The Fire Service Open Day.

The weather here is  much improved thank goodness, and on Saturday in pleasantly warm sunshine, the Braunschweig Fire Service displayed some of its equipment in "Kleine Burg" an area beside the Cathedral.  The photo right, shows a fire engine complete with its assorted equipment.  A  fireman kneels beside a  small hand operated  water pump,  which  was  used to pump water  through a hose to enable small children to extinguish a mock fire.  To the right is a small green and yellow wooden house with flames at the windows.  The children had to aim the water at the fire, which knocked backwards the hinged wooden flames. (See lowest photo for more detail.)   I think the grandfather in the above photo would liked to have had a go too, and it was very popular with the many children who queued to try their luck.

"Kleine Burg" with Braunschweig Cathedral in the background.

To the right of this photo stands the command unit for managing the fire  when attending an emergency.   It was good to see a lady as part of this team, as I'm sure they can shoot up and down ladders just as well as the men!   In the centre stands a smaller vehicle, a backup vehicle I assume.   

Braunschweig was alive with activity yesterday, with a gospel choir singing in the "Place of German Unity" in front of the Town Hall, and preparations were ongoing for the Germany versus Portugal UEFA Euro 2012 football match, and for the crowds that would throng the streets and bars later in the evening, should the team win.  (which it did, 1-0, with Gomez the scorer.)  I didn't watch all the match, as I much prefer tennis! 

A young lad pumps the water, while the other tries his hand at extinguishing the flames.  The flames are hinged, so when the aim is right they flap backwards.  This little lad hadn't quite got his aim right!