We are always around; we constantly care for the development of our skills and about our equipment. And we want this to remain unchanged, pledges Brother JANUSZ KULAK, chair-man of the Volunteer Fire Service in Niepokalanów in its 75th anniversary year. Interview by Anna Łańduch (Fire Review)
Factory Fire in the Świętokrzyskie Province. Losses Estimated at 10 Million Zlotys
Styrofoam on Fire
It was so hot that the drainpipes in neighbouring buildings melted and the foam dried on the walls. The fire, which broke out on 5th July in Styrofoam plant Megaterm Plus on Skrajna street in Kielce, was spreading rapidly. Almost 150 firefighters struggled with the raging element of fire. Every moment there could have been an explosion. Report by Magdalena Porwet.
Summer of the Elements
In July not only heat was record-breaking, but also the number of interventions of the firefighters. In the Lower Silesia province there were 5340 fires, while in July last year only 2653 ones. While firefighters were struggling with the relentless fire, Polish MPs organized in the parliament prayers for rain. And it started pouring down. Unfortunately, incessantly. By Lech Lewandowski.
Fatal Cloud
Had the toxic cloud of ammonia really escaped from the system of Gorzów's central plant, so the parks, urban greenery, local crops and meadowlands as well as many human beings would have been destroyed. Summer staff exercises in Zakłady Włókien Chemicznych Stilon (chemical fibres plant) in Gorzów Wielkopolski concentrated on checking whether the plant has an appropriate security system and whether all the co-operating services are ready to undertake rescue action. By Agnieszka Rękas.
Hell in Paradise
Beautiful beaches, guaranteed sun and luxury infrastructure of Greece attract many tourists every year, also from Poland. But this holiday will be memorable for another reason. Sweltering heat and great fires made the hell out of the Greek paradise for tourists yearning for a summer holiday. By Karina Marczuk.
The State Fire Service in the Government's Plan of Simplifying Investment Procedures
Remove Barriers, Keep Security Level
In his platform speech on 4th August, among the important tasks of his government, Jarosław Kaczyński, Polish Prime Minister, promised to simplify investment procedures, including location and fire safety regulations. Never before the Prime Minister had raised the issue of fire safety regulations in terms of investment conditions. The issue requires our deeper thought, as it is the State Fire Service who is in charge of keeping the rules. By Dariusz Ratajczak.
11 September 2001 - Critical Look
Avoidable Nightmare?
When we learn the sources revealing the whole truth, this truth turns out to be so obvious that it is trivial, simply mundane. This leads us to the conclusion that the disaster on such a scale was unavoidable and the WTC Towers simply had to collapse, burying thousands of people. I realized it while reading a book by two famous American journalists, Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn: 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers. By Krzysztof Łangowski.
400 Metres Against Nature
The last year result of the team from the Fire Service Collage in Kraków: thirty storeys of the Warsaw Palace of Culture and Science in 4 minutes and 45.5 seconds during the 2nd International Competition "Wieżowiec 2005" (Skyscraper 2005) seemed to be the limit of human endurance. Wrong. On 16 September Belarussian team of Sergei Sajevych, Aleksandr Kliuyko and Valentin Yermashkievitch managed to set a new record with incredible time of 4 minutes and 10.72 seconds, which at the same time is the unofficial world record in that new but increasingly popular firefighting sport discipline. (own info)
Firefighters Diving in Borne Sulinowo
Dry Facts and Wet Practice
At the end of August and the beginning of September, in Borne Sulimowo, there was a conference held under the patronage of the Commander-in-Chief of the State Fire Service. The conference was dedicated to diving procedures and techniques used by rescue services in the EU countries. At the same time the Euro-regional Polish Championships of the Firefighter-Divers witnessed the struggle of the competitors. (own info)
Disciplinary Responsibility - FAQ
2005 amendment to the Act on the State Fire Emergency Service changed some of the 11 chapter regulations concerning disciplinary responsibility of the firefighters. Since not all the regulations are clear for firefighters, there arise questions about those issues. Mirosław Spaltabaka answers some of them.
EU Pilot Projects
There is a new way to get the EU funds and a great opportunity to establish and develop international co-operation. Will the Polish subjects decide to take part in the project? By Maciej Godlewski.
Protection of Critical Infrastructure
New Threats - New Challenges
The world we live in is becoming increasingly dangerous. Our life and security depend on an increasing number of linked systems and mechanisms. A failure or damage to one component causes immediate problems to and disturbance of the other ones, which is called the domino effect. Sometimes the phenomenon is also referred to as the cascade effect. Essential for the state security, sensitive systems with all their components must be protected, but this requires complex actions at national and international level, as well as close cooperation of the public and private sectors. By Tomasz Szewczyk
Fire Prevention in France
Democratic Executive Decisions
Exploratory and control actions in France and in Poland are carried out according to similar rules and they have coincident goals. The differences are visible in after-testing procedure.
In the Hexagon executive decisions concerning fire safety are taken jointly, in voting. By Paweł Rochala.
History of the Fire Service Unison on the Polish Lands
History of the National Union of the Volunteer Fire Service in the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria and the Grand Duchy of Kraków. The union worked during years 1875 to 1921. By Krzysztof Krężel.
Cichowo. People and Horse Day
In August 1999, the Krzywoń commune hosted the 1st Horse-Drawn Fire Engines Competition of the Wielkopolska province. 11 teams took part in the competitions. Next year the event was organised on national scale with 23 competing teams, including one women's team. This year there were 64 teams from four countries! By Katarzyna Matusz.
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