Tech-News & Views

NOVEMBER 2014

FIRE PREVENTION OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA INTRODUCES NEW FIRE SAFETY PLAN GUIDELINES!

Vancouver, British Columbia - Service providers of Fire Safety Plan Manuals must now adhere to Province-wide guidelines being introduced by FPOABC.  For more information, please go to this link!

FPOABC Fire Safety Plan Guidelines 2014

New technology being introduced on the fire trucks will enable First Responders to pull up the relevant information on the building BEFORE they arrive on site.

DAVID SYLVESTER PASSES

Toronto, Ontario - November 17, 2014 - The Canadian fire protection community lost a treasured and respected friend and colleague today.  Dave was a genuine force to be reckoned with in our industry as an educator, writer, and innovative thinker.  He served with me on several ULC committees and Working Groups and his wisdom, drive, commitment and passion will be deeply missed.  To Dave’s wife and family, he was a devoted husband, friend, and dad.  You couldn’t ask for (or find) a better role model.  Rest easy, Dave.  You’ve made Canadians safer, and enriched our lives (and our industry) beyond measure!

“You and I will meet again
When we’re least expecting it
One day in some far off place
I will recognize your face
I won’t say goodbye my friend
For you and I will meet again”
-- Tom Petty

Link to CFAA’s Memoriam

NOVEMBER 21, 1980 - MGM GRAND HOTEL FIRE

Las Vegas, Nevada - Today marks the 34th Anniversary of the iconic hotel’s deadly fire.  84 people perished and over 700 were injured.  The fire (and one at the Las Vegas Hilton just ninety days later) sparked an investigation that prompted major changes to building and fire codes across North America.  The hotel’s casino and restaurants were unsprinklered.  The fire broke out in The Deli restaurant which had been closed and was unoccupied at the time.  Faulty smoke control dampers allowed toxic combustion byproducts to circulate through-out the hotel tower via the air handling system.  Smoke inhalation was the leading cause of death for most of the victims, many of whom died in their sleep.

NFPA REPORTS FEWER FIRE FIGHTER INJURIES IN THE U.S. FOR 2013!

Quincy, Maryland - In a report recently published by the National Fire Protection Association,  2013 marked a 5.1 percent decrease in reported on-the-job injuries of the nation’s firefighters.  They estimate 65,880 injuries occurred nation-wide.  They attribute the decrease to the way they’re now categorizing the data received which now includes exposure to infectious disease and hazardous conditions, training, non-fire emergencies, on-duty activities, and injuries caused by accidents occurring while responding to an incident.   The full report is available on the NFPA website at http://www.nfpa.org/research/reports-and-statistics/the-fire-service/fatalities-and-injuries/firefighter-injuries-in-the-united-states. 

NYFD’s FIRECAST SYSTEM OFFERS NEW CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY TO IDENTIFY HIGH RISK BUILDINGS!

New York, New York - The New York Fire Department is using computer based risk assessing software to help them identify and prioritize high-risk properties for inspection.  Watch the video courtesy of NFPA Journal!

TORONTO HOUSE FIRE KILLS ELDERLY HOME-0WNER!

Toronto, Ontario - A house fire in Riverdale completely destroyed a home at 282 Withrow Avenue and killed the resident, an 81-year-old woman, who was apparently asleep on the ground floor.  The cause of the fire is under investigation as are reports that the resident may have been a hoarder.  Witnesses say that the home was consumed and collapsed in a matter of minutes.  For more information you can read the CBC news article located at http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/riverdale-woman-found-dead-in-house-fire-1.2844341.

MODERN HOMES BURN FASTER?

Northbrook, Illinois - In testing conducted by Underwriters Laboratory, modern homes burn up to eight times faster (800%) than homes constructed fifty years ago.  The smoke produced in modern house fires can be 200 times greater and will contain noxious and poisonous gases that includes cyanide and higher levels of carbon monoxide.  The video provides a stark reminder for all of us to ensure we have operating smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in our homes and practice escape drills regularly!

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