Pollutant train north

Accident involving toxic substances: emergency services practise an emergency

The visit to the hazardous materials base gave the Florianis from Leithaprodersdorf an insight into the handling of hazardous substances

(Bild: Feuerwehr Leithaprodersdorf)

Tanker accidents, chlorine gas leaks and industrial accidents involving large quantities of hazardous substances - operations involving hazardous substances pose a particular challenge for fire departments.

There are around 400 such hazardous substance incidents in Burgenland every year - and the number is rising. The fire departments of the northern (Eisenstadt) and southern (Pinkafeld) hazardous substances platoons are also equipped with the appropriate emergency vehicles (hazardous substances vehicle and body protection vehicle). They support the base fire departments with special equipment and hazardous materials pumps, especially at the Nickelsdorf, Kittsee and Heiligenkreuz border crossings.

Building on the theoretical instruction, the fire department members had the opportunity to inspect the two special vehicles at close quarters and exchange ideas directly with the experts from the Eisenstadt fire department

(Bild: Feuerwehr Leithaprodersdorf)

During the previous week, the members of the Leithaprodersdorf fire department had the opportunity to inspect the two special vehicles of the northern hazardous materials train at close quarters and to talk directly to the experts from the Eisenstadt fire department. One of the highlights of the visit was trying on a level 2 protective suit, where two of the firefighters were able to experience first-hand the challenges of working in this special protective clothing.