News Archive

2020

Wildland Firefighter on Prescribed Burn NPS Photo Michael Gue

The effectiveness of controlled burns debated as climate gets hotter and drier

Fires have been hot enough to burn through areas already burned, igniting areas far away from the ac...

The effectiveness of controlled burns debated as climate gets hotter and drier

Both the police and fire service attended the fire on Ytterøyningen (image: Corvus)

Explosion on Norwegian battery hybrid ferry may have been caused by the fire extinguishing system

A seawater fire extinguishing system that had been installed as an additional safety precaution on t...

Explosion on Norwegian battery hybrid ferry may have been caused by the fire extinguishing system

Women in Firefighting - Photo by KIRTJ.se

What is the CTIF International Association of Fire Services?

CTIF ensures the exchange of experience and knowledge in the field of protection and rescue in case ...

What is the CTIF International Association of Fire Services?

The CTIF delegates from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden at the CTIF Norden meeting in January 2020.

The Nordic CTIF National Committees held their yearly meeting in Aalesund

The discussions included thoughts on how to arrange future Delegates Assembles, a review of the expe...

The Nordic CTIF National Committees held their yearly meeting in Aalesund

Mira Leinonen, Chair of the CTIF Commission for Women in Fire & Rescue Services, speaking in the City of Barcelona.

We have to break with the idea that firefighting is a craft just for men

Firefighters representing nine countries: Canada, the United States, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, th...

We have to break with the idea that firefighting is a craft just for men

The burning parkade at Stavanger Airport. Photo by: Twitter: @stormy_chan93

Huge parkade fire stopped air traffic at Norwegian airport

The entire parkade risks collapsing and could destroy 3000 cars. The fire likely started in - Entire...

Huge parkade fire stopped air traffic at Norwegian airport

An Australian "fire-tornado". Photo by Chris Tangey

The Australian wildfire devastation in 2020 shows wildfires are becoming a global concern

Five million hectares of land and almost half a billion animals have already perished - which raises...

The Australian wildfire devastation in 2020 shows wildfires are becoming a global concern

2019

Happy New Year from CTIF !

Croatian Fire-fighting commanders trained forest firefighting on French CESIR simulator

The host for the December 2019 Extrication meeting was the fire service in Wörth am Rhein, Böchelberg, Germany. Photo: Tore Eriksson / CTIF

Extrication Commission focuses on working to implement the new ISO standard in their home countries

The Commission recognizes the importance of personal contacts and active networking to spread the wo...

Extrication Commission focuses on working to implement the new ISO standard in their home countries

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

"Every Fire Service in the world should be practicing basic fireground decontamination. It cost...

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

Backdraft 2 - the sequel to the 1991 firefighting blockbuster - is now released

Screen shot of the Guardian´s YouTube video form the petrochemical fire in Texas.

60,000 forced to evacuate during huge petrochemical fire in Texas

CTIF´s Executive Committee in front of a Luxembourg fire station vehicle, during their November meeting 2019.

CTIF Executive Board meeting in Luxembourg focused on the 120th Anniversary and next year´s importan...

CTIF Executive Board meeting in Luxembourg focused on the 120th Anniversary and next year´s important elections

Major Tom van Esbroeck and Kurt Vollmacher received the Fireforum Award for their work on the ISO 17840 firefighter´s vehicle intervention standard on Tuesday Nov 26, 2019.

CTIF receives Fireforums Special Award for the new ISO 17840 vehicle intervention standard

Major Tom van Esbroeck and project leader Kurt Vollmacher received the prestigious award on Tuesday ...

CTIF receives Fireforums Special Award for the new ISO 17840 vehicle intervention standard

Photo: Screen shot from Australian ABC News

Worst wildfire season in a decade in Australia

Six people have died during forest fires over the past month, the BBC reports. Warnings have been...

Worst wildfire season in a decade in Australia

Wikipedia diagram of a typical hybrid vehicle.

New innovative technology promises a safer and more effective type of batteries

Zinc and manganese is the same basic raw materials as for alkaline non-rechargable batteries.

New innovative technology promises a safer and more effective type of batteries

Fake 3D zebra patterns to stop pedestrian accidents at crosswalks

The 3D painting gets the attention of drivers, who are in theory forced to slow down their speed whe...

Fake 3D zebra patterns to stop pedestrian accidents at crosswalks

Front page of the study "Fatal residential fires in Europe"

Fatal residential fires in Europe - a report

The improvement of fire safety in the living environment can only be effective when we have knowledg...

Fatal residential fires in Europe - a report

Screen shot from a video about the African fires by 2nacheki - Africa is watching

The African wildfires and the fires burning in the Amazon are not necessarily comparable - but both ...

Many claim Africa´s wildfires are worse than the Amazonian. Read how they differ, and are both impor...

The African wildfires and the fires burning in the Amazon are not necessarily comparable - but both rainforest regions are important carbon traps

Vehicle propulsion types in the CTIF ISO standard.

A new world wide ISO standard for vehicle rescue & marking

The CTIF International Association of Fire and Rescue Service has created an international standard ...

A new world wide ISO standard for vehicle rescue & marking

The CTIF Fire Investigation Working Group meeting in Holland, 2019. Photo by Volkert van der Ploeg

Discover CTIF´s Commissions and Working Groups!

Photo by the Slovak fire & rescue services

Deadly bus crash in Slovakia - 30 firefighters involved in the extrication

At least twelve people have died in a serious traffic accident in Slovakia. Most of the passengers w...

Deadly bus crash in Slovakia - 30 firefighters involved in the extrication

The 1966 flood in Venice. Photo: Wikipedia

Severe floods in Venice - two dead

A 78-year old man died when water in his flooded house came in contact with electricity.

Severe floods in Venice - two dead

CTIF Commission for Women in Fire & Rescue met for their bi-yearly meeting, this time in Barcelona.

CTIF Women in Fire & Rescue met in Barcelona

"We had a really good meeting and the fire department supported us the whole meeting", sa...

CTIF Women in Fire & Rescue met in Barcelona

22 metric tonnes of titanium on fire near radioactive waste treatment plant

Swedish fire services had to bury the titanium in huge amounts of sand and powder to suffocate it. W...

22 metric tonnes of titanium on fire near radioactive waste treatment plant

Emotional funeral procession for three killed firefighters in Milan

California forest fires. Photo by United States Department of Defence.

California experiment: New investment strategies in forest fire prevention

Investors buy into the bond, and the money is drawn as needed for forest restoration work.

California experiment: New investment strategies in forest fire prevention

Burnt solar panel on Briana Greer´s roof.

Solar panels catching fire a hurdle for alternative energy

The owner was away when the fire started in her Tesla solar roof panels. Luckily, her neighbors were...

Solar panels catching fire a hurdle for alternative energy

Prescribed fire in ponderosa pine forest in eastern Washington (USA) to restore ecosystem health.

Prevention & Control: Using back fire to combat wildfire

A back fire is a fire that is deliberately initiated in front of an active fire front, usually a for...

Prevention & Control: Using back fire to combat wildfire

"Natural fuel breaks": Could aspen trees help solve the wildfire crisis?

Aspen naturally have a higher water content and do not contain the flammable chemical compounds that...

"Natural fuel breaks": Could aspen trees help solve the wildfire crisis?

Fire, Rescue & New Challenges Ostrava, day 2

Read more about the CTIF Yearly Seminars here. Stay tuned to CTIF.org for more complete and edited v...

Fire, Rescue & New Challenges Ostrava, day 2

The CTIF Seminar in Ostrava Day 1 - See videos from the lecturers!

See videos here of some of the events of Day 1 of the seminar! More complete videos with presentatio...

The CTIF Seminar in Ostrava Day 1 - See videos from the lecturers!

The Ostrava Seminar Hall at Clarion Hotel

See the Final Program for the Ostrava Seminar

We have a fantastic conference room booked for Thursday and Friday, with lots of exhibition space fo...

See the Final Program for the Ostrava Seminar

An ISO decal is being attached to a bus on the Busworld fair in Belgium. Screenshot from the CTIF / UITP video.

Project ISO 17840 “Safe Citizens through Safe Firefighters”: Act Local - Think Global

This video is a ISO 17840 promotion film made 2019 during the international bus world congress. Thi...

Project ISO 17840 “Safe Citizens through Safe Firefighters”: Act Local - Think Global

Tommy Baekgaard Kjaer is one of the speakers in Ostrava October 25-26, 2019.

Only days left until the CTIF Seminar i Ostrava - here´s the final program!

Please observe that NO official dinner will be arranged on Friday night. The Hotel Clarion will serv...

Only days left until the CTIF Seminar i Ostrava - here´s the final program!

Police helicopter, Ambulance and Fire Truck

Saving Lives is not Enough - a UK study on how to protect burn victims more effectively

This report sets out ten recommendations (Elements) for improving the pre-hospital care, experience ...

Saving Lives is not Enough - a UK study on how to protect burn victims more effectively

Cataño, PR, October 25, 2009 -- Firefighter from the Volunteer Fire Department of Puerto Rico. Yuisa Rios/FEMA

Scottish fire services welcome a large increase in female firefighters

The Scottish Fire Rescue Service say a recruitment campaign this year made 771 females apply to beco...

Scottish fire services welcome a large increase in female firefighters

A screen shot of a Ruptly video on YouTube of the violent demonstrations on Tuesday.

5000 French firefighters marched the streets of Paris protesting for better working conditions

A helicopter rescue team rescues a civilian from a flooded home. Screen shot from a BBC Youtube video.