The New Year’s Eve period proved to be significantly busier for the Mainz Fire Department than in recent years. During the “peak period” from midnight to 3 a.m., 30 calls were logged. Fortunately, there were no major fires or attacks on firefighters. Two people sustained minor injuries in fires.

As usual, the fire department was well prepared for the busiest night of the year. Additional personnel from the professional fire department were called in to put two more fire trucks into service and to reinforce the control center that handles the 112 emergency calls for Rheinhessen. The volunteer fire departments were also heavily involved with their volunteer crews. Some of the more than 400 volunteer firefighters provided on-call standby and celebrated the New Year alcohol-free at the fire station.

Thanks to the thorough preparation, numerous small fires and apartment fires could be quickly addressed simultaneously and without delay starting at 12:15 a.m. The following incidents are worth noting:

   - 12:20 a.m.: Sophie-Cahn-Straße
A balcony fire had already spread to an apartment. The fire department’s rapid response prevented the apartment from being completely engulfed by flames. However, it was still severely damaged by soot and heat. One person was also slightly injured but did not require hospitalization.

   - 12:24 a.m.: Westring
A balcony fire had already engulfed the entire apartment, rendering it uninhabitable. Fortunately, no one was injured here. The extensive firefighting efforts lasted a good 90 minutes.

   - 1:46 a.m.: Kupferbergterrasse
A reported trash can fire turned out to be a burning trash can shelter that had already spread to the building, where people were still inside. The alarm level was significantly raised. Three floors were filled with smoke from the fire. The fire department was just able to prevent the flames from spreading to the apartments. Fortunately, no one was injured here either.

At times, 125 volunteer and full-time firefighters were on the scene for these operations. The fire department control center also handled 24 additional fire calls in the Alzey-Worms and Mainz-Bingen districts.

Although travel to the incident sites was made more difficult than usual by the crowds on the streets and the fireworks, fortunately no targeted attacks on our emergency personnel were reported. From the fire department’s perspective, this continues the trend that people in Mainz want to celebrate peacefully and are grateful to the emergency personnel for their service.

Changes in weather conditions throughout the afternoon, including severe gusts of wind—some reaching hurricane force—led to an increase in emergency calls at the Mainz control center. In the districts of Mainz-Bingen, Alzey-Worms, and the city of Mainz, there were a total of 32 weather-related incidents involving fallen trees, falling roof sections, and loose objects flying through the air. The incoming emergency calls were received by the Mainz Fire Department control center, and the incidents were handled by units in the cities and municipalities. There was no single major focus for these operations. Fortunately, no one was injured, and there were no significant disruptions. The stormy weather has since subsided, and no further weather-related incidents are expected.

Mainz, January 10, 2025 – The Mainz Fire Department was called to a traffic accident on Eleonorenstraße in Mainz-Gonsenheim at 1:05 p.m. today.

Upon arrival, it was determined that two vehicles were involved in the accident and a total of five people were affected, three of whom were injured. All three occupants were still inside one of the vehicles. Two of them were unable to exit the vehicle on their own due to their minor to moderate injuries and the damage to the vehicle.

The Mainz Professional Fire Department provided initial care to the injured until the arrival of the emergency medical services. At the same time, technical rescue preparations were made and fire safety measures were ensured. In consultation with the emergency medical services, the driver was able to exit the vehicle on his own with assistance. The other two occupants were safely extracted from the vehicle using a spine board.

The emergency medical services then transported all three injured individuals to the hospital. The police have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.

The professional fire department deployed 14 personnel, the emergency medical services 9, and the police 4.

On Saturday, January 18, 2025, the Mainz Fire Department received multiple calls. At 12:35 p.m., both stations of the professional fire department as well as the Mainz-Weisenau Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to a reported roof truss fire on Wormser Straße in Mainz-Weisenau.

At the scene, residents reported that a fire had broken out in the attic and that everyone had already evacuated the affected apartment building. Smoke was visible in the upper floors. Since the apartment building was located within a large construction site, access to the building and positioning the emergency vehicles was initially difficult, as there was only a single-lane access road on muddy ground.

During the reconnaissance, it became apparent that the stairwell was filled with smoke starting from the 3rd floor and that a water pipe in the building had already been damaged. A firefighting operation was quickly prepared, and a team wearing breathing apparatus was sent into the building. The firefighting team was able to quickly locate and extinguish the fire in a restroom on the fourth floor, so the reported roof truss fire was not confirmed. The building was then cleared of smoke using high-pressure ventilators.

Since the building is currently uninhabitable due to the burst water pipe combined with the ingress of firefighting water—and because the power had to be shut off throughout the building for safety reasons—the fire department referred some residents to emergency housing over the weekend. The remaining residents were able to find accommodation with relatives on their own. The building was inspected by the owner together with the criminal investigation department and sealed off after the operation concluded.

A total of 46 firefighters, two police officers, two emergency medical service personnel, and representatives from Mainzer Netze were involved in the operation. The operation was concluded after approximately 2.5 hours.

Further operations:

While this operation was still underway, just as the incident commander was about to reduce the number of personnel, a fire alarm was triggered at 1:15 p.m. in a hotel in Mainz’s Old Town. The firefighting unit from Station 1 was dispatched directly from the Wormser Straße incident site. On-site, the all-clear was quickly given, as the alarm had been triggered by cooking fumes in the kitchen.

Subsequently, the rescue fire engine and the turntable ladder from Station 1 were dispatched to an urgent door-opening call in Mainz-Gonsenheim. On-site, the door was forced open and the scene was handed over to the emergency medical services.

The Mainz Fire Department was called to a traffic accident on State Road L419 between Mainz-Finthen and Wackernheim early Sunday morning at 5:38 a.m.

Upon arrival, it was determined that three vehicles were involved in the accident. Two of the three vehicles had come to a stop in the ditch alongside the road. Two people sustained minor injuries in the accident, and one person suffered moderate injuries. Another vehicle had driven several meters over debris from the accident before coming to a stop. The driver was uninjured.

The Mainz Professional Fire Department secured the scene and provided care for the injured until additional emergency medical services arrived. At the same time, the Mainz-Finthen Volunteer Fire Department prepared for a technical rescue to free a person still trapped inside the car. To do this, the driver’s door of the car was opened using hydraulic equipment, and the person was then handed over to the emergency medical services.

Due to the accident, the scene was completely closed off by the police, causing traffic delays during rush hour.

Emergency medical services transported all three injured individuals to hospitals in Mainz.

The police have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.

The Mainz Fire Department responded with five vehicles, the emergency medical services with five vehicles, and the police with several emergency vehicles.

The Mainz Fire Department was called to a traffic accident on Mercedesstraße in Mainz-Bretzenheim at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

Upon arrival, it was determined that, for reasons as yet unknown, a vehicle had veered off the road and crashed into parked cars on private property before coming to a stop. Prior to this, the vehicle had struck a traffic sign and a streetlight. The streetlight was completely torn down and thrown several meters away. The driver and the passenger were injured in the accident. Fortunately, no other people were injured in the accident.

After consulting with the emergency medical services, both individuals were carefully extricated from the vehicle. To do this, a large side opening was created on both the driver’s and passenger’s sides. The emergency crews from both stations of the professional fire department worked in close coordination simultaneously. This allowed both individuals to be extricated from the vehicle almost simultaneously and handed over to the emergency medical services.

The emergency medical services transported the injured individuals to hospitals in Mainz.

The police have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.

The professional fire department deployed 14 personnel, the emergency medical services 7, and the police 6.