Cleaning fire extinguishing systems that have been contaminated by fluorine foam agents
The issue of cleaning fire extinguishing systems that have been contaminated by fluorine foam agents is more complex and requires some explanation, resulting in considerations that must ultimately be decided by every…
Fire Fighter: saving a celebrity in firefighting history
Fire Fighter, the world’s most award-decorated fireboat, sailed into Boston Harbor this June in celebration of NFPA’s 125th Anniversary. This trip was a new kind of ‘rescue mission’ for the fireboat, and the 13-hour, 140 nautical mile trip to Boston…
Partners join forces in network for industrial firefighting in Antwerp port area
London Fire Brigade drone capability – from inception to the future
From December 2017 to September 2018 the London fire brigade investigated and implemented a drone capability mainly from recommendations after the tragic events of the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017. In this time the team and capability was built…
Fitting advice: how to size your crew for turnout gear from head-to-toe
Selecting new turnout gear is a big decision for fire departments. No matter what gear you’re sizing up, it’s critical to properly size firefighters for optimal safety, comfort and performance. Properly fitted bunker gear is the first line of defence…
Propulsion systems in light vehicles
The propulsion systems that vehicles now carry have to be friendly to the environment and Firefighters must know how to work on them safely in vehicle fires and be able to rescue people with security in traffic accidents. Since that…
Selecting and using a thermal imaging camera for wildfire – Part 2
A thermal imaging camera (TIC) like any other item of firefighting equipment has limitations. This together with the misinterpretation of the displayed image and the failure to follow standard practices and procedures could result in the inability to identify and…
Neptune Aviation Services repurposes regional jets for airtanker role
In 2017, Neptune Aviation Services replaced the last of its tanker-configured former US Navy, Cold War Era P2V Neptunes with a more modern fleet of British Aerospace (now BAE Systems) built BAe 146 regional jets. Neptune acquired the aircraft from…
Donations – An Essential Guide: Part 2
Donations of Emergency Services equipment to the Global South come from all kinds of sources and contain a variety of brands. Donating entities collect whatever they can and bundle goods into shipments that ideally fit the needs of the recipient. …
PFAS waste disposal in the fire service – Part 1
Era of enduring risk: how insurers can better manage year-round wildfire risk
Carriage and storage of ADR Class 3 within the dangerous goods supply chain
This feature provides an updated insight into probably the largest ADR category of packaged (and bulk) dangerous goods carried on the British road network – flammable liquids; and, crucially for firefighters, it explains what measures must be in place at…
Cleaning up PPE
Since the pandemic, it has been well documented that firefighters’ personal protective equipment (PPE) needs to be thoroughly and consistently cleaned after use to protect firefighter health. They need to be cleaned of bacteria and viruses such as Covid-19 but…
Reducing PFAS levels in firefighters by blood and plasma donation
Advanced hybrid firefighting solutions for major fire hazards
Firefighting technology is constantly advancing. This case study illustrates the latest technology in mobile firefighting equipment developed by FireDos for class B high hazard fire scenario applications, including tank storage facilities, refineries and other oil and petrochemical related industrial fires.…
Well prepared for the heat of the moment
A true revised mindset on vehicle rescue and extrication
In looking over my career in emergency services, both as a provider and as an educator, involved with vehicle rescue, much of the tool evolutions or the methodology of how we have made space to disentangle injured vehicle occupants has…
Tools to help responders to do their work safely
In my first article I wrote about my project and dream to establish ‘one’ uniform standardized global way of providing information for first and second responders, regardless of technology, means of transport… so that they can do their job safely…
Donations – An Essential Guide
Firefighters around the world may share a common commitment, but they don’t all have the resources to get the job done. To address this issue, Emergency Services personnel from developing nations often reach out to departments in the Global North…
The transitioning to fluorine-free foams
You know that Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFF) have been used for decades in the fire service. In the United States, the transition over to fluorine-free firefighting foams is now occurring. ‘The delay in taking action appears to have been caused…