In Greece, German firefighters bringing with them state-of-the-art anti-fire equipment

Germans firefighters join forces with the Greeks and arrive in our country to help in the battle to extinguish the fires.

According to Deutsche Welle, the Greek firefighter Nikos Michos, who lives in Germany, has not been able to calm down since the day before yesterday, when he received a phone call from the fire chief to offer him to participate in sending firefighters to Greece from the state of Hesse. “I literally can’t sleep since I found out the day before yesterday,” he says.

“I had a small accident with my car and I am out of service. Unfortunately I had to say no to the offer of the commander who preferred me first, as a Greek. Because I have to tell you that our commander, as well as the others, were ordered to search and find first Greek firefighters who know Greek. There are also German firefighters who go to Greece every year. So they also know Greek. “And these are the people who were preferred to participate in this action.”

With state-of-the-art anti-flare equipment

Nikos Michos lives in the city of Nei Izenburg in the state of Hesse and has been a proud volunteer firefighter since 1992, like 99% of firefighters in Germany.

“The specific state sends to our country the second group of German firefighters, which is also already on its way to Greece. 167 firefighters with logistical support staff along with 41 firefighting and auxiliary vehicles “says Mr. Michos. “They started yesterday at noon from various cities in the state, met before Bavaria and travel to Greece in convoys. “Tomorrow, Wednesday at noon, they take the ship from Agona to reach Patras”, he points out.

Where exactly they will attempt will be decided by the Greek fire service

Ralph Ackerman, president of the state Firefighters Association, has been in Athens since Monday for details and in which area they will take action. But wherever they try, their contribution will be crucial.

“Firefighters will help with the resurgences. They enter with their cars in many places that are difficult to go with normal trucks because they have four-wheel drive cars and can enter small groups in the woods, with small machines in the back, backpacks with water and some “shovels” can help in the resurgence, help in the woods. “But of course they can also help in the cities,” notes Nikos Michos.

ΤFire trucks are state-of-the-art with the most advanced equipment available on the German market today. Like the team of firefighters from Bonn, the team from the state of Hesse has its own logistic, ie its own beds, mattresses, generators, water, toilets, its own medical care to be completely independent and not to burden the Greek fire Department.

German donation of firefighting in Psachna, Evia

Yesterday, as Mr. Michos emphasizes, something unexpected happened. A small firefighters’ farewell ceremony was held in the city of Neu-Izenburg, attended by the governor, the mayor and other local firefighters. They wished the firefighters traveling to Greece all the best in carrying out their mission and returning home safe and sound. This in itself shows the great importance that this state attaches to the mission, the costs of which are borne by the German State, while the transport costs are covered by the EU. Firefighters are not paid, they are volunteers and come to Greece with their hearts.

“When the” green light “came from the government and the commander of the Fire Service started asking left and right voluntarily, who wants and can go to Greece, I inform you that apart from the fact that I was considered first as a Greek, the list was so big that they almost had to cast lots “says the firefighter.

“These people are not going down because they are going to win something. They know Greece, they go to Greece, they are philhellenes and they do it with their heart. This is my complaint, that my compatriots do not say thank you, but try to blame from above. “I do not agree with that at all.”

But there is something else that most people do not know. The association of volunteer firefighters SAFeRS eV, all philhellenes, in an unsuspecting time started a fundraiser for the purchase of a fire truck for Psachna, Evia.

For his part, Nikos Michos, as vice-president of AHEPA Frankfurt, mobilized his own acquaintances and with the large amount raised, they bought a UNIIMA fire truck. Now this vehicle helps in fire which burns the place. “This vehicle can go anywhere,” says Mr. Michos, “we bought it because we knew the morphology of the soil of Evia and we are glad that it is now useful.”

Germany, which is still reeling from the recent floods, has responded to Greece’s call for help. He even had to evacuate firefighters from the areas of the huge disaster, around 210 to 220, something that no one expected. Did the help come too late? “Forces from outside help with low, small fires, re-ignitions and not large ones. They want flying vehicles, Germany does not have one. With their experience, the German firefighters will help in their own way where they will be indicated “, he states in closing.