Multi million euro fire station destroyed in a fire - lacked fire alarm
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In a stunning turn of events, a cutting-edge fire station in western Germany, which was completed just last year at a cost of several tens of million euros, was reduced to ashes in a fire. After it was revealed that the facility lacked a fire alarm system, Oberhellilge Presse reports.
The town of Stadtallendorf, which had proudly showcased the new state-of-the-art station less than a year ago, was in shock on Wednesday when emergency services responded to a massive fire that began in a vehicle before it eventually involved the entire building. 170 firefighters, including local volunteers, fought to contain the fire, as reported by Fireworld.at
No injuries were reported, however 10 fire engines were destroyed in the blaze. Relief at the absence of casualties quickly turned to shock and outrage as it emerged that the station had not been equipped with a fire alarm system—something that, to many's surprise, is not legally required for such municipal buildings, as reported by The Guardian and several other international media.
Firefighters arriving on the scene were visibly emotional, grappling with the heartbreaking reality that their own fire station had burned down.
“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.
The damage is estimated at €20-24 million.
The building had previously been showcased as "modern and innovative" in the local press, yet Schäfer explained that under current regulations, a fire alarm was not mandatory since the facility was classified as an equipment storage building rather than an operational fire station.
In the aftermath, calls for reform grew louder. Norbert Fischer, president of the Hesse State Fire Brigade Association, urged a review of the legislation,
A fire protection wall had successfully prevented the fire from spreading to a separate wing, but the cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Initial reports suggest an overheated battery charger may be to blame.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons License.
Deutsch: Stadtallendorf im Jahr 2004, fotografiert aus Richtung Westen. Im Foto zu sehen: Das Industriegebiet DAG mit dem Ferrero-Werk in der Bildmitte, der alte Ortskern ganz hinten, die Herrenwaldkaserne am rechten oberen Bildrand. Auf dem Foto wird die von großen Waldflächen durchzogene Bebauung deutlich.
Date: 26 June 2004
Source: Self-photographed
Author: Pazzee at German Wikipedia