Three join NFPA board of directors

by Featured NewsPeople

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has completed the election of its Board of Directors at its Annual Meeting on June 6, 2022, which includes three new members: “Butch” Browning, Adrián Gallardo Landeros, and Mark Ghilarducci. Patrick Morrison was re-elected for his second three-year term.

Browning served as the Louisiana State Fire Marshal since 2008 and on the NASFM (National Association of State Fire Marshals) Board of Directors for the last 12 years. With more than 35 years in the fire service, He will assume the role of Executive Director of NASFM July 1st.

Landeros has served as the general director of Servicios de Información Estratégica, S.C. for the last 20 years. During his career, he has provided professional advice and consulting services to 12 Mexican state governors, legislative bodies, and several federal ministries. He has also coordinated or co-authored more than 20 books on Mexican economic and political issues.

Ghilarducci, serves as the Director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) within the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. Prior to his appointments at Cal OES and FEMA, he served as deputy state fire chief at Cal OES. He also has more than 30 years of experience in public safety and government management at the local, state, and federal levels.

Morrison, the Assistant to the General President for Occupational Health, Safety and Medicine at IAFF (International Association of Fire Fighters), was elected to his second three-year term.

Previously, the Board elected a slate of officers that includes Russell Leavitt as chair, R. David Paulison as first vice chair, John Bonney as second vice chair, Roger Montembeault as secretary, Donald Cook as assistant secretary, Michael Wallace as treasurer, Stacy Welch as assistant treasurer, and Amy Acton as immediate past chair.

National Volunteer Fire Council appoints Deputy CEO

by Featured NewsPeople

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has announced that Dr. Candice McDonald will join staff as deputy chief executive officer.

In this role, she will assist CEO Sarah Lee in managing the internal operations of the NVFC, including grants oversight, budget development, organisational planning, and more.  

“We are very excited for Dr. Candice McDonald to join the NVFC as a key part of our staff leadership team,” said Lee. “Candice brings a myriad of experience and expertise that will help the NVFC grow and move our initiatives forward. I am confident she will be an asset to our team and to the emergency responder community that we serve.”  

McDonald’s involvement in the NVFC dates to 2010, when she became one of the organisation’s first Fire Corps State Advocates. In addition to her work with Fire Corps, she has served as an instructor for the NVFC, facilitated webinars and online events, written numerous articles, and provided subject matter expertise in various areas. 

McDonald holds a doctorate in business administration with a specialty in homeland security, a master’s degree in organisational leadership, and a bachelor’s degree in organizational management. She also has an extensive professional background in marketing.

She currently works as a federal special agent for NASA in the Office of Protective Services, where she utilizes skills including grant and project management, budgeting, and staff management. In addition, she is an adjunct professor at Eastern Gateway Community College, serves as a recruitment and retention expert for the U.S. Fire Administration, and has taught recruitment and retention courses across the U.S.  

McDonald has been active in the volunteer fire and emergency services for almost two decades, serving as a volunteer firefighter, EMS chief officer, instructor, and fire inspector. She is the incoming president of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association, a trustee for Women in Fire, and a member of the FDIC/Fire Engineering Advisory Board. 

Rebecca Croton joins Quelfire marketing team

by Featured NewsPeople

Quelfire has further expanded its team with the addition of Rebecca Croton as Content Marketing Executive.

Commenting on her new position, Cronton said: “I have always had a passion for writing and creating content, I studied English and Journalism at university, so I knew it was going to be something I would enjoy. It is great to see how passionate everyone is at Quelfire, it is a fun yet professional atmosphere.

“I have never worked in the passive fire protection industry before, but I feel like I have learnt so much already. Even when you think you are not learning, you are! There has been a lot to take on board, but it has been very interesting as it is relevant to every single one of us. Particularly, I have enjoyed spending time with each member of ‘Team Orange’ to learn about their roles, how they play a part in fire safety and how I can assist them with future content.

“During my first two days, I jumped into fire safety headfirst, at The Fire Safety Event. It was a great opportunity to learn from my colleagues and meet specialists in the industry, to hear about their typical challenges.”

Welcoming Rebecca, Quelfire’s Marketing Manager Timea Popovics said: “As a result of increased scrutiny over the accuracy of construction product information and requests from customers for more regular updates on new tested details, we were keen to focus more on content. We believe that it will be critical in building and maintaining connections and engagement with customers and other partners.

“Rebecca will play a key role in keeping information about our solutions up-to-date and ensure it reaches our customers and all parties involved in firestopping. We are delighted to welcome Rebecca to Quelfire’s ‘Team Orange’ and look forward to encouraging her in the development of this important new role.”

Perimeter Solutions appoints President of Global Fire Safety

by Featured NewsPeople

Global manufacturer of high-quality firefighting products and lubricant additives, Perimeter Solutions, has announced Jeff Emery as its President of Global Fire Safety. This newly created role will see Emery responsible for the Fire Suppressant and Wildfire businesses at Perimeter Solutions.

Emery joins Perimeter Solutions after serving as the Vice President and General Manager of Industrial Automation for the Americas at Norgren. Prior to that, he spent 10 years with Scott Safety, leader in high performance safety equipment for firefighters, military personnel and industrial workers.

Following 3M’s acquisition of Scott Safety, Emery led the global business unit within 3M through a period of significant growth and business integration.

In addition to his professional roles in fire safety, Emery has also served on the advisory board of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), as well as the Board of Directors for Nevada Nano and Fire 20/20, a non-profit organization promoting diversity in fire services.

Commenting on his new role, Emery said: “Fire safety has been an important part of my professional and personal life for years, and I am very happy to be working for an organization where I can support Perimeter’s mission of saving lives and protecting communities. Perimeter Solutions is highly respected throughout the industry as a trusted and innovative company. Their experience in fire safety is unmatched, and I am anxious to start contributing to the company’s future growth.”

Edward Goldberg, CEO of Perimeter Solutions, added: “As we face an increasingly challenging fire landscape, it is critically important that we continue to provide the exceptional, reliable products and services our customers count on from Perimeter Solutions.

“We must also continue to innovate to deliver new solutions that help save lives and protect property. Jeff brings years of experience and industry knowledge along with a passion for serving the firefighting community. He’ll be a great addition for Perimeter as we move forward, and I am excited to welcome him to our Management Team.”

NFPA receives $225,000 from General Motors

by Americas - ProjectsFeatured NewsProductsVehicles

The NFPA has received a $225,000 grant from General Motors to deliver free electric vehicle training to 12,000 volunteer and underserved U.S. fire departments.

The funding comes at a critical time, as more EVs continue to enter the roadways but many fire departments remain untrained in effectively mitigating associated incidents.

“While firefighters have had more than 100 years to learn how to handle incidents with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, they’ve had very little time to understand and train for those involving EV and hybrid vehicles,” said Andrew Klock, emerging issues lead manager at NFPA. “As electric vehicles increasingly dominate our roads in the coming years, ensuring that fire departments are adequately trained and equipped to deal with them is critically important.”

A 2020 report published by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) states that the U.S. fire service is not prepared to fight electric vehicle fires. This issue is more prevalent among volunteer and underserved departments, which often don’t have the resources to receive the needed training; about two-thirds (67 percent) of U.S. fire departments are served by part-time or volunteer firefighters, according to NFPA data.

Through the General Motors grant, NFPA will work in coordination with U.S. fire service organizations and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Clean Cities Coalitions to conduct outreach among targeted audiences to maximize participation in the NFPA Electric Vehicle Safety training program, which will be provided online at no cost for one year.

“Providing free access to our training plays a pivotal role in helping ensure that volunteer and underserved fire departments are adequately trained and prepared to handle EV incidents,” said Klock. “Thanks to General Motors’ generous support, we’ll be able to provide the needed training to thousands of fire departments that otherwise would not be able to access it.”

NFPA is an ANSI-accredited national codes and standards developer for emergency responder qualifications, equipment, and tactics. Over the past 12 years, the association has worked to develop and refine its EV safety program in collaboration with NTSB, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the National Highway and Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), the National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST), and numerous national research laboratories. These and associated efforts have earned NFPA widespread recognition among the major fire service organizations in North America as the leading EV safety training program for first responders.

NFPA also serves on the SAE J2990 Committee for EV Safety and continues to engage with the U.S. DOE, DOT, and NHTSA to conduct testing and determine new methods to combat EV incidents.

KME display new fire apparatus technology at FDIC 2022

by Americas - EventsAmericas - ProductsFeatured NewsProductsVehicles

KME, a subsidiary of REV Group, has several new fire apparatus technology on display at FDIC International from April 28-30, 2022.

KME’s Booth #4500 will show five unique vehicles to meet multiple fire service needs. These include:

• 103-foot Tuff Truck from Pine Ridge Fire and Rescue, SC: Built on a KME SSX chassis, this rig features a 650-gallon water tank a 1750 GPM pump, and KME’s EZ-MRS™ to help facilitate maintenance and keep the AerialCat Steel-Safe ladder in optimal condition.

• Heavy Walk-In Rescue from West Haverstraw Fire Department, NY: This truck has a four (4) compartment walk-in rescue body, crew seating for 8, an 8” front bumper extension and dual cribbing compartments under the body.

• Tractor-Drawn AerialCat with Steel-Safe technology from Summerville Fire Department, SC: This 101-foot TDA is built on a SSX chassis and features a pre-piped waterway, a -14’ outrigger stance, and 90-degree jack knife capability.

• 102’ Mid-Mount Platform from East Pennsboro Township Fire Department, PA: The spacious platform offers 22.8 cubic feet of space for four firefighters and equipment as well as a state-of-the-art motion control system with 10” display at the control console.

• Custom 4X4 Pumper from San Bernardino County Fire Department, CA: This truck features the SSX chassis with 10” raised roof, a Zico single arm ladder rack, 1500 GPM pump, 500-gallon water tank with 30-gallon foam cell and FoamPro foam system.

“We’ve got a great selection of apparatus that will be on display, each showcasing KME’s custom configurations based on the fire department’s specific requirements,” said Kent Tyler, President of REV Fire Group. “We are excited about seeing our customers face-to-face in Indianapolis and talking about the latest in fire apparatus and technology.”

How the Fire Fighters Charity is helping UK’s service people

by Breaking NewsPeople

Ever since coming into existence, the Fire Fighters Charity has been assisting and aiding firefighters. Along with the frontmen, the charity’s services are also aimed towards employees of the Ministry of Defence Fire and Rescue Service, chaplains or faith leaders, and volunteers. 

Many of you will be eligible for the Fire Fighters Charity’s support – and it’s helping thousands of people just like you every year. The Fire Fighters Charity supports all UK fire and rescue service personnel, working and retired – as well as their spouses, partners, and dependants – with their health and wellbeing needs now and throughout their lives. 

With that in mind, we are now working with the Charity to share a few people’s stories of how they’ve been helped with their physical health, mental health and social wellbeing. Watch this space as IFSJ will focus on more real-life stories of firefighters that have benefitted from charity’s efforts. 

In this feature, we take a look at the life and career of Guy Pedliham, a station officer with London Fire Brigade, who was helped by The Fire Fighters Charity with both his physical and mental health on a number of occasions. 

Guy first visited Jubilee House in Cumbria, one of the Charity’s three residential centres, in 1997. “It was following an accident at work in 1996,” says Guy. “I fractured my vertebrae and had a large disc bulge after falling out of an appliance whilst dismounting it.” 

After speaking to the Fire Fighters Charity, Guy was offered a place at Jubilee House to help him regain some strength and movement in his back. 

“Before going there, in the two weeks building up to it, I actually felt quite anxious, partly because I didn’t know what to expect, partly because I tend to get anxious when I go away from home for any length of time anyway,” says Guy. 

“But when I got there, that was very quickly dispelled. The staff are fantastic, there’s just such a great atmosphere, they’re so friendly and approachable, always smiling – and that’s the whole of the staff, the therapy staff through to the housekeeping staff and the kitchen staff. 

“Then once you get into your groups and meet others, I very quickly adjusted to being there – to the point you don’t want to come home again! You’re mixing with people that are either firefighters, families or other personnel, so you all instantly have that bond. The banter is the same everywhere.” 

Guy remained in touch with the Fire Fighters Charity following his initial stay, receiving support in the years that followed, including a return to Jubilee House. 

“These visits make a huge difference,” says Guy. “I’m in my 60s now and I’ve been in the fire service for 33 years… without the help that I’ve had from The Fire Fighters Charity, I’m certain that wouldn’t be the case – I wouldn’t be an operational firefighter still now. 

“There’s not many people riding in the front of appliances in their 60s.” 

It wasn’t until 2014, however, that Guy realised the Fire Fighters Charity may be able to help him with his mental health too. He had been struggling following an incident at work for several years but had largely tried to move on without taking the time to come to terms with how he was feeling. 

“I spoke to our occupational health team in 2014, as I realised I’d begun really struggling with my mental health following a bombing incident in London several years before,” says Guy. 

“They suggested I get in touch with the Charity, and I was offered a place at Jubilee House again, as I felt so comfortable after my previous visits. There were talks and workshops as a group which were helpful. 

“The key thing for me is, I asked for help as soon as I felt I was getting to a point where I was at risk of not coping. 

“I think there’s a general tendency in the fire service not to do that, for people keep going until it does reach crisis, in a mistaken belief that it’s weak to say you have any sort of mental health issue, which is something I absolutely disagree with… 

“I think it’s a strength to realise you need help and to ask for help. I’d really recommend people at least pick up the phone and talk to someone in the first instance or speak to someone who’s received the Charity’s support.” 

Guy was later supported by the Charity in the years that followed that visit, as he continued to come to terms with struggles with his mental health – some of which went back years. 

He has continued to support the Charity through regular monthly donations since, having seen how much support it can offer, and he more recently received support both online and face-to-face following a neck injury at work. 

The Fire Fighters Charity recently launched My Fire Fighters Charity (MyFFC), a health, wellbeing and social space for the UK’s fire family, helping all its members to live healthier and happier through great content, easy access to support and a thriving online community. 

Available as an app or through your desktop computer, MyFFC features a huge and growing library of health and wellbeing information, as well as information on fundraising, a wealth of groups for members to join and a means to connect with friends and colleagues across the UK. 

“I’ve also downloaded MyFFC, The Fire Fighters Charity’s social space for the UK’s fire services community and tried some of the videos on there which have been great,” he adds. 

Guy now has an important message, following his own experiences, that he wants to pass on to anyone else who may feel they’re struggling with their mental health. 

He says: “I think primarily the key message is to reach out and talk, even before you reach out to the Fire Fighters Charity, talk to your workmates, family or friends… Don’t hesitate. The Charity is there, it’s helped me and, as I said earlier, I wouldn’t be doing the job I’m still doing without it.” 

If something is affecting your physical health, mental health or social wellbeing, let The Fire Fighters Charity help. Call its Support Line on 0800 389 8820 or make an enquiry online at www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/support  

Jeff Schaid promoted to vice president at Telgian Fire Safety

by Featured NewsPeople

Telgian Fire Safety recently announced the promotion of Jeff Schaid to Vice President, Field Operations. In his new role, Schaid will be responsible for the overall leadership, direction, and development of Field Operations.

This includes the creation and implementation of strategic and operational initiatives for both internal and external inspections, as well as data analysis and headcount evaluation.  He will also provide indirect oversight of Field Support consisting of post-inspection document review processes, logistics systems, compliance, and all vendor related operations.    

In addition to managing multiple work teams across the country, Schaid will be responsible for the direction, mentorship, and support of all departmental associates. He will set both individual and work team goals and provide training to accomplish overall goals and objectives.

“Jeff’s extensive experience and success at Telgian have made him an invaluable team member,” says Telgian Fire Safety President Larry Lacefield. “As the company continues to expand and diversify in 2022, more than ever, we value his innovation, vision and leadership.”

With more than 10 years of experience, Schaid specializes in the establishment of business objectives and the development and maintenance of both departmental metrics and associated KPIs. Schaid is also adept at streamlining workflows, identifying areas for improvement, and developing initiatives for improving delivery of services.

Formerly the Senior Director of Operations, Schaid has been part of the Telgian team for over six years.  

NEBOSH joins OneWISH Coalition

by Featured NewsPeople

The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) has joined the OneWISH Coalition, which unites organisations and women’s networks. These networks are all working towards the aim of improving the prominence and influence of women in health and safety.

Women make up 60% of NEBOSH’s senior leadership team and 65% of the all employees. Julia Whiting, Director of Marketing and Communications said: “Here at NEBOSH we have great female representation; I’m proud to work alongside some passionate and tenacious women that share the same determination I do to be the best they can be.

“By joining OneWISH it is my hope that NEBOSH will be able to amplify this message of inclusivity. We want to encourage and enable even more women – and people of all gender identities – to achieve their ambitions and contribute towards the progress of the health and safety profession.”

Anne Gardner-Aston, Chair of OneWISH added; “We are delighted that NEBOSH are becoming part of the OneWISH Coalition to support women in the health and safety profession. We look forward to working with them and supporting their efforts to improve inclusivity in our profession.”

The rapid growth of the Fire Safety Event

by EventsFeatured News

Launched in 2016, The Fire Safety Event is one of the UK’s important industry events which has been on the radar of several professionals and manufacturers over the last six years. During its time, it has become the UK’s largest fire and safety show, with more than 100 leading manufacturers and service providers showcasing the most cutting-edge fire safety products and solutions in active and passive fire protection. 

The Fire Safety Event – hosted at the NEC Birmingham from April 5 to April 7, 202 – is ideally located to create a truly national event for professional fire safety installers, maintainers, consultants, specifiers, and end users of both active and passive fire protection solutions from all corners of the UK. 

The Fire Safety Event is run alongside The Security Event, The Workplace Event, and The Health & Safety Event. Collectively known as ‘The Safety & Security Series’ that is set to welcome more than 700 exhibiting businesses and visitor numbers surpassing 28,000 attendees. 

The Fire Safety Events also enjoys the support of key industry associations that include Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers, Fire Protection Association, Smoke Control Association, Institute of Fire Safety Managers, Institution of Fire Engineers, BAFE, NSI and ECA/FSA among others. These bodies will be on hand offering expert advice and guidance to visitors. 

The show’s partnership with the ASFP will see a newly created area featuring a collection of ASFP members and specialist suppliers. In the wake of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, passive fire protection has never been more prevalent.  

In terms of knowledge sharing and learning, The Fire Safety Event is set to offer a plethora of industry-relevant content that is a must attend. There are three industry-led theatres offering more than 45 hours of free-to-attend CPD content. Meanwhile, the dedicated The Fire Safety Theatre will cover the challenging and critical topics surrounding fire safety management. These sessions are expected to discuss updates from the fire safety bill and the formation of the National Construction Products Regulator, protecting large premises from large fire, the diversity of ASD functionality and applications and the hugely popular mock trial recreating a real-life trial under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and much more.