Suche
Mein Konto
High up: Dramatic firefighting work on the Altenwerder container bridge!
Eißendorf: Volunteer fire brigade supports spectacular extinguishing work on the container bridge in Hamburg. Cause and deployment details.
High up: Dramatic firefighting work on the Altenwerder container bridge!
On Thursday last week there was a considerable fire on the container bridge in Altenwerder, which kept the fire brigade in suspense for several hours. The fire probably broke out during demolition and flame cutting work and developed from a trolley about 20 meters high to a height of around 100 meters. Such operations show once again how important the preparation and equipment of the fire brigade are.
A total of fire engines, fire boats and special vehicles were in use, supported by six volunteer fire departments. The entire firefighting operation took around five hours. The different units proved their worth: While the fire brigade initiated the first measures, fire boats such as the “Brand Director Westphal” and the “Prag” took over the firefighting with high-performance water cannons.
Rescue measures and operational coordination
To support the rescue efforts, several people had to be rescued from the danger area using a turntable ladder. Fortunately, all six people affected were able to stay on site and were treated by emergency services. The coordinating forces on site had their hands full, also due to the unclear stability of the container bridge at the start of the fire-fighting work.
The volunteer fire departments from Finkenwerder, Francop, Eimsbüttel, Altona, Eißendorf and Warwisch played a crucial role. While Finkenwerder took over the water supply and initial firefighting measures, the FF Francop and the FF Eimsbüttel supported with additional water supplies and the establishment of a technical operations management. Meanwhile, the FF Eissendorf ensured that the emergency services were provided with warm drinks and snacks - an equally indispensable part of the operation.
Challenges for the fire department
The fire brigade's current operations are evidence of the challenges that the approximately 48,100 fire brigades in Germany face. With more than 219,000 active members, including over a million volunteers in volunteer fire departments, firefighting is only part of their extensive tasks. Rescue, recovery and shooting are also very popular, which is reflected in the approximately 2.8 million personal rescue missions in 2022. As the Statista study shows, the numbers for 2023 are alarming, as a total of 687 acts of violence against firefighters were documented.
The services provided by the fire department in Hamburg are impressive, and the emergency services are highly valued by the population. Despite the challenges, there is no question that the fire department is a pillar of the community and continues to contribute to the safety of citizens through its rapid and effective actions.
Whether it's everyday operations to ensure the safety of people or operations that involve special challenges, such as fire-fighting work on the container bridge, the operational readiness remains unbroken. The Hamburg fire department shows once again that it is on guard to act quickly and effectively in emergencies.