B 109 - 2026

Report

During a thunderstorm with heavy rain, the fire departments of Münchweiler, Winnweiler, Gonbach, Lohnsfeld, and Sippersfeld were dispatched to a roof truss fire caused by a lightning strike in Münchweiler an der Alsenz. The initial dispatch also included the Enkenbach-Alsenborn municipal fire department with several vehicles, as well as the measurement equipment truck (GW-Mess) from the Göllheim municipal association, the respiratory protection equipment truck from the Nordpfälzer Land municipal association, and the health section command.

The first responders confirmed the emergency call and quickly entered the building wearing breathing apparatus. At the time of the fire, no one was inside the affected single-family home. Since a solar panel system was installed on the roof of the building, it first had to be de-energized to ensure the safety of the emergency personnel. Subsequently, three crews wearing breathing apparatus began fighting the fire from the inside in the attic, as the fire had already penetrated the roof sheathing. Three additional fully equipped teams served as safety teams for the frontline personnel. In parallel with these initial measures, a water supply was established and the turntable ladder was positioned to initiate a further firefighting operation from the outside.

During the operation, four sections were formed to ensure a structured approach to the response. The first response section (EA) was led by the Lohnsfeld unit, which managed the staging area for reinforcing forces. OP2 “Fire” was led by the Deputy Fire and Disaster Protection Inspector (BKI), who had also arrived at the scene. The third operational section, “Supply,” was formed by the Gonbach unit. The fourth operational section covered the “Health” area and was led by the command vehicle of the Donnersberg District Health Section Command.

Due to the smoke that was developing, residents in the Münchweiler area were warned via announcements from the GW-Mess and urged to close their doors and windows. While firefighting operations were underway, the Enkenbach Fire Department’s second turntable ladder was positioned and used to inspect the roof for hot spots using a thermal imaging camera. At the same time, the roof covering was opened from the basket of the Winnweiler Fire Department’s turntable ladder to allow for follow-up extinguishing work. A drone equipped with a thermal imaging camera was also used to check for smoldering embers. Approximately one hour after the alarm was raised, the “fire out” announcement was made. The mop-up operations continued for about another hour.

Because the roof was severely damaged, the fire department called in a roofing contractor, who, once the firefighting operations were complete, sealed the roof to prevent further weather-related damage inside the building. The single-family home is currently uninhabitable.

As the operation progressed, the Wartenberg-Rohrbach unit was called in to provide beverages to the emergency responders, and the Steinbach unit was called in to ensure basic security at the Winnweiler site. Also present at the scene were the police, the on-call ambulance, and the Donnersberg District’s Psychosocial Emergency Response Team (PSNV). Approximately 60 firefighters were on the scene.