Institution of Fire EngineersInternational News
Fire Rages at Wooden Pallet Factory
3rd September 2009
Thankfully, there are no reports of injuries or major damage.
Crews were on the scene just after 3am and made short work of the two-alarm blaze.
The plant is located at 204 Toryork Dr., in the Weston Road and Finch Avenue area. It appears that a pile of skids at the back of the facility was destroyed.
There's no word yet on the cause.
Source: citynew.ca
Arson Suspected in TTC Bus Fire
2nd September 2009
Police believe arson is to blame for a fire that destroyed a bus and shook up early-morning passengers.
The blaze broke out on board the vehicle around 2:45am near Yonge and Bloor streets, shutting down Yonge Street from Bloor to Cumberland as firefighters battled the flames.
But it wasn't a mechanical issue.
Instead, officials allege that it was a passenger that sparked the fire.
He had allegedly walked to the back of the bus and asked a woman for a cigarette. When she refused, he punched her in the face. He then allegedly spread some sort of flammable liquid on the seats and lit it.
By 3am, the fire was out - and the suspect had fled.
The woman was treated at the scene and did not need to go the hospital.
Source: citynew.ca
Nobody Injured after TTC bus set on fire
2nd September 2009
Police are looking for a suspect after a TTC bus was torched following a domestic dispute between two passengers aboard the coach early Wednesday morning.
A man aboard a northbound Blue Line Yonge Street bus bus allegedly assaulted a woman, prompting other passengers to become upset before "having words" with the man, police say.
Witnesses tell police the man then took an accelerant from his bag, an officer said, and began spraying it over the back seats of the bus before lighting it on fire just after 2:30 a.m.
The bus stopped and everyone got out safely.
The suspect was last spotted running southbound on Yonge Street before hopping into a cab.
He's described as male, black, six-feet tall dressed in beige clothing carrying a large bag.
The bus was destroyed and later towed away by the TTC.
Source: cp24.comFor more information please see The Star and CBC
Federal grant awarded to continue the groundbreaking work of Vision 20/20
August 2009Project focuses on reducing the loss of life across the nation from preventable fires
Alexandria, VA - August 14, 2009 The Institution of Fire Engineers - USA Branch has been awarded a $385,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security's Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program to continue the groundbreaking work of Vision 20/20 (www.strategicfire.org). This project, first started in 2006, focuses on developing a national strategy for fire loss prevention. Since that time the information developed through this project has become an integral part of a number of national and local organizations working to reduce the tragic impact of fire.
Previous activities involving hundreds of experts have included national conferences, webinars, surveys and other tools to gather information on the current state of fire prevention with a goal of developing a plan to address shortcomings. Five specific strategies were identified as a result of this process:
- Strategy 1 Increase advocacy for fire prevention
- Strategy 2 Conduct a national fire safety education/social marketing campaign
- Strategy 3 Raise the importance of fire prevention within the fire service
- Strategy 4 Promote technology to enhance fire and life safety
Strategy 5 Refine and improve the application of codes and standards that enhance public and firefighter safety and preserve community assets
"This grant will allow us to extend the work of the past three years in a dramatic way," said Jim Crawford, project manager for Vision 20/20. "With the strong support of DHS and the many other organizations that have partnered with us on this effort we can make an impact on fire safety through recognized best practices."
The new phase of the Vision 20/20 project will be to develop an Advocacy Toolkit that will provide tools for clearly communicating the magnitude of the fire problem and the benefits of prevention activities recommended in the report "National Strategies for Fire Loss Prevention" that is available at the Vision 20/20 web site. The kits, along with training, will be shared with key fire prevention officials in every state. Using the power of the Internet, this material will be made widely available so that it can be implemented on all levels and in all communities. In concert with this effort will be a series of workshops to train representatives on implementing effective model practices that are being identified for reducing fire loss. These programs and evaluation tools for measuring program performance can then be taken back to their own states for implementation.
This funding will also facilitate ongoing support for activities of the project's Steering Committee which is made up of experts from a diversity of background and organizations. "The Steering Committee, along with all of the other volunteers that are such an integral part of this project, is what makes this effort such a success," said Crawford. "Because of the breadth of knowledge being brought to bear on the problem of fire in this nation we have a unique opportunity to make a difference both now and for future generations."
More information can be found on the Vision 20/20 website at www.strategicfire.org.