On 17 October 2024, an incident occurred during a training exercise at the Preetz Fire Service Technical Centre in which two members of the Kiel Fire Service in Germany were injured during a turntable ladder training session. The complex investigations into the course of events and the technical background were carried out with the highest priority and have now been completed.
The reports from independent institutions – including TÜV Süd, TÜV Nord and other experts – provide a clear analysis of the causes. According to these reports, the cause was a fatigue fracture in an extension rope, which directly led to the failure of a second rope that was also heavily worn. Both cables showed advanced signs of wear in the area of the break, insufficient lubrication and had already reached the end of their service life according to the manufacturer's specifications.
The experts unanimously concluded that the previous damage had developed over a longer period of time and should have been detected during proper, regular maintenance in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications. More intensive care and lubrication of the ropes could have increased their service life, but would not necessarily have prevented the incident.
The technical inspection did not reveal any design or structural defects in the vehicle or any operating errors.
Magirus would like to thank the Kiel Fire Department for their objective and cooperative collaboration during the investigation. Magirus remains available at any time to answer questions about the product, its technical condition, and compliance with and interpretation of maintenance specifications.
We wish the injured firefighter a full recovery!
