Intensive training and compact courses
Tactics and techniques for firefighting operations in road and railway tunnels Tunnel fires: dangerous, but manageable Tunnel fires are known to be a great challenge. Therefore the International Fire Academy, in cooperation with many European fire services, developed special tactics and techniques which are demonstrated and taught in this course under realistic conditions. Speed is crucial The quicker a tunnel fire can be extinguished, the better the chances of rescuing human lives. To be fast and at the same time aware of one´s own safety, a firefighter must be well prepared. Especially for officers and instructors The International Fire Academy´s tactics and techniques are being adopted by more and more fire services. This course offers officers the opportunity to get an overall idea and choose which elements suit their own services best. A unique world of experience and a variety of benefits The International Fire Academy offers the most varied tunnel training facilities in the world. The participants can experience operating conditions inside tunnels with all of their senses. They gain valuable experience for all facilities with a long way for firefighters to reach the area of operations (great depth of penetration). This does not only apply for tunnels, but also for example underground car parks and industrial buildings.
Course offerings
Number of participants, group compositions
The International Fire Academy offers intensive training and compact courses particularly for officers: − Intensive training course road & railway (ITC Rd&Rl, 4 days) − Intensive training course road (ITC Rd, 3 days) − Compact course road & railway (CC Rd&Rl, 2 days)
Every course can be attended by 16-24 firefighters. This gives us the opportunity for more one to one individual support and gives the chance to train different roles multiple times in operations during the intensive training courses.
Target audience and requirements
The international group of participants will consist of members from different fire services. To ensure effective teamwork during the training operations, the participants will have the opportunity to get to know each other during a team building phase.
These courses are designed for local fire services, plant fire services or fire academies which are assigned to or train for operations in road, railway, research, energy tunnels or similar facilities.
The minimum number of participants is 12.
Specially designed for officers who want to form their own opinion about the International Fire Academy´s operational tactics, allowing them to adopt the most suitable elements for their own services. Participants should possess considerable experience in leadership and operations. Experience operating in tunnels is not necessary. It is also mandatory for participants of the intensive training courses to be trained to use self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and have a valid medical certificate to do so. Language The spoken language is English. For safety reasons, all participants must understand spoken English well, according to CEFR at least level B1, better B2.
Fire operations within a passenger waggon
Methodology: learning through experience During operations, fire services do what has proven to be successful. Although in cases of rare events like tunnel fires, experience is often missing: as a result little reliable knowledge is available for the operation. For this reason the Swiss government commissioned the International Fire Academy to build a tunnel training facility and give firefighters the opportunity to gain these experiences. The International Fire Academy teaches through experience: it teaches not only current knowledge but also provides a world of experience from which fire services can discover on their own how to best adopt the tunnel operational tactics for themselves. Fire operations in the tunnel training facility
Learning targets
Contents of the courses, learning and experience opportunities On the intensive training courses operational tactics and techniques will be exercised intensively. On the compact course participants can also experience typical conditions for tunnel operations, but they will not be exercising physically. The following chart gives an overview of the different course contents, learning and experience opportunities. Course Duration in days
ITC Rd&Rl 4
ITC Rd 3
CC Rd&Rl 2
Introduction and safety instructions
Experience conditions of operations (tunnel training facility)
Risks at the scene of operation
Demonstration of scouting, firefighting, search and rescue techniques Knowledge of architectural features and venting systems in road tunnels Case studies: fire in road tunnels; fire behaviour European tunnel directive: details for fire services Introduction to the tactics for operations in road tunnels Team building (for mixed teams) Experience conditions of operations intensively (tunnel training facility) Instruction of scouting, firefighting, search and rescue techniques Intensive training scenario: road tunnel tactics Detailed training: operation techniques for road tunnels Multiple training operations within the tunnel training facility Development of operation concepts; preparation for operations Planning, executing and evaluating of tunnel operation trainings Teaching/training tunnel operations at home Field trip to a tunnel complex Training scenario: railway tunnel tactics Multiple training operations within the railway tunnel training facility
The intensive training and the compact courses differ significantly in intensity and the opportunity to gain practical experience. The following chart gives an overview of the variety of learning targets in the different courses. Course Duration in days
ITC Rd&Rl 4
ITC Rd 3
CC Rd&Rl 2
possibilities to train in real tunnels
the basics to prepare operations in tunnels
The participants know case studies about car fires the relevant differences between tunnels and common buildings the distinctive characteristics of operations with a great depth of penetration the relevant risks on a scene of operation in tunnels the basic tactics for operations in tunnels scouting, firefighting, search and rescue techniques for operations in tunnels the European tunnel directive: details for fire services the possibilities and limits of tactics for operations in tunnels the physical limits for operations with a great depth of penetration
apply the basic tactics
justify tactic decisions plausibly
reproduce the learned techniques
develop concepts for tunnel operations
plan, execute and evaluate tunnel operation trainings
prepare their firefighters for tunnel operations at home
trained operation command intensively
applied operational techniques repeatedly
The participants can set their acquired experience and gained insights to practical use evaluate the usefulness of the course content for their services at home
Knowledge of architectural features of railway tunnels
Case studies: fire in railway tunnels
Introduction: tactics for operations in railway tunnels
The participants have experienced the unique conditions of tunnel operations reflected on their experiences with the group experienced the unique physical stress of tunnel operations whilst wearing breathing apparatus
Operation training at the road tunnel training facility
Course schedule
Board and lodging
The courses take place in Switzerland; they start and end in All participants are assigned a single room with ensuite Balsthal (postal code: 4710). shower and WC at their disposal. The intensive training courses begin and finish at midday, to make arrival in the morning and a departure in the afternoon possible. For the compact course arrival time is planned for the evening before the first day of the course and the departure will be on the evening of the last day. Course Day 1 Morning Afternoon Evening Day 2 Morning Afternoon Evening Day 3 Morning Afternoon Evening Day 4 Morning Afternoon Evening Day 5 Morning Afternoon
ITC Rd&Rl
Substantial daily meals consisting of breakfast, two hot meals and snacks are supplied. In order to balance your fluid intake during training, sufficient drinks are available at any time. Vegetarian meals can be provided on request. ITC Rd
Arrival Exp eriencing and reflecting on the sp ecial conditions of tunnel op erations Case studies / team b uilding Basics: knowledge of architectural features, risks at the scene of op eration, tactics Exp anding b asics and tactical discussions including training scenarios Field trip to a tunnel comp lex
CC Rd&Rl Arrival on the evening before Tunnel exp erience Case studies Basics and tactics D emonstration Einsatztechnik Summary and dep arture
Instruction of op erational techniques for road tunnels* Training op eration - road tunnel* Free time D iscussion of exp eriences Instruction: op erational techniques for railway tunnels* Training op eration -railway tunnel* Discussion of exp eriences
Op erational p rep arations and p lanning of training op erations Summary and dep arture * Using breathing protection
Op erational p rep arations and p lanning of training op erations Summary and dep arture
The plan shows the schedule. The right to rearrange the course modules at short notice is reserved by the organisers.
Benefits: experience firefighting at its limits Tunnel fires are a special challenge. Generally there will already be two or more fire services involved during the initial phase, this leads to an uncommonly high need for coordination and communication right from the start. The scene of operation ranges from many hundreds to thousands of meters. Reconnaissance takes a considerable amount of time. The great depths of penetration take the forces quickly to their performance limits. Preparing for this task provides more security for all operations. The intensive training
strengthens decisiveness, working routines, boosts thinking of command options and teaches the boundaries of the possible. Our intensive courses not only provide preparations for operations in tunnels, but also give the participants the abilities to improve their qualification as firefighters. The courses provide what firefighters can only gain in full-grown operations: experience.
Course fee The course fee per person including VAT is as follows: − Compact course road & railway CHF 1'690 (incl. 2 overnight stays) − Intensive training course road CHF 3'490 (incl. 3 overnight stays) − Intensive training course road & railway CHF 4'690 (incl. 4 overnight stays) The fees include: − All training services − Shuttles during the courses − Field trips − Rented breathing apparatus − Catering − Overnight stays in single rooms Breathing apparatus For the intensive training course the International Fire Academy will supply the participants with breathing apparatus including full face masks. We recommend those who wear glasses to bring their own masks with them. Good to know: during this course open-circuit self-contained breathing apparatus (scba) will be used exclusively. For the use of closed-circuit breathing apparatus (a.k.a. rebreather apparatus) the International Fire Academy offers extra training possibilities
Personal protective equipment for the intensive training course From the experience of many participants, it is recommended that your own personal protective equipment is used for the intensive training course. It must consist of: − Helmet − Boots − Turnout coat − Turnout trousers − Gloves − Helmet lamp with spare batteries Our locker room is equipped with a drying system which will dry wet equipment over night. If you can’t bring your equipment due to unavoidable circumstances, for example transportation problems, we can provide you with suitable equipment after consultation in advance for a small fee. Clothing For general classes we recommend lightweight working clothes and a weatherproof jacket. In your free time and for field trips casual clothes are appropriate. Because field trips head into the Alps in the evening, warm clothes are advisable even in summer. Registration To enroll use the form on the next page and submit it via mail, e-mail or fax.
Questions? For questions please contact the International Fire Academy via the following methods: Tel. +41 62 386 11 11 E-mail:
[email protected]. You can obtain further details at any time at www.ifa-swiss.ch/en.
Fighting a fire
Application form for international courses
Firefighting operations in road and railway tunnels Clarifications With this form you can register up to 3 persons from a single fire service (organisation) for one of the courses listed below. If you want to register more than 3 persons please use the corresponding form. Place allocations on the course will be considered in the order in which they are received and confirmed immediately. The notifying fire service (organisation) will receive the invitations for all registered persons approximately 3 weeks before the course is to start and should advise their registered participants accordingly. Notifying fire service (organisation) Fire service
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Postal address
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Contact person
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Position
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Billing address
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(If different from postal address)
_____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ Participants The signatory hereby enrols the following persons: Person 1
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Person 2
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Person 3
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Registration form for international courses
Firefighting operations in road and railway tunnels International courses in English The signatory hereby registers the overleaf listed persons to the following course (please mark and complete): Please fill in the corresponding date of the course you wish to attend. You can find the details of the courses at our website in the course descriptions www.ifa-swiss.ch/en/ifa-uva/offer/international-courses.html. CHF
Date (Day/Month/Year)
Compact course road & railway (CC Rd&Rl)
Course
1'690.-
__ __ to __ __ / __ __ / __ __ __ __
Intensive training course road (ITC Rd)
3'490.-
__ __ to __ __ / __ __ / __ __ __ __
Intensive training course road & railway (ITC Rd&Rl) 4'690.-
__ __ to __ __ / __ __ / __ __ __ __
Bookings can be made up to 2 months prior to the start of the course. Upon request eventually free reservations can be booked after the registration deadline. In this case please call us at +41 62 386 11 11. Terms and conditions By the start of the course all enrolled persons must have successfully completed firefighter officer training. Participants of the intensive training course must also be scba (self-contained breathing apparatus) certified and medically fit. The notifying fire service (organisation) must make sure, that all of their participants meet up to the requirements for intensive training with breathing apparatus. The participants confirm at the beginning of the course that they are fit to use respiratory equipment without restrictions, and that there are no reasons that would exclude them from any exercise involving the wearing of breathing apparatus. Participants who cannot do so may participate in classroom based training only and are not allowed to enter the tunnel training facility during the practical training. In this case the course fee will not be refunded or will still be charged. By completing and submitting this application the registration becomes binding. The invoice will be issued together with the submission of the booking confirmation. The course fee is due within 10 days of the date of the invoice. If payment is not received in time, the International Fire Academy reserves the right to assign the reservation to someone else. Cancelations are only accepted in writing. In case of a cancelation the following charges will be made: − Cancelation ahead of the registration deadline: 50 % of the course fee will be charged. − Cancelation up to 15 days before start of the course: 70 % of the course fee will be charged. − Cancelation less than 15 days before start of the course or due to not appearing at the course: 90 % of the course fee will be charged. The International Fire Academy reserves the right to cancel any reservation. Already paid fees will be refunded without any rights to further compensatory measures. Changes to the course program are possible at any time and do not qualify as a reason to reduce the course fee. With your signature you confirm your agreement to the terms and conditions outlined above and that the information you have supplied is complete and correct. __________________________________________________________________ (Seal), date and signature
Please submit the completed and signed form likewise via: − Post to the International Fire Academy, Kursanmeldung, Industriezone Klus, CH-4710 Balsthal − by fax to +41 62 386 11 12 or − by E-mail to
[email protected] We look forward to your registration. Should you have any questions we will be happy to answer them for you. Please contact us by e-mail
[email protected] or directly on the telephone +41 62 386 11 11: We are happy to assist you!
