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FOR AN international entity such as the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), one cannot emphasise enough the importance of effective communication and information flow. Communications is a multilateral process; we may have the most up-to-date hardware and software, but members’ participation is required in order to complete that network.
With this in mind, I would like to appeal to Branch secretaries and officers to assist by updating the list of e-mail addresses and details for your members and sending them to IFE head office. This will enable us to maintain close liaison with each of you.
Like my predecessors, I am eagerly looking forward to communicating with as many members as possible, such that I can bring to you the achievements of our colleagues across the world, as well as the problems with which they are grappling.
USA Branch
This month, I would like to share with you my experience with the USA Branch and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) when I attended the Branch’s conference and the Fire Rescue International (FRI 2007) conference, both held in Atlanta in September.
The USA Branch, which covers the entire geographical area of the United States, is making great strides, thanks to the dedicated work of President William Jetter and members like Bill Kehoe. As one of its achievements, the Branch has recently received a grant of US$238,000 (£120,000) from the Department of Homeland Security to develop and distribute a national strategic agenda for fire and life safety. The grant is largely down to the foresight of Las Vegas Fire Marshal Ozzie Mirkhah MIFireE, whose team made a convincing case for resources to enhance fire prevention work in the light of the high fire death figures in the US. Ozzie’s contribution in fire prevention work was formally recognised when he received the Excellence in Fire & Life Safety Award from the International Code Council and IAFC.
With the grant, the USA Branch and collaborating organisations will conduct a ‘gap analysis’ and draw up recommendations for a national strategic plan for fire prevention and public education.
Beyond the safety of the public, the consistently high number of firefighter fatalities was another crucial topic addressed at FRI 2007, as well as at the Branch conference. There are some 3,500 fire deaths each year in the US, including 100-odd firefighters.
At the Branch conference, Dr Stefan Svensson of the Swedish Rescue Services Agency hit out unrelentingly at the firefighting culture of some US fire departments.
He criticised the practice of deploying inordinate numbers of firefighters at the front-line and exposing them to risks. Not even the best protective gear can provide complete safety for firefighters, said Dr Svensson, who argued that there may be circumstances where personnel should not even attempt to enter a building. He added that the increasing number of regulations, guidelines and operational procedures may have the effect of dampening an individual’s ability to assess a situation, creating ‘non-thinking’ firefighters.
Dr Svensson concluded that the fire and rescue service needs scientific support to improve its technical knowledge and operational tactics, and stressed the importance of integration between experienced fire officials, academics and scientists in order to elevate the overall standards of our profession.
While in Atlanta, I also had the distinct honour of being invited to attend the IAFC Board of Directors’ meeting and presented the work of IFE. The excellent hospitality extended to me by President James Harmes and the Board made my visit a most pleasing experience.
In my presentation, I highlighted the broad-based international membership of IFE, and our strengths in providing members with the underpinning knowledge of the fire engineering profession, our examinations and professional recognition and validation capabilities. There are vast opportunities for IFE and IAFC to work together for the mutual benefit of our respective members, and the recent agreement of recognising US fire chief designees as meeting the MIFireE admission is a step towards a closer relationship between the two organisations.
Leaving the best for last, I would strongly recommend members to visit the National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System (see website: http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/). Launched in 2005, the site is about sharing at-the-scene experiences and is an invaluable tool for preventing errors and injuries. Those of you who work at the front line will immediately see the powerful potential locked in it.
Charles Chu
FSDSM, CPM, BEng (Hons), CEng, FIFireE, FHKIE
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