Firefighters Battled an Inflames Belt Conveyor for Hours

In the heart of Arnsberg, an unexpected incident unfolded on Saturday afternoon when the main fire station was dispatched to a "suspicious outdoor smoke emission" on Hellefelder Street. Upon arrival, emergency services found a fire in a conveyor belt at an industrial site.

The alarm level was quickly raised to "Fire 5 - Confirmed fire in an industrial building." The smoke, observed coming from the industrial site, signalled the urgency of the situation.

The emergency services sprang into action, setting up a "firebreak" to protect an adjacent production building. A turntable ladder was brought into position to combat the fire more effectively due to the conveyor belt's height.

A circular saw was used to cut an opening into the conveyor belt's channel, allowing extinguishing water to penetrate the compressed paper more effectively. Simultaneously, emergency services cooled the conveyor belt from the outside using water to contain the fire.

The leader of the fire brigade at the scene of the fire on Hellefelder Straße during the firefighting operation is not explicitly named in the available sources. However, their team's efforts were instrumental in managing the situation.

Additional breathing apparatus were alerted during the operation due to its demanding nature. The German Red Cross provided self-protection for the emergency services with a rescue vehicle, and they also offered drinks and warm meals during the operation.

The pulper, into which the conveyor belt fed paper waste, was controlled, extinguished, and partially emptied by emergency services. After over eight hours, the operation on Hellefelder Street could finally be ended, marking a successful conclusion to a challenging day for the emergency services.

The incident serves as a reminder of the vital role emergency services play in maintaining safety in our communities. Their swift and effective response ensured that the fire was contained, and no further damage was caused.