National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 44

Understanding Electrical Equipment Resiliency and Sustainability in the Face of Disasters Explored During NFPA Electrical Program on May 18

Electrical infrastructure has become such an integral part of our everyday lives that outages can often lead to serious emergency situations where folks are in real danger of being injured or worse. In fact, the events that took place in Texas this past winter are a prime example. When storms took out a large part of the power grid, many were left without power for a considerable amount of time,...



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Wildfire Worries in California: Recent Actions to Address the Crisis

With bone-dry conditions across the state, the talk among Californians is wildfire. How many fires will burn this year? Will 2021 top the four million acres that burned last year?  Will my community be hit next? If any of my fellow Californians didn’t know “fire season” is now year-round, early April’s Spring Fire in the Angeles National Forest is here to remind them. With over 10,000 homes and...



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NFPA Standards Council approves development of NFPA 420, Standard on Fire Protection of Cannabis Growing and Processing Facilities

The NFPA Standards Council has approved the development of NFPA 420, Standard on Fire Protection of Cannabis Growing and Processing Facilities. The new standard, which was originally proposed in response to serious fires that have occurred at cannabis facilities in recent years, will provide clear guidance on fire protection standards for facilities that produce, process and extract...



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National Electrical Safety Month Offers Electrical Safety Education Opportunities to Keep the Connected World Safer

Can you imagine what the past year would have been like if we didn't have electricity? In my estimation, the world would likely have come to a standstill. Without electricity, the devices that we have depended on for work, school, and social interaction would have been powered off. Now, more than ever, it is easy to see just how electrically connected our world is. In dealing with this pandemic,...



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Texas electric vehicle crash underscores need for first responders to learn about hazards and response tactics

In response to a tragic electric vehicle crash that killed two occupants in Texas last week, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are reminding responders that they offer resources that can help safely handle incidents involving EVs.
Although the cause of the recent Tesla incident is still being determined, news reports indicate...



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Fire Extinguisher Placement Guide

In the hands of trained personnel, portable fire extinguishers are the first line of defense against incipient fires, but in order to be useful they need to be accessible. This blog tackles the topic of portable fire extinguisher placement, both how portable fire extinguishers should be distributed and exactly where they are allowed to be placed.
The first step is to choose the correct...



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Safety Stand Down: Take the Quiz and Spread the Word About Rebuilding Rehab

The “2021 Fire Service Safety Stand Down Quiz” Sweepstakes is now live. The informative and interactive online quiz is designed to reinforce the safety messages that are part of this year’s Safety Stand Down theme, “Rebuild Rehab”. The dates for Safety Stand Down are June 20-26.
Emergency services personnel are asked to take and promote the Safety Stand Down quiz, which features 13 questions and...



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Before You Set Out on the Road, Watch This RV Safety Video from the Research Foundation

Thinking of renting an RV to safely escape the pandemic? Check out this short video where I interview Doug Mulvaney with Kampgrounds of America on the recently published FPRF Report titled: Fire Damage and Loss Assessment of Recreational Vehicles (RV’s). Doug provides some key takeaways from the research findings and provides a checklist of safety items to review before you hit the road! Although...



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Microgrids, Technological Advancements in Electrical Industry Highlighted During NFPA 125th Anniversary Conference Series Electrical Program on May 18

The electrical industry is no stranger to advancements in technology and often is ahead of the curve.  For example, automobiles have gone from utilizing leaded gas, to unleaded gas (leaded gas was banned in 1996 as part of the Clean Air Act), and now are utilizing electricity for power. While most cars on the road still utilize gasoline, many automakers have set their sights on having a...



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Restaurant Fire Protection Basics

As we emerge from the shutdowns and limitations due to COVID-19, many of us are likely looking forward to the day when our favorite restaurant will be able to operate at full capacity. Full tables, a packed bar area, people sitting in a waiting area, and a ton of activity in the kitchen will be good for local businesses and for people’s need for more in-person social interaction.
As we look...



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