Within the framework of the actions of the European Civil Protection Mechanism, specialised officers of the Fire Brigade of the team (MODULE) Detection/Sampling in a CBRN environment-GR/CBRNDET/ATH-took part in the International Exercise of full development “MAGNITUDE,” which took place in the federal state of Germany, Baden-Württemberg.

Two thousand five hundred (2500) executives from organisations and agencies of European countries, such as Germany, Austria, Greece, Switzerland, and France, took part in its conduct.

The basic scenario of the exercise concerned dealing with extensive disasters as a result of a strong earthquake that affected the wider region of the Upper Rhine. 

The teams (MODULE) were called to manage the consequences involving a large number of victims, injured, missing, and trapped, since in the environment where extensive disasters were caused, there were industrial and other facilities where multiple incidents occurred at the same time with leakage, escape, or ignition of CBRN (Chemicals, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) agents and other hazardous materials.

In this highly complex environment of the exercise, in addition to the typical Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) operations, the assistance of specialised teams was also required for the management of CBRN (Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear) threats.

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The Hellenic Fire Brigade team provided capabilities for the detection, identification, and sampling as well as the laboratory confirmation in the field of various CBRN threats, but also the further guidance of the actions for the management of similar incidents. 

It also attempted in various regions with alternative scenarios and together with corresponding specialised European groups. The Hellenic team (MODULE) Detection/Sampling – GR/CBRNDET/ATH consists of 37 members (34 members of the Fire Brigade, one (1) Chemical Engineer from the State General Chemistry, one (1) Atomic Physicist from the Greek Atomic Energy Commission, and one (1) member of the National Public Health Organization).

The team has complete equipment and logistical infrastructure (personal protective equipment, detectors/analyzers/identifiers of dangerous materials, sampling materials and means, portable field chemical analysis laboratory, materials and means of disinfection and management of waste water, etc.). Finally, it has the capability of operational endurance of up to seven (7) days. 

Its mission is the international development in a CBRN environment of threats for the detection, identification, sampling, as well as the laboratory confirmation on the field of various CBRN factors, as well as further guidance regarding the actions of those involved for the management of incidents with similar dangerous materials.

It is noteworthy that the high level of know-how, capacity, and experience of the specialised Hellenic team (MODULE) – GR/CBRNDET/ATH—which was captured during the execution of the scenarios—was rated by the evaluators of the exercise as excellent.

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