Large-Scale Emergency Exercise at MAHA Fire Departments and Aid Organisations Simulate a Real-Life Emergency

As part of its ongoing commitment to occupational safety and emergency preparedness, MAHA coordinated a large-scale emergency response drill on Friday, 9th May 2025, in cooperation with regional first responder organisations. Starting at 7:30 p.m., more than 130 firefighters and rescue personnel were deployed to the company’s premises in Haldenwang to work through a realistic and challenging scenario together.

Haldenwang, 22nd May 2025. The approximately 60-minute exercise was successfully carried out by units from Haldenwang, Boerwang, Dietmannsried, Probstried, Lauben, and Ueberbach, in collaboration with the Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe and the German Red Cross. They were supported by around 15 members of the youth fire brigades, who took part as volunteer actors. The focus of the exercise was the effective coordination of emergency teams — including respiratory protection operations, technical rescue tasks, and realistic casualty recovery.

Realistic Scenarios – Clearly Defined Objectives
Four interconnected scenarios were used to simulate different emergency situations:
•    Smoke-filled production areas in the basement level for practicing orientation under breathing appa-ratus
•    Simulation of a hazardous substance incident in the test area for lifting systems and custom-built equipment, followed by technical rescue
•    Establishment of fire barriers, including suction points and securing critical building transitions
•    Activation of the fire alarm system during the exercise to simulate a secondary threat and test responsiveness
The objective was to assess operational readiness under dynamic conditions, improve interagency cooperation, and train and evaluate safety-critical processes.

Sustainable Investment in Safety
By conducting this large-scale exercise, MAHA demonstrated its strong sense of responsibility in practice. The insights gained from the scenarios help identify critical interfaces early and implement long-term improvements. Close collaboration with regional emergency services also strengthens the com-pany’s internal emergency response structure — an essential contribution to protecting employees, assets, and operational continuity.

Exercise Highlighted at Executive Leve
Dr. Peter Geigle, Managing Director of MAHA, and Michael Hauke, member of the Board of Trustees of the non-profit Family Rauch Foundation, were personally present at the event. Their attendance was not only a gesture of appreciation toward all participants but also underscored the importance MAHA places on a strong safety culture and social responsibility.
 
Joint Conclusion
After the exercise, participants came together for a relaxed gathering with regional specialties — Leberkaese, a traditional Bavarian-style meatloaf and potato salad — providing an opportunity for in-formal exchange and deepening the cooperative relationship between the company and the emergency organisations.

Photos: MAHA / Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe