Mark your calendars, because the opportunity to attend the world's largest international fire service exhibition comes around only once every five years. The International Trade Fair for Rescue Services, Fire Prevention, Disaster Relief, Safety and Security, better known as Interschutz, will be held June 6 — 11 in Hannover, Germany.

For more than 10 years, Bill Kehoe has been involved with Hannover Fairs USA, which organizes the USA Pavilion at Interschutz, and has attended each Interschutz since 1988. A fire service veteran with the Alexandria (Va.) Fire Department for more than 25 years, Kehoe also is the treasurer for the U.S. Branch of the Institution of Fire Engineers, staff officer for the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and ad-hoc project officer for the Congressional Fire Services Institute's annual dinner and other major U.S. events.

Tell us about the Interschutz experience from a fire service executive's perspective. It must be a mind-blowing show.

It is. Interschutz occupies only a portion of the fairgrounds but it is the largest fire and emergency services trade show in the world. Attendance is well over 150,000 visitors (not counting exhibitor personnel), and the number of exhibiting companies typically exceeds 1,000 — from all over the world. There are more than 500 pieces of apparatus on display, each one very different from the next. You could spend all day, each day of the exhibition looking at apparatus and not be able to see them all in detail. Add the exhibits on equipment, protective clothing, communications, EMS, rescue, hazmat and more, and the picture becomes almost mind-boggling. Interschutz has more exhibits devoted to fire extinguishers alone than some venues have in total exhibits.

Travel overseas takes a big investment, and many fire chiefs struggle to find resources to attend U.S. conferences. What are some of the benefits?

Admittedly, Hannover is a seven- to eight-hour plane flight from the East Coast, but the experience of seeing so many different approaches to combating this thing we call fire is worth the trip. Not only can you see new and innovative apparatus, equipment, communications, etc., but most companies will explain how they developed the product and why. What struck me the first time at Interschutz was the fact we “Ugly Americans” thought we knew it all; I found out we're actually way behind some approaches to fire in other countries. Seeing the exhibits and talking to the company reps about their products and services enlightens the mind and raises the knowledge curve of anyone who attends. Add the networking between fire service personnel — most people at the show speak English well and if not, someone standing nearby always does — and you have a unique experience that will last a lifetime.

How will this show be different from years past?

The 2005 event promises to have more fire and emergency exhibits, plus an emphasis on terrorism and response to weapons of mass destruction. Also for the first time, Interpolice will have a small place on the exhibit grounds, so some of our blue suiters may want to come.

Could a nice family vacation be planned around this event?

If families can get the kids out of school early, Interschutz 2005 will be the ideal vacation trip. While the fire folks do their thing at the fairgrounds, the family has golden opportunities to sightsee in and around Hannover; centuries-old churches and history and fantastic gardens are all there. Plus, Germany has a great train system. Day trips to Berlin, Hamburg, Prague and more in the comfort of some really smooth and fast trains are an option. And — this is a big — the food and beer are out of this world!

Is the IFE planning anything special for Interschutz? What about other groups like the IAFC?

The IFE will have an exhibit booth. Since it is a worldwide fire organization with branches in 23 countries, it's a natural fit in this international exhibition. Many U.S. branch members will be attending this year. We hope the IAFC will again participate at this exhibition. It had a booth at the 2000 show in Augsburg, but as yet no decision has been made for 2005.

Are there any special travel packages, rates or events for our American visitors to Interschutz?

Marie Coleman (e-mail: mariekcole@aol.com) is organizing a group tour package. Contact her for more details. Alternatively, go to www.travel2fairs.com/index_e (based in Germany) for more options. The Web site for Interschutz 2005 at www.interschutz.de has extensive information in English on travel and accommodations. Anyone interested in reserving space in the USA Pavilion can find information at www.hfusa.com/interschutz.