Innovative Firefighting in Norway: Håvard Hauge and the Cold Cut Cobra
In the realm of firefighting, innovation and adaptability are key to ensuring safety and efficiency. Håvard Hauge, senior instructor for Cold Cut Academy, is a Norwegian firefighter dedicated to enhancing firefighting with modern tools.
How would you describe the Norwegian context for firefighting?
“Norway is a very spread-out country geographically, and our fire departments face various natural and social challenges. Firefighting in rural areas that have livestock and farming equipment can be vastly different to inner city firefighting.
“There are over 600 fire services in Norway. Our goal is to ensure that each one is equipped and trained to handle the complexities of modern fires, especially those involving lithium-ion batteries. With the increasing prevalence of electric vehicles and the challenges to extinguish fires in them, there is a need for specific tools to deal with them. However, you can only equip each fire truck with a limited amount of tools, so each tool needs to be versatile enough to use in several instances.”
What are the benefits of Cobra?
“The Cobra system is a game-changer, allowing us to penetrate and cool fire gases effectively. This is crucial in reducing the risk of backdraft and minimising exposure to harmful smoke and gases.
“The Cobra uses only 60 litres (16 gallons) per minute compared to the 350 litres (92 gallons) per minute from a traditional hose. This not only reduces water damage but also increases the chances of restoring the affected area.”
What has the reception among Norwegian firefighters been like?
“Introducing new technology in a field steeped in tradition can be challenging. Firefighters can be a bit stubborn, sticking to traditional routines. But the benefits of the Cobra system are clear, and are enough to spark curiosity and engagement.
“I can’t stress enough the importance of training in overcoming initial resistance. It’s about integrating the tool into our overall strategy and ensuring everyone is aligned on its use. The feedback has been very positive, with many appreciating the enhanced safety and efficiency.”
What do you do as a Cobra instructor?
“As an instructor, my mission is to equip firefighters with the knowledge and skills necessary to utilise the Cobra system effectively. We combine theoretical and practical training to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the tool’s capabilities. We offer training courses for firefighters (Cobra Instructor Course) and for incident commanders (Cobra Incident Commander Course) as well as a course specifically for Lithium-Ion battery fires (Cobra & EV Battery Fire Course).
“It’s not about replacing traditional tools but enhancing our capabilities with a modern approach. My role is to ensure that every firefighter is confident and competent in using the Cobra system.”
What is the most common question you’re asked about Cobra?
“Will this eliminate the need for BA attacks?” is the most common question I am asked. Firefighters conducting BA operations have a tough job, with some safety and health risks. And when I let them know that Cobra doesn’t eliminate the need for BA attacks, but enhances the safety during such operations by cooling down the fire gases and being able to perform fire extinguishing efforts before entering the area, that usually eases their minds.
“The second most common question is: ‘How much does it cost?”
Looking ahead – what do you see happening in the future?
“I foresee that both public and private fire departments, like those in some manufacturing industries, will continue to assess their specific needs and enhance their training and toolkits accordingly.
“Having instructors based in Norway, who can educate in the native language, will be crucial in establishing Cobra as a tool in more fire departments. Our next step is to open training facilities in Norway. We plan to open one in the south of Norway, one in the western part of the country and one up north.”
