FOCUS


Simulating command


Robert Stacey gives an overview of the 20 month IGNIS project, which used simulation technology to train officers across Europe in commanding large wildfire incidents


P


ARTNERS FROM across Europe have spent the last 20 months developing and testing a mobile incident command


training system and package that will improve firefighters’ response to wildfires. This work is being undertaken as part of the IGNIS project (Initiative for Global Management of Big Fires through Simulation), which is a two year project being co fi nanced through the EU Civil Protection Financial Instrument (Grant Agreement Number: ECHO/SUB/2015/718664/ PREP01 IGNIS). IGNIS will conclude at the end of 2017 and is


coming to an end at a timely point, with many countries in Europe, particularly around the Mediterranean, experiencing a very severe wildfi re season during the last few months. This article reviews the work undertaken so far during IGNIS and focuses in particular on three international exercises that have been organised to test the simulator, wildfi re scenarios and training framework; concluding with a summary of some ongoing work that will be completed in the near future to leave an important legacy of the project.


Partners and funding


The key aim of the IGNIS project is to improve the command and coordination of wildfi re incidents through the development of simulation training for incident commanders at wildfire incidents. It brings together the knowledge and experience of four emergency service partners from four different European countries. All of the IGNIS partners currently design


and deliver wildfi re training, playing a leading role within their respective countries with regards to wildfi res. They include: •


France’s National Training School for Fire Fighters (ENTENTE pour la forêt Méditerranéenne)


•


Italian National Fire Corps (Corpo Nazionale dei Vigili del Fuoco) [CNVVF]


• Portuguese National School for Fire Fighters (Escola Nacional de Bombeiros) [ENB]


• Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service [NFRS]


24 DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 www.frmjournal.com


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