Fire and Rescue Middle East 2011 conference to showcase safety and rescue strategies and technologies

Fire and Rescue Middle East provides a  business and networking platform for anyone involved in fire protection

A three-day comprehensive conference is set to highlight the importance of firefighting and emergency response in the Middle East region.

Clarion Events Middle East today announced that a number of high-profile speakers will be joining forces to launch the first dedicated market platform for Fire, Rescue and Emergency Response professionals.

The platform will take the form of a significant three-day conference during the inaugural Fire & Rescue Middle East event and will showcase the importance of using the latest strategies and technologies to take proactive steps for combating and containing potential life-threatening hazards related to fire and emergency situations.

Organised by Clarion Events Middle East at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from October 31 to November 2, 2011, the event is a new and dedicated conference and exhibition welcoming a plethora of expert speakers exclusively from the fire, rescue and safety industries.

Industry leaders and professionals will present case studies and discussions to address the strategic, operational and tactical challenges relating to any man-made or natural emergency. The exhibition will display products related to the prevention, detection and response for all fire and non-fire emergencies. The event will be co-located with the Counter Terror Arabia international conference and exhibition, giving it added significance.

Speakers who have already confirmed that they will share their expertise during this unique networking event include: Andrew Trotter, Chief Constable, British Transport Police; Jens Stiegel, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Frankfurt Am Main Fire Department; Susan Lamont, Associate, Ove Arup (UAE); Robert Bradshaw, Fire Chief, BP; Kelvin Burnell, Chief Fire Officer, Dubai Airport; Paul Grimwood, Global High Rise Firefighting Expert; Professor Ernst-Peter Döbbeling, Professor of Safety Engineering, University of Furtwangen, Germany; Ali Asad, Emergency Response Coordinator, Kuwait Oil Company; Stephen Ramage, Director Global Outreach, Open Geospatial Consortium; T.B. (Mac) McClelland, Jr., President and CEO, Center House Ltd.; Dr. Ajith George, Coordination Major Incident Medical Response, Health Authority Abu Dhabi; Ally Spence, On Scene Commander, Shell Pearl GTT and Siddiq Butt, Security Manager, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr.

Day one of the conference will commence with the identification of potential challenges faced by organizations involved in firefighting, safety and rescue. Speakers will discuss in detail the diverse strategic and tactical firefighting methods to safely control hazardous situations in complex high-rise structures and large public-gathering areas.

Furthermore, distinguished speakers will emphasize the necessity of modern skills and showcase the latest technologies that fire and rescue response services can utilize to prepare themselves in tackling potential risks with regard to the oil and gas sector, traffic accidents, urban search and rescue and other emergencies medical response situations whilst aiding in the reduction of fatalities in the region.

Neil Wallington, Former Senior British Chief Fire Officer, Past International President of the Institution of Fire Engineers and Founding Editor of Fire Middle East Magazine, said: “The conference at Fire and Rescue Middle East is an absolute must-attend for anyone in the fire safety and building protection industry and the fire & rescue profession. The number of modern very high-rise and large public buildings and other major risks in the Middle East and the complexity of their designs make the structures vulnerable to potential tragedies. In addition to laying out strategies and tactics for firefighters to battle these potential risks using recent experiences and lessons learnt from recent real-life major emergencies, speakers will highlight the need to implement the latest fire safety technology and precautions, risk containment and emergency response into the fire engineering design of the building itself. All these factors play a vital role to mitigate damage and save lives.”

The implementation of fire safety precautions and early response considerations during emergencies in building and infrastructure design will be the focus of day two of the conference. Speakers will highlight the significance of the fire engineer and explore the key benefits in adopting international building codes to maximize the safety of occupants in the structure.

The final day of the conference will bring together speakers and delegates from both Fire and Rescue Middle East and Counter Terror Arabia International Conference and Exhibition. Speakers will evaluate the need for a multi-agency command response during major disasters.

In addition, experts will provide an in-depth analysis to showcase the latest strategies and technologies to control threats relating to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Enhanced Conventional Weapons (CBRNe) and Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT). They will demonstrate the importance of taking proactive steps consisting of training and equipping emergency response services with the latest equipment and techniques for detection and neutralization of such threats, and its direct correlation with higher efficiency of emergency response units during times of national crisis.

Christopher Hudson, Managing Director, Clarion Events Middle East, said: “Fire and Rescue Middle East provides a unique business and networking platform for anyone involved in fire protection or the management of health and safety across the Middle East region. Companies and individuals will have the opportunity to meet several industry leaders, professionals and exhibitors, possibly forming profitable relationships. Abu Dhabi has an estimated US$55 billion infrastructure development, of which US$35 billion is for 2012. We are certain that attendees will significantly benefit from the event as the protection of life, property and infrastructure has become a primary focus for the Middle East region.”

Exhibitors at Fire and Rescue Middle East will display vehicles and vehicle equipment, fire brigade technology, environmental protection measures, rescue techniques, emergency, first-aid and medical equipment, personal protective equipment and identification, measuring and detection apparatus, control-station technology, equipment for fire stations and workshops, structural engineering, structural and technical fire and building protection.

The event will welcome experts and professionals from several fields including Civil Defense Forces, Fire Services and other First Responders, National Emergency Management Authorities, Critical National Infrastructure Authorities, Municipal Authorities, the Building and Construction industry, the Oil and Gas industry, the Hospitality industry and those responsible for designing and implementing Fire Safety Codes and Standards.