At its Soumagne facility, JOSKIN organised three days focusing on safety and the use of agricultural equipment as a supplementary means for supporting emergency services. Local authorities, representatives from emergency services and civil defence, people from the agricultural sector and French- and Dutch-language media gathered to discuss this topic.
The goal was simple: to demonstrate that machinery already widely available in rural areas can, with the right equipment, contribute effectively to fire-fighting operations.
Make the Most of Existing Equipment
Many farms have slurry tankers capable of quickly transporting large quantities of water. By specifically equipping these machines, they can also be used for water spraying, thereby serving as an additional resource for firefighting while continuing to perform their daily agricultural functions.
Obviously, the goal is not to replace professional firefighting resources, but to enable the agricultural community to provide additional support to emergency services when appropriate and in a coordinated manner.
Live Demonstrations
During the demonstrations, participants were able to see a variety of solutions: spraying systems, scatterers and water cannons capable of reaching different distances as needed, as well as various pieces of equipment and accessories designed to improve compatibility between farmers’ and firefighters’ equipment.
Above all, these sessions provided an opportunity to share on-the-ground experiences, exchange knowledge and gain a better understanding of everyone’s needs in order to identify appropriate, simple and financially feasible solutions. With this in mind, JOSKIN gives priority to adapting existing equipment rather than developing equipment designed exclusively for emergency situations. The discussions also addressed organisational aspects, including alert procedures, coordination and safety measures, as well as the availability of vehicles and operators, and access to water resources.
A big thank you to everyone who took part in the JOSKIN Safety Days for their attendance, interest, expertise and the quality of our discussions.