The ANSFR Project - The
Frederikssund-Halsnæs Workshop
28th September - 1st October 2009,
Frederikssund-Halsnæs, Denmark
Workshop Summary
The Frederikssund-Halsnæs workshop was the second of four ANSFR
project workshops. The key aim of ANSFR was to reduce the human,
financial and environmental cost of fires in Europe. This
was achieved through the development of effective techniques
for identifying, assessing and managing fire risk.
Workshop Hosts
The Frederikssund-Halsnæs Workshop was
organised and hosted by Frederikssund-Halsnaes Fire and Rescue
Service (Denmark). Northumberland Fire
and Rescue Service provided advice and practical support. The
workshop focused on environmental fire risk and involved
the presentation and discussion of good practice implemented by the
four partner organisations.
For the purpose of the ANSFR
Project, environmental fire risk is defined as: "The threat,
danger or possibility of a fire being started within a rural or
rural-urban interface environment as a result of
accidental/deliberate human activities or as a result of natural
phenomena, such as lightning strikes, volcanic eruptions etc."
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service and all
of the ANSFR Project Partners attended
the event. In addition, the following organisations working to
reduce environmental fire risk in Greece and Australia attended and
contributed to the workshop:
Workshop Topics
In summary, some of the topics discussed and
debated at the event included:
- Identification of wildfires/forest fires
- Wildfire/forest fire prevention
- Wildfire risk prediction systems
- Multi-agency wildfire groups
- Forest fire/emergency plans
- Equipment for extinguishing wildfires/forest
fires
- Techniques for extinguishing wildfires/forest
fires
- Data recording of wildfire/forest fire
incidents
During this event, all of the partner
organisations delivered at least one presentation concerning their
approach to fighting and preventing wildfires and forest fires. The
workshop schedule included a field visit to a nearby forest to
discuss recent fire plans that have been developed by
Frederikssund-Halsnæs Fire and Rescue Service and the forest
rangers working for the Danish Forest
and Nature Agency.
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service's
Wildfire Team made some significant contributions to the event.
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service also designed and delivered
an interactive group work session at the event to stimulate debate
and discussion regarding data gathering for wildfire and forest
fire incidents. The whole workshop provided participants with the
opportunity to share knowledge and experience regarding wildfires
and forest fires and it provided an excellent opportunity for those
present to learn about the challenges that each of the partners
must currently address.
The Frederikssund-Halsnæs Workshop
Handbook
One of the key outputs of the workshop has
been the production of a detailed handbook that documents all
of the presentations and sessions delivered. A copy of
the handbook can be downloaded by clicking this link.
Future Collaboration on Environmental Fire Risk
Management
The Frederikssund-Halsnæs workshop also
produced an unexpected outcome. Some of the ANSFR partners
will work together in the future to receive and deliver
training in the use and application of wildfire risk prediction
systems and in techniques for fighting wildfires and forest
fires.
Further Information
For further information about the
workshop or the ANSFR Project,
please visit contact:
Dr. Robert Stacey
Project Officer
Fire Support Services
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service
Robert.Stacey@northumberland.gov.uk
