Two firefighters were killed in a fire near Bonn. The two members of the volunteer fire brigade extinguished a fire in a motorcycle shop on Sunday. A day later, city officials confirmed that the woman and man were dead (see video above).
“This tragic event shocks and stuns us all,” said Sankt Augustin Mayor Max Leitterstorf (CDU). The city will never forget them. “Your disinterested effort deserves our utmost respect,” said NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU).
What happened? The volunteer fire brigade was alerted on Sunday at 11.18 am. A cloud of black smoke hung 30 meters high above the motorcycle shop with the adjacent workshop – the highest alarm level. More than 200 emergency services rushed to put out the fire. Eleven of them were injured. Initially, a woman and a man went missing. On Monday there was the sad certainty that they were dead.
Were the first in the building
The two killed firefighters were probably the first to enter the burning building, says fire protection expert Frank Hachemer. “Not everyone can and does that, it is always a specially qualified team”. For example, the experienced members of these units could wear respirators. Those who do would receive regular medical checkups in intensive care from the age of 50.
“But as we just had to experience in a bad way in Sankt Augustin, 100 percent security can never be achieved,” continued Hachemer. In general, the deaths of firefighters in Germany are very rare. Nationally, 1.3 million people are active in the voluntary fire brigade. Under no circumstances should it be concluded that people are not professionally trained.
Great sympathy and sorrow
Monday morning there was still a burning smell in the air. Participation in the city of 58,000 inhabitants was high. Flowers and candles were placed – one of them had the inscription “For all the deceased firefighters.” The ruins of the burnt-out motorcycle shop were still largely cordoned off on Monday. Excavators cleared debris, traces were secured to determine the cause of the fire.
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.
