News Archive

2021

Information for the 19:30 Gala Dinner tonight for all registered Delegates

Dear CTIF Delegates, please see the graphic map how to find your way to the CTIF Gala Dinner tonig...

Information for the 19:30 Gala Dinner tonight for all registered Delegates

Military band at the opening of the French Congress for firefighters. Photo: Bjorn Ulfsson / CTIF

The French Firefighters Congress In Marseille has started with Pomp and Circumstance

Today Wednesday the French Congress for firefighters opened with a large audience, a military band a...

The French Firefighters Congress In Marseille has started with Pomp and Circumstance

The CTIF associate Members meeting on Zoom October 7.

CTIF starts networking meetings online with Associate Members

CTIFs corporate Associate Members are an important source of knowledge and experience for our membe...

CTIF starts networking meetings online with Associate Members

The front entrance to Park Chanot in Marseille

Delegates Assembly in Marseille 2021 - Detailed information about the week

CTIF France will arrange transport from the Marseille-Provence airport to the hotel. Please communic...

Delegates Assembly in Marseille 2021 - Detailed information about the week

Flooding in Aidlingen on 15.05.2009. Photo: Wikipedia Commons

CFPA Europe is looking for input from CTIF members on two new Fire Safety Recommendations

CFPA Europe wants comments on "Water Supply for Fire Fighting in Extreme Weather Conditions&quo...

CFPA Europe is looking for input from CTIF members on two new Fire Safety Recommendations

A clinician helping a COVID-19 patient with an oxygen mask in a hospital in Iran. Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Hundreds of patients killed in hospital fires due to accidents with oxygen during the pandemic

According to the JRC, around 50 oxygen fires have occurred around the world during the pandemic:

Hundreds of patients killed in hospital fires due to accidents with oxygen during the pandemic

The participants of the Monday 27 Commission Meeting for CTIF Women in Fire & Rescue.

The CTIF Commission for Women in Fire & Rescue discussed transgender issues at monthly meeting

The main speakers were Acting District Chief Sofie Lasiuk from the Toronto Fire Service and Ms Jeong...

The CTIF Commission for Women in Fire & Rescue discussed transgender issues at monthly meeting

Övre Husarbygatan in central Gothenburg where the explosion occurred September 28th, 2021. Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Explosion and multiple fires in central Gothenburg

According to local police, the explosion was not an accident. 140 people people have had to evacua...

Explosion and multiple fires in central Gothenburg

Lava fountain and molten lava flow at Piton de la Fournaise volcano on the island of Reunion on 4 January 2010. Photo: Wikipedia Commons.

Thousands of residents evacuated after volcanic eruptions on La Palma, Canary Islands

Around 6,000 people have been evacuated and hundreds of homes have been destroyed by lava and fire. ...

Thousands of residents evacuated after volcanic eruptions on La Palma, Canary Islands

The Elie tornado as it was approaching the town of Elie, Manitoba, during the late afternoon/early evening hours of June 22, 2007. Photo: Wikipedia

Extreme weather is costing billions - and the costs are expected to keep increasing

The number of category 3 - 5 hurricanes or cyclones has increased over the past forty years, alleged...

Extreme weather is costing billions - and the costs are expected to keep increasing

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

After the 2021 heat dome that killed 800 - BC hires hundreds of new paramedics

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

After the 2021 heat dome that killed 800 - BC hires hundreds of new paramedics

"Mimi" Mireille Glauser (left) and her workmates during the Basel Women´s Run on September 11th.

Europe showing signs of post pandemic reopening: The Annual Basel Women´s Run almost back to normal

In full bunker gear, Mimi Glauser from the CTIF Commission for Women in Fire and Rescue ran with thr...

Europe showing signs of post pandemic reopening: The Annual Basel Women´s Run almost back to normal

Map of Spain and the Estepona resort town which was evacuated on short notice after a firefightter died on duty wile fighting the fire on Thursday.

Wildfire kills firefighter in Spain - 1000 residents given only minutes to evacuate

Around 400 firefighters were fighting the forest fire which started late Wednesday in the mountains ...

Wildfire kills firefighter in Spain - 1000 residents given only minutes to evacuate

Drawing of the Bolshoi Theatre in Russia.

The extraordinary story of fire protecting one of Russia´s largest antique monuments

The Bolshoi Theatre has 9864 cutting-edge detectors, 580 fire hydrant cabinets and 4000 sprinklers, ...

The extraordinary story of fire protecting one of Russia´s largest antique monuments

Marseille, France. Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons

Virtual and physical registrations open for Delegates Assembly in Marseille

For those unable to travel physically, a remote video conferencing option will be included at no cos...

Virtual and physical registrations open for Delegates Assembly in Marseille

Solar panel installation Photo courtecy of https://www.infopool.org.uk/5-important-solar-panel-maintenance-tips/

Insurance companies demanding mandatory inspections of solar panel installations

As more and more people acquire solar cells, the risk of fires due to improper installations is by u...

Insurance companies demanding mandatory inspections of solar panel installations

Hurricane Ida Makes Landfall in Louisiana Hurricane Ida is seen in this image taken aboard the International Space Station. Image credit: European Space Agency

Hurricane Ida causes severe flooding - State of Emergency announced in New York

In New York City, more than 170 millimeters of rain fell in just over six hours, which has led to se...

Hurricane Ida causes severe flooding - State of Emergency announced in New York

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons License. The Angora Fire was a wind driven fire that started near North Upper Truckee Road subdivision near Angora Lakes, Fallen Leaf Lake, Echo Lake and South Lake Tahoe, California around 2:15 PM on Sunday, June 24, 2007 as a result of an illegal campfire.

Fire season not nearly over in California - an entire lake resort ordered to evacuate overnight

Thousands of people had to urgently evacuate from the resort town of South Lake Tahoe at the end of...

Fire season not nearly over in California - an entire lake resort ordered to evacuate overnight

Hurricane Stan was a relatively weak but deadly tropical cyclone that affected areas of Central America and Mexico in early October 2005.Photo courtesy of https://pixnio.com.

Two seasonal storms struck USA and Mexico at the same time

All of New Orleans is without electricity and a total of over one million households and businesses ...

Two seasonal storms struck USA and Mexico at the same time

IEDO wins award for CTIF-supported Best Practices report on Emergency Drone usage

It is a great success for all the volunteer contributors who have collaborated in that project. Than...

IEDO wins award for CTIF-supported Best Practices report on Emergency Drone usage

A satellite image of Hurricane Henry as it was heading for Long Island, New York. Infrared satellite image of Hurricane Henri at 1620Z (12:20 p.m. EDT) Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Image credit: RAMMB/CIRA/CSU)

Hurricane Henry kills at least 22 in Tennessee - 45 still missing

Among the dead are allegedly two infants. They were twins and are said to have been torn out of thei...

Hurricane Henry kills at least 22 in Tennessee - 45 still missing

UK Fire Service Search and Rescue team at work in Haiti UK firefighters at work in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. To find out more about how the UK is helping in Haiti, please visit www.dfid.gov.uk/haiti-earthquake Image credit: UK Fire Service. Taken on 15 January 2010.

Death toll in Haiti earthquake adjusted to 2200 - 60000 homes destroyed

Nearly 60,000 houses are estimated to have been destroyed in the country, and 1000s are injured.

Death toll in Haiti earthquake adjusted to 2200 - 60000 homes destroyed

Flooding in Luxemburg during Storm Bernd. Photo: Luxemburg Fire Services

German and Belgian governments sued for criminal neglect and slow response during Storm Bernd

The initial investigation by the Koblenz Public Prosecutors Office has raised suspicions that evacua...

German and Belgian governments sued for criminal neglect and slow response during Storm Bernd

Greek wildfire destroying a home during August 2021. Photo by Felton Davis, Flickr.

Southern France now also battling large forest fires - New fires near Athens

7,000 locals and tourists have been evacuated from when the smoke and flames began to get closer and...

Southern France now also battling large forest fires - New fires near Athens

Grand Canyon National Park: Prescribed Pile Burning, May, 2019 1114 Grand Canyon National Park fire managers have been initiating prescribed pile burning during the last week of May, 2019, as weather and fuel moisture conditions allow. This photo was taken on Thursday, May 30, 2019.

Modern forestry practices may be partly to blame for North American wildfire crisis

“Even if we were able to turn back the dial on climate change we would still have wildfires that are...

Modern forestry practices may be partly to blame for North American wildfire crisis

New wildfires starting in Greece - arson suspected

Three communities in the area were ordered evacuated. The fire department sent in firefighters, wate...

New wildfires starting in Greece - arson suspected

Heavy death toll in Black Sea flash floods

Around 1,700 people have been evacuated, some from rooftops by helicopter. The flash floods have de...

Heavy death toll in Black Sea flash floods

Beriev Be-200ES water bomber © Dmitriy Pichugin on Wikimedia

Water bomber crashed in Turkey during wildfire mission

All eight crew members are reported dead. The water scooping BE-200 crashed on Saturday in a steep m...

Water bomber crashed in Turkey during wildfire mission

Photo by Flickr. Multiple fires and thick smoke plumes in the Sakha Republic, Russia (Lat: 63.13, Lng: 117.95) - July 8th, 2021- Image contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data [2021], processed by Pierre Markuse. Image shows an area about 176 kilometers wide.

An overview of devastating wildfires during the summer of 2021

4 million hectares have burned in Siberia and in many areas wildfires more than doubled compared to ...

An overview of devastating wildfires during the summer of 2021

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

Thousands forced to evacuate 2021 in Greece as enormous wildfires threaten Athens

The temperature in several places in Greece is approaching 40 degrees / 104 F. Greece has asked for...

Thousands forced to evacuate 2021 in Greece as enormous wildfires threaten Athens

An aerial photo of Chempark, an industrial park home to many chemical plants. Photo: Wikipedia Commons.

Two dead and several injured in industrial explosion in Germany

A warning with the message Extreme Danger was sent via a crisis app and Germanys health authorities ...

Two dead and several injured in industrial explosion in Germany

Photo: Wikipedia Commons. Wildfires break out in the boreal forests of eastern Russia most summers, but 2016 has been particularly bad, with numerous blazes since July. This image, which was taken by the Copernicus Sentinel-3A satellite on 14 September, shows smoke billowing from a string of fires northwest of Lake Baikal in Siberia. These huge smoke plumes stretch over 2000 km. It is thought that drier conditions associated with warmer weather – this June being the hottest on record – have contributed to t

Civilian volunteers are joining the struggle to protect towns and villages against vast wildfires in...

Locals says an area as large as india is threatened by the wildfires that is currently blanketing th...

Civilian volunteers are joining the struggle to protect towns and villages against vast wildfires in Siberia

Hurricane Florence photographed from the ISS. Photo: Wikipedia

Extreme weather in small localized areas could be our new global reality for years to come

Almost all parts of the world have been experiencing some kind of unusual and extreme weather phenom...

Extreme weather in small localized areas could be our new global reality for years to come

The Netherlands may have escaped the floods partly through better preparedness

Holland has a history of keeping strong defences against the sea, and this preparedness may have bee...

The Netherlands may have escaped the floods partly through better preparedness

Flooding in Shenzhen, China. Photo: Wikipedia Commons

A year´s worth of rain fell in a few days in China - Only days after Storm Bernd in Europe

Almost all parts of the world has been experiencing some kind of unusual and extreme weather phenome...

A year´s worth of rain fell in a few days in China - Only days after Storm Bernd in Europe

Rescue efforts on flooded streets in Luxemburg. Photo courtesy: Luxemburg fire and rescue

200 dead and more are missing in central European rain storm - rescue divers have been called in to ...

Many of the victims have been found in flooded basements where they tried to retrieve their valuable...

200 dead and more are missing in central European rain storm - rescue divers have been called in to recover victims

Over 90 people killed in hospital fire in Iraq - oxygen tank explosion likely the cause

The incident is the second of its kind this year. In April, 82 people lost their lives in a fire at...

Over 90 people killed in hospital fire in Iraq - oxygen tank explosion likely the cause

Global News screenshot from the video imbedded below of a thermometer measuring record high temperatures in Death Valley, USA.

Two firefighters dead in plane crash during Western US heat wave

Residents were evacuated from their homes when wildfires spread through parts of the Sierra Nevada f...

Two firefighters dead in plane crash during Western US heat wave

Urine hydration colour chart. Illustration by the CTIF Health Commission

Nutrition and hydration for firefighters

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

Nutrition and hydration for firefighters

Map over Canada¨s most western province, British Columbia

Over 800 dead in historic Western Canada 2021 heat dome: Chaos at 911, town burned to the ground

Paramedics and 911 dispatchers desperate as the volume of emergency calls vastly outnumbered the ava...

Over 800 dead in historic Western Canada 2021 heat dome: Chaos at 911, town burned to the ground