National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 255

9-1-1 Telecommunicators Training Guidelines Needs Your Review

We need your input! Over the past few months, organizations and agencies joined forces to design a national recommended minimum training guideline for 9-1-1 Telecommunicators. NFPA participated with these key stakeholders in the telecommunications industry to identify universally accepted training for consistent level 9-1-1 service. The result of this effort is a training guideline that covers topics including; roles and responsibilities, call processing, legal aspects, and quality assurance, just to name a few. Established early in the process was the desire to involve the telecommunicator community and public in the review process of the new guidelines. While the recommended topics...

NFPA Journal looks back at the deadly fire at Boston's Hotel Vendome

The Hotel Vendome was the height of Gilded-Age opulence in Boston, but on June 17, 1972, it was the scene of a fire and partial building collapse that killed nine firefighters and injured eight—one of the worst losses ever suffered by the Boston Fire Department. The “Looking Back” article in the new January/February issue of NFPA Journal takes a detailed look at this tragedy, including what led to the fire, and the subsequent building collapse that killed the firefighters. “The collapse trapped 17 firefighters in a pile of debris nearly two stories high,” Mary Elizabeth Woodruff, manager of library in...

Hut, Hut, Hike! 6 game day strategies for a fire safe Super Bowl Sunday

Did you know that Super Bowl Sunday ranked #6 behind Thanksgiving, Christmas and Memorial Day in 2013 as having the largest numbers of estimated reported home fires on a holiday? According to NFPA’s 2015 Home Fires Involving Cooking Equipment report, an annual average of 590 home cooking fires occurred on Super Bowl Sunday in 2013. That’s a 25% increase over the average number of fires on a typical day! The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) tells us that Super Bowl Sunday is also the second biggest day of the year for food consumption! So if you’re planning to whip up...

Today in fire history: Collision of two planes at Los Angeles airport in 1991 kills 34 people.

On the evening of February 1, 1991 a US Air, Boeing 737-300 collided with a Skywest, Fairchild Metroliner at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The B-737 that was involved was configured to carry 128 people including both passengers and crew; however, only 89 people were aboard at the time of the accident. Twenty-two people on the B-737 died, and all 12 people aboard the Fairchild Metroliner were killed by the collision and subsequent fire. The NFPA dispatched a staff member to participate in the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) investigation of the accident. The NFPA’s focus was on the...

National expert on fire prevention visits NFPA headquarters to promote home fire sprinklers

Images of firefighter Phil Tammaro's injuries flashed on screens filling one of NFPA's conference rooms. Photos showcased burns on his legs he sustained at two years old during a 1971 home fire. For four decades, doctors had to treat these burns. NFPA staff had mixed reactions to the images; some turned away while others couldn't take their eyes off the screens. However, they collectively applauded Tammaro for sharing his story in the hopes of increasing safety at home. Tammaro is one of NFPA's newest Faces of Fire, a component of the Fire Sprinkler Initiative that humanizes today's home fire problem...

Today in fire history: sprinkler controls fire in boarding home

On January 29, 1985, a fire occurred on the first floor of a boarding home in Washington D.C. The fire, thought to be caused by smoking materials, involved a couch in the facility’s smoking room and a small amount of other materials, before the smoke detectors alerted occupants and automatic sprinklers controlled the fire. Although smoke had spread throughout most of the structure, occupants were able to escape with fire department assistance, and the only injuries were minor in nature. This fire was significant because it demonstrated the value that an automatic sprinkler system can have on improving the level...

New NFPA online community, Xchange, keeps you up-to-date on latest codes & standards information

NFPA Xchange™ is our new, free online community, and we want to invite you to join us there! NFPA Xchange lets you connect with professionals worldwide, explore content, share ideas, and ask questions, as the latest way to stay up-to-date on codes and standards related information. NFPA Xchange allows users to search or browse information on topics ranging from fire protection systems, electrical, building and life safety, emergency response, and more. Content is submitted by community users and NFPA staff and subject matter experts alike. We want to invite the public to join and share their expertise, discuss emerging issues...

NFPA Journal debuts new 'International' column focusing on NFPA's many global efforts

While NFPA has long been a global leader and advocate for fire protection and life safety, in recent years the organization has made expansion of its reach internationally an even greater priority. “NFPA has many reasons to expand its global influence,” writes Don Bliss, NFPA’s vice president of field operations, in his new “International” column for NFPA Journal, which debuted in the January/February issue. “Through this column, I will describe NFPA’s work around the world to help save lives and reduce loss with information, knowledge, and passion. We are doing a lot of great work with our partners and stakeholders,...

New Research Foundation project reviews international codes & standards related to chimney top devices

Chimney top devices are used throughout the world, but to provide clearer guidance, the NFPA 211 Technical Committee wanted to develop a clearer vision of the international use of chimney top devices. A Fire Protection Research Foundation report entitled, Impact of Chimney-top Appurtenances on Flue Gas Flow, was previously completed in December 2014 and included a look at existing chimney-top devices and their effect on the flow of gas. It also included a review of available chimney-top devices. However, it did not consider international implications. This project reviewed international codes and standards as they pertain to the use of chimney...

Latest issue of NFPA's Fire Sprinkler Initiative newsletter underscores shocking reaction from homebuilder after homeowner requests fire sprinklers

In the latest issue of our Fire Sprinkler Initiative newsletter, read how a New Jersey homeowner got a shocking response from his builder after requesting to have fire sprinklers installed in his new home. You’ll also find stories on: NFPA’s response to a commentary filled with fire sprinkler inaccuracies and misstatements why Kermit the Frog has it wrong: it’s easy being green (with fire sprinklers) how air flow and a lack of home fire sprinklers impacted two deadly fires Subscribing to our free, monthly newsletter is easy; simply fill out this simple form to make sure you're receiving top sprinkler...