This week's news

Selected links to firefighter workplace, industrial, technology and OHS news stories across the last seven days.

Australia
Vic: Bushfire Royal Commission
- Stay or go policy under Royal Commission microscope.
- CFA safety procedures need complete overhaul.

WA: Firefighters moved in

The new Wellington Street fire station in the Perth CBD operational despite Union concerns that the engine room is not big enough.

SA: Firefighters honoured for plastics blaze efforts
All fought the blaze at a Kilburn plastics factory last September.

WA: Exercise fire
A military exercise has been blamed for a fire that burnt near Karratha for five hours.

SA: Flames lick ice-cream warehouse
$10 million fire damage in Adelaide's north west.

Planned hazard reduction burn at Lithgow

WA: Hazardous chemicals alight in Hamilton Hill factory fire
Perth suburb residents warned.

WA: ABS figures show Union growth up three
Union membership in WA now 17% of the workforce.

International
NZ: New rules are risking lives
Managers intimidate Firefighters with disciplinary action.

USA: House approves education assistance for children of fallen firefighters
Voice vote approval to the Daniel Faulkner Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act.

Thailand: Troops and military vehicles gather in Bangkok
Firefighters hose down a fire at the site of clashes between anti-government protesters and soldiers.

Canada: Firefighters want protection against toxic blazes
Ottawa firefighters say they need more training and better protection against toxic materials at fires where plastics, microfibres or resins burn.

Czech Republic: Floods Worsen In Central Europe
Firefighters evacuate locals from flooded houses in Troubky, Northern Moravia, Czech Republic.

USA: Report says water, foam caused explosion that killed firefighter
Firefighters directed streams of water and suppressant on a trash bin containing aluminum alloy shavings and 55-gallon steel barrels of aluminum oxide dross, or slag.

USA: Former Forest Service officials want a wider probe of fire
The Station fire was the largest in Los Angeles County history,

Philippines: Fire in Philippine slum leaves thousands homeless
Fire trucks from all over Manila were called to help in the rescue efforts.

USA: Firefighter union sues Texas City
Firefighter union claims the mayor and fire chief ignored requests to arbitrate three grievances.

USA: Update construction code call for sprinkler systems in homes
Professional code-certified inspector and former volunteer firefighter says sprinklers are a good idea.

Ireland: Firefighter dived into Shannon River in bid to save teenager
Inquest into the death of a Limerick teenager.

USA: Airline cockpit fire prompts emergency landing
Passengers had to stay in their seats and a firefighter came on board and opened the cockpit door.

UK: New firefighter system to prevent tunnel fires
Experts are set to test a system that picks out cars and trucks at risk of catching fire.

Canada: Alberta firefighter cancers to be covered by new law
Province workers comp now covers 10 types of cancer

USA: Firefighters to walk for cancer research
Since 2001, Local 1662 has given back close to $15,000 to the citizens we proudly serve.

USA: Firefighter and Union president finds it a hard line to walk at times
Firefighter with the Jefferson City Fire Department, Muenks says "It's tough to have both schedules and have two hats on."

Canada: Lighter winds a relief for firefighters battling pasture and farmland blaze
In addition to the estimated 150 firefighters on scene, helicopters and water bombers have also joined in.

USA: Tennessee firefighters need immediate post-flood assistance  says IAFF.

Tennessee counties scramble to opt in, out of firefighter training law.

USA: Las Vegas firefighters offer cuts worth millions
Compensation package reductions worth more than $7.3 million to the taxpayers of Las Vegas.

Austria: Heavy rainfall inundates parts of capital
Firefighters called out 130 times to pump water out of Viennese cellars and buildings.

USA: Miami Firefighters Union wants court to defend its contract
City invokes obscure state statute in attempt to extract firefighter concessions.

NZ: Huge blaze at Auckland freezer
Thirty fire appliances and 120 plus firefighters battle the  fire.

USA: Asian Firefighters Association

Comprised of active and retired members of the San Francisco Fire Department, the AFA works hard to create and maintain career opportunities for Asians and other minority groups in fire service.

Russia: Firefighter and one other killed in blast at hydro plant
Explosion in turbine room injures another 10 workers.

USA: Gun factory explosion kills two in New Hampshire
Firefighters spray water on a fire at a gun and ammunition manufacturing plant in Colebrook.

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