A childhood dream comes true – a ride in the HLF 20.
Like so many other people, I have always wanted to ride in a large fire engine. Now my dream has come true – I was allowed to ride in a vehicle of the Kößlarn volunteer fire department, an emergency fire fighting vehicle, HLF 20 for short.
This type of vehicle evolved from the pure fire-fighting group vehicles when the fire departments realized that their range of operations was increasingly shifting from fire-fighting to technical assistance and therefore equipped their fire-fighting group vehicles with additional equipment for accident assistance.
Even before they were standardized, HLFs were the most versatile pieces of firefighting equipment, used for all conceivable operational situations such as traffic accidents, hazardous goods operations and, of course, conventional fire operations. I don’t want to go into the technical details in this report; you can find a lot of information on Wikipedia.
The dimensions of the HLF 20: 8,600 × 2,500 × 3,300 mm
The boar also rides between the reels on the reverse side.
But now my impressions on this trip to the garage:
As a person of the 1960s, I was still driving vehicles that had just a single wing mirror and a radio-cassette player as additional equipment….
When you get into the driver’s cab of the HLF 20, you enter a huge, high-tech, electronic machine with a cockpit full of display screens, monitors, telephones, measuring devices and communication units.
I am really impressed that the firefighters manage to watch and read all the monitors when they are called out to an operation, despite the tension that every operation brings, while at the same time being able to communicate, listen to the warning tones and transport the vehicle and crew safely to the scene.
It blinks and beeps....
At the emergency scene, the incident commander communicates with the breathing protection team.
This vehicle offers space for 1+8 people.
100% organization is essential!
Some team seats have integrated breathing apparatus.
This is only a part of the equipment.
This is what the pump control panel looks like.
Permanent supply of electricity and air in the station.
I admit it openly: I would have been hopelessly overwhelmed and would like to once again send my thanks and deep respect to all the people who work for the volunteer fire department and sacrifice their free time to help people in emergency situations.
By the way: after the first few impressive minutes on the ride, I became a child again and simply enjoyed the rest of the ride with a big grin on my face. Many thanks to the Kößlarn fire department for giving me permission to ride along.
And the great thing is that I get to visit the firefighters a second time and talk to someone in charge about everyday life in the volunteer fire department. I’m really looking forward to it.
More than a third of all fires in private homes start in the kitchen
What do you think is the biggest cause of all fires in kitchens?
More than half of all fires start on the stove.
And that’s because things were put there that didn’t belong there – in other words, the stove was used as a storage surface. In kitchens, fires often develop quickly and cannot be extinguished on their own, and the fumes are highly toxic.
The Institut für Schadenverhütung und Schadenforschung der öffentlichen Versicherer e.V. (IFS) has put the following website online for us consumers: https://gefahr-erkannt.de/
Here, we consumers can place various items on an accidentally switched-on hob in a virtual fire test house and then see how quickly they catch fire and how the fire spreads. This site is a service of the IFS. www.ifs-ev.org
Oh yes – I also used to leave my towels on the stove…
I have gone through all these options on the website once – and I will definitely NEVER use my stove as a storage surface again – not even quickly for the kitchen towels….
Fire blankets are available in different sizes, for private use they are usually 1 x 1 m. The fabric is made of fireproof material such as nylon, Kevlar or glass fiber fabric in accordance with DIN EN 1869.
These blankets are not reusable!
They are usually found in red boxes and also have a red cover. Instructions for use are clearly printed on them.
Although the blankets are suitable for extinguishing small fires, they do not replace fire extinguishers in accordance with the Workplace Directive!
Fire blankets – yes or no?
YES to the fire blanket: For very small fires or incipient fires, the blanket is perfect to use, for example on upholstered furniture or kitchen appliances, burning containers such as waste baskets.
BUT:
The use of fire blankets for grease fires in the kitchen is now controversial, so DON’T use them. A fire blanket placed over the source of a fire in a pan can sag and catch fire, even though it is actually fireproof.
Therefore, in the event of a fire in the kitchen, immediately:
Switch off the heat source immediately! If the fire is only in the pot or pan, put a suitable lid on it and WAIT! The danger is that if the oil has not cooled down completely, the fat will immediately re-ignite if the lid is opened too soon.
For fires that have spread on the stove, you can also throw a damp kitchen towel over the fire.
Caution: A grease fire must NEVER be extinguished with water.
If water gets on the burning oil, a deflagration will occur. As a result, the flames flare up and the hot oil splashes explosively through the kitchen. This can cause the fire to spread and, even worse, cause severe burns to the skin.
The ideal solution for a grease fire would be to use an extinguishing spray.
So-called extinguishing sprays are a good way of putting out small fires. Although they don’t stand a chance with larger flames, they are easy to use, can be stored in any kitchen and are inexpensive. If a pan, Christmas wreath or hob starts to burn, they can be used effectively.
Here is an interesting overview.
BUT:
If the fire is too big and cannot be brought under control, call the fire department quickly.
Because the most important thing is to get yourself and others to safety so that nobody is harmed.
A second absolute NO for the use of a fire blanket are fires involving people.
The use of fire blankets poses additional dangers for both the rescuer and the person on fire.
This is because the first reflex of a person on fire is to run away and try to extinguish the fire themselves. Out of panic and fear, the victim often resists using the fire blanket.
In addition, burning or glowing pieces of fabric are pressed intensively against the skin when the blanket is applied, causing additional serious burn injuries.
Therefore, in the event of an emergency, the fire extinguisher (regardless of the type of fire extinguisher!) should be used to the rescue. The topic of personal fires is described in another blog article.
As a passionate motorbike enthusiast, I was naturally saddened by the report of the fire in the motorbike museum in Hochgurgl in January 2021.
The cause of the fire was soon determined: a technical defect in a digital signage display in the exhibition area. The museum was largely made of wood, which made it even more difficult for the fire brigades to extinguish the fire. Just about all the classic motorbikes fell victim to the flames, and of course the question of the fire protection of the building, which was just newly constructed in 2016, arose.
Fire in the motorbike museum in Hochgurgl. (Example photo)
However, there was indeed an elaborate fire protection concept – starting with fire protection sliding doors with T-30 fire protection function, which close automatically in case of fire, to optical and acoustic warning systems, to built-in rescue doors, which secure the escape route of persons and the possibility to quickly transport injured persons to hospitals via the helicopter landing pad.
And now the ” would have ” comes into play: If the operators or the fire protection officers had known at that time about the possibility of using monitors that are equipped in such a way that fires caused by electricity inside the monitors are automatically extinguished immediately and can thus fight a fire in a targeted manner before a catastrophe occurs, they would certainly have built this preventive fire protection into their fire protection concept.
Because: “The problem here was the undetected fire from inside, probably triggered by the electricity in the power supply unit. Such incipient fires can always happen,” explains Rajko Eichhorn, Senior Business Development Manager at JOB (JOB Group – world market leader for high-quality sprinkler lamps and inventor of the world’s smallest fire extinguisher). Most fire protection solutions for displays rely on unsightly, heavy, clunky fire protection enclosures and protective glass.
In contrast, solutions such as JOB’s E-Bulb, an automatic micro fire extinguisher, are integrated into the displays and can thus fight fires in a targeted manner before an actual fire occurs.
E-Bulb Assortment
And now to the ” should “: Shouldn’t we all work together so that fires like this and others no longer have to be reported daily in our newspapers?
I think so – and change the “should” to “must”. We must disseminate and pass on knowledge that we gain and that can help the general public.
And that’s why we will report in our next articles on how the “Automatic Miniature Fire Extinguisher“, AMFE for short, works, the VDS-certified “E-Bulb” micro fire extinguishers and the concept of “appliance-integrated fire protection”.
By the way: The reopening of the Motorcycle Museum was on 18.11.2021!
The reconstruction not only expanded and renewed the lost collection, but also the entire concept of the museum.
So you “could” plan a visit to the museum again…. but:
The Austrian federal government has ordered another comprehensive lockdown, including the closure of all hotels, restaurants and museums.
This officially ordered closure of operations is set for a maximum of 20 days in the period from 22.11.2021 to 12.12.2021 and also includes the possibility of an earlier reopening after 10 days – provided that the infection situation eases significantly.
This summer, too, the garden is the centre of life for many people. People are increasingly grilling outdoors instead of cooking indoors. But cooking and roasting with charcoal or gas barbecues involves risks that should not be underestimated and of which one should be aware.
According to surveys by burns doctors, there are around 4,000 barbecue accidents in Germany every year. This does not even require an open flame – high temperatures in combination with splashing fat are often enough to cause fires, especially if there are fat trays in the barbecue.
By the way: Burning fat must never be extinguished with water! As the water evaporates abruptly, a devastating fat fire explosion occurs. To suffocate a grease fire, the air supply must be cut off. For example, cover the fire with a metal lid or close the barbecue. In the case of gas barbecues, turn off the gas cylinder immediately. For all those who barbecue regularly or a lot, it may be useful to purchase a special grease fire extinguisher. These are also used in the catering industry.
There is a wide variety of barbecues. But you have to pay attention to safety with all of them! Photo: Melk Hagelslag -Pixabay
Tips for safe barbecuing:
When buying a barbecue, look for the GS mark the mark (Tested Safety).
Gas barbecues should be checked for leaks at the beginning of the season. This can be done with special sprays or soapy water, wetting all lines. Small gas bubbles indicate leaks.
Whether gas or coal – before the barbecue is lit, it is essential to ensure that it stands securely and is at a sufficient distance from plants, furniture, etc. (approx. 2 m). (approx. 2m). Never place the barbecue under pavilions, tents or parasols, as these could easily catch fire from flying sparks. Once it is hot, do not move or relocate it.
When lighting the charcoal, only use solid or specially approved liquid burning aids. Never use fire accelerants such as methylated spirits or petrol! And never pour liquid barbecue lighters into the open flames. This can result in deflagrations, several metres high flames and serious burn injuries!
Children should generally be kept away from the barbecue and hot embers.
When barbecuing, wear only flame-retardant or normally flammable clothing and never clothing made of synthetic fibres.
Extinguish the barbecue ashes with water or sand. It is best to let the embers cool down in the barbecue.
Never leave a fireplace unattended. However, if a fire does start, a functioning fire extinguisher should be at hand. The way it works is simple: pull the safety catch, press the strike button or lever, depending on the model, and direct the extinguishing jet at the source of the fire with short, targeted blasts. Alternatively, always keep a bucket of water, sand, fire extinguisher or fire blanket handy.
Now we all have a difficult time to get through at the moment. The Corona virus has taken full control of the world.
We are being asked to stay at home if possible. Families work from homes, the children are not allowed to go to school or kindergarten or daycare – life takes place in the house or apartment.
This is not easy for any of us – and we could notice that there have been a few more fires.
The Institute for Damage Prevention and Research has provided a diagram for 2019.
Fire cause statistics 2019
As can be seen, in more than half of all cases human misconduct and electricity are the causes of the fires.
The most common causes of fire are:
Pots or pans left on the stove
Who does not know this – you are cooking and the children have done something in high spirits or out of boredom. Already you forget the kitchen and take care of the aches and pains or try to prevent damage. Or a good thought for work comes to mind and you sit down at your workplace at home “just for a moment” – and cooking is a secondary matter. In the present time the danger is naturally much larger, because house or dwelling developed to a combined work, – cook, – child care, – resting place.
So please take care to keep your pans and pots under control. Flames that flare up from the stove can quickly spread to other kitchen furniture via poorly cleaned extractor hoods.
Electrical appliances, be it a television or a computer, run hot
Individual components can overheat during prolonged use and may tend to form flames, which may be the cause of a fire. If components, such as batteries, become too hot, the plastic that surrounds the unit will begin to burn. And since we are forced to work much longer and more intensively with our electrical devices at home, the risk of fire increases there as well.
Please check the temperature from time to time and then allow your electrical appliances appropriate “cooling breaks”.
And last but not least a request: If you have the opportunity to escape “house arrest” and can go for a walk in a nearby forest, please watch out for possible smoke signals and under no circumstances smoke in the forest!
Because: That’s how high the current danger of forest fire in Germany is!
Let’s work together to ensure that only the corona virus affects our lives. Let us together make sure that fires do not also cause grief or even danger to life.
In this sense, the team of König Konzept wishes you some wonderful Easter days despite the corona restrictions – AND STAY HEALTHY!
What should I do if there is a fire in my apartment in an apartment building?
In a nutshell – and under “read more”with helpful background information for all those who want to find out more.
Try to stay calm! Read more...
Stay calm – you are excited because a fire is not a habitual situation. Knowing what steps to take and regularly practicing these steps will not reduce the danger and risk for you, but you can at least partly defuse the dangerous situation and possibly even bring it under control by your reactions
Is it possible to extinguish the fire with simple means?(e.g. put the lid on the burning pot, use an existing small extinguisher, container with water) Read more...
Attempt to extinguish – Every fire starts small. The earlier you discover a fire, the greater the chance that you can extinguish it. There are some simple methods of extinguishing incipient fires. It is important that you react quickly and decisively.
a) Burning fat in a pan or pot–> Important: No water on fat fires! As fat burns very hot, water evaporates immediately in this case – and takes the burning fat with it. Instead of this, stifle the fire, e.g. by putting a lid on it.
b) Extinguishing spray cans are intuitively easy to use – just like spray cans. This may be sufficient for a developing fire. Against smaller fires, such as those caused by an overturned candle, you can even achieve good results with the finely atomized water from a flower sprayer, such as the one used for moistening leaves, if it is quickly at hand.
c) The most common types of fire extinguishers are ABC powder, water or foam extinguishers. For use in an emergency, however, you should first familiarise yourself with the application. Not all fire extinguishers work with the same technology – how they work is stated on the device as instructions for use.
When do you still have a chance to extinguish a fire with simple means?
A rule of thumb is: If you can still see the source of the fire, i.e. the cause of the fire, and apply extinguishing agent with your arm stretched out. With fire extinguishers, successful fire fighting is in principle possible longer and even later in the course of the fire than with extinguishing spray. But when a fire has developed beyond the initial fire phase, its spread is very rapid. In case of doubt, and especially if the smoke spreads quickly, you should definitely prefer to withdraw fire fighting. Do not play the hero! Your safety comes first
.
There is an interesting video about this: (Sorry, this video is in German language)
Is it possible to close the door to the burning room? Read more...
Every door is initially a barrier to flames and also smoke. Therefore, it is always useful if a possible escape route is separated from the fire room by a door.
There are highly effective fire doors that can withstand a fire for at least 30 minutes. But even simple doors without fire protection quality prevent a further spread of fire for at least 10 minutes – if they are closed. When you have closed the door inside the apartment, valuable time is gained for informing any other people present in the apartment and for escaping together. Also, the smoke cannot spread any further and put you at risk.
Consider whether there are other people in the apartment. If so, do these people know about the fire and are they able to leave the apartment independently? Read more...
Are there other people in the apartment and in the house? If there are children or other adults in the apartment besides yourself who have not yet noticed the fire, your quick and decisive reaction is vital for survival. After the initial fire phase, during which you may still be able to intervene, fires usually develop very quickly. It is therefore important that everyone who is still inside the apartment is informed as soon as possible and is able to get to safety together with you. Those who are dependent on your help (for example children, sick or infirm people) have priority. Remember that otherwise independent and reasonable people may become confused or panicky in the event of a fire. Get all persons you can reach and move without endangering themselves out of the building.
Is the escape route to the apartment exit available? Read more...
Your further action depends on whether your escape route to the apartment exit is free of fire and fire smoke.
If not, go to the room that is furthest away from the source of the fire, close the door behind you and alert the fire brigade.
Be sure to point out that you are locked in. If this room has a window that can be reached with a ladder, you will be brought out this way. This may take some time – modern doors can withstand a fire for a long time, so you can wait. It is important that you make yourself noticed at the window by shouting. The fire brigade will send a fireman to keep in contact with you.
Please be as specific as possible about your situation: Is the exit blocked by the fire? Is the apartment door closed? Is smoke penetrating? Are there other people in the room with you or in other rooms in the apartment?
If your evacuation via ladders is not possible, the fire brigade will come to your rescue by a quick and direct extinguishing attack via the stairs. For this purpose, they can use an escape hood, for example, which protects you for a short time from the dangers of fire smoke. However, an emergency service will always accompany you.
If the fire brigade cannot get to you soon enough and the situation in the room becomes threatening, you can still be rescued by a jumping pad. (The jumping sheets stretched out by many people, which were known from children’s books, do not exist anymore). Jumping pads can catch a jump from the 5th floor of an apartment building.
Attention: Never jump before you are asked to! Jump cushions are inflated and must first unfold. Sit on the windowsill, push yourself away from the window, pull your legs up and make a “bomb” like in a swimming pool!
Do you have your mobile phone and apartment keys within easy reach? Read more...
A mobile phone is an important tool in an emergency.
With a mobile phone you can also make an emergency call when the SIM card has expired – but the battery must be charged. If there is a fire in your home, it is of course important to alert the fire brigade as soon as possible.
But an emergency call takes a while: The control center has to get information about the exact location, the situation etc. and will ask questions. There is no time for that in a room where there is a fire. You should therefore first get to safety before making the emergency call. It is of little use if you have alerted the fire brigade and cannot leave your home because of the time spent on it.
When leaving the apartment, you should always take your key with you to the apartment entrance. When the fire brigade arrives, you can give the firemen your apartment key and other information about the situation. With the key, the firefighters can get into their flat faster and they don’t have to gain access with breaking tools and lose valuable time.
To ensure that you can quickly find your keys and mobile phone in an emergency, they should always be in the same place and ready to hand. If you lock your door at night, leave the key in the lock if the door can still be unlocked from the outside. Alternatively, you can hang or place the key in a clearly visible position on a key board in the immediate vicinity of the door.
Did you close the door to the staircase when you left the apartment?Read more...
If you leave your apartment through the apartment entrance door, it is important that you close the door behind you. Closing the apartment door in the event of a fire in an apartment building is particularly important. When the door is closed, a small amount of smoke can still enter the stairwell, but not as much as when the door is fully open.
Even if the apartment entrance door is not a fire door with a defined fire resistance, it can withstand a fire for a certain period of time and can thus enable not only you but also the other residents of the building to escape via the staircase.
If you leave your burning apartment and have the key with you, it is not only helpful for you if you want to go back after the fire is extinguished, but also very helpful for the fire brigade. If the fire brigade arrives and you expect them to come with the apartment key and also other information, the firefighters can get to the source of the fire faster than if they have to use crushing tools to gain access to the scene of the fire first.
Have you called the fire brigade from a safe area via the telephone number 112?Read more...
The most important thing is to get all the inhabitants of the fire flat to safety. If everyone is safe – or unavailable – and no one else has been able to make an emergency call, then the next step is to do so as quickly as possible.
When making the emergency call, remember that the person on duty at the emergency call centre is accustomed to such a conversational situation, but for yourself the situation is new, you are excited and possibly confused. In this situation, it is important to nevertheless transmit all information that is important for the fire brigade and rescue services.
Therefore, try to answer the questions asked in an understandable and rapid manner. The most important thing is to determine the exact location of the emergency, i.e. town, street, house number, district, floor if applicable, and any special features or peculiarities of the access route.
Give clear and quick answers to the following questions:
– Where is the emergency location?
– What has happened?
– Who is calling?
Provide concise information and describe the situation as precisely as possible. Are there injured and how many? Are people in acute danger? Also wait for further questions and instructions and do not hang up until the person in the control centre has finished the conversation.
Did you warn the neighbours?Read more...
If you live in an apartment building, you should at least warn the neighbours on the same floor. Apartments are normally separated in terms of fire protection in such a way that under normal circumstances no fire spread to the neighbouring apartment is to be expected before the fire brigade arrives. However, it is advisable to warn neighbours on the same floor if it is possible without danger.
Non-dangerous means that there is no strong smoke development in the staircase and that it can still be used without danger. However, you should not run up the stairs and cause all persons to leave the house. Apartment buildings are equipped with fire-resistant ceilings that last at least until the fire brigade arrives. The fire brigade can then decide whether or not it is necessary to evacuate the entire building
Can you give the fire brigade important information, for example, whether and where there are still people in the building?Read more...
The arriving firefighters are led by a fire chief who is trained to request information from the reporting persons about the incident as quickly as possible. This may seem brusque and not particularly sensitive – but that’s not what the situation is about, it’s about the quick defense against acute danger.
Identify yourself as an information carrier and respond in the same way as you have already spoken to the fire brigade on the telephone. The questions will mainly refer to the exact location of the fire, because it is not always clear from the outside:
– On which floor is there a fire and in which apartment?
– Pay attention to the way the floors are counted: ground floor, 1st floor, 2nd floor etc.
– Are there still people in the apartment?
– Are there any special dangers (gas bottles, animals, ammunition or similar).
– Is the door closed? Do you have a key?
– Give your key to the officer in charge.
After the initial information, be ready to answer questions. If you have followed all the points to the best of your knowledge and ability, you have done everything you could for yourself and your environment. This will enable the fire brigade to work quickly and effectively and the damage can be limited.
“The expert recommendation is aimed both at the residents of apartments and at fire brigades and specialists in fire protection education and information,”explains Frieder Kircher, Chairman of the Joint Committee.
The committee came to the following conclusions:
1. The recommendations for action must be more detailed, even if the problem arises that difficulties arise when reading the longer text.
2.There is no standard rule on behaviour that applies to every situation in every type of building when living. The detailed rules of behaviour for a fire in a single-family house differ in several points from the rules for a fire in an apartment building. The following four cases are therefore distinguished in the technical recommendation “Behaviour in case of fire”:
1. Fire in the own apartment of an apartment building
2. Fire in another apartment of a m apartment building
3. Smoky staircase in an apartment building
4. Fire in a single-family dwelling
3. Pure catchwords or mnemonics are not sufficient. There must be detailed explanations that address the users directly. In particular, these serve multipliers such as fire safety instructors or teachers to explain the mnemonic sentences to the users
4. Flow charts are used to clearly explain the principles of action.
The following short video is very illustrative: “Nils explains the fire protection” – from the video channel of the professional association for health service and welfare (BGW)
For the purpose of clarity, the four individual cases are also treated separately here.
“With the new technical recommendation, the Joint Committee for Fire Protection Education and Fire Protection Awareness continues its strategic work in this area, which was started with the technical recommendation ‘Emergency Calls in Fire Protection Education’ and is to be continued in the future,” Kircher concludes.
Guggenmusic, Fasnet. Foto: Hermann Schmider at Pixabay
In the next few weeks the so-called fifth season will really take off. Fools, jesters and carnival revellers are enthusiastically jumping into the numerous offered carnival parties and balls.
To make sure that you as organizer and visitor can celebrate these hours in a relaxed way, you should consider a few things to avoid fire accidents as good as possible.
When buying streamers, garlands and decorations, look out for flame-retardant products. You can recognise these by the imprint “B1”. By the way, our silk papers and crepe papers are also suitable for this purpose.
Colourful and flame retardant – an unbeatable combination. Photo: 5598375 on Pixabay
In general, when decorating your party room, do not place decorative materials in the immediate neighborhood of light bulbs, radiant heaters, candles or other hot objects.
If you really want to place candles, you could install them fire-safe in so-called preserving jars out of glass.
Set up ashtrays and empty their contents into metal buckets only.
Remember to clearly mark emergency exits, never close them and make sure they are easily accessible.
Better safe than sorry, so keep fire extinguishers, fire extinguishing spray or buckets of water ready.
Check your smoke detectors in advance.
Do not use easily flammable material such as paper or cotton wool for costumes. Even children’s costumes with the EN 71 standard are not absolutely safe. It does specify how fast flames may spread. However, it does not cover secondary fire phenomena such as dripping. Close fitting costumes are generally safer. Talk to your children about the dangers of fire and teach them how to behave in an emergency. (see below)
Park responsibly, keep the escape routes clear!
Tips in case of fire:
Keep calm and don’t run off. If possible, take off burning clothing quickly.
Otherwise, throw yourself on the ground and roll quickly.
Help others, those affected are usually in shock. If necessary throw them to the ground and roll them.
Use a blanket to put out the fire and roll the person up to their neck.
Wound treatment:
Cool the injured area for about 10 minutes. The water should not be too cold, otherwise there is a risk of hypothermia.
Do not remove burnt in clothes.
In case of large wounds, call the emergency doctor on 112.
We wish all “party people” a fire-free, grand carnival! Helau and Alaaf and all the other fool calls – which you can read about here.
During the dark season, especially in the period from the beginning of December to mid-January, there are frequent fires in rooms, but in the worst case, house or apartment fires can also occur as a result.
You probably already guessed it: The most common reason for fires in this season are unattended candles, no matter whether they are lit on Advent wreaths, Christmas trees, candlesticks, etc. In this video you can observe how fast afire of a Christmas tree develops and spreads.
Fires in residential buildings are not only dangerous, they can also be expensive in case of damage. Consumers can protect themselves against financial risks with the appropriate insurance policies – household contents and buildings insurance and personal liability insurance.
Fire damage inside the home is covered by household contents insurance. The policy covers all items that are movable – even destroyed Christmas presents are included.
In the case of damage to buildings, on the other hand, the building insurance policy applies.
BUT: The insurances only cover the damages if there is no negligence.
If someone leaves the room for a longer period of time although the candles are still burning, this person is acting grossly negligent – even if it is only small tea lights. Such behaviour can have consequences for the settlement of claims. This is because in the event of gross negligence, the insurer may reduce the benefit proportionately or refuse it altogether.
In the case of new contracts before 01.01.2008 and old contracts before 01.01.2009, the insurers were often not liable in these cases. Now there is a graduated system of fault (slight negligence, gross negligence, intent, malice).
By the way: Report your damages immediately and do not dispose of the damaged items without consulting the insurer. The insurer may still want to inspect the damage. It may also be helpful to document the damage with photos as documentary evidence.
Even if the mishap happens on Christmas Eve: insured persons should not wait until after the holidays to report their claims. Insurers have a damage hotline for this purpose, which is often activated on public holidays. If nobody can be reached there, you should write an e-mail. This is because, according to the insurance company, damage must usually be reported “immediately”.
What to do so that the dark season does not have to remain dark but there is no risk of fire?
Electronics as an alternative to candles
To reduce the risk of fire, the use of electric Christmas decorations is an alternative: fairy lights for the Christmas tree or Christmas LED lamps – it works without candles.
But make sure to buy fairy lights only with GS mark. The name and address of the manufacturer should also appear on the packaging.
Avoid using sparklers in the house or apartment. In one case, for example, the Offenburg Regional Court ruled that it is grossly negligent to light sparklers directly on the Christmas tree (file number: 2 O 197/02). The household insurance was not obliged to pay for the damage caused.
If you still don’t want to be without real candles, here are a few tips for your safety:
Withered Advent wreath branches can quickly start an apartment fire. Therefore, you should replace the fir greenery regularly. Furthermore, candles on flower arrangements should never burn down completely.Self-extinguishing candles offer additional safety here. Candles should also never be left unattended and should never be placed near flammable materials.
If you want to decorate your Christmas tree with real wax candles, curtains, drapes, paper and upholstered furniture must be out of reach. If you have playful pets, it is better not to hang the Christmas decorations on the lowest branches or place the tree on a sturdy table. When lighting the tree, the rule of thumb is to start at the top and work your way down. When extinguishing the candles, it is the other way round.
Parents should also pay special attention to their children and inform them about the risks involved. If a fire breaks out because an eight-year-old ignites tea lights with the lighter lying on the dining room table, the child cannot be blamed, the Bielefeld Regional Court stated in one case. Because the child’s thoughts one day before Christmas had been “dominated by the question” of which Christmas presents he or she would receive. However, the parents had to be liable, because they should have been more careful (file number: 21 S 166/06).
By the way, so-called fire protection sprays are recommended to a limited extent.
According to the manufacturer Aisco, natural Christmas trees are problematic in terms of fire protection.
“There is no product on the market, not even from us, that reliably makes Christmas trees of any kind, “resinous” and dry, flame-resistant according to DIN4102 B1″.
Your duty of care is also necessary if you have treated your Advent wreath branches or your Christmas tree with a fire protection spray.
For other materials, however, a fire protection spray is often a very good solution – report follows in a separate article.
Foto: Gerd Altmann bei Pixabay
With these tips the team of König Konzept wishes you a wonderful, fire-free, relaxed Christmas time full of atmospheric moments and a fantastic slide into a new year.
König Konzept: Schwer entflammbare Papiere, Papiersuchdienst, Produktion
