Posts tagged: CTIF

CTIF’s participation in global fire safety events

As reported by CTIF President Milan Dubravac, the International Association of Fire and Rescue Services (CTIF) played an active role in key international events throughout the past year, including COP28, the European Firefighter Summit, and the World Fire Congress.

At COP28, held in December 2023, CTIF joined the International Alliance for Reduction of Fire Emissions, an initiative led by the United Arab Emirates.

This alliance aims to monitor and reduce fire-related emissions globally.

CTIF also provided expertise in environmental protection and statistics.

In April, the European Firefighter Summit took place in Paris, where CTIF supported the idea of a more uniform appearance for firefighters within the European Union.

Additionally, in May, CTIF participated in the first World Fire Congress in Washington, USA.

The Congress, which included participation from around 60 countries, is expected to become a biennial event.

CTIF, as a member of the steering group, seeks to influence the future organisation of this event.

CTIF commissions and working groups activity

Throughout the year, CTIF’s commissions and working groups remained active, primarily through hybrid meetings, allowing wider participation from members.

Significant progress was made with the successful reactivation of three commissions: Fire Investigation, Fire Prevention, and Tunnels.

The CTIF Executive Committee met 20 times online during the year, ensuring the organisation’s smooth operation between annual assemblies.

Some Executive Committee members also attended COP28, the European Firefighter Summit, and the World Fire Congress.

President Dubravac expressed gratitude to these members for their active involvement, emphasising the importance of their contributions to CTIF’s success.

Cooperation with other associations

CTIF maintained and expanded its cooperation with various associations through memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and other collaborative initiatives.

Notably, cooperation with the Organisation of Fire Brigades (OBA) saw the OBA delegating members to several CTIF commissions and working groups, enhancing knowledge exchange.

The collaboration with the Fire Chiefs Council of Europe (FEU) was most intensive within the EU project DIREKTION, where both organisations contributed to providing practitioners’ input.

President Dubravac also highlighted CTIF’s ongoing cooperation with EURO NCAP, the World Rescue Organisation (WRO), and the International Emergency Drone Organisation (IEDO), among others.

Strategic developments and future plans

CTIF is focused on strengthening its National Committees, which President Dubravac described as “the real decision-makers” within the organisation.

To this end, CTIF’s Executive Committee has initiated the formation of a Strategic Board, intended to gather Presidents and heads of national committees to shape the future policies of the organisation.

The first meeting of this board is planned for the end of summer 2024, where future challenges and strategies will be discussed.

The CTIF website has also become a valuable resource, now offering materials in five different languages.

This expansion aligns with CTIF’s goal of providing useful information to firefighters worldwide.

CTIF highlights global collaborations in 2024 annual report: Summary

CTIF’s 2024 annual report, presented by President Milan Dubravac, detailed the organisation’s involvement in major international fire safety events, including COP28, the European Firefighter Summit, and the World Fire Congress.

The report also highlighted the reactivation of key commissions and continued cooperation with various global associations.

Looking ahead, CTIF plans to strengthen its National Committees through the establishment of a Strategic Board and aims to enhance its role in future international fire safety initiatives.

The report emphasised the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing in advancing CTIF’s mission.

Meeting of women firefighters in Basel

Seventeen women firefighters from 12 different countries gathered in Basel, Switzerland, on August 6 and 7, 2024, for the annual meeting of CTIF’s Commission for Women in Fire and Rescue Services, as reported by CTIF.

This meeting is part of a yearly event hosted in different locations worldwide, allowing for in-depth discussions on various issues affecting women in the fire service.

The meeting was hosted by Swiss guest member Mireille Glauser at the pharmaceutical company ROCHE’s facility, which also has a professional onsite fire department.

Throughout the two-day conference, participants engaged in presentations and discussions on various topics, ranging from workplace ergonomics to bullying prevention and disaster response strategies.

These meetings are a crucial part of ongoing international exchanges among women in the fire service, supplementing regular online meetings held throughout the year.

Presentations and key discussions

The event began with a presentation from Mireille Glauser on ROCHE and its professional fire department.

This was followed by introductions and presentations from participants representing various countries, including Ireland, Sweden, and Greece.

A notable presentation from the Netherlands focused on the topic: “Water, friend or foe,” which captured the audience’s attention.

The second day of the conference opened with a talk from a ROCHE ergonomist on the importance of physical health in firefighting, titled “Strong back – strong performance.”

This was followed by a presentation from Canadian representatives on bullying prevention training, complemented by a similar session from Germany on guidelines for combating sexual harassment, discrimination, and bullying within the fire service.

Regional experiences and challenges

The conference also highlighted regional challenges faced by women in firefighting.

Greece presented on their seasonal forest fire unit, sharing insights into their operational strategies and challenges.

Slovenia shared experiences from recent floods, providing valuable lessons on disaster management and response.

These presentations allowed participants to exchange knowledge and discuss solutions that could be implemented in their respective countries.

Concluding the event

The meeting concluded with a brief but engaging tour of the host’s fire station, showcasing an impressive fleet of vehicles.

Although time was limited, the tour offered a glimpse into the resources and infrastructure supporting firefighting operations in Switzerland.

International women firefighters commission gathers in Basel for annual CTIF meeting: Summary

Seventeen women firefighters from 12 countries met in Basel, Switzerland, on August 6 and 7, 2024, for the annual CTIF Commission for Women in Fire and Rescue Services meeting.

Hosted by Mireille Glauser at ROCHE’s facility, the event included presentations on various topics such as ergonomics, bullying prevention, and disaster response.

Participants shared experiences from their respective countries, discussing challenges and strategies in the fire service.

The meeting ended with a brief tour of the host’s fire station, enhancing international collaboration among women in firefighting.

Photo by Mireille Glauser.