VIDEO: Massachusetts is moving forward with a proposal that would make it the first state in the nation to require building owners to identify and replace recalled sprinkler heads, a move that comes in the wake of last year’s deadly fire at the Gabriel House assisted living home in Fall River.

The Massachusetts Board of Fire Prevention Regulations voted last week to support the proposal. A final vote is expected in October, meaning the new code change could take effect as soon as next year. Tens of millions of recalled sprinkler heads are believed to be in place nationwide, according to the National Fire Sprinkler Association.

The code change would add a requirement during annual sprinkler inspections for a list of all installed sprinkler heads to be checked for any recalls. If the list doesn’t exist, as is the case in many buildings, the code change would require each installed sprinkler head to be inspected.

As previously reported, sprinklers at Gabriel House had been recalled decades earlier, including the one in the room where the fire started.

Following the tragedy, Fall River Fire Department Capt. Joshua Hetzler discovered there was no requirement in Massachusetts or the nation to check for recalled sprinklers during inspections. He proposed the code change to address this issue.

WCVB-TV ABC 5 Boston

The post Massachusetts moves to become first state in the nation to require recalled sprinkler head checks, replacement appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

VIDEO/PHOTOS: A new wildfire burning in Mount Rainier National Park has grown to an estimated 312 acres and remains uncontained, according to state fire officials. The Nisqually and Stevens Canyon entrances to the park remain open; visitors are asked to avoid the affected areas, park officials said.

The Grand Park 2 Fire began burning Friday about 1.3 miles southwest of Lake Eleanor on the northeast side of Mount Rainier in Pierce County. The fire is continuing to grow.

KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

The post Wildfire burning over 300 acres and growing in Mount Rainier National Park appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

VIDEO: A new mural in Bridgeport honors two firefighters who were killed in the line of duty more than a decade ago. It’s painted on the side of the Engine 11/Ladder 11 Fire Station on Ocean Terrace Avenue.

There are three panels of the mural: the local firehouse patch, the city of Bridgeport Fire Department patch, and a panel with two firefighter helmets honoring Lt. Steven Velasquez and firefighter Michel Baik who were killed on duty in 2010. There were battling a house fire on Elmwood Avenue.

“We pledge every July 24, when we remember both Lt. Velasquez and firefighter Baik to always remember and never forget. This will allow everyone that drives by to always remember and never forget,” said Mark Cody, acting fire chief. It was painted by Connecticut artist Ryan Christenson, also known as ARCY.

“I got a picture of this mural as it was completed, and I did send it to the family. They are impressed and they are happy. It brings tears to their eyes. It brought tears to my eyes when I saw it,” Cody said.

News 12 Connecticut

The post New mural in one Connecticut city honors firefighters killed in the line of duty appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

Lynchburg Fire Department has temporarily closed Station 8 on Old Graves Mill Road for about a week of renovations, with Engine 8 out of service and Medic 8 moved to Station 7.

The post Lynchburg (VA) Fire Station to Close Temporarily for Renovations appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

A driver was injured when a passenger car rear-ended a fire engine protecting crews at a vehicle fire on SR 17 north of Moses Lake.

The post Fire Engine Struck While Crews Battle Vehicle Fire Near Moses Lake (WA); Driver Injured appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.