Disaster relief and firefighting will face new hurdles 
INTERSCHUTZ 2010 will focus on new approaches to firefighting
Emergency relief organizations are confronted by some major new challenges, forcing them to consider a fundamental realignment. The changed framework not only necessitates new, transnational thinking, but above all increased investment in equipment and training. According to the German Firefighters Association (DFV), German municipalities have estimated the pent-up demand for firefighting infrastructure and equipment at several hundred million euros. This is why the relief organizations have demanded the German government close the gaps in fire protection and disaster relief contained in its second stimulus package. "The federal government must prioritize planned investments", demands DFV President Hans-Peter Kröger.
Long-term planning at German fire departments envisions federal financing for the procurement of some 1,400 state-of-the-art firefighting trucks by the year 2023. This program is scheduled to commence with the delivery of 40 fire engines and 40 hose layers at the end of 2009. Through the end of 2012 there are options on an additional 275 firefighting vehicles.
INTERSCHUTZ comes at just the right time
INTERSCHUTZ 2010 will feature current state-of-the-art products as well as trends for fire prevention and disaster relief, including ultra-modern vehicles equipped with sophisticated communications and navigations systems and mission control centers that can directly transmit video images of the blaze or disaster site to vehicles. Rescue robots and drones relieve crews of onerous tasks, issuing warnings and protecting people in dangerous situations. They are also capable of monitoring hazardous zones and large areas. Visiting professionals will be treated to an impressive display of the latest innovations.
Safety first
INTERSCHUTZ will also focus on security. "Engineers and scientists are working full-tilt on the development of electronic security systems," reports Angelika Staimer, President of the Security Systems division within ZVEI (German Electric and Electronic Manufacturers' Association), adding: "The EU is furnishing over 1.4 billion euros over a period of five years to allow researchers to develop better sensors, actuators and systems." 
The crowd of visitors and exhibitors at INTERSCHUTZ 2005
Fire protection and safety/security are particularly critical issues for planners and architects in attendance from Germany and abroad, which is why the show will also feature technical, constructional and organizational measures aimed at preventing and defending against security-relevant incidents.
International fire prevention symposium in Leipzig
"Development in Fire Risk Analysis and Fire Prevention" is the title of a two-day international symposium organized by vfdb at the Congress Center on the exhibition center in Leipzig from 8 to 9 June 2010.
The following topics will be covered:
- Risk analysis and proactive fire prevention in complex building structures
- Sustainable construction and proactive fire prevention (e.g. the fire behavior of "natural" building materials, fire hazards due to improved insulation materials etc.)
- Fires caused by terrorist attacks (e.g. fire load analyses following terror attacks, identification of sensitive structures, consequences of improved risk analysis)
- Fire detection and early warning systems
- Prognosis techniques for risk analysis and fire scenarios
The target groups for this symposium are fire prevention engineers, fire prevention planners, fire prevention researchers, building and fire prevention authorities and experts from related fields.
