<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/16/blaze-destroys-german-fire-station-fitted-without-alarms>
"A state-of-the-art fire station in western Germany that was completed last
year at a cost of tens of millions of euros has burned to the ground because it
had not been equipped with a fire alarm.
The town of Stadtallendorf had proudly unveiled the new structure less than a
year ago, but early on Wednesday emergency services were alerted to a fire that
had started in a vehicle before quickly spreading to the whole building.
About 170 firefighters battled the blaze, including members of the local
volunteer fire brigade, as 10-metre flames leapt from the station’s roof.
No one was injured although 10 fire engines were destroyed. But relief at the
lack of casualties quickly gave way to incredulity that the building had no
fire alarm – and then growing outrage and bafflement over the revelation that
this was not a legal requirement.
Firefighters who rushed to the scene became emotional at the realisation that
their own station had burned to the ground.
“It is a nightmare for a firefighter. No one wants to have to extinguish his
own fire station,” the district fire inspector, Lars Schäfer, told German
media, adding that the cost of the damage was estimated at €20m-24m."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
