Nfpa Journal Podcast

Shockingly, cooking fires now kill more people on average per year in the US than they did in the 1980s. As Thanksgiving approaches—the day with by far the most incidents—we take a look at the growing problem of cooking fires. First, Jesse talks to NFPA communications manager Susan McKelvey about the causes of cooking fires (0:55), why the problem seems to be getting worse, and resources available for educators to turn the trend around. After that, we explore the science behind the viral videos of turkey-fryer fireballs, and why this popular cooking method can be so dangerous (24:07). Links: Dangers of Turkey Fryers Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjUynq0HXdQ   NFPA cooking fire resources: www.nfpa.org/cooking www.nfpa.org/fpw   NFPA Journal article on new UL smoke detector standards: https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/NFPA-Journal/2018/March-April-2018/Features/UL-Smoke-alarm

Community Risk Reduction (CRR) is a term that has popped up everywhere in recent years, from fire departments to federal grants, at conferences, and even in the new standard NFPA 1300. On today’s podcast, Jesse talks to NFPA CRR Strategist Karen Berard-Reed (2:20) about a new dashboard that NFPA has created to help fire departments develop CRR programs. Then, (16:16), Robby talks with leaders at two fire departments about their experiences using the CRR dashboard and how departments can sign up to participate in Phase 2 of the pilot program.

Various studies have shown that firefighters are more likely to contract and die from certain types of cancer than the general public. On today’s podcast we look at several initiatives underway to better understand the problem and educate first responders. First, (2:52) Robby talks to officials from Florida about statewide efforts to reduce cancer rates among firefighters. Then, (50:07) Jesse checks in with an update on the largest research project now underway to understand the link between firefighting and cancer, the National Firefighter Registry.

Deadly gas explosions have occurred in Maine, Maryland, and Massachusetts in recent years. A new standard being developed by NFPA aims to address the problem. Angelo kicks off the episode with a story about one recent incident in a small town in Maine, before interviewing the technical committee chair for the new standard, NFPA 715 (6:30), as well as one researcher whose work will heavily inform the document (26:00). Lastly, Derek Vigstol hosts a segment on reconditioned equipment and the NEC (37:45).   Public input on NFPA 715 ends October 15. Go to nfpa.org/715 to submit input and learn more about the standard.

With historic and destructive wildfires spanning the globe from Oregon to the Amazon in 2020, experts in a range of fields are coming together to figure out what can be done to save people and property. In the first segment (2:35), Jesse takes us to a one-of-a-kind wildfire symposium where academics, insurers, tech entrepreneurs, firefighters and others brainstorm how to reverse the surge of wildfire destruction. Then, Angelo talks to the wildfire coordinator for the city of Missoula, Montana about his efforts and why jobs like his are becoming essential for communities (32:52).   Lastly, we debut a periodic segment looking at some of the key revisions in the 2020 National Electrical Code·. In this installment, host Derek Vigstol chats with an expert from NEC Code Making Panel 2 about recent changes to requirements for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters, or GFCIs (55:11).   For more resources on how to plan and prepare for wildfire, visit nfpa.org/wildfire. For more on the complex issue of wildfire and develop

Set for release on September 21, NFPA LiNK™ reinvents the experience of using NFPA codes and standards—and sets the stage for the organization’s future as a hub of digital information and knowledge. But what exactly is NFPA LiNK and how did it come to be? In this episode of The NFPA Podcast, Angelo interviews an NFPA staffer who helped develop the new tool (4:10) as well as an electrical contractor who's excited to start using it (22:08). Plus, to close the episode, NFPA's director of public education discusses Fire Prevention Week 2020 (30:00).

With the peak of hurricane and wildfire seasons upon us, government agencies and aid organizations will need to shelter potentially thousands of storm and fire evacuees. How will they do it without spreading the COVID-19 virus? How will they keep key emergency workers healthy?   In today’s episode, host Jesse Roman talks with Luke Beckman, a director at the Red Cross Pacific Division, to learn how the organization revamped its response plans and operations ahead of the massive wildfires now striking Northern California (3:32). Then, Robby Dawson talks with Anna McRay, an emergency manager in North Carolina, about how her county prepared for and responded to Hurricane Isaias in August (31:08).   Both McRay and Beckman share lessons learned from responding to these incidents during the pandemic—including several new strategies that will likely stay even after the pandemic is over.

Many things went wrong to cause the deadly explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. In this episode of The NFPA Podcast, we examine some of the factors that may have led to the blast, from the improper storage of ammonium nitrate to unpermitted hot work. Angelo kicks off the episode with a conversation with Guy Colonna, a hazardous materials expert at NFPA, to discuss ammonium nitrate safety (2:20). Then, he speaks with Anas Alzaid, NFPA's representative to the Middle East, to discuss industrial safety in the region (17:50), before closing the episode with a chat with Laura Moreno, an NFPA engineer, to discuss hot work safety (36:25). 

From inaccurate pop culture references to homebuilders warning of astronomical costs, there are a lot of residential fire sprinklers myths out there. In this episode of The NFPA Podcast, we debunk some of those myths as we hear from a former fire chief who chose to retrofit his home with sprinklers. Angelo kicks off the episode with an overview of the importance of home fire sprinklers as well as an update on residential sprinkler incentives (1:17), before Robby takes over with his interview of a former fire chief who retrofitted his home with sprinklers and the installers who worked on that project (2:38). Plus, in sticking with the residential theme but moving away from sprinklers, Derek examines how new NEC requirements will impact residential electrical contractors (35:40).

As it has with every industry, coronavirus has upended the world of safety inspections—but in this case there might actually be some good news! With communities across the world social distancing, remote video inspections (known as RVI) have taken off dramatically, and building departments are seeing unexpected benefits. Jesse starts off the show with an overview of RVI and some reasons why it’s suddenly so popular. Next, he talks to Jim Muir, a building official in Washington State who some consider the inventor of RVI, about its benefits and challenges, a proposed NFPA standard on the topic, and how RVI could change the industry for the better (5:18). Then, Derek talks to an electrical inspector in Connecticut to learn how he created and launched a new RVI program at his building department in less than a week, and why he plans to continue it even after things return to normal (42:31).   For much more info on remote video inspections, visit nfpa.org/rvi, and read the new feature in NFPA Journal “Are You See

The worldwide battery market is expected to grow by over 12 percent in the next five years. From hoverboards to electric cars to energy storage systems (ESS), mankind is increasingly relying on battery power. But what are the risks? In this episode of The NFPA Podcast, we examine the science behind and fire safety risks involved with using lithium-ion batteries on both a small and large scale. Host Angelo Verzoni kicks off the episode with a brief overview of ESS and NFPA 855 (3:06). Then, Derek dives a bit deeper into the technology, while touching on the electrical safety implications (5:05), before Robby interviews a guest who discusses the first responder experience with batteries (24:50).

In the very first episode of The NFPA Podcast, we explore the fast-growing and rapidly evolving legal cannabis industry. In the first segment, Jesse talks to NFPA Field Director Ray Bizal about what he’s learned from touring numerous marijuana facilities, and what fire departments and inspectors should know (4:20). Then, Robby talks with top fire officials in Colorado and Utah about the growing pains and lessons learned from regulating this budding industry (20:12). Finally, Derek chats with Bobby Gray, past chair of NEC Code Making Panel 18, about how large cannabis grow facilities have influenced what the NEC says about indoor horticultural lighting (47:26).   For videos, articles, tip sheets, and lots more important information about regulating the legal cannabis industry, visit nfpa.org/cannabis.

In light of the recent civil unrest and mass protests in Minneapolis, we thought it was a good time to revisit this episode from 2016. In this re-released episode, we hear from Jeffrey Segal, assistant chief of the Baltimore Fire Department, and Matt LaVanchy of the Pattonville, Missouri Fire District near Ferguson, Missouri, about their recent experiences dealing with extreme cases of civil unrest.   RELATED: Read a white paper on civil unrest from the 2015 Urban Fire Forum: https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/Membership/member-sections/Metro-Chiefs/Urban-Fire-Forum/2016/2016UFFCivilUnrestWhitePaper.ashx

As the coronavirus pandemic kills scores, many of them part of vulnerable populations like the elderly, community risk reduction (CRR) efforts are taking center stage. In this episode, we hear from NFPA's CRR experts Karen Berard-Reed and Chelsea Rubadou on the community-wide implications of COVID-19 both now and into the future.

This week, the NFPA Journal Podcast looks at crisis standards of care (CSC). The coronavirus pandemic has forced first response agencies and health care workers across the world to alter their normal standards and protocols for operation in order to handle the huge surge in sick patients. We hear from experts on how CSC are developed, what the legal implications and challenges to employing them are, and some examples of how CSC are being used by EMS professionals, fire departments, and hospitals right now.

This week, NFPA Journal editor Jesse Roman talks to Pieter Maes, a firefighter/EMT in Brussels, Belgium, about the extraordinary steps emergency responders in this European capitol are taking to prepare for the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic. The crisis has forced Maes' department to find creative solutions to many difficult questions related to the COVID-19 outbreak—the same challenges departments across the world are now facing. To help, Maes has created a website, covidfirstresponse.com, where responders everywhere can submit various strategies for how they are handling aspects of the crisis. This crowd-sourced material includes instructions for how to 3D print face masks, sewing patterns for homemade masks, scientifically-backed strategies for effectively decontaminating equipment, and much more. 

As the health care system in the United States braces for a surge in patients sickened by COVID-19, the NFPA Journal® Podcast speaks with experts on how this issue will be addressed, from the creation of mobile field hospitals to putting inspections on hold for codes like NFPA 99, Health Care Facilities Code, and NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®. Listen to an earlier podcast on responder safety during the coronavirus pandemic here: https://nfpa.libsyn.com/responder-safety-in-a-pandemic

As the COVID-19 coronavirus sweeps the globe, the NFPA Journal Podcast speaks with leading first responder experts on the precautions they can take to stay safe, such as incorporating masks into their PPE.  Contact Angelo Verzoni at averzoni@nfpa.org and Jesse Roman at jroman@nfpa.org. 

Americans living in rural areas are statistically older, sicker, and poorer than the general population. Compounding those factors is a lack of access to health care. Now, many are at high risk of losing emergency medical services, too. This episode of the NFPA Journal® Podcast takes a deeper look into this crisis.    

The United States has eradicated hospital fire deaths. Why can't other countries? We're bringing you the NFPA Journal® podcast a week early this month and diving into the complicated topic of international hospital fires—why they keep occurring with alarming frequency and what's being done to address them.