The roadblocks by climate activists, for example the group “Last Generation”, always cause heated debates. In particular, the question of whether this form of protest also endangers lives, for example if rescue vehicles or fire brigades are obstructed, is irritating. Now the Berlin fire brigade took stock: so far more than a hundred operations have been affected by roadblocks. According to the fire chief, this would have a “significant impact”.
In Berlin, the fire brigade announced that climate activists have so far hindered rescue operations in 119 cases. The blockades of the demonstrators would have a “significant effect” on the availability times of the emergency vehicles: Due to the ever-increasing number of operations, every additional minute in traffic jams “is particularly painful”, explains fire chief Karsten Homrighausen to “mirror”. According to the domestic senator of the German capital, Iris Spranger, the blockades have caused a total of 20 hours of delays in firefighting trips since 2022.
450,000 police hours in Berlin over climate protests
The Berlin police also took stock: 579 blockades and 63 other incidents have been counted so far. The executive had accumulated about 450,000 hours of use. 900 provisions were issued against blockers and 669 provisions were issued for the police operation. According to Spiegel, the amount of these reports is usually 241 euros. In the future, the demonstrators will also have to pay for damage to the roads: closing a hole in the highway costs about 3,000 euros. Lifting the blockades and criminal prosecution would mean an “extremely high extra workload for the police”, and the fines office would also complain about a “maximum overload”, according to the senator of the Interior.
Emergency vehicle stuck in traffic – cyclist died
Last autumn, an incident following an accident with a concrete mixer led to lively discussions: a cyclist ended up under the heavy vehicle, but a special fire brigade vehicle arrived at the scene of the accident with a delay because it was stuck in traffic due to a climate protest. An emergency doctor later explained that this delay had no impact on the rescue operation. It was decided to move the concrete mixer itself instead of lifting it – that was “the right way”, even if other technical options were available.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
