Chief Fire Officers Association

The Chief Fire Officers Association or CFOA is the professional body representing senior fire officers in the UK. The organisation used to be known as the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association, it was formed in 1974 following local government re-structuring.

The CFOA website says, "CFOA's Aim is to continue as the professional voice of the UK Fire Service, assisting and supporting our members to fulfil their leadership role in improving the well being of local communities in all matters relating to the Fire Services' activities.

Memebership of the CFOA is open to any UK-based senior fire officer above the rank or assistant chief officer, in addition to Chief Fire Officer, sometimes now known as brigade managers or, in Scotland, Fire Master. The CFOA acts as a collective 'voice' for the Fire service in the UK on issues such policy, training; legislative and fire safety issues.

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Fire Lookout

A fire lookout is a person assigned the duty to look for fire from atop a building known as a Fire lookout tower. These towers are used in remote areas, normally on mountain tops with high elevation and a good view of the surrounding terrain, to spot smoke caused by a wildfire.

Once a possible fire is spotted, so-called "Smoke Reports", or "Lookout Shots" are relayed to the local Emergency Communications Center (ECC), often by radio or phone. A Fire Lookout can use a device known as an Osborne Fire Finder to obtain the radial in degrees off the tower, and the estimated distance from the tower to the fire.

As part of the Lookout's duties, they must also take weather readings and report the findings to the Emergency Communications Center throughout the day. Often several lookouts will overlap in coverage areas and each will “shoot” the same smoke, then the ECC will use triangulation from the radials reported to achieve a very accurate location of the fire.

Fire Extinguisher

A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. Typically, a fire extinguisher consists of a hand held cylindrical pressure vessel containing an agent which can be discharged to extinguish a fire.

Usage
The typical steps for operating a fire extinguisher (described by the acronym "PASS") are the following:

P - Pull the safety pin
A - Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, from a safe distance (about six feet away)
S - Squeeze the handle
S - Sweep the extinguisher from side to side while aiming at the base of the fire

There are various types of extinguishers, which are used for different types of fires; using the wrong type can worsen the fire hazard, but using the right one can better the situation. Please note: You are not required to fight a fire. Get out or away and call the Fire Department.

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Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is a statutory instrument which places the onus on individuals to carry out risk assessments on certain types of property and submit them to their local fire authority. Its full title is: Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 1541 The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. It became law on 1 October 2006, and only applies to England and Wales.

Office of Public Sector Information:
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, England & Wales

Gas tank explodes during battle with flames

The Fire and Rescue Service were called to the Annesborough Industrial Estate on the Annesborough Road shortly before 8pm yesterday evening after receiving reports of a blaze in the former Irlandus Circuits premises.

The fire, in a large, unoccupied building which does not adjoin any other businesses, was well underway by the time firefighters arrived.

Group commander Alan Fulford said the operation was further complicated when a cylinder exploded. Two other cylinders inside the building were also in danger of exploding late last night.

"The building is quite large, fifty metres by fifty, so this is a major operation for us," he said.

He added that five fire appliances and an aerial platform were used by firefighters to tackle the incident, while two other fire trucks remained on stand-by.

A PSNI spokesman described the fire as a "major" incident.

He said the Fire Service were urging all householders in the vicinity of the estate to stay well away from the scene.

"They have also asked that residents keep all windows and doors closed," he added.

Written by Belfast Telegraph

Goals of Firefighting

The three main goals in firefighting are (in order) life safety, incident stabilization, property conservation and environmental preservation. Firefighting is an inherently difficult occupation. As such, the skills required for safe operations are regularly practiced during training evolutions throughout a firefighters career. In the United States, the preeminent fire training and standards organization is the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Often initial firefighting skills are taught during a local, regional, or state approved fire academy. Depending on the requirements of a department, additional skills and certifications such as technical rescue and Para-medicine may also be taught at this time.

Firefighters work closely with other emergency response agencies, most particularly local and state police departments. As every fire scene is technically a crime scene until deemed otherwise by a qualified investigator, there is often overlap between the responsibilities of responding firefighters and police officers such as evidence and scene protection, initial observations of first respondents, and chain of evidence issues. The increasing role of firefighters in providing emergency medical services also brings firefighters into common overlap with law enforcement. One example of this is a common state law requiring all gunshot wounds to be reported to law enforcement agencies.

Most career (full time, paid) firefighters in North America are represented by the International Association of Fire Fighters

Fire fighting has several basic skills: prevention, self preservation, rescue, preservation of property and fire control. Firefighting is further broken down into skills which include size-up, extinguishment, ventilation, and salvage and overhaul. Search and Rescue, which has already been mentioned, is performed early in any fire scenario and many times is in unison with extinguishment and ventilation.

By Wikipedia

Fire Equipments At Great Prices

Fire Equipments At Great Prices
Extinguisher Covers and Stands
Extinguishers Factory Sealed
Extinguishers Refillable
Fire Blankets
Miscellaneous Fire Products

FIRE SENSE UK ONLINE STORE

As well as providing safety information, Fire Sense is also a leading distributor of fire equipment.

Standard Members 10% discount on every purchase. Sign up for free Fire Sense Plus Members 30% discount on every purchase Read More