#nsw fire and rescue

[handmadebybainsy]

Give it a share if you know of anyone who might be interested in purchasing any of these! Multiple services to choose from. (Firefighter, police, paramedic, dispatch, search and rescue, and more) 😌

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1363370673/emergency-services-keyringkeychain-fire

[starbooksye]

"Now what did we learn today?" "Put the wet stuff on the hot stuff" "No"

I shall say no more then he's talking about his job

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Week - June 13, 2023

1. U.S. judge blocks Florida ban on care for trans minors in narrow ruling, says ‘gender identity is real’

A federal judge temporarily blocked portions of a new Florida law that bans transgender minors from receiving puberty blockers, ruling Tuesday that the state has no rational basis for denying patients treatment.

Transgender medical treatment for minors is increasingly under attack in many states and has been subject to restrictions or outright bans. But it has been available in the United States for more than a decade and is endorsed by major medical associations.

2. Eagle Who Thought Rock Was an Egg Finally Gets to Be a Dad

A week after their introduction the cage where the little eaglet was put, was removed so the two could interact more closely. When they were given food, a whole fish for Murphy and bite-sized pieces for his young charge, rather than each eating their separate dish, Murphy took his portion and ripped it up to feed to the baby.

3. Little penguins to reclaim Tasmanian car park as city-based population thrives

Not far from the centre of Tasmania's fourth largest city, a colony of the world's smallest penguins has been thriving, and their habitat is about to expand into an existing car park.

The bright lights and loud noises of Burnie have not been a deterrent for hundreds of penguins who set up home on the foreshore in the north-west Tasmanian city.

4. Latest population survey yields good news for endangered vaquita porpoise

The resilient little vaquita marina appears determined to survive the illegal fishing that has brought it dangerously close to extinction, according to the latest population survey. Despite an estimated annual decline of 45% in 2018, the endangered porpoise appears to be holding steady over the last five years, according to a report published Wednesday by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

5. 'Extinct' butterfly species reappears in UK

The species, previously described as extinct in Britain for nearly 100 years, has suddenly appeared in countryside on the edge of London. Small numbers of black-veined whites have been spotted flying in fields and hedgerows in south-east London. First listed as a British species during the reign of King Charles II, they officially became extinct in Britain in 1925.

This month they have mysteriously appeared among their favourite habitat: hawthorn and blackthorn trees on the edge of London, where I and other naturalists watched them flitting between hedgerows.

6. Colombian is a hero in Peru: he rescued 25 puppies that were about to die in a fire

During a structural fire that occurred in a residential area of ​​Lima in Peru, a young Colombian became a hero. The Colombian, identified as Sebastián Arias, climbed onto the roof where the puppies were and threw them towards the community, that was waiting for them with sheets and mattresses. "I love them, dogs fascinate me," said the young man.

7. World-first trial for pediatric brain cancer

Researchers in Australia are conducting a world-first clinical trial for children diagnosed with ependymoma, a rare and devastating brain cancer. The trial aims to test a new drug called Deflexifol, which combines chemotherapy drugs 5-FU and leucovorin, offering potentially less toxic and more effective treatment compared to current options.

Ependymoma is the third most common brain tumor in children, and current treatments often lead to relapses, with a high fatality rate for those affected. The trial, led by researcher David Ziegler at the Kids Cancer Centre, has received support from the Kids with Cancer Foundation and the Cancer Institute NSW. The goal is to find a cure for every child diagnosed with ependymoma.

----

That's it for this week :)

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[bailey808]

NSW Australia - SES Rescue - NSW Fire - continue gallery - no rights to images.

[mightyflamethrower]

Concerns Mount Over Exploding Electric Vehicles

1 day ago

Guest Blogger

65 Comments

From the DAILY SCEPTIC

BY CHRIS MORRISON

Safety concerns around electric vehicles continue to mount with Australian fire and rescue services in New South Wales stating they might have to make a “tactical disengagement” of a trapped car accident victim if the battery is likely to explode. Australian journalist Jo Nova covered the story, which was first mentioned in the EV blog The Driven, and commented: “They say the first responders need more training as if this can be solved with a certificate, but the dark truth is they’re talking about training the firemen and the truck drivers to recognise when they have to abandon the rescue.”

The Driven, a widely-read blog that seems highly sympathetic to a rollout of EVs, was reporting on recent testimony given to the NSW Government’s Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Batteries Inquiry. The writer suggested that first responders did not have adequate training to deal with electric vehicle collisions, and in the most serious cases, crews could be forced to abandon rescues. One particular area of concern seemed to revolve around the need to extract a trapped casualty quickly after a crash by dragging the person out in a “very undesirable manner”. Fires are a grave risk in any vehicle accident, but they can be quickly brought under control in an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle.

Worries about the potential dangers inherent in EVs is likely to grow as numbers on the roads continue to rise. EV battery explosions can occur very quickly, triggering the release of highly toxic gases. When they roar into thermal overdrive, they create very high temperatures and are very difficult to extinguish. The explosion can occur after almost any collision, or be due to a fault in the initial manufacture. The fire often takes hours to control and it can reignited days after it was thought to be out. With Net Zero fanatics desperate to drive ICE cars off the road in short order, EVs are the only mass private transport solution offered. Many of the issues, including safety, that make them an inferior product compared to petrol-powered combustion cars are often ignored.

Just what can be involved in putting out a fire in an EV was dramatically detailed in a recent press release from the Wakefield Fire Dept in Massachusetts. It was called out to deal with a burning Tesla on a snowy Interstate 95, and reported:

Wakefield Engine 1 and Ladder 1 initiated suppression operations, applying copious amounts of water onto the vehicle. Multiple surrounding mutual aid communities responded as well to support firefighting operations and to create a water shuttle to bring water continually to the scene. Engines from Melrose, Stoneham, Reading, Lynnfield as well as a Middleton water tanker assisted. Firefighters had three 1¾-inch hand lines as well as a ‘blitz gun’ in operation to cool the battery compartment… Lynnfield crews established a continuous 4-inch supply line from Vernon Street up to the highway. The fire was declared under control and fully extinguished after about two and a half hours… The vehicle was removed from the scene after consulting with the Hazmat Unit… The crews did a great job, especially in the middle of storm conditions – on a busy highway.

There is little doubt that EV fires are on the rise. In the U.K., CE Safety runs Freedom of Information checks on local fire brigades and its latest survey shows an alarming rise in conflagrations. In Greater London in the 2017-2022 period, there were a reported 507 battery fires from a number of EV types, but CE Safety found a “gigantic” 219 conflagrations in 2022-23 alone. Lancashire was said to rank second with 15 EV battery fires, but this was 10 more in a single year than recorded in the five years between 2017-2022. Overall “it was concerning” to discover that the number of electric battery fires during 2022-2023 was higher in most areas than the data showed over five years from 2017 to 2022. During that year, 14 buses suffered battery fires.

There was a substantial increase in the number of e-bikes catching fire, with CE Safety noting that lithium is highly flammable and reactive. “Over-charging presents a massive risk to households with lithium-powered vehicles,” the safety organisation observed.

Concern is also rising over the transportation of EVs on car ferries. Recently, Havila Kystruten, which operates a fleet of car ferries around the coast of Norway, has banned the transportation of electric, hybrid and hydrogen vehicles. According to a report in the Maritime Executive, it is the latest step by the shipping industry, “which has become acutely aware of the increasing danger of transporting EV and other alternate fuel vessels”.

Havila’s Managing Director Bent Martini said a risk analysis had shown a fire at sea in a fossil fuel vehicle could be handled by on-board systems. “A possible fire in electric, hybrid or hydrogen cars will require external rescue efforts and could put people on board and the ships at risk,” he said. That of course is the nightmare scenario. If fire breaks out on a ferry making a 20-mile crossing in good weather, the chances of all passengers and crew surviving are good. Less good, perhaps, if fire was to break out and fill the ship with toxic smoke in the middle of a stormy November night while crossing the Bay of Biscay. Chances of survival would be diminished if the high temperatures caused nearby EVs to explode.

Mercifully, we are less and less likely to see such accidents. The list of disadvantages of EVs is lengthening by the day. Environmental concerns about the manufacture and mining of raw materials have been raised, while ‘range anxiety’ is common among drivers. EVs are more expensive than ICE cars, while knackered batteries mean that second-hand values are very poor. For those who would see the back of them, the graph below might provide some comfort.

This shows the recent decline in the share price of the American car hire giant Hertz. Back in 2021, the company pushed ahead with huge purchases of Teslas. In January it dumped 20,000 of them, and last month pushed another 10,000 onto a sagging second-hand market. Out in the real world – the world where people create wealth by providing what other people actually want – fewer drivers seemed willing to hire them. The share price tells its own sorry story. Meanwhile, EV sales across Europe tend to be driven by unsustainable tax breaks, while the cars are mainly popular with wealthy people as a second or third city runabout. An enforced political adoption of EVs is likely to destroy vast swathes of the European car industry, unable to compete with cheap Chinese imports.

If the aim is to take away personal transport for the masses, EVs are an excellent idea. Whether that will ultimately play well at the ballot box is another matter.

Chris Morrison is the Daily Sceptic’s Environment Editor.

I would not be able to sleep at night knowing I had a ticking time bomb parked in my garage.

[usafphantom2]

Seahawks Strike Back and a squadron of SR-71 Blackbirds gets activated.

Navy Seahawks respond in the Red Sea and looking back on the squadron of SR-71 Blackbirds which were activated.

PilotPhotog

“Every gain in speed increases not only the attacker’s security but the defender’s insecurity. For the higher the speed the greater the chance of, and scope for, surprise. Speed and surprise are not merely related; they are twins.”

-B.H. Liddell Hart

Mission Briefing

Happy New Year! 2024 is shaping up to be a significant year on many fronts, and 2023 certainly ended with a bang of sorts. Early in the morning hours of December 31st, the waters around the Arabian Peninsula were suddenly disrupted by a distress call. It's the containership Maersk Hangzhou, under siege for the second time in less than 24 hours. This time, the attackers are four small boats, manned by Iranian-backed Houthi forces, emerging from Yemeni territories under Houthi control.

The Maersk Hangzhou's crew, facing a dire situation, watched as these boats, armed with crew-served and small arms weapons, advanced and fired on the ship. These boats would get dangerously close, just 20 meters away, and even attempted to board the ship. In response, the ship's security team fights back, but the situation escalated rapidly.

Enter the heroes of our story: US Navy H60 Seahawk helicopters. These powerful machines, part of the USS Eisenhower and Gravely's compliment, fly to the rescue. They issue verbal warnings, but the small boats, undeterred, fire upon the helicopters. The Navy pilots and crew, trained for such moments, return fire in self-defense. Their precision and skill are undeniable as they sink three of the four boats and drive the fourth away. Remarkably, the US personnel and equipment remain unscathed.

An MH-60S Seahawk helicopter of HSC-7 landing (US Navy)

The exact H60 squadrons involved remain unconfirmed by US Central Command. However, among them were likely several helicopters from HSC 7, aka the "Dusty Dogs" of Carrier Airwing 3 aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. These pilots, flying the Sierra model of the Seahawk, probably relied on the formidable .50 caliber machine gun mounted on the aircraft's starboard side.

While I normally do videos and newsletter articles about fighter planes, we need to take a moment to appreciate the Navy’s MH-60 Seahawk, which is an incredibly versatile machine and somewhat underrated. The Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk is a marvel of modern aviation technology. It's a twin-engine helicopter equipped with turboshaft engines, skillfully designed for multiple missions by the United States Navy. This impressive bird is derived from the U.S. Army's UH-60 Black Hawk and is part of the renowned Sikorsky S-70 family. What sets the Seahawk apart are its unique design tweaks – the main rotor blades can fold, and it has a hinged tail, making it a perfect fit for the confined spaces on ships.

In the vast blue expanses where the U.S. Navy sails, the H-60 airframe takes on various roles, embodied in the models SH-60B, SH-60F, HH-60H, MH-60R, and MH-60S. This helicopter is incredibly versatile, able to operate from virtually any air-capable naval vessel – be it a frigate, destroyer, cruiser, fast combat support ship, expeditionary transfer dock, amphibious assault ship, littoral combat ship, or even an aircraft carrier.

The Seahawk's mission profile is impressively diverse. It's a master of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASUW), making it a formidable foe against underwater and surface threats. For more covert operations, it excels in naval special warfare (NSW) insertion. In times of crisis, the Seahawk is a guardian angel, performing search and rescue (SAR) and combat search and rescue (CSAR) missions. It's also a lifeline for logistical support through vertical replenishment (VERTREP) and plays a crucial role in medical evacuations (MEDEVAC). All in all, the Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk is a multi-mission powerhouse, essential to the U.S. Navy's operations across the globe.

Looking ahead to 2024, given the ongoing events unfolding around the world, you can expect more mini documentaries not just on fixed wing aircraft, but helicopters like the Seahawk and other support aircraft.

This week in aviation history

1 January 1965: The Cold War is at its peak, and the United States Air Force is in dire need of a reconnaissance aircraft that can outrun and outmaneuver any threat. Enter the SR-71A, a marvel of engineering, capable of flying at speeds over Mach 3 and at altitudes above 85,000 feet.

On New Year’s Day in 1965, a significant day at Beale Air Force Base in California. On this day, the 4200th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing was activated, specifically to operate this groundbreaking aircraft. The SR-71A wasn't just a plane; it was a statement of technological prowess, capable of gathering crucial intelligence while remaining virtually untouchable by enemy defenses.

An SR-71 in flight. Note the water vapor plumes (USAF)

The wing's mission was clear: strategic reconnaissance, a vital component in the high-stakes game of the Cold War. The SR-71A's capabilities were unprecedented. It could cover vast distances incredibly fast, capturing detailed photographs of enemy territories without being detected or intercepted. This wing, with its Blackbirds, was a key player in the strategic balance between the superpowers.

Fast forward to January 25, 1966, the wing underwent a significant change, being redesignated as the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. This wasn't just a change of name; it signified an evolving and enduring role in strategic reconnaissance. The 9th Wing continued to operate the SR-71A, playing a crucial role in gathering intelligence during many Cold War flashpoints and beyond.

The SR-71A's service under these wings is a tale of technological achievement and strategic importance. It set numerous flight speed and altitude records, some of which remain unbroken. The aircraft itself became an icon, symbolizing speed, stealth, and the cutting-edge of aerial reconnaissance technology. Nearly 60 years later, the Blackbird still looks futuristic.

In case you missed it

I made this video as soon as I heard the news:

Photo Outlet

The Navy Blue Angels are always a sight (and sound) to behold. If you haven’t seen their routine with the Super Hornets, you should in 2024 - they put on a great show!

Super Hornet Blue Angel #1 Taxis into position (Tog)

Post Flight Debrief

New Years are often about new beginnings, here’s to hoping for a productive, fulfilling, and healthy New Year to you and yours.

That’s all for this week, thanks for reading! If you know a fellow aviation enthusiast that would enjoy these weekly newsletters, then please forward this along. Now you know!

-Tog

Thank you for reading Hangar Flying with Tog. This post is public so feel free to share it.

[todayworldnews2k21]

Crews search NSW river for fisherman who tried to retrieve rod from water

Police said the 68-year-old man was with his wife when he dropped his rod in the water and went in after it about 11am today. When he didn’t resurface, emergency services were called to Nortons Basin at Mulgoa. A search is being carried out by NSW Police, the State Emergency Service swift water rescue team, Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Ambulance and a PolAir helicopter. Crews were on site…

[secure-electrical]

Another e-bike fire in Sydney recently!

Here’s some information on Lithium-Ion Battery Safety: Essential Tips from Secure Electrical

Source NSW Fire & Rescue 13th November 2024

As a top residential smoke alarm electrician in Sydney, Secure Electrical is dedicated to keeping your home safe. Lithium-ion batteries are the fastest growing fire risk in New South Wales. Here’s what you need to know to stay protected:

Preparation

Install Smoke or Heat Alarms: Ensure alarms are working in rooms where batteries are charged or stored.

Safe Charging Surfaces: Charge batteries on non-flammable surfaces like concrete or tiles. Avoid beds, sofas, or carpets.

Charge in Safe Areas: Large batteries (e-scooters, e-bikes, power tools) should be charged in garages, sheds, or carports, away from living spaces and exits.

Charging Guidelines

Avoid Charging Unattended: Do not charge batteries while sleeping or when not at home.

Disconnect When Full: Unplug devices once fully charged.

No Charging in Bed: Avoid using and charging devices like phones, tablets, and vapes in bed to prevent overheating and fires.

Inspect Batteries: Do not use or charge batteries that are swelling, leaking, or overheating. Avoid using damaged devices.

Proper Charging Equipment

Use Approved Chargers: Only use chargers that came with the device or are approved for it. Ensure they have the Australian Regulatory Compliance Mark Tick.

Compatibility Matters: Just because a plug fits doesn’t mean it’s safe. Incorrect voltage and current can cause overheating and fires.

Safe Disposal

Do Not Bin Batteries: Lithium-ion batteries should not be placed in home garbage or recycling bins due to fire risks during waste handling.

Recycle Properly: Dispose of small, undamaged batteries at designated recycling drop-off points. Tape battery terminals before disposal to prevent short circuits.

By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the risk of fire in your home. For expert smoke alarm installation and maintenance, trust Secure Electrical to keep you safe. More information here: https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=9426

Need help from a residential smoke alarm electrician Sydney?

Follow the blue link👆to book an appointment

Stay vigilant and charge responsibly!

[replacesmokealarmssydney]

Lithium-ion batteries are the fastest growing fire risk in New South Wales. Understanding the risks and being prepared is crucial.

Key Safety Tips 👇

[mattnicholls69]

Skydiver stranded upside down after landing in a tree on NSW South Coast - https://www.9news.com.au/national/skydiver-stranded-after-landing-in-a-tree-on-nsw-south-coast/fc1b34aa-4618-411e-9e21-7b23327f6adb

[beepingsmokealarmsydney]

There have been 64 fires related to lithium-ion batteries in New South Wales so far this year!

Here is some battery and charging safety information from Fire and Rescue NSW

[ashdavies]

Website Development

In order to make a difference to the impact of bushfires we needed to focus on three key elements,

Creating awareness around the risks a community or individual is exposed to.

Educating people on how they can prepare for disasters.

Forming communities that can support and protect each other.

The Ashes & Co. website serves two main purposes, to educate people on fire safety awareness and preparation and to inform people of upcoming Event days and activities. In creating a website that is accessible and takes a creative approach to learning, we are tackling multiple aspects of our wicked problem. This fits with the UN Sustainable Development Goals:

11: Sustainable Cities & Communities​

13: Climate Action

Site Map

The first step I took to creating the website was building a site map. This helped define how the navigation of the website would work.

In order for the website to be successful we needed to create a style guide where elements such as fonts, buttons, colours and logos could be easily referenced. I started by creating a logo.

This logo was used on all of the Ashes & Co prototypes; it is identifiable and thematic. I also designed the icons for the website, for future iterations of this project it would be beneficial to add additional icons to add extra depth and help with navigation.

Prototyping

First Iteration Kay produced the first draft of the website. This version has a simple layout, is organised with a solid colour palette and gives us a jumping off platform for where to go next but upon analysing it we realised it doesn't fit with our goal to create a visual based learning experience. It is hard to read with an unclear visual hierarchy and big blocks of text. 

Second Iteration From here, I took the version Kay made and took it to the next level, focusing on visual hierarchy, accessibility and aesthetics.

Testing

To test the effectiveness of the website, I conducted and interview with Hollard Insurance's Digital Marketing Manager. Before testing the prototype I prepared 3 learning questions that I would aim to improve my knowledge of.

Tanya's advice was super informative, giving me insight into not just the strong areas of the design but also the areas that need to be changed and improved upon.

Strong Aspects:​

The colours highlight the important parts​

Easy to read​

The emergency contact right at the start (interactive)​

Call to actions​

Good use of language (using phrases such as “Who are we?”)​

Straight to the important bits (not taking up space with large images)​

Checklist supported by illustration​

Good hierarchy of important information​

​ Changes:​

Bold key words​

Maybe a subheading under titles to change the language to user’s perspective​

Check accessibility for the light blue and dark blue together​

Make capitalisation consistent 

More accessibility features (Alt tags)​

​

For the final iteration of the prototype, the main structure of the website including colours, navigation, web pages and information will all be carried through. The changes I made to bring this website to the next level include consistency with capitalisation and more contrast in the hamburger menu. 

Final Prototype

Conducting this testing helped to refine the design of the website to have the desired impact on users. Being an accessible and easy to navigate information hub, the prototype is meant to help all kinds of people access knowledge normally locked behind walls of text.

I learnt the answers to my key learning questions. For question one, I found the most important thing to include on the website were:

A visual hierarchy

Emergency contact

Information about our event days

Illustrations

For question two, Ashes & Co is located in NSW Australia so I linked emergency services such as the Rural Fire Service, The NSW State Emergency Service and Fire and Rescue NSW.

And finally question three, to achieve an accessible website I took a number of steps including running the colours through a contrast checker as advised by Tanya. I also focused on visual elements such as illustrations and guiding imagery to help ease of use and navigation.

[electrician-ryde]

Check out the open day at Ryde fire station!

https://rydedistrictmums.com.au/fire-rescue-nsw-open-day/

[smokealarmelectriciannorthshore]

Don’t let the weather stop you!

Get the kids along to Ryde Fire Station Community Open Day !

https://rydedistrictmums.com.au/fire-rescue-nsw-open-day/

[bailey808]

Fire - rescue - SES NSW Australia

[petnews2day]

Owner’s miraculous rescue of exotic bird

New Post has been published on https://petn.ws/jjolB

Owner’s miraculous rescue of exotic bird

“Skittles”, a turquoise-fronted amazon, safely found by firefighters. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW An exotic bird’s owner managed to get her missing bird back after four days of worry – but had to be elevated four storeys high to collect him. Skittles, a two-year-old turquoise-fronted Amazon, disappeared from a West Sydney home on Friday. The […]

See full article at https://petn.ws/jjolB #BirdNews