Anonce

Požáry a zásahy jednotek požární ochrany

Statistical Yearbook 2004 - Fires
Ministry of Interior - General Directorate of Fire & Rescue Service of the Czech Republic

April 21^st – Natural gas explosion in a block of flats in Tržní Street, Brno. Up to 17 fire units had been operating on the place of explosion (incl. experts from USAR team working with a special camera) in cooperation with Czech Police, Medical Rescue Service and other IRS bodies till the day after. For searching victims canine unit with dogs was used, as well as Bučovice Rescue and Training Base of the Czech Army. First of all, once reached the place, fire units rescued persons endangered by collapse of building, then extinguished after-explosion fire and treated injured (7 civilians – two of them died later in hospital – and two firefighters), and extricated two casualties. Cause and damages – see Major Fire Cases 2004.

July 22^nd – Two local personal trains collided in a railway from Číčenice to Volary near Blanice, South Bohemia. One person died and 36 others were injured during the accident. Total of 58 firefighters from 9 fire units operated in the incident for more than 14 hours in cooperation with 19 officers of Czech Police, with crew of 19 ambulances of Medical Rescue Service, supported by an army helicopter, and with other IRS bodies. In the place of accident structures had to be dismantled, persons had to be searched and extricated, and the place had to be ensured. The operation was influenced by difficult accessibility of the place of incident (at a railway embankment).

August 26^th – A fire of a sugar factory (raw-sugar factory and development section) occurred in České Meziříčí, Hradec Králové region. Up to 182 firefighters from 23 fire units struggled for several hours, in with other IRS bodies and succeeded to salvage other plants worth 200 mil. CZK. One firefighter was injured during intervention. Late reporting influenced large propagation of fire; the intervention itself was complicated by evacuation of welding sets. Remote control activation of sirens was used for calling fire units. Cause and damages – see Major Fire Cases 2004.

September 2^nd – The Scania R124 trailer-towing vehicle with a tank containing 33,000 litres of benzene crashed on the road at the D1 highway between 120^th and 122^nd kilometres, direction to Prague near Jihlava. The flammable liquid spilled on the road surface for 1,250 meters. Some 70 firefighters from 12 fire units with cooperation of 13 other IRS bodies liquefied fire consequences and HazMat leakage till the next day. All traffic in the D1 highway was firstly stopped in both directions, and later restricted. Scumboards had to be installed in a nearby stream, and citizens from a nearby municipality had to be informed on possible evacuation. Dead body of a driver could be extricated even on the second day. Negatives: intervention was complicated by wrong UN code on a tank, and by large amount of stand-by people. Positives: using a helicopter of the Air Rescue Service for monitoring the site and coordination of intervening bodies. Cause and damages – see Major Fire Cases 2004.

October 6^th – Fire of near, middle and high forest stand occurred in Čavisov near Opava. Up to 18 fire units had been operating lengthwise 1,000 meters till the next day, in cooperation with Czech Police. Due to water shortage water had to be transported by remote hose water transport and remote shuttle water transport. Total area of 32,100 square meters was hit by fire, with damage of 783,000 CZK. Negatives: strong wind and other weather conditions contributed to large propagation of fire. Cause: probably smoking, when an unknown visitor threw off a butt-end or an alight match into dry underbrush.