Firefighters tackling a huge explosion at a refinery in Bavarian deployed the WASP to protect personnel.
The Warning Alarm for Stability Protection was deployed to monitor for potential movement of buildings made unstable by the massive blast.
More than 10 people were hurt and 1,800 residents evacuated from their home after an explosion ripped through the refinery during the early hours of Saturday, September 1st.
It is not yet known what caused the incident which saw several tanks at the Bayernoil refinery in Vohbury near Inglostadt in Bavaria exploded.
Shockwaves from the blast caused damage to nearby residential properties and destroyed large parts of the plan.
Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann spoke of “destructions of shocking proportions.”
Blaze
More than 600 firefighters fought the blaze before rescue workers were deployed to search for possible victims and then secure the area.
THW Ortsverband Kelheim deployed the WASP to a tower damaged by the explosion because they feared it could collapse onto rescue workers.
It is the first time firefighters in Germany have deployed the WASP unit, which are being supplied by Heavy Rescue, Germany.
Heavy Rescue founder, Irakli West, said: “We provided support after the explosion in the refinery and the WASP was deployed for the first time.
“It was used in conjunction with the ESS (Points Guarantee System) from Schweinfurt to protect those working below.”
An investigation will try to establish the cause of the blast at the Bayernoil refinery. It has been operating on Vohburg since 1967 and is supplied with crude oil via the Transalpine Pipeline (TAL) from Triest, Italy.
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