- Changes at high altitude - interview of the month

We should focused on well preparedness and training of rescuers but also on rescue equipment - said Mr. Marian Sochacki - on of creators of the high rope rescue teams in the State Fire Service. This year it is 25 celebration of high rope rescue in Poland. How it was and how it will be looked like?

The Poprad river pollution was almost close but fortunately a hazard was eliminated by the proper organisation of rescue operations and good cooperation with Slovakia - reported by Paweł Motyka from district department of SFS in Nowy Sącz.

A basic rules of firefighting tactics and organisation of operations during fires, major hazard accidents, technical disasters and natural calamities which take place in big areas should start from geographical information about considered area. The first issue is to recognize a direction of dangerous situation spreading which can influence on further parameters necessary for better hazard prediction. This information should be more precise for all rescue bodies taking a part in operations on site.

On 26 August 2005 a district control fire alarm point in Poznań received an information about fire in church roof. Person who called a fire service informed that over the roof there is a lot of smoke. Officer in charge managed all necessary firefighting units on site - reported by Jerzy Ranecki from the district department of SFS in Poznań.

The first dust explosion that was outlined in a world literature occurred in 14 December 1785 in Italy. Turin Science Academy noticed that it was ab explosion of flour dust in the centre of Turin. According to literature all building was destroyed - reported by Rafal Porowski from HQ of SFS.

Explosion protection document as a brand new requirement of Polish law according to ATEX Directive creates a serious problem for most of industrial plants in Poland. So it is very important to get more technical knowledge about this document and its requirements not only to fulfil ATEX rules but mostly to provide a proper level of safety for employees and also to implement a proper safety management system in industrial plants in case of explosion - reported by Adam Rydzyński from Chemical Factory "ZACHEM" S.A. and Robert Żuczek from Central School of Fire Service in Częstochowa.

Every year in the Mazowieckie Province many practical exercises are organised. These exercises are mainly focused on proper firefighting and rescue operations in case of upper tier industrial plants according to SEVESO II Directive. One of such exercises was organised on site of industrial plant localized in Pionki. Except SFS also Police and other rescue and security bodies participated in this event.

Water rescue diving teams in the State Fire Service of Dolnośląskie Province have over 100 interventions a year concerning all water regions including rivers, lakes, etc. - reported by Lech Lewandowski from provincial department of SFS in Wrocław.

International seminar and well prepared exercise in the middle of Warsaw were focused on the celebration of 25 years of rope rescue inside the State Fire Service

Elimination of consequences of natural calamities, including earthquake was the main topic of international rescue seminar organised in Suwałki. During this event important bilateral agreements with eastern neighbours were signed.

Firefighting teams from Wielkopolskie Province were training an elimination of consequences of chemical threats concerning aluminium plant Aluminium Konin - IMPEXMETAL S.A. A scenario included failure of ammonia tank, firefighting tactics and rules and also evacuation procedures and pre-medical activities - reported by Sławomir Urbaniak.

It would be truism if we say that stress influences on our health. There are some circumstances when stress consequences are visible not only during worsening of social functioning of human beings but also during worsening of health - said Ms. Marta Różycka a psychologist of provincial department of SFS in Katowice.

When a traditional methods of hazard information are not effective, a satellite technology may be very useful in case of images of hazardous areas - by Marcin Terlikowski.

Organisation of firefighting and rescue operation during terrorist attack is very difficult to manage. The question is that our NFRS is enough? - by Dariusz Marczyński from HQ of the SFS.

First fire officers from the Main School of Fire Service met again together after 50 years in Warsaw.

It is probable that very soon it will be a new badge for Polish firefighters who were injured during operations. Do we really need it? Is it necessary? - by Krzysztof Krężel

In Cichów there was the II European Championship of hand-driven fire pumps for horse-drawn vehicles. 55 teams from Poland and representatives from Czech, Slovakia and Hungary participated in this event.

Managerial staff changes in Ministry of Interior and inside HQ of SFS - p. 3

Changes at high altitude - p. 6

It was only a fear - p. 10

Geographical information about emergency scene and its effects on quality of rescue operations - p. 12

Sacrum was saved - p. 15

Explosion protection part III. Combustible dust explosions - p. 17

Cultural heritage seminar - p. 20

Practical aspects of preparedness of explosion protection document - p. 21

Practical exercise "Tuczępy 05" - p. 23

Practical exercise "PIONKI 2005" - in the explosive neighbourhood - p. 24

Water rescue divers in SFS - p. 27

25 years of rope rescue in SFS - p. 28

Something vibrated again - p. 30

Practical exercises in aluminium plant - SFS vs. NH₃ - p. 32

When does disease hide a stress? - p. 32

Residential smoke detector - effective security for your home - p. 34

Satellite for rescue services - p. 36

National Firefighting and Rescue System against terrorism - p. 40

Revision of ordinances for the State Fire Service Act part II- p. 44

First fire officers - p. 47

Do we need a brand new fire service badge? - p. 48

II European Championship of hand-driven fire pumps for horse-drawn vehicles - p. 50

Celebration of Fire School for Aspirants in Kraków - p. 52