Major fire in Dresden State Operetta: Fire brigade fights for hours!

Major fire in Dresden State Operetta: Fire brigade fights for hours!

A major fire in the former state operetta in Dresden-Leuben on June 6th caused anything but calm. The emergency services were alerted at 7:37 p.m., and when the fire brigade arrived at 7:35 p.m., open flames and massive smoke were visible. According to initial reports, according to News.de, the fire broke out under circumstances that are still unclear. To ensure the safety of residents, a population alert was issued and adjacent residential buildings were evacuated.

The situation on site turned out to be extremely challenging, as an internal attack was initially impossible due to the extreme heat and smoke. The extinguishing attack was therefore carried out using external attacks using seven jet pipes, including three using turntable ladders. The fire department was supported by a drone squadron from the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund, which provided important thermal imaging images, as T-Online reports.

Fight the flames

Fighting the fire lasted almost 18 hours until the Dresden fire department was finally able to end the operation at 1 p.m. on the morning of June 7th. “Fire out” was reported around 5:30 a.m., but the danger situation remained tense. In the meantime, the fire department had decided to let the roof structure burn through in a controlled manner in order to avoid further damage. This controlled measure was considered at 10:50 p.m. after a change in wind caused the fire to reignite at the rear of the building.

A total of around 150 emergency services were deployed, including several fire and rescue stations as well as the technical relief agency, which was called in to provide support. Among other things, this took over the covering of the roof in order to get to the remaining sources of the fire. The protective measures also included the complete closure of Pirnaer Landstrasse and the interruption of local public transport. These measures ensured that the adjacent buildings remained protected.

The consequences of the fire

There was no risk to the public as no one was in the building, which has been vacant for several years, at the time of the fire. However, the fire brigade had to have one firefighter treated on an outpatient basis because of circulatory problems. A notable challenge was presented by two civilian drones that hindered the use of the official fire service drone. These were eventually removed and the pilot responsible was identified.

The entire operation not only shows the skills of the emergency services, but also raises questions about safety and preventative measures when fighting fires. Overall, there are valuable insights into the nature of the fires and the challenges, as discussed in the CTIF report for 2022. Communities must step up their efforts to ensure that such incidents are not only addressed quickly, but also that measures are taken to prevent fires and keep residents and emergency responders safe.