Australia
Qld: Cairns firefighters win five-year battle for safer rescue equipment
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Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has issued an improvement notice to the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) over inadequate personal flotation devices given to swift water rescue firefighters. The UFU lodged a complaint against the QFRS on behalf of Cairns firefighters in February.
Vic: Another year's delay for firefighting vessels
The Victorian branch secretary of the United Firefighters Union, Peter Marshall, lashed the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board, saying they had taken ''nine years to put a tender out ...In all that time they knew the area was unprotected ..."
NSW: Urine drug tests inadequate: fire union
The decision to scrap urine drug testing for some NSW energy workers should be extended to the state's firefighters. The Union says a Fair Work Australia (FWA) about testing employees of the state-owned Endeavour Energy should serve as a wake up call for management at Fire and Rescue NSW. The Union has called on the fire service to abandon it's "stubborn insistence on urine tests".
Tas: Anger over radio interference
Forestry Tasmania says during efforts to contain a vegetation fire in the Huon, somebody not connected with Forestry Tasmania was interfering with radio transmissions and that put the lives of firefighters at risk.
Vic: NZ firefighters caught up in Vic park rangers bans
Due to industrial action being taken by Victoria's national park rangers, the CPSU says New Zealand fire fighters brought to Victoria for training may be caught up in the action, with the department planning to deploy them in the Wimmera and Otway districts.
NT: Charged over deaths
A firefighter has faced court in Darwin over the deaths of three architects after allegedly running a red light in a truck and crushing their ute while on his way to an emergency.
NSW: Newcastle and Sydney to handle all fire and rescue emergencies
The union representing New South Wales firefighters says having Newcastle and Sydney handle all of the triple-zero calls for fire emergencies could result in delayed response times.
International
USA: Maryland firefighters score landmark victory
Just hours before the Maryland General Assembly adjourned for the 2012 legislative session, the House of Delegates passed HB 1101, a measure that greatly expands cancer presumption for Maryland fire fighters. The legislation has been a priority for the Maryland Professional Fire Fighters Association (MPFFA) for several years
NZ: Fire Service, union agree on contract terms
Partial strikes by firefighters across the country could soon be over after their union and the New Zealand Fire Service agreed on terms for a new collective contract
The proposed Collective Agreement.
NZ: Firefighters may strike again
Palmerston North firefighters could be striking again next week if negotiations do not go to plan.
USA: Blaze kills Philadelphia firefighters
Two firefighters died after a wall collapsed on them while they fought the massive early-morning blaze.
Philadelphia Firefighters' Union shares department's loss of two brethren.
Peru: How ocean warming is priming the Amazon for fire
Scientists used to think the rainforest, especially in the western Amazon, was too wet to burn. But major fire seasons in 2005 and 2010 made them reconsider.
Afghanistan: Firefighters, US military police train in Kandahar
The Kandahar Fire Department is the only fire department in Kandahar. It responds to fires and, more commonly, reports of possible improvised explosive devices throughout the city. Many of the approximately 50 fire fighters are certified Afghan Uniformed Police officers.