CTIF attended the international exhibition INTERSCHUTZ in Hannover, in partnership with the German Fire Fighters Federation who welcomed the international association of fire and rescue services on its stand.

CTIF at the heart of the fire fighting worldFor its very first time at Interschutz, CTIF wanted to strengthen its international touch and hence organised an evening devoted to fire fighters from around the world.While a Chilean fire fighters orchestra, "Orfeon de Bomberos de Chile", was playing its best pieces of music, fire fighters representatives from Norway, Russia and Sweden were talking about the way their fire and rescue services were organised in their respective countries. At the same time, German, Chilean and American fire fighters were sharing their various experiences. "We would like to welcome even more member countries within CTIF to develop the co-operation among fire fighters worldwide even further ", CTIF president Walter EGGER said. That’s why CTIF decided to be at the heart of Interschutz, where it managed to make many contacts. The international association of fire and rescue services got the support of two of its associate members - the companies Rosenbauer and Dräger Safety - who contributed to the CTIF stand and to the organisation of this very successful evening.

7 Central American countries have applied to become members of CTIF.Fire fighting representatives from Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama met CTIF president Walter Egger at the Interschutz fair.
They officially applied to become members of CTIF. Hector Sevilla Boza, Director of the Fire Services in Nicaragua, said how important it was to become a member of CTIF to maintain strong links with the fire fighting community everywhere in the world.He kindly invited CTIF representatives to attend the South American Fire Fighters Congress that will take place from 7 to 12 November 2005 and to celebrate with them the 50th anniversary of the South American Fire Fighting Organisation.The final decision for the membership applications will be taken at the CTIF Delegates Assembly on 21 July 2005 in Varazdin, Croatia.

Technical innovationsMore than one thousand companies, institutions or associations from all around the world will introduce their equipment and operational techniques on their stands over 86.000 square meters! The newest technologies, vehicles and various protective clothing will be shown every day to the numerous visitors through live shows and conferences.

Here are a few examples of those technical innovations:
A "rescue platform" developped by Günzburger Steigtechnik (www.steigtechnik.de)A 90-meter high articulated arm developed by the Finnish company Bronto Skylift (www.bronto.fi) A brand new truck with several functions developed by the American company Ferrara (www.ferrarafire.com)...

Meeting with...... three Polish young ladies highly interested in fire fighting and rescue.

Everyone knows that INTERSCHUTZ has a definite international touch. While strolling in the alleys between the stands, you can meet Czech, English, American or Japanese fire fighters, but also young people highly interested in the fire fighting world. Here is a portray of three Polish young ladies already involved in youth fire brigades… Ela, Paulina and Kasia are between 13 and 15 years old. They are now listening carefully to one of the youth leaders leading a big quiz on the stand dedicated to fire fighting and rescue institutions. They come from a small city in Poland, and travelled by bus to get to Interschutz, leaving their school and friends for a while to enjoy their real passion for fire fighting. Why did they choose to join the youth fire brigades? Because “it’s cool” they said in that language used by young people everywhere in the world. And what do they like most? To rescue people. In their own words: to “help others”. They definitely know what they want to do in future: become career fire fighters! They will have to wait a little while because you can start your training as a career fire fighter in Poland only once you are 18… Until then, Ela, Paulina and Kasia try now to get as much information as they can by reading fire fighting magazines such as… Le Sapeur-Pompier magazine’s special issue in English!
... the career fire fighters in Hannover -led by colonel Claus Langer- who carry out more than 103.000 operations every year (fires, technical operations, rescue...).

More on: www.feuerwehr-hannover.de

Source: "Le Sapeur-Pompier Magazine" (French Fire Fighters Magazine - www.lesapeurpompier.fr).

The best moments in pictures!(reprendre toutes les photos de la rubrique et en faire un seul album)
Pictures: German Fire Fighters Federation, press office (www.dfv.org).

More on www.interschutz.de