KFSD kicks off 5th Int’l Fire, Safety Conference
KUWAIT: The Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD) is holding its 5th International Fire and Safety Conference and Expo titled ‘Studies and Researches’ at the Kuwait Regency Hotel from March 6 to 8, 2018. The conference includes workshops on firefighting, fire prevention, training, marine, administrative and other studies presented by local and international experts.
Lt Gen Khaled Al-Mikrad, Director of KFSD, said the conference aims to boost the knowledge of staff. “We have chosen the title ‘Studies and Researches’ due to the importance of science and the academic role in dealing with disasters and crises, especially with the changes and development of dangers,” he said during the opening ceremony on Tuesday.
The event is attended by representatives of firefighting departments from GCC countries and international organizations. “As in previous conferences, we invited top experts, academics and decision makers in the firefighting and civil protection fields from various countries to present the workshops and lectures. The attendees will have a chance to exchange experiences and witness the latest international technical solutions. Also, latest studies and scientific researches will be presented during the event,” added Mikrad.
As part of the conference, KFSD is holding the Shamel 4 training. “Various institutions and authorities are participating in this training, which aims to strengthen their collaboration when dealing with crises and disasters. This training highlights the strategic cooperation between all the participating public and private institutions and dealing with disasters with minimum losses,” he concluded.
Maj Gen Khaled Al-Tarkait, deputy director general for human resources and development affairs at KFSD and head of the organizing committee, noted that the conference is a great opportunity to review the studies and researches of firefighting and strengthen relations between researchers and scientists from all over the world.
“This conference includes two days of intensive workshops on various certified studies by academic institutions in four fields - firefighting, fire prevention, marine training and administrative studies. Also, the accompanying exhibition displays the latest developments from the field,” Tarkait said. Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh praised the great role and efforts of the KFSD in organizing this event. “We appreciate the work of the firefighters, who risk their lives to save people and properties. We are proud of them for their hard job,” he pointed out.
Col Dr Peter Wagner of the Berlin Fire Protection Association, Dr Alexis Konstantopoulos, United Nations Coordinator, Drew Azzara, Dubai Executive Director, Middle East and North Africa of the National Fire Protection Association, Dr Sarah Hahn from the University of Magdeburg, Germany, and Dr Hani AlHababi, Head of the Reception Department at the Vehicles and Equipment Department at KFSD spoke during the inaugural session of the conference.
KFSD organized the Shamel 4 drill in Julaiah yesterday, with participation of 12 state departments. Participants trained on how to deal with multiple fires and explosions in oil facilities. The exercise was carried under the patronage of Deputy Premier and State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh, and in the presence of Ahmadi Governor Sheikh Fawaz AlKhaled Al-Sabah, KFSD Director General Lt Gen Khaled Mikrad, as well as members from GCC and Jordanian delegations participating in the conference and exhibition.