Park Lodge International

Excellence in Safety, Training, and Incident Management Since 1991, Park Lodge International (PLI) has been delivering expert training and consultancy across the UK — and now around the world. From the US to Africa, India to Europe, we’ve built a reputation for practical, high-impact solutions in: • HAZMAT Incident Management • Fire Safety, Investigation & Prevention • Operations and Safety Management Through our collaborations with Phoenix Forensic Service Provider Ltd, Bridgehill, Prosol, Techlanz, Fire Panda, NBRA, and AVRO, PLI brings together top-tier expertise and innovation to deliver exceptional training, investigation, and safety solutions worldwide.

Richard Dunbar

Richard Dunbar, founder of Park Lodge International, began his career in the Fire Service as a Cadet, rising through the ranks to become Chief Fire Officer. Over decades of service, he has built an exceptional depth of expertise in firefighting, fire safety, and emergency management, earning the informal title “The Professor” among his peers. Qualified to UK Home Office standards as an Inspecting Officer for fire safety — with advanced certification enabling him to lead complex inspections such as the BAe Systems site at Weybridge — Richard has also shared his expertise as a lecturer at the University of London. He authored the Fire Safety and Emergency Management BSc distance learning programme for the University of Hong Kong and has served as an Inspector for the UK Health and Safety Executive, investigating fatal fires and providing expert evidence in Crown, Magistrates, and Coroners’ Courts. Richard is also a published author and thought leader, having written the recognised handbook on Fire Investigation, the ‘Blue Book’ for police managing chemical incidents, and numerous specialist papers on topics including: • Vehicle fires and brake fluid hazards • Preventing arson through investigation • Fire risks from domestic products and decorations • Microwave and electrical fire safety • Counter-terrorism procedures for the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office • Electric Vehicle and Lithium-Ion Battery Safety

The International Vehicle Fire Investigation Course has grown into a globally recognised programme, drawing delegates from around the world. In 2023, it delivered the world’s first Electric Vehicle Fire Investigation Course in Norway, attracting participants from across Europe and India. The course returned to Norway again in 2024, where 40 delegates gained practical experience examining six recently burned electric vehicles — including one subjected to police ballistic testing — along with three damaged battery boxes. Looking ahead, three courses are planned for 2027, now incorporating both electric and internal combustion vehicles to provide a challenging, modern, and highly informative investigation environment. For full details, email info@phoenixfsp.co.uk.

- PLI

Unconscious incompetence — the most dangerous stage of not knowing what you don’t know. In safety-critical environments, particularly around Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), confidence can sometimes run well ahead of competence. The real risk isn’t simply a lack of knowledge — it’s not recognising the gaps in that knowledge, and therefore failing to ask the right questions or properly understand the consequences. Grid, Domestic and Motorhome/Caravan BESS worth reading particularly if you have responsibility for designing, specifying, installing, inspecting or regulating BESS. Sometimes the greatest risk is believing you already know enough.

- Richard Dunbar