Recklinghausen: Fire brigade saves people from burning basement!

Recklinghausen: Fire brigade saves people from burning basement!

On Wednesday evening, October 2nd, 2024, a demanding large-scale exercise by the volunteer fire brigades took place in Recklinghausen, which started at around 6:00 p.m. on Castroper Straße. The exercise simulated a scenario in which a basement fire broke out in a former office building that is currently undergoing extensive core renovation. The aim of this special exercise was to train the emergency services in emergency situations involving human rescue and to improve their coordination.

The focus was on a basement fire in which two craftsmen were missing. In addition, other people had to be rescued from the upper floors, whose escape routes were blocked by thick smoke. The challenge lay not only in fighting the fire, but also in simultaneously searching for and rescuing the missing people. The emergency services worked promptly and in a structured manner. While some firefighters concentrated on rescuing the two craftsmen in the basement, others rescued the people from the upper floors using a turntable ladder and via the stairwell.

Effective rescue measures

The exercise revealed the high level of professionalism of the forces deployed, who managed to safely find and rescue everyone involved. By 7:30 p.m., the objectives of the exercise were fully achieved and the scenario was successfully managed. A debriefing then took place in which the individual measures were analyzed and possible improvements were discussed.

What is particularly noteworthy is that this large-scale exercise is known as a so-called three-platoon exercise, in which the South, Speckhorn and Hochlar fire-fighting platoons take part. This annual event was set up to strengthen cooperation between the different units, as such joint operations rarely occur in regular fire service operations. This year, the responsibility for planning and coordinating the exercise lay with the comrades from the Speckhorn fire brigade.

The head of the Recklinghausen fire department, Thorsten Schild, as well as representatives of the committee for order, fire brigade and disaster control also took part in the exercise. This demonstrates the city's commitment to supporting the efficiency and collaboration of its fire departments. In particular, the Bernemann company was thanked for providing the training object, as this provided the framework for the realistic simulation of the operational situation.

This_necessary_exercise allows responders to gain important experience and develop their skills in a controlled environment. Realistic replication of potential disaster scenarios is essential for preparing for real operations, saving lives and protecting property. Such exercises are essential to ensure the operational readiness and interaction of the various units.