At the fire station

In 1854, the painter Ludwig Knaus painted a picture entitled "Fire in the Village". It shows people desperately trying to save themselves, their animals and their belongings from the fire. Panic is everywhere, and the fire threatens to devour everything. Fires were common in the past. Our ancestors’ homes had open fires, and many buildings were made of wood. Hay and straw were stored in stables and barns, and roofs were covered with wooden shingles or thatch. Open fires were still common in farmhouses until around 100 years ago.

Reports of major fires appear time and again. Munich was almost completely destroyed in 1127. In 1684, most of the houses in the town of Vechta fell victim to the flames. In May 1842, a major fire destroyed Hamburg’s old town. The fire started in a cigar shop. It was spotted quickly, but the blaze could not be brought under control. The fire raged for three days, killing 51 people, destroying about 1,700 houses and leaving 20,000 people homeless.

Even today, large fires often break out and are difficult to control. In April 2019, a fire broke out at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The several-hundred-year-old roof structure burned to the ground, and a spire collapsed. Reports of wildfires causing extensive damage are also frequent. Sometimes they are caused by lightning, but more often by human carelessness.

Until just a few decades ago, night watchmen made their rounds through the streets of villages and towns. Their job was to warn the careless and alert everyone in the event of a fire. They always carried a fire horn with them, which they could use to summon help quickly. In the past, everyone had to help put out a fire. People used water, but leather buckets, wooden ladders and simple pumps were often the only tools available. They were not very effective. Today, when a fire breaks out, the fire service can be called and often arrives at the scene within minutes. Villages and small towns have volunteer fire brigades. The women and men in these brigades have regular jobs. But when an alarm sounds, they drop everything and hurry to the emergency. Firefighters practise regularly. Large cities have professional fire brigades. In Frankfurt am Main, for example, the professional fire brigade has around 1,000 firefighters. There are also 28 volunteer fire brigades in the city’s districts. Airport fire services are always ready for action. They are trained to fight fires on and in aircraft. Large companies maintain industrial fire brigades that can respond immediately if a fire breaks out on their premises.

The town of Friedrichsthal is in Saarland, near the A 8 motorway. It consists of three districts and has around 12,000 residents. Members of the Friedrichsthal volunteer fire department have published photos of some of their callouts. Take your time to look through the pictures.

These are just a few examples of what fire departments do. They also sometimes rescue animals from trees, pump flooded basements dry, free injured people from cars after accidents, close roads during major events, remove dangerous chemicals and gases, and do much more.

Firefighters also have to protect themselves while on duty. They do this with special personal protective equipment. A sturdy helmet with a neck guard and a face-covering mask are essential. Firefighters wear fire-resistant jackets and trousers that can withstand seven seconds in a fire without catching alight. This gives firefighters time to get to safety if they come into direct contact with a fire. Reflective strips on their jackets and trousers make them easier to see in the dark. Sometimes firefighters also need breathing apparatus, which includes a special filter and an oxygen cylinder worn on the back. Firefighters protect their feet and legs with special boots fitted with steel toe caps. These help prevent injuries from falling objects. Fire-resistant gloves are always essential. A fire axe is also important: it can be used to work on wooden objects or, if necessary, to break down doors, windows or roofs. Fire axes are always carried on a belt, which can also hold various other items.

Firefighters also need various vehicles, machines and tools, of course. A volunteer fire department often has a crew transport vehicle, which can quickly carry firefighters to an emergency. It usually has a fire engine and a water tender (TLF). A TLF is generally equipped with a generator, a hydraulic power unit with rescue shears and a spreader, and a winch. This equipment is used at traffic accidents. Fire departments in larger towns have a turntable ladder and a technical equipment vehicle with measuring instruments, which can quickly detect hazardous substances. If someone spots a fire, or if firefighters are needed for any other reason, you can call 112 from any landline or mobile phone. This number works in every European country. The emergency call is received at a dispatch center. From there, the fire department stationed near the emergency is alerted. The individual firefighters are notified by the dispatch center via a pager. Sometimes an alarm is also sounded by a siren. All firefighters work to help others and prevent damage. We’re lucky to have them. By the way, when you grow up, you can become a firefighter too. Some places also have junior fire departments that young people can join.