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.

By Brandi Makuski

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Fire Department has begun testing new on-scene accountability technology from Ascent Integrated Tech, marking a significant step forward in firefighter safety and operational efficiency.

The system, first used during the Republican National Convention (RNC) held in Milwaukee in July 2024, provides real-time location tracking for firefighters, enhancing command control and decision-making during emergencies.

Deputy Chief Darin Peterburs said the department is currently using about 50 of the devices in training exercises. “We’re testing it out this fall, and if it proves effective, it could enhance our current system,” Peterburs said, adding that the system allows incident commanders to track individual firefighters through a sensor, carried in their pockets, which relays their precise location inside a structure. “Instead of just knowing they’re on the second floor, rear of the building, we can pinpoint their location to a much smaller area.”

Peterburs said that the technology will be especially useful during mayday calls or communication breakdowns. “We can quickly validate where a firefighter is, even in catastrophic situations where traditional tracking might fail,” he said.

The relationship between Milwaukee Fire and Ascent Integrated Tech began three years ago when Chief Aaron Lipski, a fourth-generation firefighter and Fire Chief since 2021, first spoke with the company.

According to Ascent’s CEO Paul Couston, Lipski’s initial response was clear: “We’re not going to be your science project. Milwaukee doesn’t pilot technology—we deploy it.”

The department is now Ascent’s first large metro client.

Couston, who co-founded the company with Chief Technology Officer Alex Wexler four years ago, emphasized that Milwaukee’s adoption of their technology is a major milestone for the company.

“Chief Lipski was one of the first fire chiefs I spoke to,” Couston said. “Three years later, Milwaukee bought 50 of our devices, and now they’re being used in real training scenarios with real firefighters.”

Ascent’s platform, which has been tested by departments across the country, and the U.S. Air Force, provides incident commanders with real-time tracking and biometric alerting.

“In the event that a firefighter has a cardiac event or stops moving, the system will notify command immediately,” Couston said. The technology leverages phones, wearables (like an Apple watch), and other devices already present on the fireground, reducing the need for costly custom hardware.

“We’re not trying to change the firefight, but make the tools firefighters already use more effective,” he added.

Milwaukee’s Deputy Chief Peterburs highlighted the system’s potential to integrate with traditional methods of accountability. “We’re very comfortable with pen and paper or dry-erase boards to track our companies,” he said. “But this tech gives us a more precise way to locate a firefighter in a building, which can be a game-changer in large structures or during critical incidents.”

In addition to firefighter location tracking, Ascent’s system also monitors biometrics to detect early signs of distress.

“If a firefighter is experiencing a cardiac event, the system will alert the command staff, allowing for a quicker response,” Couston explained.

Milwaukee Fire, with 30 fire stations and an annual call volume of approximately 120,000, is one of several departments testing the Ascent platform. The company has also worked with large departments, including Indianapolis and Washington, D.C., and smaller departments, like Mattoon, Illinois, tailoring their platform to fit both large and small agencies.

“What we’re proud of is