Fire Fighting Operations Research Articles

Применение технологий виртуальной реальности для подготовки пожарных и спасателей

In firefighting and rescue operations, practical training plays a primary role, allowing rescuers to be constantly ready to act in the event of major incidents, accidents or emergencies. In addition to classical training methods, namely training in an unsuitable environment for breathing. Virtual reality is increasingly being used in training in many fields of activity, given the fact that in a virtual environment it is easy to simulate dangers that cannot be created in reality (explosions, fires, falls from a great height), and thus overcome the fear of such dangers. The capabilities of virtual reality simulators allow you to create training scenarios that emphasize the degree of physical fitness of rescuers, taking into account their physiological parameters, which are monitored throughout the training.

A Deep Learning Approach for Predicting Aerial Suppressant Drops in Wildland Firefighting Using Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast Data

This study utilizes Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) data sourced by the OpenSky Network to curate a dataset aimed at enhancing the precision of aerial suppressant drop predictions in wildland firefighting. By amalgamating ADS-B data with Automated Telemetry Unit (ATU) drop information, this research constructs a reliable base for analyzing the spatial aspects of aerial firefighting operations. Using sequential machine learning models, specifically Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks and 1D Convolutional Neural Networks (1DCNN), the study interprets complex flight dynamics to predict drop locations. The dataset, covering 2017 to 2023, is labeled and segmented to reflect accurate suppressant release events, facilitating the distinction between drop and non-drop activities in fixed-wing aircraft. The LSTM model demonstrated strong predictive performance with an F1 score of 0.922, effectively identifying suppressant drop events with high accuracy. This model’s reliable predictions can significantly improve situational awareness in real-time aerial firefighting operations, enabling more informed decision-making and better coordination of resources during wildfire events.

RETENTION OF FIRE WATER USED DURING FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS BY THE FIRE BRIGADE

The article presents the issue of wastewater circulation after firefighting activities executedby fire brigades and the lack of research on the composition of water entering the city sewagesystem as well as the potential impact on the environment to which it is disposed of. It wasnoted that fire brigades use biodegradable foam agents during typical fire-fighting operations,both in sewage treatment plants and in the natural environment, but the main problem is theselection of fire-fighting techniques and extinguishing agents and the subsequent consequencesin the environment. Consideration was given to deciding whether to use water, which dissolvesflammable substances, foam containing surfactants, or completely refraining from extinguishingdue to the possibility of sewage entering the surrounding waters. To this end, it outlines the courseof fires where firefighting operations have resulted in the contamination of watercourses andbodies of water, contamination of the ground or long-term emission of toxic substances into theatmosphere. Due to the lack of guidelines for dealing with fire-water in urban conditions, attentionwas paid to absolute protection of watercourses and water bodies against the infiltration of postfiresewage in its original form and the use of mechanical dams and embankments to stop them atthe scene of the incident. Attention was also drawn to the proper operation of dosing equipmentand the environmental burden caused by using foam concentrates in higher concentrations thanrecommended by the manufacturer was presented.

Applying and Evaluating the Modified Method of the Rothermel Model under No-Wind Conditions for Pinus koraiensis Plantations

Pinus koraiensis is one of the important tree species in Northeast China. Due to its high pine-needle-oil content and the density of human activities in its habitat, the forest-fire prevention situation is severe in the context of climate change. The rate of surface-fire spread is one of the key indicators for scientifically advancing early fire prevention and is crucial for guiding forest firefighting operations. In this study, we investigated how moisture content, load, and slope impact the surface-fire spread rate using indoor-simulated fire-spread experiments. Furthermore, we analyzed the limitations in the Rothermel model for predicting the surface-fire spread rate in P. koraiensis plantations and proposed modifications to the model by the modification method of priority to no-wind or slope conditions and slope conditions. Additionally, we evaluated the prediction accuracy of the original Rothermel model and two other modified models on the surface-fire spread rate. A high moisture content and low slope demonstrated an absolute inhibitory effect on the rate of surface-fire spread, whereas the promotional effect of a low moisture content and high slope was easily disturbed by the other factors. Under high-slope conditions, an overestimation situation was observed in the Rothermel model. Both of the modification methods involving priority to no-wind or slope conditions and slope conditions could improve this situation. Furthermore, the modification method demonstrated a better improvement effect on the prediction accuracy. Our findings provide valuable insights for refining the Rothermel model and offer guidance for improving the accuracy of predicting fire spread rates and behavior for Pinus koraiensis. This bears immense significance for advancing the understanding and calculation of the ROS of forest fires in the region.

FOREST FIRES RISK IN A SEMI ARID REGION: A CASE STUDY IN WESTERN ALGERIA

Purpose: The objective of this study was to measure the fire risk of forests and to compare areas with high sensitivity to forest fires. Theoretical Framework: Many authors have demonstrated the fragility of Algerian forests in the face of fires (Belhadj, 2003; Souidi et al., 2010 and 2017). In this research paper, the researchers focused on identifying the factors responsible for the risk of forest fires in Algeria using a state-of-the-art tool, the Geographic Information System (GIS). The researchers explained a scientific process for exploring new indicators using GIS, and showed how to develop a forest fire risk map. Design/Methodology/Approach: The elaboration of the fire risk map requires the application of a model set up, and tested on forest areas in the Mediterranean region. The applied model involves the three main factors of forest fire risk assessment: topomorphology, fuel, and human occupation. Findings: According to the results obtained, our study area is dominated by a very high risk index. In addition, more than half of the surface area of our study zone is located in topomorphological conditions that are highly conducive to the multiplication of fires and can increase the risk of forest fires breaking out. This study will help us to better control the risk of fires and to manage fire-fighting operations in the field. Research, Practical & Social Implications: Mapping the risk of forest fires using GIS will help land managers and planners to identify sensitive areas for better preservation and intervention in the event of fire. Originality/Value: The results show that the number of forest fires is increasing over time and that managing them is becoming increasingly difficult. The use of a GIS for all stakeholder and managers will make it possible to combat forest fires.

Assessment of Run-Off Waters Resulting from Lithium-Ion Battery Fire-Fighting Operations

As the use of Li-ion batteries is spreading, incidents in large energy storage systems (stationary storage containers, etc.) or in large-scale cell and battery storages (warehouses, recyclers, etc.), often leading to fire, are occurring on a regular basis. Water remains one of the most efficient fire extinguishing agents for tackling such battery incidents, and large quantities are usually necessary. Since batteries contain various potentially harmful components (metals and their oxides or salts, solvents, etc.) and thermal-runaway-induced battery incidents are accompanied by complex and potentially multistage fume emissions (containing both gas and particles), the potential impact of fire run-off waters on the environment should be considered and assessed carefully. The tests presented in this paper focus on analyzing the composition of run-off waters used to spray NMC Li-ion modules under thermal runaway. It highlights that waters used for firefighting are susceptible to containing many metals, including Ni, Mn, Co, Li and Al, mixed with other carbonaceous species (soot, tarballs) and sometimes undecomposed solvents used in the electrolyte. Extrapolation of pollutant concentrations compared with PNEC values showed that, for large-scale incidents, run-off water could be potentially hazardous to the environment.

Research Progress on Biological Evidence Identification in Fire Scenes.

Biological evidence is relatively common evidence in criminal cases, and it has strong probative power because it carries DNA information for individual identification. At the scene of fire-related cases, the complex thermal environment, the escape of trapped people, the firefighting and rescue operations, and the deliberate destruction of criminal suspects will all affect the biological evidence in the fire scene. Scholars at home and abroad have explored and studied the effectiveness of biological evidence identification in fire scenes, and found that the blood stains, semen stains, bones, etc. are the main biological evidence which can be easily recovered with DNA in fire scenes. In order to analyze the research status and development trend of biological evidence in fire scenes, this paper systematically sorts out the relevant research, mainly including the soot removal technology, appearance method of typical biological evidence, and possibility of identifying other biological evidence. This paper also prospects the next step of research direction, in order to provide reference for the identification of biological evidence and improve the value of biological evidence in fire scenes.

Study on the Location Determination of Building Fire Points Based on Acoustic CT Temperature Measurement

Rapid perception of the location of the fire point is crucial to building fire emergency response in the process of building fire emergency response, which can help firefighters direct fire-fighting operations, effectively control fire sources, and provide strong evidence for the analysis and investigation of fire causes. This paper uses acoustic CT temperature measurement technology to determine the fire source location of a building fire and verifies its validity and applicability as follows: we construct various fire point numerical models based on the fire dynamics simulator (FDS) and obtain temperature data at different times; neural network means were used to obtain the time-of-flight (TOF) of an acoustic wave traveling; the large ill-conditioned matrix equation of acoustic flight under different meshing schemes was constructed and solved based on the simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART) and least squares QR-decomposition (LSQR), and then reconstruction temperature data under each scheme were obtained. Through the error analysis, the reconstruction effect of each reconstruction scheme is evaluated, and then the applicability of the location coordinate determination of the fire point is analyzed. The results show that the determination of the fire location under the conditions of various fire points in the building space can be realized by acoustic CT temperature measurement technology.

Study on the ground fraction of air tankers

Background The ground fraction refers to the ratio of the liquid collected on the ground to the dropped liquid, which is the key index used to assess the drop ground pattern of air tankers when combating wildfires. However, there is no quantitative mechanism model to estimate ground fraction. Aims and methods The current work aims to create a simple model of the ground fraction by directly using full-scale drop test data with different firefighting agents for fitting. Key results and conclusions The result shows that the ground fraction can be estimated by simple quantitative relationships despite significant differences between the conditions of the drop tests. These relationships include factors that can be manipulated during aircraft and release system design as well as during aerial firefighting operations. Implications Based on the presented model, an equation for the maximum coverage level of the mean liquid distribution is solved, and the induced effects of drop velocity, drop height, liquid viscosity and other factors on the ground pattern are revealed, which can provide direct predictions of ground drop distributions.

Risk and Reliability Assessment of Smoke Control Systems in the Buildings

Abstract: During building fires, the most lethal factor affecting the occupants is the spread of smoke and toxic gases in the compartment, adjacent spaces, evacuation routes, and locations that are remote from the fire origin threatening life and damage to the property of the facility. Smoke and heat control in building fires is a major challenge for the egress of occupants as well as the fire-fighting operations. This paper provides an insight into risks due to the failure of smoke control and ventilation systems. Life and fire safety in and outside the building must also be analyzed in order to limit the spread of fire and control the spread of smoke thereby, offering adequate time and structural stability for the evacuation process as well as firefighting operations. This paper focuses on the identification of factors to establish the critical risk and reliability of the smoke control and exhaust systems in the buildings in an event of a fire

Assessment of the Impact of Extinguishing with a Low-Pressure Fog Lance on a Fire Environment

A main purpose of the study was to assess the impact of extinguishing with a low-pressure fog lance on a fire environment, especially of temperature. A low-pressure fog lance has recently been recommended for fighting fires in either limited spaces or difficult to access places. Four tests were conducted in real internal fire conditions. The following lances were used in sequential tests: fognail attack, MK with attack head, fognail defense and MK with defense head. They were fed from a fire vehicle GBA 2.5/24 equipped with a pump with automatic pressure regulation and hose lines W75 and W52. The temperature was measured with thermocouples at various points of the room, including the ceiling. Photographic documentation of the tests was prepared using thermal and video cameras. The best way of using a fog lance was established from literature sources and the manufacturer’s requirements. Two main factors of effective firefighting were observed during the tests: smoke cooling and isolation of the fire by formed water vapor. The use of a fog lance significantly improves of fire-fighting operations. A proper application of water mist eliminates the risk of fire gases’ ignition. The assumed times of ensuring safe conditions in the room were confirmed.

ANALIZE OF FATAL FIRES IN ROAD TUNNELS AND MEASURES OF ITS PREVENTING

In this work are reviewed examples of accidents during fire in short worldwide tunnels. There is mentioned that nowadays, in short tunnels it is not recommended construction of mechanical ventilation, in according to the standards of developed countries. Notwithstanding of these recommendations, it is shown in this work, that for short tunnels the risk of fire is great and results of fire would be unsafe. Offered the measures of fire prevention in the short tunnels, among which should be noted: modernization of infrastructure of tunnels; its equipment with emergency ventilation and with instrumentation; staff training and lifeguard; training of the emergency ventilation operational procedures to assist in the evacuation or rescue, or both, of motorists from the tunnel; In all cases, the desired goal shall be to provide an evacuation path for motorists who are exiting from the tunnel and to facilitate fire-fighting operations; entering of schedules for large and dangerous cargo; Information support and popularization of given questions. In this work testing, training and education are considered as tools to improve the safety and security of underground short tunnels.

On the Enhancement of Firefighting Robots using Path-Planning Algorithms

Fire-fighting robots provide valuable support in fire-fighting operations. However, while operating in large indoor environments, most of the fire-fighting robots have to patrol the area to ensure that they detect the fire. This may result in the delay of fire detection and waste battery power. The paper discusses the implementation of a path-planning algorithm to achieve the most efficient path autonomously. This would enable the robot to reach the required target position in the fastest time possible. Four path-planning algorithms, namely Probabilistic Roadmaps, Rapidly Exploring Random Tree, Rapidly Exploring Random Tree Star, and A star (A*) were investigated. The performances of the algorithms were compared based on the computational time taken to generate the path and path length. From the simulation results obtained, it was determined that A* algorithm was an effective algorithm and was hence chosen for path-planning.

Nueva normativa, para edificios mejor protegidos contra el fuego

<p>En la Argentina existe un notable vacío normativo en lo que hace a la protección contra incendios. A falta de legislación específica se aplican las consideraciones del Decreto 351/79 que fue pensado como norma aplicable a la seguridad laboral. Cuatro décadas después, sin haber sido actualizado, se mantienen fuera de las prescripciones legales elementos básicos como las montantes secas, o sistemas innovadores como las nieblas a alta presión. La falta de normas se hace extensiva a los servicios de bomberos y a la provisión de agua para extinción, dando lugar a condiciones muy poco favorables para las operaciones de lucha contra el fuego. El trabajo examina los conflictos debidos a esta situación y propone fuentes para la actualización de normas aplicables.</p>

More-than-human sonic engagements in documentary film and phonography

ABSTRACT Reconceiving relations with the more-than-human is a central concern of scholarship in the Anthropocene. In documentary film, entanglements with the more-than-human are expressed through cinematic relationships with subjects such as bees, freeways, Antarctic science, abandoned military bunkers, and emergency firefighting operations. Several recent documentary films use their soundtracks to anchor these engagements. This paper examines the construction of these soundtracks through a comparison between documentary film and phonography. Phonography – broadly defined as creative practices of recording, editing, and listening to sonic environments – foregrounds the material/cultural processes of all sound recording by attending to specific uses of microphones and studio editing techniques. I situate these sonic practices in relation to the foundational poles of soundscape and objet sonore established by R. Murray Schafer and Pierre Schaeffer, work by contemporary practitioners, and recent theorizations in sound studies. Interweaving an account of recent documentary soundtracks with theories and practices of phonography highlights the conceptual implications of specific sound recording techniques and attends to the ethics of sound recording practices. These sonic practices pose new questions about the work performed through documentary film soundtracks’ engagements with the more-than-human.

Business game as method of training of cadets of emercom

Introduction.Training cadets in educational institutions Of the state fire service of the EMERCOM of Russia to eliminate fires is an urgent task, the quality of which can be implemented using game forms of training.Materials and Methods. The implementation of game forms of learning is proposed in the form of a business game, for the development of which the main provisions of the theory of game and contextual learning were applied. The business game scenario implements didactic principles of problem-based and reflexive teaching methods.Results.To develop the methodology and scenario of the business game, to implement the training of cadets in the field of fire fighting and rescue operations, goals were formed, requirements for educational and methodological support and material and technical equipment were developed. The main goals are professional-pedagogical and game goals for the implementation of which an actual fire scenario is formed, accompanied by a complex situation that requires the participation of the entire list of staff and non-staff positions for its localization and subsequent elimination. The scenario of the business game includes 3 stages of its implementation, aimed at obtaining students ' knowledge and skills to work in specific positions of the fire and rescue division in the conditions of fire development and the impact of its hazards. The main tasks of the business game include the formation of skills of interaction between officials in the process of fire elimination, the ability to organize the work of subordinates and fire and rescue units, as well as gaining experience in analyzing their actions and the actions of participants in the business game to assess the positive and negative aspects of working together and achieving the set professional and educational goals.Discussion and Conclusions. The effectiveness of practical training in the form of a business game is due to the active immersion of students in a professional environment, accompanied by the emergence of additional game motivation and a high level of assimilation of students ' knowledge, skills and abilities in the formation of individual and group experience of joint activities in the extreme environment of a real fire.

MODELING OF EMERGENCY EVACUATION IN BUILDING FIRE

Abstract. One of the main problems of rescue workers in confrontation of fired complex buildings is the lack of sufficient information about the building indoor environment and their emergency exit ways. Building information modeling (BIM) is a database for building a 3D model of building information to create a 3D building geometry network model. This paper has implemented some GIS and BIM integration analyses to determine the shortest and safest paths to people under fire risk and simulate their movement in the building. Plasco building was a multi-story shop in Tehran which has been fired in 2017 and destroyed. This paper attempts to simulate the firefighting and rescue operations in Plasco Building using an integration of BIM and GIS. There is no detailed information about the building and the fire incident, therefore the developed BIM and corresponding geometric network might differ slightly. The shortest and safest paths to the exit door or windows where the fire ladders are located are computed and analyzed. As a result of 15 scenarios developed in this paper, it was found that at 87% of the cases, the safest paths for the emergency exit of the people at risk were longer than the shortest paths. This study has evaluated different scenarios for the shortest and safest paths using Dijkstra algorithm considering different origins and destination points in the 3D indoor environment to assist the rescue operations.

EFFICIENCY EVALUATION OF FIRE THERMAL IMAGING CAMERAS IN THE FIRE MODULE

The issue of selection and evaluation of fire thermal imaging cameras (TICs) is new for the personnel of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES of Ukraine) units, as in the recent years the units began to receive them and use during firefighting and rescue operations. Among the variety of brands and manufacturers of TICs, it is quite difficult to determine and make the right decision "which one to choose?", especially considering that they are all quite similar in their characteristics and are in the same price range. Moreover, sellers are not mentioned about their weaknesses, and especially do not emphasize what exactly you need to focus on and under what conditions properly they should be used.
 The purpose of the work is to assess the dependence of the effectiveness of fire detection and rescue operations considering the technical parameters and brands of fire thermal imagers. According to the method of estimating the parameters of TICs, which was developed at the Lviv State University of Life Safety, a comparative evaluation of the performance of TICs, which are used by units of SES of Ukraine. TICs of the following brands were selected for research: FLIR K2, 3M SCOTT V206, FLIR K33, 3M SCOTT V320, LEADER TIC3, 3M SCOTT X380 TIC3. According to their tactical and technical characteristics, the presented TICs were divided into three groups, two in each. To obtain a quantitative assessment of the visual quality of the display of the indicators understudy, a four-point rating scale was adopted: 5 - excellent reflection; 4 - good reflection; 3 - mediocre reflection; 2 - unsatisfactory reflection. According to the results of the research and the set amount of points, which took into account all series of experiments, the best result in their groups showed: Group I - 3M SCOTT V206, Group II - FLIR K33, Group III - 3M SCOTT X380. Based on experimental studies, it can be argued that the current parameters (tactical and technical characteristics) that influence the choice of TICs are: the size of the matrix, the refresh rate, temperature range and temperature sensitivity. These parameters are decisive during the reconnaissance of the SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) units in gassed and smoky environments to solve complex tactical tasks, such as searching for a victim or hidden combustion centre and other tasks for their intended purpose.

Issues of Regulatory Framework for Fire Safety in Water Transport

The presented study analyzes fire statistics in water transport and documents regulating fire safety requirements.Aim. The study aims to highlight the need to use technical regulations and fire statistics to develop a fire safety system and to enhance the supervision of compliance with safety regulations during hot works and day-to-day operations on ships.Tasks. The authors analyze fire statistics over the past years; determine the shipboard spaces where the greatest number of fires occur; examine the causes of fires on ships; identify the major directions in which fires spread in different shipboard spaces; describe the existing types of fire protection and fire-extinguishing equipment and methods for different shipboard spaces; highlight the importance of organizational measures taken by the management during fire-fighting operations and documents regulating fire safety during the construction and operation of ships.Methods. This study uses the methods of logical and statistical analysis that allow the authors to accumulate information about fires and their consequences, to present the major regulatory documents, and to formulate conclusions regarding the need for a fire safety system.Results. Statistics on the occurrence and propagation of fires in different shipboard spaces is analyzed. The characteristic features of fire protection measures used in water transport are identified. Fireextinguishing methods used in different shipboard spaces are described. A fire safety regulation system for water transport based on the major regulatory documents is presented.Conclusions. The conducted study highlights the importance and relevance of organizational measures aimed at the compliance with fire safety requirements and regulatory documents that make it possible to systematize measures necessary to protect the lives of people and to maintain smooth functioning of water transport.

Designing of Fire Extinguisher Based on Sound Waves

The project titled Designing of Fire Extinguisher Based on Sound Waves is associated with new technique of fire extinguisher. Deals with the fire fighting operations with a quick response time. The purpose of sound wave extinguisher is to find out the range of frequency within which fire can be extinguished. It helps the fire fighter to fight the fire at early stage. Fire can be extinguished between 40Hz to 60Hz and the sound wave can extinguish the fire of all types of flames. The fire suppression needs to be done at the incipient stage where the heat and flame produced by the fire is at the minimum point. The expected outcome of the project will be, to counter the fire at its initial stage for better human safety and protection.