International Firefighters' Day (IFFD) is observed on May 4, in order to honour firefighters for their service internationally, remember firefighters who lost their lives during service and to commemorate firefighters killed in the September 11 attacks. It was established after a proposal by Australian firefighter, JJ Edmondson, was made on January 4, 1999, following the deaths of five firefighters fighting a bushfire in Australia on 2 December, 1998.[1]
Red and blue ribbon, a symbol of International Firefighters Day
On December 2 1998, firefighters of the Geelong West Fire Brigade responded to a call for assistance by other firefighters fighting a wildfire from Linton, Victoria, Australia. A sudden change of wind direction caused due to a cold front led to the fire truck being engulfed by the fire on the way to refilling the water tank. As a result, five Geelong West firefighters were killed: Garry Vredeveldt, Christopher Evans, Stuart Davidson, Jason Thomas, and Matthew Armstrong. This incident eventually led to the proposal for an International Firefighters' Day.[1]
Activitiesedit
Sound off ritualedit
A "sound off" occurs at noon local time on the first Sunday of May, as part of International Firefighters' Day. It involves turning on fire sirens for 30seconds, and a subsequent moment of silence for one minute to commemorate all firefighters who were killed in duty. The sound off began in 2002, and has been continued annually.[1]
Fire preventionedit
Fire prevention and the need for more intensive and thorough training is promoted through International Firefighters' Day, and the day is seen as an important opportunity to raise both skills and awareness.
Symbolsedit
Red and blue ribbonedit
The red and blue ribbon is a symbol used for International Firefighters Day, the ribbon is 5 cm (2 inches) long and 1 cm (0.39 inches) wide, with the two separate colors conjoined at the top. The red of the ribbon represents fire while the blue represents water. The ribbon is traditionally worn on the lapel but is not limited to the lapel.
Saint Florian, regarded in the Catholic Church as the patron saint of firefighters, is another symbol of International Firefighters' Day. The saint's day (as observed in the Catholic Church) of St. Florian is May 4, hence International Firefighters' Day is also observed on May 4. This day is seen as a day to hold events such as memorials or fundraisers.
^ abc"About IFFD". Firefighters' Day. February 5, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
Diamantes, David. Fire Prevention: Inspection and Code Enforcement. 3rd ed. Cliffton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar Learning, 2007. Print
Facts About Wind and Wildfires. The Weather Channel Interactive, Inc, 2010. Web. October 15, 2010.
International Firefighters’ Day. IFFD.NET, 2006. Web. 15 October 2010.
Klinoff, Robert. Introduction to Fire Protection. 3rd ed. Cliffton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning, 2007. Print.
The Origins of International Firefighters’ Day. Newcastle Events, 2010. Web. October 15, 2010.
United States. U.S. Fire Administration. Fire Statistics. Sept 2010. U.S. Fire Administration. Web. October 15, 2010.
External linksedit
IFFD site
January 01, 1970
international, firefighters, iffd, observed, order, honour, firefighters, their, service, internationally, remember, firefighters, lost, their, lives, during, service, commemorate, firefighters, killed, september, attacks, established, after, proposal, austral. International Firefighters Day IFFD is observed on May 4 in order to honour firefighters for their service internationally remember firefighters who lost their lives during service and to commemorate firefighters killed in the September 11 attacks It was established after a proposal by Australian firefighter JJ Edmondson was made on January 4 1999 following the deaths of five firefighters fighting a bushfire in Australia on 2 December 1998 1 Red and blue ribbon a symbol of International Firefighters Day Contents 1 Proposal and establishment 2 Activities 2 1 Sound off ritual 2 2 Fire prevention 3 Symbols 3 1 Red and blue ribbon 3 2 Saint Florian 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksProposal and establishment editOn December 2 1998 firefighters of the Geelong West Fire Brigade responded to a call for assistance by other firefighters fighting a wildfire from Linton Victoria Australia A sudden change of wind direction caused due to a cold front led to the fire truck being engulfed by the fire on the way to refilling the water tank As a result five Geelong West firefighters were killed Garry Vredeveldt Christopher Evans Stuart Davidson Jason Thomas and Matthew Armstrong This incident eventually led to the proposal for an International Firefighters Day 1 Activities editSound off ritual edit A sound off occurs at noon local time on the first Sunday of May as part of International Firefighters Day It involves turning on fire sirens for 30 seconds and a subsequent moment of silence for one minute to commemorate all firefighters who were killed in duty The sound off began in 2002 and has been continued annually 1 Fire prevention edit Fire prevention and the need for more intensive and thorough training is promoted through International Firefighters Day and the day is seen as an important opportunity to raise both skills and awareness Symbols editRed and blue ribbon edit The red and blue ribbon is a symbol used for International Firefighters Day the ribbon is 5 cm 2 inches long and 1 cm 0 39 inches wide with the two separate colors conjoined at the top The red of the ribbon represents fire while the blue represents water The ribbon is traditionally worn on the lapel but is not limited to the lapel Saint Florian edit Main article Saint Florian Saint Florian regarded in the Catholic Church as the patron saint of firefighters is another symbol of International Firefighters Day The saint s day as observed in the Catholic Church of St Florian is May 4 hence International Firefighters Day is also observed on May 4 This day is seen as a day to hold events such as memorials or fundraisers See also editFirefighting Women in firefightingReferences edit a b c About IFFD Firefighters Day February 5 2012 Retrieved June 19 2023 Diamantes David Fire Prevention Inspection and Code Enforcement 3rd ed Cliffton Park NY Thomson Delmar Learning 2007 Print Facts About Wind and Wildfires The Weather Channel Interactive Inc 2010 Web October 15 2010 International Firefighters Day IFFD NET 2006 Web 15 October 2010 Klinoff Robert Introduction to Fire Protection 3rd ed Cliffton Park NY Delmar Cengage Learning 2007 Print The Origins of International Firefighters Day Newcastle Events 2010 Web October 15 2010 United States U S Fire Administration Fire Statistics Sept 2010 U S Fire Administration Web October 15 2010 External links editIFFD site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title International Firefighters 27 Day amp oldid 1176520541, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
