Waldemar Pawlak, the chairman of the General Board of the Union of the Volunteer Fire Service of the Republic of Poland, tells Bogdan Romanowski about the achievements of the Union in the last 90 years, its cooperation with the State Fire Service, among others, preparation of the volunteer firefighters to the extinguishing and rescue operations and the role of the volunteer fire services in the national rescue and firefighting system.
For Glory of God and Benefit of People
National celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Union of the Volunteer Fire Service of the Republic of Poland started in the Royal Castle in Warsaw at the beginning of September. By Bogdan Romanowski.
Difficult Beginnings
The 90th anniversary of the Union of the Volunteer Fire Service is a good chance to present the first years of the union. We can learn a lot from the archive articles published at that time in Fire Review. By Agnieszka Wójcik.
Disaster in Baby
A train from Warsaw to Katowice derailed in a town of Baby. As a result of the accident one person was killed, and 84 people were injured. The rescue operations were conducted by over 300 firefighters of the SFS and VFS, Specialist Search and Rescue Group Łódź and six Medical Air Rescue helicopters, among others. The losses caused by the accident were initially estimated for at least 6 million zlotys, railway traffic impediments lasted for several days. More in the article by Mariusz Konieczny.
Struggle Against Diluters
It has been almost a year since the fire of former "Wifama" company in Łódź. The fire destroyed several production and storage buildings; the losses were estimated for millions of zlotys. In the night of 6 June huge flames, like returning doom, raised panic among the Łódź inhabitants again and challenged the Łódź firefighters. By Arkadiusz Makowski.
Safety - Common Issue
Tactical and coordinating training Stenava" for Polish and Czech firefighters took place in the Czech Republic in September. The training was another event organized within the frameworks of the EU programme "Cooperation of fire service units in the Polish and Czech borderland, modernization of equipment and mutual help in crisis situations." More in the latest issue of Fire Review.
Second Youth
A very large building of original structure has to be untypical and, as such, it requires non-standard solutions when it comes to fire protection. Moreover, if it belongs to the world cultural heritage, the issue is even more complex. In such case any change requires additionally consent of conservations officer. By Lech Lewandowski.
What about Fukushima?
It has been six months since the failure in nuclear power plant, which - if it had taken place in another country, would have finished with an absolute disaster, while in Japan it was simply a huge catastrophe. By Paweł Rochala.
Integration in Czech
In the last weekend of August Přibyslav, a town with less than 4,000 inhabitants, has become the capital of Czech volunteer fire services for the third time. Annual convention of fire engines, their drivers, crews and mechanics gathered 30,000 participants on the Hřitě air club airfield. By Jerzy Linder.
NY Fire Service Vehicles
The terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 on the WTC twin towers in New York shocked the world. Just after the attack the NY firefighters were the first to arrive on the tragedy spot and they started rescue operations. By Janusz Woźniak and Paweł Frątczak.
Extreme Kamchatka
The 14th International Russian Championships of Search and Rescue Services "Kamchatka 2011" started at the end of July near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Polish firefighters, who have participated in the event for four years, obtain constantly better positions in the general classifications of the subsequent championships. This year they scored podium! They won also several awards for particular competitions. By Aleksander Mirowski and Makary Szulc.
How to Become Expert?
In a situation of natural disaster or threats resulting from activity of humans, the disaster-stricken country is responsible for providing rescue and humanitarian aid. However, there are incidents of such a large scale that are beyond the power of a country. In such cases, a country is in crisis situation and may turn to the European Union for help. More in the article by Marcin Pater and Rafał Sołowin.
Cameras See More
Talk with Dariusz Dajek, head of the thermal imaging research and analysis workshop Termoenergia and co-author of Termoratownictwo (Thermal Rescue) project.
Pyrometers
Non-contacting pyrometers are devices used to measure quickly and reliably temperature of solid substances from a safe distance. They are very useful when we want to know temperature of an object which is not easy to be accessed, e.g. is in motion or live. How does it work? Every matter emits infrared radiation which is directly proportional to its temperature. A pyrometer processes measured infrared waves into temperature value.
Drama of Czechowice-Dziedzice Refinery
In the history of Poland there has not been any other so huge and tragic disaster in the chemical industry like the one which happened in Ludwik Waryński Oil Refinery in Czechowice-Dziedzice 40 years ago. At that time this was the second largest refinery in Poland. By Tomasz Sawicki.
G.A. Fischer from Zgorzelec
Among items gathered in the Central Museum of Firefighting there are several products of the G.A. Fisher company. By Dariusz Falecki.
Incentive Bonus
The right to remuneration arises on the day of nominating a firefighter for his first official position. For the service, a firefighter receives remuneration and other monetary benefits specified in the State Fire Service Act. Remuneration of a firefighter is composed of the basic remuneration and benefits to the remuneration, including the incentive bonus, which is of permanent character. More details in the article by Dariusz P. Kała.
Regular columns
Kaleidoscope, Views and Opinions, Flesh, Postscript, Events Overview, www.firefighting, Miniature Maniacs Club, Service and Faith, This is Worth Reading, A Bit of Memories, Fire Service Stamps.
