The FireForum awards were set up to honour those who have spent a lifetime involved in combating fires. The non-profit that administers the awards involves Agoria, the technology industry federation, the Flemish and Walloon fire safety federations and the Passive Fire Protection Association (PFPA). The awards are based on the quality of projects submitted by applicants.

Antwerp’s brigade was praised for its project involving internal development of the corps, a public information function and aspects of hazardous and technically difficult fire fighting. The Zelzate brigade developed a public information platform aimed particularly at young people, alerting them to safety procedures at carnivals, parties and concerts.

Professor Paul Vandevelde (pictured) of Ghent University was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award in recognition of his development of and commitment to the concept of Fire Safety Engineering (FSE). Ghent’s course in FSE won an award for social importance, and Steven Verstock, also of Ghent University, won for his thesis on the origins of fire and early detection mechanisms.