Workshop on Wildfire Occupational Safety

Key information

Description

Participants will be able to identify common patterns and risk factors in wildfire incidents, apply these lessons to improve their own operational safety and decision-making processes, gain insights into effective training programs and preventive measures that can be implemented in their own organisations, become familiar with new technologies and how they can be integrated into their operations to improve safety, gain practical insights and a deeper understanding of the challenges faced during wildfire incidents, and build connections to share valuable insights that can benefit their respective organisations.

Wildfires pose a significant threat to both natural environments and human communities. As climate change intensifies, the frequency and severity of wildfires have increased globally, making it imperative for firefighters to be well-prepared and equipped to handle these emergencies, especially in terms of firefighting safety. This workshop is designed for experienced wildfire firefighters, focusing on enhancing their personal safety through the analysis of past incidents and the implementation of best practices.

The workshop will explore several wildfire incidents, examining the root causes and contributing factors that led to fatalities or near-misses. By understanding these incidents, participants can identify common patterns and risk factors, which are crucial for preventing future tragedies.

Field visits to past wildfire sites will provide a hands-on learning experience, allowing participants to observe and analyse the terrain, conditions, and response efforts firsthand. This practical approach will deepen their understanding of the challenges faced during wildfire incidents and enhance their ability to make informed decisions in the field.

Goals to be achieved by attendees at the end of the workshop:

• Understand the root causes and contributing factors of past wildfire incidents with fatalities or high potential near-misses.
• Extract and discuss key lessons learned from past incidents.
• Conduct field visits to locations of past wildfire incidents to observe and analyse the terrain, conditions, and response efforts. 
• Share and evaluate best practices in wildfire prevention and training.
• Explore recent technical advancements and tools that enhance the safety of first responders.
• Promote a culture of safety within firefighting teams. 
• Initiate a methodology for collecting and analysing accidents and near-misses. 

The European Commission-funded FIRE-RES project aims to accelerate the transition towards a new paradigm that tackles main known factors to design and implement prevention-preparedness, detection-response, and restoration-adaptation activities. 

It focuses on an integrated fire management strategy that takes into account relevant national, regional and landscape spatial scales. At the EU scale, the project aims at making a step forward towards current EU level response, cooperation and policy coherence, and contributes to the definition of a common EU legal framework addressing extreme wildfires prevention.

Project website: https://fire-res.eu/

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