Learning from New York’s emergency response to Hurricane Sandy and the evolving role of social media in Major Emergency Management will be amongst the key topics to be discussed at the 2013 Irish Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) conference, details of which were announced today.
Cork City Fire Department will host year’s event, entitled ‘Serving and Protecting Communities - Shaping Future Fire Service Delivery’, at the Silversprings Moran Hotel on May 8-9th. The conference will be officially opened by Fergus O’Dowd, T.D., Minister of State, Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.
The annual showcase event for Ireland’s Fire and Emergency Services sector, which is supported by Engineers Ireland and the Institute of Fire Engineers, will also feature a Fire Industry and Technology Exhibition. This year's conference will host expert speakers within the Emergency Services Sector and the Fire Technology/Industry from Ireland, Sweden, UK, USA and Canada.
The Conference keynote speaker is Peter Holland, the UK’s Chief Fire and Rescue Advisor, who will be exploring the future challenges for the Fire Service.
Robert Maynes, Queens Borough Commander with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) will present his paper on the response of his Department to Hurricane Sandy, which devastated parts of the U.S. east coast in 2012, while Monika Buscher of Lancaster University (UK) will discuss the role played by Social Media in supporting emergency professionals and volunteers in mobilising information and resources for an improved disaster response.
Dr. Joe O’Mahoney, Occupational Psychologist with AHR Services will be discussing ‘Wellbeing in the Fire Service’ and the importance of positive team morale and teamwork within the Fire Service, as well as the psychological wellbeing of fire-fighters following attendance at critical emergency incidents.
Other speakers scheduled to address the two-day conference include Sean Hogan, Director, National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (Ireland); Des Prichard, Chief Fire Officer & Chief Executive of East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (UK); Paul Boissonneault, Fire Chief and C.E.M.C. in the County of Brant in South Western Ontario (Canada); Tore Eriksson, President of the International Association of Fire and Rescue and Vincent Carrigy, Fire Safety System Auditor (Ireland). Meanwhile, Pat Conneely, of the Health and Safety Authority will address the challenges posed by the forthcoming Seveso 3 Directive.
Conference Secretary and Chief Fire Officer for Cork City Fire Department, John Ryan explained that the Conference takes place at an “interesting time for the Irish Fire Service”.
“The new reality facing the Fire Service is that it has to adapt and be competent to meet current and future challenges against a background of budget and service constraints, changing personnel demography, greater scrutiny and wider demands on the service it delivers to the community. Technology is rapidly advancing with information being readily available and expectations are more demanding for an instant solution,” he stated.
Mr. Ryan continued: “This year's conference will host expert speakers within the Emergency Services Sector and the Fire Technology/Industry from Ireland, Sweden, UK, USA and Canada who with their experience, knowledge and wisdom in different aspects of the Fire Service will attempt to provide innovative thoughts and ideas about how the Fire and Rescue Service can adapt to meet these challenges.”
“A unique aspect to the conference this year will be the focus on inter-agency collaboration and the evolving role of social media in Major Emergency Management. This will be invaluable going forward as the concept of interoperability is advanced. The programme for the second day of the conference highlights how Major Emergency Management has risen in prominence over the last number of years. Conference delegates will also gain an appreciation and understanding of the proposed changes to the Seveso/COMAH (Control of Major Accidents & Hazards) Directive and its impact. Also, we will have a member of the FDNY giving a paper on the response of his department to Hurricane Sandy,” Mr. Ryan concluded.
The CFOA comprises the Chief Fire Officers of all Local Authorities in Ireland. The Association is also a member of the Federation of European Fire officers Associations and attends their twice yearly meetings.
Further details on the Irish Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) conference are available from www.corkcityfirebrigade.ie/cfoa2013 or www.cfoa.net.
Cork City Fire Department will host year’s event, entitled ‘Serving and Protecting Communities - Shaping Future Fire Service Delivery’, at the Silversprings Moran Hotel on May 8-9th. The conference will be officially opened by Fergus O’Dowd, T.D., Minister of State, Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.
The annual showcase event for Ireland’s Fire and Emergency Services sector, which is supported by Engineers Ireland and the Institute of Fire Engineers, will also feature a Fire Industry and Technology Exhibition. This year's conference will host expert speakers within the Emergency Services Sector and the Fire Technology/Industry from Ireland, Sweden, UK, USA and Canada.
The Conference keynote speaker is Peter Holland, the UK’s Chief Fire and Rescue Advisor, who will be exploring the future challenges for the Fire Service.
Robert Maynes, Queens Borough Commander with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) will present his paper on the response of his Department to Hurricane Sandy, which devastated parts of the U.S. east coast in 2012, while Monika Buscher of Lancaster University (UK) will discuss the role played by Social Media in supporting emergency professionals and volunteers in mobilising information and resources for an improved disaster response.
Dr. Joe O’Mahoney, Occupational Psychologist with AHR Services will be discussing ‘Wellbeing in the Fire Service’ and the importance of positive team morale and teamwork within the Fire Service, as well as the psychological wellbeing of fire-fighters following attendance at critical emergency incidents.
Other speakers scheduled to address the two-day conference include Sean Hogan, Director, National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (Ireland); Des Prichard, Chief Fire Officer & Chief Executive of East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (UK); Paul Boissonneault, Fire Chief and C.E.M.C. in the County of Brant in South Western Ontario (Canada); Tore Eriksson, President of the International Association of Fire and Rescue and Vincent Carrigy, Fire Safety System Auditor (Ireland). Meanwhile, Pat Conneely, of the Health and Safety Authority will address the challenges posed by the forthcoming Seveso 3 Directive.
Conference Secretary and Chief Fire Officer for Cork City Fire Department, John Ryan explained that the Conference takes place at an “interesting time for the Irish Fire Service”.
“The new reality facing the Fire Service is that it has to adapt and be competent to meet current and future challenges against a background of budget and service constraints, changing personnel demography, greater scrutiny and wider demands on the service it delivers to the community. Technology is rapidly advancing with information being readily available and expectations are more demanding for an instant solution,” he stated.
Mr. Ryan continued: “This year's conference will host expert speakers within the Emergency Services Sector and the Fire Technology/Industry from Ireland, Sweden, UK, USA and Canada who with their experience, knowledge and wisdom in different aspects of the Fire Service will attempt to provide innovative thoughts and ideas about how the Fire and Rescue Service can adapt to meet these challenges.”
“A unique aspect to the conference this year will be the focus on inter-agency collaboration and the evolving role of social media in Major Emergency Management. This will be invaluable going forward as the concept of interoperability is advanced. The programme for the second day of the conference highlights how Major Emergency Management has risen in prominence over the last number of years. Conference delegates will also gain an appreciation and understanding of the proposed changes to the Seveso/COMAH (Control of Major Accidents & Hazards) Directive and its impact. Also, we will have a member of the FDNY giving a paper on the response of his department to Hurricane Sandy,” Mr. Ryan concluded.
The CFOA comprises the Chief Fire Officers of all Local Authorities in Ireland. The Association is also a member of the Federation of European Fire officers Associations and attends their twice yearly meetings.
Further details on the Irish Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) conference are available from www.corkcityfirebrigade.ie/cfoa2013 or www.cfoa.net.
