German Fire Station Burns Down Due to Lack of Fire Alarms
A Preventable Tragedy with Devastating Consequences
A fire station is the last place you’d think a fire would break out. However, on October 16th, the Stadtallendorf fire station in western Germany burned to the ground. The brand new station with reportedly “modern, state of the art equipment” sustained millions in damages and serves as a warning that even the places we think are safest from fires can be destroyed in seconds.
Given that the building was full of fire safety equipment and staffed firefighting specialists, the unfortunate decision was made to not install a fire alarm system in the fire station…a negligent decision that came with a hefty price tag in fire-related damages. However, even with a range of fire protection devices and personnel at its disposal, the station didn’t stand a chance against the rapidly moving blaze without a solid preventative safety plan in place beforehand.
Fire prevention and early fire detection are crucial when it comes to securing commercial spaces. Ensuring the fire alarm system is properly installed and maintained can make all the difference when it comes to reducing the spread of the fire, property damage and even casualties. Fire alarm testing and inspection with qualified fire safety specialists should be regularly scheduled and fire prevention devices, such as sprinkler systems, extinguishers, smoke detectors and notification systems should be properly installed throughout the building.
As most commercial facilities are not fire stations, it can be difficult to understand the difference among fire safety devices, whether these devices have been properly installed and how to effectively maintain the longevity of these systems or know when they need to be replaced. As fire safety technology becomes more advanced and comprehensive, reflecting on these questions internally can be overwhelming. In such instances, managed service providers can be an effective solution to ensure the safety and security of the facility, staff and customers. Their fire safety expertise allows for the best possible fire safety systems to be selected based on the individualized needs of the facility, effectively minimizing the security risks associated with fire outbreaks.
Communication Company is a Siemens fire safety systems integrator providing fire alarms, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, emergency monitoring, sprinkler systems and cloud-based solutions for commercial industrial, healthcare, education, government and entertainment applications. In addition to providing and installing these products, Communication Company offers three levels of ComCare managed services for design, installation, testing, inspection and maintenance of fire safety systems, as well as other security solutions including door access control, video surveillance, AV systems and mass notification systems for comprehensive, integrated care and support. Additional services such as staff training, software upgrades and testing and priority queue are also available.
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For more information on ComCare managed services for fire safety and prevention, visit our dedicated ComCare or fire safety pages, or contact a member of our team today to get started.
