photo courtesy of Worcester Polytechnic Institute NFPA launched a new Fire Protection Engineering Support Fund at Oklahoma State University, the University of Maryland (UMD) and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) this week. NFPA funds will directly help these universities recognize students who are tackling today’s fire challenges. NFPA has given many fire protection awards in the name of engineering trailblazers, but this marks the first time we have created an ongoing NFPA support program to further advance FPE studies. Students enrolled at these universities are encouraged to talk with their FPE professors and department leaders about the following programs: Oklahoma State... Continue reading

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Volunteer & Combined Officers Section (VCOS) and Kidde Fire Safety will host a volunteer recruitment and community engagement webinar on Tuesday, March 29 at 2:00pm (EST). The online seminar was organized so that fire departments can learn... Continue reading

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Volunteer & Combined Officers Section (VCOS) and Kidde Fire Safety will host a volunteer recruitment and community engagement webinar on Tuesday, March 29 at 2:00pm (EST). The online seminar was organized so that fire departments can learn the best strategies to engage their community by conducting fire safety events and promote the Step Up and Stand Out program, a national campaign to recognize volunteer firefighters and promote community involvement in fire safety. The one hour webinar will help local fire departments: build awareness of the Step Up... Continue reading

Sparky is celebrating his 65th in a BIG way – on the big screen. Recently, Sparky ticked a high-visibility bucket list item off his wish list when he was featured on the HDX screen at an NHL hockey game. Fans in the crowd went wild when they saw NFPA’s firedog onscreen. Sparky’s 65th birthday Bucket List campaign has just gotten underway – keep track of the old dog’s adventures on his 65th Birthday Bucket List site. Continue reading

Sparky got a jump on his 65th Birthday Bucket List recently when he rode the ice resurfacer at the Boston Bruins’ inaugural First Responder Night. Sparky was in his glory as he circled the ice at TD Garden, waving to his favorite audience – police, fire and EMS professionals. Be sure to follow the iconic fire dog’s adventures by visiting his 65th Birthday Bucket List site often. Continue reading

photo courtesy of CNN A massive high-rise fire broke out today at The Address Hotel in Dubai, a five-star property near the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper. Right before midnight, as tens of thousands of spectators awaited New Year's Eve fireworks on the streets surrounding the hotel, large explosions erupted inside the burning building. Fire engulfed at least twenty stories of the 63-story luxury hotel. Plastic was reportedly melting off the exterior of the hotel and raining down from the building as first responders rushed to the scene. Dubai's Media Office wrote on its official Twitter account that the... Continue reading

Photo by Steffani Blair Firefighters have a natural propensity to help others. You could say they have the ultimate giving spirit. They display bravery, heroism and selflessness each time the alarm sounds. They run into burning buildings when others look to escape - and they offer comfort when people need it most. Dealing with the emotional needs of victims is a big part of a firefighter's job. And it matters. As we celebrate the season of giving, yet another uplifting story of firefighter kindness has gone viral. It reminds us of the inherent empathy that firefighters bring to their roles;... Continue reading

Across the globe, fire incidents associated with hoverboards are being reported at an alarming rate prompting internet giants Overstock and Amazon to stop selling some hover boards. One tragic incident in Louisiana earlier this month involved a hoverboard on top of a mattress that burst into flames. Fire quickly engulfed the entire house, and the home and its contents were determined to be a complete loss. Other reported fire episodes occurred when hoverboards were being used, stored or transported. After numerous media inquiries, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) issued fire safety tips urging hoverboard owners to read product guidelines... Continue reading

PHOTO: San Bernardino County Sun It happened again. Sadly, it will continue to happen. If there’s one thing that is becoming abundantly clear, our world is changing. And so, too, are the ways that building owners, facility managers and first responders must prepare to keep communities safe. On Wednesday, December 2 as people throughout the nation – and in particular in a conference room in San Bernardino, California – got into the holiday spirit, another tragic active shooter incident unfolded and once again rattled our peace of mind. As the circumstances that led up to this recent mass execution emerge,... Continue reading

First responders from the U.S. and Canada, subject matter experts and NFPA staff address fire fighter safety The second half of the inaugural NFPA Responder Forum in Indianapolis concluded in much the same way as it started – with incredible energy, camaraderie, information and passion. Day two began with three team leaders reporting back to approximately 85 Responder Forum invitees, speakers and NFPA staff members about the strategy, action and outreach efforts that will take place in the months to come to proactively address the emerging topics of robotics, civil unrest and data collection and analysis. The groups did a... Continue reading

Fox 5 News in Washington DC reports that a fire occurred in a chemistry lab at W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax County, VA around 9:40 a.m. today. According to a tweet from Fairfax County Public Schools, five students were injured, including two students who were seriously burned and airlifted to the Washington Burn Center at MedStar Hospital in the District. The other three students were taken by ambulance to nearby Inova Fairfax Hospital. A teacher was also injured, but was not taken to the hospital and remained at the scene. The high school was quickly evacuated. Fire officials say... Continue reading

The first day of our new, invitation-only Responder Forum think tank was held today in Indianapolis. The event brings together long-respected fire services leaders, up-and-coming first responders and innovative subject matter experts in one space to tackle the emerging issues that fire departments are now facing. The main goal of this new Forum was to have representatives from thirteen major fire services organizations partner with government officials, regulators, researchers, analysts, academics and others to create a pathway from research to standards. Forum attendees represent different fire service disciplines, regions of the country, and skill sets. Invitees were nominated for a... Continue reading

Backyards and Beyond presenter Jeff Cavanaugh, senior underwriting portfolio manager for USAA, attracted a large crowd to his featured session on insurance discounts for Firewise communities. Cavanaugh highlighted collaborative research between USAA and Firewise which revealed favorable loss performance trends for Firewise residents at community and state levels. The joint... Continue reading

Well, another successful Fire Prevention Week is in the rear view mirror. We have a lot to be proud of – most notably that we made America a little bit safer in the course of seven days. Thank you for getting the message of “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs A Working Smoke Alarm” out. By creatively, collaboratively, and proactively sharing fire prevention safety tips via marketing efforts, outreach initiatives and educational campaigns – we have once again ensured that our communities are well informed about fire safety and the importance of working smoke alarms. We often... Continue reading

When the University of New Haven Fire Science Club (UNH) decided to host a national campaign and Campus Fire Safety Sweepstakes & Contest to raise awareness for fire safety on college campuses, they turned to The Center for Campus Fire Safety (the Center) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for statistics and resources that would engage college communities. UNH students developed a Facebook contest and made quick videos with key messages to call attention to September being Campus Fire Safety Month. The Center and NFPA provided fire safety questions to ask landlords and school officials, and videos, checklists, tip sheets,... Continue reading

Susan Strasberg, the youngest actress to star on Broadway and enjoy marquee exposure when she played the lead role in Diary of Ann Frank in 1955 at age 18, once said about her grandparents, “I loved their home. Everything smelled older, worn but safe; the food aroma baked itself into the furniture. There is something about our grandparents’ homes that is comforting – not just for us but for our elderly loved ones, especially as they age. As we celebrate Grandparents Day on Sunday, September 13, think about your grandparents, the reassuring spaces they call home – and the many... Continue reading

We're excited to announce, along with LEGOLAND Florida Resort, that active and retired first responders will enjoy free admission at LEGOLAND Florida Resort from September 1-28 when they show an id or membership card! In addition, fire, police and EMS families are able to purchase up to four passes at $40 each – more than a 50% discount off the park’s standard ticket pricing of $82 for children and $89 for adults. The special NFPA/LEGOLAND September first responder pricing (promo code 13000) is only available at the LEGOLAND Florida Resort gate. The September first responder incentive program is a precursor... Continue reading

According to NFPA’s web analytics, Fire Prevention Week is a hot topic. Fire Prevention Week has been rising in popularity on the NFPA website for weeks, and currently sits solidly in the #1 spot in terms of searches. After nearly 93 years as a national public health campaign – Fire Prevention Week’s enduring messages still ring true so be sure to get the word out if your firehouse, school or community organization is gearing up for a fire safety activity, educational campaign or community open house. The success of Fire Prevention Week did not happen by accident. The powerful branding... Continue reading