PHOTOS: The U.S. Forest Service said in a news release Oct. 16 that the Top of the World fire, located on National Forest System land west of the Catherine Creek recreation area, had grown to 240 acres. Forward progress was stopped in the early hours of Oct. 15, the release said. “The Top of the World Fire resulted from a planned prescribed burn that was initiated on Oct.
- PUB DATE: 10/18/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Columbia Gorge News - Metered Site

BERLIN (AP) — A brand new fire station in Germany, which was destroyed in a fire, causing millions of euros in damage and destroyed equipment did not have a fire alarm system, local media reported Thursday.

The fire broke out early Wednesday morning at the Stadtallendorf fire station in Hesse and destroyed, among other things, the equipment hall and almost a dozen emergency vehicles, German news agency dpa reported. Initial estimates put the damage at between 20 million and 24 million euros ($21 million to $26 million). No one was injured.

Local officials told dpa that no fire alarm system was installed in the building because experts had considered it not necessary — much to the astonishment of many observers now that the station has burned down.

The fire broke out on an emergency vehicle belonging to the fire department, which contained lithium-ion batteries and an external power connection.

The station opened less than a year ago, local media reported.

“I believe that what has happened will make many people think and act,” about improving fire protection requirements at fire stations, Norbert Fischer, the head of the State Fire Brigade Association of the state of Hesse, told dpa.

Precisely because there is a lot of technology in fire stations and batteries are being charged, it would make sense to equip them with fire alarm systems, Fischer said, noting it was unclear whether such a system could have prevented the worst in Stadtallendorf.

“This fire spread at breakneck speed,” he said.

The New Hanover County (NC) Fire Rescue Logistics team has successfully worked with its vendor, Fire Connections Inc., to complete the purchase and delivery of brand new 100% PFAS-Free Multi-Use Gear for its firefighters, the department said in a Facebook post Wednesday, Oct. 16.

This dual-certified gear is specifically developed for wildland firefighting and search and rescue vehicle extrication. Not only does this provide New Hanover Fire Rescue with the flexibility they need for various emergencies, but it also ensures they are protected with the latest safety standards—without harmful PFAS chemicals.

“We are proud to prioritize the safety and health of our firefighters, equipping them with the best tools to protect both themselves and our community,” the department said in the post.

VIDEO/PHOTOS: Two people are displaced after a fire ripped through a house in Oso, according to Oso Fire Department Chief Willy Harper. Harper said the fire tore through the attic, partially collapsing the roof at the back of the house. The structure is an old farmhouse with many hidden areas and compartments, something Harper said adds to the difficulty of fighting the fire.
- PUB DATE: 10/17/2024 8:17:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

November 12, 2024 | 1 ET

What special hazards lurk behind the fence lines of your local industrial facility? What resources and training is needed to successfully respond to incidents at industrial facilities? What type of mutual aid planning is needed to ensure that sufficient resources are available to support a significant incident at industrial facilities? Rick Haase will provide answers to these questions and more. The webcast will provide perspectives from both the industrial response team and municipal emergency response viewpoints on the planning needed to develop effective response and mutual aid plans for industrial facilities.