Patrick Bakaj, P.E.

Read the latest from the Fire Protection Engineering Magazine; "Integrating Fire Engineering and the Fire Service Through WUI Training and Tool Development" by Jamie McAllister, CFI, PE, PhD, AND Hubert B., PhD, PE, CFEI Read the full article here: https://ow.ly/UZNM50Rlscf #FPEMagazine

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Have you read about our engineering-focused WUI Risk Assessment & Mitigation Curriculum for the fire service? This FEMA-funded project is only just getting started! Get caught up on the details and stay tuned for new developments. #wuifires #wildlandfires #fpe

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All good stuff and nothing that a good engineer probably hasn’t thought about. We have a generation that don’t pratctice anything else but Acceptable Solutions and a system that is shy of proper engineering. In NZ we also have the issue of liability and the lack of understanding and support to stop that liability resting with the fire engineer. Liability for things outside of the Building Act requirements and outside our ability to demonstrate competency, such as architectural design, structural design and consenting authority functions. The whole system needs to be looked at from the grass roots upwards and from the legislative requirements downwards.

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Genesis Forensics Accreditation FAQ#3: Why did you go through the process of accreditation when it is not a standard in the industry? In 2009 the forensic science industry called for universal accreditation in the National Academy of Sciences report and a decade and a half later in 2024 there are still only three fire investigation firms in the US with accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection of fire scenes. Why? Because it is hard. Because it involves a lot of work. Because it involves acknowledging you still have room to grow. The process of accreditation is challenging but it was one that Genesis Forensics was willing to accept, to push forward and make ourselves even better. To learn more about why Genesis Forensics takes the path less followed, please visit us at: www.genesis-forensics.com or https://lnkd.in/emH_XP2D   #ISO17020 #A2LA #Accreditation #FireInvestigation #ForensicEngineering #Quality #Reliability

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At DiFoggio Electric we stay current with advancements in electrical technologies and in specific related industries. In fact, we’re members of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Understanding the new technologies and safety is job one. So, this story from the Dept. of Fire Services Mass Fire Academy on lithium ion batteries caught my eye. www.difoggioelectric.com #skilledtrades #vocationaleducation #luxuryhomebuilders #constructionprojectmanagement #facilitymanagement

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The importance of participating as a voting member in organizations that maintain building codes and the associated standards on which they are based. Please visit this link: https://lnkd.in/eTiFw_U8

                                                                                                                                                                 Flood Loss Reduction Funding Focus of DRBC/PEMA Training for Local Officials   WEST TRENTON, N.J. (May 2) – The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) and the Pa. Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), with support from USACE-Philadelphia District, Pa. Department of Environmental Protection and the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 3, have partnered to conduct a series of workshops focused on flood loss reduction grant assistance for local officials in the Pa. counties of Carbon, Northampton, Lehigh, Bucks and parts of Luzerne.   “Flooding is the number one natural hazard in Pennsylvania,” said PEMA Director Randy Padfield. “The latest ‘Mitigation Saves’ report shows that every dollar spent on mitigation in the Commonwealth saves at least $6 in post-disaster costs. It really highlights the value of supporting code enforcement, hazard mitigation planning and mitigation project implementation.”   Reducing flood loss is one of the DRBC’s key missions in water resource management. Climate change will impact precipitation patterns in the Basin, likely causing more storms and associated flooding coupled with extended dry periods, making flood loss reduction even more important for water resource managers to address.   “As the potential for more flooding in the Basin increases, equipping local officials with tools and resources to make their communities more resilient is more important than ever,” said DRBC Deputy Executive Director Kristen Bowman Kavanagh. “These workshops are a vital way for the DRBC and our partners at PEMA to offer Basin communities guidance to advance mitigation, recovery and resilience projects, prioritizing those with a climate and equity focus.”   Now in its second round, this project receives funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program. In 2021 and 2022, PEMA and DRBC worked in Pike, Monroe, Wayne and Lackawanna Counties. Looking ahead, the DRBC will continue to seek opportunities to partner with Basin state emergency management agencies to support flood mitigation efforts.   Information about this project is available at https://lnkd.in/gDw7aD-v. The DRBC also recently released a tool that allows users to project future extreme precipitation in the Delaware River Basin, thereby informing stormwater management and infrastructure design and increasing climate resilience. Learn more by visiting https://lnkd.in/gAk5NBRM. CONTACTS:  Elizabeth Brown, Elizabeth.brown@drbc.gov                               Kate Schmidt, kate.schmidt@drbc.gov  

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Rene Ferris, Risk & Safety Director, recently conducted a First Aid and CPR training class for individuals in Connecticut from W&M Fire Protection Services Plantsville and SRI Fire Sprinkler LLC. The class focused on how to effectively respond to worksite emergencies involving the inherent risks of heights, machinery, and heavy materials. Attendees, including field technicians and office members, learned how to effectively care for various first aid emergencies, including burns, cuts, scrapes, sudden illnesses, head, neck, and back injuries, heat and cold emergencies, as well as how to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies. We protect what you value most. #FirstAid #CPRTraining #SavingLives

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Rene Ferris, Risk & Safety Director, recently conducted a First Aid and CPR training class for individuals in Connecticut from W&M Fire Protection Services Plantsville and SRI Fire Sprinkler LLC. The class focused on how to effectively respond to worksite emergencies involving the inherent risks of heights, machinery, and heavy materials. Attendees, including field technicians and office members, learned how to effectively care for various first aid emergencies, including burns, cuts, scrapes, sudden illnesses, head, neck, and back injuries, heat and cold emergencies, as well as how to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies. We protect what you value most. #FirstAid #CPRTraining #SavingLives

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The Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF) commissioned a comprehensive survey to better understand perceptions of today’s wildfire problem and engagement in addressing those ever-growing threats. The final report, publicly released today, highlights gaps in wildfire risk reduction education and access to needed resources: Only half of surveyed residents knew what specific actions they can take to reduce their homes’ risk to wildfire, and less than half knew where to find resources to help complete them. To learn more about the survey and review the report’s findings, visit: https://lnkd.in/eYnbjMpE

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Thanks to Anthony Power (AILA) for sharing this post and importantly, mentioning landscape architectural and planning principals in bushfire resilience planning. Well worth the listen. #BushfireResilientReserves #strategicsiteplanning #landscapearchitecture #trails

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Want to learn how a safety management system transformed South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority's reporting culture? Their case study reveals how Notify helped them: ✅ Engage their workforce with easy to use mobile apps ✅ Report safety events in seconds as opposed to hours/days ✅ Generate a 300% increase in near-miss reports #SafetyRevolution #nearmissapp #safetyreporting

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According to the NFPA, 88% of fire departments respond to urban interface fires, but only 40% of these departments provide urban interface fire training. Even when training exists, it is often inconsistent and inadequate for the level of response needed... Protecting communities from wildfires is no longer a job limited to certain regions in the United States and Canada. As the line separating urban, suburban, and rural communities has blurred, wildfires are a threat spanning coast to coast. Increasingly, dangerous urban interface fires are raging across the United States and Canada, becoming catastrophic with enormous loss of property and significant risk to human life. The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is providing resources and programs to help members who are responding to the threat to the urban interface, borderlands and areas within woodlands and urban areas, including: - Guidance and subject matter expertise on urban interface fire problems - Technical and real-world experience to advance legislative and administrative actions that protect our members’ health and safety - Assistance and analysis of IAFF-sponsored fire research - Expertise to meet the training needs of IAFF members - Advocacy for increased federal funding for fire suppression and response Training Please check out https://lnkd.in/gxQHiu5c to learn more! The IAFF is making sure members are equipped and trained to safely and effectively respond to the challenges of wildland and urban interface fires. Are you and your department prepared if you're called upon? P.S. We're actively building more simulations every single week based on client/customer/partner requests. Please don't hesitate to reach out and request a complimentary demo to see how we can support you! #wildfire #nfpa #training #iaff

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🚩 NEW NJDEP AIR MONITORING GUIDANCE. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection announced a new perimeter air monitoring program for sites undergoing remediation. It's big news for the regulated community & LSRPs. It was the subject of a technical session and much chatter at the April NJ LSRPA conference. We expect an uptick in TO-15 demand and we're ready to assist with the confirmatory sampling under the new technical guidance issued: 🔸 "In general, confirmatory analytical samples should be collected at the commencement of emission generating activities and preferably during hot-spot disturbance to confirm protectiveness of real-time monitoring and underlying assumptions. In addition, confirmatory sampling should occur periodically (e.g., once per week) over the course of remediation, when there are changes in operations or conditions, and/or if there are multiple real-time exceedances." Contact our Client Services Team with questions or support needs. Lou Russo Rich August Patty Werner-Els #TO15 #environmentallab #environmentaltesting

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Potential fire risks stemming from defective or obsolete wiring can arise from various origins, such as: ·       Aging Infrastructure Many manufacturing facilities across the nation were built in the mid to late 20th century but still operate aging electrical infrastructures. Over the years, environmental factors such as moisture, heat, and chemicals degrade and weaken the insulation, and as a result, increase the likelihood of short circuits and electrical fires. In facilities with older wiring systems, this problem is magnified by outdated materials and technology that no longer meet industry standards. ·       Overloaded Circuits The demands on a manufacturing facility’s electrical system have often evolved since its founding. These older facilities are now equipped with advanced machinery, robotics, and various other power-hungry machinery burdening the already outdated electrical infrastructure. Unfortunately, this will undoubtedly lead to overloaded circuits. When circuits are frequently stressed beyond their design, the risk of overheating and electrical fires increases rapidly. ·       Neglected Maintenance Regular maintenance is vital for locating and repairing potential hazards before they escalate. In the hustle and bustle of day-to-day operations, this crucial routine is too often overlooked. Faulty connections, damaged wires, and various other outdated components go unchecked. This can lead to sparks, smoke, or even a catastrophic fire. Simply put out, neglecting the maintenance of electrical systems can lead to serious repercussions. ·       Lack of Awareness and Complacency Unfortunately, complacency and a lack of awareness rank high in the fight against fire hazards. Often facility managers and operators fail to address these issues based on past experiences and lack of urgency. Adding to the danger, lower-level employees are not adequately trained to recognize the warning signs of electrical problems. To safeguard manufacturing facilities and their workers, it is imperative to prioritize electrical safety. Daedalus Technical Solutions (DTS) provides regular inspections, upgrades for outdated systems, and the implementation of modern wiring. #daedalustechnicalsolutions #wiring #service #upgrades #electricity #fire #hazards https://daedalus-ts.com/

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SDA is issuing an update on ground infrastructure acquisition efforts for our advanced fire control demonstration program. Today, we issued a pre-solicitation notice for the Advanced Fire Control Ground Infrastructure (AFCGI) program (renaming the previous acquisition effort called PGI, which stood for PWSA Futures Program Ground Integration). The AFCGI program will support overall advanced fire control (AFC) efforts like the Fire-control On Orbit-support-to-the-war Fighter (FOO Fighter) program. SDA received feedback from #industry that the previous PGI acquisition was very broad and might be difficult to execute as written. Based on that feedback and further internal planning, SDA revectored the effort behind PGI to focus on infrastructure support to advanced fire control programs more specifically. The AFCGI solicitation, planned for release in mid-June, will seek a common, enduring ground infrastructure and resources to minimize cost and complexity for multiple AFC prototype programs. Additionally, SDA plans to issue another solicitation soon for integration services for AFC programs. Find the full pre-solicitation notice and anticipated timeline here: https://lnkd.in/eReUeFgf #SemperCitius #Defense #Space #PWSA

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With National Wildfire Awareness Month upon us, it's important to equip ourselves with the tools to mitigate risks. Learn how to implement a comprehensive Wildland Fire Safety Plan with practical advice from ACRT Services Senior Manager Bob Urban. 🔥

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With National Wildfire Awareness Month upon us, it's important to equip ourselves with the tools to mitigate risks. Learn how to implement a comprehensive Wildland Fire Safety Plan with practical advice from ACRT Services Senior Manager Bob Urban. 🔥

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