Shortlisted for prestigious national award The Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is proud to announce that their Incident Command Training Suite (ICTS), a virtual training facility using the RescueSim Incident Command Simulator has been shortlisted for the ‘Driving Efficiency Through Technology’ award, which is part of the acclaimed LGC (Local Government Chronicle) Awards. Over 600 outside training courses and 3,000 internal courses have been undertaken in the ICTS to date. The Cheshire Fire and Rescue Services have recently extended their partnership with VSTEP simulation, the developer of the RescueSim Incident Command Simulator, prompting further cooperation and development to remain at the pinnacle of incident command training and simulation. The ‘Driving Efficiency Through Technology’ award is part of the LGC (Local Government Chronicle) Awards, which have seen a record number of entries for the 2015 event. The LGC created this category of award recognising that developing technology has the potential to bring both financial and practical benefits in the way resources are used to create a more efficient organisation. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Incident command training suite (ICTS) meets all the criteria for this new award. Opened in 2010, the suite has been hailed as one of the best training facilities of its kind in the UK. It was designed to enable Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service to provide all its incident commanders with the opportunity to develop and practice the full range of decision-making skills they require at operational incident. It is a most realistic and immersive training environment currently available, saving the Service thousands of pounds in training costs. The ICTS is a 3D environment providing live practical training to incident response and command. Incorporating a range of innovative features, it includes fully flexible virtual reality software capable of recreating any type of fire or incident. Its multi-display screens create a 360 degree view of a major emergency and an advanced CCTV and sound system which is linked to assessment recording software allows high quality feedback to the candidate following the training or assessment session. In short, it provides the most realistic training environment possible to experience high risk incidents without physically attending them. The suite was instigated by the Service, with a view to leading the way with command training simulation which was not readily available in the UK at the time. A worldwide search for the best simulation software that could be adapted for their use was undertaken. VSTEP, a company based in Holland, was appointed following a procurement process to utilise their software called RescueSim. For multiple participants in a group exercise, one commander is assigned the role of Incident Commander and takes control during the scenario, other students can support and assist and take on other functional roles. Decisions taken and any subsequent consequences are played out on the screen supported by live role players, with a collective debrief held after the incident assessing the quality of the decision-making. This multi-user training allows for the full co-ordination of training between different functional officers and emergency services simultaneously, enabling training at operational, tactical and strategic levels. It has also played a huge part in training for, and embedding the JESIP principles into our organisation. Feedback is critical to the development of an incident commander. Written and verbal communication is effective but, when accompanied by a visual record, clearer and more meaningful feedback can be obtained. The integrated StudioCode software allows the capture of all the CCTV feeds and sound recordings taking within the training area. The Incident commander is able to achieve predefined learning goals for small and large-scale scenarios, ensuring they will be prepared for incidents which would be impossible to train for using real-life exercises hoping to achieve the same level of authenticity Leading the team that manages the ICTS is Area Manager Gus O’Rourke. He explains: "We have worked hard, and continue to challenge how we do things, we feel no other fire service in the UK has a training suite quite like this, lots of services have visited with a view to either developing their own suite or booking training here in Cheshire.” VSTEP’s Marketing Manager Frank Dolmans adds: "We are extremely proud to work as the technology partner for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and provide our RescueSim Incident Command Simulator for their ICTS . This is the most innovative virtual incident command training facility that we have seen in Europe, combining the most advanced simulation technology with state-of-the-art training facilities.” As Cheshire has the second largest concentration of COMAH (Control of Major Accident and Hazards) sites in the UK, ranged along the North West border of the county, the Service liaises with the local industry fire managers’ forum. The forum comprises representatives from the COMAH sites and the Service is working closely with them to develop training on a collaborative basis. Gus acknowledges that while there would always be a need for practical skills training in using equipment to fight fires and rescue people from vehicles, the use of virtual reality facilities is also a vital element now and in the future. "Cheshire is now far safer than it used to be with major reductions in the number of fires and incidents we attend. That means far less live opportunities for staff to develop their practical and decision-making skills so our suite is essential in providing a completely safe environment for people to become competent in managing a whole range of emergency incidents,” he said. “For our facility to be acknowledged in this way is fantastic as it highlights the excellent work done by our staff. The team have worked so hard to create, update and customise the scenarios and software for the benefit of our operational firefighters and external users. It also recognises the vision and ambition of Cheshire Fire Authority and the Chief Fire Officer who have fully supported this initiative from its inception.” The suite demonstrates the future of emergency service, business and community based emergency training. Cheshire is currently the only fire and rescue

Battle of Britain memorial in Kent The Wing, the visitor and education centre being built at the National Memorial to the Few at Capel-le-Ferne in Kent, will be protected by Apollo fire detection equipment. The building, designed in the shape of the iconic Spitfire wing, will house the Scramble Experience, the Battle of Britain Trust’s new visitor attraction, and the Geoffrey Page Centre, which is designed to be used by schools. Together, the two halves of The Wing will highlight the bravery and heroism of “the Few” who took part in the Battle of Britain almost 75 years ago. As the result of a collaboration between Apollo Fire Detectors, FFE and one of Apollo’s major distributers ADI Global, all the fire detection equipment was donated to the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust. The fire protection system, which includes a range of XP95 detectors and beam detectors from FFE was specified by, and is being installed and commissioned by, the award winning Kent based security company Red Alert Ltd. Brian Warburton, Area Sales Manager Midlands and North West, at Apollo commented: “It is a pleasure for all of the companies involved to come together to support this memorial project and provide the best possible fire protection.” The centre is currently under construction with the official opening planned for March 2015. For more details on the Apollo range, please visit www.apollo-fire.co.uk. For more information on the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust see: www.battleofbritainmemorial.org

New year, new name for specialist smoke and flame detection company On January 18, 2015 Fire Fighting Enterprises officially became FFE. Known the world over as a specialist in smoke and flame detection through its Fireray and Talentum product brands, FFE used Intersec Dubai as the platform to announce its rebrand. "We are delighted to be making this key announcement at Intersec. Changing our name and updating our image marks an important milestone for our company and our customers," commented FFE’s managing director Mark Osborne. "We’re putting more focus on our two world-renowned product brands – the Fireray optical beam smoke detector and the Talentum flame detector." FFE introduced the first Fireray optical beam smoke detector over thirty years ago and in 2013 integrated the Talentum flame detector range. These products protect some of the most iconic buildings in the world, including the White House, Buckingham Palace, Dubai Airport and the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, as well as countless industrial installations worldwide. Talentum flame detectors have also been selected to protect the Bloodhound supersonic car, set to break the world land-speed record later this year. According to FFE, over 8% of its revenues are re-invested back into R&D, developing the technologies that are at the core of Fireray and Talentum and helping to bring about new technological breakthroughs. "Underpinning everything we do is our most valuable asset, our people," says sales and marketing director Tracy Kirk. "We couldn’t do what we do without our R&D team of highly qualified engineers, a dynamic and truly customer-focussed sales and marketing team, and a UK-based manufacturing facility covering production, testing and calibration. "Added to that is our purpose-built, on-site training space, where we offer training courses not only on the products we supply, but also on the fundamental principles of smoke and flame detection." FFE has offices in the UK, USA, Dubai, India and China and a global network of distributors and channel partners.

The ship was without engine power for about five hours  BBC: A cruise ship carrying more than 1,000 people was left without power off Morocco after an engine room fire. The fire at 04:00 BST left the ship "listing" and "in pitch black", said Dave Tonkin, whose father is on board. The ship was without engine power for about five hours. Fred Olsen, the company which owns the ship, said it was now fully stable and had five engines running with two still not working. There was no danger to passengers or crew, it said. Gavin Poole, from Wimbledon, south London, said his parents, who are in their 70s, texted him in the early hours of the morning. "The texts said, ‘no engines, fire in the engine room, there’s smoke, we’re in life jackets and the captain says everything is under control’," he said. "I spoke to my parents a bit later at 07:30 BST and they were in their cabin still in their life jackets. The fire was out, but half of the ship had power and the other half didn’t, and it was listing." Ken Watkinson, a passenger on board the Boudicca, said the situation had remained calm throughout. "Around midnight, they announced there were problems with the electricity. I stayed in my bed and this morning it is all back to normal." He said some cabins were still without electricity, but "the mood is fine and everyone is back to having a good time". Fred Olsen spokeswoman Rachael Jackson said at no point were holidaymakers asked to don life jackets or gather at muster stations, as the situation was contained by crew members. "The fire was in the engine room, but has now been extinguished, and no guests or crew have been injured," she said. The Boudicca listed for "a short period" but was now stable and travelling again, although more slowly than normal, she added. Two main engines and three auxiliary engines are running, while two other engines are still being mended. "At the current speed of eight knots, we are currently reviewing the onward itinerary and will make a decision as to our next port of call in due course," she said. Boudicca left Southampton on 20 January for an 18-night cruise of Cape Verde and the Canary Islands. The ship’s online locator currently shows it off the coast of Casablanca, Morocco. It left Cadiz, Spain, on Saturday, and was due to arrive in Lanzarote on Monday. The Boudicca currently has 784 passengers and 356 crew on board. It is one of four cruise liners owned by the UK-based, Norwegian-owned company Fred Olsen Cruise Lines. The Boudicca made headline last year when Fred Olsen paid £280,000 in compensation to 130 holidaymakers who suffered gastric illnesses on board between October 2009 and May 2010. The ship was also hit in 2013 when 98 passengers contracted a vomiting bug.

To reduce false alarms According to Government figures*, the UK’s fire and rescue services attended nearly a quarter of a million false alarm incidents throughout the last two years, with the majority caused by faulty fire system apparatus. Yet, keeping thorough records of testing and maintenance of a property’s fire-safety system has been a legal obligation for domestic premises and houses with multiple occupants in England and Wales since the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 (RRFSO) was introduced. In response, Hochiki Europe, the leading manufacturer of life-safety solutions, has launched the industry’s most comprehensive fire system logbook for its customers. The new logbooks will provide guidance in line with the UK’s most recent legislation to help those responsible for the upkeep of fire safety systems to accurately record false alarms, as well as required maintenance and testing processes, ensuring compliance. The RRFSO is supported by BS 5839, a code of practice published by the British Standards Institute which recommends any owner of a fire detection system records all system events in a suitable logbook. Hochiki Europe’s new logbooks are the most up-to-date and compliant available in the UK today having been compiled by a team of BAFE consultants. The logbooks allow customers to monitor system activity, abide by UK legislation, and have their records to hand in the case of a health and safety audit. The A4 logbooks contain 36 pages of fire-system related forms and checklists in which users can record false alarms; tests and maintenance work; panel access codes and battery capacity. The new logbooks also provide written guidance for users around their responsibilities when facing false alarms, changes to the building, routine system attention, pre-alarms, and recommendations on how to properly investigate fire safety systems. Paul Adams, Deputy Marketing Manager at Hochiki Europe said: “Understanding the history of a fire-safety system and recognising patterns in its activity can be a crucial element in preventing fire-incidents. As shown by the BS 5839 code of practice, logbooks play an important role in fire safety and are required by law. By giving our customers the option to buy logbooks directly from us at the same time as their system components, they can save time and ensure that they are following the most up-to-date compliance practices.” For further information please contact Emma Sivakumaran on +44 (0)161 817 6600, email: Hochiki@tangerinepr.com or visit www.hochikieurope.com.

K55 delivers ultra crisp thermal imagery and on-board video recording FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) announces the addition of the new FLIR K55 to its suite of thermal imaging firefighting cameras. The K55 incorporates FLIR’s revolutionary Flexible Scene Enhancement (FSX) technology which produces ultra-crisp thermal imagery and is also equipped with on-board video recording, which is ideal for evidence gathering and training purposes. The newest member of FLIR’s K-Series family will allow firefighters to see even better in total darkness or in smoke-filled rooms. The K55 with FSX displays its ultra-sharp 320x 240 pixel thermal images on a large bright 4” LCD display, allowing firefights to navigate safely and make accurate decisions when attacking fires and searching for victims. Image details like edges and corners are enhanced and combined with the original image to create an image with more detail than ever. The FLIR K55 also has on-board video recording, making it an excellent tool for documenting what happens inside the fire and providing a valuable training aid for later review. The K55 also features onboard image storage for up to 200 thermal JPEGs, which can be reviewed later from the camera’s archive or exported via USB for reports. The K55’s intuitive and simple three-button user interface lets the firefighter access all of the camera’s controls, even while wearing heavy gloves. Different color modes allow the firefighter to adapt the FLIR K55 to the most demanding situation. The K-Series is also designed to operate in tough operating conditions; it withstands a drop from 2 meters on a concrete floor, is water resistant (IP67), and fully operational up to +260°C / +500°F. “With the K55, FLIR is continuing to provide innovative and affordable advances in thermal imaging technology for firefighting and public safety applications,” said Andy Teich, President and CEO of FLIR Systems. “This is another example of how our vertical integration, image processing expertise, and commercially developed, military qualified products can make a real difference to first responders around the world.” The K55 is affordable enough for agencies to equip every fire truck with a thermal imaging camera. The new FLIR K55 will be introduced at the Intersec Exhibition in Dubai and is available for purchase through established distribution networks beginning March 1st, 2015. The K55 also comes with FLIR’s exclusive warranty covering the full camera for two years and the detector for ten years. Visit www.flir.com/FIRE for more information on the new K55.

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