National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 289

Find out why Backyards & Beyond Wildfire Conference is the place to be this fall

By NFPA's Faith Berry Are you looking to update your wildfire preparedness knowledge? Do you want to meet some prominent wildfire preparedness educators from across the nation? Do you want to know what the latest research tells us about how best to prepare homes, communities and fire departments before a wildfire event? Then the Backyards & Beyond Conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is the place to be this fall. The picture is from HomeVestors.com in the article "Wildfire Risk High for Real Estate Investment in 2015." If you register by September 18th your registration fees will be $150 lower....

Today in fire history: ten people die and 82 others injured in a hotel fire

On Tuesday, July 31, 1979, at 3:26 a.m., a fire was reported at the Holiday Inn, Southgate Parkway, Cambridge, Ohio. Ten people died from smoke inhalation and 82 were injured, several of them seriously. All fatalities were occupants of second floor guest rooms. The two-story building was of protected noncombustible construction. The area of origin was within a first floor corridor towards one end of the guest room wings. The interior wall finish in the corridors and three open stairways of the building consisted of combustible vinyl wall covering. The building was equipped with a manual fire alarm system; however,...

Calling All Health Care Engineers

If you are attending the 52nd ASHE Annual Conference and Technical Exhibition in Boston this month, be sure to visit with the NFPA staff who will be in attendance. NFPA will be well represented at this year’s conference. All events and sessions will be held at the John B. Hynes Memorial Convention Center on July 12-15. Come by and visit with our marketing and product staff in the Exhibit Hall (Booth 123). Swing by the ASHE Learning Lounge in Hall A on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to speak with NFPA staff engineers with your NFPA code questions. And be sure...

Connecticut legislature passes crucial sprinkler bill following father's efforts

The state of Connecticut is benefiting from the efforts of a man who has turned tragedy into triumph. Jeffrey Block has been an influential force behind a legislative bill requiring landlords to inform tenants whether or not their homes are sprinklered. His push follows the death of his 21-year-old daughter, Eva, in a 2012 house fire. Advocating for this bill, Block recently made a tearful plea to a local TV news station, urging lawmakers to get the bill out of legislative limbo. He also initiated an online petition to gain public support for the measure. The legislature responded by passing...

NFPA Report Cited in Coverage of Church Fires

Some of the latest news stories covering recent fires in churches have quoted NFPA research. According to NFPA's 2013 report U.S. Structure Fires in Religious and Funeral Properties, local fire departments responded to an estimated average of 1,780 structure fires per year at churches, other places of worship or funeral parlors during the five-year period of 2007- 2011. Thirty percent of the fires in these properties were caused by cooking and another 16% by heating equipment. Sixteen percent or 280 of the 1,780 structure fires per year at these properties were intentional. NFPA’s Marty Ahrens says it is not surprising...

Health requirements differ for pre- and post-employment members and incumbent firefighters

Within NFPA 1582, Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments, there are 13 essential job tasks firefighters must be able to perform to become a firefighter. Certain pre-existing health conditions, such as monocular vision (a.k.a. vision in only one eye), use of a hearing aid, and a history of seizures, prevent pre-employment members from becoming a firefighter. Meanwhile, incumbent firefighters who develop one of these conditions may remain on the job. Should there be a different set of health requirements for pre-employment members and incumbent firefighters? Should incumbent firefighters be expected to meet the same standards of employment...

Firefighter Health and Safety - We Need Your Input!

NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program, is facing issues that directly impact firefighter health and safety. Read on to learn what’s at stake, and make sure your opinions and perspectives are heard! Public Inputs on NFPA 1500 can be submitted through July 6. Work Hour Requirements Right now, NFPA 1500 does not set requirements on the maximum number of hours a firefighter can work within a given shift. Do you think there should be a requirement on the maximum number of hours a firefighter should work in one shift? If so, what do you think...

Michigan man fatally wounded this past weekend while handling consumer fireworks

Each year when we promote fireworks safety, we get a lot of flak from people who think our stance is downright absurd. In response to yesterday’s Facebook post, which stated that there’s no safe way to use consumer fireworks, one person commented, “That is the dumbest statement I’ve read today, I’ve never met one person injured by fireworks.” Anyone who tracks fireworks injuries knows that thousands of people are, in fact, injured from fireworks each year. Many of those injuries are serious or even fatal. Just this past weekend in Michigan, a 47-year-old man died when a large mortar fireworks...

NY State legislature passes bill requiring all battery-operated smoke alarms include non-removable,10-year batteries

Smoke alarms can make the difference between life and death in a fire, but they have to be working. That’s a message the New York State legislature clearly understands. Last week, the New York State Senate and Assembly passed legislation requiring all battery-operated smoke alarms sold in New York State be equipped with non-removable, 10-year batteries. The bill, which is now pending Governor Cuomo's signature, prompted applause from Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) President Robert McConville. “As firefighters, we frequently encounter the horrific effects of fires in homes without working smoke alarms,” McConville said. “This bill...

In June issue of Fire Break: Backyards & Beyond registration now open, landscape equipment info and insurance news

The June issue of Fire Break, NFPA’s Wildland Fire Operations Division newsletter, is now available for viewing. Here’s what you’ll find in this month’s issue: An update on NFPA’s Backyards & Beyond wildland fire conference in October in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina An announcement of the second phase of the Year of Living Less Dangerously from Wildfire campaign - ACT Information about using landscaping equipment (lawn mowers, chain saws, etc.) responsibly to reduce grass fires News that focuses on two insurance companies and their work to support wildfire safety ...and much more. We want to continue to share all of...