The emergency services of the Rostock fire brigade must be prepared for all possible complex damage scenarios at all times; an important part of this preparation is the regular practice of these scenarios.
One such unannounced emergency drill took place yesterday at around 10 p.m. in close cooperation with Warnowquerung GmbH & Co. KG, the operators of the Warnow Tunnel. Only a small group of people were familiarised with the planning in advance in order to ensure realistic conditions for the exercise and to test the safety of the personnel. The tunnel was completely closed during the exercise scenario, as it would be in an emergency, to prevent any danger to road users and emergency services.
A lorry loaded with hazardous goods had developed a leak due to an accident, causing a highly concentrated acid to escape. The emergency services had to recognise and assess the leaking substance and the dangers it posed, as well as prevent the hazardous substance from spreading. Various sealing and containment materials were used for this purpose. As the exercise progressed, the contents of the damaged container were pumped into an emergency container. All of the work was carried out wearing chemical protection suits and heavy breathing protection, which increased the physical strain on the emergency services. After the work was completed, the emergency crews were professionally decontaminated to prevent the acid from spreading.
The exercise was successfully completed after around two hours. The cooperation with all those involved was efficient, professional and effective. The safety concept and the emergency response plan for the Warnow Tunnel once again proved to be effective. Optimum cooperation between the fire brigade and the Warnow Tunnel ensures the safety of tunnel users even in an emergency. The Rostock fire brigade was on site with the professional and volunteer fire brigade with a total of 31 firefighters and 9 vehicles, including the hazardous goods train.
We wish all tunnel users a safe and pleasant journey.