The worst is pyrotechnics, which will surprise users, warns a spokesman for firefighters
How are Prague firefighters preparing for this year’s New Year’s Eve in the capital?
Fortunately, New Year’s Eve in Prague is calmer and calmer. In recent years, we only go to smaller fires, which is some fireworks that cause fires in bushes or containers. In this type of “Christmas” fires, the largest ones are regularly on the balconies, but even those are decreasing. Maybe last year there was really nothing because of the covid. We were afraid that people would shoot rockets out of the windows and get hurt, but fortunately they are mostly reasonable. So the preparation is not very different, so far they are rather different warnings from us.
What would you recommend to people who like to celebrate with firecrackers and rockets?
Detonate the pyrotechnics according to the instructions outside, never indoors. find an open space where the rockets cannot fly to the roof or to the balcony or window of the apartment where it would cause a fire. The most dangerous is the type of firecracker that doesn’t meet what we expect. Someone has big eyes and buys for a professional, which they then get under control and something can happen. The biggest mistake is to buy large rockets or firecrackers for children and let them manipulate them themselves. Even though they need thirteen. So we advise you to buy proven pyrotechnics, always read the instructions and do not fire it near the house or car.
So how can safety best be ensured?
It is good to take a two-liter PET bottle with you for firing, for example, which you can put out the beginning of the fire. Firecrackers and flares should also not be taken into the hands of under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Was this year in Prague something specific? I’m really looking forward to long columns, for example, did you manage to catch all the incidents?
Prague firefighters have priority in this. The drivers of our tanks are aware of the traffic situation in the area, because they have an exit tablet in every car and they know about deadlines or accidents in advance. In addition, there are ten fire stations in Prague and each has its own district, so you don’t have to go far. Although the reconstruction of the roads took the time of the columns, it never happened to us that we would not get somewhere and did not have time to help. But the capital has a much bigger problem.
There will be no fireworks or videomappingTraditional Prague fireworks organized by the municipality have not been held since last year, but the city this year due to an ongoing pandemic also canceled videomappingto replace it. Despite this, there is no doubt that the sky over the capital will shine with a combination of several smaller fireworks. The suburbs have been preserved in particular. “As in the first year, the Prague Běchovice district is preparing New Year’s fireworks,” said the mayor of Běchovice, Ondřej Martan (ODS). Pyrotechnics are prohibited In addition to the abolition of the official fireworks display, the municipality is also fighting against fireworks, which has been in force since last New Year’s Eve. The prohibits the use of firecrackers and rockets in certain places in Prague. “I see the point of adapting pyrotechnics in strengthening the safety of residents and celebrities in the center, in the protection of wildlife and birds, pets and many people who need peace. Whether they are needed in hospitals or in homes for the elderly, “explains Petr Hlubuček, Deputy Mayor for Security (STAN). The ban also applies, for example, in the historic center and at the zoo. In administrative proceedings, a breach of the decree can cost up to 100 thousand crowns, or 10 thousand crowns on the spot. |
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Impermeability of housing estates. Drivers often park poorly in large Prague housing estates. In one case, we didn’t get into a fire because of a poorly parked car. For years, we have been trying to explain in the campaign “Three meters to life” that all components of the IRS (Integrated rescue system, ed. Position) they just need a bigger ramp for their transport. So even if someone says during parking that it is just right and the cars pass, we will not pass with a large tanker.
We have been living with a pandemic for the second year in a row and people are generally more at home. Has there been more fires in Prague because of that?
It has not increased, in times of hard lockdowns they have rather decreased, people are more careful at home, candles at curtains are quickly extinguished on their own. The same applies, for example, to technical defects in apartments. The work increased more in connection with coronavirus, when we helped healthcare professionals in hospitals or in social facilities.
So what kind of cases have you actually traveled to most often in the last year?
It was mostly in technical cases. These are trees fallen by the wind or water in the cellar after the rain. Prague firefighters travel up to 100 cases a day, often assisting the police or rescuers. Examples are the opening of an apartment with an elderly person, rescue from an elevator or a traffic accident. They are probably the most difficult to recover from a burning car. Only then do they frequent a number of fires.
When we were at the pandemic, for example, the police still said they still had thousands of unvaccinated police officers. How are the firefighters?
Prague firefighters are at almost ninety percent vaccination coverage. There are about nine hundred of us in total, so there are about a hundred who either could not get vaccinated for health reasons or are still hesitant. What I talked to with my fellow volunteer firefighters, they have similar vaccine numbers.
How many of the nine hundred Prague firefighters are women? And what are you in charge of?
There are definitely fewer of them than men, but not so many. In some positions, they also work on trips, for example at chemists. Otherwise, women predominate mainly in other necessary positions, such as the personnel department, payroll accounting or even the prevention department or project control. We also have a lot of them at the 112 operations center
In November, firefighters finally took over the new Holešovice station. She replaced an old wooden fire station. How do you like it?
Power. The old one has been there since 1941. Although it had its charm, it was perhaps undignified and energy-intensive. A new modern one was built in Holešovice, which will function as the main headquarters of the Prague fire brigade in the future. The first trip should take place during January.