Cancer – the current epidemic in the fire service
More firefighters have been diagnosed with cancer in the last two years than in the previous 10 years combined, and sadly, one in three firefighters will die of cancer. With a minimum…
Firetreks – the journey so far
Five months into my journey and I have explored three wonderfully unique countries in South America as part of the FireTreks project. I began FireTreks to gain a greater insight into fire…
Recruitment drive sees hike in female firefighters
This is the next generation of firefighters who will be keeping the communities of Hampshire safe – and the number of women has increased by almost 900%. This follows a proactive campaign…
Fire safety in the commercial sector
Fire can ruin a business and change things in an instant. According to a recent study carried out by the Business Sprinkler Alliance, only 16% of respondents considered the risk of fire…
The evolution of SCBA – How innovation is improving safety
The biggest barrier to firefighter safety is undoubtedly smoke. The need to provide crews with the ability to breath, manoeuvre within a building freely and interact with colleagues has shaped the development…
Grenfell: Has anything changed?
Approved Document B is the core fire-safety document underpinning our industry. Its full name is Approved Document B: Fire safety Volume 1 – Dwellinghouses 2006 edition incorporating 2007, 2010 and 2013 amendments…
FireTreks – knowledge sharing with the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE)
For any industry, data and how we harness, process and share it is key to developing procedures that can help to prevent the loss of lessons learnt. FireTreks aims to support the…
FireTreks – the journey starts now
FireTreks was created to start a journey. Rainforests, deserts, volcanos, ice fields, salt flats, mountains, remote islands and condensed townships – FireTreks aims to investigate how fire safety is managed in such…
Veteran firefighter reflects on incredible 50-year career
When Dave Farries began his career as a firefighter, the Vietnam War was still raging, Britain had just introduced the decimal coin and Harold Wilson was in his first tenure as Prime…
Bristol Uniforms past and present
Today, Bristol Uniforms is a global leader in the design and manufacture of PPE for firefighters, providing cutting-edge protective garments to fire services in 110 countries across the world. But the company…
SAPPHIRE PLUS Launch
UK joins the club of countries with non-combustibility requirements for high-rise buildings
The start of October was marked by the announcement at the Conservative Party Conference 2018 that combustible materials will be banned from the facades of ‘all new high-rise residential buildings, hospitals, registered…
SWFRS Bridgend retain UK Extrication title for the sixth time
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service Bridgend Extrication Team remain the very best in the country after defending their UK Extrication Team title and winning for a sixth time. The team fought…
telent technology – Improved efficiency and reduced costs for East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service
East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (ESFRS) had a bold vision for the future, but its ICT infrastructure was holding it back. telent delivered the expertise it needed to do what the…
Crofton replaces Cambridgeshire training towers after 60 years
Sixty years after it designed, fabricated and constructed its first ever fire-training tower in Linton, Cambridgeshire in 1958, Crofton Engineering has replaced the original structure with a new and updated version. Crofton…
Atlantic dream team
During December 2018, adventurers will set off on a world record breaking challenge to row 3,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean. I said, “I have never heard of it.” “It’s a…