Rescue workers rehearse the emergency: disaster protection exercise in Gotha!

Rescue workers rehearse the emergency: disaster protection exercise in Gotha!

Luisenthal, Deutschland - On June 13, 2025, the emergency services in the Gotha district were prepared for an emergency. In a large -scale disaster protection exercise, the rescue of injuries was rehearsed in the event of a disaster. The aim was to refine the processes in crisis management and uncover possible weaknesses. The exercise was commanded by District Administrator Onno Eckert, which underlined the relevance of combined exercises for preparing for real emergencies. From 2:20 p.m. the emergency services from Ohrdruf and Luisenthal were informed about a simulated forest fire near Luisenthal.

A total of around 470 emergency services and administrative employees took part in the exercise. This took place both in the forest area and in the district office, which ensured realistic training. The scenario provided for an uncontrolled fire in a forest area, which, due to the long drought time in recent years, was not only realistic, but also urgently warning. District Administrator Eckert emphasized that the exercise is part of the district's obligation to hold a full exercise every five years in accordance with the Thuringian disaster protection regulation.

evacuation and rescue as central elements

The exercise also included the evacuation of a tent camp with injured children, which put the coordinated cooperation between the various rescue organizations. The injured was then triage before they were transported to a collection point or directly to the Helios Clinic. During the exercise, the presence of emergency vehicles with flashing lights and Martinshorn was striking, and barriers were set up to keep passers -by from the practice area.

In addition, the exercise illustrates the increasing danger situation through forest fires, which has increased significantly in recent years due to drought. In 2022 there was an alarming number of 2,397 forest fires in Germany, which raged on an area of ​​3,058 hectares. The situation is heading particularly in the period from June to August, which emphasizes the need for such exercises. Another example of such exercises took place on the same day in Ehingen, where scenarios such as a forest fire and a helicopter emergency landing were rehearsed, of which 600 emergency services and numerous vehicles were involved.

forest protection and preventive measures

The importance of preventive measures is becoming increasingly obvious, especially in densely populated areas such as Germany, where the protective and conservation measures of the forest are of central importance. The forest fulfills important functions and should be preserved not only as a resource, but also as a shelter. The developed considerations for forest fire prevention are essential to minimize the destruction of forest areas by such calamities.

The experiences of the current exercise gained will soon be published in a comprehensive report on Oscar on Friday TV. The continuous need to improve and adapt the strategies in civil protection are of outstanding importance in order to guarantee and be prepared if the emergency should occur.

For more information about the exercise in the Gotha district, please visit Oscar on Friday . You can find details on other relevant exercises on Bavarian radio as well as on ble .