Krimulda firefighters spent nearly 12 hours clearing storm-felled trees from roads
During a recent storm, volunteer firefighters in Krimulda worked almost 12 hours straight cutting up fallen trees to restore traffic, but the operation exposed problems with communications and information flow. Both mobile network access and incident data were reportedly lacking.
Following a recent storm, volunteer firefighters in the Krimulda municipality carried out an extensive operation, spending nearly 12 hours continuously cutting up trees that had fallen across roads in order to restore traffic. The event was reported by TV3 Ziņas.
Communication gaps hindered the response
The rescue operation revealed several serious shortcomings. For an extended period, firefighters had no mobile phone coverage, which complicated coordination between work teams and reporting on the situation on the ground.
An equally significant issue was the lack of information about incoming calls for help — volunteers were unable to quickly learn where assistance was needed, which slowed down resource allocation and work planning.
A long and intensive effort
The nearly 12-hour work shift illustrates the scale of damage caused by the storm in the municipality. Fallen trees blocked several roads, and clearing them was essential to restoring normal traffic flow and ensuring access to populated areas.
The incident draws attention to a broader question — whether existing rescue service infrastructure and communication systems are sufficiently prepared for extreme weather events and the cleanup operations that follow.
