyed.

LFB said it was under ‘immense pressure’ in response to a surge in fires across the capital today with 15 fire engines and 100 firefighters dealing with the Wennington blaze alone.

Essex Fire Service said it was called out to 130 incidents during Monday’s hot weather with Incident commander Nick Singleton commenting that it was “probably one of the busiest days of my 30-year career”.

In Upminster, around 175 firefighters have been battling a grass fire in east London that sent thick smoke over the M25. Around three hectares of cornfield and scrubland was alight in Pea Lane, Upminster, Motorway drivers have been urged to take care as their visibility may have been impaired by the columns of smoke.

More than 85 firefighters are also tackling two fires in Croydon woodlands in the south of the capital. Eight fire engines with 60 firefighters have been sent to tackle one of the fires in Shirley Hills. Four fire engines are dealing with a grass fire on Chapel View in South Croydon, where around one hectare (2.5 acres) of woodland and undergrowth is alight.

London Fire Brigade says the weather means grassland “will burn quickly”. A spokesperson said: “Common causes of grass fires include carelessly discarded cigarettes or matches, as well as rubbish left lying around such as glass bottles, which can start flames by magnifying the sun’s rays.

“Every one of us can help reduce the risk of fire and keep our communities clean, make sure rubbish is safely thrown away and cigarettes are always properly disposed of.”

In Hornchurch, two flats destroyed and a care home evacuated by a fire which led to 60 people being evacuated from an assisted living facility in east London. About 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines were called to the fire on Mavis Grove, Hornchurch, at around 1am.

Yesterday afternoon a fire broken out on grassland at Lickey Hills Country Park, Birmingham as the heatwave continued to push temperatures higher.

The blaze spread from about 400 square metres (4,305 sq ft) of land to 50,000 square metres (53,820 sq ft) in the Rose Hill area within hours according to the BBC.