In 2014 I received an enquiry from a man claiming to represent a large corporation in Mexico. He wanted me to review and evaluate a fire department in the city of Culiacan, Sinaloa. Some of your readers might already think…
Issue 58 – June 2018
The Emergency Services Show – See the UK’s vision of the fire and rescue service of the future
Fire and rescue personnel and industrial brigades from around the world are invited to this year’s Emergency Services Show to see how the UK fire and rescue service is evolving to become a response, prevention and protection service for the 21st Century. Returning to Hall 5 at the NEC, Birmingham, UK from 19th to 20th September 2018, the annual event gives visitors unique access to world-class expertise, training, technology, kit and support networks.
Edesix’s Videobadge 300 – Supplying body worn cameras to the UK fire services
The experts at Edesix, a UK-based market leader in the provision of Body Worn Camera Solutions, say the use of BWCs for identifying best practice is fast becoming fundamental within our emergency services. Its VB-300 series of Body Worn Cameras,…
Offsite laboratory tests recommended by NFPA 25
The National Fire Protection Association Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems (NFPA 25) details recommended practices to prevent system failure and ensure fast and effective response in a fire emergency. Most of the recommended…
An overview of the Tehran Fire Department
With the recent disaster in Tehran where 16 firefighters were killed in the line of duty, while fighting a fire in a 17-story building, that collapsed on them, we thought it appropriate to give you an overview of the Tehran…
Fighting back on heat stress
Heat stress is especially life-threatening for firefighters and remains the number-one cause of firefighter casualties. Thankfully, the industry is fighting back with the development of several new weapons in the battle against this dangerous condition. Heat stress is caused by…
The UK fire appliance helping to change the face of firefighting
Over the past few months, one fire and rescue service in the UK has been putting a brand new fire appliance to the test. This single truck — which is the only one of its kind in the country —…
Preserving victim dignity while protecting first responders
Throughout the world each year, hundreds of first responders die or suffer serious injuries due to secondary accidents caused by distracted, impaired, or speeding drivers flying around an existing accident. Current accident response protocols are not serving to protect those…
LNG in your Port
I have written about Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in the past. Earlier, I discussed the large quantities of this liquid which was being imported into the USA. Then, with the discovery of large amounts of natural gas being found, we…
The team approach to vehicle extrication: time for change
The team approach to vehicle extrication is nearly as old as I am, which begs the question: why has it never been revised? No one can doubt that it is a checklist that has served us well for nearly three…
Stabilisation prior to the attendance of specialist crews
Operational crews attending incidents in the early stages face numerous challenges in stabilisation and monitoring a variety of risks. These risks may include unstable structures, high-sided vehicles and damaged infrastructure. Furthermore, the risks are made even more challenging due to…
Piper Alpha and 30 years of explosion software modelling development
Piper Alpha is always there, always at the back of your mind. It led to the creation of offshore regulation and standards that have been accepted around the world. “The challenges that face us today are different – how to…
The growing threat of the world’s ageing transformer fleets
An underground fire which led to a partial evacuation at Newark Liberty International Airport on 14 January was just one in a series of blazes with a common cause – catastrophic transformer failure. With global energy demand on the rise,…
Creating an effective safety and health committee
Firefighters and First Responders across the World are susceptible to multiple elements that can cause injury, illness, disease, or worse; even death. Some of those threats may not appear to be an immediate danger to life and health, but after…
The one world of the fire service
In over 35 years in the fire service I have had the pleasure of travelling around the world and visiting my brother and sister fire-service members. During each trip I have been reminded of what a tight-knit family we have.…
Fire safety in wind turbines – there is more to know
Wind power is an important and growing source of renewable energy in Europe. Due to the wind conditions, offshore wind power is a promising option. Hence, optimization and reducing disruption to production of any kind is of interest. One cause…
The risks posed by asbestos to firefighters remains
Despite its use being outlawed in the UK in 1999, (five years ahead of the European deadline) asbestos remains an ongoing threat to firefighters. Its widespread use in buildings throughout Britain means the problem is not going away any time…
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Getting the job done
Over the course of my 26-year career in the fire and emergency services, I’ve been fortunate to travel beyond the United States and visit colleagues in multiple fire services around the world. In every country I’ve visited, despite some outward…