Last Thursday, we delivered the first Taktik-Trainer to Switzerland – and gained fascinating insights into the structure and operations of the local fire services.
What especially stood out to us:
One fire station is often responsible for multiple municipalities – in our case, that includes 5 municipalities with 14 villages, 2 of which are only accessible by cable car.
The fire departments there are often specialized and do not cover all areas of responsibility equally – the unit, Corpo Pompieri Valle Calanca, focuses on firefighting, with a particular emphasis on wildland fire operations.
The images, stories, and equipment related to this topic were especially impressive. When asked, “How many wildland fire operations do you typically have per year?” the answer was, “about 20 days.” Due to the topography, these missions are usually very demanding in terms of time, personnel, and equipment, often resulting in extended deployment periods — sometimes lasting several days.
The fire station, which was only inaugurated in 2016, is already bursting at the seams and is scheduled to be expanded with two additional buildings over the next two years. Currently, the station operates with four vehicles, including its primary response unit – a tanker fire engine (TLF) with a 2,500-liter water tank on a Mercedes-Benz chassis – which is now 35 years old.
