Hard hitting nozzle types – Fact from fiction
Task Force Tips has engineered a test method to accurately measure the impact of a fire stream. Which nozzles hit hardest? “A fire stream can be defined as a stream of water…
XFlex – Bristol’s flagship range in structural firefighting PPE
Popular with firefighters around the world, it has accreditations from the European Standard of Certification (CEN) the International Standards Organisation (ISO), and recently achieved re-accreditation from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)…
Multi-role rescue and firefighting vehicles for Leonardo Helicopters
Helicopter production first commenced at Yeovil in Somerset in 1948 following the end of the Second World War and a review of aircraft production. A number of successful international companies in succession…
Capability is key
Australia’s Country Fire Authority (CFA) is one of the world’s largest volunteer firefighting organisations with over 35,000 volunteer firefighters and 1,300 career firefighters supported by more than 21,000 non-operational volunteers and staff…
Woman reunited with firefighters who saved her life 24 years ago
A woman who was rescued from a house fire on her first birthday has been reunited with the firefighters who saved her life. Jade Broderick was lying lifeless in a cot when…
S-GARD – Firefighter protective clothing made in Germany
We would like to introduce you to a manufacturer that in recent years has become the leading provider of modern, high-end fire service protective clothing in the German-speaking countries of Europe and…
Extrication Planning – Part 2
In the previous article we looked at the initial stages of extrication planning and focussed on the gathering of information, establishing our priorities, contriving the plan based on the initial and ongoing…
Women in the Fire Service (UK)
This UK organisation for female employees of Fire and Rescue Services was set up in 1993 and originally titled Networking Women in the Fire Service. It has since grown significantly and developed…
Buying high value equipment – The in’s and out’s of the procurement process
So, you’re in the market to make a purchase, maybe a large purchase at that. Have you completed all your homework? Do you have the answers to the questions the procurement department…
Powering Global SuperTanker to suppress extreme wildfires
Wildfires are an unfortunate reality in California, and the Western United States. Larger and more destructive wildfires year-round result in 6,870 wildland fires that burn an excess of 1.5 million acres on…
A look into the past and the future of advancements in the firefighting industry
Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “We are not makers of history. We are made by history”. When looking forward into the future of firefighting, observing past historical fire events helps to…
PPV – Arm yourself with knowledge
Positive pressure ventilation (PPV) has become a very common practice in the fire industry, and as the benefits from it continue to become more documented and validated, its practice continues to grow…
Knowing your atmosphere
While some of us in the fire service are fortunate enough to have a dedicated Hazardous Materials Response Unit (HMRU) in our department, many agencies throughout the world do not. However, that…
Learning from near-miss events
Near miss, close call and near escape are a few of the terms used to describe a scenario where, if conditions were just slightly different, an outcome could have been catastrophic. No…
Buying an aviation rescue firefighting (ARFF) vehicle
On 19 November 1987, I commenced my career in the field of Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) and what a journey it has been. I have been primarily involved in the…
The connecting link between company and emergency services
The Netherlands accommodates about 400 companies that fall under Seveso regulations according to their risk profile. The risks that these companies pose to their surroundings require special attention from both the companies…
The strains of ineffective leadership
As anyone who has ever donned a set of turnout gear and saddled-up on a rig can attest, the sense of accomplishment that responding to an alarm—however routine or severe—can bring is…
Donations: An essential guide – Part 2
Following on from the first part of this article in the previous issue, in addition to PPE and SCBA, I have seen other items of equipment that require regular, specialist care and…
Protecting the protectors: ensuring firefighter safety with live video
A new law, the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill, is currently passing in the UK that will increase sentences for those who assault crucial emergency workers to up to six months…
#MeToo
The “Me Too” movement began in 2006 to help survivors of sexual violence to assist in resources for survivors and build a community of advocates. The movement has allowed for those of…