On August 9, 2022, at around 10:45 a.m., a gas pipe was damaged in the construction site area at the corner of Rheinallee and Frauenlobstraße. The site management of Mainzer Netze immediately alerted the Mainz fire department, which arrived at the scene shortly thereafter. Due to the gas leak, Rheinallee was completely closed in both directions in this area. Adjacent streets were also affected by the closure. Residents of the surrounding buildings were asked via loudspeaker announcements to keep their doors and windows closed and to remain inside the building until the all-clear was given. Based on the measurement results, evacuation was not necessary.

After a short preparation period, the leak was provisionally sealed by Mainz Netze employees wearing breathing apparatus and could then be closed. Firefighters from fire stations 1 and 2 ensured fire safety at the scene and stood by with a team wearing breathing apparatus during the sealing work. Extensive measurements were also taken.

Once the leak had been completely sealed, Mainz Networks carried out clearance measurements. At around 12:20 p.m., the residents were given the all-clear via loudspeaker announcements and the roadblock was lifted. 

In addition to this operation, the Mainz fire department was called to other incidents in the city at almost the same time. The remaining forces from fire station 1, a reserve vehicle from fire station 2, and the city's volunteer fire department were alerted and involved.

Head of operations: Fire Inspector Jonas Hahn Fire department
vehicles: 4 Fire department
personnel: 12
Image material: Image rights belong to the Mainz city administration.

On August 21, 2022, at around 3:30 p.m., the Mainz fire department control center received a report of smoke coming from the first floor of a multi-story office building on Boppstraße. Units from fire stations 1 and 2 were immediately alerted and dispatched to the scene.

Upon arrival at the scene, black smoke was already visible coming from two windows on the first floor. In order to initiate rapid and effective firefighting, one team proceeded via the stairwell inside the building and a second team from outside via the turntable ladder. Ultimately, the fire was extinguished very quickly using the turntable ladder and a C-jet pipe. A second team checked the remaining rooms and the scene of the fire inside the building. This was followed by ventilation measures and securing the property.

The fire was confined to an office unit on the first floor; no statement can be made regarding the extent of the damage. The cause of the fire is also unclear and is the subject of a police investigation. No one was injured.

In addition to the Mainz professional fire department, volunteer firefighters from the city were also on duty to support the full-time firefighters. Furthermore, due to the duration of the operation, volunteer firefighters from the districts of Bretzenheim, Marienborn, and Mombach were called in to cover parallel operations in the city.

Head of operations: Fire Inspector Jonas Hahn
Vehicles BF/FF: 5/1
Personnel BF/FF: 20/6 (+ standby crews FW 1 & FW 2)
Image material: Image rights belong to the Mainz city administration.

In a complex rescue operation on Tuesday, firefighters and THW personnel freed a man from an excavation pit at a residential building in Mainz-Mombach. After 75 minutes, the man, who was buried up to his chest, was rescued and taken to hospital with minor injuries.

At 1:45 p.m., the fire department control center received a report of a person buried in a construction pit in Mainz-Mombach. Thirty-five firefighters were alerted, along with the THW, emergency medical services, and police. At the scene, a man had been working in the front yard of a row house when he became trapped up to his chest by the collapsed edge of the construction pit.

The fire department provisionally secured the excavation pit to prevent further slippage of earth and debris. Initially with shovels, later with their bare hands, the firefighters dug the man free in the summer heat. At the same time, the Mainz THW reinforced the securing of the excavation pit and prepared further rescue options together with the fire department.

After 75 minutes, the man was freed from the excavation pit using a rope system and the turntable ladder. The emergency doctor diagnosed minor injuries on site, which were examined and treated at the hospital.

During the operation, there was an incident in which an impatient driver passed the emergency services so closely that he ran over a firefighter's foot. Fortunately, the protective safety boots meant that he was uninjured. The police took charge of the matter.

In addition to the fire department, 20 members of the Mainz Technical Relief Service (THW), four members of the rescue service, and four members of the police were on site. Suderstraße had to be completely closed during the rescue operation.

Head of operations: Senior Fire Chief Holger Hagen
Vehicles BF/FF: 12/2
Personnel BF/FF: 30/5
Image material: Image rights belong to the Mainz city administration.