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Firefighting around the world |
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Philip Mason provides a roundup of major activity and incidents tackled by firefighters around the globe
RUSSIA AND CHINA
Forest Fires
Mid April saw a state of emergency declared in Russia, as the southern part of the country suffered a number of serious forest fires, decimating many thousands of acres of land. Figures released state that around 3,000 firefighters were mobilised to battle the blazes, alongside around 750 fire engines and two aircraft. According to official sources, the fires did not threaten populated areas of the country or any of the country’s vital infrastructure. In China meanwhile, several forest fires took place at around the same time in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the north eastern part of the country.
The fires burnt in the Greater Higgnan Mountains, taking place over an area of just under 25 square kilometres and requiring the mobilisation of over 2000 people in order to fight them. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fires. Elsewhere in the country, over 1000 people were required to quell a blaze taking place in an area in the Yunnan Province in the southwest.
AFRICA
Ugandan School Horror
A horrific fatal fire took place in April in a primary school in Uganda, killing at least 19 students as well as two teachers.
The fire, which took place over the course of a night at the Buddo school, near the country’s capital of Kampala, was centred around a dormitory where the students were located. According to official sources, the heat of the fire was so intense that by the time the emergency services arrived, most of the structure of the dormitory had been destroyed, and a portion of the roof and the walls had collapsed. Eyewitness accounts also state that most of the mattresses in the room had been obliterated, and many of the bed frames had warped. Disturbing scenes also followed the fire, with a great many parents arriving in order to search for their children, many sifting through ashes in order to identify those that had been lost. The fire is being investigated by the Ugandan authorities.
SERBIA
Warehouse Explosion April 6 saw 27 people injured in an explosion and fire at a warehouse owned by a pesticide company in the Serbian city of Belgrade. Firefighters were mobilised quickly after the start of the incident and, according to Serbian official sources, had extinguished the blaze in around two hours. The poisonous nature of the burning material meant that they needed to wear special protective suits in order to deal with the incident. Local residents, meanwhile, were advised to stay indoors in order to avoid inhaling toxic fumes. According to local sources, of the number that were injured at least 19 were firefighters. The cause of the fire is unknown.
SOUTH AMERICA
Dutch Experts Called in Following Surinam Plane Crash
Emergency services were mobilised in Surinam at the beginning of April, following a plane crash in a remote part of the country killed all 19 passengers.
The twin-engine craft crashed as it was approaching in airstrip in the Benzdorp mining region, near Surinam’s border with French Guiana. According to official reports at time of writing, while no conclusions had been drawn, all of those on board were believed to be Surinamese. Following the incident, Surinam authorities brought in experts from the Netherlands in order to examine the remains and help identify those that had died. The cause of the incident has not been determined, and an investigation has been launched.
NORWAY
Many Injured in Building Collapse
An apartment building collapsed in Norway at the end of March, injuring at least 15 people and leaving emergency services searching for a further five. The incident took place in the city of Aalesund on the country’s west coast, following a rock slide hitting the six-storey structure which was partly built into the hillside. Eye-witness reports described a scene of devastation, with smoke rising from the bottom of the imperilled building, and structures such as balconies and passageways sagging and buckling under the intense pressure of the collapsing material. A second rock slide - as well as fire that broke out in the midst of the debris - subsequently hampered the efforts of the emergency services, who used cranes and ladders to gain access and dogs to help search the debris. Sources have stated that the authorities were not sure whether the first rock slide was a direct or indirect cause of the incident.
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