Welcome to the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) pages on the
Fire and Rescue Service web site.
As President of the Norfolk and Suffolk branch,
I am determined to ensure that the IFE remains alive, active and
relevant in the modern fire and rescue service.
The new statement from the Health and Safety Executive clarifies
how the fire and rescue service should comply with health and
safety at work duties within their operational work. Individual
employees need to be able to make decisions in dangerous,
fast-moving, emotionally charged and pressurised situation, even
when there may sometimes be incomplete or inaccurate information
about the incident. They also need to learn from incidents, new
developments and research. The IFE examinations give members a good
operational and technical base upon which to develop and grow.
Everybody will be expected to keep
themselves up to date with the changes that continually take place
in risks, training, procedures and equipment if they are to stay at
the top of their game. We owe it to those whom we serve to be the
best we can. The Institution of Fire Engineers can help you achieve
your full potential.
Work has been proposed and is being
taken forward to make the IFE examinations a more integral part of
the promotional process in Suffolk. A number of fire and rescue
services have adopted this approach and this really adds value to
how the IFE is viewed by members of the service. I still see a
future where the examination procedure of the Institution moves
towards being adopted as national promotional development tool,
where the standing within the Fire and Rescue Service is recognised
at all levels and where it is the first place that firefighters
look to when they want to develop and gain accreditation for the
work that they do. If this future is fulfilled, the Institution
will rightly gain its place at the forefront of fire and rescue
service development. However, we still have work to do locally,
regionally and nationally to achieve this aim.
Our branch has a proud history of
strong membership. The events we organise are professionally
interesting and well supported. We give continuing professional
development accreditation for attending our events, which you can
add to your portfolio. The local membership of the IFE includes
many experienced and specialist people who will be more than
pleased to help you with your personal development. We can sponsor
your attendance at seminars and other training events which will
help the development of our profession.
So, why not become a member of our
branch? You will be made to feel most welcome, whoever you are.
Further details about membership and
subscription costs can be found through the links on this site, or
I would be pleased to hear from you personally.
I look forward to seeing you at an
event or a branch meeting soon.
Eddie Meelan, MIFireE