National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 262

NFPA offers hover board fire safety tips this holiday season

Across the globe, fire incidents associated with hover boards are being reported at an alarming rate prompting internet giants Overstock and Amazon to stop selling some hover boards. One tragic incident in Louisiana earlier this month involved a hover board on top of a mattress that burst into flames. Fire quickly engulfed the entire house, and the home and its contents were determined to be a complete loss. Other reported fire episodes occurred when hover boards were being used, stored or transported. After numerous media inquiries, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) issued fire safety tips urging hover board owners...

CFI-I, CFI-II, and CFPE certifications now provide Pro Board accreditation

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced the recognition of its certification team as a Pro Board accredited entity. Candidates who pass the latest NFPA Pro Board accredited exams and complete the certification process for the Certified Fire Inspector I (CFI-I), Certified Fire Inspector II (CFI-II), or the Certified Fire Plan Examiner (CFPE) will now be automatically registered with the Pro Board and will receive an NFPA certificate bearing the Pro Board logo. For more information go to: nfpa.org/certification. Watch this video interview to learn what accreditation means to NFPA, why NFPA sought out accreditation, what it means and how...

In the December issue of Safety Source: new Dan Doofus video, Project Holiday resources, Christmas tree burn video & more

The December issue of Safety Source, NFPA's public education enewsletter, is now available for viewing. In this issue, you will find; NFPA’s annual holiday fire-safety campaign, “Project Holiday” New Dan Doofus video, Yule Light Up My Life Live burn video shows how quickly Christmas tree fires can turn deadly Deck the Halls with Fire Safety video The James M. Shannon Advocacy Medal Don't miss an issue! Sign up now and be the first to get the latest information on happenings in the public education division, activities, fire statistics, trends, educational tips, Sparky the Fire Dog® and more.

Today in fire history: a natural gas explosion destroys hotel and six adjacent buildings killing 20 people

At 9:32 a.m. on Saturday, January 10, a natural gas explosion killed 20 people in Fremont, Nebraska, and destroyed the Pathfinder Hotel and six adjacent buildings. The exact cause of the explosion is unknown, but the natural gas leak that preceded the explosion was caused by an underground pipe separation. The odor of the natural gas was first detected about four hours before the explosion. However, hotel employees were unable to reach gas company personnel to request assistance for nearly two hours, even though they used emergency telephone numbers. The fire that resulted from the explosion spread vertically through inadequately...

CFI-I, CFI-II, and CFPE certifications now provide Pro Board accreditations

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced the recognition of its certification team as a Pro Board accredited entity. Candidates who pass the latest NFPA Pro Board accredited exams and complete the certification process for the Certified Fire Inspector I (CFI-I), Certified Fire Inspector II (CFI-II), or the Certified Fire Plan Examiner (CFPE) will now be automatically registered with the Pro Board and will receive an NFPA certificate bearing the Pro Board logo. For more information go to: nfpa.org/certification. Watch this video interview to learn what accreditation means to NFPA, why NFPA sought out accreditation, what it means and how...

Maryland adopt latest editions of NFPA fire safety codes

The State Fire Prevention Commission in Maryland has adopted the 2015 editions of NFPA 1, Fire Code™, and NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®. Both codes are used to protect people and property in new and existing buildings. The Life Safety Code, used in all 50 states, mandates building design construction, operation, and maintenance requirements to protect building occupants from the dangers caused by fire, smoke, and toxic fumes. NFPA 1 provides requirements necessary to establish a reasonable level of fire safety and property protection from hazards created by fire and explosion. "Life safety is always our top priority," said State...

Today in fire history: an early morning fire in a dormitory resulted in the deaths of ten female students

In the early morning hours of December 13, 1977, a fire occurred at Aquinas Hall, a dormitory at Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island. This fire resulted in the deaths of ten female students who were resident s of the fourth floor. The primary fuel for the fire was highly combustible Christmas decorations that had been put up in the corridors. Physical evidence indicates that the fire started near a fourth floor sleeping room. Aquinas Hall was of mixed construction with a majority of the building being protected by non- combustible construction. It's a four story building with the first...

Fire safety issues around energy storage systems sparking attention

Energy storage systems (ESS) – and more specifically questions around how to handle them safely in a fire situation - are getting lots of attention these days. An online article posted on Engineering & Electrical News, Inc. addressed this very issue, covering the proactive role fire departments like the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and the San Jose Fire Department are taking to better understand and manage them. On a related note, NFPA recently hosted a workshop in New York with FDNY to explore potential risks posed by ESS and best practices for moving forward. For a wealth of...

9 signs you're a holiday decorating disaster ...

Your cat lets you know he’s delighted you’ve finally bought some great toys! Keep pets and children at least three feet away from burning candles and electrical cords to prevent burns and electrical fires. That ever-growing pile of fallen pine needles on the living room floor is receiving more comments than the decorations for your Christmas tree. Zoe Buller/Instagram A dry tree in your home is a fire danger. Think of it as a huge pile of kindling in your home. Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched. You’ve spent more time trying...

Burn survivor from The Station Nightclub Fire now NFPA's newest blogger and fire sprinkler champion

If there was ever a story underscoring the atrocities of fire, this is it. Rob Feeney was at The Station Nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, the night a fire claimed the lives of 100 people, making it the fourth deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history. A staunch advocate for fire sprinklers in all buildings, including homes, Feeney is now the Fire Sprinkler Initiative's newest blogger. Here is his inaugural post, a powerful and gut-wrenching recap of what happened that night from his perspective. Signs were telling us to stay home the night of February 20, 2003. I was supposed...