On September 28 and 29, the FireWare team once again orchestrated a spectacular simulation. This time, it took place in the port area of Tallinn, Estonia. For this simulation, multiple train cars derailed, flammable liquids were released, containers went up in smoke, and a fertilizer silo was at risk of exploding. If you want to know more, read on!
After the FireWare team prepared the designs, the script, and the materials, Christian and Virgil from the staging team set off for Estonia. They, along with our Estonian dealer, Mohni, and the Estonian Rescue Service, simulated a large-scale incident. In this simulation, the fire department, police, ambulance service, and control room had to work together to prevent a major disaster, all under the watchful eyes of several ministers and even the President of Estonia.
The Scenario
The exercise spans two full days, kicking off with FireWare’s five-hour simulation in collaboration with our Estonian dealer, Mohni. A switch malfunction causes a train crash. Two cars derail, a flammable liquid leaks, and the ever-growing pool of liquid ignites. Twelve Stratus smoke machines with smoke fluid fire training extreme operating at full capacity, and the burning pool triggers a chain reaction, spreading the fire from car to car.
Hybrid Simulation
Smoke machines, lights, and sound boxes are not the only things used. There are also two QR codes near the containers that catch fire—a first for FireWare! The QR codes are scanned with a phone or tablet and provide a simulated live stream of the situation. This creates a hybrid simulation. As the fire is extinguished, the fire changes on the live stream. Why did we choose this? The fire department wanted to be able to actually extinguish the fire, and everything had to survive a thick layer of foam.
The Follow-Up
Due to the chain reaction, the flames threaten to reach a fertilizer silo. If the fire gets there, 1,000 people must be evacuated from a nearby residential area. This, of course, involves the control room. Based on the live stream via the QR codes, they predict the course of events, scale up, and decide whether or not to evacuate areas. All in all, a fantastic multi-day hybrid simulation!
How Was It Done?
With 12 Stratus smoke machines, a lot of smoke was created and then distributed through 10-meter-long perforated smoke hoses. For this exercise, we built a structure to realistically simulate an overpressure valve. We did this using a compressor along with a Stratus smoke machine. This provided a nice flow from the top of the car. Additionally, four explosion simulators V2 were used, connected to each other, simulating how the fire spread from car to car. This allowed the Estonian emergency services to train in a highly realistic manner.
The Reaction
Every few years, a large evacuation exercise must take place in Estonia. This year, for the first time, it was decided that the cause of the evacuation should also be simulated. The reactions were extremely positive. The emergency services indicated that it really added that extra effect. The contact person even said, "The FireWare staging was the icing on the cake." The FireWare team couldn't be prouder!
