Even this year, Prague firefighters could not complain about the lack of work. Typical jobs this year were devastating fires with major damage, serious traffic accidents and actions related to suspected avian flu. Still, one of the most remarkable interventions is this one.

It happened on the morning of February 18th, when a natural gas explosion was reported at a restaurant on the corner of Arbes Square. Unfortunately, this case is the epitome of the saying „being in the wrong place at the wrong time.“ The first innocent victim was a random passer-by, and the second under the rubble was a cook found who, unsuspecting, came into the kitchen of the restaurant and lit the stove burner. Another noteworthy aspect was the cause later clarified that probably would not have occurred to an expert in his dreams, let alone a layman. It was a short-circuit between a disused electrical cable in the ground and a supply pipe to the building, which melted away part of the pipe from which the gas began to leak into the surrounding area.

This unusual case demonstrates the importance of the cooperation of the Integrated Rescue System services with the municipal authorities not only in rescuing people from the statically disturbed building, but also in its further security and provision of basic living needs for the evacuated residents of the house.