"The future of Polish forests, as national treasure, depends, first of all, on us. It will be determined by many factors, from proper social education on the pre-school level to a broad cooperation of the State Forests with many other services, mainly the State Fire Service and volunteer fire services," says Marian Pigan, Sc. D., general director of the State Forests in a talk with Bogdan Romanowski.
Elements Destroy Forests
The first six months of this year witnessed 743 fires in the state forests; over 246 ha of green areas were burnt. Most fires broke out on the area managed by the Regional Directorate of the State Forests in Katowice, where fire burnt almost 37 ha of woodlands. By Agnieszka Wójcik.
Institute Researching Forests
"It was necessary to create the National Forest Fire Information System as Poland's accession to the EU entailed the obligation of providing comparable data on fire forests on the level of the European Community," says Grażyna Szujecka, head of the Department of Scientific Information of the Forest Research Institute in a talk with Agnieszka Wójcik.
Dangerous Cavern GAs
On a sunny morning, the control room of the District HQ of the State Fire Service in Mogilno received a notification about a detonation. It mentioned also a loud noise which could be heard after the explosion and a fire column and clouds of smoke near the village of Huta Palędzka. Fire and smoke were noticed also by the video monitoring system of the Gołąbki forest division, installed on the watchtower in Oćwieka forest district. By Piotr Dzięcielak.
Fire - Enemy to Forests
For many years early spring, spring and the beginning of summer have been recognized as the time, when the number of fires of meadows, wastelands and, what is worst, forests significantly increases. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. This year's weather is the best example, as huge rainfalls caused a catastrophic flood in Poland. More in the article by Bogdan Romanowski.
Let's Protect Forests Effectively
"Forest fire protection is a process, which requires improvement of protection mechanisms," says Tadeusz Włodarczyk, main expert on fire protection of the Regional Directorate of the State Forests in Wrocław in a talk with Lech Lewandowski.
It Should be the Same Everywhere
I wrote this text inspired by the article "Nie wszędzie tak samo" (Not the Same Everywhere) by Piotr Murz, published in Las Polski ("Polish Forest") no. 1/2010, which I strongly recommend. The author of the article writes about an important and up-to-date problem - the methods of fire protection in forests of all the forms of ownership. More in the article by Jarosław Zarzycki.
Legal Aspects of Forest Fire Protection
In currently binding Polish law, the term "private forests" is under-defined. Therefore, legal practice often adopts the definition of private forests resulting from the interpretation of the Forest Act and jurisdiction. By Marek Geszprych.
Exotic Wood Flammability
Exotic wood is increasingly often used in Poland to decorate interiors, produce wood joinery, or even structural elements. Hence, the question is: when it comes to flammability, is the exotic wood similar to Polish wood and does it pose the same threat level? The answer can be found in the article by Sławomir Monder and Paweł Kozakiewicz.
Forest Comeback
Potrzebowice forest division is one of seven forest divisions on the area of the Noteć Forest. In 1992, the memorable year, the place witnessed one of the largest forest fires in Poland. By Piotr Kępa.
Prevention - True or False? Part 2
What is a Prevention Officer Allowed to Do?
In the previous article we took a closer look at the myth of uselessness of the prevention unit. On the question, how many people a prevention officer rescues, the answer was that he rescues those, who can rescue themselves in the case of fire, therefore, quite a lot of people. By Paweł Rochala.
What to Extinguish Fires With?
Recently we have been observing constant increase of the number of woodland fires. This trend is typical all over the world, especially in the United States, Canada, Australia and the Mediterranean countries, where fires were recognized as ecological disasters. By Joanna Rakowska and Bożenna Porycka.
Footwear for Firefighters. Part 1
Special footwear for firefighters, used during different rescue and extinguishing actions, has many functions. First of all, they protect foot from crush, cutting, slipping, contact with fire, water, glow, oil, sometimes weak chemicals. They dissipate static electricity charges to minimize the risk of explosion of flammable gases, vapours and dusts. Moreover, they are strong, comfortable and often allow a foot to breathe, which provides its users higher work comfort, important especially during long-lasting actions. More in the June issue of Fire Review.
Fire-fighting Aircrafts
Forest fires destroy tree stands, pose a threat to humans, animals and whole natural environment. Experts estimate that about 40 percent of forest resources all over the world are possibly threatened by fires. In Europe this number is even higher and amounts to 65 percent, while in Poland it is 80 percent. More in the article by Paweł Frątczak and Anna Sakowska.
2020 Prospects
The concept of creating development strategy for rescue and fire protection in the Wielkopolska province originated in early 2008.
There were several reasons for starting works on this document. First of all, it is impossible to speak about sustainable development of rescue and fire protection - corresponding with the development of the region - without clearly specified goals and priorities. Secondly, the number of tasks assigned to the subjects of fire protection (starting with acts, resolutions, through industry guidelines, municipal acts of law, to the local needs) makes it easy to neglect some projects. More in the article by Adam Langner.
Best Youth Fire Service Unit
Different than any other fire service unit, with as many guitars as motor pumps, unbeaten, the fifth time on the podium - all of these are good characteristics of the Volunteer Fire Service "Stołpno" in Międzyrzecz Podlaski (the Lublin province) and its Youth Fire Service Unit. By Krzysztof Szczepaniuk.
33rd Polish National Competition on Firefighting Knowledge "Young People Prevent Fires"
Good Start
I have heard a lot about the Competition on Firefighting Knowledge, I have read about it in Strażak and Fire Review, but I have to admit that I was unaware of the importance of this event. I did not realize how important it is for the participating children and for all of us, although we are completely unaware of this. Instead of writing a report on this year's competition from the point of view of a spectator, I will let the competition participants speak. Presenting their opinions is the best way to show the phenomenon of the Polish National Competition on Firefighting Knowledge. By Elżbieta Przyłuska.
"Fire Service Stole My Heart"
During World War Two a Nazi plan of kidnapping and Germanizing children recognized by pseudoscientific German eugenics as "racially valuable" was conducted on the areas occupied by Nazi Germany. In this way over 200,000 children were taken out from Poland and Germanized. Retired lecturer of the Main School of Fire Service, Junior Brigadier Alojzy Twardecki from Rogoźno in the Wielkopolska province was one of them. More in the June issue of Fire Review.
Time for Break
The whole year we look forward to the holiday break, plan what to do on our vacation, where to go. We feel the need of relaxation. However, it is often the case that we come back from vacation even more tired and exhausted than we were before. By Magdalena Boike.
For Tough Guys Only
Over 130 contestants from Poland and Europe participated in the 2nd International Competition "Toughest Firefighter Alive Poland" organized under the high patronage of the Chief Commandant of the SFS and Toruń City Mayor. The toughest firefighter needed just 7 minutes and 18 seconds to finish four competitions. By Bogdan Romanowski.
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