Universal, indispensable, Unimog

Lünen an der Lippe is regarded as a lively link between the industrialised Ruhr region and the picturesque landscapes of the Münsterland – a city of 88,000 inhabitants with character. The fire service's area of operations is correspondingly diverse: a mix of urban life, bodies of water and the legacy of mining, which demands considerable flexibility from the firefighters in red. To be prepared for every eventuality, the fire service is as diverse in its organisation as the town itself.

In Lünen, fire protection consists of a professional department with around 120 employees and seven volunteer fire brigade units in different city districts, which together comprise about 230 members. There are also special units for CBRN defence, logistics and drone operations. The Equipment and Technology department, led by Robin Möller, is also always up to date. For him, optimally equipped vehicles are essential for daily work.

Due to the prolonged dry spells of recent summers, forest fire fighting is increasingly coming into focus in Lünen, as it is worldwide. Added to this is the opposite extreme: heavy rainfall events, which in the town on the Lippe are increasingly leading to flooding. Rescuing people in flooded districts is therefore a fixed part of the range of operations. This calls for a vehicle built for extreme strain and prepared for every eventuality. For Robin Möller it quickly became clear that only the highly off-road-capable Unimog would suffice.

That the Lünen fire service relies on the Unimog is nothing new, because for many years a Unimog U 1550L has been indispensable in combating vegetation fires. However, the support provided by the Unimog U 5023 does not mean that the older vehicle can look forward to retirement. The veteran tank fire-fighting vehicle is to be modernized and remain in service.

Apart from its nostalgic value, the careful maintenance of the older Special Truck also has operational and tactical reasons, says Robin Möller: "In recent years in particular we have noticed that the range of deployments has increasingly shifted towards vegetation fires, flooding incidents and disaster relief. It would therefore not be advisable to part with such a vehicle – especially if it is still in good condition."

As popular as its older brother may be, the Lünen fire service is equally enthusiastic about the Unimog U 5023. The flexible platform of the off‑road specialist has been perfected with a TLF 3000 VARUS tank fire‑fighting body by Schlingmann. In addition to a capacity of 3,100 litres of water for firefighting, the vehicle boasts a roof‑mounted water monitor and a front spray bar for the vehicle's own protection.

The equipment of the special truck was supplemented with a wildfire module and a powerful generator. That makes the Unimog a versatile all-rounder in operations. In firefighting in hard-to-reach areas or when providing assistance on flooded streets, it puts its strengths to good use. Its versatility allows emergency services to respond quickly and effectively to a wide range of emergencies.

The Lünen fire department no longer wants to do without the Unimog. Its performance in demanding situations, combined with its ease of use and robustness, makes it an indispensable aid in extreme situations. The off-road professional stands not only for technical superiority but also for simplicity and safety, which are decisive in operations – a vehicle for every eventuality.