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Refinery violations
THE US Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found that a worrying number of refineries in America are violating health and safety rules. So far, only 17 out of 81 refineries have been audited and already 146 life-threatening violations have been found. Safety breaches include failing to address fire, explosion and chemical hazards. The nationwide audit is being conducted in response to decades of refinery deaths. In the period 2005-2008 alone, 29 people died in US refinery incidents.
MIRG for Europe
A FIRE onboard a Turkish trading ship has prompted calls for Europe to emulate the Maritime Incident Response Group (MIRG) system in Britain, which has proved successful in coordinating responses to ship fires at sea. Maritime union, Nautilus UK, made the recommendation after fire crews faced difficulties tackling the blaze on the Undadriyatik as it lay off the Croatian coast on 7 February. The vessel was carrying 200 trucks and nine tonnes of hazardous material. Two specialist firefighter aircraft and five tugs worked to control the fire, but the ship’s upper deck was totally destroyed and four crew members were hurt.
Tea light campaign
A NEW campaign from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue underlines the potential dangers of using tea light candles. A series of roadshows and community initiatives will stress the need to always use a holder because the foil container of tea lights – which can become very hot as the candle burns – only collects the wax and is not fire resistant. At the launch of the campaign in February, the fire service used the Harrow Court blaze in Stevenage in 2005 to illustrate the risks. The fire, which claimed the lives of two firefighters and one resident, was started by a tea light left burning on a TV set without a holder.
More information is available from: www.hertsdirect.org/yrccouncil/hcc/fire/
School arrests
SIX TEENAGERS have been arrested in connection with an explosion at a school in the town of Tavel, near Montpellier, in the south of France. According to the French fire service, cardboard boxes were deliberately set alight causing a gas bottle on the premises to explode. The fire spread to the building’s attic, resulting in significant damage. Four firefighters were injured in the explosion. According to reports, one of the children has admitted to starting the fire.
Sprinkler success
THE OPERATION of five sprinkler heads stopped a fire from spreading through a large furniture manufacturing unit in the West Midlands on 7 March. The blaze – thought to have been caused by a faulty electrical extension lead – engulfed a workbench and spread to an adjacent corridor due to conduction and radiated heat. However, the sprinkler system controlled the fire, preventing it from spreading to a nearby store containing foam and seat cushions. Damage was limited to about 50 square feet. The unit was able to resume normal operations a couple of days later.
Emergency texting
A NEW text messaging service in Kent enables deaf and speech-impaired people to gain quick and easy access to emergency services. Now being promoted across the county, the initiative – a joint venture between the police, county council and fire service – seeks to overcome the difficulties those with hearing and speech problems face when they need help. Those using the system need to start their SMS text with the word ‘police’, ‘medic’ or ‘rescue’, depending on which service they need, followed by the rest of their message. It will then be sent to the relevant organisation and dealt with immediately.
Power plant blast
THE EXCEL Energy power plant in Wisconsin, USA, has suffered its second blast in just over three months. Firefighters from Bayport, Stillwater, Lower St Croix Valley and Hudson attended the incident on 12 March, which caused the building’s panels to be blown out. No injuries were reported. It follows an incident in late 2006, when a fire in the building’s coal-handling system resulted in an explosion which blew through a corrugated steel wall. An investigation into the latest incident is currently under way.
Texas wildfires
A SERIES of grass fires in the US state of Texas has caused widespread damage and disruption, threatening homes and oil and gas sites. A Texas Forest Service spokesperson said that fires across the state had damaged more than 8 square miles of land. One of the worst areas was Callahan County in western Texas, where a wildfire that was apparently started by a vehicle blaze consumed more than 1,000 acres and threatened 230 structures. No injuries were reported but many homes were evacuated as firefighters worked to tackle the flames.
IFSM meeting
THE LATEST meeting of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers is being held on 30 April. South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Training Centre in Sheffield is the venue for the event, which will feature presentations on fire suppression, the risks of multi-layered paint, the Fire Safety Order, and detection and alarm systems. A members’ business meeting will round off the event.
If you wish to attend, please contact May Husseyin on e-mail: mhusseyin@thefpa.co.uk or Bob Docherty on bob@flamerisk.co.uk or tel: +44 (0)1204 305 176.
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