Helpers had to aim very high during the operational exercise

Location: Machlandstrasse 15. When this message appears on the Mauthausen firefighters’ pager, one thing is certain: fitness and overview are required. Because at this address is the ten-story tallest residential building in the Lower Mühlviertel.

This is exactly where the Haid and Mauthausen fire departments were called these days to train not only in fighting the fire, but also in rescuing several trapped people. “The fire broke out on the fifth floor. The stairwell is heavily smoked. Most of the residents were able to get to safety in time, but there are two people who are calling for help on the balcony on the seventh floor, as well as at least one person trapped in the broken one Lift,” said operations manager Thomas Katzlinger, commander of the Haid fire department near Mauthausen, describing the exercise scenario immediately after the approximately 40 firefighters arrived.

In the coming minutes, the respiratory protection teams from the two Mauthausen fire departments were particularly called upon: They had to drag high-performance fans and hoses up the staircase and also rescue the trapped people. “This is an extreme physical challenge,” said Roland Krankl, commander of the FF Mauthausen.

The onlookers watched the use of the FF Mauthausen’s telescopic mast platform particularly closely. Those responsible steered the stage to the balcony railing on the seventh floor with centimeter precision in order to bring a mother and her son on board and bring them to safety, to the applause of the audience. Meanwhile, the other residents who took part in the exercise as extras were provided with drinks and trained in the use of hand fire extinguishers.

“A house of this size naturally also represents a special challenge for the fire department. The last exercise here was a few years ago, so we thought we would invite you to a refresher exercise again this year,” says Reinhard Jobst, spokesman for the fire department House community. The exercise was the first of several events planned this year to mark the house’s 50th anniversary. The high-rise building was built in 1972 and residents moved into it in 1974.