IFSA Highlights The Global COVID-19 Pandemic As Cause Of Postponement Or Cancellation Of Virtually All Fire Industry Events

International Fire Suppression Alliance, Ltd. (IFSA) recognized that the emergence of the COVID-19 virus spread, declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), has resulted in the postponement or cancellation of virtually all industry events over the next few months, as countries struggle to contain it. 

Fire Industry events cancelled

The list of international events and trade shows cancelled and postponed includes:

• 17-18 March 2020 - ABSpk conference in Sao Paulo – Postponed indefinitely
• 29-30 April 2020 - NFSA annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona – Cancelled
• 6-7 May 2020 - EFSN international conference (FSI 2020) in Amsterdam– Rescheduled for 19-20 October 2020

Many other meetings and smaller events have likewise been cancelled. As of this writing, the NFPA Conference & Expo 2020 is still scheduled, slated to take place in Orlando, Florida, from June 15 to June 18, 2020.

Use of fire protection analogies in COVID-19 response

One of the more interesting aspects of the response to the COVID-19 virus has been the use of fire protection analogies

One of the more interesting aspects of the response to the coronavirus (COVID-19 virus) has been the use of fire protection analogies by some news commentators. They have compared efforts by governments to encourage social distancing to remove fuel from a fire, or at least distributing the fuel more sparsely so as to rob a fire of its potential for growth.

Much of the public recognizes that a single wood log will not readily burn, but requires radiation feedback from its neighbors. As a fire protection measure, this stands in contrast to preventing ignition, which would be possible only if a vaccine were available or a known cure.

Cure analogous to fire suppression system

The cure, in this case, would be analogous to a fire suppression system, something that could be administered even to those who have contracted the virus, but would stop it in its tracks.