An Overview of the History and Advancement of the Croation Fire Service.
by Nenad Ilisic
Firegeezer notes: This is the second part of a two-part article giving a background of the Croatian fire service as told by a Croatian firefighter stationed in Pula. Yesterday Nenad covered the history of fire apparatus in the past 200 years. Today he concludes with the current equipment standards. You can read Part One HERE.
Part Two – Croatian Fire Service – Now.
Beginning in 2000 the fire brigades of MUP became public fire brigades (Javna vatrogasna postrojba – JVP), and the local authorities became the owners of JVP. One part of the financing is given by the state and the rest by local authorities.
From year 2000 also started intensive modernization of the firefighting service in Croatia. New equipment, new trucks and most important, new ways of learning and training was introduced across the country.
In 2003 an agreement between the Croatian government and the Daimler-Rosenbauer-IM Metal consortium was signed. In this agreement IM-Metal (Croatian company) on Rosenbauer license, produced 210 fire trucks on Mercedes truck chassis. Nowadays some bribe affairs are on the surface and owners of IM-Metal (now Flammifer) are in prison – but this is another story.
Flammifer
From 2003.-2009. 210 fire vehicles were delivered to many fire brigades, and the government is covering half of the credit financing. Second largest delivery of 30 fire vehicles was produced for Istra region, by Ziegler Hrvatska on IVECO,UNIMOG, Mercedes and SCAM chasis. All producers of fire superstructures and fire equipment in Croatia also produced a significant number of products not only for the Croatian market, but for export also.
Zigler Hrvatska
Nowadays we have 3 significant superstructure producers: Flammifer (ex IM-Metal), Ziegler Hrvatska (sister company of Albert Ziegler gmbH.), and MG- Rijeka. A large variety of fire vehicles can be produced using the latest technology, from smallest to largest.
MG – Rijeka
There is also a firefighting robot produced by DOK-ING company, well known for making mining robots.
DOK-ING robot
Equipment
Croatian firefighters use 110,75,52,38,25 mm hoses with Stortz couplings like in Germany and Austria. All firefighting equipment is standard and compatible in the entire country. Basic minimums of equipment is defined by state regulations and it is based on European, German, and Croatian standards.
Fire vehicles in Croatia are divided in categories. Each category has subcategories depending on many factors like dimension, equipment, etc.
Attack vehicles – (navalna vozila)
First response vehicles based on German/Austrian TLF type of vehicles, equipped with essential equipment for fighting fires, extrication tools, electric generators, light poles, water tank and foam agent, and in some vehicles CAF system. Crew cabin can be short for 3 persons, or large for 3-9 persons. By dimension vehicles can be small, medium or large.
Water tankers- (autocisterne)
Mainly accompanying attack vehicles for filling them with water. It can be used for independent attack of fire because they carry large amount of water and the equipment on them allow to lay hose lines. They carry from 3,000 liters up to 12,000 liters of water.
Chemical vehicles – (kemijska vozila)
Some vehicles have water tank and foam agents on them, dry powder and/or CO2. With roof monitor(s) it is possible to throw large amount of extinguishing agents.
Technical vehicles – (tehnička vozila)
Vehicles used for different types of accidents: road accidents, chemical and similar accidents. They carry large amount of technical equipment and the basis is on German RW or GWR type vehicles.
Turntable ladders- (autoljestve)
Mainly ladders and platforms from Rosenbauer-Metz or Magirus. Working height is from 20 – 54 m.
Forest vehicles – (šumska vozila)
Vehicles used to fight fires on the open areas. They must have AWD, minimum of defined equipment, steel cable winch. Small, medium and large category.
Command vehicles-(zapovjedna vozila)
Used for setting command points. Mostly used by high ranked officers.
Other vehicles-
All other vehicles used for some special purpose like transport of equipment or personal, industrial firefighting, aeroports, tunnels etc.
See some more of our specialized vehicles here: http://www.vatrogasci-rovinj.hr/HRV/vozila.asp
In the last 10 years Croatian firefighting jumped a gap from 1990’s till 2000. We entered in new millennium, with old equipment and minor knowledge of modern firefighting. That doesn’t mean that in classic firefighting we didn’t know the job – au contraire. Nowadays many fire departments are equipped with new equipment, new PPE, new vehicles.
Also command personnel are well educated (minimum 3 year of college – academic title of engineer, and minimum of 5 years in firefighting). That allows the fire departments to train their FF's in the best suitable way (respecting the range of work requests).
In the summer time it is not unusual for firefighters from across the whole world, when they visit my city, to arrive in front of our station and visit it. They leave with a good impression. As one FF from LA said to me: "You have nothing to be ashamed of." And we are not.
The website for my fire station in Pula: http://www.jvp-pula.hr/
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Great Boots! (a product review)
Comments OffA Boot That Lives Up to Its Claims
A few weeks ago I received a review pair of Black Diamond X2 bunker boots. These are the first bunker boots I've had that are of what they call hybrid construction. That is, they are made of leather, rubber, and a Nomex/Kevlar fabric, along with the Crosstech lining and steel pieces you expect in a bunker boot. After years of swearing by leather boots and dark ages before that of rubber, I don't mind finding a third way. Black Diamond boasts of several innovations in these boots, including their "3-point heel locking" (sic) system and a souped up footbed. There are a lot of nice features in these boots but you can read about those elsewhere (.pdf); we'll move on to the subjective, real-world evaluation.
My first impression out of the box and on my feet was that these boots fit and fit well. I have big calves (one of many nicknames: ham hocks), a nearly flat foot, and odd proportions of the balls of my feet to the heels. It is hard to get a boot that fits right from toe to shin but these really, really do. A lot of boots like to claim "shoe comfort" but these are the only I've ever found that actually come close. I've worn rubber and leather of numerous brands but these are, far and away, the most comfortable and supportive I've found. Not only that, but I was surprised to find out that the heel lock actually works! I can feel it snugly holding my heels in place.
You'll agree that comfort is only half the battle when it comes to something this expensive (retail: $298.95). After a few weeks on the truck and some action I can say that, so far at least, I'm pleased with the durability and performance. The pull loops are not going anywhere and the stitching looks great after some abuse. I know I can't really definitively pass judgment on the overall durability at this early date but the boots look promising on that count. The shinguard and toe cap are both substantial and I feel very confident in their level of protection, those pull loops are large and well placed, and the elastic band at the rear of the top allows plenty of flex around my fat legs. They also seem relatively light, though I haven't actually compared their weight to others.
Overall I'd say these boots are the only I've found that live up to the promises made about comfort and support. They seem durable, I feel protected in them (I can't say that about every boot I've ever worn, and I have the scar tissue on my feet to back it up), and I don't mind the way they look. The price is high but I'm a firm believer that two things on which you should never skimp are footwear and mattresses. I highly recommend these boots.
………. Patrick Mahoney.
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