In desember 2017, I visited the International Fire Academy in Balsthal, Switzerland. A special designed tunnel fire training facility, where fire fighters from all over Europe train basic skills for rescue and fire fighting in tunnels.
The purpose for the technical visit was to study best practice, an important input to an ongoing study in Norway. Learning by doing is important for this state of the art training course.
The 30 hour basic tunnel training for fire fighters are mostly done in practical lessons in the 260 meter training tunnel in Balsthal and in the 170 meter long training tunnel in Lungern. Every fire fighter in Switzerland learn the tactical methods on how to act in a fire incident in a tunnel. A training that is considered a prerequisite for a safe and fast response to these types of incidents.
A very important initiative for tunnel safety in Europe, and it is impressive how the Swiss authorities give priority to tunnel safety.
Weblink: Link
The purpose for the technical visit was to study best practice, an important input to an ongoing study in Norway. Learning by doing is important for this state of the art training course.
The 30 hour basic tunnel training for fire fighters are mostly done in practical lessons in the 260 meter training tunnel in Balsthal and in the 170 meter long training tunnel in Lungern. Every fire fighter in Switzerland learn the tactical methods on how to act in a fire incident in a tunnel. A training that is considered a prerequisite for a safe and fast response to these types of incidents.
A very important initiative for tunnel safety in Europe, and it is impressive how the Swiss authorities give priority to tunnel safety.
Weblink: Link