FIRE BRIGADE EXERCISE AT BORBET IN MEDEBACH

The scenario was planned by the Medebach volunteer fire brigade in consultation with the plant manager, the production manager and the fire safety officer at BORBET. Thanks to the long-standing partnership, the training of the emergency services and their knowledge of the local conditions on the factory premises are constantly being refreshed.

After assessing the overall situation, two attack teams wearing breathing apparatus entered the artificially fogged 1st floor. There they searched for the four missing persons, represented by members of the youth fire brigade. The rescued persons were taken outside on stretchers for first aid.

While the people were still being rescued, the volunteer firefighters were surprised by another scenario that Chief Fire Inspector Klaus Schnellen had planned. A person was trapped under a forklift truck in the production area. The casualty, in this case a training dummy, was freed using lifting bags, a hydraulic spreader and support material.

After the operation, Herbert Kordes, head of the Medebach volunteer fire brigade, held an initial meeting with all the firefighters and the people responsible at BORBET.

Overall, everyone involved was satisfied with the rehearsed emergencies, but agreed at the end: "We hope that we will never have to apply the knowledge and experience gained in a real emergency."