Fire and Rescue International Newsletter

Brotherhood, fitness and innovation take centre stage at the Dräger Fire Combat and Rescue Challenge 2026

The 2026 Dräger Fire Combat and Rescue Challenge (DFCC) once again proved that this event is about far more than competition. It is about celebrating the firefighter brotherhood, promoting health and wellness, and strengthening the partnership between Dräger and the firefighting community. This year’s event welcomed 20 teams and 87 individual competitors, who took on a fiercely contested series of firefighting challenges that tested strength, endurance, skill and teamwork.

From tower climbs and hose hoists to forcible entry and rescue drags, competitors pushed themselves to their limits while demonstrating the professionalism and determination that define the fire service. Yet beyond the scores and podium finishes, the true winners were the relationships built, the knowledge shared and the camaraderie displayed throughout the event. The DFCC continues to showcase the spirit of unity that exists within the firefighting profession.

A key focus of the challenge remains support for the Healthy Firefighter Initiative, encouraging firefighters to maintain peak physical fitness while raising awareness around occupational health risks, contamination, and long-term wellbeing. Dräger’s commitment to protecting firefighters extends beyond emergency incidents and includes helping departments establish safer, healthier working practices throughout their careers.

The opening day also gave attendees an exciting glimpse into the future of firefighting technology. Dräger showcased several innovative solutions, including the PSS AirBoss Connect, an advanced SCBA system designed to deliver enhanced situational awareness, real-time accountability, integrated PASS functionality, Bluetooth-enabled monitoring, and connectivity to the Dräger FireGround accountability platform. Its lightweight ergonomic design helps reduce firefighter fatigue while improving operational safety and incident command visibility.

Firefighters were also introduced to two new helmet platforms expected to arrive in 2027: the Dräger HPS ProGuard and Dräger HPS ProRescue. These next-generation helmets have been developed to provide enhanced comfort, protection, communications integration and operational versatility, ensuring firefighters and rescue personnel can work safer and more effectively in demanding environments.

The DFCC continues to highlight the strong partnership between Dräger and the fire service. By combining frontline feedback with innovative technology, Dräger remains committed to its mission of delivering “Technology for Life” and supporting those who dedicate their lives to protecting others.

Congratulations to all the winners, podium finishers and participants who made this year’s challenge such a success. A special congratulations also goes to the defending champions, who once again demonstrated the standard of excellence that the competition is renowned for.

We would like to thank every firefighter, sponsor, volunteer, and supporter who contributed to another outstanding event. We now look forward to welcoming the firefighting community back for the 7th edition of the Dräger Fire Combat and Rescue Challenge on 23-24 July 2027. We cannot wait to host all firefighters once again for another celebration of brotherhood, fitness, innovation and firefighting excellence.

Photo gallery
Results

Source: Wimpie van Onselen, Dräger South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Quote of the week
“Don’t just train your body. Train your mind not to quit.” ~ Author unknown

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Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr John Conway as the new Senior Director of Fire and Emergency Services, effective 1 September 2026. Mr Conway brings over-extensive years of dedicated experience in fire administration and emergency response to the role. In this new position, he will oversee all departmental operations, strategic planning, community safety initiatives and emergency management services. Before joining NMBM Fire and Emergency Services, Mr Conway served as Chief Fire Officer for Blue Crane Route Municipality (2015 – 2024) and Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality for three months where he implemented fire administration, emergency response and successfully established the municipality’s Fire and Emergency Services Department as the Chief Fire Officer.

A major fire severely damaged the Castletown and Malew Fire and Ambulance Station on the Isle of Man on 13 August 2026. The fire started at about 17h00 BST in the appliance room of the station, located near Ronaldsway Airport. Two firefighters were injured in the fire. The Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service said the fire began in an appliance room and was discovered by a member of staff. “Shortly after 5pm, the fire alarm operated within the building, alerting a member of staff who was on the premises and who discovered a fire in the main appliance room, which houses two fire appliances. A full emergency response was mobilised from supporting fire stations to deal with the incident. At the height of the incident, nine fire appliances were committed on scene, including a turntable ladder and a specialist appliance from the Airport Fire and Rescue Service, along with several support vehicles and officers.”

NSRI Awards Evening: Celebrating 59 years of courage and commitment

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) hosted its 59th Annual Awards evening and AGM at Club Mykonos in Langebaan on Friday, 14 August 2026. The evening paid tribute to our dedicated volunteers and courageous individuals who risk their lives to save others on South African waters. It was a celebration of their unwavering commitment and remarkable bravery, recognising the vital role they play in safeguarding lives at sea.

The Crisafulli Government is delivering easier access to emergency healthcare for communities across Brisbane’s south, with a new purpose-built ambulance station now operational at Springwood. The $8.1 million replacement station provides Queensland Ambulance Service crews with a modern, fit-for-purpose facility to support growing demand for emergency care across the region. The new station features modern rest and study rooms, a multi-function conference room for training and meetings, upgraded staff amenities, and a vehicle bay capable of housing seven ambulance vehicles and two patient transport vehicles. It is home to 22 paramedics, two Patient Transport Officers and an Officer-in-Charge, supporting the Queensland Ambulance Service’s response to more than 1.3 million incidents across Queensland each year.

There was a genuine sense of pride and high spirits at the Hermanus Fire Station on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, as the Overstrand Municipality Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management team welcomed Executive Mayor Alderman Archie Klaas, members of his Mayoral Committee, Director for Overstrand Municipal Public Safety Dawie Adonis, Western Cape Disaster Management Deputy Director Etienne du Toit, and Santam’s Manager of Stakeholder Engagement, Dr Moses Khangale, for the handover of new firefighting and HAZMAT equipment. Deputy Fire Chief Angelo Aplon kept the morning moving smoothly and in good spirits as the programme director for the event.

The Guangdong Provincial Fire and Rescue Corps is the official comprehensive provincial firefighting and emergency rescue force operating under China’s Ministry of Emergency Management. Formally established on December 27, 2019, following the national 2018 structural reform where former Public Security Fire Forces transitioned from active military service to a civilian national rescue administration. Its core responsibilities include fire suppression, structural and wildland fire prevention, emergency rescue operations and fire safety supervision and law enforcement across Guangdong Province.

Firefighters successfully brought a hazardous scrap metal fire under control in Klerksoord, north of Pretoria, after it broke out in the early hours of Sunday, 23 August 2026. The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department received the call through the Emergency Control Centre about scrap metal fire at Klerksoord shortly after 03h00am on Sunday morning. Upon arrival, firefighters found a large quantity of scrap material and debris gutted in flames. The site also contained gas cylinders and other hazardous materials, some of which have been exploding because of the fire, creating additional hazards for firefighters.

The US National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Fire and Life Safety Section (FLSS) are exploring new ways to work together to enhance fire safety and advance standards for energy storage systems. Two key initiatives are currently underway that highlight this commitment to collaboration and public safety ie ‘New guidance for battery energy storage systems (BESS)’ and ‘Promoting free fire and life safety resources’.

Nelson Mandela University’s Forestry students put their teamwork, endurance and practical skills to the test when they recently competed alongside professional firefighting crews at the annual Fire Suppression Proto Team Competition near Knysna. Held at the Concordia Training Centre near Knysna, the competition brought together teams to tackle a series of demanding fire suppression and emergency response challenges. The Forestry class of 2026 based on George Campus entered a team for the competition, joining forces with the Garden Route Municipality, which provided a fire truck, a professional driver and hand tools to support the team. GFox sponsored the team’s hard hats.

A male motorist died late at night on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, after losing control of his SUV and slamming with high impact into a tree on Swartkoppies Road in Alberton. Firefighters and rescue teams from the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) had to apply specialised hydraulic rescue equipment and their skills to free and recover the critically and entrapped driver of an SUV from the wreckage. Teams from Alberton and Katlehong fire stations both received the call at 22h08 and simultaneously responded to the scene for intervention.

This week’s featured Fire and Rescue International magazine article is: Career path for fire safety personnel in the municipal environment written by Petrus Brits, City of Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (FRI Vol 4 no 1). We will be sharing more technical/research/tactical articles from Fire and Rescue International magazine on a weekly basis with our readers to assist in technology transfer. This will hopefully create an increased awareness, providing you with hands-on advice and guidance. All our magazines are available free of charge in PDF format on our website and online at ISSUU. We also provide all technical articles as a free download in our article archive on our website.

Internal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti officially opened New Zealand East Coast Bays’ new fire station in 2021 on the North Shore. Fire and Emergency New Zealand Board Chair Paul Swain said the brand new $8 million station has been strategically placed and designed to be sustainable and cater to the long-term needs of the area. “The area is mostly residential, with a large new housing development in Long Bay and another large industrial commercial park in Rosedale,” Paul Swain says.

Semi-autonomous vehicles bring help to hazardous regions. Destroyed roads, rough terrain and the risk of attacks can make it difficult to deliver humanitarian assistance and can endanger the lives of aid workers. This is where the semi-autonomous SHERP all-terrain vehicle, developed by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), is set to be deployed: because it can be controlled remotely, it can transport aid supplies across difficult to access terrain without the need for a human driver. “In situations where aid workers are exposed to direct risk, remote-operated robots are a good way of delivering aid and disaster protection from a safe distance,” says Armin Wedler of the DLR-Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics. The United Nations World Food Programme is already deploying conventional SHERP vehicles – in Mozambique and South Sudan, for example. The vehicles being used there are not controlled remotely, however – they have drivers on board.

Source: Deutschland.de

This video outlines key fitness foundations for preparing for the San José Fire Department Fire Academy, including example training activities and the primary physical demands recruits can expect. It highlights essential focus areas such as upper body pull and grip strength, aerobic fitness, carries, and total body push strength. The video also provides guidance on addressing fitness deficiencies and maintaining joint health and mobility to reduce injury risk.

Source: San José Fire Department

The advantages of using the sliding vs crawling technique include maintaining constant visual contact with the overhead, the ability to look behind without losing speed, the opportunity to detect potential hazards with your front leg, and an overall increase in speed.

Source: Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Training Division

Step into the past with this rare Super 8 film capturing daily life in London Fire Brigade between 1965 and 1979. Filmed across stations including Mill Hill, Wandsworth and Lambeth, this silent archive footage offers a fascinating look at firefighting in a very different era, from large-scale drills to station downtime.

Source: London Fire Brigade

The purpose of life is not just to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate, and to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well. Learn graceful ways of saying no and of pointing out that this pressure to do something is not in line with most people’s wishes but we have not lived today until we have done something for someone who can never repay us. So! There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.

Source: Julius Fleischman

Different “sirens” you’ll use as a firefighter

Am I the only one that has done every single one of these?

Source: Fire Department Chronicles