Fire brigade use at a university of applied sciences: Electrical fire quickly under control

Fire brigade use at a university of applied sciences: Electrical fire quickly under control

dortmund

This day the fire brigade was alerted to a fire in the university of applied sciences on Sonnenstrasse at 11:30 a.m. The occasion was a triggered fire alarm system that pointed to smoke in the basement of the university building. Although many students were not in the building due to the semester break, the team members had already reacted quickly and cleared the building in an exemplary manner.

When they arrive, the first emergency services were received by the housing technician of the university of applied sciences and informed about the situation. After an initial exploration, it turned out that the event of the all -clear was a fire in a battery room. A person was found who had inhaled some smoke when handling the cause of the fire, but this needed no inpatient treatment and could remain on site.

fire fighting in the battery room

The complicative situation in front of the university of applied sciences required a careful approach. Since the fire brigade information center and the access to the University of Applied Sciences on Sonnenstrasse were placed, but the fire on the back of Neuer Graben was located, extensive measures were necessary. Fire vehicles were positioned on both sides of the building, which made it necessary to block both streets during fire fighting.

In order to avoid that smoke penetrated into other parts of the university building, quickly open windows were closed and high -performance fans were set up. In addition, the fire brigade ensured that exhaust air openings could be made to channel the outward smoke. According to the emergency services, special caution must be used for electrical fires, since the use of water, foam or powder is out of the question. Therefore, they decided to flood the affected space with carbon dioxide.

effective operational measures

For this special deletion measure, two other vehicles with the required special extinguishing agent had to be requested. Thanks to the quick response time of the house technicians, an external shutdown of the affected devices could also be initiated. After the room was sufficiently filled with carbon dioxide, the fire in the interruption -free voltage supply (UPS) could be deleted quickly. Further follow -up checks were carried out under respiratory protection using a thermal imaging camera to ensure that no embers remained.

So that the emergency services could work safely, the defective device was separated from the power grid and brought outside after extinguishing. The affected section of the building was then ventilated even more intensively to remove the last smoke particles. In the afternoon, around 4:00 p.m., the site was finally handed over to the in -house technicians of the university of applied sciences, while the fire brigade had completely completed the measures.

The exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are not yet known. Around 40 fire stations 1 (center), 2 (Eving), 4 (Hörde) and 8 (Eichlinghofen) and the emergency services were actively involved in order to control the situation.

security measures and preparations

The events related to this fire illustrate the importance of effective security measures in educational institutions. The prompt evacuation of the employees and the timely alarm of the fire brigade are examples of good crisis management. Such incidents underline how important emergency plans and regular training are for personnel in such institutions. A fire, especially in a technical space, can quickly take dangerous dimensions, which is why fast action is essential.

causes and effects of electrical fires

electrical fires are a frequent and serious danger in modern buildings, especially in institutions such as universities of applied sciences, where a variety of electrical devices and machines are operated. These fires can be caused by overloading circuits, defective cables or incorrect electrical devices. In its reports, the German statutory accident insurance (DGUV) pointed out that electric fires are responsible for a significant part of the fires in commercial and institutional environments.

In 2022, more than 20,000 fires were registered in Germany that were triggered by electrical causes. This illustrates the need for precautionary measures in electrical installation as well as regular maintenance and controls.

prevention measures in educational institutions

In order to minimize the risk of electrical fires in educational institutions, compliance with security standards and regular reviews is essential. Educational institutions are required to have their electrical systems checked annually by certified specialists. In addition, all employees and students should be regularly informed about fire protection measures and emergency plans.

In the university of applied sciences on Sonnenstrasse, the employees were able to carry out the necessary evacuation immediately. This shows the awareness of security measures that should be promoted in such institutions. Training for dealing with fire and fire alarm systems could also play an important role in order to be able to react quickly and effectively in an emergency.

technical solutions for fire prevention

In addition to the human security precautions, there are a number of technical solutions that can contribute to fire prevention. For example, modern fire alarm systems can not only monitor smoke, but also temperature changes and raise the alarm at an early stage. There are also systems that monitor the operation of devices and automatically shut down in an emergency.

Another innovative means are extinguishing systems that work with carbon dioxide or other special means to fertilize fire flocks quickly and effectively. Such systems are used more and more to minimize the risk of electrical fires and to avoid greater damage to buildings and devices.

deployment statistics of the Dortmund fire brigade

in Dortmund, where this incident took place, the fire brigade has recorded an increasing number of missions due to fires with electrical causes in recent years. According to the annual report of the Dortmund fire brigade, the proportion of electric fires in the overall missions was around 15%. This increase not only illustrates the need for safety precautions, but also the challenges with which the fire brigade is faced with, especially in urban areas with high density of electrical installations.

The Dortmund fire brigade is able to react quickly, as the use at the university of applied sciences shows, where about 40 emergency services were on site. This quick reaction can be crucial to prevent greater damage and potential dangers for human life.

For more information about fire prevention and security measures in educational institutions, visit the website of the German statutory accident insurance .

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