Fire Brigade Research Articles

Forest and Land Fires Policies Implications in Indonesia: Technological Support Needs

The occurrence of forest and land fires in Indonesia has been a critical environmental issue in the South East Asia Region, closely related to the transboundary haze pollution. The government of Indonesia has shifted the fire management paradigm from fire suppression concern to fire prevention priority since 2016. The study aims to systematically review the development of forest and land fire-related policies in Indonesia and to evaluate the use of mobile and web-based applications of The Smart Patrol Information System (SIPP Karhutla) implemented in the Sumatera and Kalimantan regions. We conducted Systematic Literature Reviews to identify the roadmaps of forest and land fire-related policies in Indonesia. Field surveys, questionnaires, and interviews with fire brigades in 7 provinces in the Sumatera and Kalimantan regions to evaluate the use of the SIPP Karhutla. There has been a significant increase of fire-related policies since 2014, which enhance fire management development. The SIPP Karhutla has been widely used in Sumatera and Kalimantan regions. The applications have reduced time for patrol data recording and reporting significantly. Therefore, they supported the fire brigades' patrol activities effectively and efficiently. Keywords: fire management, Smart Patrol Information System, transboundary haze pollution

Tapping on Collective National Trauma

Tapping on Collective National Trauma

Sorption Processes of Selected PAHs on Selected Fire-Resistant Materials Used in Special Firefighter Clothing.

Fires constitute a significant threat due to the pollutants emitted and the destruction they cause. People who take part in firefighting operations must be equipped with appropriate tools, including special clothing that will allow them to work and guarantee safety. One of the threats is represented by compounds from the PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) group, which are characterized by high toxicity and carcinogenicity. Therefore, it is important that the materials used constitute a barrier to contamination. Various materials from which individual elements of special firefighter's clothing are made were tested. Additionally, the effect of height on the possibility of sorption of PAH compounds on a given type of material was analyzed. Based on the obtained analysis results, it was found that both the type of material and the zone in which the clothing items are used are important in the sorption processes of pollutants. For example, PAHs with high molecular weight are most likely to settle on rubber, i.e., the material from which shoes are made, with the exception of Chrysene, whose presence was found primarily in aramid fibers, i.e., the material from which trousers and jackets are made. However, among PAHs with low molecular weight, compounds such as Methylnaphthalene,1- and Fluorene were sorbed on the rubber surface in large quantities. The only compound that is present in comparable amounts in all materials is Acenaphthylene. Data in this area may be important for taking further actions related to the modification of materials used in special fire brigade clothing and in their cleaning processes.

Motivations and expectations of German volunteer firefighters

ABSTRACT In many countries of the world, fire brigades are led by volunteers. Using Germany as an example, the article examines what motivates volunteer firefighters in rural areas to engage in this specific voluntary activity and what they expect from political decision-makers and officials in turn. To answer these questions, the article presents the results of a survey of 429 volunteer firefighters from the 16 fire brigades of a rural district in western Germany and a focus group discussion with their chiefs. The case study confirms the findings of previous international studies that egoistic and altruistic motives guide volunteer firefighters. At the same time, the data shows that the volunteers strive for a certain professionalism in the exercise of their work, which also drives them. These motives generate specific expectations on the part of volunteers, especially in terms of recognition and appreciation from political and administrative officials. The volunteer firefighters expect that their work will be recognized by citizens, politicians and public administrators and will be valued accordingly both on a personal level (in the form of material and immaterial recognition) as well as in providing appropriate framework conditions for the adequate performance of their work (equipment, acceptance by employers).

Mapping the Spatial Distribution of Natural Gamma Dose Rates as a Baseline Study in the Province of Asti, Italy

Natural background gamma rays and their effects on human health are essential components of both radiation protection and public concern. In the frame of these aspects, the mapping of the natural gamma dose rate values of the Province of Asti is given. The Asti Fire Brigade Command approved a project relating to the mapping of gamma radiation from the natural background in the territory of Asti. The project engaged both the Nuclear, Biological, Chemical, and Radiological (NBCR) and Topography Applied to Rescue (TAS) components of the Asti Command. Skilled personnel, comprising level 1 TAS operators for data collection and level 2 TAS operators for cartographic analysis, were deployed across the six working days. The methodology involved the use of two digital handheld radiation G-M detectors, in conjunction with a portable GPS unit, including the Global Mapper software. One of the significant findings of this study is the observation that the natural gamma dose rate levels were 201.25% higher in the streets of the city center compared to other areas, predominantly because the building materials in these locations contain a higher amount of natural radionuclides. The results indicated that the level of natural gamma dose rates in the studied region is close to the global average value.

The Relationship Between Agricultural Holdings and Municipalities

The aim of the paper is to assess the differences in opinions on relation of agricultural holdings (agri-holdings) and the municipalities. Whether the relationship rating depended on the intensity of cooperation in particular area (social life, public benefit activities, ecological activities and strategic planning) was tested. The relationship was rated positively in majority of cases which helped to create social capital in the locality. Strong influence on it had sponsorship of the fire brigade (from point of view of agri-holdings). From the standpoint of municipalities, almost all activities were important. Better promotion of agri-holdings’ activities in all areas can be suggested as not all actions of agri-holdings were known to the representants of the municipality. Negative relationship was mainly due to the agri-holding damaging the environment. Hence, responsible behaviour is an important for the agri-holding reputation. The paper was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture (MZE-RO0922), Internal Research Project of IAEI no. 1117/2023.

Medis-Alarm Significant Database of Hazardous Substances in Czech Republic

This article deals with the security of the population and the fire brigade, which uses the Czech database of hazardous substances, Medis-Alarm. This database is connected with the long-term operation of the proven safety transport system TRINS (transport, information and accident system) in the Czech Republic. The Medis-Alarm database is the most widespread one used in the Czech Republic. In this paper, this database is therefore characterized and described in detail, and various possibilities of its use at universities are indicated. The article also aims to provoke a public professional discussion on the necessary increase of the safety of both the population and rescuers and the improvement of environmental protection in the Czech Republic.

INCREASED RISK OF CHEMICAL TERROR ATTACKS

The risk of using highly toxic chemicals in a terrorist attack is resurfacing. Over the last fewdecades, terrorists have proven that they can source, develop and produce their own toxicchemicals. These substances are particularly dangerous for civilians who do not have access tothe protective equipment to be used in the event of contamination. It is impossible to guaranteefull public security in relation to the threats of chemical terrorism. Only trained, functioningand cooperating elements of state crisis response systems (mainly: medical rescue services,fire brigades, the police and the army) are capable of minimising the negative effects of theseattacks on the civilian population. This problem is becoming particularly important in view of theongoing Russian-Ukrainian war and the potential use of chemical weapons by the Russian army.An important problem impacting the extent of poisoning after a chemical attack is secondarycontamination of people and emergency equipment. The authors, through a detailed descriptionof the sources of secondary pollution, propose a number of solutions aimed at minimizing the riskof poisoning in people who are not directly exposed to chemical hazardous agents as a result ofsecondary contamination. The proposed solutions are based on the experience of chemical troopsin the elimination of chemical contamination of a large number of people, as well as the experienceof the authors related to the implementation of research and development projects regarding theprotection and operating procedures of rescue services in CBRN contamination zones.

Forcible entries by the fire brigade—analysis of 9917 emergency rescue missions in a major city

Forcible entries by the fire brigade—analysis of 9917 emergency rescue missions in a major city

COVID-19 and CBRNE: Effects of the pandemic in the field of CBRNE.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected our lives in all aspects, including key fields such as social interaction and economic supply chains. The field of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive substances (CBRNE) was already directly affected by the pandemic in that the COVID-19 virus is, in a sense, a biological agent. This paper elaborates on how the field of CBRNE has changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It does so by drawing on the results of an interview study with CBRNE practitioners (Fire Brigades, Law Enforcement Agencies, etc.) conducted as part of the European Union project PReparedness against CBRNE threats through cOmmon Approaches between security praCTItioners and the VulnerablE civil society, as well as findings from research literature on links between CBRNE and COVID-19. This paper highlights four areas where the influence of the pandemic on the CBRNE field has been evident. The four areas are as follows: preparedness for CBRNE incidents and likelihood of future CBRNE incidents (with a focus on terrorist attacks), CBRNE training and education, increased awareness of CBRNE-related behaviors and measures among the general public, and greater awareness of the needs of vulnerable groups (older people, etc.).

CONTEMPORARY MOTIVATIONS FOR SERVICE IN THE VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADES

In this study we explore the motivations behind joining Volunteer Fire Brigades in the WesternPomeranian Voivodeship (Poland). We address a gap in understanding how individual, social, andcultural factors shape motivations in the context of voluntary emergency services. In the researcha qualitative approach was employed, analysing responses from 338 firefighters across six districts.The study reveals a complex interplay of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, influenced by socialand technological changes. It highlights the importance of tradition, community engagementand the evolving nature of volunteerism in contemporary society. The findings offer insights forimproving recruitment strategies and adapting to the changing landscape of volunteer emergencyservices, especially considering the needs and expectations of younger generations.

Deep Learning Algorithm for Optimization of Wait Time at a Traffic Signal Controlled Intersection for Smart Traffic Management

Abstract: The urban landscape is constantly shifting and adapting as a result of factors such as population increase, immigration, and changes in the economy, politics, and culture. Concerns like growing road obstruction, transit delays, pollution levels, consumption of gasoline, etc. have resulted from higher traffic volumes in metropolitan areas. Life expectancy, road safety, environmental quality, and commute times are all impacted by traffic congestion. At junctions, traffic lights play a crucial role in regulating vehicular flow. The traditional pre-timed traffic systems have been ineffective due to the dramatic growth in lights become insufficient in managing traffic clearance which leads to heavy traffic congestion at intersection. Another major issue is that the Emergency vehicles like ambulance, police van, fire brigade experience prolonged waiting time to cross the intersection. For these reasons, development of smart intersections with the aid of technologies such as fuzzy logic, neural networks, artificial intelligence, multiprocessor systems etc. can help to provide the solution and improve the urban traffic management problems. Smart cities are increasingly adopting solutions by using adaptive and intelligent approach to develop smart traffic lights to improve the traffic flow at intersections. The current study on smart traffic light system makes contribution in developing intelligent and adaptive systems to resolve traffic congestion problems at single and connected intersections with an objective to improve traffic clearance and prioritize passage of Emergency vehicle at an isolated intersection. Another problem is the one generally faced by pedestrians as they have to wait for a prolonged interval of time for getting way to cross the lane of major intersection specially at peak traffic hours. This problem has also been considered in the study. System performance has been tested for a twenty-four-hour traffic pattern at an isolated intersection. The outcomes of the simulations showed that the suggested design outperformed the standard fixed-time method in terms of automotive clearing, rescue vehicles passing, and pedestrians wait time.

ТИТУЛОВАННЫЕ ОГНЕБОРЦЫ РОССИИ: ЕЁ ИМПЕРАТОРСКОЕ ВЕЛИЧЕСТВО ЕКАТЕРИНА II

The article analyzes the activities of Empress Catherine II to ensure fire safety in Russia. It is shown that Catherine II is rightfully the defender of the Fatherland from fires. It was she who first introduced the positions of brandmayors in the capitals, completed the formation of police fire brigades with permanent personnel. She continued fire-resistant construction in Russian cities, thus continuing the work of Peter I. Her brief biography is presented and her achievements in the field of state administration are noted.

Standard Operational Protocol (SOP) for dry cleaning of the Approach Clothing (RA) of the Amazonas Military Fire Brigade

Standard Operational Protocol (SOP) for dry cleaning of the Approach Clothing (RA) of the Amazonas Military Fire Brigade

Influence of Wooden Compartment’s Fuel Moisture Content on Time to Flashover: An Experimental and Numerical Study

Time to flashover is an important fire safety parameter. The present study investigated the effects of fuel moisture content on the time to flashover, crucial in fire safety analysis. Experiments and simulations of an ISO 9750-1 room model at 1/8 scale were performed by varying the wooden compartment boundaries’ moisture content between 5% and 16%. The results showed a linear increase in time to flashover with fuel moisture content. An empirical model to predict the time to flashover according to the moisture content was developed. The experiments showed that increasing the moisture from 6.5% to 14.4% prolonged the flashover time from 4.6 min to 8.75 min. These experimental results are consistent with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling using Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), which also depicts a corresponding increase in the time to flashover. These findings demonstrate the critical role of fuel moisture content in fire safety analysis. The results suggest that a 1/8-scale model can be utilized for cost-effective and easily manageable education and demonstration purposes. This includes helping fire brigades and fire academy students comprehend the significance of fuel moisture content in compartment fire development. Since the FDS modeling is not restricted to a 1/8 scale, the presented results are promising regarding CFD modeling of time to flashover in full-scale compartments.

Suceava during the Habsburg rule – urban development and identity completions

This paper is part of the doctoral research concerning the places of sites and church towers in the development of urban patterns in the city of Suceava. For this article, we will dwell on the 18th and 19th century, when, in 1755, Suceava became a Habsburg territory, being part of Bucovina, an area that included the North-East of Moldova. This situation was maintained for a century and a half, Suceava also fulfilling the role of an Austro- Hungarian border town. In this period we can also mention an urban development of the city, a period that left numerous institutional buildings representing the new power. This impressive buildings are, as they follow: the Suceava Prefecture and the Suceava County Council (City Administrative Palace, completed in 1903-1904 and which originally housed the city administration, the police, the fire brigade, a savings bank and the history museum), Bucovina Museum (which includes more buildings ) - initially the seat of the District Headquarters, dating from 1902- 1903, Ștefan cel Mare National College (The Greek-Oriental Gymnasium, built between 1893-1895 on the site of the old Wood Market), the Old Hospital (General public home for the sick from Suceava, built in the period 1891-1903), the old Suceava Water Plant and many others. Also in these years, the city is equipped with construction equipment (for example, in 1908, the Electric Plant is commissioned), modernizations specific to modern times. A major interest was the establishment of modern institutions, characteristic of the Habsburg administration.

Somatics and Physical Fitness of Selected Military Classes

The idea of opening military classes refers to the tradition of national defense education, training the young generation to defend the homeland and strengthening the country's ties with the army. The creation of military classes became a precedent for the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of National Education to build a common defense education system for high school students. The task of military classes in Polish high schools is to prepare young people for future service in various services, such as police, fire brigades and other special services. The aim of this work is to capture the relationship between body composition components and physical fitness of selected uniformed groups. The body composition components were analyzed with the help of the Tanita Body Composition Analyzer DC-240MA. The study used tests from the Polish Army physical fitness test, the Beep test and barbell bench press while lying on a straight bench. One of the conclusions obtained was that the correlation between body composition and fitness tests showed that higher levels of body fat, lean body mass, BMI and body weight negatively affect the results obtained in pull-ups, trunk bends, shuttle runs and Beep tests.

Advancement of microcontroller-based fire suppression system for enhanced safety in sugar cane plantations

The occurrence of accidental fires in sugarcane plantations is a significant cause of pre-harvest loss in the sugar industry, particularly during arid seasons. This paper introduces the conceptualization and implementation of a microcontroller-based prototype system for mitigating accidental fires in sugar cane plantations. The proposed system encompasses two distinct subsystems: the field monitoring and the fire control unit. The Field monitoring system, deployed within the sugarcane field, assumes responsibility for fire detection via smoke detectors, infrared detectors, as well as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide detectors, which are accompanied by a fire extinguishing mechanism. Conversely, the fire control unit, installed at the fire brigade office, establishes wireless communication with the field monitoring system through the global system for mobile communication (GSM) network. Upon detecting a fire, the microcontroller promptly dispatches a fire alert to the fire brigade while simultaneously activating water pumps to suppress the fire until the brigade arrives to fully extinguish it. Furthermore, the fire control unit triggers the fire alarm and exhibits the global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the burning field to facilitate precise localization. The proposed system uses the Arduino-Mega and Arduino- Leonardo microcontroller platforms and is programmed using the C++ programming language in Visual-Studio-Code software and the Arduino integrated development environment. Designed prototype can detect fires and alert the fire brigade in less than twenty seconds and activate water pumps in less than one second after fire detection.

Urban Environment and People’s Perception on Risk Reduction in Fire Related Hazards in Srinagar City

This study aims to understand people’s risk perception to environmental hazards especially that of fires in context to an urban area. The fire is one of the major disasters in an urban environment but evidence of the effectiveness of education interventions against fire risks is limited. Fires start in three main ways i.e. accidents (misuse of appliances), deliberate ignition and equipment failure (electrical malfunction) and produce smoke and toxic gases which could be extremely fatal to those exposed to it hence the need for prevention and protection from spreading fires by delaying ignition period to allow people more time to escape and for the fire brigade to arrive at the incident. Urban disasters especially fires have tended to receive a baffling lack of response from aid agencies indicating major gaps in urban preparedness. Srinagar city is faced with inadequacy in responding to fire disasters of high magnitude and rescue teams have failed in many of the occasions to live up to expectations. The study area (Srinagar City, J & K) which is urban in nature and character has recorded highest number of fire incidents in last so many years, claiming dozens of lives and damaging property worth crores. The present study is an attempt to assess the people’s risk perception to fire hazards and their prevention, mitigation and preparedness measures in residential, commercial, educational and health related buildings. For this purpose both primary as well as secondary data has been used. The overall scenario reveals that the perception of selected respondents gives a very poor result, as more than 40 % of them either have no knowledge about the fire fighting equipment or lack their use during fire incidents. Factor identification has been done on prior knowledge upon which emphasis was on people’s perception, preparedness and mitigation measures adopted by different stakeholders.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF FIRES IN PRODUCTION AND STORAGE BUILDINGS IN POLAND

This article presents a statistical analysis performed on the official fire data set for the period from2010 to mid-2022, obtained from the State Fire Service Headquarters for research purposes. Thearticle analysed the obtained data in terms of: the frequency of fires and their area, the numberof people injured, fire losses and their characteristics in relation to the distance from rescue andfirefighting units, the fire brigade forces and resources used, the amount of water used and thecharacteristics of travel times. The conducted analysis indicates that fires in production andwarehouse buildings are a significant problem in Poland due to constantly increasing losses.Very large and large fires are of particular concern because their contribution to total lossesand resource use (water, vehicles, and personnel) keeps increasing. The high and growing waterconsumption is worrying, especially in terms of its significant shortage and the consequences ofgroundwater contamination. In terms of the amount of loss, the short distance of the fire site fromthe fire brigade is often not decisive when the fire develops quickly or notification is delayed, whichsupports the conclusion that self-extinguishing should be deployed more often in buildings wherethe fire is expected to spread quickly and large fire losses are likely.