KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany –
Firefighters from Lingenfeld and Germersheim fire departments were recognized with special coins and certificates of appreciation by the U.S. Army Aug. 21 for their recent emergency response efforts to a fire last month at Germersheim Army Depot.
The Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, Europe Commander at the depot, Army Lt. Col. Jonathan Ackiss, visited the local firefighters to present them with mementos in appreciation for their support of the incident.
The commendation reads: “In recognition for your mutual aid response to the United States Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Center Europe on July 7, 2018 while responding to a building fire at Germersheim Army Depot. Your swift and complete response was vital in safeguarding key infrastructure and demonstrated through actions the strength and significance of our continued partnership.”
The fire occurred on the roof of an administrative building. It appears to have been caused due to an electrical fault with a converter box that supplies power to the building from solar panels. The Army’s fire department successfully extinguished the fire that was contained in one area of the roof, while the German firefighters assisted with securing the area and evacuating employees from the building, while being ready to support the efforts of putting out the fire if needed.
Germersheim Army Depot is one of the largest employers of local national citizens in the area with approximately 900 employees, of which more than 80 percent are local nationals, including most of the firefighters on the installation. This also contributes greatly to the outstanding working relationship between the emergency services personnel.