San Diego, CA (January 30, 2004) -- Next week, Firehouse World Exposition and Conference, the only West Coast fire and emergency services exposition and conference, will bring together over 5,000 industry leaders, instructors and fire professionals. This 5-days event will include case studies on past tragedies and lessons learned, while educating firefighters on ways to save future lives and property. Included will be an in-depth review of some of California's fall wildfires, including the largest fires in the state's history, which occurred in San Diego County. The 2nd annual event will take place at the San Diego Convention Center, February 3-5, 2004, with two days of hands-on training preceding the show on February 1 & 2, 2004.
"Firehouse World brings the best and the brightest in the fire service together in order to share information and training with other First Responders, the men and women who work on the front lines of our nation's most difficult disasters," says Robert Brice, Firehouse World Show Manager. "At this year's Firehouse World, conference leaders will review the California wildfires providing analysis and critiques on best practices for fighting the fires, lessons learned, and how to avoid potential catastrophes by evaluating erosion problems, fire/flood sequence and the hazards of mud and debris flows associated with the aftermath of the fires."
Los Angeles County Fire Department Captain Larry Collins will lead - The Coming Disaster: Mud & Debris Flows (What we've learned from the 2003 Firestorms) - at the Expo. Thousands attend Firehouse World each year to participate in programs like this one. In addition, Michael Rohde BC, of the Orange County, California Fire Authority will lead a workshop discussing 47 common factors allowed to affect the command of six major California interface wildfires spanning the East Bay Hills of the San Francisco Bay, to Malibu and Laguna Beach, to the area just north of San Diego. Collectively, these fires killed 30 people and destroy nearly 5000 structures and over 50,000 acres. Commander Rhode will review the study done by California State University in Long Beach. He not only researched the causes of the fires, but also identified significant issues regarding firefighter safety, deployment, effectiveness and new areas for the fire service to consider.
"Training for our jobs does not come from a manual," says past Tenafly, New Jersey Chief Harvey Eisner. Chief Eisner also serves as Editor-in-Chief of Firehouse magazine and manages most of the show's workshop and conference program. "The best defense is experience and we are fortunate to have firefighters willing to share that front-line knowledge firefighters willing to share that front line knowledge that often can make the difference between life and death."
Division Chief Bill Clayton of the California Department of Forestry and Assistant Chief John Hawkins of California's Department of Forestry & Fire Protection served as unified incident commanders on the Cedar Fire and two others and will review what some have called "the perfect fire," San Diego's Wildland Conflagration, the largest and most destructive fire in the history of the state destroying over 280,000 acres, more than 2200 homes, 22 commercial buildings, 566 out-buildings and killing 14 people including 1 firefighter.
Air attacks like those used in the Cedar Fire will also be discussed. Incident Commanders will focus on the city of San Bernardino. Before the fire was contained, one-fifth of San Bernardino burned and 545 structures destroyed.
Firehouse World Exposition and Conference is the only West Coast fire, rescue and EMS exposition and conference. Over 160,000 gross square feet of exhibit space is provided for the more than 300 companies showcasing the latest innovations in firefighting equipment, apparatus, tools, vehicle accessories, rescue/extrication equipment, training, Hazmat gear and clothing. The show's curriculum provides hands-on training and an intense conference program taught by nationally recognized fire service leaders. Firehouse World will take place February 1-5 at the San Diego Convention Center.
For more information about the event, log onto www.FirehouseWorld.com. Firehouse World is part of business-to-business leader Cygnus Business Media's Fire and EMS Market portfolio which includes Firehouse Magazine, Emergency Medical Product News, www.Publicsafety.com, www.Firehouse.com and Firehouse Expo, providing millions of First Responders with detailed and comprehensive information in print, online and face-to-face. For more information, visit www.Cygnusb2b.com.
