Dangerous incident in Birkenfeld: THW ensures security for breathing air bottles

Dangerous incident in Birkenfeld: THW ensures security for breathing air bottles

Birkenfeld, Deutschland - On Tuesday afternoon, the Subtivan Technical Relief Agency (THW) from Idar-Oberstein was alerted to Birkenfeld for an urgent use. Here there was a potentially dangerous incident with several respiratory protection bottles. The city's fire brigade had requested the support of the THW after several bottles with damaged valves had been discovered during routine control. These bottles are filled with under pressure, which is a high risk, as a spokeswoman for the THW emphasized in a press release.

The problems occurred around 2 p.m. when the equipment station of the Birkenfeld base fire brigade made an alarming discovery in a small warehouse. Damaged valves on the respiratory protection bottles could lead to a dangerous scenario if they are not treated immediately. The fire brigade was aware of the risks and quickly acted to avert possible dangers.

use and measures of the THW

The alarm of the THW was given out of fear of a possible explosion or the unexpected exit of compressed air. There is a risk of explosion, especially with improper handling of such bottles that weigh up to several kilos and are under high pressure. To meet the dangers immediately, a special team traveled to the site.

The THW team had the order to secure the defective valves safely. For this purpose, cutting loads were used to safely dispose of the bottles. After triggering the cutting loads, the emptied compressed air bottles were exposed again. In order to carry out this measure, a careful and precise approach was required, since incorrect handling could have had serious consequences.

The security precautions applicable up to that point were strictly observed during the entire use. An explosive master of the THW was on site and monitored the entire process. This is a clear requirement in cases of potential sources of danger such as damaged respiratory protection bottles that often occur in use.

It was particularly important to inform the fire brigade's forces about the procedure and take protective measures while the endangered bottles were treated. This type of mission requires close cooperation between different emergency services and technical support units.

The incident in Birkenfeld illustrates how important fast action and the coordination between the fire brigade and THW are to minimize dangers and to ensure public security. The commitment and expertise of the specialists can make decisive differences in such critical situations.

for more information on the background and details of the incident, see the report on www.rhein-zeitung.de .