Forest fire exercise Kreis Heinsberg

As part of an invitation from the Wegberg Fire Department, representatives of EMRIC had the opportunity to participate in a large-scale forest fire exercise in Kreis Heinsberg this past Saturday. The exercise took place in Wegberg and offered us the chance, as external observers, to gain valuable insights and closely follow the operations of a complex emergency situation.

Even before the exercise began, we received a detailed briefing on the planned scenario. The structure of the exercise was explained to us in a practical manner, including the designated operational sectors and tactical measures. On site, we were then able to follow how the scenario unfolded and how the various units responded to the different situations.

The scenario itself was designed to be highly realistic: a large-scale forest fire in the Dalheimer Forest was simulated, spreading dangerously toward a residential area. More than 350 emergency personnel from the fire services, ambulance services, and police were alerted — including units from the Netherlands. The goal of the exercise was to test the existing protection and response plan, identify potential weaknesses, and strengthen cross-municipal and cross-border cooperation.

For us as EMRIC representatives, it was extremely interesting to witness the emergency organization live in action. The exercise once again highlighted the importance of cross-border collaboration and joint preparation for large-scale emergencies. We thank the Wegberg Fire Department for the invitation and the opportunity to be part of this important training day as observers.