Fire, Rescue & New Challenges: CTIF Yearly Seminar News

News Archive

2025

State of Emergency in Greece after thousands of earthquakes on Santorino

Since the onset of the earthquake swarm, more than 6,000 seismic events have been recorded in the Aegean Sea, with several reaching a magnitude of over 4.0. On February 6, a fresh wave of tremors was reported, with seven earthquakes occurring.

State of Emergency in Greece after thousands of earthquakes on Santorino

Grenfell Tower to be demolished after 8 years of being wrapped in a protective cover

The fire, blamed on faulty wiring and flammable cladding, highlighted concerns about inequality in the UK. The higher levels of the tower are structurally unsound. The building symbolizes Britain's worst residential fire since WWII.

Grenfell Tower to be demolished after 8 years of being wrapped in a protective cover

Increased bombings in Swedish residential blocks - school shooting in Örebro kills ten

Baltic Sea Cable Damage: On January 26, 2025, a cargo ship named Vezhen accidentally damaged a subsea cable linking Sweden and Latvia. The incident was attributed to a combination of bad weather, equipment deficiencies, and poor seamanship.

Increased bombings in Swedish residential blocks - school shooting in Örebro kills ten

Japan: 82 dead in Tokyo house fires during 2024

A series of house fires occurred in Tokyo, mainly on its Pacific Ocean side, due to dry air causing fires to spread quickly. The Tokyo Fire Department reported a total of 82 deaths due to house fires in Tokyo last year with 30 deaths in Nov and Dec alone.

Japan: 82 dead in Tokyo house fires during 2024

Train derailment, apartment fire and warehouse fire in Norway in January 2025

A major road traffic accident occurred on the E6 highway near Trondheim, resulting in multiple injuries. A train derailed near Stavanger, causing delays. A large fire engulfed a warehouse in Bergen, leading to the evacuation of nearby residents.

Train derailment, apartment fire and warehouse fire in Norway in January 2025

From an idea by Bjorn Ulfsson, CTIF, executed by MS Co-Pilot.

News from our Member States: A new category of brief reporting on CTIF.org

These brief reports will be as comprehensive as possible with our resources. Many of these stories w...

News from our Member States: A new category of brief reporting on CTIF.org

Wildfires, fires and accidents in Central and South America the first few weeks of 2025

Amazon Rainforest Fires (Brazil): The Amazon has experienced a severe fire season, with fires starting in early January 2025. Despite a reduction in deforestation rates, fires have increased due to extreme drought conditions.

Wildfires, fires and accidents in Central and South America the first few weeks of 2025

Challenges Facing Firefighters in 2025: Health, Working Conditions, and Urban Wildfire Interface

Firefighters around the world face numerous challenges, from battling increasingly intense wildfires...

Challenges Facing Firefighters in 2025: Health, Working Conditions, and Urban Wildfire Interface

HazMat fires, tram accident and Paris City Hall fires in France, January 2025

A fire broke out at a retirement home in Bouffémont, near Paris, resulting in three fatalities and eight injuries. The fire is believed to have started in a laundry room and spread to the third floor. Around 140 firefighters were deployed.

HazMat fires, tram accident and Paris City Hall fires in France, January 2025

Five fireworks deaths, attacks on first responders and warehouse fire in Germany, January 2025

Fatalities and Injuries: At least five individuals lost their lives due to fireworks-related accidents during New Year celebrations. Numerous injuries were reported, with some incidents involving illegal or modified pyrotechnics.

Five fireworks deaths, attacks on first responders and warehouse fire in Germany, January 2025

Av Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-H27992 / Sönnke, Hans / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5434070

Fire & Rescue in the Rear View Mirror: 9400 people died in the sinking of M/S Wilhem Gustloff in 194...

On January 30, 1945, the German military transport ship Wilhelm Gustloff was sunk in the Baltic Sea....

Fire & Rescue in the Rear View Mirror: 9400 people died in the sinking of M/S Wilhem Gustloff in 1945

Fire & Rescue News from Denmark, January 2025

On January 2, 2025, the 154-meter long ro-ro cargo vessel Glyvursnes caught fire while berthed at Hirtshals, Denmark. The fire broke out in the engine room, and the local fire brigade was able to contain the blaze within an hour.

Fire & Rescue News from Denmark, January 2025

Fire and Rescue News from Canada, January 2025

A large fire broke out in a warehouse in Vancouver, BC on January 15, 2025. The fire spread rapidly, causing extensive damage to the building and nearby structures. Over 100 firefighters were deployed to tackle the fire.

Fire and Rescue News from Canada, January 2025

Fire & Rescue News from Korea, January 2025

A large fire broke out in a commercial building in Seongnam, South Korea. Dozens of people were rescued and evacuated from the building, and over 100 firefighters were deployed to tackle the blaze.

Fire & Rescue News from Korea, January 2025

Fire & Rescue News from Bulgaria, January 2025

On January 16, 2025, a serious railway accident occurred near the village of Lokorsko in the Sofia region. Two freight trains collided, causing a fire and resulting in significant damage. Two people lost their lives.

Fire & Rescue News from Bulgaria, January 2025

Group photo of Austrian training team, 2025

Austria's Fire Brigades Intensify Nationwide Training

In 2024 the Austrian Federal Fire Brigade Association initiated a sustainable development of fire se...

Austria's Fire Brigades Intensify Nationwide Training

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons License Volunteers cleaning the streets of the city of Sedavi, near Valencia. Date: 2 November 2024, 12:57:03 Source: Own work Author: Pacopac

Death toll added up to more than 200 in the Valencia floods and countless millions of Euros in damag...

The aftermath left streets submerged, vehicles swept away, and significant damage to infrastructure....

Death toll added up to more than 200 in the Valencia floods and countless millions of Euros in damages

The first drops of rain in ten months came in LA on January 25.

Finally after ten months of drought: rain helps LA firefighters - but also the risk of mudslides and...

As of Saturday, January 25, 2025, Los Angeles is experiencing its first significant rainfall of the ...

Finally after ten months of drought: rain helps LA firefighters - but also the risk of mudslides and toxic runoffs

Death toll in Polish coal mine methane explosion has risen to three - 13 injured

On January 22, 2025, a significant incident occurred at the Knurow-Szczyglowice coal mine in southern Poland. At approximately 850 meters below ground, methane gas ignited, leading to a fire that resulted in injuries to 16 miners. Among them, nine suffere

Death toll in Polish coal mine methane explosion has risen to three - 13 injured

One dead and one million without power after powerful Storm Éowyn swept in over the British Isles

In Galway, located on Ireland's west coast, wind speeds reached over 50 meters per second (approximately 180 km/h), marking the strongest winds ever recorded in the country. A man in Donegal, Ireland lost his life when a tree fell onto his car,

One dead and one million without power after powerful Storm Éowyn swept in over the British Isles

Rare winter storm killed at least 11 people in the US - almost a foot of snow in New Orleans

A rare winter storm has swept across the southern United States, bringing unprecedented snowfall and record-low temperatures to several states along the Gulf Coast. The severe weather has led to at least 11 fatalities and numerous power outages.

Rare winter storm killed at least 11 people in the US - almost a foot of snow in New Orleans

Milan Dubravac speaking at the #OneBillionResidence initiative in Dubai

CTIF spoke at #OneBillionReadiness Round Table Conference in Dubai - One Billion residents will be t...

Last week the Dubai Civil defence hosted a round table conference following COP28 activities on worl...

CTIF spoke at #OneBillionReadiness Round Table Conference in Dubai - One Billion residents will be trained worldwide

Still photo from a video by the Turkish Fire Services

Hotel fire in northern Turkey killed 76 and injured 50 people at ski resort - death toll expected to...

Around half the hotel guests were either killed or injured in the fire, which is now under investiga...

Hotel fire in northern Turkey killed 76 and injured 50 people at ski resort - death toll expected to rise

https://www.goodfon.com/men/wallpaper-download-1440x900-pole-dance-muscles-herculaneum-figure.html

Firefighter Takes Up Pole Dancing: "The Most Fun I've Ever Had"

A 50 + firefighter in Sweden has come up with a new way to stay in shape: Pole dancing: - Being mock...

Firefighter Takes Up Pole Dancing: "The Most Fun I've Ever Had"

2024 is expected to be the warmest year on record

Scientists attribute this rise in temperatures to the ongoing effects of climate change, as well as the anticipated influence of the El Niño weather phenomenon, which typically leads to increased global temperatures.

2024 is expected to be the warmest year on record

Tom Van Esbroeck, Belgium, is the new Treasurer for CTIF from 2025!

Tom Van Esbroeck from CTIF Belgium comes into the position with a wealth of experience, both during ...

Tom Van Esbroeck, Belgium, is the new Treasurer for CTIF from 2025!

By China News Service, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=157605573

Extreme urgency in minus 18 C for the 14,000 rescuers in Tibet searched for 400 earthquake victims t...

On January 7, 2025 a powerful earthquake struck the Shigatse region near Mount Everest, resulting in...

Extreme urgency in minus 18 C for the 14,000 rescuers in Tibet searched for 400 earthquake victims trapped under rubble

ISO 17840 compliant Rescue Sheet for a bus

Rescue sheets for trucks and buses are now integrated in the Eurorescue app

A specific button to choose between cars and trucks/ buses has been added. All rescue sheets for eve...

Rescue sheets for trucks and buses are now integrated in the Eurorescue app

Driver of deadly New Orleans pick up truck opened fire at emergency crews and police

At least 14 people died, and around 30 were injured after a vehicle plowed into New Year’s celebrators on Bourbon Street, New Orleans. The attack occurred at 3:15 a.m., night to New Years Day, local time, shortly before the Sugar Bowl event.

Driver of deadly New Orleans pick up truck opened fire at emergency crews and police

Las Vegas Tesla Cyber Truck explosion caused by external means and not by electrical or battery issu...

Authorities are investigating the incident as a potential act of terrorism. The FBI is also exploring possible connections between this explosion and a separate attack in New Orleans on the same day.

Las Vegas Tesla Cyber Truck explosion caused by external means and not by electrical or battery issues

Tens of Thousands have been protesting for weeks in Belgrade after deadly roof collapse

For over seven weeks, nationwide demonstrations have been held following the incident in Novi Sad, a city in northern Serbia. The protest just before Christmas opened with 15 minutes of silence - one minute for each deadly victim.

Tens of Thousands have been protesting for weeks in Belgrade after deadly roof collapse

2024

CTIF wishes all members a Safe & Merry Holiday Season 2024-25!

The holiday season marks a short break in our regular activities, but as a member you can always rea...

CTIF wishes all members a Safe & Merry Holiday Season 2024-25!

Man smoking in bed while on medical oxygen. From an idea by Bjorn Ulfsson, CTIF, executed by Chat GPT.

US authorities warn against smoking while on medical oxygen after explosive fire destroyed a home

The investigation, which involved several local agencies, uncovered smoking materials and medical ox...

US authorities warn against smoking while on medical oxygen after explosive fire destroyed a home

Newsflash illustration for CTIF News 2024

Highlights from CTIF Summer and Fall 2024

The holiday season marks a short break in our regular activities. However, as a member you can alway...

Highlights from CTIF Summer and Fall 2024

The European parliament building in Brussels.

The European Parliament creates the civil protection intergroup “Resilience, Disaster Management and...

Grégory Allione, the first firefighter elected as an MEP is pleased to announce the creation of the ...

The European Parliament creates the civil protection intergroup “Resilience, Disaster Management and Civil Protection"

By Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-1990-0414-009 / Wolfried Pätzold / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5425468

As many as 135 people may have been killed in the New Guinea soccer stadium stampede

Government officials previously said 56 were killed following fan clashes at Nzerekore stadium on Su...

As many as 135 people may have been killed in the New Guinea soccer stadium stampede

Human vs natural causes of Climate Change

What is "natural" climate change vs "human" driven climate change?

Copernicus and CTIF.org report that forest fires can release hundreds of times more CO2 than the hum...

What is "natural" climate change vs "human" driven climate change?

Demonstrations and public anger in Valencia about government response to flooding

On Saturday November 9th,over 130,000 people demonstrated in Valencia, protesting the authorities&#0...

Demonstrations and public anger in Valencia about government response to flooding

Volcano eruption at Fagradalsfjall next to Litli-Hrútur in Iceland in 2023 captured from up close with a drone by Giles Laurent.

Popular thermal bath facility on Iceland damaged by volcanic eruption

Iceland’s renowned Blue Lagoon, a popular travel destination, was closed and evacuated on Thursday a...

Popular thermal bath facility on Iceland damaged by volcanic eruption

Low water level at the Yesa reservoir. By 1 October 2016. Author: Basotxerri. Wikipedia Commons License.

Spain faces the dual extremes of the climate crisis: drought and flooding

Between severe droughts and catastrophic floods: recent extreme weather events have left communities...

Spain faces the dual extremes of the climate crisis: drought and flooding

Chilean firefighter receives award for raw and up close POV helmet cam video

The video, captured by Joseth Abel Espinosa of the Third Fire Company of Ñuñoa, showcases the life-t...

Chilean firefighter receives award for raw and up close POV helmet cam video

The effect of CO2 on climate warming and in turn causing issues for firefighters. Illustration from an idea by Bjorn Ulfsson, executed by Chat GPT.

Warming may have reached a self reinforcing stage - CO2 levels higher than in 3 million years

Over the past two decades, carbon dioxide levels have risen by more than 11%, faster than at any oth...

Warming may have reached a self reinforcing stage - CO2 levels higher than in 3 million years

By Mishyac - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=154815491

14 dead when a train station collapsed in northern Serbia

Local media reported that over 30 people were injured in the incident. Nearly 80 rescuers were depl...

14 dead when a train station collapsed in northern Serbia

Wikipedia Commons Licence. Akatani River was overflowed by the Northern Kyūshū Heavy Rain in Asakura City, Fukuoka Prefecture on July 7, 2017.

Hurricane Season 2024: Six dead and several missing after Japan floods in September - 200,000 were u...

The cities of Wajima and Suzu are still recovering from a devastating earthquake on January 1. The t...

Hurricane Season 2024: Six dead and several missing after Japan floods in September - 200,000 were urged to evacuate in November

An illustration shows the inside of a potential submerged floating tunnel that would be used to cross a fjord in Norway.P hoto by Norwegian Public Roads Administration P

Tunnel fire in Singapore effectively extinguished by sprinklers

The KPE tunnel, a 9km-long expressway, is equipped with fire safety features, including overhead wat...

Tunnel fire in Singapore effectively extinguished by sprinklers

Wikipedia Commons License. By Eidursson - Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=154668033

Over 200 dead in Spain floods - 10,000 called in from the army to help in the aftermath

Southern and eastern Spain has been hit by severe flooding. Vehicles have been swept away, houses...

Over 200 dead in Spain floods - 10,000 called in from the army to help in the aftermath

Fictional image of a oil tank fire. From an idea by by Bjorn Ulfsson / CTIF, executed by Chat GPT.

Firefighters among the more than 20 injured in the La Salina oil terminal fire in Venezuela

According to videos reviewed by Reuters, two explosions along with intense heat compromised the tank...

Firefighters among the more than 20 injured in the La Salina oil terminal fire in Venezuela

Deutsch: Stadtallendorf im Jahr 2004, fotografiert aus Richtung Westen. Im Foto zu sehen: Das Industriegebiet DAG mit dem Ferrero-Werk in der Bildmitte, der alte Ortskern ganz hinten, die Herrenwaldkaserne am rechten oberen Bildrand. Auf dem Foto wird die von großen Waldflächen durchzogene Bebauung deutlich. Date 26 June 2004 Source Self-photographed Author Pazzee at German Wikipedia

Multi million euro fire station destroyed in a fire - lacked fire alarm

- It is a nightmare for a firefighter. No one wants to have to extinguish his own fire station, the ...

Multi million euro fire station destroyed in a fire - lacked fire alarm

Firefighters demonstrating on a bridge. Illustration by Bjorn Ulfsson, executed by Chat GPT.

Finnish firefighters invited all to a world wide Silent Protest on October 16 - against drunk drivi...

Mikko Saastamoinen was a well-known developer of road safety and road rescue in Finland and internat...

Finnish firefighters invited all to a world wide Silent Protest on October 16 - against drunk driving and in honour of fallen comrade Mikko Saastamoinen

Photo by NASA Johnson. 257 miles above the Gulf of Mexico, an external camera on the International Space Station captured this image of Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 storm packing winds of 175 miles an hour at the time of this photograph, and its well-defined eye.

Hurricane Milton 2024 killed at least 16 people in Florida - but the storm turned out less severe th...

Hurricane Milton turned out not as destructive as feared, however, at least 1are 6 dead.

Hurricane Milton 2024 killed at least 16 people in Florida - but the storm turned out less severe than many feared

Photo Credit: EU Response to Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina floods in 2014 Pictures from a Slovenian helicopter crew as they provide assistance in Bosnia and Herzegovina on May 19, 2014) Flickr Commons License

State of Emergency and many dead in Bosnia after flooding and landslides

Flash floods and landslides have resulted in at least 21fatalities. Many towns and villages have bee...

State of Emergency and many dead in Bosnia after flooding and landslides

Wikipedia Commons License The Florida National Guard cleaning damage in Keaton Beach, Florida, following Hurricane Helene. Photo by the National Guard.

Death count from Hurricane Helene 2024 reaches 200 people - $100 billion or more in estimated econo...

Hundreds of roads remain closed, thousands are still without power, and dozens of water treatment pl...

Death count from Hurricane Helene 2024 reaches 200 people - $100 billion or more in estimated economic losses

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons License Old City Hall, at Springfield, Ohio, United States. Date: 14 October 2007, 23:22 Source https://www.flickr.com/photos/84858864@N00/1580074910/ Author: Cindy Funk

Unproven allegations of 'pet eating' caused mayor to declare a State of Emergency in small US town

Several bomb threats and racist pamphlets distributed in the city followed after a political candid...

Unproven allegations of 'pet eating' caused mayor to declare a State of Emergency in small US town

Cyber attacks on renewable energies. Illustration Bjorn Ulfsson / CTIF, executed by Chat GPT.

A cyber attack on renewable energy sources "could send us back to the stone age in just a few days"

- In just a few days, our society would face total collapse, essentially sending us back to the Ston...

A cyber attack on renewable energy sources "could send us back to the stone age in just a few days"

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flooding_in_Sirajganj_2020_%2852423722318%29.jpg

Heavy rain fall in Nepal killed almost 200 - 100,000 people stranded in the flood water

Most major highways connecting Kathmandu to the rest of the country remain blocked in multiple locat...

Heavy rain fall in Nepal killed almost 200 - 100,000 people stranded in the flood water

Damage from Hurricane Ian in 2022.Flickr Commons License: https://www.flickr.com/photos/myfwcmedia/52398165903

Dozens of dead and 60 million people across 12 US states under storm warning from Hurricane Helene

At least 43 people have lost their lives, and millions remain without power. Six states have declare...

Dozens of dead and 60 million people across 12 US states under storm warning from Hurricane Helene

Private photo of Paul Grimwood in 2015, from his Facebook account.

Firefighters around the world mourn the loss of Paul Grimwood - UK pioneer in fire gas cooling

Paul Grimwood is perhaps best known for his numerous books and articles, which have become foundatio...

Firefighters around the world mourn the loss of Paul Grimwood - UK pioneer in fire gas cooling

Risks and benefits of AI in the fire services. Illustration by Bjorn Ulfsson / CTIF, generated by Chat GPT.

Both risks and benefits emphasized in global UFF Recommendations for Safe and Ethical Use of AI in t...

While AI can enhance productivity, efficiency, and decision-making, its irresponsible use could lead...

Both risks and benefits emphasized in global UFF Recommendations for Safe and Ethical Use of AI in the fire services

Original Illustration of the effects of Climate Change on the Fire Services. Illustration by Björn Ulfsson / CTIF

Climate Change: The Urban Fire Forum calls for new firefighting skills and redefined risk assessment...

Building climate resilience in fire services is essential, requiring proactive risk assessment, coll...

Climate Change: The Urban Fire Forum calls for new firefighting skills and redefined risk assessment in wildfires

Milan Dubravac, CTIF, and Stephan Weavers, FEU, at the Urban Fire Forum on September 18, 2024.

CTIF and FEU represented at NFPA´s Urban Fire Forum - Four new position papers agreed upon

Each September, the Urban Fire Forum meets, and fire chiefs from around the world endorse important ...

CTIF and FEU represented at NFPA´s Urban Fire Forum - Four new position papers agreed upon

The remnants of a truck carrying 31,000 pounds of lithium batteries. Photo by

31,000 pounds of lithium batteries caught fire in a crash on the highway

The total amount of water used to extinguish the fire was 5,550 gallons / 21,000 litres, with the ad...

31,000 pounds of lithium batteries caught fire in a crash on the highway

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aerial_photographs_of_2019_Abukuma_River_flood_by_GSI_469.jpg

Six people have died - at least two missing - after three feet of rain fell in central Japan

From Friday until late Sunday evening, the city of Wajima received 500 millimeters – half a meter of...

Six people have died - at least two missing - after three feet of rain fell in central Japan

Wikipedia Commons License. An explosion at a mine in Yurt, Iran Date: 3 May 2017 Source: Tasnim Author: Mostafa Hassanzadeh

50 or more miners died in an underground explosion in Iran

Several miners are still believed to be trapped underground. Rescue teams have been dispatched to t...

50 or more miners died in an underground explosion in Iran

Flooding in the city of Hagen in 2021. Wikipedia Commons License. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rathausstra%C3%9Fe_Hochwasser_%282%29.jpg

Storm Boris / Anett caused massive destruction in Europe - 1 firefighter killed in Austria - fire st...

Storm Boris has essentially devastated several European cities.In the Czech Republic, where five peo...

Storm Boris / Anett caused massive destruction in Europe - 1 firefighter killed in Austria - fire station and hospital flooded

Hanoi Vietnam Floods 2008 Date 22 November 2008 (original upload date) Source Transferred from vi.wikipedia to Commons. Author: Ngocnb at Vietnamese Wikipedia

Dam collapse killed 30 and displaced 240,000 in Nigeria - Storm Yagi killed 200 in Vietnam

In Vietnam, Storm Yagi killed 197 people have died, and 800 have been injured, 150 missing. In the f...

Dam collapse killed 30 and displaced 240,000 in Nigeria - Storm Yagi killed 200 in Vietnam

All 2024 reports from the CTIF's Commissions, Working Groups and Executive Committee at DA in Oslo

All official reports are uploaded as PDFs. Delegates Assembly 2024 took place in Oslo in June 2024....

All 2024 reports from the CTIF's Commissions, Working Groups and Executive Committee at DA in Oslo

Screenshot of the Grenfell Tower Final Report Summary

The final report on the Grenfell Tower fire criticizes firefighting leadership strategies, governmen...

Government and industry are mainly blamed - weak firefighting strategies and a lack of leadership at...

The final report on the Grenfell Tower fire criticizes firefighting leadership strategies, government and construction industry

From the The Press Department of the Chief Headquarters of the State Fire Service (KG PSP) Photos by: Section Commander Krzysztof Pisz, Junior Aspirant Jakub Szmaglik

Two firefighters died and 11 firefighters injured in explosion during apartment building fire in Pol...

The firefighting efforts involved 100 firefighters and 30 rescue vehicles, including a specialized s...

Two firefighters died and 11 firefighters injured in explosion during apartment building fire in Poland

Decladding high-rise flats in Aberdeen on front in 2017, Bayview Court, 4 August 2017. Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons License.

New 2024 London apartment tower fire with flammable cladding raises concerns just days before the fi...

40 fire engines and more than 200 firefighters responded to the fire on Freshwater Road in Dagenham....

New 2024 London apartment tower fire with flammable cladding raises concerns just days before the final Grenfell Report is due for release

Screenshot of the video below on the Telegraph webpage

Ferris wheel on fire at German music festival - dozens injured from smoke inhalation

65 visitors and emergency personnel required medical attention, with 16 people being taken to the ho...

Ferris wheel on fire at German music festival - dozens injured from smoke inhalation

More than 100,000 Europeans died in heat waves 2022 and 2023 - Climate warming faster than expected...

A report released Monday by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) reveals that over 4...

More than 100,000 Europeans died in heat waves 2022 and 2023 - Climate warming faster than expected according to scientists

A drone searches through the remains of colapsed buildings after the Noto earthquake in January 2024. Photo by the Japan Ministry of Defence.

Japan issued warning for "mega earthquake" above 8 on the Richter scale

Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. The nation sits on the Pacific Oce...

Japan issued warning for "mega earthquake" above 8 on the Richter scale

Kröv, Germany Date Taken on 11 July 2015 Source https://web.archive.org/web/20161102063238/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/122356249 Author Foto Fitti

Two died in German hotel collapse - "remarkable" survival rate given extent of damage

Rescue teams faced a difficult task. Although they could reach some of the trapped individuals by ce...

Two died in German hotel collapse - "remarkable" survival rate given extent of damage

The Executive Commitee of CTIF as of June 20, 2024. The Secretary, Neža Strmole, is missing from this photo.

Meet the new 2024 Executive Committee of CTIF

One new vice president, Zisoula Ntasiou, Greece, has been voted in. Miklan Dubravac was re-elected a...

Meet the new 2024 Executive Committee of CTIF

CTIF Expo magazine, first copies handed out at DA 2024.

The CTIF EXPO 2024 News Magazine Now available as PDF

Download your digital copy here! The printed version of the magazine was handed out to DA Delegates ...

The CTIF EXPO 2024 News Magazine Now available as PDF

A Swedish fire truck in the ditch after a deadly accident. Photo: 90 Seconds Video Series

Seven firefighters injured when two fire engines collided

The aftermath left large diameter hose lines and broken glass scattered throughout the intersection.

Seven firefighters injured when two fire engines collided

An aeromedical chopper lands to rescue firefighters in critical condition at the scene of a raging bush fire in the Boston area outside Howick in the KZN Midlands. Photo by Midlands EMS.

Six - including three female firefighters - died in South Africa bush fire

Initially Mayor Chris Pappas reported that three female firefighters had died and five others had be...

Six - including three female firefighters - died in South Africa bush fire

Hinrich Struve and his wife Änne at his 80th birthday in 2009. Photo by Rico Thumser / DFV.

Grief in Germany and in CTIF after the passing of DFV Honorary President Hinrich Struve

Mr Struve was the Honorary President of the DFV, an honorary member of the CTIF, honorary state fire...

Grief in Germany and in CTIF after the passing of DFV Honorary President Hinrich Struve

Tom Van Esbroeck, Belgium, will be new CTIF Treasurer from January st, 2025.

Tom Van Esbroeck, Belgium, elected new Treasurer for CTIF

The Secret Ballot procedure was facilitated by CTIF Special Advisor Dennis Davis (UK) and assisted b...

Tom Van Esbroeck, Belgium, elected new Treasurer for CTIF

Singapur delegation with Milan Dubravac at DA 2024 i Oslo.

Welcome to CTIF Singapore!

Singapore was voted in as new Ordinary Member, and 6 new Associate business members were also voted ...

Welcome to CTIF Singapore!

A graphic of a heavy transport truck tunnel fire. Graphic by MSB / Mikael Karlsson

The CTIF working group for Tunnel Fires met online

CTIF President Milan Dubravac emphasized the importance of this group as it is very relevant technic...

The CTIF working group for Tunnel Fires met online

Summary Report from Delegates Assembly 2004 in Oslo

After a short welcome speech by the Director of the government Department for Fire & Rescue of N...

Summary Report from Delegates Assembly 2004 in Oslo

Delegates watching the CTIF Seminar 2024 on June 19, 2024

CTIF Seminar 2024 with a focus on forest fires and drones held in Oslo

87 delegates from all over Norway and from around the world were present at the CTIF Seminar. The CT...

CTIF Seminar 2024 with a focus on forest fires and drones held in Oslo

Map of China. Wikipedia Commons License.

Mandarine added: CTIF.org is now available in six languages

In order to better serve our members, we have added Simplified Chinese and Russian translations, to ...

Mandarine added: CTIF.org is now available in six languages

Mangaf, Kuwait. Wikipedia Commons License, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mangaf-kuwait.jpg

LPG fire in Kuwait killed 50 guest workers and injured dozens others - including 5 firefighters

More than 20 LPG cylinders and other flammable materials in the kitchen contributed to the rapid spr...

LPG fire in Kuwait killed 50 guest workers and injured dozens others - including 5 firefighters

General Grégory Allione. Photo credit: FNSPF – Gwenn Besson

CTIF supports General Grégory Allione, France, for the European parliament election

CTIF President Milan Dubravac writes: Inspector General Grégory Allione’s distinguished career and u...

CTIF supports General Grégory Allione, France, for the European parliament election

After the Papua New Guinea Landslide: Over 670 Feared Dead

The May 24 landslide almost entirely wiped out the village of Yambali in the highlands of Enga prov...

After the Papua New Guinea Landslide: Over 670 Feared Dead

Welding work started the gigantic fire in an amusement park in Gothenburg

According to the police report the fire originated during the welding process of the water slide, su...

Welding work started the gigantic fire in an amusement park in Gothenburg

Austrian Federal Fire Brigade Association: Operational fire brigades are an important support for in...

500 people attended the third specialized conference of Austrian operational fire brigades with a sp...

Austrian Federal Fire Brigade Association: Operational fire brigades are an important support for industries

The fire in the Bolzano factory, Italy May 8, 2024. Photo by X.

Massive fire in an EV charging station factory in Italy

Firefighters from Bolzano and neighboring areas, in collaboration with technicians from the Environm...

Massive fire in an EV charging station factory in Italy

CTIF President Milan Dubravac at the World Fire Congress in Washington, DC, May 7, 2024.

CTIF made presentation at the World Fire Congress in Washington

The First world fire congress is taking place in Washington, DC Tuesday and Wednesday. Around 60 cou...

CTIF made presentation at the World Fire Congress in Washington

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons License Flooding in Lauro de Freitas (Brazil, 2010). Photo by Secom Bahia

Flooding in Brazil's Rio Grande Sul area has killed 85 and displaced 150,000 people

The river has surged to a record-breaking height of 5.3 meters (17.4 feet). This surpasses the previ...

Flooding in Brazil's Rio Grande Sul area has killed 85 and displaced 150,000 people

This pair of images, acquired by the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite, provides a wider view of flooding in the Rufiji River Basin. The images are false color to emphasize the presence of water. A wide network of channels fanning out into the delta is present in April 2024, while the landscape appears dry in April 2023. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/152754/destructive-floods-afflict-tanzania

Almost 200 dead in Kenya floods - heavy rain causes damage in Tanzania and neighbouring countries

The deluge and subsequent flooding have displaced 195,011 people, prompting the government to provid...

Almost 200 dead in Kenya floods - heavy rain causes damage in Tanzania and neighbouring countries

Austrian firefighter dead when fire engine rolled in accident

The fire brigade was called to a traffic accident with people trapped, needing to be extricated. On ...

Austrian firefighter dead when fire engine rolled in accident

Photo credit: The Grenfell tower fire on June 14, 2017. Wikipedia Commons License

The 2017 Grenfell Tower High Rise Fire

The fire occurred in Grenfell Tower, North London, on the 14 June 2017 with London Fire Bri-gade rec...

The 2017 Grenfell Tower High Rise Fire

Photo: Wikipedia Commons License. A photograph of a major fire in Massueville, Quebec, Canada. The fire was so violent that firefighters had to focus their efforts on saving the adjacent church instead of attacking the involved building. This photograph is a good example of what can be done with specialized fire photography, as the public does not have access to this extraordinary point of view and it was necessary to have fire photographer credentials

Historical buildings seem to have a fire problem despite elaborate fire protection plans

Renovation exposes heavy timber structures that are very dry, just waiting for a spark, says reno ex...

Historical buildings seem to have a fire problem despite elaborate fire protection plans

The building where the Starust nightclub once was located. By Heggyhomolit - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11960792

Irish government makes official apology to victims and families connected to the 1981 Stardust night...

The Dublin Stardust nightclub fire in 1981 led to the deaths of 48 people, and a recent jury verdict...

Irish government makes official apology to victims and families connected to the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire

Börsen in Copenhagen, which burned down on April 16, 2024. By Jebulon - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49932765

Historic stock exchange building in Copenhagen destroyed in fire

According to experts, it was nearly impossible to contain the fire only 17 minutes after the alarm ...

Historic stock exchange building in Copenhagen destroyed in fire

Photo of the sun with information about how long it takes for solar mass to reach earth. Illustration by the UK Department for Business Innovation and Skills.

The Silent Threat: Understanding the Risks of Fires from Geomagnetic Storms Following Solar Flares

The sun emits bursts of energy in the form of solar flares. While these Northern Lights and aurora ...

The Silent Threat: Understanding the Risks of Fires from Geomagnetic Storms Following Solar Flares

Istanbul. Free Pexels license. Photo by abdullah çadırcı https://www.pexels.com/photo/panoramic-view-of-istanbul-city-skyline-7973485/

Night club fire kills at least 29 in central Istanbul

The incident occurred during daytime renovation work, according to Turkish local authorities, who at...

Night club fire kills at least 29 in central Istanbul

Benedictine monks preparing to light the Christ candle prior to Easter Vigil mass, Morristown, New Jersey. Wikipedia License, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6623163

Easter Fires may have been burning in Europe since pagan days

The Osterfeuer, or Easter fires, hold a rich tradition deeply ingrained in the culture of Hamburg an...

Easter Fires may have been burning in Europe since pagan days

Drone photo by the US National Transportation Safety Board of the cargo ship Dali and the Francis Scott bridge after the collision.

90 seconds to evacuate bridge after MayDay call: Six dead and two rescued after after cargo ship des...

Multiple media sources says the cargo ship had reported being without power leaving the crew unable ...

90 seconds to evacuate bridge after MayDay call: Six dead and two rescued after after cargo ship destroys bridge

Security experts: Free AI engines could be hacked to aid terrorist

Free AI models on the internet have proven easy to hack and security experts are now concerned Ai co...

Security experts: Free AI engines could be hacked to aid terrorist

Flickr commons license. Photo by Marco Verch.

NASA director says heatwaves of 2023 went beyond the scope of climate models

Climate models may not fully explain the heat anomalies of 2023, which could suggets climate change ...

NASA director says heatwaves of 2023 went beyond the scope of climate models

Photo uploaded by SaskPower. Public image on Flickr. Carbon Capture and Storage at a Glance At Boundary Dam Power Station, the carbon capture-equipped unit 3 will emit 100,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere per year, as opposed to 1.1 million tonnes before.

Scientists discovers potentially groundbreakingly energy efficient method of carbon capture

By using geothermal heat, scientists have developed a method of scrubbing carbon from the atmosphere...

Scientists discovers potentially groundbreakingly energy efficient method of carbon capture

Installing photovoltaic panels on the roof at the Research Support Facility (RSF). NREL works on panels that DOE is using leverage a Power Purchase Agreement with SunEdison and Xcel Energy. Original public domain image from Flickr More Public Domain Free CCO U.S. Government image for Personal and Business use

Roof-top solar panels causing problems with fire gas ventilation during house fires

Fire Chief John Silva emphasized the difficulty of cutting through solar panels, noting that even if...

Roof-top solar panels causing problems with fire gas ventilation during house fires

As an AI language model, I can't display images, but I can provide a description: The still image captures the atmospheric river as it sweeps across California, showcasing its immense scale and the widespread coverage of moisture-laden clouds. The image likely depicts dark, ominous clouds stretching across the sky, indicating the intensity of the rainfall associated with the atmospheric river. Photo by CIRA

"Firehose" atmospheric river captured by satellite cameras

Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow bands of enhanced water vapor transport in the atmosphere, often...

"Firehose" atmospheric river captured by satellite cameras

Liseberg Oceana, during the fire on February 12, 2024. Wikipedia Commons license.

"I've never seen a fire development like this before" - firefighters talk about the fire gas explos...

In a post on Swedish Television SVT.se, fire officer Joakim Hallenberg told his story from that day...

"I've never seen a fire development like this before" - firefighters talk about the fire gas explosion at the amusement park in Gothenburg

Screenshot of the YouTube video for KIMR3 on the Watson recycling center fire

Recycling center refusing to take lithium batteries after fires

The recycling center does not take lithium-ion batteries, both the recycling center and the Pine Isl...

Recycling center refusing to take lithium batteries after fires

Mexico City. Photo by the Mexican government. Wikipedia Commons License.

Mexico City experiencing extreme water shortages and prolonged drought

Residents have recently protested against the water shortages. According to authorities, water level...

Mexico City experiencing extreme water shortages and prolonged drought

English: Sea Surface anomalies across the Earth in August 2023 during the 2023-2024 El Niño event. Español: Anomalías de la superficie del mar en toda la Tierra en agosto de 2023 durante el evento de El Niño 2023-2024. Date 31 August 2023 Source https://www.climate.gov/maps-data/data-snapshots/data-source/sst-global-monthly-difference-average Author NOAA

El Niño could cause 2024 to be the hottest year on record in many regions

The forecast from a climate model suggests that several regions, including the Caribbean, the Bay of...

El Niño could cause 2024 to be the hottest year on record in many regions

Photo Credit: Generic photo of cracked soil by National Park Service (Source). Free license by RAWPixelcom.

Barcelona in a water shortage emergency since February 1st - State of Pre Emergency since November ...

Reports indicate that Catalonia is experiencing its worst drought on record, highlighting the urgent...

Barcelona in a water shortage emergency since February 1st - State of Pre Emergency since November 2023

A demonstration for the compensation of firefighters injured in the Grenfell fire. Photo by FBU

Grenfell firefighters compensated 20 million pounds for injuries in the 2017 high-rise fire

Some of the firefighters, who responded to the blaze at Grenfell Tower on June 14, 2017, endured sev...

Grenfell firefighters compensated 20 million pounds for injuries in the 2017 high-rise fire

Visually browse all CTIF categories

Our Categories Page is now finished! It covers most CTIF topics in a mobile/ tablet-friendly and vi...

Visually browse all CTIF categories

The highrise fire in Valencia on Thursday February 22, 2024. Photo by Emergèncias 112CV, on X. https://twitter.com/GVA112/status/1760715417956340020?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1760715417956340020%7Ctwgr%5E886d25f47a10f22d65f12b4be9ab7598ac651d65%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Felpais.com%2Fespana%2Fcomunidad-valenciana%2F2024-02-22%2Fel-fuego-devora-un-edificio-de-viviendas-en-valencia.htmls

Highrise which claimed 10 lives and injured several firefighters in fire had Grenfell synthetic type...

Valencia, Spain: One expert says the plastic insulation was attached to aluminium sheets, which is a...

Highrise which claimed 10 lives and injured several firefighters in fire had Grenfell synthetic type cladding

U.S. Marines and volunteer firefighters wait to show children the inside of a fire truck during the annual family day in Garden City, N.Y., Aug. 5, 2016. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Elizabeth Thurston). copyright Copyright info Public Domain Dedication. Public Use Notice of Limitations: https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright

Difficult shortages of volunteer firefighters in the US and Canada - recruitment crucial for wildfir...

The firefighter shortages are putting communities at risk - and volunteers are especially crucial f...

Difficult shortages of volunteer firefighters in the US and Canada - recruitment crucial for wildfire fighting

Firefighters rescuing residents from flooding in Slovenia. Photo credit: Fire service of Mengeš.

34,000 more operations in Austria in 2023 - Climate Change is showing its effects

Austria's fire brigades were challenged again in 2023 - The storm operations were particularly ...

34,000 more operations in Austria in 2023 - Climate Change is showing its effects

Fire & Rescue headlines February 2024

Western Canadian wildfires that went dormant over the winter have now moved above ground - Chile: H...

Fire & Rescue headlines February 2024

Prof. Dr. Nikolay Nikolayevich Brushlinsky teaching in a classroom. Photo: CTIF

A long bibliography of fire publications marks the memory of CTIF Fire Statistics founder Prof. Dr. ...

After the publication of the announcement of Professor Bruschlinsky's death at age 90, the Cent...

A long bibliography of fire publications marks the memory of CTIF Fire Statistics founder Prof. Dr. Nikolay Nikolayevich Brushlinsky

Foto: Björn Oddsson / Norges meteorologiska institut

New volcanic outbreak near Reykjavik - State of Emergency on iceland

Lava has damaged hot water pipes, and as Iceland relies heavily on geothermic energy, this threatens...

New volcanic outbreak near Reykjavik - State of Emergency on iceland

2023

CTIF wishes a Safe & Happy New Year!

CTIF wishes all members, supporters and readers a great holiday season and a happy new year! Stay sa...

CTIF wishes a Safe & Happy New Year!

Journal Article on Lessons from Robot Deployments by the German Rescue Robotics Center Task Force

The German Rescue Robotics Center (DRZ) recently had an article published in the Journal of Field Ro...

Journal Article on Lessons from Robot Deployments by the German Rescue Robotics Center Task Force

Dr. László Bérczi awarded Lifetime Honorary Member status in CTIF

Dr. László Bérczi, Hungary, was given the award of Honorary Membership in CTIF for his service as Vi...

Dr. László Bérczi awarded Lifetime Honorary Member status in CTIF

Sign up for CTIF´s newsletters!

If you are already in our database at the office in Ljubljana, please also sign up here to make sure...

CTIF President Milan Dubravac speaking at the COP28 World Climate Summit.

CTIF signed MOU with the Dubai Directorate General for Civil Defence

The CTIF President Milan Dubravac held a speech in connection with the signing of the MOU, which was...

CTIF signed MOU with the Dubai Directorate General for Civil Defence

In the photo from the left: CTIF vice president Christophe Marshal (France), CTIF Secretary Neza Strmole (Slovenia), CTIF Vice President Luc Faes (Belgium), Lt General Matroushi, Dubai, CTiF President Milan Dubravac (Slovenia) and Roman Sykora (Austria).

CTIF´s Executive Committee attended the COP28 Climate Change Conference in Dubai as specially invite...

The CTIF Executive Committee has been attending the world’s top Climate Summit, COP28 in Dubai. CTIF...

CTIF´s Executive Committee attended the COP28 Climate Change Conference in Dubai as specially invited guests

CTIF-ISES 2023 in Austria: Opening and welcome of the participants (Krzysztof Biskup, Chair of the EuroFSA on left side, and Stephan Wevers (FEU-President)

The 7th International Safety Education Seminar in Austria - ISES 2023

This time it was the Austrian Fire Brigade Association´s turn to host the event in 2023 with the sup...

The 7th International Safety Education Seminar in Austria - ISES 2023

The CTIF Working Group for Nordic & Baltic Countries held their first official meeting

15 delegates from 6 countries were present. The organizations present were those acting as the CTIF ...

The CTIF Working Group for Nordic & Baltic Countries held their first official meeting

Photo by: Mokslo Sriuba. Wikipedia Commons License. Taken on 16 July 2021.

Iceland is building a wall around a geothermal power plant to protect it from lava

The risk of an eruption is considered to be increasing by the day. The city of Grindavik is evacuate...

Iceland is building a wall around a geothermal power plant to protect it from lava

Public Domain photo. Fire/Rescue Academy 10 Photo by Aaron Hines.

Increased violence: Small Canadian town invest in body armour for firefighters - enhanced mental hea...

- Assaults and violence are still rare but becoming more common... the city is not immune to this th...

Increased violence: Small Canadian town invest in body armour for firefighters - enhanced mental health support to volunteers

Campi Bisenzio and Prato after the River Bisenzio

Storm Ciarán wreaked havoc across Europe - at least 15 dead - Tuscany flooded

State of Emergency in Tuscany - Wind driven wildfire in Spain - 7 dead from falling trees

Storm Ciarán wreaked havoc across Europe - at least 15 dead - Tuscany flooded

Satellite view of Hurricane Otis as it intensified on October 25, 2023.

Hurricane Otis left at least 48 dead and brought chaos in the aftermath for Mexico

Winds peaked at 73.8 meters per second / 165 mph when Otis made landfall in Acapulco on Wednesday, h...

Hurricane Otis left at least 48 dead and brought chaos in the aftermath for Mexico

Aerial photo of the pile up near New Orleans by the Lousiana State Police.

Super fog from forest fires caused massive pile up on highway - 168 cars involved - eight dead

Emergency services and paramedics had to walk to the victims and the burning cars as the road was co...

Super fog from forest fires caused massive pile up on highway - 168 cars involved - eight dead

Inquiry opened into Johannesburg fire that killed 77 people in August 2023

The spotlight has already been thrown on alleged gangs that seize abandoned buildings in the city&#0...

Inquiry opened into Johannesburg fire that killed 77 people in August 2023

https://dayton247now.com/news/local/city-of-piqua-lithium-ion-battery-testing-to-stop-company-leaving-piqua

Fire department lithium battery fire training facility shut down from public pressure

The lithium fire training in Ohio was part of a research and development initiative to provide limit...

Fire department lithium battery fire training facility shut down from public pressure

Photo by the US The Bureau of Land Management. Desert Sunlight Battery Energy Storage System. The Bureau of Land Management issued a Notice to Proceed with construction for the Sunlight Storage II Battery Energy Storage System project in Riverside County,

California creates new emergency response legislation for large lithium based Battery Energy Storage...

The legislation requires battery storage facilities in the state of California to put in place emerg...

California creates new emergency response legislation for large lithium based Battery Energy Storage Systems

Wikipedia Commons License. This is a screenshot from Tasnim News Agency footage of an ambulance operated by the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip, after it was heavily damaged by an Israeli military airstrike. Date: 7 October 2023. This file, which was originally posted to tasnimnews.com, was reviewed on 14 October 2023 by reviewer Vysotsky, who confirmed that it was available there under the stated license on that date.

The Fire Brigades Union in the UK publishes statement condemning violence on both sides of the Israe...

On October 13, the Fire Brigades Union Executive Council approved a statement regarding recent event...

The Fire Brigades Union in the UK publishes statement condemning violence on both sides of the Israel-Palestine war

Wikipedia Creative Commons License. Source: Luton Airport, late evening Author: Mike McBey

The massive car park fire at Luton airport likely was likely started by a diesel car - not an EV

Fifteen fire engines and more than 100 firefighters from Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshi...

The massive car park fire at Luton airport likely was likely started by a diesel car - not an EV

Wales firefighter with FBU flag. Photo: Fbu.org.uk

Protests in the UK about cutting on-call crew sizes down to three: "Dangerous" says Fire Brigades Un...

CFRS has recently cut on-call firefighters to three per crew, despite recommendations of five firefi...

Protests in the UK about cutting on-call crew sizes down to three: "Dangerous" says Fire Brigades Union

Fire of a plastic processing and storage company in Osijek, Republic of Croatia). Photo provided by the Croatian fire authorities.

Toxic fumes and danger from flammable liquids in large plastics processing plant in Croatia

A total of 316 firefighters with 131 fire fighting vehicles from 29 volunteer fire brigades and 4 pr...

Toxic fumes and danger from flammable liquids in large plastics processing plant in Croatia

This image, courtesy of Bomberos/ayuntamiento de Murcia, shows a part of the nightclub's fire damaged interior following a fire in Murcia, southeastern Spain, on October 1, 2023

13 dead and 24 injured in the deadliest night club fire in Spain since 1990

Five people who were feared dead in Sunday´s nightclub fire in the city of Murcia have now been loca...

13 dead and 24 injured in the deadliest night club fire in Spain since 1990

Civilians in Greece being rescued during Storm Daniel in September 2023. Photo by the Hellenic Fire Services

Storm Daniel 2023: Largest inter agency operation ever in Greece - over 3,500 rescue operations and ...

The rainfall during the period 4 to 8 September reached over 1,1 meter/ 3 feet 7 inches in the Zagor...

Storm Daniel 2023: Largest inter agency operation ever in Greece - over 3,500 rescue operations and 10,000 + emergency calls

Flooding in Altenahr Altenburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany Date 15 July 2021, 09:00 Source Self-photographed Author Martin Seifert (CnndrBrbr at German Wikipedia)

FORMATEX23: Large European simulated disaster exercise playing out in Austria in September

From September 14 to 16, 2023, the large-scale exercise FORMATEX23 will take place at various locati...

FORMATEX23: Large European simulated disaster exercise playing out in Austria in September

Floods in Libya, September 2023 Date 13 September 2023 Source https://erccportal.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ECHO-Products/Maps#/maps/4636 Author ERCC - Emergency Response Coordination Centre Sources: OCHA, NASA GPM, WMO, LNMC, GDACS, UNOSAT

Storm Daniel brought death and destruction in several countries - more than 11,000 dead in Libya

Derna Mayor Abdulmenam al-Ghaithi said deaths in the city could reach 18,000 to 20,000, depending on...

Storm Daniel brought death and destruction in several countries - more than 11,000 dead in Libya

Photo Credit: (Wikipedia Commons License) The Chemetall Foote Lithium Operation in Clayton Valley, a dry lake bed in Esmeralda County, Nevada, just east of Silver Peak, a tiny town that has been host to various kinds of mining for about 150 years. Date: 6 August 2010, 16:40 Source 2010_08_06_rno-phx-bos_033 Uploaded by PDTillman Author: Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA

Tackling climate change: New EV battery tech, mega carbon capture project and lithium bonanza deposi...

A new allegedly fire safe iron-phosphate battery with rapid charge times - US has found the largest ...

Tackling climate change: New EV battery tech, mega carbon capture project and lithium bonanza deposit found in the US

A view of Babcock Ranch's town center which includes a general store, fitness center, doctors’ offices, and day care center. (Courtesy Babcock Ranch)

Entirely solar powered town in the US the first hurricane proof and energy self sufficient community

Nearly 700,000 solar panels supply energy to over 2,000 homes and other buildings, including schools...

Entirely solar powered town in the US the first hurricane proof and energy self sufficient community

The Vienna City Hall filled with CTIF Delegates for DA 2023.

All 2023 Reports from CTIF Commissions, Working Groups and Executive Committee for DA in Vienna

All reports are uploaded as PDFs. Delegates Assembly 2023 took place in Vienna in June 2023. To read...

All 2023 Reports from CTIF Commissions, Working Groups and Executive Committee for DA in Vienna

Milan Dubravac, president of CTIF, Otto Drozd Metro / CTIF, Robert Rocha / Metro and Stephan Wevers from FEU at OBA Assembly 2023 in Antigua, Guatemala during the third week of August.

CTIF leaders networking with South American fire services at OBA Assembly 2023 in Guatemala

CTIF president Milan Dubravac, vice president Otto Drozd and Mikko Saastamoinen from Extrication &am...

CTIF leaders networking with South American fire services at OBA Assembly 2023 in Guatemala

Fire brigade finds fires in modular timber apartment buildings spread quicker and are more time cons...

A fire in a five story wooden modular building took 50 hours to extinguish due to embers spreading i...

Fire brigade finds fires in modular timber apartment buildings spread quicker and are more time consuming to extinguish

Fire safety concerns over Scottish fire services no longer responding to automatic alarms

Unless a human can verify an actual fire, budget cuts in the Scottish fire services has led to a dec...

Fire safety concerns over Scottish fire services no longer responding to automatic alarms

remains of the vacation home after the fire in Wintzenheim, France. Photo posted by Stéphane Haussoulier on X (formerly Twitter.)

11 died in a French vacation home fire - had allegedly broken several safety rules

The fire department sent 76 firefighters, four fire engines and four ambulances to both deal with th...

11 died in a French vacation home fire - had allegedly broken several safety rules

A screenshot from a surveillance camera showing the explosion in the grain silos.

Grain silos exploded in Turkey - 12 injured in the Derince harbour

According to Turkish authorities, the explosion may have been caused by high pressure levels.

Grain silos exploded in Turkey - 12 injured in the Derince harbour

Moss landing in California is reportedly the world´s largest lithium-ion battery storage facility. Photo by LG Energy Solution

Despite the fire hazards of lithium-ion: Battery Energy Storage Systems are getting larger and large...

California just finished a lithium battery storage system with 3GWH capacity, and China is aiming fo...

Despite the fire hazards of lithium-ion: Battery Energy Storage Systems are getting larger and larger

The 2023 deadly flooding in Slovenia and Georgia - Slovenia request international help - massive hai...

Six people or more are dead and thousands are being forced to evacuate their homes in Slovenia due t...

The 2023 deadly flooding in Slovenia and Georgia - Slovenia request international help - massive hailstorm in Germany

Typhoon Doksuri (Egay) of the 2023 Pacific typhoon season near its peak intensity while off the coast of Luzon during the afternoon of July 25, 2023. It had 10-min sustained winds of 175 km/h (110 mph) (JMA) and 1-min sustained winds of 230 km/h (145 mph) (JTWC) and an official minimum central pressure of 935 mbar (27.6 inHg) at the time this image was captured.

Typhoon Doksuri killed 51 people - town drowned when flood water was diverted from Beijing

The storm waters in the capital of China was taking out bridges, washing away dozens of cars at a ti...

Typhoon Doksuri killed 51 people - town drowned when flood water was diverted from Beijing

A Dutch coast guard photo of the fire onboard the cargo ship carrying almost 3000 cars.

Cargo ship with 3700 cars still burning almost a week later - now safely towed to Port Eemshaven

The burning cargo ship which caught fire at sea on July 25 near the Dutch coast was still burning th...

Cargo ship with 3700 cars still burning almost a week later - now safely towed to Port Eemshaven

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Date 24 September 2015, 19:31 Source Halifax Harbour Sunset Skyline Author Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota Camera location 44° 39′ 50.35″ N, 63° 34′ 15.66″ W Kartographer map based on OpenStreetMap.

Complacency about climate change may have led to unnecessary deaths in the Nova Scotia flooding disa...

In July 2023 an estimated 250 millimetres of rain fell in 24 hours, creating devastating and deadly ...

Complacency about climate change may have led to unnecessary deaths in the Nova Scotia flooding disaster in July 2023

Three Mill Bay Fire Company extinguishing the solar farm battery fire.

Solar farm lithium-ion battery fire took four days to extinguish

This is an opportunity for first-responders to learn from solar farm battery fires, says Niel D. Riv...

Solar farm lithium-ion battery fire took four days to extinguish

A photo from the Russian Emergencies Ministry showing fallen trees damaging cars on the campsite.

10 dead and 76 injured in storm in central Russia

The storm affected eight regions and damaged nearly 50 buildings. Around 100,000 people were without...

10 dead and 76 injured in storm in central Russia

English: Early morning, minutes (or better to say seconds) after sunrise. The front shadows are because of north-eastern mountains of Tehran. Date 12 June 2006 Source https://www.flickr.com/photos/hamed/165602336/ Author Hamed Saber

Iran shuts down the entire country for two days because of dangerous heat

The decision to shut down the country as a temporary two day holiday period allegedly came after Ira...

Iran shuts down the entire country for two days because of dangerous heat

Wikipedia Commons License: This image explaining cloud seeding shows the chemical either silver iodide or dry ice being dumped onto the cloud, which then becomes a rain shower. The process shown in the upper-right is what is happening in the cloud and the process of condensation to the introduced chemicals. Date25 March 2011 SourceOwn work AuthorNaomi E Tesla

Mexico steps up efforts to create rain in cloud seeding project as heatwaves and deadly droughts int...

The project began in July 2023 and involves planes flying into clouds to release silver iodide parti...

Mexico steps up efforts to create rain in cloud seeding project as heatwaves and deadly droughts intensify in 2023

CCTV footage captured Mohamed Abrini (R) and the two airport bombers who blew themselves up in the 2016 Brussels airport bombing.

Bombers sentenced to murder in Brussels airport 2016 bombing trial

Several of those on trial had already been convicted of taking part in the Paris terror attacks mont...

Bombers sentenced to murder in Brussels airport 2016 bombing trial

Large hail stones. Royalty free photo by PXFuel.com

Powerful storms and flooding during heatwave & wildfire crisis 2023: hail the size of tennis balls i...

A water bomber crashed in Greece, four people were killed in storms in Northern Italy, and the Paler...

Powerful storms and flooding during heatwave & wildfire crisis 2023: hail the size of tennis balls in Europe, 750 evacuated in Nova Scotia, 34 dead in Algeria

A NASA map of the world indicating heatwaves during July 2023

WHO 2023: Brace for more heat waves and other severe weather events

One-third of Americans were affected by extreme weather last week when as a prolonged heat wave pers...

WHO 2023: Brace for more heat waves and other severe weather events

A big wave recorded in Croatia in November 2019. Wikipedia Commons License. Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/183939796@N07/49081626107/

Four dead and 100 injured in 2023 Croatian storm - one firefighter killed on duty

The capital of Zagreb registered 700 emergency calls in 45 minutes.

Four dead and 100 injured in 2023 Croatian storm - one firefighter killed on duty

This image uses data from the Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission’s radiometer instrument and shows the land surface temperature across Europe and parts of northern Africa on the morning of July 10, 2023. Land surface temperatures hit 46°C in Rome, Italy, while Madrid and Seville reached 46 and 47°C, respectively. Credit: Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2023), processed by ESA

Heatwaves and extreme weather around the world create lethal conditions summer 2023

In South Korea, the death toll from several days of torrential rain and landslides rose to 41 dead. ...

Heatwaves and extreme weather around the world create lethal conditions summer 2023

Illustration from the US National Weather Service

Millions under flood warning in July 2023 - while 1/3 of US population under heat advisory

The three hottest days ever recorded for the planet occured last week, according to Copernicus. In t...

Millions under flood warning in July 2023 - while 1/3 of US population under heat advisory

Photo released by Xinhua News Agency, firefighters work at the site of an explosion at a restaurant in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Wednesday, June 21, 2023.

National safety campaign launched in China after an explosion killed 31 people in a restaurant

Employees had noticed the smell of cooking gas about an hour prior to the explosion and had discover...

National safety campaign launched in China after an explosion killed 31 people in a restaurant

E-bike charging station. Pixabay license https://pixabay.com/photos/e-bike-charging-station-accurate-5761941/

New York tries to tackle deadly e-bike fires by installing charging stations for 25 million USD

New York mayor Eric Adams hopes the stations will provide a safer way for delivery workers, who rely...

New York tries to tackle deadly e-bike fires by installing charging stations for 25 million USD

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

New 2023 law will come into effect to establish framework for Canadian firefighters and occupational...

Canada has paved the way for many other countries in the world to start recognizing cancer as an occ...

New 2023 law will come into effect to establish framework for Canadian firefighters and occupational cancer

A Waymo self-driving car on the road in Mountain View. Wikipedia Commons License. Author: Grendelkhan

Self driving AI powered taxis keep interfering with fire scenes in California

Robotaxis keep interfering with firefighters on the streets of San Francisco, and the fire chief is ...

Self driving AI powered taxis keep interfering with fire scenes in California

Central Paris. Photo by Roman Boed, PXhere-license: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/236538?utm_content=shareClip&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pxhere

Large gas explosion in central Paris - many people injured - 30 dead in gas explosion in China

Several fires broke out in connection to the explosion and more than 200 firefighters were initially...

Large gas explosion in central Paris - many people injured - 30 dead in gas explosion in China

Village of Sankt Augustine, Germany. Map by: Wikipedia Commons

Two firefighters died and 11 were injured in a fire in a motorcycle shop in Germany

The two firefighters, one male and one female, were from the local volunteer fire brigade which was ...

Two firefighters died and 11 were injured in a fire in a motorcycle shop in Germany

Juan Carlos Field (vice president of OBA) Milan Dubravac (President CTIF). Photo: CTIF Austria.

CTIF signed MOU with Organización de Bomberos Americanos

The OBA and CTIF agree to mutually collaborate and support each other as described in this MOU.

CTIF signed MOU with Organización de Bomberos Americanos

The Executive Committee of CTIF with our four new vice presidents voted in as of DA 2023 in Vienna. Photo: CTIF Austria From the left: Otto Drozd (USA - New), Luc Faes (Belgium - New), Marc Mamer (Luxembourg, Treasurer), Zdenek Nytra (Czech Republic - leaving the EC), Tom Van Esbroeck (Belgium - Special Advisor), Milan Dubravac (Slovenia - Pres), Taina Hanhihoski (Finland), Dennis Davis (UK - Senior Advisor), Yvonne Näsman (Sweden), Ole Hansen (Norway - leaving the EC), Neza Strmole (Slovenia - CTIF Secr

CTIF has a new Executive Committee - four new vice presidents voted in at DA 2023

The four new Vice Presidents in the CTIF EC are: Otto Drozd (USA), Luc Faes (Belgium), Martin Neku...

CTIF has a new Executive Committee - four new vice presidents voted in at DA 2023

Vienna City Hall filled with CTIF delegates for AD 2023

Report from Delegates Assembly 2023 in Vienna

22 countries were present physically for Delegates Assembly on Thursday, and another 5 countries joi...

Report from Delegates Assembly 2023 in Vienna

Ivana Kruijff-Korbayová speaking about robot assisted rescue at the CTIF seminar in Ostrava, 2019

Speakers list for the seminar part of Delegates Assembly in Vienna

A total of 9 interesting presentations are lined up and will take up most of the extended afternoon.

Speakers list for the seminar part of Delegates Assembly in Vienna

Loy Setter, President of Metro Fire Chiefs, and Milan Dubravac, President of CTIF signing the MoU between the two organizations on Thursday June 8, 2023.

CTIF signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with Metro Fire Chiefs

At the conference President Dubravac also met USA Fire administrator dr Lori Moore-Merell and the CE...

CTIF signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with Metro Fire Chiefs

CTIF General Secretary Roman Sykora speaking at the General Assembly of the Confederation of Fire Protection Associations Europe (CFPA-E).

CTIF General Secretary spoke at the General Assembly of the Confederation of Fire Protection Associa...

Mr Sykora made a presentation about CTIF and opened for more future cooperation.

CTIF General Secretary spoke at the General Assembly of the Confederation of Fire Protection Associations Europe

A wildfire about one kilometre north from the Saulteux First Nation's community hall. (Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs/ Facebook)

Dangerous firefighting conditions expected in Nova Scotia wildfires 2023 - 16,000 Eastern Canadians ...

More than 200 fire crews from agencies across the province have been sent to help. Officials say the...

Dangerous firefighting conditions expected in Nova Scotia wildfires 2023 - 16,000 Eastern Canadians evacuated

Screenshot of CNN´s news clip from the Iowa building collapse on May 28, 2023

Flooding may have caused structural instability - 8 people rescued from Iowa mid rise collapse

Part of the building’s back section collapsed and detached from the rest of the structure just befor...

Flooding may have caused structural instability - 8 people rescued from Iowa mid rise collapse

Michael Rimmer, who became a firefighter at age 56. Photo by SFRS

Scottish air force engineer becomes firefighter at age 56

- Age is not barrier, says the former air force engineer to BBC.

Scottish air force engineer becomes firefighter at age 56

A Canadair CL-215 water bomber plane dropping a load pf water on a forest fire. Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Europe is preparing for a 2023 with extremely hot weather, droughts and record forest fires

Spain bans all outdoor work when temperatures are dangerously high, and pays 2 billion Euros to supp...

Europe is preparing for a 2023 with extremely hot weather, droughts and record forest fires

Emergency crews rescue several people in a boat on a flooded street after heavy rains hit the east coast of the Marche region in Senigallia, Italy. Photo by VIGILI DEL FUOCO

40,000 people evacuated from Italian flooding in the wake of Storm Minerva 2023

14 people have died and more than 5,000 rescue workers and volunteers have been working in the affec...

40,000 people evacuated from Italian flooding in the wake of Storm Minerva 2023

Ten firefighters and two police officers injured in high-rise apartment explosion in Germany

A police spokeswoman told reporters that some of those hurt were in a potentially life-threatening c...

Ten firefighters and two police officers injured in high-rise apartment explosion in Germany

Milan city skyline. Wikipedia Commons License.

Fire in oxygen tanks on a transport truck caused huge explosions in Milan

A dozen explosions reportedly erupted and the fire likely started in the engine compartment of the t...

Fire in oxygen tanks on a transport truck caused huge explosions in Milan

Technical Days 2023 - Photo Johan Ivarsson / Cold Cut Systems

Technical Days: "The cooperation between CTIF and Euro NCAP is strong and will continue for the futu...

Technical Days - Emergency response on vehicles - is back on May 10th, 11th and 12, 2023 in Poiteres...

Technical Days: "The cooperation between CTIF and Euro NCAP is strong and will continue for the future"

Bob Mitchell, Canada´s longest serving firefighter

Canada´s longest serving firefighter was with the Lamont fire station for 71 years

- Bob was a huge part of the station. He was one of our founding members and he really truly was eve...

Canada´s longest serving firefighter was with the Lamont fire station for 71 years

From the Facebook page of the St Louis fire department

Chief says firefighter shortage puts small communities at risk

Canada is experiencing an ongoing shortage of firefighters, and small remote communities are especia...

Chief says firefighter shortage puts small communities at risk

Bergh the robotic search and rescue dog. Photo by FDNY.

Remote controlled robotic technology in garage collapse - see how it was used for rapid response

One week after the collapse of a parking garage in the Financial District of Manhattan, the FDNY and...

Remote controlled robotic technology in garage collapse - see how it was used for rapid response

Vice president Christophe Marchal during the dubbing ceremony as Knight in the Legion of Honour in France. Photo: SDIS86

CTIF vice president Christophe Marchal inducted as Knight of the Legion of Honour

A volunteer firefighter for more than 44 years, Lieutenant-Colonel Christophe Marchal has been the h...

CTIF vice president Christophe Marchal inducted as Knight of the Legion of Honour

An electric Ford F-150 Lightning caught fire on Feb. 4, 2023 due to a battery issue traced back to one of the automaker’s suppliers. The blaze spread to two other electric pickups in a holding lot of Ford’s in Dearborn, Michigan. Photo by Dearborn Police Department

Spontaneously combusting battery in EV pickup truck burned so hot two other vehicles melted - outsid...

The high voltage battery pack had short-circuited due to a manufacturing issue when cells were at a ...

Spontaneously combusting battery in EV pickup truck burned so hot two other vehicles melted - outside on a holding lot

Screenshot of a video from Twitter. https://twitter.com/krassenstein/status/1648447992830242821

One person dead in collapsed parking garage - building had known safety issues

One person died and five others were injured when a parking garage collapsed in Lower Manhattan&#039...

One person dead in collapsed parking garage - building had known safety issues

Settlement made for hundreds families affected by the Grenfell Fire

Those who took part in the claim were represented by 14 legal firms. The lawyers said the agreement ...

Settlement made for hundreds families affected by the Grenfell Fire

Three firefighters being trained by an instructor in nozzle technique.

Firefighters warn of mass resignations with new WTD rules: "Disastrous work hours"

Over half of all Swedish career firefighters have signed a protest list against new work hour regula...

Firefighters warn of mass resignations with new WTD rules: "Disastrous work hours"

Webinar video: "Cancer in the Fire Services"

The webinar video is hosted by Szymot Kokot and premiered on YouTube on the 4th of April 2023

Webinar video: "Cancer in the Fire Services"

A photo of the type of commuter train which was involved in the accident on April 4, 2023. Wikipedia Commons License. Photo by Jan Derk Remmers - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75261466

One killed and 30 passengers injured in commuter train accident in Holland

The train is thought to have collided with equipment on the track and then derailed. A fire broke ou...

One killed and 30 passengers injured in commuter train accident in Holland

Photo of the aftermath of a 2005 storm in Mississippi. Photo from the US National Archives

New storm system in spring 2023 with violent tornadoes killed at least 32 people in the south and mi...

The tornadoes hit the US just one week after 26 people died in Mississippi, also as a result of a st...

New storm system in spring 2023 with violent tornadoes killed at least 32 people in the south and midwest

Alphonse Hartmann remembered: A commitment of more than 50 years to the fire service

Alphonse Hartmann, France, was a great champion of the International firefighting competitions of th...

Alphonse Hartmann remembered: A commitment of more than 50 years to the fire service

CTIF Norway´s leader Ole Hansen in the CTIF stand at DSB´s Brannvesen conference 2023.

CTIF Norway especially appreciated for their yearly webinars and seminars

The CTIF Committee of Norway was invited as an exhibitor at the national Fire Service Conference.

CTIF Norway especially appreciated for their yearly webinars and seminars

Screenshot from the body cam footage showing the house exploding.

Body camera video shows firefighters narrowly surviving a gas explosion inside a home

The video shows the six firefighters searching the house for the source of a gas leak while wearing ...

Body camera video shows firefighters narrowly surviving a gas explosion inside a home

Screenshot of a video showing Joe Biden addressing firefighters at IAFF Conference.

Biden first sitting US president in 25 years to personally address firefighters at IAFF conference

- You’ve had my back, and I’ll have yours, Biden said and the group applauded as he addressed the IA...

Biden first sitting US president in 25 years to personally address firefighters at IAFF conference

CTIF History Commission: The Definitions of a Fire Service Museum as of 2023

The terms of definition for what constitutes a Fire Service Museum have recently been updated by the...

CTIF History Commission: The Definitions of a Fire Service Museum as of 2023

CTIF Certified Museums & Collections

This is the guide to fire service museums and fire service collections which are certified by the CT...

CTIF Certified Museums & Collections

Map of Greece with the train crash site marked.

Fire bombs thrown at police and tear gas used on demonstrators over deadly railway accident

Police and protesters have clashed in several cities in Greece. Demonstrators allegedly threw firebo...

Fire bombs thrown at police and tear gas used on demonstrators over deadly railway accident

John Owens (VOA) - Source article (direct source) Photo of Kutupalong Refugee Camp in Bangladesh. Public Domain File:Kutupalong Refugee Camp (John Owens-VOA).jpg Created: 24 March 2017 Location: 21° 12′ 46.61″ N, 92° 9′ 48.53″ E

Toxic garbage fire - floods in Malaysia - fire in a refugee camp - news in brief from around the wo...

At least 17 people have died in a fire in a fuel depot in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. Up to 5...

Toxic garbage fire - floods in Malaysia - fire in a refugee camp - news in brief from around the world

Rescue work at the destroyed Galeria Business Center in Diyarbakır. One of the buildings in the background later collapsed following an aftershock. By Mahmut Bozarslan (Voice of America) - https://www.voaturkce.com/a/icisleri-bakani-soylu-dorduncu-seviye-alarm-ortaya-koyduk/6949379.html, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=128454774

The total number of dead over 50,000 in Turkey - Syria earthquake

Turkey has begun work to rebuild homes for about 1,5 million people who have become homeless after t...

The total number of dead over 50,000 in Turkey - Syria earthquake

Stephan Wevers, President of FEU and Milan Dubravac, President of CTIF, signs the renewal of the MOU in Madrid November 4th, 2022.

Leadership Course: How can European fire officers navigate the EU parliament and its legislative pro...

The European fire services have historically been well organized in national organizations and colla...

Leadership Course: How can European fire officers navigate the EU parliament and its legislative process?

Deep Ellum sidewalk covered with snow in Dallas snow storm 2021 Date Taken on 15 February 2021, 04:53:12 Source Dallas Snow Storm 2021, Photos Of Downtown And Deep Ellum At Night Own work Author: Matthew T Rader

11 died in Texas 2023 winter storm - then a brutal cold snap struck the US northeast and Canada

Earlier in the week, some of the southern US states experienced a historic snow storm which killed 1...

11 died in Texas 2023 winter storm - then a brutal cold snap struck the US northeast and Canada

A tornado approaching the town of Elie, Manitoba in 2007. GNU Free Documentation License. Photo by Justin Hobson (Justin1569 at English Wikipedia)

North America´s stormy January - now 2023 is predicted to be even warmer than 2022

Rainstorms and floods have claimed 19 lives in Northern California, and another 9 have died in torna...

North America´s stormy January - now 2023 is predicted to be even warmer than 2022

High concentrations of toxins in high risefires like Grenfell possibly linked to firefighter cancer

Large fires involving synthetic materials create high levels of toxic contaminants. According to stu...

High concentrations of toxins in high risefires like Grenfell possibly linked to firefighter cancer

Several Lebanese officials allegedly named to be sued for the 2020 ammonium nitrate explosion in Bei...

The explosion destroyed 77,000 apartments, killed 200 and wounded 7,000 people, and displaced over 3...

Several Lebanese officials allegedly named to be sued for the 2020 ammonium nitrate explosion in Beirut

Downtown Seoul, South Korea. Wikipedia Commons License.

Fire destroys 60 homes in Seoul

The construction material in this dense hillside encampment is often simple plywood and plastic, and...

Fire destroys 60 homes in Seoul

Public Domain Vector drawing of a nuclear explosion behind a generic city skyline

Research team on Cypress urges the public to prepare for the possibility of nuclear attacks

Pr. Dimitris Drikakis believes the public needs to consider the nuclear threat with the same level o...

Research team on Cypress urges the public to prepare for the possibility of nuclear attacks

Manfred Gebhardt. Private Facebook photo.

CTIF remembers honorary member Manfred Gebhardt, twice CTIF vice president from Hamburg

Mr Gebhardt served twice as CTIF Vice president, and his responsibilities in the CTIF Executive Comm...

CTIF remembers honorary member Manfred Gebhardt, twice CTIF vice president from Hamburg

The battery packs being installed in a Nissan Leaf, in 2009. Wikipedia Commons License. Nissan Leaf at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. Date 23 October 2009 Source Own work Author Tennen-Gas Permission (Reusing this file) cc-by-sa-3.0

A growing dependency on lithium: Will the Electric Revolution ever arrive at safer batteries?

A Finnish forestry company is developing an EV battery based on wood. Their goal is batteries that c...

A growing dependency on lithium: Will the Electric Revolution ever arrive at safer batteries?

Lightning near a rural building. Wikipedia Commons License. Photo by Brezhnev30.

A Swiss team of scientists able to control lightning flashes with powerful lasers

The old fashioned lightning rod may soon be obsolete: A powerful laser can possible control thunderb...

A Swiss team of scientists able to control lightning flashes with powerful lasers

A private mobile phone video of the lithium fire in France, uploaded to Twitter January 16

Large explosion and fire at French lithium battery warehouse

It is estimated around 8,000 lithium batteries have been destroyed. The fire then spread to a nearby...

Large explosion and fire at French lithium battery warehouse

The French Firefighters’ Federation FNPSF and the NGO “French Humanitarian Firefighters” (PHF) received a delegation of Ukrainian and Polish firefighters on Monday, January 16th, 2023 at the headquarters of the Fire and Rescue Service of “Department de La Loire” in Saint-Étienne, France.

France sends mobile care unit to Ukraine - special delegation meeting held in Saint-Étienne

The objective of the event was to donate a mobile care unit to Ukraine, and attending the event were...

France sends mobile care unit to Ukraine - special delegation meeting held in Saint-Étienne

Aerial view of Urumqi, Xinjiang Province, PR China. Wikipedia Commons License.

The fire that may have sparked a quarter billion Covid cases in only a few weeks

Chinese protesters claimed strict Covid protocols had hindered first responders from effectively res...

The fire that may have sparked a quarter billion Covid cases in only a few weeks

Copernicus: Europe and the polar caps are heating up faster than the rest of the planet

Europe experienced its warmest summer in 2022, with temperatures increasing by more than twice the g...

Copernicus: Europe and the polar caps are heating up faster than the rest of the planet

By eagle102.net - originally posted to Flickr as Polar Bear Plunge, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5875488

January 2023 heatwave in Europe - 17 dead in California rain storm

17 people have died, including a five year old boy swept away by flood waters, during the flooding i...

January 2023 heatwave in Europe - 17 dead in California rain storm

The Bronx: Low income tower blocks with Manhattan in the background. Photo by Alex Drainville. Creative Commons Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/

FEMA launches new national plan for fire safety - on the anniversary of deadly Bronx fire

The US Fire Administration will have the power to identify the causes of fires like the one at the T...

FEMA launches new national plan for fire safety - on the anniversary of deadly Bronx fire

Photo of the letter received from the Ukrainian government, asking CTIF to coordinate help for firefighters during the war.

CTIF´s dramatic year of 2022 in Review

2022 has been a difficult year for the world and also for CTIF - with extreme weather, war in Ukrai...

CTIF´s dramatic year of 2022 in Review

CTIF´s year of 2022 in Review - 2nd Quarter April - June

As April approached in 2022, most countries were already lifting their Covid-19 restrictions. For CT...

CTIF´s year of 2022 in Review - 2nd Quarter April - June

The adult CTIF Competitions in Celje, 2022

CTIF´s year of 2022 in Review - 3rd quarter July - September

By the beginning of July 2022, wildfire season in Europe was starting for real. Extreme weather in t...

CTIF´s year of 2022 in Review - 3rd quarter July - September

Milan Dubravac opening the IEDO drone conference in December

CTIF´s year of 2022 in Review - 4th Quarter October - December

Devastating typhoons and other extreme weather affecting large areas of the globe dominated the news...

CTIF´s year of 2022 in Review - 4th Quarter October - December

2022

CTIF wishes a Safe and Merry Holiday Season!

From all of us - to all of you - a very safe holiday season and a Happy New Year!

CTIF wishes a Safe and Merry Holiday Season!

Casino and street scape, Poipet, Cambodia 2012: Wikipedia Commons License. Source Own work Author Milei.vencel

25 dead in Cambodia casino fire

Hundreds of people were in the Grand Diamond City building in the border town of Poipet when the fir...

25 dead in Cambodia casino fire

Rautjärvi wooden church before the fire. By MKFI - ECC SA 1.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33134420

Good fire planning may have saved Finnish church visitors from being burned alive

30 - 40 people in Rautjärvi, Finland, were intentionally locked inside a burning wooden church set ...

Good fire planning may have saved Finnish church visitors from being burned alive

A generic image of a residential home covered in snow and ice. CCO Public domain photo.

Once-in-a-generation snowstorm hit North America - people were dying in their cars

Storm Elliot has killed more than 60 people along the east coast of North America, and left hundreds...

Once-in-a-generation snowstorm hit North America - people were dying in their cars

Siberian firefighters going into the remains of the illegal home care facility where 20 people or more died in a fire on Christmas Eve. Screenshot of a video from the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Accidents and fires over the Christmas 2022 weekend

Deadly snowstorms in North America and Japan - 51 people poisoned by ammonia in Serbia - 20 people ...

Accidents and fires over the Christmas 2022 weekend

The fire at Erie Basin Auto Pound, in Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood. Photo: FDNY / Twitter

Criminal evidence from three decades destroyed in a storage facility fire

The FDNY attempted an interior fire attack, but the members were overwhelmed by the amount of fire a...

Criminal evidence from three decades destroyed in a storage facility fire

Milan Dubravac doing the opening speech at the world´s first Drone Conference in Paris.

54 fire services and 25 police agencies from 31 countries came to the IEDO emergency drone conferenc...

CTIF has been supporting the host IEDO with this conference and our president Milan Dubravac held th...

54 fire services and 25 police agencies from 31 countries came to the IEDO emergency drone conference

A smart phone filming a fire. Photo by Björn Ulfsson / CTIF.org

New technology allows callers to stream video to emergency dispatch from their phones

London Fire Brigade rolled out the technology already in late 2021, and some US states are starting ...

New technology allows callers to stream video to emergency dispatch from their phones

Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ( modis.gsfc.nasa.gov MODIS ) on NASA's terra.nasa.gov/ Terra satellite between June 2 and June 8, 2008. label_outline Copyright info: Public Domain Dedication. Public Use Notice of Limitations: https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright

Close to 500 billion Euros in losses due to extreme weather in recent decades

Switzerland, Slovenia, and France recorded the highest economic losses per capita due to extreme wea...

Close to 500 billion Euros in losses due to extreme weather in recent decades

A screen shot from the video of explosion in the Russian shopping center.

Large fire and explosion in Russian shopping center

In the Moscow region, firefighters have been putting out a fire the size of 7,000 square metres (75,...

Large fire and explosion in Russian shopping center

From a demonstration for better pay at Westminster by FBU members on December 6, 2022. Photo: Fire Brigade Union, UK.

The Fire Brigade Union in the UK protesting for better pay - vote this week about possible strike

On 6 December, over 2,000 firefighters and control staff from across the UK assembled in Westminster...

The Fire Brigade Union in the UK protesting for better pay - vote this week about possible strike

Screenshot from the video released by the the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (USCSB).

Ignored warnings: Investigators release lessons learned video from the deadly Loy-Lange boiler explo...

A failing Semi Closed Receiver has been determined the cause of the explosion which sent large debri...

Ignored warnings: Investigators release lessons learned video from the deadly Loy-Lange boiler explosion

Screenshot of SVT.se news story. Video images shows Stena Scandica only minutes away from very shallow waters near the island of Gotland, Sweden. Photo: Swedish Marine Rescue Society

Passenger ferry literally minutes from disaster after onboard fire in August

Through bypassing and rewiring the burnt communications cables control of the ship could be regained...

Passenger ferry literally minutes from disaster after onboard fire in August

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons License. L By Robinseed - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47544828

Sudden stops or non urgent falls can trigger smartphone to make emergency calls - overwhelming dispa...

Safety features on newer phones and some watches have GPS-systems capable of measuring any change in...

Sudden stops or non urgent falls can trigger smartphone to make emergency calls - overwhelming dispatch centers

The island of Ischia, before the landslide. . Ischia - view from Castello Aragonese. Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons license Autho Markt Tistan from Bristol, UK

Unsafe construction considered the underlying issue behind the Ischia landslide tragedy - 1,3 millio...

Italy: A State of Emergency was declared after a landslide killed at least 8 people and destroyed bu...

Unsafe construction considered the underlying issue behind the Ischia landslide tragedy - 1,3 million more Italians living under threat of landslides and floods

Public Domain License, Non Commercial. Source: Scandinavian Star-ulykken - 1990, by Finn Eirik Strømberg, F. E., Aftenposten, NTB scanpix. (https://ndla.no/article/13381). CC BY-NC 4.0.

Survivors and families of victims sue Denmark over the 1990 Scandinavian Star fire

Around 2 million Euros in damages are now sought. 159 people, mostly Norwegians, died in the fire.

Survivors and families of victims sue Denmark over the 1990 Scandinavian Star fire

The airliner at Lima airport hit the fire truck and caught fire during take off. Photo: Screen shot from passenger video posted to Twitter.

Two firefighters died when airliner hit firefighting vehicle on Lima airport runway

It is currently unclear why the firefighting vehicle was on the runway. A manslaughter investigation...

Two firefighters died when airliner hit firefighting vehicle on Lima airport runway

The Influencers´Edition of the International Fire and Safety ´Journal, November 2022

CTIF featured in the International Fire and Safety Journal

CTIF in the Press: President Milan Dubravac published an article in the in the Influencers´Edition t...

CTIF featured in the International Fire and Safety Journal

Destroyed homes on Daytona Beach on Thursday Nov 10, after Hurricane Nicole reached the eastern coastline.

Nicole first November hurricane to strike Eastern US in over 40 years - 5 dead and 300 000 without p...

Areas still recovering from Hurricane Ian are now devastated by another major weather event. 12 mill...

Nicole first November hurricane to strike Eastern US in over 40 years - 5 dead and 300 000 without power

Downtown Dubai, in 2018. Wikipedia Commons License. Photo by Iwona Rege.

High rise fires in Dubai and New York: questions arise about dangerous cladding

A fire started on Monday November 7 in a 35 storey building in Dubai. The fire development in the bu...

High rise fires in Dubai and New York: questions arise about dangerous cladding

CTIF renewed MOU with FEU at signing ceremony in Madrid

CTIF and FEU renewed their Memorandum of Understanding in Madrid on Friday November 4th. Signing off...

CTIF renewed MOU with FEU at signing ceremony in Madrid

A screenshot from the NIST video "Predicting Deadly Backdrafts".

"Predicting Deadly Backdrafts": NIST works on machine learning application to help firefighters avoi...

A gaseous, energy rich environment has been created in a laboratory, simulating an enclosure fire.

"Predicting Deadly Backdrafts": NIST works on machine learning application to help firefighters avoid dangerous situations

First legal action taken against UK high rise building to remove dangerous cladding

The controversy has been who should carry the costs of removing and replacing the dangerous cladding...

First legal action taken against UK high rise building to remove dangerous cladding

Flags of countries represented at Delegates Assembly in Las Vegas, 2018

What is a CTIF National Committee and how should it work?

Each member country of CTIF is encouraged to form a National Committee, which serves as the local ch...

What is a CTIF National Committee and how should it work?

Scene of the explosion in Creeslough, Donegal, Ireland, which occurred on 7 October 2022. Photo: BBC / Wikipedia Fair Use license

Ten died in large gas station explosion in Ireland

Irish police say it was likely an accident or unforeseen technical failure which caused the explosio...

Ten died in large gas station explosion in Ireland

Photo: Florida Fish and Wildlife. A family is being rescued in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

Hurricane Ian killed at least 50 in Florida, South Carolina, Cuba and Puerto Rico

Hurricane Ian has left great devastation after it struck Florida last week. The death toll from the ...

Hurricane Ian killed at least 50 in Florida, South Carolina, Cuba and Puerto Rico

Hurricane Fiona as it approached the Canadian East Coast.

Powerful hurricanes hit the North American east coast

As Hurricane Ian nears Florida, Hurricane Fiona already hit Puerto Rico, left two dead in the Domini...

Powerful hurricanes hit the North American east coast

Firefighters helping a resident out from a building destroyed by bombs in spring 2022. Photo provided by the Ukraine State Emergency Services.

Under Fire - A special report on first responders in Ukraine

A top ranking official with the state Emergency Service of Ukraine spoke to the NFPA Journal about t...

Under Fire - A special report on first responders in Ukraine

A satellite image of Typhoon Nanmadol before it was downgraded to a cyclone.

Super typhoon hit Japan - Hurricane Fiona struck Puerto Rico - 7,6 Earthquake in Mexico

The super typhoon Nanmadol brought gusts of up to 234km/h (145mph). It is equivalent to a category ...

Super typhoon hit Japan - Hurricane Fiona struck Puerto Rico - 7,6 Earthquake in Mexico

Italian rescue services in the Ancona region rescuing victims of the flood with inflatable rescue dinghies.

Torrential rain killed at least 10 and injured 50 in the Marche region of Italy

This flash flood has been called a water bomb - streets have completely flooded in the Anconca regio...

Torrential rain killed at least 10 and injured 50 in the Marche region of Italy

Parts of the CTIF Executive Committee together with Paul Schroeder, WRO, and representatives of the Luxembourg fire service, outside the Headquarters building.

The CTIF Executive Committee held their yearly physical meeting in Luxembourg

On Sunday, some members of the EC also paid their respect on the 21st anniversary of 9/11, by attend...

The CTIF Executive Committee held their yearly physical meeting in Luxembourg

Paul Schroeder, chair of WRO, and Milan Dubravac, President of CTIF, signing the MOU in Luxembourg on September 10, 2022.

CTIF signs Memorandum of Understanding with WRO

The MOU was signed by Paul Schroeder, Chair of WRO and Milan Dubravac, President of CTIF, on Saturd...

CTIF signs Memorandum of Understanding with WRO

Millions affected by the floods in Pakistan - 1300 dead

Over 100,000 people living near the lake Manchar have been evacuated, according to media reports on ...

Millions affected by the floods in Pakistan - 1300 dead

All 2022 Reports from CTIF Commissions, Working Groups and Executive Committee in Célje

Delegates Assembly 2022 took place in Celje, Slovenia in July 2022. To read a summary report of the ...

All 2022 Reports from CTIF Commissions, Working Groups and Executive Committee in Célje

Photo: Screen shot from Sacramento Metro Fire Department Facebook video

Fire department ad hocs new extinguishing method for EV battery fire - with minimal water runoff

The Tesla was moved on its side but kept reigniting due to the residual heat. The fire crew then cre...

Fire department ad hocs new extinguishing method for EV battery fire - with minimal water runoff

This photo provided by the fire brigade of the Gironde region SDIS 33, (Departmental fire and rescue service 33) shows firefighters tackling a wildfire near Saint-Magne, south of Bordeaux, southwestern France early Friday, Aug. 12, 2022

Headlines from fire & rescue around the world - August 2022

FRANCE: Firefighters from all over Europe have arrived in France to help battle several wildfires, i...

Headlines from fire & rescue around the world - August 2022

"100 Cities – 100 Years - Evaluation Of Urban Fire Risks". Participate in CTIF´s research project

The Center of Fire Statistics of CTIF is working on an international book project called "100 C...

"100 Cities – 100 Years - Evaluation Of Urban Fire Risks". Participate in CTIF´s research project

The CTIF mascot "Fiore" cheered by thousands on the stands in Celje Stadium at CTIF 2022.

Large crews of dedicated Slovenian volunteers powered an amazing week at CTIF 2022 in Celje

Several events were taking place this past week: Not only did thousands of youth and adults from aro...

Large crews of dedicated Slovenian volunteers powered an amazing week at CTIF 2022 in Celje

The opening of of the CTIF 2022 Sports Games

See the live stream and videos from the CTIF Firefighters Olympics in Celje!

Watch the live stream as it is happening - it is also possible to watch the re-runs on both Facebook...

See the live stream and videos from the CTIF Firefighters Olympics in Celje!

CTIF´s Delegates Assembly in Celje had 26 countries present physically and virtually in Celje

Just like last year in Marseille, we have provided the possibility to connect virtually to Delegates...

CTIF´s Delegates Assembly in Celje had 26 countries present physically and virtually in Celje

The Bulgarian team training at the Ladder Obstacle Course in Celje on Monday, July 18

Firefighters Olympics Week has started in Slovenia!

In the photo above, we can see the Bulgarian team practicing on the ladder obstacle course at the S...

Firefighters Olympics Week has started in Slovenia!

200 firefighters form six EU countries are stationed in Greece for July and August 2022 to help prevent a re-occurance of last year´s forest fire inferno.

200 firefighters from six EU countries in Greece to help prevent another forest fire disaster in 202...

The wildfire units are in place for July and August when the wildfire risk is estimated to be the hi...

200 firefighters from six EU countries in Greece to help prevent another forest fire disaster in 2022

Sydney struck by flooding - thousands evacuated from Australia´s largest city

This is the second time this year the area has flooded. The rescue service has received 1,400 emerge...

Sydney struck by flooding - thousands evacuated from Australia´s largest city

Massive Chlorine Leak in Jordan - 12 dead and over 250 Injured

An intermodel tank container was reportedly dropped while being offloaded from a ship resulting a ma...

Massive Chlorine Leak in Jordan - 12 dead and over 250 Injured

The first members of the EC arrived on Monday for Interschutz

A productive week for CTIF networking at Interschutz - the world´s largest Fire & Rescue Exhibition

The CTIF Executive Committee met with many new and old friends from around the world at the Intersch...

A productive week for CTIF networking at Interschutz - the world´s largest Fire & Rescue Exhibition

The CTIF International Firefighters Competitions

A spectacular event gathering 3500 competitors from over 30 countries, with over 10 000 fans in the ...

The CTIF International Firefighters Competitions

An April 29 photo of the earth provided by NASA.

Snow, hail, high heat and unusual tornadoes - extreme weather patterns plagued the world in May 2022

Strong storms have swept through Germany and heat records have been broken in both Spain and France....

Snow, hail, high heat and unusual tornadoes - extreme weather patterns plagued the world in May 2022

A lithium-ion battery was exposed to force by using a hammer to test its fire safety. The battery in this test exploded. Photo: Tavo Romann / Wikipedia Commons

Large increase in lithium battery related fires over the last 6 years

The warning involves not only electric vehicles but anything from cell phones, headphones and comput...

Large increase in lithium battery related fires over the last 6 years

Historic catastrophes on Friday the 13th - Many still believe in the "Dark Powers" of this day

Many fear Friday the 13th - however modern research shows less fires than normal are reported than o...

Historic catastrophes on Friday the 13th - Many still believe in the "Dark Powers" of this day

From a rescue exercise with the Swedish Maritime Authority in 2015.

Helicopter winched an injured woman up from a mine shaft

The fire rescue team tending to her injuries assessed manual winching would be too risky and could w...

Helicopter winched an injured woman up from a mine shaft

A generic front page for CTIF Fire Statistics

The CTIF Fire Statistics Berlin office is urgently asking all member nations for 2020 fire statistic...

We kindly ask you to please note the May 1 deadline. CTIF regrets the short notice, but asks for you...

The CTIF Fire Statistics Berlin office is urgently asking all member nations for 2020 fire statistics by May 1st

Hundreds dead in South Africa flooding disaster

The death toll is rising after the floods in South Africa: More than 440 people have died after last...

Hundreds dead in South Africa flooding disaster

A screen shot from a video especially made for CTIF from the Ukraine State Emergency Service.

The Ukraine State Emergency Service is moving into closer cooperation with CTIF

Representatives from the Ukraine State Emergency Service met with Mira Leinonen of the CTIF WIFR com...

The Ukraine State Emergency Service is moving into closer cooperation with CTIF

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 those risks mult...

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

Gas fuel firefighting training in Greece. Photo: The Hellenic Volunteer Firefighters Association

Report from the 7th meeting of the CTIF Volunteer Firefighter Commission

The Commission discussed the current status how the European Working Time Directive impacts voluntee...

Report from the 7th meeting of the CTIF Volunteer Firefighter Commission

A screenshot of WIFR's Monday March 28 meeting.

Report from the CTIF Women in Fire & Rescue Services monthly meeting

The CTIF Commission for Women in Fire and Rescue Services is one of our most active commissions and ...

Report from the CTIF Women in Fire & Rescue Services monthly meeting

Firefighters convoy in the rear view mirror

Request to CTIF from Ukraine resulted in the "largest firefighters aid convoy in history" headed for...

An official call for help from the Ukraine to CTIF resulted in a huge truck convoy of around 55 Brit...

Request to CTIF from Ukraine resulted in the "largest firefighters aid convoy in history" headed for Poland

Firefighters involved in helping refugees from Ukraine.

Polish firefighters heavily involved in helping Ukraine refugees as 2 million come through Poland

Adults in panic, children in anxiety, helplessness. This is the what Polish fire officers observe ev...

Polish firefighters heavily involved in helping Ukraine refugees as 2 million come through Poland

The project Fire Aid in the UK is planning sending a large convoy of donated fire fighting material to Ukraine on the last weekend in March 2022.

Massive support from all around CTIF´s member nations to help firefighters in Ukraine

UPDATED MARCH 18: Large convoy of trucks with materials for Ukraine firefighters leaving Britain fo...

Massive support from all around CTIF´s member nations to help firefighters in Ukraine

Photo of a CTIF computer desktop and the official letter from Ukraine sent on March 14, 2022

CTIF receives call to coordinate help for firefighters in the war zone - directly from the Ukraine ...

The Executive Committee decided to day to forward the letter to all CTIF National Member Committee f...

CTIF receives call to coordinate help for firefighters in the war zone - directly from the Ukraine government

A burning building after bombing in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 3 Photo by: Maxim Dondyuk

Polish National CTIF Committee collecting body armour and helmets for firefighters in Ukraine

Firemen in Ukraine need body armor and helmets. Could you please help under the CTIF with additional...

Polish National CTIF Committee collecting body armour and helmets for firefighters in Ukraine

CTIF Executive Committee met today with the European Commissioner for Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Aid

CTIF Executive Committee met with the European Commissioner for Disaster Management

Members of the CTIF Executive Committee were in Brussels for a quickly called meeting with Janez Len...

CTIF Executive Committee met with the European Commissioner for Disaster Management

Official Statement from the CTIF Executive Committee regarding the ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine

March 2, 2022. CTIF, as a non-political organisation, condemns aggressive military action against ...

Official Statement from the CTIF Executive Committee regarding the ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine

A man is being rescued by helicopter during a 2018 storm in White Rock, BC, which destroyed the iconic wooden pier as moored boats came loose and smashed against the woodwork. Photo: Public Domain

Franklin third hurricane in five days to hit Europe

While Storms Dudley and Eunice had barely subsided from last week, Storm Franklin hit Northern Europ...

Franklin third hurricane in five days to hit Europe

Fire truck from the City of Essen. Photo: Wikipedia

150 firefighters responded to a large wind driven apartment building fire in Essen, Germany

The fire may have spread through the facade insulation, and wind gusts from the storms from storms l...

150 firefighters responded to a large wind driven apartment building fire in Essen, Germany

Ice Road in Lake Saimaa Finland. Photo taken in 2009, by Wikipedia.

Rescue worker fell through ice - first deadly firefighter accident in Finland in 18 years

The rescue worker fell through the ice while responding to an accident involving ice road equipment ...

Rescue worker fell through ice - first deadly firefighter accident in Finland in 18 years

Rue Arago, Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque, Pyrénées-Orientales, France. Photo from 2015 by Wikipedia.

Explosion and fire kills seven people in south-western France

Several buildings on both sides of the streets caught fire after an explosion occurred at 13.30 CET ...

Explosion and fire kills seven people in south-western France

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau photographed while deliversíng a message to the nation on Canada Day in 2021. Photo by Wikipedia

National emergency in Canada over nationwide illegal blockades

After multiple assault weapons and body armors were found at one of the many illegal border crossing...

National emergency in Canada over nationwide illegal blockades

Two commuter trains near Munich collided - One dead, 14 people injured

At least 14 people have been injured. Around 80 people have been medically examined and were able to...

Two commuter trains near Munich collided - One dead, 14 people injured

Anti vaccine mandate protestors on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada, in the beginning of February, 2022. Photo: Wikipedia

Paris and Brussels put bans in place to stop Canadian-inspired copycat trucker convoy in its tracks

Convoys have been organising online and seem to be coming from various political and ideological bac...

Paris and Brussels put bans in place to stop Canadian-inspired copycat trucker convoy in its tracks

Covid passport crossed out by a blue X. Illustration by Pixabay.com, edited by CTIF.org.

Europe and the US are easing up pandemic restrictions - but some countries keep their mandates in p...

In England face masks will no longer be mandatory in public places and schools and COVID-19 passport...

Europe and the US are easing up pandemic restrictions - but some countries keep their mandates in place

Grenfell Tower in London before the 2009 renovation. Photo: Wikipedia

Second phase of Grenfell inquiry: "There will be a major fire" - civil servant foretold the tragedy

A UK senior civil servant is said to have uttered a warning that “there is going to be a major fire”...

Second phase of Grenfell inquiry: "There will be a major fire" - civil servant foretold the tragedy

Freedom Convoy lined up on Wellington Street in Ottawa on January 28, 2022. Photo: Wikipedia

Ottawa declares State of Emergency as anti-covid demonstrations turn volatile

While Germany has already experienced demonstrations since the beginning of January, thousands of p...

Ottawa declares State of Emergency as anti-covid demonstrations turn volatile

A weather map of Storm Malik as it was pulling in over Scotland at the end of January, 2022.

Powerful storms hit Europe and the Americas - Storm Malik killed at least 4

The last week of January continued the stormy trend from late 2021: Storm Malik killed 4 people in E...

Powerful storms hit Europe and the Americas - Storm Malik killed at least 4

Apartment tower twice as high as Grenfell planned in London - with one single staircase

The London Fire Brigade has serious concerns about the single staircase planned in the 170 meter res...

Apartment tower twice as high as Grenfell planned in London - with one single staircase

Welcome to CTIF Canada!

Canada joins through the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, CAFC. Canada was voted in as a new mem...

Welcome to CTIF Canada!

Photo Credit: (Cover Photo Above) Public Domain Photo from the US National Archives Title: Firefighters in Colorado Production Date: 01/08/2009 Photographer Name: Michael Rieger

How much are forest fires in themselves driving climate change? And how should firefighting resource...

Should communities put their increasing climate budgets into extinguishing or prevention power?

How much are forest fires in themselves driving climate change? And how should firefighting resources be best spent from a CO2 perspective?

Drone shot of the high rise building in the Bronx which caught fire on January 9th. Photo by the New York Fire Department.

Smoke inhalation killed 19 people when door was left open in Bronx high rise fire

Up to 200 firefighters allegedly responded to the alarm. Firefighters found victims in cardiac and r...

Smoke inhalation killed 19 people when door was left open in Bronx high rise fire

CTIF Newsletter: A summary of the past year - Stay Safe in 2022!

Dear colleagues, during 2020-21, CTIF´s activities were strongly influenced by a worldwide pandemic,...

CTIF Newsletter: A summary of the past year - Stay Safe in 2022!

Large plumes of smoke are visible over Superior, CO around 2:00 PM MST, as seen from State Highway 128 near Indiana St, looking north. Date 30 December, 2021. Author Tristantech

Devastating wildfire in Colorado, six feet of snow in California, Alaska heat record and ice storm

Extreme weather continued to plague the north western parts of the United States between the Christm...

Devastating wildfire in Colorado, six feet of snow in California, Alaska heat record and ice storm

IAEA guidelines for first response during the crucial hours following a nuclear event

CTIF sponsored document in multiple languages for the first crucial hours following a radiological e...

IAEA guidelines for first response during the crucial hours following a nuclear event

Picture of the huge straw Yule goat in Gefle Sweden. Wikipedia Commons License. The picture was taken at noon december 21, 2009. Date 21 December 2009 Source Own work Author Tony Nordin

Man arrested after decades of mysterious "Yule Goat" arson fires

The statue is made from natural straw on a steel frame and is highly flammable. The first time it bu...

Man arrested after decades of mysterious "Yule Goat" arson fires

2021

Picture: Henry Donati/Department for International Development Date 24 November 2013, 10:18 Source A few palm trees remain standing amid the destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan in the city of Tacloban, Philippines