January 14th, 2010
A specialist rescue team of 12 personnel from West Midlands Fire Service who were deployed to Haiti as part of the UK wide International Search and Rescue (ISAR) Team have arrived safely. The team spent much of the night travelling and landed safely in Santo Domingo at just after 7am GMT.
Arrangements to get the team to Port au Prince and other areas affected by the earthquake are now well underway.
West Midlands Fire Service’s Search and Rescue Team regularly leads training exercises around the world as well as being at the forefront of a number live rescue missions. Most recently, the team has been training with rescue crews in Sweden and was a key player in the rescue missions following the earthquake in Indonesia last October and the floods affecting Cumbria in the, UK last November.
The force seven magnitude earthquake hit the south of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince at around 21.50 GMT on Tuesday night.
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December 9th, 2009
- Ensure you have a working smoke alarm installed on all levels of your home. Test your smoke alarms weekly and never remove batteries to power presents!
- Never leave cooking unattended and avoid cooking whilst drunk. The majority of fires start in the kitchen so this is a high risk area. Always turn off kitchen appliances when you have finished cooking.
- Never leave candles unattended. Keep decorations, cards and wrapping paper away from candles, fires, lights and heaters.
- Ensure you switch off fairy lights and unplug them before you go to bed, or leave the house. Check your Christmas tree lights conform to the British Standard (BS EN 60598).
- Always use an RCD (residual current device) on outdoor electrical equipment (a safety device that can save lives by instantly switching off the power if there is a fault).
- Don’t overload sockets – ensure only one plug per socket. Always turn off plugs when they are not in use, except those that are designed to be left on, like freezers.
- Make sure cigarettes are extinguished properly and never smoke in bed. Put it out, right out.
- Check on older relatives and neighbours this Christmas, as they are at greater risk from fire.
- Plan an escape route and make a bedtime check – Plan a route to escape your home if there is a fire and make sure everyone in the house knows the plan. Check for fire hazards in your home before you go to bed – it takes longer to become aware of a fire when you are asleep.
- Ask the experts – South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue offers free home fire risk checks to identify potential fire risks and advise what to do to reduce or prevent them. This may even include the free installation of a smoke alarm – the ideal gift for keeping your family safe
And finally, in the event of fire: get out, stay out and call 999.
As part of the safety drive, South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue has also released a video aimed at highlighting how quickly your tree- and your Christmas- can go up in smoke. In the video, an unwatered scotch pine Christmas tree destroys a living room in less than a minute.
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October 16th, 2009
Fifteen fire engines and more than 120 firefighting staff will now maintain the county’s emergency fire cover throughout the Fire Brigade’s Union (FBU) strike, thanks to an increasing number of firefighters volunteering to work.
South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s contingency plans, finalised and presented to Fire Authority members this week, will ensure full and uninterrupted emergency response coverage across the whole of the county, using the service’s own appliances and crews.
To keep highly-trained and experienced operational staff available for firefighting and rescue duties, they will be joined by 30 trained support staff who will drive a further 11 specially adapted lightweight vehicles in which firefighting colleagues will attend grass and bin fires, which comprise around two-thirds of the county’s fire calls. Using these small fires units will enable traditional fire engines to be kept available for emergency incidents which threaten life and property.
Chief Fire Officer Mark Smitherman said: “We, together with members of the Fire Authority, have every confidence in the resilience of our contingency arrangements throughout the forthcoming strikes.
“We have been overwhelmed by the high number of dedicated staff who are committed to keeping the public safe throughout this period. Those staff deserve huge praise and thanks for putting public safety first.
“All the staff who will be working are fully trained for their roles. Fire service managers with years of frontline firefighting experience will provide our emergency response capability. They all still regularly attend incidents and their training is up-to-date.”
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October 15th, 2009
South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (SYFR) has put a new proposal to the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), aimed at averting a strike, after a meeting of its governing Authority on Wednesday.
SYFR remain absolutely confident in its contingency arrangements to keep local people safe throughout any strike period. However, this new offer reaffirms the Authority’s commitment to seek a negotiated outcome to this dispute, following several attempts to work towards a settlement over the past 18 months.
The new proposal addresses the union’s two main concerns, over the ‘dismissal and re-engagement’ process and a request to seek national assistance to resolve the dispute. The South Yorkshire Fire Authority have written to the FBU offering:
- Implementation of the 10.5hr day shift/13.5hr night shift recommended in May 2009 by the Fire & Rescue Service’s independent Resolution Advisory Panel (RAP)
- Further talks up to 31st March 2010 on seeking to reach an agreement over the implementation of 12 hour shifts, during which time the Authority would not seek to further progress any dismissal and re-engagement process
Chair of the Authority, Cllr Jim Andrews, said, “This new offer shows our commitment to seeking a negotiated agreement to avoid a strike. The FBU wants national mediation, so let them show they are willing to act on the recommendations of the independent national panel by accepting the 10.5/13.5 split, which the RAP said should have been implemented from 1st July this year. We would then suspend any contractual change process, and the union would be required to suspend their trade disputes, so we can have discussions without the public being threatened with a strike.”
The Authority has previously made several attempts to seek a consultative approach with the FBU over changes to shift times to improve public and firefighter safety. They include:
- April 2008 – FBU invited to an initial meeting to discuss alternative shift times. FBU declined to participate in summer research.
- October - December 2008 – FBU and all staff encouraged to put forward alternative proposals to 12-hour shifts, to achieve the same gains. No proposals were submitted
- January – May 2009 – staff incentive package offered. The FBU refused to negotiate.
- May 2009 – referral to the independent Resolution Advisory Panel. SYFR accepts the 10.5/13.5 recommendation. The FBU rejects it.
- September 2009 - £1,500 compensation payment offered to all affected staff, following requests from individual members of staff. The FBU rejected it
Cllr Andrews continued: “The Authority has demonstrated time and again its commitment to consult and negotiate with the FBU. These new proposals are another example of that. We remain absolutely committed to 12 hour shifts, which will make the public and firefighters of South Yorkshire significantly safer, without any job losses, pay cuts or reductions in emergency cover. Firefighters will continue to work the same number of hours for the same pay. Considering the impact this recession is having elsewhere, and our numerous attempts to agree a negotiated settlement, I cannot believe this is an issue to strike over. This new proposal gives the FBU an opportunity to accept the recommendation of a national mediator and call off this strike.”
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September 14th, 2009
Reduction in services continues as Union warns over sweeping cuts in Warwickshire. Firefighters from all over the UK are growing increasingly concerned with the widespread reduction of services taking place under the guise of ‘service improvement plans’.
In Warwickshire alone, the county fire service is planning to close one in four of its stations and axe a third of fire appliances under a cost-cutting drive according to union leaders. The FBU is strongly opposed to the closures pledging to “strongly” resist the cuts which it describes as “the biggest closure plan ever proposed by a fire service”.
If the closures are given the go-ahead, this could result in the closure of up to seven fire stations and the loss of a third of all fire appliances as well as the loss of 100 retained firefighter jobs.
According to reports, stations earmarked for closure are Studley, Bidford, Brinklow, Fenny Compton, Kenilworth, Warwick and Bedworth.
Mark Rattray, the FBU’s Warwickshire brigade secretary is reported to have said: “The removal of fire engines from these stations will greatly increase the risk to the public and to firefighters.
“If they go ahead we could see towns and villages being left without any effective emergency rescue cover. The modern risks we prepare, plan and respond to go well beyond dealing with fires. This will impact on all the work we do in every part of Warwickshire, not only in the areas close to these stations.
The result of these cuts will be far fewer firefighters spread much more thinly across the county. To call this a service improvement plan is an insult to the public and to professional fire crews. The FBU will vehemently oppose any downgrading or reduction of frontline services. We believe that the people of Warwickshire should not suffer cuts to frontline services.”
A press conference will be held later.
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September 14th, 2009
During the late summer months and early autumn, low level sunlight could shine in through a window in your home and start a fire, warn firefighters according to Hertfordshire Fire Service.
Whilst it may seem a remote possibility, there have in fact been a number of cases where fires have been caused by light reflecting onto flammable items and when left unattended the results can be disastrous.
Following a spate of fires caused by light reflecting onto flammable materials, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is warning residents that mirrors or glass ornaments placed on window sills or in direct sunlight are potentially hazardous.
A recent fire in Markyate was caused by the sun shining into a bedroom. When the sunlight reflected off a mirror and onto the curtains in the room, the intensity of the heat set the curtains alight.
Another fire in Welwyn Garden City was caused by the sun shining through a glass ornament on the window sill. The glass magnified the beam of sunlight and set fire to a pile of clothes.
Dave Stokes, Station Commander and Fire Investigator said: “A fire caused by a mirror or glass object may seem extremely unusual and unlucky, but it does happen. Fire can have devastating effects and it is worth taking the time to move any mirrors or glass objects out of direct sunlight.
“Closing doors before going to bed or leaving the house will help to contain a fire if it does start; giving you more time escape and can help to limit the damage to the property.”
Some safety tips to help keep you safe from fire:
- Don’t leave mirrors or other glass objects near the window where sunlight can shine through and reflect off them
- Move aerosols away from window ledges too - the heat can cause them to explode and catch fire
- Make sure you have a smoke alarm fitted on each level of your home and check the battery every week
- If a fire does break out in your home, get out quickly and dial 999.
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September 14th, 2009
At Slug and Lettuce bars on 9th September 2009.
On Wednesday 9th September 2009, (09/09/09) the 82 Slug and Lettuce bars across the UK will be offering a 50% discount on food and drink all day to those working in or associated with the emergency services.
All you have to do is pick up an invite from your local Slug and Lettuce or visit www.slugandlettuce.co.uk from Monday 24th August to download an invite. Fill in the details and present either your ID, your Blue Light Card or your pay slip to prove that you work in the sector on the evening and leave the rest to the Slug and Lettuce team.
Nicola Stuart, Brand Manager for Slug & Lettuce said, “As it’s the 9th day of the 9th month in the year 09, it seemed the perfect day and the perfect way to say thank you to the people that work in the emergency services providing an invaluable service.
“This date only comes around once every hundred years, so we want to make sure that we celebrate it in style and thank those for all the hard work they do. It really is appreciated. We’ll all be raising our glasses to say cheers on the 9th September 2009.”
In addition to the fire, ambulance and police forces, the 50% discount, available all day, is open to those working in mountain rescue, the lifeguard association, private nursing practices and members of the NHS.
To find out your nearest Slug and Lettuce, visit www.slugandlettuce.co.uk.
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August 19th, 2009
At Slug and Lettuce bars on 9th September 2009
On Wednesday 9th September 2009, (09/09/09) the 82 Slug and Lettuce bars across the UK will be offering a 50% discount on food and drink all day to those working in or associated with the emergency services.
All you have to do is pick up an invite from your local Slug and Lettuce or visit www.slugandlettuce.co.uk from Monday 24th August to download an invite. Fill in the details and present either your ID, your Blue Light Card or your pay slip to prove that you work in the sector on the evening and leave the rest to the Slug and Lettuce team.
Nicola Stuart, Brand Manager for Slug & Lettuce said, “As it’s the 9th day of the 9th month in the year 09, it seemed the perfect day and the perfect way to say thank you to the people that work in the emergency services providing an invaluable service.
“This date only comes around once every hundred years, so we want to make sure that we celebrate it in style and thank those for all the hard work they do. It really is appreciated. We’ll all be raising our glasses to say cheers on the 9th September 2009.”
In addition to the fire, ambulance and police forces, the 50% discount, available all day, is open to those working in mountain rescue, the lifeguard association, private nursing practices and members of the NHS.
To find out your nearest Slug and Lettuce, please visit www.slugandlettuce.co.uk.
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August 4th, 2009
To earn an overtime bonus of 19 euros, or $27, two volunteer French firefighters have admitted to starting forest fires on the island of Corsica, according to news reports.
While it’s not as dumb as having your boss killed so you won’t get laid off, it has to be up there on the list of dumb things to do at work. Job security is important, but I doubt if police officers are committing crimes so that other officers have work to do.
The 19 euro bonus was an overtime bonus for working at night on July 8. The bigger bonus of 38 euros, or $57, was double overtime pay for working on a holiday, July 14 — Bastille Day, France’s top holiday.
The men, ages 22 and 25, admitted to starting the fires on those days north of Ajaccio in Corsica so they could earn the bonus payments by fighting the blazes. One fire was serious enough to require a Canadair plane to fight it.
The two men face 15 years to life in prison if convicted of arson.
One of the men was unemployed and the other had a temporary job. Arson, they’re discovering, doesn’t pay.
Source: http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/03/firefighters-start-fires-to-get-extra-pay/
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June 16th, 2009
Firefighters have given their bosses ten days to shelve plans to shake up frontline services in the county.
Essex crews warned yesterday they would be balloting for industrial action on June 25 if their concerns about the plans were not addressed.
The Fire Brigades Union has accused the Essex Fire Authority of targeting frontline fire crews for cuts, rather than looking for genuine efficiency savings. The FBU claims the fire authority wants to finesse firefighter numbers to effectively cut the number of active staff.
They would go down from 954 in December 2008, to an average of 940 during 2008/9, 920 in 2009/10, and 905 in March 2010.
The result would spread firefighters more thinly across Essex, leaving too few to crew all the county’s fire appliances, union officials claim.
Paul Adams, Essex FBU brigade secretary, said: “We understand the need to look at making efficiency savings, but the frontline 999 emergency response is being cut back while headquarters managers and bureaucrats have been increasing.
“Firefighters can’t crew two fire engines at the same time and we can’t respond to two 999 calls at the same time.”
www.echo-news.co.uk
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