Articles

Practitioners can use the new guide to develop emergency and incident management teams. Image courtesy of Natural Hazards Research Australia
New guide to utilise non-technical skills in emergency management

A first-of-its-kind guide to help practitioners deepen their understanding and use of non-technical skills has…

Forest fire drone footage of Liangshan, Sichuan.
What are the applications of VTOL UAV/ DRONES in forest wildfires?
The VTOL drone intelligent high-altitude reconnaissance and forest fire video monitoring system is applied to…
In the examples above, the images show a dual occupancy/duplex home sharing a common fire-rated wall separating both. Significant fire conditions can be identified in the home on the right. On initial assessment, although some heat transfer is apparent in the roof space and roof eaves on the home on the left, fire spread appears to be contained to the right side of the ‘firewall’. The potential origin, seat of the fire and its spread, as are points of possible access, can also be seen. The thermal view and other information gained during further ongoing 360º size-up using both the TIC and traditional size-up methods will assist in determining the priorities and actions taken for both homes. Images supplied by Author / Contributor
Using Thermal Imaging Cameras during size-up

Although Thermal Imaging Cameras (TICs) can be used for size-up, unfortunately they are often underutilized…

Figure 1: Post 2019–2020 fires, Mallacoota. Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/oitD52FFUu0 Images supplied by Author / Contributor
Role of planning in bushfire risk reduction – a brief introduction to Australian practice 

Over the past several years more frequent and severe hot weather patterns have occurred globally…

FST SmartConnect Sprinkler. Images supplied by Author / Contributor
Future fire sprinkler heads are digital

Fire sprinklers might be a safety necessity, but they come with their own risks in…

Les Darcey Drive, Main Road into Maitland Town Centre.
Post-flood research is helping us learn from communities

A new independent research project is underway, seeking to learn from the experiences of those…

Figure 1: Heatwave incident locations in Australia, FY2001 to FY2018. Higher densities of heatwave fatalities are indicated by larger/ darker hotspots.
Heatwave fatalities in Australia: a new analysis

Heatwaves, recognised as one of the key natural hazard risks to human health, have increased…

Preventing house fires are where the HFSC are now focusing. Images supplied by Author / Contributor
The road to mandating home fire sprinklers in Australia 

For well over a century, automatic fire sprinklers have proven to be a trusted, reliable,…

High-rises and construction in Melbourne central business district. Image courtesy of Olivia Micalizzi. Images supplied by Author / Contributor
Grenfell: five years after the tragedy, what have we learnt and what action has been taken?
In the five years since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, governments in the UK and across…
Figure 2A (PFOS levels) and 2B (PFHxS levels) in a large cohort of Australian firefighters shown as individual values in ascending order.
Reducing PFAS levels in firefighters by blood and plasma donation
Historically firefighters have been occupationally exposed to perfluoroalkyl substances such as PFOS, PFHxS and PFOA…
Figure 1: Helicopter engine and exhaust. Images supplied by Author / Contributor
An innovative flame-detector solution for helidecks and aircraft hangars

Fire & Gas Detection Technologies Inc. (FGD) is addressing the daily problems that impact productivity,…

Areas of NSW were inundated with flooding between February and April, 2022. Images supplied by Author / Contributor
Science to guide our relationship with nature

CEO of Natural Hazards Research Australia, Dr Richard Thornton, reflects on the floods in Queensland…

USAR professionals always conduct the search in disaster scenes. Images supplied by Author / Contributor
Use of search cameras during USAR operations
In Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) operations, and in particular structural collapse incidents, search cameras…
Steel bull bar and brush bars with cab activated batter sprays on both sides and rated tow points. Images supplied by Author / Contributor
Introducing the Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland (RFBAQ) designed ‘Fusion Cruiser’

The RFBAQ are fusing the crew safety learnings from the Innovation Platform onto the RFBAQ…

Standards Australia 2022 Innovation Award.
Award-winning just-in-time innovation
The fire-protection industry is accustomed to change and innovation. Despite being able to trace its…
Areas of NSW were inundated with flooding between February and April, 2022. Images supplied by Author / Contributor
A rainy, fatal summer: how the 2021–22 La Niña season stacks up with previous seasons

Some 41 people have drowned (including three missing presumed dead (mpd)) over the 2021–22 La…

The Australian Fire Danger Rating System will replace the current pictured rating system. Images supplied by Author / Contributor
Changing the way we predict and respond to fire nationally

Nova Systems Geospatial (formerly Geoplex) has worked closely with AFAC and NSW RFS to tackle…

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the most famous icons in Australia. Images supplied by Author / Contributor
Standards Australia’s Iconic Nation Report

As part of its centenary year, Standards Australia has released the Iconic Nation Report. This…

FT4250 Airbus Supa Puma. Images supplied by Author / Contributor
Innovative design sees Helitak gain additional approvals

Now widely used all over the world, Helitak have continued to build on their original…

The frequency of fire-generated thunderstorms has increased in the last 20 years, with Australia entering an era of violent pyro-convection. This research helps predict the formation of fire-generated thunderstorms, such as this one forming over Lake King in Western Australia, February 2020. Image courtesy of Christine Harper, DBCA, Western Australia
When fires cause storms

New technology is now available that predicts fire-generated thunderstorms, prompted by a sharp increase in…

Australia’s building industry is starting to recognise the importance of passive fire product certification. Images supplied by Author / Contributor
The history of product certification
Third-party product certification schemes build on and strengthen the assurance provided by testing. They help…
Figure 2: FLS-IR3-H2-HD flame detector. Images supplied by Author / Contributor
Becoming green and the challenges for optical flame detection

We are all too aware of the drivers to become greener. In some cases, the…

Asia Pacific Fire is the only quarterly journal for the Asia Pacific Fire protection, fire service and emergency management communities. Asia Pacific Fire is dedicated to keeping our readers up to date with current research, new and innovative equipment, techniques and training methods. We also cover regional news stories and current issues.

Our articles are written and read by leaders in the fire and disaster management world, looking at the issues around protection, prevention, mitigation, response and recovery. We are very much aware of the importance of looking to the future to solve problems before they arise within the community and agencies.

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