Firefighter with dirty gear and helmet

CTIF Firefighters' Health Commission News

News Archive

2023

2023

Screenshot from the 2022 NFPA report on firefighter fatalities in the US.

Report: increase in firefighter fatalities over the last two years identified by the NFPA

The US National representative of CTIF has recently published an article on firefighter...

Report: increase in firefighter fatalities over the last two years identified by the NFPA

A firefighter taking off her gear. Wikipedia Commons license. Author: 세종소방

The IAFF makes legal demands to remove toxic components in firefighter turnout gear

- The very gear designed to keep us safe is laden with these carcinogens, said IAFF pre...

The IAFF makes legal demands to remove toxic components in firefighter turnout gear

Tyne and Wear's chief fire officer Chris Lowther.

Newcastle area had 121 attacks on their fire crews in 2022 - more than double from 2021

A team from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service had petrol bombs thrown at them last ...

Newcastle area had 121 attacks on their fire crews in 2022 - more than double from 2021

Three Belgian firefighters in turnout gear practice putting out a fire on a burning vehicle.

New study shows firefighters are up to three times more likely to die from some types of cancer

The study was commissioned by the Fire Brigade Union and has studied more than 600 mort...

New study shows firefighters are up to three times more likely to die from some types of cancer

2022

2022

A Royal Air Force firefighter takes part in an exercise at RAF Leuchars in Scotland. Organization: RAF Object Name: is-3464-hr Supplemental Categories: People, Royal Air Force Keywords: Royal Air Force, RAF, Personnel, Non-Identifiable, Man, Smoke, Fire and Rescue, Fire, Rescue, Hose, Firefighter, Fireman Country: UK Photo Permission details: Images are downloadable at high resolution, made available at http://www.defenceimagery.mod.uk for reuse under the OGL (Open Government License). When reusing, cre

UK union claims firefighters are at put at risk because of new policies on restricted use of BA

The FBU disagrees with a policy to send crews into high-rise fires without their BAs t...

UK union claims firefighters are at put at risk because of new policies on restricted use of BA

Women in Firefighting - Photo by KIRTJ.se

Scientific work group within WHO determines firefighters are at high risk for occupational cancer

The IARC working group found even stronger evidence that “occupational exposure as a fi...

Scientific work group within WHO determines firefighters are at high risk for occupational cancer

Firefighters in Ukraine. Photo provided from a video by the State Emergency Service in Ukraine.

Firefighting in Ukraine: A special report to CTIF from the Ukraine State Emergency Service

Firefighting in general involves risk - Firefighting during an armed conflict makes tho...

Firefighting in Ukraine: A special report to CTIF from the Ukraine State Emergency Service

2021

2021

US - Canada heatwave map July 2021. Illustration by the European Space Agency

After the heatwave that killed 800 - BC hires hundreds of new paramedics

A severely understaffed ambulance system had thousands of residents wait for up to seve...

After the heatwave that killed 800 - BC hires hundreds of new paramedics

Urine hydration colour chart. Illustration by the CTIF Health Commission

Nutrition and hydration for firefighters

This article focuses on how firefighters can eat and drink in an intelligent way to sta...

Nutrition and hydration for firefighters

Map over the Mariana Islands in relationship to Japan. Illustration by Wikipedia Commons

23 US territory firefighters refused the Covid-19 vaccine - nine of them are now fired from their jo...

Originally 23 firefighters refused to take the Covid-19 vaccine. Allegedly, they said t...

23 US territory firefighters refused the Covid-19 vaccine - nine of them are now fired from their jobs

Firefighter exercising doing pushups. Photo: Wikipedia Commons License.

Exercise reduces the risk of being severely affected by covid-19

Being inactive more than doubled the risk of being hospitalized compared to being activ...

Exercise reduces the risk of being severely affected by covid-19

2020

2020

Three new Vice Presidents of CTIF as of October 21, 2020

Meet the new Executive Committee of CTIF

Congratulations to :Milan Dubravac, Taina Hanhikoski, Anatoly Suprunovski and Christoph...

Meet the new Executive Committee of CTIF

2019

2019

Firefighting and cancer

"The evidence on firefighters´cancer is clear. What are senior management & WHS waiting for?"

"Every Fire Service in the world should be practicing basic fireground decontamina...

"The evidence on firefighters´cancer is clear. What are senior management & WHS waiting for?"

Tired firefighter

Scientific evidence proving that lack of sleep can contribute to serious work related diseases - inc...

Lack of sleep can cause cancer, heart attack, stroke, diabetes and making fatal mistake...

Scientific evidence proving that lack of sleep can contribute to serious work related diseases - including cancer

A firefighter shaving his head in support of colleagues fighting cancer.

Smoke and soot from synthetics the greatest killer of firefighters

Modern homes and businesses are full of synthetics, plastics and chemicals that can exp...

Smoke and soot from synthetics the greatest killer of firefighters

A firefighter shaving his head in support of colleagues fighting cancer.

Smoke and soot from synthetics the greatest killer of firefighters

Modern homes and businesses are full of synthetics, plastics and chemicals that can exp...

Smoke and soot from synthetics the greatest killer of firefighters

Garbage construction fire test.

Sudden collapses during fires a very real danger for firefighters in new US buildings

Collapse of load bearing elements in just over 3 minutes with new OSB construction beam...

Sudden collapses during fires a very real danger for firefighters in new US buildings

2018

2018

Tommy Baekgaard Kjaer

Tommy Baekgaard Kjaer - A lecture on Cancer and other Occupational Diseases affecting Firefighters

1 HR VIDEO LECTURE: Most of the toxic exposure occurs when you take off your BA mask - ...

Tommy Baekgaard Kjaer - A lecture on Cancer and other Occupational Diseases affecting Firefighters

Tommy Baekgaard Kjaer

"We are all in this together - the toxins in the smoke don´t come knocking on your helmet to ask if...

Tommy Baekgaard Kjaer ended the Brussels Seminar 2018 with a powerful lecture on Health...

"We are all in this together - the toxins in the smoke don´t come knocking on your helmet to ask if you are getting paid to put out fires or not"

Screen shot from the NBC Boston news video.

Research: "Chemicals used in firefighter turnout gear identlified as potential cancer agents"

They tested the gear for PFAS, chemicals that s have shown to increase the risk of a ra...

Research: "Chemicals used in firefighter turnout gear identlified as potential cancer agents"

Dr Ivana Kruijff-Korbayová

Speakers´List for the CTIF Seminar "Fire, Rescue & New Challenges"

New Technologies, drones, Alternative Energy Vehicles, the new ISO Standard and the lat...

Speakers´List for the CTIF Seminar "Fire, Rescue & New Challenges"

Backdraft The Movie

‘Backdraft 2’ with ‘Apollo 18’ Director Gonzalo López-Gallego soon to be released

FIREFIGHTING FILMS: The movie "Backdraft" from 1991 put the dangers of firefi...

‘Backdraft 2’ with ‘Apollo 18’ Director Gonzalo López-Gallego soon to be released

Program

Program and Registration Link for the CTIF Seminar "Fire, Rescue & New Challenges" in Brussels

Program and Registration Link for the CTIF Seminar "Fire, Rescue & New Challenges" in Brussels

Registration sign

Registration is now open: Fire, Rescue & New Challenges - CTIF Seminar in Brussels November 9-10, 20...

The CTIF seminar "Fire, Rescue and New Challenges" will be held for two day...

Registration is now open: Fire, Rescue & New Challenges - CTIF Seminar in Brussels November 9-10, 2018

Map over Japan, showing the temperatures in late July 2018.

Warmer than ever in Japan - almost 80 have died and 30 000 hospitalized for heat related health prob...

On Monday, the highest temperature in the country so far, 41.1 degrees, (106 F) was n...

Warmer than ever in Japan - almost 80 have died and 30 000 hospitalized for heat related health problems

Warning for forest fires

Sweden is burning - the EU rushes to aid in multiple unstoppable forest fires during hottest summer ...

Four of the large fires in Sweden are un-extinguishable, says Marcus Årskog, Operations...

Sweden is burning - the EU rushes to aid in multiple unstoppable forest fires during hottest summer in 260 years

Rescue workers extricating victims from the turkish train derailment.

Over 100 ambulances dispatched to muddy and hard to reach train derailment in Turkey

At least ten people have died and 73 people have also been injured in a train accident ...

Over 100 ambulances dispatched to muddy and hard to reach train derailment in Turkey

The rural explosion site.

Firefighters and police died during fireworks explosion rescue operation

At least 24 people have died in a series of explosions at a fireworks factory in Mexico...

Firefighters and police died during fireworks explosion rescue operation

Romania floods June 2018

Several dead in Romania floods

The floods affect about one hundred cities in Romania. Bridges and other infrastructure...

Several dead in Romania floods

Poncho the Police dog

Poncho the police dog not actually performing real CPR

Poncho the police dog not actually performing real CPR

CTIF DA Grand Opening Ceremony

Grand Opening of CTIF Delegates Assembly with Las Vegas Firefighters´Marching Band - and a Silent Mi...

Grand Opening of CTIF Delegates Assembly with Las Vegas Firefighters´Marching Band - and a Silent Minute for Fallen Firefighters around the World

FPA´s Russ Sanders and CTIF´s Tom Van Esbroeck interviewed by Bjorn Ulfsson

Video glimpses from CTIF Delegates Assembly Grand Opening Gala Night

Follow Delegates Assembly with (almost:-) live footage here!

Video glimpses from CTIF Delegates Assembly Grand Opening Gala Night

Photo: Wikipedia

Danish man faces possible prison sentence from spreading photo of fatal accident

Heavy fog and a difficult roadway resulted in a car being clamped between two trucks, o...

Danish man faces possible prison sentence from spreading photo of fatal accident

Latvian firefighters catch a suicidal jumper in a fall from the fourth floor. Screen dump from the fire service´video.

Firefighter catches man falling from fourth floor in Latvia

It looks like the firefighter is about to get pulled in to the fall but is held in a fi...

Firefighter catches man falling from fourth floor in Latvia

The house where Francisco Sánchez Lázaro died in the line of duty.

Spanish firefighter died in the line of duty

Spanish firefighter Francisco Sánchez Lázaro, 60, died at 01.30 am Sunday morning, whi...

Spanish firefighter died in the line of duty

forest fire

Detection dogs can now be used to sniff out smoldering embers in the aftermath of a forest fire

An official certification course is now offered aimed at teaching dogs to find smolderi...

Detection dogs can now be used to sniff out smoldering embers in the aftermath of a forest fire

Bus on fire in Rome, Italy

Rome´s buses and trams are so old they are regularily catching fire

Almost 30 buses have caught fire in Rome during the last year and a half - this year al...

Rome´s buses and trams are so old they are regularily catching fire

EENA promo ad 2018

Drone technology in fire services focal point at EENA conference in Ljubljana

Drone technology in fire services focal point at EENA conference in Ljubljana

Judge´s Courtroom Club

Firefighter sentenced for causing collegue´s death - although fault lies with Ministry of Roads

The investigation found that the fire service should not have have been handling the wi...

Firefighter sentenced for causing collegue´s death - although fault lies with Ministry of Roads

By rijans - Flickr: Dhaka Savar Building Collapse

Five years after the building collaps in Bangladesh - still nobody has been tried for any crimes

Five years after the building collaps in Bangladesh - still nobody has been tried for any crimes

Grenfell Tower Fire

Survivors of Grenfell tell their stories

Survivors of Grenfell tell their stories

Montral fire truck

Montreal fire department wants to triple the recruits of women and cultural minorities

Today, only 29 of the city’s 2,360 firefighters are women (1.2 per cent). Only 24 are ...

Montreal fire department wants to triple the recruits of women and cultural minorities

Sioen theme days 2018

Firefighters´ event @Sioen once again a big success

CTIF´s recent Associate Member Sioen Apparel organized this event in collaboration with...

Firefighters´ event @Sioen once again a big success

Photo: A bushfire at Llanilo, western Sydney, 2016. (Twitter: @FRNSW)

Bushfires still a threat against suburbs in Australia - Fire started deliberately

The New South Wales rural fire chief has described the suspected deliberate starting of...

Bushfires still a threat against suburbs in Australia - Fire started deliberately

Baby and firefighter

Healthy - "and cancer free" - firefighters - Part 1: A book about improving the working environment

Healthy - "and cancer free" - firefighters - Part 1: A book about improving the working environment

Members of the Indianapolis Fire Department in their Detox Sauna.

US fire departments turning to detox saunas to fight off the cancer threat - But are they effective?

Firefighters are suffering from an inordinate number of cancer deaths and some departme...

US fire departments turning to detox saunas to fight off the cancer threat - But are they effective?

Fire Gas Cooling LBG

Enclosure Fires - Chapter 1

This classical text book in Fire Behavior is now available as download or published cha...

Enclosure Fires - Chapter 1

Inside the Mall fire

Inside the Inferno: New videos reveal the rapid fire spread in Kemerovo mall

SIBERIA MALL DISASTER: New video footage from the surveillance camera inside Kemerovo m...

Inside the Inferno: New videos reveal the rapid fire spread in Kemerovo mall

Kuwait bus crash

15 dead in head-on bus collision in Kuwait

ACCIDENTS: Fifteen workers at an oil company have died in a frontal collision between t...

15 dead in head-on bus collision in Kuwait

Kaden Young

Hundreds spend Easter weekend searching for missing boy swept away in flood

SEARCH AND RESCUE: Hundreds of Canadians are spending their Easter long weekend searchi...

Hundreds spend Easter weekend searching for missing boy swept away in flood

Fully developed fire venting from the ground floor windows of a house. (Photo: Nico Speleers)

The Art of Reading Fire

FIE BEHAVIOR: BE-SAHF a.k.a. "The Art of Reading Fire", is a model for assess...

The Art of Reading Fire

Venezuela riots

68 die in Venezuelan jail fire - Families demand answers

68 die in Venezuelan jail fire - Families demand answers

Flow-path, by Paul Grimwood

Survive in the Flow-path

By Paul Grimwood: The flow-path is the route that air/oxygen takes when it heads in to ...

Survive in the Flow-path

Photo: Paul Grimwood, EuroFirefighter.com

Under Ventilated Fires - A more dangerous firefighting environment

By Paul Grimwood. The hazards associated with under-ventilated building fires are incre...

Under Ventilated Fires - A more dangerous firefighting environment

Burn victim and firefighter. Photo: Eglin Air Force Base

Burn injury treatment: Extended cooling reduces chances of survival

CTIF Associate Member IFA discusses how burn victims should be treated with Johannes Ho...

Burn injury treatment: Extended cooling reduces chances of survival

Grenfell Tower - Photo: Wikipedia

The Paper Trail: The Failure of Building Regulations

Just over nine months on from the Grenfell Tower fire, the UK remains in crisis. The da...

The Paper Trail: The Failure of Building Regulations

Siberia fire

Synthetic insulation allegedly responsible for the rapid fire spread that killed 64 in Siberia

Synthetic insulation allegedly responsible for the rapid fire spread that killed 64 in Siberia

Photo: Honour House

A Home Away from Home for injured First Responders

FIREFIGHTERS´HEALTH: If you are a rural firefighter and have ever gotten hurt on the jo...

A Home Away from Home for injured First Responders

In this Russian Emergency Situations Ministry photo, on Sunday, March 25, 2018, smoke rises above a multi-story shopping center in the Siberian city of Kemerovo, about 3,000 kilometers east of Moscow, Russia.

The numbers of causalties are rising in the shopping center fire in Southern Siberia - over 600 resc...

RUSSIA: Almost 50 people have died and 64 people are missing after a devastating fire i...

The numbers of causalties are rising in the shopping center fire in Southern Siberia - over 600 rescue workers deployed

Scene from "Motherless Brooklyn". © Getty Images Pierre Suu / Contributor

New York firefighter killed on a Harlem film set

On Thursday night, a New York City firefighter died in a basement fire in Harlem on the...

New York firefighter killed on a Harlem film set

Photo by: Pratt Volunteer Fire Department

Two volunteer firefighter fatalities in fire truck flip-over

Two volunteer firefighter fatalities in fire truck flip-over

York fire

Two firefighters never made it out when old brownstone factory collapsed after a violent fire

Two firefighters never made it out when old brownstone factory collapsed after a violent fire

Photo: Tuoi Tre News

13 dead and 28 injured in Saigon apartment fire

VIETNAM: The fire started at the lower part of the apartment on Vo Van Kiet Street in D...

13 dead and 28 injured in Saigon apartment fire

Unipetrol

At least six dead in large explosion at a chemical factory in the Czech Republic

HAZMAT: Six people have been killed today and four are injured in an explosion at a che...

At least six dead in large explosion at a chemical factory in the Czech Republic

Three New York City firefighters in front of a burning building following the September 11th terrorist attack. Photo by: Wikipedia

Researchers find firefighters face up to triple risk of cancer

FIREFIGHTER´S HEALTH: The risk of firefighters developing cancer may much be higher tha...

Researchers find firefighters face up to triple risk of cancer

Human Firebrigades

Project "Human Fire Brigades" drives Diversity in Germany

DIVERSITY: "We have to approach the future with a holistic approach", explain...

Project "Human Fire Brigades" drives Diversity in Germany

The exercise took place in difficult conditions, which made smooth consultation among the participants even more important. Source: THW/Frank Winterfeld

Successful UN Exercise at THW National Training Center

DISASTER RELIEF: One of the largest international disaster relief exercises was held wi...

Successful UN Exercise at THW National Training Center

One Up Saves Life Buoy

New portable live buoy could change marine & beach rescue

New portable live buoy could change marine & beach rescue

A firefighter during the aftermaths of the WTC attack. Photo: Pixabay.com

The firefighters at Ground Zero: Stories of extraordinary bravery, loss and guilt

9/11 DOCUMENTARY: Three hundred and forty-three New York firemen died in the terrorist ...

The firefighters at Ground Zero: Stories of extraordinary bravery, loss and guilt

Photo: Pixabay.

Many injured and two firemen down in Mumbai explosion and fire

INDIA: A boiler explosion at the Tarapur Atomic Power Station in Mumbai killed three pe...

Many injured and two firemen down in Mumbai explosion and fire

Scandinavian Star

Norwegian parliament confirms no foul play in the 1990 Scandinavian Star ship fire

No foul play can be proven in the 28 year old ferry disaster, which was one of the wors...

Norwegian parliament confirms no foul play in the 1990 Scandinavian Star ship fire

Screen shot of video

Are you exposing yourself to cancer risks when taking off your gear?

Wrists, neck and groin are especially high risk areas where you may need to pay extra a...

Are you exposing yourself to cancer risks when taking off your gear?

Thor Argnrimsson

Using thermal camera drones for Search and Rescue in Extreme Environments

When it comes to search and rescue missions, time is scarce and mistakes cannot be affo...

Using thermal camera drones for Search and Rescue in Extreme Environments

Captain Robyn Shlachetla First Officer Raven Beardy, of Manitoba, Canada, as the first female first female Indigenous Medivac Air Ambulance team.

Congrats to first female Indigenous Medivac Air Ambulance team in the air!

CTIF would like to acknowledge International Women´s Day by congratulating Captain Roby...

Congrats to first female Indigenous Medivac Air Ambulance team in the air!

911

The Lessons from Oklahoma City, NYC and Madrid still live on

Up until the 1990’s terrorism was however tragic usually seen as rather small and low i...

The Lessons from Oklahoma City, NYC and Madrid still live on

CTIFs Dennis Davies & UL global fire director Bob James

UL partners with new IFT testing facility in Germany

UL partners with new IFT testing facility in Germany

Submission Guidelines for Questions to Delegates Assembly 2018

The Delegates’ Assembly is CTIF‘s highest decision making body. Here are guidelines for...

Submission Guidelines for Questions to Delegates Assembly 2018

Camera drone

Thermal camera drone saved car crash victim from freezing to death

Thermal camera drone saved car crash victim from freezing to death

Rochefort roof blast

Smoke build-up in hidden spaces = deadly surprises

Smoke buildup in hidden spaces is one of the most dangerous situations in structural fi...

Smoke build-up in hidden spaces = deadly surprises

Car Crash in Rohlstorf, Germany

Instructions for Extrication on Vehicles with Pre-Programmed Crumple Zones & Fortified Frame Constru...

One of the most discussed topics within the CTIF Commission ‘Extrication & New Tech...

Instructions for Extrication on Vehicles with Pre-Programmed Crumple Zones & Fortified Frame Constructions

Ottawa University researcher Jennifer Keir and Captain Dave Matschke.

Groundbreaking research shows firefighters absorb harmful chemicals through skin - despite full prot...

FEATURED ARTICLE: A growing body of evidence has shown firefighters have an increased r...

Groundbreaking research shows firefighters absorb harmful chemicals through skin - despite full protection

Emergency driving, a risk that is always present during turn-outs

High risks associated with driving heavy emergency vehicles

Emergency Driving with fire vehicles can be very dangerous, especially during winter co...

High risks associated with driving heavy emergency vehicles

A firefighter being interviewed by another firefighter

Learn to tell your stories of Lessons Learned on video

Learn to tell your stories of Lessons Learned on video

Three firefighters being trained by an instructor in nozzle technique.

New Fire Behavior Group to start in 2018

New Fire Behavior Group to start in 2018

Four firefighters walking away in the sunset

CTIF - The Official Video

CTIF - The Official Video

2017

2017

CTIF News Fall 2017 screenshot

CTIF Newsletter for Fall 2017

CTIF Newsletter for Fall 2017

Slovenian flag against a blue sky

CTIF moves office from Stockholm to Ljubljana, Slovenia

CTIF moves office from Stockholm to Ljubljana, Slovenia

News Newsletter 2017 - Spring

Newsletter 2017 - Spring

Newsletter 2017 - Spring

2014

2014

CTIF Ebola guide for firefighters

CTIF Ebola guide for firefighters

This guide provides guidance and background information for the fire service in the eve...

CTIF Ebola guide for firefighters

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