"To organize a mass event it is necessary not only to calculate profit and loss, but also, first of all, to provide safety to all the people taking part in the event," says Brigadier Mariusz Wejdelek, the Chief Fire Officer of the City HQ of the SFS in Warsaw.
Kielce Trade Fairs on Fire
On Sunday morning, 30 August, three fire and rescue units in Kielce were preparing for shift change. Most firefighters from the second shift were already in fire stations. Neither those beginning nor those ending their shift expected that a difficult and exhausting rescue and extinguishing action would start in a while in an exhibition hall of the Kielce Trade Fairs, where the 17th International Defence Industry Exhibition, prestigious for both the city and the whole region, was about to start next day. By Krzysztof Janicki.
Firefighters in Dust Clouds
For a couple of days the population of a small town in the north-western part of the Lubuskie province increased almost 25 times, making it the seventh largest town in Poland. It was Kostrzyn nad Odrą: the host town of the 15th Przystanek Woodstok festival. About 450,000 people, including 100,000 foreigners, came here at the end of July and the beginning of August to take part in an extraordinary event organized by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity foundation. By Łukasz Telus.
Mass Events in Police Statistics
In 2008 police forces were engaged in protecting 10,880 mass events. In comparison to 2007, the number was smaller by 8.6 percent. Again, the number of mass sporting events has decreased (6,942 in 2007 and 6,230 in 2008). The number of other mass events has also decreased, as it turns out in the report prepared by the operational division of the Polish Police HQ.
Memory of Tragedy
On 24 November 1994 at 6 pm a live satellite transmission from the MTV Awards in Berlin started in an arena of the Gdańsk Shipyard. The transmission was accompanied by a concert of Golden Life rock band. About 600 persons were inside. About 8.55 pm flames were noticed on the seats. Panicked people rushed to six exits, but only two of them were open (including one only partially open). The running people trampled each other. Two persons died. By Tomasz Sawicki.
Difficult Action on National Road no. 11
The Specialist Chemical and Ecological Rescue Group from the District HQ of the SFS in Ostrów Wielkopolski and the Specialist Medical Rescue Group from the District HQ of the SFS in Pleszew took part in tactical action exercises organized on the border between two districts of the Wielkopolska province: the Ostrów district and the Pleszew district. By Andrzej Morta and Jacek Jarus.
Rescue Jubilee in Jelenia Góra
Firefighters have been coming to Jelenia Góra for over three years already to enrich their knowledge and skills concerning medical rescue. The event, initially of a local character, has become an expanded training, recognized and appreciated all over the country. By Przemysław Tkacz.
Competing Rescue Groups
In September, this time in Poznań, the 11th National Rescue Competition of the Polish Scouting Association (ZHP) was organized by the ZHP unit from the Wielkopolska region (Chorągiew Wielkopolska ZHP) and the Wielkopolska Scouting Rescue Group. By Agnieszka Wójcik.
Within Reach of the Network
Rapid alert system (RAS) is an important element of the civil protection system defined as the protection of population, environment and property from the hazards resulting from the human activity, laws of nature and other hazards. It is worth to bear in mind that an RAS can be effective in a right moment; however, because of different reasons it may also fail. By Tomasz Kołodziejczyk.
Changed Reality - More Flexibility and Precision
On 14 August 2009 the regulation of the minister of interior and administration of 16 July 2009 came in force amending the regulation concerning adjusting the construction design with respect to the fire protection (Dz.U. [Journal of Laws] No. 119, item 998). The regulation of the minister of interior and administration of 24 July 2009 on water supply and fire access roads for fire protection (Dz.U. [Journal of Laws] No. 124, item 1030) came into force on 21 August 2009. By Paweł Janik and Piotr Wojtuszewski.
Closely Watched Spodek
Opened in 1971, Spodek in Katowice is one of the most characteristic buildings in Poland. It is a multi-purpose arena hosting concerts, exhibitions, fairs or sporting competitions. To meet the requirements of the organizers of the events, Spodek has to have proper infrastructure and fire safety devices making all the events taking place there safe both for the visitors and participants. By Agnieszka Wójcik.
Party (and Dancing) Time
How to build a new building or how to change the tenure type of an existing one to be able to party there without the necessity of protecting it excessively from a fire, protecting in a way exceeding the requirements of technical and construction regulations and fire regulations. By Paweł Rochala.
How to Protect to Preserve?
The conference "Protection of Cultural Heritage in Case of Special Threats - Safety System Integration" was organized on 23-25 September in Cracow by the National HQ of the SFS (Department of Protection of Population and Civil Defence) and the Fire Service College in Cracow (Training Centre for the Protection of Population and Cultural Assets). The conference did not win so much publicity as the Congress of Polish Culture, which was taking place in Cracow at the same time. However, its importance cannot be overrated and have not that much symbolic but rather real meaning. By Elżbieta Przyłuska.
Education in Britain
There are several million Poles living and working abroad. Mostly, they are respected workers; therefore, their decision to return to their homeland is a sad message for their employers. However, there are some people, living in the neighbourhood of our compatriots, who are simply relieved by such a message. And it is not about a stereotype of a Pole concerning alcohol abuse, but it is about threats caused in many cases, unfortunately, by Poles. By Bogdan Romanowski.
Safe Emigrant
Initially, we felt uncertain about the invitation sent by the fire service of Northumberland County (United Kingdom), asking us to participate in a project aiming at the improvement of fire safety among Poles living in the United Kingdom Today we have no doubts - wherever there are Polish citizens, Polish firefighters have to be there as well. Especially, as it turned out that we are needed there and the State Fire Service has become the third institution from Poland (after Catholic Church and social service organizations) to support our compatriots in the UK in an organized way. By Robert Klonowski
Fire Investigation - Developing Standards
The first meeting of the European Network of Arson Practitioners took place on 10-13 August in Morpeth, UK. I participated in the meeting as an expert from Poland representing the Regional HQ of the SFS in Poznań. By Tomasz Wiśniewski.
The Least of the Least
Narrow and winding street in Italian, Portuguese or Greek towns and courtyards of historic palace complexes made it very often impossible for the firefighters to arrive quickly on the incident site, even if they had light rescue and firefighting vehicles. Nevertheless, this has changed. By Paweł Frątczak.
Helicopters in Rescue System
One of the research and development projects conducted by the Scientific and Research Centre for Fire Protection together with the Institute of Aviation includes "Specifying the boundary conditions for using helicopters in a system of high-rise operations". The subject of the works concerns high-altitude rescue, including rescue actions using helicopters. The subject has been taken up as the number of tall and high-rise buildings is constantly growing. The realization of the project and implementation of its outcomes will make it possible to increase flight safety and use effectively the air power of the public order services of the Ministry of Interior and Administration. By Dariusz Czerwienko
SFS with the PUS Testament
At the end of September, the 70th anniversary of the creation of the Polish Underground State (PUS) was celebrated. At the courtyard of the Presidential Palace in Warsaw Lech Kaczyński, the President of the Republic of Poland handed over "Testament of the soldiers and citizens of the Polish Underground State" to the representatives of the State Fire Service, Police, Border Guards, the Government Protection Bureau, Polish Naval Academy, the Land Forces Military Academy, Polish Air Force Academy, Polands National School of Public Administration, as well as to the scouts and representatives of riflemens association. By Bogdan Romanowski.
Foreign Fire Service Distinctions. Part 3
Russia (3)
My last two articles were devoted to the Russian fire service distinctions awarded by the National Award Fund and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation. Nevertheless, it turned out that the plan to present the distinction in only two articles is unfeasible. By Krzysztof Krężel.
Victorious Return
The city of Vancouver and the whole province of British Columbia, Canada, have reached the final stage of preparation to the Winter Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games which will take place there in February and March 2010. By Janusz Woźniak
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