Fire Near Hennef: Narrow Escape - Fire Extinguisher Saves the Day
In the small town of Lauthausen, Zum Bachhof, the Volunteer Fire Department Hennef was called to action on May 3, 2025, to extinguish a tree fire. The incident was reported at 14:22.
The tree in question was a 6-meter-high Thuja plant, and the cause of the fire was traced back to a flame device used for weed removal. Flame devices operate at temperatures exceeding 1000 degrees Celsius, making them a potential fire hazard.
Upon arrival, the fire had already started at a house, and the flames were spreading to garden sheds, residential houses, and other garden greenery due to the presence of flammable vegetation such as dry hedges, Thuja plants, and coniferous hedges. The fire department advises homeowners to protect their properties and, if in doubt, refrain from using such flame devices.
The initial control of the fire was achieved by the police using a powder extinguisher. Residents of the affected house and neighbours also provided water-based fire-fighting measures. The fire department performed follow-up extinguishing operations using a C-pipe.
A total of 17 personnel were deployed, including the Volunteer Fire Department Hennef, the fire unit Stadt Blankenberg, and the police. The City Fire Inspector Theo Jakobs was the incident commander.
The German technical inspection association TÜV has provided safety-related advice and certification for the use of flame devices, emphasizing the importance of protective clothing and careful handling due to fire risks. Injured persons have been treated by the rescue service in the past due to their own extinguishing attempts.
For inquiries about this incident, contact Thomas Vitiello of the Volunteer Fire Department Hennef at +49 160 90618647, [email protected], Twitter, or Facebook. The fire department urges caution when using flame devices, as they can easily cause fires.
