News Archive

2026

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Storm Leonardo slams southern Spain, forcing mass evacuations and transport shutdowns

Spain’s weather agency AEMET issued its highest red alert for areas of Cádiz, Málaga, Jaén, Grazalem...

Storm Leonardo slams southern Spain, forcing mass evacuations and transport shutdowns

Illustration executed by MS CoPilot from a prompt by Björn Ulfsson

Participate in a comparative study on emergency call triage and dispatch systems

The purpose of this initiative is to collect relevant contacts from CTIF member countries who can pr...

Participate in a comparative study on emergency call triage and dispatch systems

Patagonia wildfires from space. https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/news/worldview-image-archive/fires-patagonia-argentina

Wildfires in Patagonia "impossible to stop"

The crisis has been further inflamed by conspiracy theories circulating among political allies of Pr...

Wildfires in Patagonia "impossible to stop"

DIREKTION Webinar on "Resilient Communications for Responders" - Recording available

This DIREKTION webinar explored how resilient communication systems can support coordination, situat...

DIREKTION Webinar on "Resilient Communications for Responders" - Recording available

The 25th CTIF International Youth Fire Brigade Competition in Šumperk (Czechia)

Please find attached the announcement for the 25th CTIF International Youth Fire Brigade Competition...

The 25th CTIF International Youth Fire Brigade Competition in Šumperk (Czechia)

Screenshot of the WPRI.com YouTube video below

Three firefighters injured in a sudden flashover

The flashover forced incident commanders to pull crews from the structure and transition to a defens...

Three firefighters injured in a sudden flashover

EV Safety Inc. expands access to FireGuard barriers and training as EV thermal events rise

The goal is not to extinguish a lithium‑ion battery fire—something that often requires tens of thous...

EV Safety Inc. expands access to FireGuard barriers and training as EV thermal events rise

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

Firefighters battle ‘emergency‑level’ bushfires as extreme heatwave grips south‑east Australia

Victoria’s emergency authorities warned that the situation is “changing rapidly”, urging residents t...

Firefighters battle ‘emergency‑level’ bushfires as extreme heatwave grips south‑east Australia

This image was originally posted to Flickr by Pierre Markuse at https://flickr.com/photos/24998770@N07/53001135624. It was reviewed on 26 June 2023 by FlickreviewR 2 and was confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the cc-by-2.0.

Canadian study warns fewer forest fires are now causing greater destruction

The study, released by the Canadian Forest Service, examined six decades of national fire data and f...

Canadian study warns fewer forest fires are now causing greater destruction

Explosion at Greek cookie factory kills five and injures seven in explosion

According to fire service spokespersons, eleven employees were inside the affected production wing at the time. Rescue crews recovered the bodies of five women from the debris.

Explosion at Greek cookie factory kills five and injures seven in explosion

An imagined scene of people protesting the Palisades report. Executed by MS CoPilot from a prompt by Bjorn Ulfsson

New LAFD chief rejects probe into edits that softened Palisades fire report

Newly appointed Fire Chief Jaime Moore announced he will not investigate who altered the department’...

New LAFD chief rejects probe into edits that softened Palisades fire report

By Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management - https://www.bnpb.go.id/berita/upaya-percepatan-penanganan-darurat-bnpb-berikan-pendampingan-banjir-di-aceh, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=179111951

Indonesia landslide leaves villages buried and more than 80 people missing in West Java

One of the most devastating revelations is that 19 members of Indonesia’s elite marine force were ca...

Indonesia landslide leaves villages buried and more than 80 people missing in West Java

Collapsed exterior of Gul Plaza after the fire which destroyed it. Date 22 January 2026 Source Press Conference on Saniha Gul Plaza Karachi, Dr Ashraf Asif Jalali, 22 January 2026 Author Dr Muhammad Ashraf Asif Jalali Camera location 24° 51′ 54.36″ N, 67° 01′ 26.76″ E Kartographer map based on OpenStreetMap.

Karachi mall fire becomes one of Pakistan’s deadliest as confirmed death toll climbs to 67

The fire started Saturday evening January 24, 2026, at a time when most shopkeepers were closing fo...

Karachi mall fire becomes one of Pakistan’s deadliest as confirmed death toll climbs to 67

On 15 October, flash floods hit the north coast of Crete.[4] Extensive damage was reported in many seaside areas.[5] Settlements affected included Agia Pelagia, Lygaria, Chania and Lasithi.[6] By Ontheway Advice - Agia Pelagia, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58372044

Flooding brings deadly chaos to Attica as storms overwhelm Greece’s capital region

Meteorologists recorded more than a month’s worth of rain in just a few hours, overwhelming drainage...

Flooding brings deadly chaos to Attica as storms overwhelm Greece’s capital region

Illustration executed by MS CoPilot, based on this Creative Commons image on Wikipedia: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brain_Cancer_Regions.png

Firefighters & brain cancer: A silent occupational threat

For generations, firefighters have accepted visible dangers—flames, collapse, smoke—as part of the w...

Firefighters & brain cancer: A silent occupational threat

Pirque Santiago de Chile Date 21 January 2017, 02:33 Source Incendio forestal en Pirque Santiago de Chile Author Pablo Trincado from Santiago de Chile, Chile

Wildfires kill 19 people in Chile as heatwave fuels rapid spread

Chilean President Gabriel Boric issued a state of catastrophe for the central Biobío region and the ...

Wildfires kill 19 people in Chile as heatwave fuels rapid spread

Retired firefighter in stage 4 denied cancer treatment sparks nation wide backlash

Ken Jones, a retired San Francisco firefighter battling stage 4 lung cancer was recently denied cove...

Retired firefighter in stage 4 denied cancer treatment sparks nation wide backlash

Illsutration executed by MS CoPilot from a prompt by Bjorn Ulfsson, CTIF.

US lawmakers put EV fires, drone threats and wildfire safety at center of the 2026 Congressional Age...

The 119th Congress opened 2026 with a burst of fire‑service‑focused legislation, targeting electric‑...

US lawmakers put EV fires, drone threats and wildfire safety at center of the 2026 Congressional Agenda

Two Norwegian veteran firefighters lost in interior attack Jan 7, 2026 during rapidly intensifying f...

A devastating structure fire in Verdal, Norway, claimed the lives of two highly experienced firefigh...

Two Norwegian veteran firefighters lost in interior attack Jan 7, 2026 during rapidly intensifying fire

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Creative Commons License. Tragedy in Santiago de Compostela. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Tragedia_en_Santiago_de_Compostela_%28b%29.jpg/1280px-Tragedia_en_Santiago_de_Compostela_%28b%29.jpg

Deadly train derailment in Spain leaves dozens dead and more than 150 injured

Emergency responders described a chaotic and dangerous scene, with passengers trapped inside crushed...

Deadly train derailment in Spain leaves dozens dead and more than 150 injured

Call for input | Future technologies to address future DRS capacity gaps

The survey should take no more than a few minutes to complete (only 7 short questions) but will cont...

Call for input | Future technologies to address future DRS capacity gaps

NY City considers six‑month ban on Battery Energy Storage Systems

The FDNY has repeatedly warned that lithium‑ion fires burn hotter, spread faster, and can reignite h...

NY City considers six‑month ban on Battery Energy Storage Systems

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Creative Commons License Crans Montana été (PHOTO-GENIC.CH/ OLIVIER MAIRE) Date: 11 August 2011, 08:27:59 Author: Crans-Montana-Communication

Swiss cantons move to ban indoor pyrotechnics after deadly ski‑resort fire

Officials say the blaze spread with explosive speed after sparklers fixed to champagne bottles were ...

Swiss cantons move to ban indoor pyrotechnics after deadly ski‑resort fire

Alwin Benjamin Holman in younger days. Photo: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thefemmeapr

San Diego honors Alwin Benjamin Holman, the first black firefighter to integrate city firehouses, on...

As he celebrated his 100th birthday, Alwin Benjamin Holman, the trailblazing firefighter who broke ...

San Diego honors Alwin Benjamin Holman, the first black firefighter to integrate city firehouses, on his 100th birthday

The CTIF President Milan Dubravac, Treasurer Tom Van Esbroeck and CTIF Secretary with Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

CTIF receives the Global Impact Award for Community Safety 2026 in Dubai

CTIF, Fire Aid and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) all received the prestigious awar...

CTIF receives the Global Impact Award for Community Safety 2026 in Dubai

Esquimalt firefighters pose for a picture in their new PFAS-free gear. Jan. 6, 2025. (Photo provided by the Township of Esquimalt)

More and more fire services - large and small - are switching to PFAS free turnout gear

Esquimalt Fire Rescue has become the first fire department on Vancouver Island to fully transition t...

More and more fire services - large and small - are switching to PFAS free turnout gear

Australia declares State of Disaster as large forest fires rage in record heat wave

Firefighters have warned millions of Australians of catastrophic bushfire dangers as they battled mu...

Australia declares State of Disaster as large forest fires rage in record heat wave

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons License English: Wildfires in Cerro Negro, Córdoba (Argentina). Date: 1 October 2020 Source: https://desafiospublicos.argentina.gob.ar/sites/default/files/septiembre_2020_informe_nacional_de_peligro_de_incendios_de_vegetacion.pdf Author: Gustavo Sáez

Forest fires forces evacuation of 3000 in Argentina - one year after the record fires in early 2025

Fast‑moving wildfires continue to burn across the Patagonian province of Chubut, forcing closures of...

Forest fires forces evacuation of 3000 in Argentina - one year after the record fires in early 2025

By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy - https://www.flickr.com/photos/thenationalguard/54272193113This image was released by the United States Army with the ID 250114-A-WU705-4564R (next).This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing.العربية ∙ বাংলা ∙Bahaso Jambi ∙Deutsch ∙ Deutsch (Sie-Form) ∙ English ∙ español ∙ euskara ∙ فارسی ∙ français ∙ italiano ∙ 日本語 ∙ 한국어 ∙ македонски ∙ മലയാളം ∙ Plattdüütsch ∙ Nederlands ∙ polski ∙ پښتو ∙

“Highly unprofessional”: Author of the 2025 LAFD wildfire after‑action report rejects final draft af...

Los Angeles: The battalion chief who authored the Palisades Fire after‑action report declined to end...

“Highly unprofessional”: Author of the 2025 LAFD wildfire after‑action report rejects final draft after major sections removed

The new official CTIF Rules for International Fire Brigade Competitions have been published in three...

International firefighting competitions are held to raise the level of training and, above all, to ...

The new official CTIF Rules for International Fire Brigade Competitions have been published in three languages

nglish: TATRA CAS-32 T815 fire engine, Czech Republic Čeština: Hasičský vůz TATRA CAS-32 T815 Date 2008 Source Own work Author Marcus33

Czech firefighters responded to record number of fires on Christmas Eve 2025

- Climate change is contributing to drier conditions and people are decorating with more lights, oft...

Czech firefighters responded to record number of fires on Christmas Eve 2025

Illustration Credit: Wikipedia Creative Commons License. A large battery storage power station with a capacity of 6.24 MWh and an output of 5 megawatts (Tesvolt TPS-E). Source: Rheineck, Author: Kecko from Eastern Switzerland

"Should not have been operational": Unauthorized system was involved in recent BESS fire according t...

Officials say water infiltration may have caused the fire, echoing previous failures at two Converge...

"Should not have been operational": Unauthorized system was involved in recent BESS fire according to officials

Screenshot of the upper part of the cover for the Spanish EV guide.

Spanish version added to the CTIF Operational Guide 2025 for Emergency Response on Electric Vehicles...

The downloadable PDF provides an overview two main issues: Managing electrical risks during roadside...

Spanish version added to the CTIF Operational Guide 2025 for Emergency Response on Electric Vehicles

By This image was released by the United States Marine Corps with the ID 071117-M-1283D-084 .

Analysis of a fire gas explosion in a single-family dwelling fire

Smoke explosions in homes were once uncommon. Today it’s easy to find multiple smoke‑explosion incid...

Analysis of a fire gas explosion in a single-family dwelling fire

The DIREKTION Fire & Rescue Awards 2026: Submit your innovative, operationally relevant solutions b...

The DIREKTION Awards 2026 are looking to address key Disaster Resilient Society capability gaps for...

The DIREKTION Fire & Rescue Awards 2026: Submit your innovative, operationally relevant solutions by March 6

Belgische brandweerauto Date 4 January 2018 Source Own work Author Dickelbers

Belgium records a sharp decline in fatal house fires in 2025, a national report shows

Mandatory smoke detectors could explain the decline from the 75 fatalities recorded in 2024 to 55 in...

Belgium records a sharp decline in fatal house fires in 2025, a national report shows

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Creative Commons License English: Freshly rotated icebergs at Jökulsárlón (Iceland). The different marks on the iceberg show its different positions over time. The blue areas (previously submerged) are evidence of the iceberg's recent rotation. Date: 23 July 2023, 15:50:36 Own work, from gileslaurent.com

Iceland had the warmest Christmas Eve in 2025 the country has ever recorded - almost 20 C / 67 F

The Meteorological Office said the Christmas Eve heatwave underscores the accelerating pace of clima...

Iceland had the warmest Christmas Eve in 2025 the country has ever recorded - almost 20 C / 67 F

2025

The CTIF Operational Guide 2025 for Emergency Response on Electric Vehicles is published

The downloadable PDF in ENG/FR/SP/IT provides an overview two main issues: Managing electrical risks...

The CTIF Operational Guide 2025 for Emergency Response on Electric Vehicles is published

CTIF transitioning to civil defence. From an idea by Bjorn Ulfsson / CTIF, executed by MS CoPilot.

CTIF Position Statement Papers on the transition to Civil Defence and EC proposal to form a new inte...

Dear CTIF Members, Please find attached the white papers “Advancing Civil Defence in Fire and Resc...

CTIF Position Statement Papers on the transition to Civil Defence and EC proposal to form a new international CTIF Commission