For @fire, 2011 was all about expanding our network - nationally and internationally. Numerous internal and external training courses helped to improve the effectiveness and skills of our emergency units. To this end, we also expanded our training centre.
The earthquake in Japan with its catastrophic consequences shocked the world public in 2011. It also showed how vulnerable even well-prepared industrialised nations can be to natural disasters.
@fire was on standby with a 50-strong team to help on the ground. Just like after the earthquake in Turkey in October 2011. In both cases, however, the affected countries did not need extensive international assistance in the area of search and rescue of buried victims.
@fire’s expertise in “vegetation firefighting” is now regularly used by the relevant authorities in nature conservation. Here @fire carries out controlled burning of areas for the purpose of renaturation. In the Harz Mountains, for example, it has been possible to help areas infested with pests to blossom again by burning off the dead plants (and thus also the pests).
What is definitely a gain for nature is also training for us. Only through precise planning and appropriate measures can the fire be limited and controlled.
“Firefighters help worldwide” is our motto, and following events and the steady increase in damage caused by natural disasters, @fire will be called upon again as an international aid organisation in the years to come.