Best wishes for a very happy, safe and fruitful 2025!
As we enter 2025, we all have our own different dreams and wishes for the year ahead. However, we all wish for a better year ahead. Less struggles, less challenges and less worries. However, we don’t grow when all is going well. We grow when we face storms and challenges.
A wise man once said that we learn and grow more from our struggles than from when all is well. Robert Schuller said, “Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines.” Louisa May Alcott said, “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”
Let’s take our lessons learnt with us and use them as stepping stones into the New Year, embracing its opportunities and challenges with open arms and guiding others through the year ahead.
We have a choice every day when we get up. Walk your talk!
2025: A prefect square 2025 is forecast as a perfect square year! 2025 adds up to 45², as well as the sum of the squares and cubes of all the decimal numbers (0+1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9)² and 0³+1³+2³+3³+4³+5³+6³+7³+8³+9³ both equal 2025! The last time this ‘perfect square year’ occurred was in 1936 and after 2025, only again in 2116!
Fire and Rescue International will continue to share technical know-how and expertise from our various contributors via our magazines Fire and Rescue International and the Disaster Management Journal, free of charge!
We will continue to provide our readers, advertisers and editorial contributors with the most effective platform to assist in growing leaders and mentors in the emergency services. Let’s grow more leaders!
Encourage, teach and guide If there are any article topics or information you want to read about or share in upcoming editions of the newsletter, the Fire and Rescue International magazine and the Disaster Management Journal, drop me an email so we can provide our first responder and disaster management fraternity with the best information and tools as possible.
This week’s FRI Newsletter is shorter than usual as we are only back in office next week.
We wish you a very Blessed, safe, dynamic and happy 2025! You’ve got this!
Quote of the week “In the New Year, never forget to thank your past years because they enabled you to reach today! Without the stairs of the past, you cannot arrive at the future!” ~ Mehmet Murat ildan
Fire and Rescue International is your magazine. Read it, use it and share it!
Firefighter rescued from Table Mountain fire line, Cape Town
Shortly after the start of the fire on Sunday afternoon, 29 December 2024, specialist teams of professionals and volunteers from Wilderness Search and Rescue WSAR Western Cape responded to Table Mountain alongside peers in the various fire and law enforcement services, after a firefighter injured himself on the fire line. The 30-year-old NCC Environmental Services firefighter and his team were making their way up Union Ravine to fight the fire yesterday afternoon, when he slipped and fell awkwardly on his knee.
JOIFF Industrial Emergency Services Management Conference 2025: Registration open
As part of the ongoing Shared Learning commitment to the high hazard industry, JOIFF are pleased to announce that we will be hosting, in collaboration with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and The Chair of Crisis Governance at the University of Antwerp: The JOIFF Industrial Emergency Services Management Conference 2025 in Antwerp, Belgium, on 8 and 9 April 2025. This will be a live in-person event with global subject matter experts from around the world presenting the subjects that matter most to the industrial emergency services management specialist. To ensure that this unique shared learning event is available to everyone, JOIFF will not charge delegates a registration fee to attend this conference.
CSIR sensors boost Western Cape firefighting efforts
South African developed technology will be in action to assist with the Western Cape fire season now in full swing. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) K-Line fire sensor is licensed to Autonosky and, as an integrated component of the Autono 1 drone, will assist what the Pretoria-headquartered research and development think tank calls Western Cape Fire Emergency Services to detect fires ahead of them becoming a danger to people and property.
Five killed, thousands displaced as Los Angeles wildfires spread to Hollywood, US
Starting on 7 January 2025, an ongoing series of wildfires have affected the Los Angeles metropolitan area and surrounding regions. The fires, which include the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, Hurst Fire and Sunset Fire, were exacerbated by very low humidity, dry conditions, hurricane-force Santa Ana winds that in some places exceeded 130km/h, significant wildlife mismanagement and logistical failures. As of 8 January 2025, the wildfires have killed five people, destroyed or damaged more than 2 000 structures and forced more than 137 000 people to evacuate. See latest update from CAL FIRE in read more.
Family of three swept out to sea are rescued, Stilbaai
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Stilbaai and brave surfers rescue a holidaying family of three swept out by rip currents at Jongensfontein. The mother, found unconscious but breathing, was revived onboard the rescue craft. The family was transported to local doctors’ rooms where they are recovering. At 13h49, Friday, 3 January, NSRI Stilbaai duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Sandstrand, Jongensfontein. Eyewitnesses were reporting three persons, a family of three, a dad, a mom and their teenage daughter, were caught in rip currents and were being swept out to sea.
E-bike battery explosion destroys family home days before Christmas, London, UK
A fire that tore through a family’s home just days before Christmas was caused by a battery on a charging second-hand e-bike that exploded. The fire on Renshaw Close in Catford, south east London, on 14 December 2024, is yet another example of the catastrophic consequences that can occur if e-bikes and e-scooters are not charged or stored safely. Footage from a doorbell camera at a neighbour’s home shows just how quickly the property became engulfed in fire, with several bangs and small explosions heard. Three people were inside the house when the e-bike battery burst into flames on the first floor.
Becoming a qualified volunteer wildfire fighter: ‘With my yellow comrades beside me, I’m ready to hold the line!’
Six months ago, Lizelle Smit attended a Volunteer Wildfire Services info session. Today, she is wiser, stronger and qualified to fight wildfires. “Six months ago, I joined 70 people at the new volunteer info session at the VWS Southern Peninsula base. A couple of weeks later, 55 recruits signed up for orientation, and last week, 29 of us qualified as volunteer wildfire fighters.”
Featured FRI Magazine article: Firefighting nozzles: fog versus solid stream by Colin Deiner
This week’s featured Fire and Rescue International magazine article is: Firefighting nozzles: fog versus solid stream written by Colin Deiner, chief director, Disaster Management and Fire Brigade Services, Western Cape Government (FRI Vol 2 no 12). 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.
Fire stations of the world: Akron Fire Department opens new Fire Station 12, Ohio, US
The Akron Fire Department’s Fire Station 12 officially opened on Wednesday, 13 November 2024, during a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the new facility. The original Station 12 was constructed in 1952, serving the community for more than 70 years. Now, firefighters will have a 16 800 square-foot facility. This is the city’s third new station in seven years. Overall, construction cost $9.5 million and was designed to keep first responders safer and healthier while also serving the community.
Technology: Four FASTY self-propelled remote-controlled life buoys for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service
The Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) has recently acquired four FASTY self-propelled remote-controlled life buoys. FASTY life buoys are one of the technologies that can help firefighters and emergency crews perform water rescues. “These FASTY life buoys will enhance our capabilities at water-related incidents, especially at those where it is not always easy to reach people in need of rescue. It can travel across the water at speeds of up to 15km/h and can be deployed instantly.”
Fitness: Insane firefighter workout leg day
This is a professional firefighter workout and is a must try for any fitness level. You won’t be doing it with the 25 pound pants but I guarantee that this leg day workout will kick your butt like never before. This workout is based on what a real-life firefighter has to deal with when battling a burning building. Doing these exercises will make anyone a better, safer firefighter! This workout was done at the powerhouse gym in Columbus.
Source: Power House Gym Columbus
Training: Oxygen Cascade System
In firefighting, seconds can mean the difference between life and death. That’s why daily training is crucial! Sharpen your skills, boost your speed and strengthen your instincts because when the call comes in, there’s no time to hesitate. Be ready, be fast and be prepared. Train like lives depend on it because they do!
Source: Sierra Vista Fire Training
Vintage: 2018 Apple Blossom Festival Antique Fire Truck Show Winchester
Source: homer218
Inspiration: Quote of the week
Just for fun
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the articles and in any corresponding comments are the opinions of the original authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Fire and Rescue International editorial team or its management.
NEFSFPA