ifa

Bienvenue à l'ifa!

07. December 2009

We are very happy to announce that our website is now available „en français“. To change the language selection, please click on “FR” at the top right hand side of the website.
Nous vous souhaitons beaucoup de plaisir!

Sapper training ground

07. December 2009

The inter-cantonal fire brigade training centre ifa, planned and created an extensive modern Sapper training ground for the P&S (Protection and Support) Competence Centre (ziko). The project was finished on time and has now been handed over to the ziko.
The Sapper training ground occupies an area of around 1000 m2 and comprises a multi-purpose station, a debris training ground, two bunkers, several pipe and tunnel systems and various small training areas. The Sapper training ground can also be used by fire brigades.

Flashover facility: a new hot training area

07. December 2009

The flashover facility, delivered to us at the end of 2008, has now been „fired up“. A core group of 12 instructors has tested the facility and now stands ready to train other fire fighters.
In contrast to the other gas-fired simulators in the ifa grounds, the flashover facility uses wood. The fire room allows fire fighters to observe a fire from ignition to the point of flashover and to practice the necessary operational and fire-fighting techniques. The realistic operational conditions permit participants to be trained to a level that significantly increases the safety of incident response personnel and the rescue potential for those affected by the fire.
The training facility is particularly suitable for:

Flashover facility

Our modern small fire-fighting platform (for portable extinguisher training) is ready for use

07. December 2009

The area used until now for exercises with portable and small-scale extinguishers was reallocated as a parking area as part of the renovation and extension work that has been ongoing in the inter-cantonal fire brigade training centre ifa. It has been replaced by a new and modern small fire-fighting platform at the southern end of the ifa grounds.
The new small fire-fighting platform has been divided into several zones. In addition to mobile gas-fired simulators, there is a special zone with a chamotte stone floor where solid matter fires can be laid and then extinguished. This new facility doesn’t only meet all the demands of modern training techniques, it is also convincing on an ecological front – for example, the foaming agents used are disposed of correctly and the water used is recycled.

Course Management - a new business division

13. November 2009

With a view to preparing for upcoming activities, the ifa company management undertook a comprehensive analysis of operating procedures and then adapted them to meet the challenges ahead.
Given that the ifa will soon be increasing its service base when the new tunnel training facilities in Balsthal and Lungern come into operation, the idea of creating a new business division almost suggested itself. The new, distinctly service-based "Course Management" business division forms a link between customers and the ifa and an interface between the Training and Development division and Operations and Technology.
Head of the new "Course Management" division is Rolf Bill, who has shared responsibility for course planning until now. It will be his responsibility to ensure that all the courses, training programmes and events in the ifa are comprehensively planned and executed to the complete satisfaction of our customers. Rolf Bill is the direct point of contact for all current as well as potential customers for

Rolf Bill has the active administrative support of Giuseppina Coladonata.
The ifa management is convinced that this new business division will provide the optimum base to ensure that our customers are given the best possible service. We wish Rolf Bill every success in his new role.

ifa Open Days

13. November 2009

Come to our Open Days on the 3rd and 4th October 2009 and be our guests! Enter into the world of operational incident training and gain an insight into all the training facilities and teaching infrastructures. Make the most of this opportunity to take a look behind the scenes of the only incident training centre in the world with two ignitable tunnel training facilities. There will be many interesting tours to go on in Balsthal and Lungern as well as numerous other attractions and exhibits, inviting you to linger and be amazed. This will be a great day out for young and old, fire brigade enthusiasts and families. Keep the weekend of the 3rd and 4th of October 2009 free and come pay us a visit - the Open Day is from 10am to 5pm on both days. We look forward to seeing you there.

Militia Instructors (UVA) required

13. November 2009

Operations in subterranean traffic facilities (UVA) make very high demands on all emergency service personnel. Realistic training is essential for operational success. The ifa team of instructors, whether full time or as a secondary occupation, make a decisive contribution to this.
Now that a first core team of UVA instructors has begun training, a further 20 militia instructors can be recruited. After an initial 3 day basic training course, the instructors will co-instruct for 2 x 2 days before they become fully fledged members of the UVA instructor team. Please telephone Christian Schwarz, Head of Training and Development on 062 386 11 20 for more information.

Click here to find out more about the requirements for prospective UVA militia instructors

The finish line is in sight for the new offices

13. November 2009

After a refurbishment phase lasting three months, the finish line is in sight: the ifa administration will move into the newly extended office facilities on the 9th March 2009. All our internal services, including our reception, are now located on the third floor of the infrastructure building (distinctive thanks to the over-dimensional ifa logo on the façade). We look forward to your visit.
 The staff working in the technical department and the refectory have not been affected by the move. They will remain in their current locations. The area on the ground floor of the classroom building (used as administration offices until now) will be converted to serve another purpose at a later date.
You can find out more about the infrastructure expansion here

Expanding the pyrodrome (fire simulation building)

13. November 2009

The new pyrodrome extension is now available to all those training in and around the pyrodrome building. The extension offers two new training façades with various sized access points, a training terrace plus a briefing room on every training floor. In addition to offering supplementary training options, the expansion also means that the pyrodrome can be used by several classes simultaneously without disruption.

New staff member: Markus Vogt

13. November 2009

Markus Vogt joined the ifa team on the 12th January 2009 as a full-time fire brigade instructor. Markus has been Chief Fire Officer of the Allschwil Fire Brigade since January 2000. We are delighted to welcome the 45-year old experienced instructor on board.
As a skilled machine fitter, Markus Vogt previously worked as Service and Technical Manager for PRIMUS AG.
Markus Vogt will be able to make a valuable contribution to the educational methodology used in the ifa training programme thanks to his extensive experience in the fire brigade and his qualifications as a rescue officer in the Kat Hi Bat 2 (Disaster Relief Battalion 2), paired with his Swiss Federal qualification as a P&S instructor.
We wish him every success in our team!

New contact details

13. November 2009

It isn't only our email address that has changed; our telephone numbers are different, too!
With immediate effect, you can reach us on:

All the internal direct dial telephone numbers and staff email addresses can be found here

New staff member: Roland Gfeller

13. November 2009

We are pleased to welcome Roland Gfeller to the ifa team. On the 5th January 2009 he joined us as a full-time fire brigade instructor. He is 40 years old, a married father of two and lives in Lengnau bei Biel with 20 years' experience in the Lengnau/Pieterlen/Meinisberg fire brigade. Having worked for around 10 years as a fire brigade instructor for the canton of Bern and the Swiss Firefighters Association as a secondary occupation, he can offer the ifa not only the necessary experience but also, as a qualified instructor with a Swiss Federal Certificate, an assured expertise in educational methodology.
Before he came to the ifa, Roland was able to use his organisational talents on a daily basis in his role as deputy divisional manager for training and emergency management in the Fire Brigade, P&S and Lodgings Office department for the city of Bern.
We would like to welcome Roland Gfeller to our team and wish him every success!

Happy New Website

13. November 2009

Welcome to our new updated website, launched on the 1st January 2009 at 00:00 and designed to provide a more comprehensive and customer friendly information and news service on every aspect of the ifa.
The ifa website will see ongoing expansion over the coming months so regular visits will definitely be worthwhile. A newsletter service will be launched soon, so that visitors can subscribe to receive our news hot off the press. In the medium term, we are planning to offer the website in four languages.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas!

13. November 2009

Here we are at the end of a hectic and turbulent year as the ifa was turned into one large building site! Before we toast the new year, we would like to express our sincerest thanks for the agreeable and successful working relationships and the loyalty you have shown us in the past year.
It would be our pleasure to welcome you personally to the ifa in 2009. Much has changed! Come and visit us in person or see what our new website has in store from the 1st January 2009.
We wish you and your family a restful and reflective festive season and send our best wishes for a successful new year!