Deals still to be confirmed A strike was at Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service was due to take place Saturday October 11th but was been called off at the 11th hour. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) agreed to postpone action. The Government had wanted fire-fighters to work on the frontline up to the age of 60 and beyond, and was looking to reduce their pensions when they did retire. However, progress has been made between the two parties and union chiefs say that they have been offered a similar deal to that in Scotland, which has ensured extra safeguards. These safeguards mean that anyone aged 55 to 60 who is deemed unfit to carry on fighting fires and cannot be found another role will be entitled to their full pension. A deal has still to be confirmed and talks between the Government and fire authorities continue with discussion about how these measures will be funded. www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fireandrescue  

Bushfires have already destroyed more than 200 homes Temperatures are expected to rise and strong winds will fan the flames of Australia’s bushfire. The announcement of a state of emergency comes as conditions worsen – the most dangerous in 40 years, according to state officials in Australia. New South Wales Premier, Barry O’Farrell, has said the declaration will give emergency services additional powers over the next 30 days, including: cutting gas and power supplies if needed and ordering mandatory evacuations."We’re planning for the worst but hoping for the best," he said. One man has died so far while trying to protect his home – though cause of death is believed to be a heart attack. Hundreds of people have been left homeless by the bushfires. The Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, has been the worst-hit region. The foot of the Blue Mountains lies just across the Nepean River from the suburbs of Sydney. Some embers jumped its banks last Thursday, starting a fire at Castlereagh near Penrith. Officials have warned that the three main bushfires – one near the town of Lithgow and two in the Blue Mountains – could become one huge fire in the coming days, possibly threatening Sydney. A fire service spokesman commented: "We can understand the magnitude of that as it would then creep into the bottom end of Sydney. It’s certainly something that we’re very concerned about." Forecasters are predicting unseasonably hot weather – temperatures reaching 30C (86F) and higher. The heat wave is predicted to peak on Wednesday. Rural Fire Service Commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, said: "We’ve got what would be unparalleled in terms of risk and exposure to the Blue Mountains throughout this week. If you are to draw a parallel, and it’s always dangerous to draw a parallel, at best you’d be going back to time periods in the late 60s. The reality is, however, these conditions that we’re looking at are a whole new ball game and in a league of their own," the commissioner said. An emergency warning was issued for the Blue Mountains village of Bell on Sunday morning. Residents were urged to evacuate or to take shelter and crews are struggling to contain many of the bushfires, including this one in Bell. Fears are growing that the continuing fires could reach Sydney – smoke and ash are currently covering its skyline. Assistant Police Commissioner, Alan Clarke, said mandatory evacuation orders would be enforced in some areas, describing the risk as "far more extreme" than in past fires. "At the end of the day we hope we have buildings standing, but if we don’t have buildings standing we don’t want bodies in them," he said. More than 37,000 hectares (91,400 acres) have already been ravaged by fire in the state in the past several days and officials say that 15 blazes remain out of control. Australia’s military is currently investigating whether a training exercise using explosives may have started one of the fires.  

Fire-fighting performance and environmental responsibility The Solberg Company, the world’s foremost innovator of fire-fighting foam concentrates and systems hardware, has announced the company has achieved expanded Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) certification Listings on the company’s RE-HEALING foam concentrate. RE-HEALING RF3, 3% foam concentrate is a high performance fluorine-free foam concentrate for use on Class B hydrocarbon fuel fires. RF3 is also used to prevent re-ignition of exposed fuels and provides vapor suppression. The expanded UL Listing for RE-HEALING RF3 now includes bladder tanks, proportioners, foam chambers, foam makers and fire sprinklers. The UL Listing with multiple standard automatic sprinklers includes RELIABLE F-1 upright and pendent style (5.6 and 8.0 K-Factors), RELIABLE Model G upright and pendent style (5.6 and 8.0 K-Factors), and the RELIABLE upright G XLO (11.2 K-Factor). Noteworthy of the expanded product certification for RE-HEALING RF3 foam concentrate with these fire sprinklers is the minimum UL Listed sprinkler pressure of 7.0 psi (0.5 Bar). The same minimum pressure used for Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) concentrates. Skeptics in the foam industry have stated that fluorine-free foams would not be capable of achieving a UL Listing with standard sprinklers at equal system pressures to AFFF. While this may be true of other marginal fluorine-free foams, or those which contain fluoropolymer and are not fluorine-free, this is not the case with SOLBERG RE-HEALING foam. Equal system performance has been achieved with a completely fluorine-free concentrate that also happens to be a high performance firefighting foam. “AFFF was introduced in the early 1960’s, at a time when vacuum tubes, and black-and-white television was considered advanced technology and John F. Kennedy was President. This time period is considered the last innovation in fire-fighting foam. Through the hard work and dedication of our employees around the world, Solberg has redefined the firefighting foam industry. No longer will customers have to settle for old technology, selecting between fire-fighting performance or environmental responsibility. Only Solberg offers both features to the customer.” stated Dennis Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Amerex Corporation, the parent Company of Solberg. RE-HEALING RF3 foam concentrate is also UL Listed with the TYCO B-1 and STAR B-1 sprinkler in both upright and pendent styles, at the minimum sprinkler pressure of 30 psi (2.0 Bar), the same system pressure as used with AFFF foam concentrates. In addition to the product certifications issued for RF3, Solberg also expanded UL Listings for fire sprinklers with ARCTIC 3% AFFF and ARCTIC 3×3 ATC (hydrocarbon and polar solvent fuels). ARCTIC foam concentrates are 2015 compliant to the U.S. EPA Stewardship Program on C6 fluorine chemistry. With obtaining UL Listings for RE-HEALING RF3, 3% foam concentrate, customers can now use the World’s finest firefighting foam, with a complete range of hardware Listings, backed up by the strength and confidence of the previously announced RE-HEALING Foam Environmental Warranty. “Solberg has achieved a true milestone in the History of the firefighting foam industry. Innovation in the foam industry is not replacing one set of long chain fluorinated surfactants with another fluorosurfactant. True innovation is taking off your blinders, not seeing the problem exactly the same as everyone else, and solving the problem from a completely different direction. Only Solberg saw the real issues regarding existing foam chemistry and decided to take this industry in a completely different direction.” said Steve Hansen, General Manager of Solberg. Based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with operations in Bergen, Norway and Sydney, Australia, Solberg (an Amerex Corporation company) has been involved with the manufacture of firefighting foams since the mid-1970s. Solberg’s unique technology and foam systems hardware is preferred by customers in the aerospace, aviation, chemical, defense, energy, fire services, marine, mining, oil and gas, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, pipeline, solvent & coatings and utilities industries. www.solbergfoam.com    

Contract for the alteration of smoke extraction controls at BER Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH and Siemens have signed a contract for the alteration of the smoke extraction controls at BER. The agreement sees the contract package awarded to Siemens at BER being extended: as well as adding control systems for the mechanical smoke extraction systems installed by other contractors (including smoke extraction ducts, ventilators and dampers), Siemens control technology will in future also be used to pump fresh air into the buildings in the event of a fire. The conversion had become necessary because the controls for the fire protection system built by third-party contractors had failed to function adequately in tests (the so-called hot gas smoke tests). As part of the modifications to the existing system, cables to fresh air flaps, smoke protection screens and windows in the terminal need to be relaid. Siemens can only commence on the necessary installations once the preliminary work on the technical building equipment and the cable ducts has been completed by the relevant contractors. The extended smoke extraction system will be reprogrammed after installation and will be tested jointly by Siemens, BER experts and external specialists for fire protection before being put into operation. The Bosch fire alarm system which was originally installed and which remains fully functional will remain in place unchanged apart from the new fresh air supply controls. The airport operator’s CEO, Hartmut Mehdorn, stated: "The signatures on this contract today mark a key milestone in the completion of BER, one that we have achieved together in a team with Siemens. Working together in the SPRINT Action Plan, we have succeeded within the space of only a few months in developing workable solutions for the issues surrounding the fire protection system that are currently preventing the opening of the new airport. Now, step by step, we will bring together all of these individual phases in an overall plan for the opening of BER." "Today’s contract is a good step forward for the completion of the new airport", says Jorg Marks, Regional Director East, Building Technologies, Siemens AG. "What is decisive is that we receive all the planning documents from the client as agreed in the contract and that all preliminary construction work is completed in order to allow us to start on our work to bring this project to a satisfactory conclusion." www.siemens.co.uk

New Zealand’s leader in fire protection will market TetraKO TetraKO, LLC, the fire suppression subsidiary of EarthClean Corporation, today announced that Tyco New Zealand Limited – trading as Wormald, a part of Tyco International – is the exclusive TetraKO® water enhancer distributor for New Zealand. Wormald is a leading provider of fire protection and suppression solutions for a wide range of industries and applications. “We are very excited to have Wormald join the TetraKO team, and to distribute our game-changing water enhancer in New Zealand,” said Scott Bocklund, TetraKO, LLC President. “Wormald and Tyco International are among the world’s most innovative, committed, and respected names in fire protection and suppression. With their expertise and support, we look forward to making great strides in New Zealand.” “TetraKO water enhancer will be an excellent addition to our fire suppression product line, and we see considerable potential for the technology among many of our market segments – initially in the wildfire area,” said Dennis Heath, Emergency Products Manager for Wormald New Zealand. “As a leader in fire protection services, Wormald has the expertise and know-how to integrate TetraKO to better meet the needs of our customers.” TetraKO water enhancer is biodegradable and non-toxic, and has proven to be far superior because its proprietary dual thickening agent allows it to adhere and stay where applied. When heated by fire, TetraKO becomes even thicker and releases a cooler dry steam, dramatically aiding in fire suppression. Caption: TetraKO, LLC of South St. Paul, Minn., USA announced that Tyco New Zealand Limited – trading as Wormald, part of Tyco International – is the exclusive TetraKO® water enhancer distributor for New Zealand. About Wormald Wormald is a leading provider of fire protection solutions and has been helping to protect people and property for 120 years. The company’s expertise spans the design, manufacture, installation and service of fire products and equipment backed up with a comprehensive range of fire services from engineering advice to fire training. Wormald supplies specialist fire protection services to the mining, marine, industrial, commercial and retail industries. Wormald is part of Tyco International, one of the world’s largest fire and safety systems organisations operating in over 50 countries. About TetraKO, LLC TetraKO, LLC is a company that helps firefighters attack, suppress, and contain fires. TetraKO LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of EarthClean Corporation, a Minnesota-based clean technology company whose mission is the creation and commercialization of environmentally friendly, innovative green chemistry technologies. A team of engineers, scientists, and firefighters developed TetraKO water enhancer. Visit www.tetraKO.com for more information and to see the product in action.

Teaser: Dubai, UAE Website: http://tangentlink.com/event/aircraft-rescue-fire-fighting/

Fire-fighters brought back sorely-needed skills to Somalia A group of fire-fighters was sent to Kenya to learn advanced techniques and bring back sorely-needed skills to Somalia. Somalia is trying to revive its Fire and Rescue Unit with help from the African Union Mission in Somalia Trust Fund. Impoverished explosive devices and suicide bombings have made fires a frequent occurrence in the country. Kenyan Airports Authority Fire and Rescue, Francis Ndeleva, said: “Airport fire-fighting is a bit advanced, it is more technical because you have to deal with an aircraft with passengers on board and there is a lot of fuel and it is moving. So when it touches down, you expect a lot of problems. And the fire is abrupt, it builds up very fast and people can inhale toxic gasses from within or even hot air." One of the trainees said: “The benefit is that we have come from a point where we did not have these skills we have acquired and we have had challenges, but now we have the know-how to counter fire disasters. We have enjoyed it, sometimes we do exercises of physical structure and sometimes we take theory; what fire is, what fire causes and the hazards of fire. We’ve learnt a lot of advantages in Kenya.” However, critics might question whether Kenya is the right choice as the country’s fire brigade was recently slammed for its slow response to a small fire at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport which resulted in extensive damages. (Source: eNCA)

Ian Dunbar, Rescue Consultant at Holmatro Rescue Equipment, explains how officers in charge of extrications are the ‘maestros’ of their team Even the world’s best orchestras are nothing without their conductor. The ‘maestro’ provides tempo, structure and guides sections of the orchestra in and out of the performance as required. He is the focal point, through whom all of the energy passes for the duration of the performance. The end is often met with great adulation for the maestro, but he always turns and acknowledges the performance of the musicians. I have always thought that it is possible to draw a direct parallel between the role of a maestro and that of an officer in charge (OIC) at the scene of an extrication. A well-disciplined and experienced incident commander will make the process look effortless, ensuring a safe and timely extrication from their team. Of course knowledge and experience is not gained over night; so what are the elements needed for effective command and control on scene? Safety on scene So much of the role that the OIC performs is down to the understanding that safety on scene is always the priority and this should be instilled in the team during all training sessions whether they are theoretical or practical. On scene, no work can begin until the OIC has identified all hazards and communicated this information to the crew. The most effective way to do this is to complete a 360 degree survey of the scene. Once the inner survey (area immediately around the vehicle) and outer survey (the wider area depending upon the environment) are completed, then the OIC can instruct the crew what their initial priorities should be and the extrication process can begin. For the duration of the rescue the OIC must ensure that all persons on scene operate safely, wearing full personal protection equipment and adopting the correct position when using hydraulic rescue tools. The need to maintain safety throughout the rescue should dictate the positioning of the OIC. A perfect distance is about 2-3 metres from the vehicle allowing a clear view of the full working area. It is sometimes tempting to get closer but this must be resisted: Being positioned too close to the vehicle means that you cannot see the full risk area. The only exception to this rule is when there is an issue requiring immediate attention, where safety is compromised or when there is a need for the OIC to get their hands on the casualty during the extrication process (for this reason the OIC should also wear medical gloves under their normal extrication gloves). Ideally the OIC should position themselves so they can see every cut/spread/ram. The tool operators should be focussed on the critical area where they are working (e.g. the spreader tips or the cutter blades) while the OIC can see the wider area, ensuring complete safety. There are times too when, for whatever reason, the plan is just not going right and progress is slow. It is at this point where the OIC may be tempted to get more involved and even get their hands on the tools. This must never happen. If it does, effective command and control is lost. The best way to ensure that this never happens is to prepare and train in the most effective way. It’s fair to say that the distance an OIC stands from the car, is directly proportional to the success of his team. The importance of communication The extrication scene is a very dynamic place and the OIC must gather a lot of information in a very short amount of time so that an extrication plan can be devised. Information such as the condition of the casualty and their level of entrapment (from the medic) is necessary before this plan can be conceived. This information has to be communicated to the rest of the team and how this is achieved is critical. The OIC has essentially two options when it comes to communicating the plan. They can inform individual members of the team as they work (this is time consuming and means the OIC will be adopting an undesirable position) or they can call the team together and give a short but precise brief. Although the second method means a temporary cessation of work, it allows the OIC to ensure that the information has received all team members and is understood. Best practice is also to ask for feedback. All team members have experience and may have a more effective solution and be able to offer a viable alternative. The need to maintain communication throughout will also ensure that the OIC’s position is maintained. Regular updates from the medic and the technical team will inform the OIC of how the plan is developing, and allow them to adapt quickly to any unforeseen problems. Of course communication with other agencies (paramedic/police) is an integral part of a successful rescue, but this must not compromise effective command and control of the scene. The OIC should consider nominating a deputy (where personnel permit) to deal with other agencies. Momentum is extremely important and the OIC has a crucial role to play here. Minimum time on scene means that your casualty can receive definitive medical care at the earliest possible time. Simply by motivating the team, the OIC will ensure that the team maintains momentum. Of course from a practical point of view, momentum can be achieved by the proactive management of resources. This means that the OIC has to be thinking at least one step ahead of the current task, and needs to ensure that whatever resources (people or equipment) are required next, are easily available. This ‘simultaneous activity’ reduces time on scene, ensures that an effective (but safe) pace is maintained and enables seamless progression. Minimum on scene teaching & technique management Your training regime should illuminate virtually all on scene coaching/teaching by the OIC. The ability to immediately react to the simplest and most concise instruction means