230 emergency services on major alert: disaster control exercise in Grebenhain!

230 emergency services on major alert: disaster control exercise in Grebenhain!

On August 25, 2025, an impressive large-scale disaster control exercise took place in Grebenhain in the Vogelsberg district. Around 230 emergency services, including the fire department, the Technical Relief Agency (THW) and the German Red Cross, took part in this important event. The exercise was a perfect opportunity to train coordination and reaction times in real-time scenarios in order to be prepared for an emergency. The emergency services arrived in closed formations with 67 vehicles and completed various stations to sharpen their skills.

The exercise took place on the site of the former ammunition factory in Oberwald, a place with an eventful history. This facility was operated from 1936 to 1945 and was used to complete and package Luftwaffe ammunition. From 1978 to 1982 the US Army used the site as a supply depot. Overall, the site was demunitioned from 1991 to 2013, and today the entire complex and individual buildings are listed.

Operational scenarios and organization

The emergency services went through several stations with different challenges. In the “East Station” they learned how to strategically deal with vegetation fires, while in the “South Station” they practiced chainsaw work to remove storm damage and create fire breaks. In the “North Station” the driving and braking behavior of the emergency vehicles was on the agenda. “Station West”, on the other hand, focused on rescue exercises from heights and depths, including rappelling and the rescue of training dummies.

The exercise was organized under the direction of district fire chiefs Tony Michelis, Mario Henning, Andreas Leinweber and Elisa Amerschläger. District fire chief Thomas Stein was also actively involved in the preparation. District Administrator Dr. Jens Mischak emphasized the importance of regular practical training and emphasized how important such exercises are for emergency services in an emergency.

A look across national borders

Interestingly, extensive disaster control exercises were also taking place in other parts of Germany at the same time. In Erlangen, for example, the exercise entitled “Dandelion” was carried out, in which around 800 emergency services were involved. In this scenario, a plane crash was simulated, in which a cargo plane affected a high-rise building and a fictitious chemical plant led to a dangerous goods accident. Around 100 injured people, represented by extras, had to be cared for. Such large-scale exercises are legally anchored in the Bavarian Civil Protection Act and provide an important platform for cooperation between all organizations involved, including the fire brigade, police and rescue services.

After about three hours of intensive training, the participants were able to enjoy lunch together in the Grebenhain community center and reflect on the experiences of the exercise. Such events are important not only for the emergency services, but also for the communities that rely on effective disaster protection.