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11 September 2001: May we never forget
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On 11 September, first responders worldwide pause to remember the tragedy of 2001. A day carved in memories so deep.
On this 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, we bow our heads in silence in memory of the heart-rending events that took place in the US, affecting first responders from across the country, their families, colleagues and friends as well as the public that succumbed during these events and their families, friends and colleagues.
Antony J Blinken, US Secretary of State, said in hi statement, “On September 11, 2001, terrorists claimed the lives of nearly 3 000 people and injured more than 6 000 others in the most devastating attack on American soil in our nation’s history. Today, on Patriot Day 2024, we honour their memories and stand in solidarity with the families and friends of those who perished in New York City, Arlington, Virginia and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. We pay tribute to the courageous first responders who risked and sacrificed their lives to rescue others.”
Fire and Rescue International honour the memory of those lost, stand in solidarity with their loved ones and express our deepest gratitude to the brave first responders. Let their legacy inspire unity, resilience and hope.
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| South African Team taking part at the Toughest Firefighter Alive in Denmark |
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The South African Team is currently in Aalborg, Denmark, competing in the Toughest Firefighter Alive International at the World Firefighters Games. 3 000 firefighters and accompanying families are expected to visit from 7 to 14 September 2024 to participate in more than 40 sports. The World Firefighters Games has been held since 1990 where the first host city was Auckland, New Zealand. The last time the games visited Europe, was in 2022 in Lisbon. Aalborg’s ambition is to create games where sport, community and unique experiences are in focus.
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| Major fire at Rivian’s Illinois plant destroys dozens of EVs, US |
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A vehicle fire broke out at Rivian’s Normal factory in Illinois over the weekend, damaging about 50 vehicles. Firefighters were alerted to the fire just before 21h45 Saturday, 24 August 2024 and video of the incident shows flames and smoke billowing from the plant’s north parking lot. Normal Fire Department spokesperson Matt Swaney said that firefighters had extinguished the fire by midnight Sunday but remained on the scene. The fire was at a parking lot on the north side of the four-million-square-foot factory, located 209km south of Chicago and the assembly plant was unaffected, the Normal Fire Department said in a statement.
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| Two firefighters injured as engine crashes into house, Alabama, US |
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Two Hartselle firefighters were injured Wednesday afternoon, 28 August 2024, when a fire engine crashed into the corner of an unoccupied house. According to a statement from the city, the fire department’s Engine No 2 was returning from a fire call when its driver experienced a medical emergency and lost control of the vehicle. The fire engine veered into oncoming traffic on Alabama 36 West. An officer in the passenger seat was able to grab the steering wheel and get the vehicle out of oncoming traffic.
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| Raw video: Deputy drives through Remington fire in Montana |
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On 23 August 2024, during the Remington fire, Sergeant Jonas was traveling south-east on Cow Creek checking for hazards and occupants of camping areas, when things got a little hot. It’s a long video (jump to 3:35 to see green go to black) but we thought it was good to share, to emphasise how quick terrain and landscape can change during these fires. The video will show a dramatic contrast between when Sergeant Jonas entered the area versus when he left and just how quick even a green, vegetated area can turn into a blazing landscape.
Source: KTVQ News
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| City of Tshwane firefighters extinguish gas pipeline fire after an explosion, Pretoria West |
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The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department responded to a gas pipeline fire in Carl Street in Pretoria West on the morning of Wednesday, 21 August 2024. Lindsay Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer at the City of Tshwane Emergency Services, said, “The gas pipeline fire was reported to the City of Tshwane Emergency Call Centre at about 11h48 due to the smell of gas in the air. The centre immediately dispatched a rapid intervention unit from Philip Nel Park Fire Station and a ladder and a district commander’s unit from Central (Bosman) Fire Station to the scene. The Emergency Call Centre started receiving many calls from the public who were reporting that there had been an explosion. Multiple additional firefighting resources were then dispatched by the Emergency Call Centre to scene.”
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| New NASA study tallies carbon emissions from massive Canadian fires |
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Extreme wildfires like these will continue to have a large impact on global climate. Stoked by Canada’s warmest and driest conditions in decades, extreme forest fires in 2023 released about 640 million metric tons of carbon, NASA scientists have found. That’s comparable in magnitude to the annual fossil fuel emissions of a large industrialised nation. NASA funded the study as part of its ongoing mission to understand our changing planet.
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| RescEU firefighting airplanes production launched |
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The production of 12 amphibious firefighting planes to make up the permanent rescEU fleet has been launched following agreements signed by a number of EU Member States with the Canadian Commercial Corporation. The planes will be financed by the European Commission and will become the new backbone of the EU’s crisis response to tackle forest fires. Aircraft from the rescEU reserves can be rapidly deployed in case a country is facing severe wildfires that require additional support. This is in line with the EU’s long-term strategy to establish a permanent rescEU firefighting fleet hosted by Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
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| From student to a successful business owner: exceptional alumni, Michelle Smith, Meditech EMS |
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We are honoured to highlight one of our exceptional alumni, Michelle Smith, as part of our Women’s Month Celebration. Michelle’s journey from student to a successful business owner of @meditech_er Meditech Emergency Medical Services in Durban’s Upper Highway area is a powerful testament to what women can achieve in the emergency medical field. In a male-dominated industry, Michelle has not only risen to the challenge but has excelled beyond expectations. She completed both her Bachelors and Masters Degree in Health Science in Emergency Medical Care and Rescue, while simultaneously building her business from the ground up. What started as one ambulance and two staff members has now flourished into a fleet of six ambulances, four response vehicles and a team of 48 dedicated staff members.
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| Featured FRI Magazine article: Different tactics for a different risk by Colin Deiner (FRI Vol 2 no 8) |
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This week’s featured Fire and Rescue International magazine article is: Different tactics for a different risk written by Colin Deiner, chief director, Disaster management and Fire Brigade Services, Western Cape Government (FRI Vol 2 no 8). We will be sharing more technical/research/tactical articles from Fire and Rescue International magazine on a weekly basis with our readers to assist in technology transfer. This will hopefully create an increased awareness, providing you with hands-on advice and guidance. All our magazines are available free of charge in PDF format on our website and online at ISSUU. We also provide all technical articles as a free download in our article archive on our website.
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| Fire stations of the world: A new firefighting era in Portsmouth begins with the opening of the new Cosham Fire Station, UK |
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The brand-new Cosham Fire Station has formally opened with a ceremony at the impressive Portsmouth site. Fire crews have moved from the previous site in Wayte Street, to the state-of-the-art, three-storey building shared with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary on Northern Road. Firefighters moved into their new home in mid-August, giving them time to settle into the larger site and take advantage of the modern facilities on offer. Chief Fire Officer Neil Odin and Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones welcomed the Lord Lieutenant Nigel Atkinson to open the building in a ceremony on 4 September 2024.
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| Technology: Rescue from above: how drones may narrow emergency response times |
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The drones are coming. Starting in September, if someone in Clemmons, North Carolina, calls 911 to report a cardiac arrest, the first responder on the scene may be a drone carrying an automated external defibrillator or AED. “The idea is for the drone to get there several minutes before first responders,” such as an emergency medical technician or an ambulance, said Daniel Crews, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office in Forsyth County, where Clemmons is located. The sheriff’s office is partnering on the project with local emergency services, the Clinical Research Institute at Duke University and the drone consulting firm Hovecon. “The ultimate goal is to save lives and improve life expectancy for someone experiencing a cardiac episode,” Crews said.
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| Fitness: Essential workout components for firefighters, EMTs and medics |
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Without proper planning, your fitness programme may be setting you up for failure. Listen to the podcast and see if your fitness programme includes these components. This topic is near and dear to my heart and your career: Workouts for fire rescue athletes. I’ve been in the fitness industry for over 25 years and in the fire service for over 15 years. This experience has given me the opportunity to write for some of the best trade magazines and present at big conferences (you can/ see read my story here). The most common question I get (either via email or at these conferences) is “What is the best workout for firefighters, EMTs and paramedics (fire rescue athletes)? And, more importantly what are the components of the best fire rescue athlete workouts?
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| Training: Firefighter mask-up challenge |
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Have you ever had your ears or the side of your face burned in a fire? Do you know of someone who has? For me it’s a yes on both. So when I see fellow firefighters posting videos on masking up and neglecting to deploy their helmet ear flaps I have to shake my head. Firefighting hoods are the thinnest part of our personal protective equipment (PPE) and usually fit tight and compress on the sides of your face and ears. Layering and air gaps can greatly reduce the chance or severity of thermal injury. Your helmet ear flaps are installed for a reason, SO USE THEM!! It may allow you to push through a bad environment in order to make the grab or buy you a few extra seconds to get out of a bad situation. With practice it’s only going to add a second or two on your mask up times, but it may save you some pain and scarring in the long run. Train, stay prepared, be aggressive, make the save – so others may live!
Source: Dale G Pekel
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| Vintage: A tour through the Hall of Flame Fire Museum |
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Source: Hall of Flame Fire Museum
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| Inspiration: Quote of the week |
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NEFSFPA