A fire broke out a little too close to home on Thursday when a small island off of State Route 17 near the Stratford exit caught flame. According to Moses Lake Fire Department officials the fire was a pretty good size by the time they got the call. MLFD arrived on site first, followed by Grant County Fire District 5.
- PUB DATE: 4/4/2019 1:56:38 PM - SOURCE: iFiberOne

To help first responders handle the potential challenges aligned with energy storage systems (ESS) and solar energy, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has updated a first-of-its-kind ESS safety training for the fire service with new technology insights, relevant research, and expanded solar considerations. 

The surging popularity of ESS and photovoltaic systems (PV) in both commercial and residential settings underscores the need for clear, current fire protection and suppression guidance for first responders. While alternative energy systems offer significant environmental and economic benefits, they can also pose potential harm to people and property, especially first responders who may encounter HAZMAT issues, thermal runaway concerns, battery explosion and re-ignition, and off-gassing.

NFPA®'s self-paced online Energy Storage and Solar Systems Safety Training, Fire Service Edition* was underwritten by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) initially in 2015 and again recently. The enhanced 3-hour module uses engaging videos, animations, simulations, and review exercises to inform firefighters about basic electrical theory, types of PV installations, battery chemistries, and response strategies. Fire leaders and training personnel are encouraged to educate themselves and others within their purview on ESS failure modes, pre-incident planning, shutdown, ventilation, and other emergency response considerations. Upon successful completion of the training, students will receive a certificate.

“By all accounts, alternative energy use in the United States will continue to grow with states including Massachusetts, Texas, Oregon, Colorado, and Hawaii mandating widespread energy storage system deployment. We can’t let technology outpace safety,” says NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley. “It is critical that fire officers, trainers, firefighters, and AHJs are well-versed on ESS and solar emergency preparedness and response - for their own safety and the safety of others.”

In addition to responder training, NFPA has been developing a new standard to establish criteria to minimize hazards associated with ESS. NFPA 855, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems, will be published in 2019. It will work in concert with the new National Electrical Code Article 706.

Visit nfpa.org/ess for relevant codes and standards, research and related content.

 

Bloomington-based Envisage Technologies, the leading provider of public safety training and compliance solutions, announced that the Kentucky Fire Commission has awarded Envisage a contract for the Acadis® Readiness Suite.

“The Kentucky Fire Commission looks forward to our partnership with Envisage and utilizing the Acadis Readiness Suite. We are excited for the opportunities this program will provide to all firefighters within the Commonwealth,” said Kentucky Fire Commission Interim Executive Director Bruce Roberts.

Acadis, a highly secure and comprehensive Web-based training and compliance management system, will support the aggregation and tracking of comprehensive training and certification records for over 100,000 students per year enrolled in the Kentucky Fire Commission’s State Fire Rescue Training program, which certifies volunteer and career firefighters in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Acadis will support the entire hire-to-retire lifecycle to ensure that each firefighter remains in compliance with Kentucky certification requirements.

The Kentucky Fire Commission will also use Acadis to provide secure access for firefighters to review their personal training and certification records through any modern web browser. In addition, Acadis will provide automated digital tracking of the annual training requirements for career and volunteer firefighters, which will replace a time intensive paper-based process for checking and validating these training hours.

“We look forward to assisting the Kentucky Fire Commission as they modernize their training management processes,” Envisage CEO Ari Vidali said. “Acadis will streamline the operations and sharing of information between fire departments across the state, and make training and certification records far more accessible to departments and firefighters.”

The Kentucky Fire Commission is the second Kentucky state public safety agency to utilize Acadis for training management, joining the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training.

https://www.envisagenow.com/

Crews from multiple fire agencies were able to corral a brushfire in just four hours after it ignited in the Purtteman Gulch area above Chelan. Chelan Fire and Rescue, the lead agency, worked with Entiat Fire, the state Department of Natural Resources and other departments to head off the blaze, which grew to about 7-1/2 acres and threatened to burn into neighboring Union Valley, site of about 80 homes.
- PUB DATE: 4/4/2019 10:46:09 AM - SOURCE: iFiberOne

Honeywell will unveil new technological developments and enhancements to its firefighter turnout gear, wireless gas detection, and firefighter personal protective equipment at FDIC International 2019 and will demonstrate how these innovations can help increase efficiency and safety on the fireground. The company will exhibit a broad range of first responder products, services and solutions at Booth 1910 at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) International April 11-13 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.

ALSO: Honeywell, DuPont Award 20 Scholarships for First Responders to Attend FDIC Training

Products that will be featured include:

• Newly-tested particulate blocking solutions that offer head-to-toe protection for firefighters against toxic particulates.
• Proprietary heat release liner technology for its popular Morning Pride® TAILS^TM that allows heat to escape and air to circulate after a firefighting incident.
• FIRST Asset and Care Management System software, newly enhanced for tracking, cleaning, inspecting and maintaining personal protective equipment.
• Set and Forget Escape Belt, a variation on the company’s current escape belt, that is easier to use and reduces wear and tear on pants.
• Honeywell Thermal Liner with Nomex® Nano. Lightweight and 40% thinner than other liners, minimizing heat transfer from the firefighting environment to the body.
• Advanced monitoring technology and system for fire service incident command, featuring the AreaRAE Pro wireless, multi-threat monitor and software from Honeywell RAE Systems. Equipped with more than 20 sensors to improve situational awareness and response, this multi-threat detection package provides real-time visibility into toxic, combustible and exotic gases, radiation, gas plume pathway, temperature, humidity and more.

In addition, Honeywell will welcome 20 firefighters at FDIC through its unique, all-expenses-paid scholarship program, now in its fifth consecutive year and co-sponsored by DuPont Safety and Construction. Two graduates of the program will serve as instructors at this year’s event.

 “Our technological innovations, along with our continuing support of a grassroots scholarship program that has advanced the skills and leadership of many firefighters around North America, reflect Honeywell’s ongoing commitment to offer the safest, most effective, advanced solutions that protect the health and safety of those who valiantly serve our communities on today’s fireground,” said Tom Rozema, general manager, Honeywell First Responder Products and Gas Detection.

    

Honeywell First Responder Products is a division of Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions (SPS) provides products, software and connected solutions that improve productivity, workplace safety and asset performance for our customers across the globe. We deliver on this promise through industry-leading mobile devices, software, cloud technology and automation solutions, the broadest range of personal protective equipment and gas detection technology, and custom-engineered sensors, switches and controls. We also manufacture and sell a broad portfolio of footwear for work, play and outdoor activities, including XtraTuf^TM and Muck Boot^TM brand footwear.  

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a