National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 305

Share new whiteboard animation video and generate local PrepDay involvement

Post by Cathy Prudhomme Take a quick two-minute break from what you're doing and watch NFPA’s new whiteboard animation video - a tool for fire departments, Firewise Communities/USA program participants, forestry agencies and residents. The fast-paced animation combined with the engaging message uniquely illustrates the importance of local projects and highlights the benefits of grassroots efforts. The video is a unique outreach tool that will encourage development of local Wildfire Community Preparedness Day activities on Saturday, May 2. Share the fun high-energy video with stakeholders, neighbors, friends and community groups and get them motivated to participate in the campaign! Post...

In new NFPA Journal, answering questions about sprinklers in concealed spaces

NFPA received about 4,000 calls last year from people seeking answers to questions they had about NFPA 13, Installation of Sprinkler Systems, according to Matt Klaus, principal fire protection engineer at NFPA and staff liaison for NFPA 13. Many of those questions were about sprinkler protection in concealed spaces, Klaus wrote in his new column in the March/April issue of NFPA Journal. It’s a tricky topic, Klaus says, because there are no simple answers when it comes to sprinklers in concealed spaces. Sometimes you need them, sometimes you don’t. In his column, Klaus explains where in the code answers to...

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Help protect the people who protect us: Become a sponsor on an upcoming project to address contaminant removal from fire fighter PPE

The Fire Protection Research Foundation is currently looking for sponsors to support its upcoming project on contaminant removal from fire fighters’ personal protective equipment (PPE), but they need your help to do it. While general cleaning procedures have been established in NFPA 1851, Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, more science is needed to support, clarify and enhance those procedures to ensure optimum contaminant removal. This issue is of serious concern to today’s fire service community, particularly as cancer - a leading concern for fire fighter health – is...

New NFPA Journal column reminds us, it's always wildfire season somewhere

The aftermath of January's Adelaide Hills fires in Australia. In the United States, wildfire season hits when the weather becomes warm and dry. We don't think of January as a particularly troubling month. It's easy to forget that, no matter the time of the year, it's wildfire season somewhere, writes NFPA Firewise Communities manager Lucian Deaton in his new column in the March/April issue of NFPA Journal. In fact, while the United States was in a deep freeze, 2015 kicked off with a a big 31,000-acre wildfire that destroyed 27 homes and damaged 130 outbuildings in Australia. "The Australian fires...

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Snowmagedon at NFPA hq

It's the middle of March. It's 18 degrees today. There is still snow on the ground at NFPA headquarters BUT we can now see over the snow banks. I can honestly declare that Snowmageddon is ovah! That's Boston speak for "over" by the way. It is now safe to visit us in Quincy, Massachusetts. We have training seminars coming up for different topics so check them out and visit us at NFPA headquarters: Certified Fire Protection Specialist Primer 2-day Seminar 2013 NFPA 13: Installation of Sprinkler Systems 3-day Seminar Just so you understand how much snow we received in this...

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NFPA's Role in Competency Standards for Emergency Response to Crude Oil Rail Car Derailments

​Yesterday, at the invitation of Transport Canada's Emergency Response Task Force, an NFPA team consisting of Shayne Mintz, our Canadian Regional Representative, Ken Willette and Tom McGowan from our Public Fire Protection Division and I spent the day with 50 members of the Canadian fire service, government, and rail and oil industries to discuss how we might meet their needs for standards, guidance and training for emergency response to crude oil railcar derailments. There have been an average of one of these incidents in North America every couple of months or so; the incident in Lac Megantic Quebec killed over...

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NFPA Journal talks about new energy storage systems

NFPA is much more than a standards-development organization—we also facilitate the safe deployment of emerging technologies to the fire service, says Ken Willette, division manager for Public Fire Protection at NFPA. A case in point is the way hybrid and electric passenger vehicles (EVs) were introduced to the fire service. Five years ago, General Motors asked NFPA to partner with them in developing and delivering awareness-level training for the fire service. With a Department of Energy grant and additional funding from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, NFPA developed a training curriculum and delivery platform to share this information with as...

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NFPA Journal concerned about possible elimination of ATF

Last September, House Resolution 5522 (HR-5522), also known as the “ATF Elimination Act,” was introduced in the 113th Congress to abolish the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and redistribute its functions to other agencies. Congress did not enact the bill, but it will be reintroduced in the 114th Congress. The elimination of ATF would undoubtedly have a significant effect, not only on the nation’s fire service, but on NFPA, as well, says Greg Cade, in his column "Partner in Peril" in the latest issue of NFPA Journal. NFPA and ATF have had a long and productive relationship. The...

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In March's issue of Safety Source: new music video, short fire-safety story for kids, and spring cleaning tips

The March issue of Safety Source, NFPA's public education enewsletter, is now available for viewing. In this issue, you will find; New music video teaches - firefighters as community helpers Safe battery storage for spring cleaning Short fire-safety story for kids Video: Add a dash of cooking safety with your favorite meal Remembering When evaluation project underway Looking Back: Remembering the St. Anthony's Hospital fire 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.

The new NFPA Journal explores how big oil can create big challenges for small fire departments

As the United States rapidly increases oil drilling and the use of new extraction methods such as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, hundreds of new industrial oil wells have appeared all across the rural landscape. The situation has created a serious problem for the small, often volunteer, fire departments charged with protecting these remote areas. “Regular firefighting and industrial firefighting are two different things, and they have really never intermingled—but now we’re forced to make that happen,” Neal Nanna, chief of the Harmony Volunteer Department in western Pennsylvania, says in the new March/April issue of NFPA Journal. “You can’t just run...