Feuer & Flamme

The flames are already shooting out of four windows when a three-person team from the Duisburg fire department fights their way into an apartment where people are still believed to be inside. All four rooms are fully engulfed in flames. The extreme heat makes it difficult for the attack team to proceed and raises questions. The mission for Christoph 9 – this time, a challenging transfer: A critically ill patient must urgently be transported to a specialized clinic; her critical condition makes the flight a test of endurance for the air rescue team.

Before dawn, a report comes in: smoke is coming from a residential area. Firefighters follow the acrid smell of burning. The trail leads to a derelict site. Meter by meter, the emergency responders advance through the vast, abandoned factory grounds and make a very suspicious discovery. Meanwhile, the air ambulance Christoph 9 is called out to a traffic accident with multiple injuries. And on the highway, a vehicle is on fire after an accident. But the emergency lane isn't working – the emergency crews are stuck.

The initial report sounds unremarkable: A garden shed is on fire, and people are suspected to be inside. But suddenly, the situation becomes dramatic – the caller can't provide a specific address. The Duisburg fire department's emergency crews search anxiously for the location. Teenagers and the caller eventually guide them through woods and meadows to a secluded spot. Upon arrival, the shed is already engulfed in flames, and people are suspected to be inside. The firefighters battle the blaze – hampered by the difficult water supply. As if that weren't enough, a toxic hazard is added to the mix: asbestos. Meanwhile, Christoph 9 is called to a traffic accident. An injured cyclist is suspected of having a spinal cord injury – a highly stressful situation for the crew.

A call for Christoph 9: The report is "gunshot wound to the face." The crew takes off under immense pressure. The reality on the scene is surprising. What happened, and how seriously injured is the patient? Also in this episode: Flames are shooting out of the windows of an apartment fire; people are suspected to be inside. And: A woman needs the help of the emergency services after falling down the stairs with her dog.

A plume of black smoke rises above an abandoned sports club grounds as the fire engine from Station 3 arrives. The grounds are locked and heavily overgrown – the firefighters force their way in. The search for the source of the fire begins. It quickly becomes clear: this fire will not be easy to extinguish. The trainees get a taste of the heights, and a young mother calls 112 (the European emergency number) – she has locked herself out of her apartment. Inside, food is cooking on the stove, the smoke alarm is blaring, and her small child is alone. A race against time begins.

An e-bike rider and a van collided. When Christoph 9 arrived, the man was exhibiting neurological deficits. He was riding without a helmet. The crew is facing a possible traumatic brain injury of unknown severity. The Duisburg fire department was called out to a kitchen fire in an apartment building. The family affected managed to escape to safety just in time. Firefighters had to prevent the fire and smoke from spreading to other apartments. A drill for a real emergency: A fire broke out on a ship. Firefighters practiced fighting the blaze under extreme conditions.

The Duisburg fire department is alerted: A fire has broken out in an apartment building with heavy smoke in the stairwell. People are calling for help. The tension mounts with every second. The situation worsens on site: Just moments ago, a person was seen at the window above the burning apartment, but now they have vanished. Did they flee in panic into the toxic smoke of the stairwell? A team wearing breathing apparatus immediately enters the building to rescue the person, while a second team fights the fire. Meanwhile, a serious accident has occurred on the highway, involving several vehicles. The situation is initially chaotic. Firefighters assess the scene and make a disturbing discovery: The occupants of one of the cars have disappeared without a trace. Have they fled, or are they lying injured in the vicinity of the accident?

A motorway accident with several seriously injured people sends the Christoph 9 crew taking off under high tension. Shortly before reaching the accident site, however, there’s a sudden change: dispatch orders them to return. No sooner have they landed back at the station than the next alarm comes in: another traffic accident, again in the same area. What will the crew find when they arrive? Also: a basement fire in a high-rise building. The fire brigade must evacuate all residents before the toxic smoke spreads through the stairwells.

Alarm for the Duisburg fire department: “Heavy smoke, cause unclear.” On site, it is confirmed to be the early stages of a chimney fire. But what initially looks like a routine call turns out to be a puzzling and difficult challenge. Also: a callout for the air rescue team. An industrial accident has occurred at the lock, and Christoph 9 is needed.

A look back at New Year’s Eve: traditionally one of the toughest nights of the year for the Duisburg fire department. The emergency crews prepare for nonstop stress. At around 7 p.m., the first alarm comes in: a fire in an abandoned building. Access is difficult and the situation is unclear. Using ladders, the crews fight their way into the dilapidated structure. For one young colleague, it becomes a baptism of fire. Back at the station at midnight: alcohol-free sparkling wine and a sense of community far away from their families. The start of New Year’s Eve night is calmer than in previous years, but will it stay that way? Also: a rescue service call that gets under your skin. The alert reports severe leg pain, but once on site, the patient’s critical condition becomes clear. It is a call that will stay with the emergency crews for a long time.