WHILE FIRE and Rescue Services across the UK have attended fewer incidents in the last 12 months, deliberate fires continue to waste valuable resources and put lives in danger. In fact, Fire and Rescue Services have attended over 900,000 incidents since 2019, with a number of them being deliberate fires.

[Read More]

CAPITA’S FIRE Service College has opened a new Immersive Skills Lab: a purpose-built, fully flexible learning space created to support practical and collaborative firefighter training and skills development.

[Read More]

THE TECHNOLOGY and Construction Court has handed down its judgement in the case involving BDW Trading Limited versus Ardmore Construction Limited [2024] EWHC 3235, which concerned alleged fire safety defects focused on cladding at the Crown Heights development in Basingstoke, write Kate Lister (partner) and Barnaby Sandy (senior associate) at Clyde & Co LLP.

[Read More]

THE OFFICE for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has provided a progress update from Justin Madders (the Minister for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets) on the Government’s review of the fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture.

[Read More]

DOMESTIC DWELLING fires involving rechargeable electrical devices such as vapes, laptops and e-bikes are on the rise. Statistics released by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) show that there were at least 26 fires involving devices powered by rechargeable batteries recorded in Scotland in 2023. This compares to just three incidents in 2018.

[Read More]

WHAT’S DESCRIBED as a “comprehensive restructure” has been announced by the Industry Competence Steering Group (ICSG) in a determined bid to enhance competence and safety standards right across the built environment.

[Read More]

THE BUSINESS Sprinkler Alliance is urging developers to prioritise fire safety from the earliest design stages in the wake of news that a huge six-storey, flagship self-storage facility is being constructed for Big Yellow at Staples Corner in North West London, with Glencar Construction overseeing the £18 million project.

[Read More]

THE FIRE Brigades Union (FBU) has elected a new general secretary. No fewer than 8,648 FBU members voted in the election, representing a turnout of 29%. Steve Wright received 5,188 votes (ie 59% of the total votes cast), with the incumbent Matt Wrack receiving 3,436 (41%). The voting process ran from 10 December to 14 January.

[Read More]

THE LATEST study conducted by Legal Expert has shed further light on the crisis of violence perpetrated against ‘on duty’ firefighters, adding to recent Home Office data pointing towards a new record for injuries suffered due to assaults. The law firm’s review of close on 40 Fire and Rescue Services has unearthed thousands of incidents where crew members have been physically attacked, verbally assailed, harassed, threatened or otherwise have had to endure items including missiles being thrown at them or their appliances.

[Read More]

SPEAKING AT a London Assembly Fire Committee meeting held in the Chamber at City Hall, London’s Fire Commissioner Andy Roe KFSM (who has recently announced his intention to retire after five years in the role) stated that tall buildings exhibiting significant safety risks are still being constructed in the capital.

[Read More]