National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 281

Latest Fire Sprinkler Initiative newsletter tells us what we can learn from a country that will soon sprinkler its new homes

Across the pond in Wales, home fire sprinklers suffer the same myths and homebuilder opposition that is prevalent in North America. Yet, a historical measure was signed into law in 2011 following a unanimous vote by the Welsh Assembly to sprinkler the country's new homes starting next year. How did that happen? Get the full story by reading the latest edition of NFPA's Fire Sprinkler Initiative newsletter. You'll also find stories on: a new law demanding homebuilder action on home fire sprinklers two home fires, years apart, claiming members of the same family a fire chief discussing how his opinion...

A sprinkler success story in Connecticut

An afternoon fire in Connecticut this past Sunday could have been a lot worse if not for sprinklers. A Fairfield apartment building kitchen fire on August 23 was successfully contained by the overhead sprinkler system, limiting damage to just two of the 54 apartments, according to the Fairfield Citizen. The Fairfield Fire Department's Assistant Chief Schuyler Sherwood issued the following statement in the wake of the event: "The occupants of the building were extremely lucky that this building had a sprinkler system and that the sprinkler system kept the fire in check. The damage would have been much worse had...

NFPA offers Fire Prevention Week message in American Sign Language

We are excited to announce that NFPA now has an American Sign Language video for Fire Prevention Week. The Fire Prevention Week theme - Hear the Beep Where You Sleep: Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm - is shown through signing, voice-over and open captioning. The video stresses the importance of having a working smoke alarm in several places: In every bedroom Outside of each separate sleeping area On every level of the home, including the basement Information is also given on devices that meet the needs of people who are deaf. Half of all U.S. home fire deaths...

NFPA Certification: Education, Experience and Examination

Leon Katcharian, NFPA's Director of Certification Certification matters. At NFPA, we understand how important your credibility is to your employers, your peers, and the public you serve. That’s why, as the code and standard developer and publisher, we offer Certification Programs that signify you have the experience, education, and knowledge it takes to handle the responsibilities of your job. Our Certification holders provide evidence of their education and experience by passing a rigorous examination required by NFPA as the certifying body. Use this catalog as a guide to develop your career path. Inside this PDF, you’ll find a comprehensive profile...

Today in fire history: fire in fraternity house leaves three dead

At approximately 1:00 a.m. on September 8, 1990, a fire occurred at a fraternity house in Berkeley, California. The fire killed three students and injured two others. Local fire investigators determined that the fire started when a couch in the assembly room was ignited with a butane lighter. The couch then ignited other combustibles in the room and the fire quickly spread through the building. Fire protection equipment included fire extinguishers, fire hose cabinets, local fire alarm system with bells and manual pull stations, and single station, battery-operated smoke detectors in a few sleeping rooms. The following factors significantly contributed...

New York code council ruling against home fire sprinklers angers safety advocates

Tempers flared following a recent vote by the New York Fire Prevention and Building Code Council to adopt the 2015 International Residential Code but remove its requirement to sprinkler all new, one- and two-family homes. Instead, the council opted to continue using the current code, which requires sprinklers only in wood frame residences exceeding two stories. "You guys messed up," Jeff Wilkinson, president of the New York State Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association, told the council, according to an article in the Times Union. "You guys should be ashamed of yourselves." Also not mincing words was the New York State...

Taiwan explosion sparks concern over dangers of colored powder

On June 27, almost 500 people were injured in a horrific incident at a water park in Taiwan when a colored powder exploded. As of August 12, eleven people have died and dozens of victims remain in intensive care. Some of the injured suffered burns on 80 to 90 percent of their bodies. This incident cast a spotlight on the potential dangers of this powder, which is used especially in North America at events like color runs. Few people realize that the powder is readily ignitable when dispersed as a dust cloud. Corn starch, the primary ingredient in the powder...

NFPA members: Join our live NFPA Insider discussion on August 27th to hear about Fire Prevention Week, robots & drones, & more

NFPA INSIDER is a live, bi-monthly online session — an added benefit for NFPA members only — that features expanded news and content from the latest issue of NFPA Journal and other NFPA sources. In this month's NFPA INSIDER, on Thursday, August 27th at 2:00 pm (EDT), members will hear: Jim Pauley, President of NFPA, discusses this year's Fire Prevention Week initiatives and the importance of community involvement in educating the public. Dawn Bellis, Division Manager of Codes & Standards, provides an overview of council actions on standards that were presented at the recent NFPA technical meeting. NFPA Journal explores...

In August issue of Fire Break newsletter we focus on details of Backyards & Beyond Wildland Fire Education Conference

The August issue of Fire Break, NFPA’s Wildland Fire Operations Division newsletter, is now available for viewing. In this issue, we focus on our October Backyards & Beyond Wildland Fire Education Conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina! Inside you’ll find: A link to the descriptions of the special presentations and keynote address Registration information Information about the exhibitors Descriptions of the nearly 50 education sessions ...and much more. We want to continue to share all of this great information with you, so don’t miss an issue! So subscribe today. It’s free! Just click here to add your e-mail address to...

Today in fire history: a fire onboard a cruise ship resulted in two fatalities and fifty-seven injuries

On August 20, 1984, a fire onboard the Cruise ship M/V SCANDINAVIAN SUN, while docking at the Port of Miami, resulted in two fatalities and fifty-seven injuries among passengers, crew and City of Miami fire fighters. The rapidly spreading fire forced many of the passengers, who were in the process of disembarking, to remain on board until the fire was extinguished. The fatalities, one passenger and one crew member, were eventually found in their cabins during the search of the ship. The fire was discovered just after the ship had completed docking. The fire, which originated in the auxiliary engine...