Editorial
‘About 30’ has now been redefined as 21 rescue service areas, Juhani Katajamäki
Criteria for the formation of rescue service areas
Report on the Austrian tunnel accident. One saved, 155 passengers dead, Gottried Bauer
Splashes
Thursday is truly full of woe, Juha-Pekka Laaksonen
In the past year, as many as 38% of fires involving a loss of a million marks took place on a Thursday in Helsinki, while the average incidence of building fires on Thursdays was only 16%. Chi-square tests show that no difference was recorded between the other days of the week, but Thursday stood out. With losses already over FIM 200,000 it was shown with 99% certainty that the difference is not coincidental.
Because the phenomenon seemed so hard to explain, errors were suspected in the storing or processing of the data. For this reason it was decided to investigate whether the same phenomenon could be detected in the Tampere material, which is based on data stored by different alarm centres. The result was equally surprising.
Fire master Simo Wecksten, who worked in the part of India struck by the recent earthquake, says crisis management in the Finnish rescue service should be upgraded to the level in the other Nordic countries, Vesa Toikka
Voluntary fireman throws in the towel and turns off the taps, Risto K. Järvinen
Fire brigade driving practice in slippery conditions improves, Jyrki Haapala
A new fire engine - routine for full-time brigades, and a dream come true for voluntary brigades, Juhani Katajamäki
Helsinki acquires the world’s first turntable ladder fire engine for city courtyards — also a good choice for small communities, Risto K. Järvinen
Changing of the guard at Helsinki Rescue Institute, Juhani Katajamäki
A fire chief’s work and career, I. A new fire chief takes office, Reijo Tolppi
CTIF 2001, the biggest ever international fire brigade event arranged in Finland, bringing 4,000 participants to Kuopio from 28 countries, Juhani Katajamäki
CTIF – the world’s oldest fire and rescue service organization, I, Rainer Alho
Test your fire detector once a month – press the button!, Juhani Katajamäki
Follow-up on the health and working capacity of firemen of different ages, part II. Health and working capacity. Challenges today and in the future, Sirpa Lusa ja Anne Punakallio
Fire house project lives on
Pelastustieto website opened, Vesa Toikka
Discussion. Rescue service e-mail inoperative, Esko Tamski
Spirit of fire. On life’s track-course, Sakari Halmemies
Fire prevention. Double-glazed facades, Markku Aarnio
Protection for buildings. On protecting companies and other things, Eino J. Virtanen
Insurance decision surprised a fireman injured during a chin-up exercise, Vesa Toikka
Cover:
A working group on rescue service areas has issued a proposal which would divide the country into 21 rescue service areas. In order to ensure proper operative and administrative management, a minimum of 25-30 fire officer posts should be established. This would enable the necessary number of on-duty officers.
Picture: Kalervo Järvensivu