Emergency fire endeavor - RKI building declared safe following fire alarm by fire department.
A fire alarm at the Robert Koch Institute's (RKI) high-security laboratory led Berlin's fire department to stage a thorough inspection on Thursday morning. Fortunately, no fire was found. The culprit behind the alert could have been a short circuit, according to a spokesperson.
Emergency services were dispatched to the institute on Seestraße at around dawn. However, no fire could be spotted from the outside initially. As a result, the firefighters took necessary precautions due to the alarm from the high-security lab. In an attempt to locate any signs of fire, they conducted a meticulous search while donning protective chemical suits. The operation involved a total of 80 firefighters.
As the affected building appeared to be relatively empty, all present were promptly evacuated. Therefore, the section of Seestraße leading towards the city was temporarily shut down, causing a lengthy traffic jam. Additionally, certain bus lines were momentarily halted.
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The fire department's operation at the RKI building was significant, involving a total of 80 firefighters. Despite the fire alarm, the high-security laboratory remained safe, thanks to the swift response and thorough inspection by the fire department. The cause of the fire alarm could potentially be traced back to a short circuit, as suggested by the fire department spokesperson. In the future, more stringent precautions may be necessary to prevent false alarms in such high-security facilities like the RKI's laboratory.
