European
Forest Fire Networks Project
(EUFOFINET)
Project summary
The EUFOFINET (European Forest Fire Network)
Project is being delivered as part the INTERREG IVC Programme. The project is
being delivered over a 26-month period, between October 2010 and
December 2012. Of the total project budget of €2 million,
approximately 75% is being co-financed by the European Regional
Development Fund (ERDF).
The overall aim of EUFOFINET is to improve and enhance regional
and local approaches to wildfire prevention and suppression through
European cooperation, collaboration and the exchange of good
practice.
In order to achieve this principal aim, the EUFOFINET
partnership structured the project activities around five key
thematic areas:
1 - Wildfire suppression - intervention techniques and
tactics
2 - Training using simulation tools
3 - Territorial surveillance, detection and prevention
strategies
4 - Mapping hazards and fire risks
5- Techniques and procedures for restoring land burned by
fire
Project partners
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service is one
of thirteen partners involved in this
important project. The project partners
include:
The involvement of a number of northern
European partners reflects the growing concerns about wildfire
across the continent as a whole, and the accepted need for
practitioners working in all regions of Europe to share good
practice and collaborate across national borders.
Key project activities
A number of activities have been
organised during the course of the project. These have
included:
- Delivery of
8 technical workshops
- Delivery of 8
Steering Committee Meetings
- Delivery of 3 staff
training exchange workshops
- Publication of 13
Action Plans (one per partner) detailing the implementation of good
practice exchanged during the project.
- Publication of the
European Glossary for Wildfires and Forest
Fires
- Organisation of a
final project conference for wildfire stakeholders in
Europe
- Publication of 5
technical guides (one per theme) documenting best practice
exchanged during the project.
- Publication of two
newsletters concerning the project.
- Publication of
numerous technical articles and press releases detailing the
project activities.
Seperate pages have been created to provide
further information about some of the key project activities:
Summary of key activities completed by Northumberland Fire and
Rescue Service
NFRS has been responsible for a number of
key tasks within the EUFOFINET Project. NFRS is Lead Partner on the
theme of Wildfire Suppression/Intervention, Lead Partner on the
production of the European Glossary for Wildfires and Forest
Fires and a Co-Lead Partner on the
Communication/Publicity component of the project.
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service is the
sole organisation within the partnership to represent wildfire
stakeholders within the UK. With broad experience and expertise
with regards to wildfire, NFRS is in a strong position to represent
the UK and to influence the development and improvement of local,
regional and national policy on wildfire issues. Recognised as the
UK’s leading fire and rescue service for wildfire training and
operational policy, NFRS has engaged extensively in partnership
working at the local, national and international levels to improve
cooperation, understanding and awareness of wildfire issues. The
service currently holds the Chair of the Chief Fire Officers’
Association’s Wildfire Group and of the England and Wales Wildfire
Forum – a national strategic advisory body to UK fire and rescue
services and rural agency partners.
Further information about the EUFOFINET Project
To find out more about the EUFOFINET project,
please click on the documents listed below, visit the EUFOFINET Project website or
contact:
Dr. Robert Stacey
Project Officer
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service
Robert.Stacey@northumberland.gov.uk
Further information about INTERREG
IVC
The Interregional Cooperation Programme
INTERREG IVC, financed by the European Union’s Regional Development
Fund, helps Regions of Europe work together to share experience and
good practice in the areas of innovation, the knowledge economy,
the environment and risk prevention. EUR 302 million is available
for project funding but, more than that, a wealth of knowledge and
potential solutions are also on hand for regional
policy-makers.
