IFE President’s Message

Jason Hill, President of the Institution of Fire Engineers, NZ Branch, provides an update on the local activities of the global professional body, including a new webinar series kicking off in October.

Formed in 1918, the IFE is a global professional membership body for those in the fire sector that seek to increase their knowledge, professional recognition and understanding of fire through a global discourse.

Comprising a diverse and professional membership base from fire services and the private sector, the IFE is focussed on improving fire safety through the gaining and sharing of knowledge, promoting the understanding of fire science and engineering, and promoting collaboration between government, industry and academia in advocating for best practice.

The Fire NZ Conference is a key platform for our organisation as we aim to serve fire industry professionals by focusing on current and relevant issues, promoting best practice, sharing of knowledge and providing networking opportunities.

Fire Engineers and IQPs taking part in the Firefighting for Fire Engineers information day at FENZ’s National Training centre in Rotorua.

With a conference hiatus due to Covid-19, IFE New Zealand has continued to be actively involved in the fire industry including supporting a number of webinars, working with Engineering New Zealand and MBIE on various consultations impacting the industry as well as continued involvement with Standards and industry guidance documents.

Commencing at the end of October and then monthly from 2023, IFE New Zealand are intending to offer free webinars on key and current topics of interest such as Lithium Ion battery fires, Hydrogen safety, and the fire safe use of wood in buildings.

Our first presentation will be from Inspector John McDonough. John is an operational Duty Commander in charge of 14 stations in the busy inner west zone of Sydney. John is a recognised expert in compartment fire behaviour training, firefighting tactics and as co-author of 3D Firefighting – Training, Tactics and Techniques.

We also hope to conduct more of our popular one-day live fire programme for fire engineers and people who work in fire related industries or who have an interest in the fire safety design of buildings.

This programme was developed to give participants the opportunity to gain a better understanding of fire and smoke behaviour and firefighting techniques by involving them in a series of real fire simulations. All participants are able to gain first-hand experience of real fires in building enclosures, including fire initiation and development, fire and smoke spread, flashover, the use of firefighting equipment, firefighting and search and rescue techniques, and more.

Jason Hill, President Institution of Fire Engineers New Zealand Branch