California wildfires
SEVERAL wildfires continued to rage across Southern California, USA, in late October, with at least 1,000 firefighters battling two extensive fires in the San Fernando Valley area, which had scorched more than 4,700 acres and destroyed many buildings. As Fire Risk Management went to press, the main fire was blazing north of the valley and had claimed two lives, while smoke from a second fire to the east of it was blowing into nearby Los Angeles. A state of emergency had been declared in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and thousands of residents had been evacuated.
Award for chief
THE CHIEF fire officer of Toronto, William Stewart, has been named ‘full-time fire chief of the year’ by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. Announced at the Association’s annual conference in September, the award recognises his outstanding contribution to improving community safety in Toronto and his work in the fire service industry. Chief Stewart, who is also the current international president elect of the Institution of Fire Engineers, has had a 36-year career in the fire service to date, and became chief of Toronto Fire Services – the fifth largest brigade in North America – in 2003.
EU quality mark
MANUFACTURERS OF fire protection and security systems look set to welcome a unique pan-European quality mark, based on third-party one-stop testing and certification, preferably to EN 54 fire standards and EN 5013X security standards. CERTALARM has been registered to operate the scheme, which should avoid the bureaucracy and costs of multiple testing for European Union member states, and also support recent legislative initiatives. Existing products certified by other European bodies will undergo a simple verification process, before having the CERTALARM mark applied – expected to be a mark of quality for fire and security rapidly adopted in Europe and beyond.
Cutty Sark probe
A JOINT investigation into the fire on the historic Cutty Sark ship in London in May 2007 has concluded that it started accidentally. Physical evidence and closed-circuit television footage indicate that it probably started on the lower deck, towards the stern, after a motor failed in an industrial vacuum cleaner which had probably been left switched on unintentionally. From witness evidence, the investigators – some of whom were from the Metropolitan Police Service and London Fire Brigade – considered it unlikely that the fire was caused by hot work carried out in the renovation or by carelessly discarded smokers’ materials, and there was no evidence of an arson attack.
The report is available at: www.london-fire.gov.uk//CuttySarkFireReport-29Sep08.pdf
IFE warehouse debate
ON 4 September 2008, a presentation by Ricky Mhlongo of Arup Fire to the Institution of Fire Engineers’ Midlands Branch showed how computer modelling can help predict conditions inside large-span warehouses during fires, providing one hour of formal IFE-sponsored continuing professional development. Sprinklered and non-sprinklered warehouse scenarios were looked at and the results of temperature, visibility and toxic gas evolution compared. A lively debate followed on predictive modelling techniques in such buildings, the responsibilities of the occupants in the event of fire, and operational dynamic risk assessment and decision-making.
Safer with sprinklers
KENT FIRE and Rescue Service’s Safer with Sprinklers campaign has been raising local and national support in the housing sector, and presenting awards for fitting sprinklers in the homes of vulnerable people. The campaign corrects common sprinkler myths, such as extortionate costs and accidental operation, by showing that, in addition to saving lives, sprinklers actually reduce costs by minimising water and fire damage, while accidental operation amounts to only one in 16 million.
More information on the campaign is available at: www.kent.fire-uk.org/YourSafety/Sprinklers
Standards issue
A NEW 20-page book, Working to Protect: An insight into Fire Control, from BSI Product Services provides a list of British Standards relating to 20 categories of fire protection products, from smoke detectors and integrated alarms for domestic use, to complex fire extinguisher panels and sprinkler systems in commercial buildings. Information on alarm and fire detection system design, installation and maintenance, and the testing services to help companies meet those standards, is also included, as is an introduction to the SP203 Kitemark scheme, and an explanation of the CE conformity mark.
The book is available free of charge from tel: +44 (0)8450 765 600; e-mail: Product.services@bsigroup.com
Sprinkler step
THE USA’s National Fire Protection Association has applauded a vote in late September by the International Code Council (which writes the building codes used in most US jurisdictions), to require all new single family homes and all other new residential construction to be equipped with home fire sprinklers. For some years, US law has required new buildings to be fitted with sprinklers, with the exception of single family homes, yet this is where most deaths occur. The proposed requirement would take effect in 2011 and has yet to be adopted individually by the 50 US states.
Partner power
THE FIRE and Security Association, which operates as a division within the Electrical Contractors’ Association’s framework, has signed a memo-randum of understanding with the International Professional Security Association. The aim is to provide reciprocal promotion and industry cohesion, seeking opportunities for consultation and involvement in joint events, projects and activities. Despite overlaps in areas such as closed-circuit television surveillance, alarm response, sector education and risk management, the partnership will be mutually beneficial, facilitating the pooling of expertise and resources.
Road Safety Week
THE UK fire and rescue service’s role in responding to road traffic accidents makes it well placed to communicate powerful messages about using roads – and especially driving – safely. Road Safety Week from 10 to 16 November will tie in existing road safety initiatives with a national event, attracting local community involvement and media coverage. The ‘emergency services’ section at www.roadsafetyweek.org provides easy steps on how fire services can get involved, and includes information on running awareness-raising extrication demonstrations, free road safety training for officers, and ideas for fundraising.
E-mail: roadsafetyweek@brake.org.uk or tel: +44 (0)1484 559 909
Foil the fakes
TO STEM the growing influx of counterfeit, and potentially lethal, electrical goods into the UK market, the British Approvals Service for Cables has signed an industry-wide charter. It urges those in the supply chain – manufacturers, specifiers, distributors and installers – to check that they are only dealing with safe, quality products. Another campaign supporter, the British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers’ Association, has produced a six-minute DVD highlighting the potential fire risks posed by copycat electrical products.
Further information is available at: www.basec.org.uk and www.beama.org.uk
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