EDITOR’S COLUMN
This year’s Cymru Rescue Challenge looks to build upon the success of recent extrication challenges, with the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation holding a series of demonstrations and challenges for the general public. UKRO are also teaming up with CFOA to hold a strategic conference looking at the global impact of road crashes and the latest equipment and techniques to improve response, which will prove invaluable to all fire and rescue services.
Following the debate over the Integrated Clothing Project announcement it is timely that Bristol Uniforms provide a challenging piece on the need to develop wildland firefighting clothing. As climate change leads to a growing number of these heath and wildland fires, it is essential that personal protective equipment is up to the task. Bristol has worked with Birmingham University on physiology trials to determine the impact of different designs on wearer heat stress. Although standards vary around the world it is important that fire and rescue services affected by these warmer, drier spells look into specialist PPE. It will be interesting to find out what the other PPE suppliers are doing in this area.
Wildland fires are small fare in comparison to Japan’s history of natural disasters, which includes tsunamis, typhoons, earthquakes and over 80 active volcanoes. Add to that the threat of terrorist attacks and a disaster risk management and mitigation conference held in Kyoto would seem an appropriate location. Fire officers from the north east of England flew to the Far East to share policy and practice. This joined-up approach to disaster planning and response could be crucial in the coming years.
Incident reports
Cutty Sark ravaged by fire; Major chemical blaze in CreweOperational assessment in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester’s Kieran Nolan relates how the brigade feels that in operational assessment terms it is important to not only look at corporate organisational areas, but also operational service deliveryHeat stress challenge for wildland firefighters
As Britain experiences warmer, drier summers, the risk of wildland fires grows each year. Bristol Uniforms argue in favour of a more widespread adoption of specialist PPE to allow firefighters to cope better with heat stress
Hands across the water
From the North East to the Far East, three firefighters jetted to Japan in January to be part of a unique seminar on disaster management.
FIRE’s correspondent reports on a successful meeting of mindsCymru Rescue Challenge
As part of the forthcoming Cymru Rescue Challenge, FIRE features a special supplement on the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation and reports on the global work undertaken by its dedicated volunteers
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