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Düsseldorf Fire Department's Water Vehicle Recovery Operations
In the event of a vehicle ending up in water within Düsseldorf, the city's fire department swiftly springs into action. The operation typically involves divers and specialists from the fire station, working together to secure and recover the vehicle, while minimizing environmental hazards.
Upon receiving the call, 25 deployment forces, all trained rescue swimmers, are dispatched. These teams work in harmony, with firefighter divers quickly reaching the accident site using their rescue boat, even in deep water. Once at the scene, divers locate and mark the position of the submerged vehicle in the water.
Preparations for securing and recovering the vehicle are made on land. Divers attach lifting cushions to the vehicle, which are then filled with compressed air to bring the car to the water surface. To overcome the height difference between the water surface and the quayside, divers attach lifting equipment to the fire crane.
Teamwork is essential between divers and fire station specialists for technical services and environmental protection. In deployments on the Rhine, a fire-fighting boat and a rescue boat are additionally dispatched from the harbor.
The Düsseldorf fire department diving squad, established in 1998, has a team of 7 instructor divers and 43 divers, stationed at the fire and rescue station on Hüttenstraße. The squad is prepared for various scenarios, including the rescue of people who have fallen through ice during the cold season.
In such emergencies, affected persons are advised to remain calm and avoid panic. They should open seat belts and car windows, and if possible, exit the vehicle through the windows before it sinks. Each fire station has the necessary basic equipment for immediate rescue of victims.
While specific details on Düsseldorf's water vehicle recovery protocols to minimize environmental hazards are not readily available, general best practices for fire and rescue services suggest the following steps:
- Immediate assessment and securing of the scene to prevent further hazards, including environmental contamination from fuel or oil leaks.
- Use of specialized equipment such as boom barriers or absorbent materials to contain any potential spills.
- Deployment of divers or underwater recovery teams to stabilize and safely extract the vehicle from the water.
- Coordination with environmental agencies to monitor and mitigate water pollution risks.
- After recovery, appropriate disposal or treatment of vehicle fluids and materials to minimize environmental damage.
For precise and up-to-date procedures practiced by Düsseldorf's fire department, direct information from their official communications or emergency management authorities would be necessary.
Over the years, the fire department has been pursuing an intensive training and further education strategy to prepare for deployment situations. The diving squad of Düsseldorf was deployed 82 times in 2020, 77 times in 2019, and 98 times in 2018.
For more detailed operational procedures specific to Düsseldorf, it is recommended to contact the local fire and rescue service or the municipal environmental protection department.
Following such an incident, the Düsseldorf Fire Department's crisis response team could be alerted about a car-accident in the general-news. To address the situation, they would implement water vehicle recovery operations, as depicted in their sports-like coordinated team efforts. In line with their eco-conscious activities, they strive to minimize environmental hazards during these accidents and recovery procedures.
