Did you know that December is one of the most common months for fires at home? Would you know what to do in the event of a chimney, kitchen, advent wreath or New Year’s tree fire? Practical learning on how to respond to various types of early-stage fires is now possible, thanks to a unique preventive firefighting vehicle introduced today by the Firefighting Association of Slovenia, with the support of Zavarovalnica Triglav. This “mobile firefighting classroom”, equipped with over 20 simulators, will travel across Slovenia to educate the public on how to effectively respond to various types of fires at home, raising awareness about fire safety in collaboration with Slovenia’s leading insurance company.
The Firefighting Association of Slovenia, supported by the leading Slovenian insurance company, is introducing a preventive firefighting vehicle to educate the public about fire risks and proper response actions. This innovative initiative aims to raise awareness across all age groups. Visitors to the vehicle will have the opportunity to engage with various firefighting simulators, gaining practical experience in dealing with different types of fires.
20 simulators for different fire scenarios
The Firefighting Association of Slovenia takes great pride in its new prevention vehicle, a one-of-a-kind innovation in this part of Europe, developed through local ingenuity and engineering expertise. Equipped with more than 20 simulators, the vehicle recreates various fire scenarios in a home setting. "The training programme is tailored for all citizen groups, featuring hands-on firefighting exercises with different handheld extinguishers, demonstrations of kitchen fires, overloaded electrical installations, and issues related to fireplaces, chimneys and hydrant boxes, and more.
... We’ve also incorporated basic resuscitation procedures and the use of AEDs. Our goal is to teach citizens how to live safely," explains Tomaž Vilfan, Deputy Commander of the Firefighting Association of Slovenia.
The mission of this innovative “classroom on wheels”, operated by trained volunteer firefighters, is to educate citizens on fire prevention and the correct actions to take in emergencies. It aims to equip people with the knowledge and skills to prevent fires from starting or getting out of control. The vehicle will also serve as a valuable training tool for operational firefighters. “It enables us to conduct a variety of practical exercises, such as navigating through smoke-filled areas, understanding the lower and upper explosion limits, safely handling gas cylinders, and much more,” elaborated Vilfan.
Most fire damage in December
During the festive season in December, the kitchen becomes a hub of activity as we prepare our seasonal treats, increasing the risk of fires. To address this, the Firefighting Association of Slovenia, supported by Slovenia’s leading insurance company, conducted public demonstrations today on how to extinguish various types of fires, including:
- stove fires,
- oven fires,
- cooker hood fires,
- chimney fires.
One of the demonstrations was a simulation showing how to extinguish fire on a burning person – an essential and potentially life-saving skill when assisting someone in distress.
“Statistically the highest number of claims resulting from fires in buildings that are filed with Zavarovalnica Triglav are in December – that is, during the heating and holiday season, when advent wreaths, lights and candles present a particular fire hazard. While we cannot always control what happens to us, we can prepare for the unpredictable by taking precautions and knowing how to act in an emergency. Together with our partners, including firefighters, we are committed to raising public awareness in various ways. This is how we fulfil our responsibility and mission, which extend beyond offering prudent insurance solutions," highlighted Uroš Metličar, Director of Property Claims at Zavarovalnica Triglav.
