Emergency responders from the Ennepe-Ruhr district fire department have been active for a span of seven hours, deploying 132 personnel.
In an unprecedented event, a significant fire broke out at Ewald Dörken AG company on Wetterstraße, Herdecke, around 8:07 PM on Friday. The local fire department was quick to respond, with the Herdecke Fire Department arriving on the scene within five minutes.
The initial firefighting efforts were laborious, indicating a higher personnel requirement. Consequently, the first out-of-town forces of the Wetter (Ruhr) Fire Department were alerted, and response teams were dispatched to Millöckerweg. In total, nine fire departments and 132 personnel were deployed to the incident site.
Upon arrival, the hall was evacuated by employees and filled with smoke. The smoke was coming from an oven where plastics were burning. With the help of additional teams in breathing apparatus, the fire was combated effectively.
As a precaution, the population and residents were warned via the NINA warning app about an odor nuisance from the fire, but there was no danger to the population. The fire reignited, but with excellent coordination by the control center, more and more fire departments arrived at the incident site.
At around 10:10 PM, there was a further spread of the fire in the facility, but no response teams were injured. The extinguishing measures at the Wetterstraße incident site were extensive, involving the use of regular tools and angle grinders to open and dismantle parts of the production plant and pipe system.
After the exhaust system and its insulation were opened, extinguished, and heavily cooled, the smoke subsided. The first out-of-town forces were able to contain the fire at Millöckerweg, finding only burnt food, which was removed from the stove, and the incident was quickly resolved.
The Herdecke Fire Department conducted a cleanup at the scene and restored operational readiness, while the Herdecke Fire Department conducted a fire watch at the scene. An all-clear message was issued via the NINA app for the odor nuisance in Herdecke at around 1:19.
Catering was provided for the personnel, with the Johanniter Accident Assistance called to the scene to handle the supply and catering component. At 02:30, the incident commander reported "Fire out".
This incident serves as a testament to the quick response and coordinated efforts of the fire departments in the Ennepe-Ruhr district and neighboring cities. The community can rest assured that their fire departments are ready to respond to any emergencies that may arise.
