"The museum in Mysłowice was founded as a result of the efforts of generations of fire-fighters who aimed at creating a place, which would present the history of fire protection in Poland. Today, almost 35 years later, I can assure you that these efforts have not gone to waste," says Senior Brigadier Włodzimierz Bareła, the director of the Central Museum of Firefighting in Mysłowice. Interview by Bogdan Romanowski
Certification of Polish Heavy SAR Team
Exam in Neverland
A heavy search and rescue team of the SFS obtained a certification according to the INSARAG guidelines. This means that it has been accepted to an exclusive international res-cue circle. By Mariusz Feltynowski and Marcin Kędra.
Rescue Conference in Nowogród
Practice Makes Changes
A conference devoted to the cooperation between the State Fire Service and Polish Medical Air Rescue (LPR) took place on 20-21 April 2009 in Nowogród near Łomża. The conference was accompanied by joint night exercises of firefighters and LPR pilots, which included prep-aration and marking the landing ground at night, as well as landing a helicopter safely in visi-bility limited by darkness. Almost 80 persons participated in the meeting; the exercises were observed both by the conference participants and the employees of the operational sections of the SFS units from the Podlasie province. By Marcin Janowski.
Fire Service Helicopters in the Wielkopolska Province
Private helicopters will support the firefighters of the Wielkopolska province in air transport during rescue actions. This is the first project of this kind in Poland. By Sławomir Zdrenka.
Hotel in the Center of Attention
Training and drill evacuation were conducted on 3 April in the Centrum hotel located near Łódź Kaliska railway station, not far away from famous Piotrkowska Street in Łódź. This hotel was chosen on purpose. Every year it is a place of banquets and accommodation for the stars of the world's largest festival devoted to the art of cinematography PLUS CAMERIMAGE. By Piotr Cholajda.
Fire Protection Inspectors
The issue specified in the title became a subject of a nation-wide discussion after the amendment to the Labour Code of 21 November 2008 came into force. The wave of persons eager to obtain a license of a fire protection inspector significantly exceeded the capacities of the SFS training centers. When some changes to the Code were announced the number has decreased, but it is still on an alert level. Since the questions about the scope of activities and rights of inspectors keep appearing all the time, I decided to explain this issue in our monthly. By Paweł Rochala.
Old with New in Teatr Wielki
Due to the lack of financial means, the theatres invest relatively little in the fire protection for their buildings, therefore the protection systems there are either insufficient or obsolete. And this is fire safety which decides whether a building meant to be a theatre (cinema, museum or auditorium) can be used or not. Starting a fire in buildings of this type has often tragic consequences. By Elżbieta Przyłuska.
Firefighters in the City of Angel
National celebration of the Firefighter's Day, which started on 8 May in Toruń was a special event for the firefighters from this city, connected with the 100th anniversary of the foundation of fire service there. (brom)
Awarded for Merits
The firefighters from the Wielkopolska province celebrated their holiday on 2 May in Poznań. The celebration started with laying flowers under a memorial tablet commemorating courage and self-sacrifice of the firefighters from Poznań. By Sławomir Brandt
Moment of Silence on Firefighter's Day
The regional celebration of the Firefighter's Day in the West Pomerania province took place on 9 May in Świdwin - a small town founded in the Middle Ages. By Roksana Piątek.
Water Sources for Fire Safety in Forests
Proper protection of the water supply points on forest areas requires three elements: source of water, water intake point for the fire service and water supply point; together they are decisive for the protection and guarantee smooth rescue and extinguishing action. By Jarosław Zarzycki
Vehicles to Extinguish Forests
Common sense and caution are the most effective guarantees of fire safety in forests. If they are missing, rescuers with their equipment have to start an action. The more equipment they have and the better it is, the higher the chances are that the areas of green lungs will be saved. Piotr Dzięcielak presents vehicles used to extinguish forests.
Fire Vehicles Stability
Vehicle stability is defined commonly as good road-holding ability of a car travelling at high speed on curves and on straight road. Travelling at some critical speed, a vehicle with bad stability starts to "float" across a road, reacts badly to steering wheel's moves and tends to turn under the influence of crosswinds and external impulses, despite a straight wheel position. By Adam Gontarz
Privilege or Responsibility?
"Undoubtedly the profession of a firefighter is interdisciplinary. The specific character of this job is not homogenous. Depending on the function they perform, the officers of the SFS take up different tasks requiring not only specific technical abilities, but also psychophysical predispositions," claims Paulina Kozień.
Incident Prevention
The job of a firefighter involves conscious exposing oneself to a danger. Working in rapidly and unpredictably changing conditions, firefighters expose themselves to different, often unidentified, dangerous and harmful factors. Paradoxically, most incidents happen not during actions, but during sport activities, trainings and other work connected with service. By Aleksander Kucharczyk.
Practical Swedish for Advanced Learners
Swedish is not a language which is particularly popular in Poland. However, recently we have got much more understanding for the way the Swedish firefighters conducting rescue actions comprehend safety. Jerzy Linder covers his visit to Swedish firefighters.
Extraordinary Awards
Many generations of Polish firefighters have already got used to the fact that national, ministerial and corporate distinctions are the basic form of reward for excellent dedicated service. All of them can be called "honourable distinctions". However, we should remember that there are also letters of commendation and of award, certificates of appreciation, in-kind prizes (especially for personal bravery and courage in saving life) and of course ... cash prizes. By Krzysztof Krężel.
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