RE-HEALING™ foam concentrates The Solberg Company, a global supplier of firefighting foam concentrates and systems hardware, announced today the company has achieved ICAO Certification on the company’s RE-HEALING™ foam concentrates. A range of products have achieved certification to Level B and the new Level C standard. RE-HEALING RF3 (3%), RF6 (6%) and RF3x6 ATC™ (at both 3% and 6% solution) have achieved Level B Certification. The ICAO Level B certification for RE-HEALING RF6, 6% foam concentrate has been achieved on both the UL 162 Listed and the EN 1568 Approved product formulations. In addition, Level C Certification has been achieved on RE-HEALING RF3x6 ATC at the 6% solution rate. The newest generation of RE-HEALING RF3, 3% foam concentrate is now approved as ICAO Level B, in addition to existing product certifications including Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standard 162 Listed, and EN 1568 as 1A. Customers can now purchase a single foam concentrate for all their fire protection needs. “Solberg RE-HEALING foam is the future of firefighting foam worldwide. Achieving Level B Certification on our range of RE-HEALING foam concentrates is further proof of the continuing advancement of our fluorine-free technology”, stated Jan Solberg, Director of Business Development for Solberg. A specialized agency of the United Nations, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world. ICAO sets the Standards and Recommended Practices necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency and environmental protection on a global basis. It serves as the primary forum for co-operation in all fields of civil aviation among its 191 Member States. The ICAO certification was carried out by the UK CAA through its subsidiary CAA International and provides independent third party verification of firefighting performance. Simon Webb, the UK CAA Technical Specialist said: “This independent certification of firefighting foam is good news for prospective purchasers. They now can be assured of the firefighting performance in these witnessed tests.” Based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with operations in Bergen, Norway and Sydney, Australia, Solberg (an Amerex Corporation company) has been involved with the manufacture of firefighting foams since the mid-1970s. Solberg’s unique technology and foam systems hardware is preferred by customers in the aerospace, aviation, chemical, defence, energy, fire services, marine, mining, oil and gas, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, pipeline, solvent & coatings and utilities industries.

XVR will bring core technology for single and joint service command simulation training  As part of the investment into improved training facilities for London Fire Brigade (LFB), Babcock has chosen to partner with E-Semble to implement the XVR Simulation Platform in two newly built Incident Command Simulation (Sim) Suites. The Sim Suites located in East and West London will be equipped with state of the art technology for an immersive training experience. This will include floor to ceiling screens where delegates will be able to move freely around an incident and full audio to enhance interaction. Recordings of the training will provide immediate feedback and assessment for delegates. E-Semble will equip the new Simulation Suites with a variety of scenarios to keep training current. For example, scenarios resulting from the European Commission FP7 Project “CRISIS” led by Middlesex University. Additional innovations include the simulation of Incident Command Unit processes and an online news media and social media simulator. Most importantly, delegates will benefit from an immersive, varied training experience in a realistic and safe environment. “We selected XVR after a thorough comparison of the leading simulation providers in the UK“ explains Gordon Reynolds, Director of Training for Babcock. “We chose on the basis of a proven track record, acceptance in the field and quality of the software and the supplier”. The XVR Simulation Platform is used by over 20 Fire & Rescue Services in the UK and over 150 in the rest of the world. This makes it an ideal platform for use in multi-agency Incident Command Training exercises, which both of the facilities can accommodate. The Simulation Suites in London have been specifically designed for Joint Emergency Services training in accordance with current and future JESIP guidelines. Multi-agency usage of the simulator has been at the core of its design in 2000. “We look forward to working in partnership with Babcock and the LFB to further increase the quality and usability of XVR for all users.” explains Martijn Boosman, founder and Director of Strategy at E-Semble. “We see it as a challenge to continuously improve XVR to match the evolving needs and requests from users from all emergency response organisations. Software development never ends. Our development team is continuously upgrading the XVR software to respond to requests from our users in the UK and elsewhere.” The London Incident Command Simulation Suite at Harrow will be opening in autumn 2013 and the Beckton facility will be opening in April 2014.

Victoria’s state firefighting aircraft has been retired ELVIS, the state’s flagship firefighting aircraft, has been axed from the 2013 fleet after more than a decade in Victoria’s skies. A list of firefighting aircraft, seen by the Herald Sun, reveals the Erickson S-64F Air-Crane will no longer be part of the state’s firefighting arsenal. United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall said that overlooking Elviswas a mistake. "Fire protection in Victoria is at an all-time low under the Napthine Government and clearly, they’ve been caught out trying to deceive the public by replacing Elvis with an inferior capacity aircraft," he said. But Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said the state would still be protected even though Elvis was not being used this fire season. The bright orange chopper had been a champion of Victoria’s bushfire season. In the days before Black Saturday, Elvis was instrumental in saving the town of Boolarra and is also credited for helping save 300 homes near Sydney in 2001. The S-64F is the largest air-crane model and has the capacity to carry 9500 litres of water or foam and travel about 200km/h. But this year, it will be replaced by the smaller E model aircraft, which can carry only 7500 litres of water. A person familiar with the aerial fighting in Victoria told the Herald Sun the new model was inadequate. "They’ve stuffed this up and gone with the inferior model," he said. "It’s an inferior machine to Elvis." While Elvis had a 9500-litre tank, the replacement model has a 7500-litre tank. An attached bucket can bring the total capacity to 9000 litres but sources say the E model would struggle to operate at that capacity. Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews slammed the decision to axe Elvis and blamed it on cost cutting. "Elvis is one example of vital fire support equipment that has been scrapped as a result of the Napthine Government’s Budget cuts," Mr Andrews said. "With predictions of an above-normal fire threat this fire season, Victorians expect that our hardworking firefighters will have the tools and resources to keep them safe – sadly Denis Napthine is letting them down." Mr Lapsley said losing Elvis would have no impact on Victoria’s aerial firefighting capacity. "Victorian firefighting icon Elvis was not offered to Australia this year but of the 41 aircraft we do have, 24 are helicopters," he said. "Of those helicopters, two are still Erickson Aircranes that can carry 7500 litres of water or foam and two are Sikorsky helicopters that can carry 3500 litres."

“Know Your Smoke” Symposium  According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), nearly 175,000 firefighters were injured by smoke inhalation between 1981 and 2010. And despite the fact that the number of fires in the U.S. is decreasing each year, the amount of civilians and firefighters dying in fires is actually increasing. To help educate firefighters on these dangers, RAE Systems, Inc. will collaborate with the Fire Smoke Coalition to deliver the "Know Your Smoke: The Dangers of Fire Smoke Exposure" Symposium for firefighters and first responders in Toms River, New Jersey, on September 21, 2013. The free training will take place at the Toms River Fire Academy, located at 1780 Church Road, Toms River, NJ. The training will provide firefighters with an invaluable resource for education on the dangerous health effects of fire smoke exposure and protocol on how to proceed safely and effectively during fire ground operations. Those who would like to attend can register online here. The conference includes a classroom session on Saturday, September 21, followed by a burn and smoke practical. The burn practical will focus on the proper use of atmospheric monitoring equipment, with an emphasis on monitoring HCN and CO. These are the only two treatable toxicants if smoke exposure occurs. During the live-burn session, the instructors will focus on teaching firefighters how to conduct atmospheric monitoring at every fire scene — while burning household items such as plastics, foams, synthetics, laminates and roofing materials. Most important, firefighters will learn that every fire scene is a HazMat environment — a cultural shift for fire departments throughout the world. "Firefighters need to pay better attention to the dangers of fire smoke, and the short- and long-term health risks it presents," stated Rob Schnepp, Chief of Special Operations with the Alameda County (Calif.) Fire Department. "There is a culture among firefighters that in some ways makes us our own worst enemy. Many of us consider smoke-filled uniforms or soot-covered faces a badge of honor and hard work, and not the telltale signs of exposure to dangerous gases and particulates that are known to cause cancer. The ‘Know Your Smoke’ training program is an invaluable resource helping firefighters make better, more informed decisions during firefighting operations." About Fire Smoke Coalition The mission of the Fire Smoke Coalition is to focus the required attention and resources on the deadly and life-long consequences of breathing fire smoke by teaching firefighters and first responders how to prevent, protect, detect, diagnose, and appropriately treat the exposure if it occurs. Learn more at www.firesmoke.org.  

State-of-the-art facility started against the backdrop of Sindhurakshak submarine mishap The Indian Navy has come up with an ultra-modern fire fighting facility at INS Shivaji in Lonavla against the backdrop of the tragic incident in Mumbai Naval Dockyard, where Sindhurakshak submarine sank after a series of explosions. The explosion on August 14 claimed 18 lives, including those of three officers. The Indian Navy is coming up with similar facility across India. The facility was inaugurated by flag officer commander-in-chief of Southern Naval Command, vice admiral Satish Soni at INS Shivaji on Wednesday. “The state-of-art facility will provide realistic training of fire fighting to the Indian navy personnels. With the inclusion of fire fighting training facility at its establishments, the Indian navy has joined unique league of few countries like US and UK,” said the public relations officer of INS Shivaji. Joseph Leslie Dynamik Company from Mumbai is the prime contractor for setting up the facility. Process Combustion Company of United Kingdom has provided the technical assistance to set it up. The facility is part of Indian Navy’s pan India initiative. The naval college of engineering at INS Shivaji conducts three-year basic engineering course and four-year naval engineering course. The college gives B-Tech degree in mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering. The college is affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru Technical University in New Delhi.

Adds to the company’s extensive portfolio Akron Brass Company, a division of Premier Farnell a leading high service distributor of electronic components, has announced it has acquired the assets of Reach Engineering LLC, a privately owned company headquartered in Ocala, Florida that provides specialized electronics to the emergency and industrial vehicle markets. As a part of Akron Brass’s continued strategy of providing customer driven solutions / innovations in life-safety products, the acquisition of Reach’s assets brings best-in-class products to Akron’s already robust portfolio. Reach Engineering has significant expertise in emergency vehicle products and services and is recognized as an innovator of solutions specifically addressing the needs of the fire service. "This strategic acquisition demonstrates our commitment to bringing highly customized life-safety technologies to the industry," said Tom Hudak, President of Akron Brass. "We are now in a position to offer our customers a more complete and integrated apparatus solution to help save lives and protect assets." Key products in this acquisition include : The Link2® fleet information platform offering simplified access to onboard apparatus data via Wi-Fi enabled devices and intuitive web-based dashboard and alert management. This comprehensive system increases apparatus and personnel safety, reduces maintenance and operating costs, improves department efficiency and enhances "on scene" command information. The product line offering also includes the Foam RapidFill™ System which is a simple-to-operate, cost effective automated solution which increases safety by eliminating the need for firefighters to climb on top of the apparatus during foam refilling operations. "Their engineering team brings with them an extensive amount of industry expertise and builds on our innovative and entrepreneurial spirit," states Sean Tillinghast, Vice President of Weldon. The products and technology that Reach brings are complementary to the leading V-MUX® brand and reinforce the value proposition of our vehicle systems solutions."

To improve safety for EU rescue workers  The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Moditech Rescue Solutions B.V. have teamed up to support the safety of emergency responders and rescue workers in the European Union (EU) and United States by providing access to the latest safety resources and training on electric and hybrid vehicles. Millions of vehicles worldwide are powered by technology involving alternative fuels. Rescue workers face the challenge of staying current on the latest information to help them stay safe when responding to incidents involving electric and hybrid vehicles. Through this joint effort, Moditech Rescue Solutions B.V. will become the central provider of knowledge to support rescue workers in the EU by distributing information, online training and research developed by NFPA and its Electrical Vehicle Safety Training Program. "We have already seen success of the program through implementation of its recommendations in the U.S.,’ said Andrew Klock, NFPA’s sr. manager of Professional Development. "We expect the first responder community in Europe to see the same benefit as it applies these procedures. Learning resources like these are becoming increasingly necessary as countries continue to advance their environmental goals through encouraging residents to use electric vehicles.’ Materials offer guidance specific to electrified vehicles such as identifying the vehicle and power source, the immobilization process, electrical power-down procedures; extrication awareness including high strength steel; recommended practices for vehicle fires and emergency operations, including battery fires and submersion; challenges related to vehicle charging stations and infrastructure. "Just like NFPA, Moditech Rescue Solutions B.V.’s priority is to provide rescue workers with the most up to date knowledge about electric vehicles and new vehicle technology. Therefore a partnership is a valuable addition for both companies,’ says Jan Mooij, director of Moditech Rescue Solutions B.V. "We have a lot of knowledge to share. And due to this partnership, our company can be a knowledge provider for rescue workers all over Europe.’ The Emergency Field Guide (EFG), which NFPA updates and releases periodically is available in the U.S. and features vehicle extrication diagrams from Moditech Rescue Solutions B.V. The book includes an overview of all electric and hybrid vehicles, ranked by make and model with manufacturer recommended handling procedures, high voltage component locations and important notes and caution information that were compiled and created by the NFPA after extensive research and partnerships with the auto manufacturers and fire service experts. In addition to traditional hard copy materials such as the EFG, the two organizations are working together to release several digital offerings, including an EFG app and online training that will make these important safety resources more accessible.

BBC Report  Firefighters in England and Wales will go on strike on 25 September in a row over pensions, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has confirmed. FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said the four-hour strike is "a warning shot to government". Firefighters in Scotland will not strike on Wednesday, but could still take industrial action later, the union said. The government called the decision to strike "unnecessary and avoidable". It called its offer to release full pensions to firefighters when they reach the age of 60 "generous". But Mr Wrack said: "This initial strike is a warning shot to government. Firefighters could not be more serious about protecting public safety and ensuring fair pensions. ‘Lives endangered’ claim "Governments in Westminster and Cardiff have simply refused to see sense on these issues. "It is ludicrous to expect firefighters to fight fires and rescue families in their late 50s – the lives of the general public and firefighters themselves will be endangered." The FBU had previously said the current proposals would see firefighters who retire or are forced out of work at 55 losing about 50% of their pensions. Around 85% of firefighters in England and Wales are union members, and 78% of members balloted in England, Scotland and Wales voted in favour of strike action. The walkout will take place for four hours, between noon and 16:00BST. During the action, each of the 46 fire and rescue authorities in England have a legal duty to put contingency plans in place. The government said the plans in place were "robust". No army intervention Unlike the strikes of 2002 and 2003, Army personnel will not be brought in. The ageing Green Goddess fire engines used then were sold off in 2005-06 (800 of them) to different organisations and individuals by the Disposal Services Authority, the Ministry of Defence said. Should a "major incident" occur, the FBU has agreed it will exempt firefighters and operation managers from strike action if they volunteer to help. The FBU said that firefighters in Scotland will not strike next week while union officials are discussing the Scottish Government’s most recent proposals. The union said government figures showed that thousands of firefighters could face the sack without access to a proper pension because they are getting older. It said a recent government review found that more than half of current firefighters between the ages of 50 and 54 are no longer able to meet fire and rescue service fitness standards for fighting fires, while two thirds of those beyond the age of 55 fail to meet the standards. The union said the majority of firefighters pay 13% of their salary to pension contributions, and there are further increases set for next year. But Fire Minister Brandon Lewis said the "decision by the FBU to take strike action is entirely unnecessary and avoidable". He added: "After two years of discussions, and with improved terms, the pension on offer to firefighters is one of the most generous public service pensions available. "A firefighter who earns £29,000, and retires after a full career aged 60, will get a £19,000 a year pension, rising to £26,000 with the state pension. "To get the same pension from a private scheme firefighters would have to contribute twice as much." Prior to Tuesday’s announcement, London Fire Brigade told the BBC its contingency plans for strike action were the same as when there was a strike in the capital in 2010. They were not intended to "replace or replicate" what the brigade typically does on a normal day, a spokesman said. Instead of the 169 fire engines used on a typical day, 27 will be used. And while fire fighters will attend confirmed fires, they will not be going to animal rescues, people trapped in lifts or automatic fire alarms. The people used during strike action have been trained by the London Fire Brigade, but they are not normally fire fighters.

Was undergoing repairs  (Reuters) – A fire broke out on an atomic-powered submarine undergoing repairs at a shipyard near Russia’s eastern coastal city of Vladivostok on Monday, but naval officials said there was no risk of a radiation leak, Russian news agencies reported. The submarine Tomsk, which is powered by a nuclear reactor, caught fire while being repaired at a floating dock at the Zvezda shipyard in Bolshoi Kamen, about 25 km (15 miles) across a bay from Vladivostok on the Sea of Japan, the reports said. The reactor had been shut down before it arrived at the dock for repairs, the crew has been evacuated and there are no weapons on board, state-run RIA cited an unidentified official in Russia’s Pacific Fleet as saying. "There is no threat of radioactive contamination," Itar-Tass, also state-run, cited an unidentified official in Russia’s Pacific Fleet command as saying. "The weapons have been removed from the submarine. The situation is completely under control. There is no threat to residents of the city," Itar-Tass quoted the official as saying. Navy sources said that in addition to two firefighting vessels, a ship that monitors radiation levels had been sent to the area as a precaution, Russian news agencies reported. The fire broke out in a ballast area of the submarine after a gas-powered saw was used to cut through a grate, setting an old rubber covering, cables and paint on fire, RIA cited an unnamed official at the shipyard as saying. The official said there was little danger of an explosion because the cistern is outside the sealed body of the submarine where the reactor is located. The Tomsk is outfitted to carry 24 guided missiles, according to Itar-Tass. A fire that engulfed an atomic-powered submarine in northwestern Russia in 2011 caused no casualties, but a report later cited sources as saying nuclear missiles had been on board during the blaze, contradicting official statements.