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This documentary series follows emergency services from various fire stations in the Ruhr area up close and portrays the people in their grueling everyday working life.
2019
Fire in a residential building, child falling, Hacki's birthday and traffic accident on the highway.
Horse fell into a cesspit, rescue operation: suspected stroke, car fire and a basement fire in a residential building.
Cellar fire in Schalke, traffic accident after a chase, rescue operation in Gelsenkirchen-Horst and a major alarm in a paper factory.
Major operation at night, danger of explosion and an attempt at resuscitation.
Fire in a residential building, a risky emergency in a private apartment and a distressing traffic accident. And the fire brigade is called to a traffic accident: One person is said to still be in the car and trapped.
Thick smoke in an assisted living home, danger of explosion in the family home and the annual bologna contest.
Uncontrollable car fire, a missing woman, a rescue operation in a hair salon and a charred piece of toast.
A driver is injured in a rear-end collision, a woman complains of severe shortness of breath in the middle of the night, a truck driver loses control of his vehicle and a Tupperware container triggers a major alarm.
At around 3:00 a.m., an emergency call reached the control center of the Gelsenkirchen fire department, reporting a fire above a warehouse. When the emergency services arrived, they had no idea that they were facing one of the largest fires in more than 20 years. Another emergency call also turned out to be an annoying false alarm.
2017
Whether extinguishing a fire in a rubbish-filled apartment, during operations by the special diving unit or during rescue after traffic accidents on the motorway - up to 20 cameras were on site at the same time.
Suspicious smoke: food on the stove, car fire, dangerous goods truck has a leak, woman suspected of having a heart attack.
Seizure, diving operation, car accident, daycare fire rescue operation in Gelsenkirchen-Erle: A young man lies on the ground, spits blood, is unresponsive - there is a risk of suffocation.
The Gelsenkirchen fire department is called to a traffic accident to secure an accident vehicle. But once on site it quickly becomes clear that there is more to it than just fire protection measures.
Traffic accident on the highway: The person involved in the accident is trapped in the car, unresponsive and without a palpable pulse.
Explosion in Schalke - an apartment is completely on fire, rescue operations: suspected heart attack and water damage in a private apartment.
Operations: Traffic accident with a person trapped, person behind a closed door and suspicious smoke - food on the stove.
Kitchen fire in Erle, missing person in apartment and the annual bologna contest.
Christmas and New Year's Eve with the fire department! Also: A fox has to be caught, a traffic accident involving a heavily pregnant woman and a safe in the canal is recovered by the diving group.
2020
A fire in a residential building, a cut, an accident drill and an exotic snake in the garden. The operations of the Bochum fire station in the first episode of the third season. Flames are blazing from a residential building in the city center and some residents are believed to still be in the burning building. A race against time for the emergency services of the Bochum fire department. A young man has severed the tip of his finger in a kitchen accident. When he tries to drive to the hospital on his own, he blacks out and calls the control center. Turning accidents between trucks and cyclists are unfortunately a danger on the road. In order to be prepared for an emergency, the fire department is practicing this accident scenario. And in Bochum Langendreer, a snake in a couple's garden is causing a great deal of excitement!
Tragic swimming accident on the Ruhr, rescue operation: circulatory collapse of an elderly lady, firefighter trainees free bird, kitchen fire in an apartment building. The operations of the Bochum fire station in the 2nd episode of the 3rd season. Major operation on the Ruhr: In a tragic swimming accident, two men fall into the Ruhr and are in danger of drowning. One man is rescued from the water by DLRG workers, the other man is still missing when the fire brigade arrives. A race against time begins for the emergency services: will they find the missing man in time or will the rescue turn into a rescue? In addition, a forgotten lunch causes a kitchen fire in Bochum-Langendreer and the fire brigade trainees have to free a bird from the drugstore. And: Why a dizzy spell ends in a practical driving test!
Barn fire and rescue operation. Bochum: There is a fire on a farm in the Bergen district. When the emergency services arrive, there are suddenly two emergency locations! Medical emergency in a private apartment: The father collapses unconscious while having lunch with the family. The fire department sends the rescue service and emergency doctor to help, every second counts. The operations of the Bochum fire station in the third episode of the third season.
In the fourth episode of the third season of Fire & Flame, the roof of a sports hall is on fire. A woman with severe leg pain draws attention to herself and her neighbor calls the emergency services. A five-year-old boy is also stuck in a packing station. Major operation in Bochum Querenburg: The roof of a sports hall is on fire. The emergency services see a huge black cloud of smoke rising as they approach. A race against time begins. In the middle of the night, a woman hears her neighbor knocking. She is able to open the apartment door with the spare key: Her neighbor is crying in pain and can no longer move. Worried, she dials "112" and the fire department sends the emergency services. And: A five-year-old boy's arm is stuck in the receipt dispensing slot of a packing station.
In the fifth episode of the third season of Fire & Flame, the fire department is alerted in the middle of the night: a smoke alarm beeps. The high-altitude rescue team, a special unit of the fire department, has a training scenario with the trainees on the agenda. An elderly woman also complains of heart palpitations and shortness of breath. Bochum city center: In the middle of the night, a resident calls the fire department. The smoke alarm beeps in the apartment next door and he smells burning outside the apartment door. The firefighters have to hurry because they suspect that there is still someone in the apartment. The high-altitude rescuers, a special unit of the fire department, have training sessions every week, this time together with the trainees. The training scenario: A person has injured himself while working at a dizzying height and needs to be rescued. At an S-Bahn station in Langendreer, several schoolchildren are stuck in an elevator and a car is fully ablaze.
In Bochum-Werne, a construction worker injured himself in a 10m deep pit. He was lying hundreds of meters away from the access opening and called for help. His colleagues alerted the fire department. An apartment is on fire: The resident has taken refuge on the balcony. The driver was injured in an accident on the motorway. The emergency services have to carefully rescue him from the car. A man can't breathe - the fire department sends the emergency services. Major operation at night: There is a fire in an apartment in an apartment building. The resident has taken refuge on the balcony. There is also an operation in a private apartment: A man has been suffering from severe shortness of breath for several hours, his family members are very worried. The fire department sends the emergency services. And: A driver was injured in a traffic accident on the motorway. He complains of severe neck pain, the emergency services on site have to rescue him from the car as gently as possible.
In the seventh episode of the third season of Feuer & Flamme there is a fire in a supposedly empty building, a "MANV" exercise and the ambulance of a pregnant woman. Smoke rises from an empty building in downtown Bochum. When the emergency services arrive, there is a fire on the ground floor and it turns out that the building is actually occupied! Practice for an emergency: Explosion in a building with many people. What happens if the emergency services are faced with a large number of injured people after such a disaster - a so-called MANV, a mass casualty incident? In order to be prepared for this extreme situation, the fire service is practicing this emergency scenario together with the aid organizations. And: A gynecologist alerts the fire service, a pregnant patient has complications and needs to be taken to the hospital as quickly as possible.
In the eighth episode of the third season of Feuer & Flamme, the fire brigade is faced with two complicated situations – a hedge fire and the rescue of a senior citizen – and celebrates the annual Fire Brigade Olympics. Bochum: The fire brigade is alerted to a hedge fire. When they arrive on site, the fire has already spread to two cars and threatens to spread to the adjacent house. Every second counts now! To make matters worse, one of the two cars is a hybrid vehicle - another new challenge for the emergency services, who have never had to put out a fire of this kind before. An elderly gentleman has been seriously injured when he fell into his garage pit and needs the help of the fire brigade. The annual fire brigade Olympics are taking place at the inner-city station, where employees can compete and challenge each other in various disciplines.
The season finale of Fire & Flame is about suspicious smoke, a rescue mission for headaches and dizziness, an exercise on a factory site and a burning compost heap. A caller alerts the fire department. Clouds of smoke are rising from a window in an apartment building. It is believed that there is still a person in the apartment. Concerned employees dial "112"; their colleague complains of headaches and dizziness; he is very ill. The fire department sends the emergency services. There is an explosion on a Thyssen-Krupp factory site. Caustic soda is leaking, several fires are spreading rapidly and one person is missing. Fortunately, this is not a real operation, but an unannounced large-scale exercise. A huge compost heap is burning in Bochum-Langendreer, the cloud of smoke is visible beyond the city limits and presents the firefighters with a lengthy task.
2021
In the first episode of the fourth season, the Bochum firefighters are called to a fire in an industrial area at a car scrap yard. The situation worsens dramatically because the fire spreads extremely quickly. This is fatal because there is a chemical factory next door. There is a risk of a serious explosion. A race against time begins and a lot of reinforcements are called in. Can the catastrophe still be averted?
A serious car accident with a person trapped inside puts the Bochum fire brigade under great stress. The journey becomes a real test and a race against time. An elderly lady complains of acute shortness of breath, the fire brigade is notified via the emergency call system. The crucial question is: is the shortness of breath possibly related to Corona? Firefighters must also be prepared for a poisonous emergency. So today their path takes them to the Bochum zoo - to all kinds of poisonous and exotic reptiles. And finally a car is fully ablaze. The fire brigade trainees are allowed to take over the extinguishing of the fire all by themselves for the first time.
In the middle of the night, the emergency services are called to a burning office container in front of a warehouse. Nobody knows what is inside... In addition, the rescue workers from the professional fire brigade are called to perform resuscitation after a traffic accident. Can they save the accident victim's life on the spot? Inventiveness and speed are not only required during an exercise at the station, the emergency services also have to find a good solution when rescuing a mountain biker. Can they rescue the seriously injured man from the embankment without causing any further shock and hand him over to the emergency services?
Major operation in Bochum: The emergency services at the Werner Hauptwache are called to a fire in a residential building. Can they evacuate the building in time? In addition, a mother needs urgent help: her baby is locked in the car and the key is in the car. Elsewhere, gas is said to be leaking in a private apartment.
Precision work under time pressure: First responders alert the fire department to a serious traffic accident. Every move has to be right, an injured person is trapped in the car and must be freed and taken to hospital as quickly as possible. In addition, the security team, together with the mountain rescuers and the rescue dog squad, practice searching for and rescuing missing people from a so-called "lost place". Although these abandoned places are not allowed to be entered, serious accidents still occur there.
Major operation at night: The fire brigade from the inner city station is called to a fire in a tire warehouse. It quickly becomes clear that a lot of manpower is needed here. When the fire brigade arrives at the tire warehouse, the owners are already trying to prevent the fire from spreading to other parts of the warehouse and piles of tires. In addition, it is not uncommon for the emergency services to be called to cases for which they are not actually responsible.
2022
Bochum in the early evening: Dense, black clouds of smoke rise from a company building. The fire department is quickly on the scene - but the premises are locked. As the fire threatens to spread and every minute counts, the emergency services have to gain access as quickly as possible. In addition, the dispatch center receives a domestic emergency call. An elderly lady has pressed her emergency button and is not responding to any call. The fire department sends the rescue service. At the scene, neighbors report that the lady is seriously ill. For the rescue workers, a race against time begins, because her apartment door is specially secured.
The Bochum fire department is called to a chimney fire. The fire must be contained quickly - but extinguishing with water is not an option. In addition to the ambulances, the fire department also has emergency vehicles in which one paramedic from the fire department accompanies an emergency physician from the hospital to serious emergencies. An elderly woman complains of shortness of breath and chest pain. Everything points to a heart attack - every minute counts. And when a bee colony is relocated from the garden of a residential building, it's a matter of life and death.
The Bochum fire brigade is called to a smoking, disused toilet building. People are believed to be still inside - there is danger to life! Every second counts for the firefighters, because the smoke from the fire is life-threatening for the missing people. But this is not the only incident that keeps the firefighters on their toes: a little boy has fallen from a great height. In addition, an injured roebuck has got lost in a private garden and has to be rescued.
After an accident on the A40 towards Essen, an elderly couple is injured in one of the cars involved in the accident. The Bochum emergency services go to the rescue. The firefighters are also called to a fire at night on a tennis court. When they arrive at the scene, an arbour is already on fire. And: A worried wife dials 112. Her husband can no longer get up. But when the emergency services decide to take him to hospital, he refuses.
The Bochum fire brigade is called to a sauna fire. When the emergency services arrive, high flames are already bursting out of the house. Will the fire spread? In addition, a man in respiratory distress independently notifies the emergency services - and can thus be rescued in time. And: The control centre receives a so-called "eCall". This is an emergency call service that automatically alerts the fire brigade after a traffic accident.
Alarm for the trainees of the Bochum fire brigade: an area of more than 100 square metres is on fire in a piece of woodland. Can they prevent it from spreading? In addition, there is an emergency medical operation for a patient with suspected corona: the emergency services use special protective clothing to treat the woman. Meanwhile, the fire brigade has to rescue a man with a dislocated ankle in rough terrain. And: Can the training group rescue an injured grey heron from a deep cellar shaft?
2023
Bochum: A woman calls 112; her kitchen is ablaze. She and her daughter can save themselves from the apartment, but unfortunately their dogs can't. Fire and smoke continue to spread. Soon the elderly neighbor is also in danger. Can the firefighters still save people and animals? A woman complains of stomach pain and the emergency services are called. This deployment presents a special challenge: the patient has dementia and cannot remember anything. Also: A special kind of mini golf tournament is taking place at the fire station. You can laugh.
2025
In Heidelberg, firefighters respond at night to a garage fully ablaze that has spread to a nearby house. Crews work to contain the fire and protect neighbouring buildings amid concerns about asbestos in the old structures.
Flames erupt from an apartment building in Bochum. The tenant of the apartment on fire was able to escape outside in time, but the neighbors' lives were in danger. Among them was a family with four children. The problem: The smoke has cut off their escape route and they can't get outside without help. Can emergency services rescue parents and children through the windows? An alarm also goes off at the Bochum fire station during the night: securing a motorcycle that has been involved in an accident. The situation on site is completely different: a truck has had a serious accident, the driver is trapped and has to be freed.
Nighttime operation at a school in Bochum: What starts as burning bushes quickly develops into a building fire. Can the firefighters prevent something worse from happening? The rescue workers are also called to a medical emergency: a refugee from Ukraine is in mortal danger. And: A truck is on fire and needs to be extinguished as quickly as possible.
An elderly woman reports to the Bochum fire department: the stairwell is full of smoke, the smoke detector in the basement beeps incessantly. Your escape route from the attic is cut off. The emergency services have to hurry, a race against time begins. Ambulance services and an emergency doctor are called to a man with acute heart problems. Did he have a heart attack? Can you still help him? The absolute “worst case” scenario for the fire department is when a colleague is in danger while on duty. So that everyone knows how to behave, the fire department practices a “mayday situation”. Also: A car fire on the motorway causes a complete closure.
NBC operation in Bochum: Green mist rises into the open air during a drilling operation on a construction site. The employees alert the fire department. They, in turn, now have to identify the unclear gas and clarify its origin in order to be able to assess the danger. A captivating situation, a case for modern technologies and expertise. In addition, the wooden hut of a youth home burns late in the evening. Soon the entire hut is on fire and the fire threatens to spread. Will the firefighters – initially with limited forces – be able to bring the situation under control? And: How do you celebrate Christmas on the guard?
New Year's Eve 2022/23: The turn of the year represents a special challenge for the firefighters. The night turns into an ordeal for the firefighters. You have to be in many places at the same time. In addition, the severe onset of winter with blowing snow and slippery conditions makes the roads dangerous terrain. The emergency services have to rescue a driver who has slipped on the slippery road. When they arrive, the car is lying on its side and is in danger of sliding down the slope, with the driver trapped in the car.
A young man crashes on a steep downhill trail at Königstuhl, requiring difficult terrain rescue with specialized equipment. Crews also investigate a mysterious indoor smoke development and help a man stuck with his bicycle.
Flames blaze between two buildings in a busy commercial district, with risk of further spread and possible involvement of a underground parking garage. Meanwhile, a paraglider crashes in the nearby forest, leading to a search-and-rescue operation.
The Heidelberg team frees a consciousless driver trapped in a car, performing on-scene resuscitation while cutting him free. A series of recurring trash bin fires suggests possible arson, and a child’s game turns into a safety incident requiring fire department help.
Fire crews launch a major search and water rescue operation at the Heidelberg weir after reports of someone falling into the water. They also tackle a vineyard shed fire and rescue a woman trapped in a hotel elevator.
A motorcyclist is trapped after crashing on a rural road, prompting a delicate rescue. A seemingly minor trash fire escalates, and a parked car catches fire, threatening nearby vehicles. Fire divers also train in the Neckar River.
With clothing found at the riverbank but no sign of a person, firefighters coordinate divers, boats, and scent dogs to search the Neckar. Other incidents include rescuing someone from a rolling car and a training scenario pulling victims from a fairground ride.
After days of rain, a hillside collapse at a construction site raises concerns about a possible buried person, requiring careful technical rescue. A fire breaks out at an abandoned industrial site, and back at the station, firefighters hold a cinnamon bun baking contest.
A persistent smoke alarm triggers a tricky search to find its source in a residential area. Crews also face roadside challenges: a car fire on a country road and a hazardous tarp caught in a power line after a storm.
A routine hike turns into an emergency when a senior falls and can’t return alone, leading to a technical rescue on rough terrain. Crews also tackle a smoldering garage fire in Heidelberg and fire diver training after a simulated boat capsize.
2023
A battery explodes and shortly afterwards the room is on fire. Every second counts for the firefighters to prevent the fire from spreading further. Then the next call: a car has crashed into a parked truck. The fire brigade is alerted in order to save the trapped passenger. The accident scenario is unusual. Was the cause of the serious accident possibly a street race? Psychological support can be found at wdr.de/k/psu-hilfe
The Bochum fire department is called to a residential building that was struck by lightning. There is already a suspicious crackling noise between the roof and the cladding. Can the emergency services prevent the fire from spreading to the entire house? In other applications, tact is required. A little boy is trapped between a wall and a railing on the subway platform and is in great pain. The rescue is extremely difficult. This episode also shows the work in the emergency dispatcher for the first time.
Two children are missing in the huge underground bunkers in Bochum's Westpark, which have long been closed and entry is forbidden. Together with speleologists, the emergency services search through the kilometers of corridors, shafts and halls. Life-threatening dangers lurk here for both the firefighters and the missing children. In another operation, the trainees are initially called to an arbor fire to provide support. But then they are the first unit on site and have to put out their first big fire. There is a danger from gas bottles stored in the arbor.
When the Bochum fire department arrived to extinguish a camper, large flames were already coming out of it. Can they prevent it from spreading to surrounding cars and homes? And the next mission is also tough: a woman has an accident and calls 112. She faints during the emergency call. The control center dispatcher has to locate her cell phone and navigate the emergency services to the injured woman in the middle of a forest. Can the rescue workers find the woman in time?
The firefighters are called to a fire. Dark clouds of smoke come from a bar. Are there still people in the building? How great is the danger for the residents in the surrounding apartments? The Bochum fire brigade's emergency services were supported 50 days in a row and 24 hours a day in their grueling everyday work. Six gripping episodes full of tension and emotions were created. The “heroes next door” try to help professionally, humanely and together.
A carport with several vehicles is ablaze. The flames threaten to spread not only to the adjacent residential building, but also to the workshop next to it. Several gas bottles make the work of the Bochum firefighters even more difficult. Then there is an explosion. In another case, a young high-performance gymnast falls from the parallel bars while training and falls on his neck. Is his spine injured? The rescue workers have to take him to the hospital as gently as possible.
2024
Apartment fire in Duisburg: According to the emergency call, there is still one person in the building. When the fire brigade arrived, the flames were already shooting out of the window. The missing person has to be rescued from the smoke-filled stairwell using respiratory protection. At the same time, firefighting is initiated from the inside and via turntable ladders. Another team is fighting the flames at the back of the house, which is difficult to access, to prevent them from spreading to the neighboring building.
At a recycling center in the world's largest inland port, hundreds of tons of scrap metal and scrap vehicles are completely engulfed in flames. The cloud of smoke is visible for kilometers. The Duisburg professional fire department immediately took all necessary measures to keep the massive fire at bay. All neighboring towns are sending reinforcements. The Duisburg Harbor Guard's fireboat also starts extinguishing operations from the water. Can the emergency services defeat the fire with their combined forces?
Traffic accident on a federal highway: A cyclist was hit and seriously injured. The Christoph 9 rescue helicopter is called in to provide support. On site, the emergency doctor from the rescue helicopter takes over the patient and must immediately initiate initial measures to provide the injured person with the best possible help.
Thick, black smoke is coming from the basement of an abandoned hospital. But all entrances to the building are barricaded. The emergency services have to break open a barred window as the fire continues to spread. The firefighters have zero visibility inside - so every step in the dangerous ruins has to be extremely careful.
Duisburg: An employee at a gas station alerts the fire department because there is a fire on the roof. When the emergency services from station 3 arrive, the smoke is already very heavy. The fire threatens to spread from the roof to the gas station building. An additional difficulty: the solar system on the burning roof complicates the fire-fighting work considerably. Will the emergency services manage to put out the fire in time?
Duisburg Landscape Park: The rescue service needs support because a man has had an accident in the forest and is seriously injured. He must be taken to hospital as quickly as possible. But rescuing him from the dense forest is extremely difficult. The control center sends rescue workers with the Christoph 9 rescue helicopter and the turntable ladder from station 3. Will a quick rescue be possible?
2025
The Duisburg firefighters from Fire & Rescue Station 3 (Hamborn) respond to flames spreading through the stairwell of a multi‑family building, forcing residents to flee in panic. Quickly containing the fire and rescuing occupants is critical. Meanwhile, the Christoph 9 air rescue helicopter is deployed to a serious motorway collision with a critically injured young man. In an unusual non‑fire incident, crews help a man who has trapped his finger in a mailbox.
The Christoph 9 crew flies to a major motorway accident where a transporter has crashed under a truck, and a severely injured, trapped driver must be freed in a race against time. Back on ground, the Duisburg team also responds to a school fire alarm that turns into a smoky situation on arrival.
Station 3 /Hamborn crews face a multi‑vehicle accident with several casualties, requiring quick triage decisions before reinforcements arrive. Additionally, firefighters tackle a garage fire in a residential area where flames begin to spread, adding complexity to the rescue work.
The Duisburg unit is called to a residential kitchen fire with thick black smoke billowing from a window. It’s a dangerous interior situation that challenges firefighters to protect residents still inside. Simultaneously, Christoph 9 is dispatched to a construction site where a worker has fallen from about three metres and needs urgent transport to hospital.
Before dawn, flames erupt from an apartment window in a multi‑family house, and dense smoke hampers the search for the fire’s origin while more residents show up at windows needing rescue. The Christoph 9 crew is also called to assist with an ongoing resuscitation effort. Later, the crew helps with an unusual task: freeing a stranded elevator in a doctor’s office.
This episode focuses on a time‑critical internal medical emergency where Christoph 9 responds to a man showing heart‑attack‑like symptoms far from the landing zone, complicating care. On the ground, Station 3 deals with a fire on a company yard caused by ignited batteries.
Streaming availability information not available
2026
The flames are already shooting out of four windows when a three-person team from the Duisburg fire department fights their way into an apartment where people are still believed to be inside. All four rooms are fully engulfed in flames. The extreme heat makes it difficult for the attack team to proceed and raises questions. The mission for Christoph 9 – this time, a challenging transfer: A critically ill patient must urgently be transported to a specialized clinic; her critical condition makes the flight a test of endurance for the air rescue team.
Before dawn, a report comes in: smoke is coming from a residential area. Firefighters follow the acrid smell of burning. The trail leads to a derelict site. Meter by meter, the emergency responders advance through the vast, abandoned factory grounds and make a very suspicious discovery. Meanwhile, the air ambulance Christoph 9 is called out to a traffic accident with multiple injuries. And on the highway, a vehicle is on fire after an accident. But the emergency lane isn't working – the emergency crews are stuck.
The initial report sounds unremarkable: A garden shed is on fire, and people are suspected to be inside. But suddenly, the situation becomes dramatic – the caller can't provide a specific address. The Duisburg fire department's emergency crews search anxiously for the location. Teenagers and the caller eventually guide them through woods and meadows to a secluded spot. Upon arrival, the shed is already engulfed in flames, and people are suspected to be inside. The firefighters battle the blaze – hampered by the difficult water supply. As if that weren't enough, a toxic hazard is added to the mix: asbestos. Meanwhile, Christoph 9 is called to a traffic accident. An injured cyclist is suspected of having a spinal cord injury – a highly stressful situation for the crew.
A call for Christoph 9: The report is "gunshot wound to the face." The crew takes off under immense pressure. The reality on the scene is surprising. What happened, and how seriously injured is the patient? Also in this episode: Flames are shooting out of the windows of an apartment fire; people are suspected to be inside. And: A woman needs the help of the emergency services after falling down the stairs with her dog.
A plume of black smoke rises above an abandoned sports club grounds as the fire engine from Station 3 arrives. The grounds are locked and heavily overgrown – the firefighters force their way in. The search for the source of the fire begins. It quickly becomes clear: this fire will not be easy to extinguish. The trainees get a taste of the heights, and a young mother calls 112 (the European emergency number) – she has locked herself out of her apartment. Inside, food is cooking on the stove, the smoke alarm is blaring, and her small child is alone. A race against time begins.
An e-bike rider and a van collided. When Christoph 9 arrived, the man was exhibiting neurological deficits. He was riding without a helmet. The crew is facing a possible traumatic brain injury of unknown severity. The Duisburg fire department was called out to a kitchen fire in an apartment building. The family affected managed to escape to safety just in time. Firefighters had to prevent the fire and smoke from spreading to other apartments. A drill for a real emergency: A fire broke out on a ship. Firefighters practiced fighting the blaze under extreme conditions.
The Duisburg fire department is alerted: A fire has broken out in an apartment building with heavy smoke in the stairwell. People are calling for help. The tension mounts with every second. The situation worsens on site: Just moments ago, a person was seen at the window above the burning apartment, but now they have vanished. Did they flee in panic into the toxic smoke of the stairwell? A team wearing breathing apparatus immediately enters the building to rescue the person, while a second team fights the fire. Meanwhile, a serious accident has occurred on the highway, involving several vehicles. The situation is initially chaotic. Firefighters assess the scene and make a disturbing discovery: The occupants of one of the cars have disappeared without a trace. Have they fled, or are they lying injured in the vicinity of the accident?
A motorway accident with several seriously injured people sends the Christoph 9 crew taking off under high tension. Shortly before reaching the accident site, however, there’s a sudden change: dispatch orders them to return. No sooner have they landed back at the station than the next alarm comes in: another traffic accident, again in the same area. What will the crew find when they arrive? Also: a basement fire in a high-rise building. The fire brigade must evacuate all residents before the toxic smoke spreads through the stairwells.
Alarm for the Duisburg fire department: “Heavy smoke, cause unclear.” On site, it is confirmed to be the early stages of a chimney fire. But what initially looks like a routine call turns out to be a puzzling and difficult challenge. Also: a callout for the air rescue team. An industrial accident has occurred at the lock, and Christoph 9 is needed.
A look back at New Year’s Eve: traditionally one of the toughest nights of the year for the Duisburg fire department. The emergency crews prepare for nonstop stress. At around 7 p.m., the first alarm comes in: a fire in an abandoned building. Access is difficult and the situation is unclear. Using ladders, the crews fight their way into the dilapidated structure. For one young colleague, it becomes a baptism of fire. Back at the station at midnight: alcohol-free sparkling wine and a sense of community far away from their families. The start of New Year’s Eve night is calmer than in previous years, but will it stay that way? Also: a rescue service call that gets under your skin. The alert reports severe leg pain, but once on site, the patient’s critical condition becomes clear. It is a call that will stay with the emergency crews for a long time.
Unexpected Business
2021
