Wind power is an important and growing source of renewable energy in Europe. Due to the wind conditions, offshore wind power is a promising option. Hence, optimization and reducing disruption to production of any kind is of interest. One cause…
The risks posed by asbestos to firefighters remains
Despite its use being outlawed in the UK in 1999, (five years ahead of the European deadline) asbestos remains an ongoing threat to firefighters. Its widespread use in buildings throughout Britain means the problem is not going away any time…
The hidden risks of firefighting
Firefighters live with risks by managing them effectively but the fact that these risks include an increased rate of cancer is only now coming to the fore. There are ways and means of minimising this risk including improved hygeine on…
HAAS Alert is helping eliminate the #1 danger for first responders
A new tech company is working to help first responders avoid collisions through direct communication between responders and the vehicles with which they share the road. This year, HAAS Alert has introduced R2V™ (Responder-to-Vehicle) technology for fire fighters, and other…
Under remote control
Utilizing state-of-the-art wireless remote controls, fire truck operators can carry out their duties with newfound freedom. International Fire Fighter speaks to fire truck manufacturer E-ONE and its remote control supplier, HBC-radiomatic, to chart the journey from concept to delivery. U.S.-based…
![Fire risk map assessing forest fire risk for population, assets and transportation network for Croatia (Copernicus EMS 2018 EU, [EMSN041] TILE11000: Population, Assets & Transportation Network at Risk Map – Forest Fires Risk Assessment (Overview)).](https://i2.wp.com/iffmag.mdmpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/IFF57_Mar18_Satellite_FV_4.jpg?resize=640%2C450&ssl=1)
Copernicus EMS: helping firefighters from space
Copernicus Programme’s satellite-based information and mapping services can help in every step of the emergency management cycle and are available for disaster responders in Europe and around the world. The magnitude and intensity of the 2017 wildfire season will be…
Maritime terrorism on ferries and the land-based firefighter – Part 2
In Part One of this article we looked at some of the smaller commuter ferries operating around the world. A fire aboard, whether due to terrorism or an engine malfunction, will present quite a challenge to Fire Departments not used…
LNG and LPG Fires – The importance of selecting the right equipment!
Fighting LNG and LPG fires is not a simple task. Completely extinguishing these fires could leave a pool of liquid which will continue to release gas that could reignite in a much more intensive and violent fire. The most important…
Blue light collaboration in control rooms – how far should it go?
The current political and financial pressures have lead all public bodies throughout the United Kingdom to look closely at how they deliver their services, with the spotlight being on radically changing their approach through innovation and collaboration with a view…
Important considerations of water supply preplanning
Water Supply Preplanning is more than just knowing general hydrant locations and putting the “wet stuff on the red stuff.” There are many considerations that need to be investigated to mitigate those major fire incidents when you realize the basic…
The drone revolution: saving lives quicker and safer
Drones are increasingly used for search, but drones are capable of much, much more! This is just the beginning, drones will revolutionise search and rescue to save lives that couldn’t be saved before. Ultimately making search and rescue operations quicker…
New risks for vehicles with alternative fuels
Fires in vehicles that are powered by alternative fuels when they are in underground facilities, such as tunnels and garages, involve new risks for the rescue services and society. Jonatan Gehandler, researcher into fire and risk at the Swedish Research…
A growing challenge for the emergency services
In the UK the number of plus size individuals being rescued by the fire service because they are too large to move on their own has gone up by more than a third over the past three years. According to…
Firefighter health and fitness: A comprehensive approach
Dedicating yourself to a lifestyle of health and fitness is more than just “working out.” As a firefighter, you owe it to your co-workers, community, and family to make sure you are fit for duty. In addition to physical training,…
Learning from fires
Much knowledge can be obtained through investigation of fires. Fire investigations give increased knowledge about how and why fires start, why fires developed as they did and how to prevent it happening again. SP Fire Research assists with independent investigations…
Using interactive imagery for training, planning and incident management
Imagery has always been a useful aid to training, emergency planning and incident management. Developments in imaging technology from high resolution spherical cameras with High Dynamic Range capability to 360 degree video and associated viewer software with measurement capability and…
New ultra-wide band radar technology saves lives at disaster scenes
Disaster scenes are chaotic and noisy, with rescue teams climbing over collapsed structures, feverishly working to find survivors. Technology can play an important role in the effort, whether the structural collapse is due to earthquake, human-caused disaster, flood or tsunami,…
Fighting oil spills with fire
Traditional methods for cleaning up oil spills, like collecting the oil with mechanical skimmers and breaking it up with chemical dispersants, are often ineffective and can harm marine life. Oil spill experts have long believed that the fastest and most…
Cancer has become an epidemic within the Fire Service Industry
Firefighters and First Responders are exposed to dangerous toxins every day they are on the job. Toxins not only exist while fighting a fire or responding to a medical emergency, the very place they call home during their work shift…
Maritime terrorism on ferries and the land-based firefighter – Part 1
When we think about terrorism we usually associate it with gunfire and a military or police response. It is not considered a Firefighters role to get engaged in a gunfight or to de-fuse an explosive device. I have no problem…
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