Nobody had expected this: The strong storm broke off the six-meter-long top of the maypole that had just been erected for festive purposes in the Waldviertel garrison town of Allentsteig. She hung dangerously, threatening to fall. Many guests at the celebration watched “salvage and repair” – there was even loud applause. In a town in the same district, a second maypole broke.
Applause is rare for a fire department that is still in action. But this was given to the Florianis, who saved the maypole during the festival on the main square in Allentsteig in the Zwettl district under the critical gaze of many guests. “It would have become a fire hazard.” But right from the start: the municipal building yard and the local fire department had only just put the tree up , when a gust of wind suddenly “shortened” the 26 meter high tree to 20 meters. Allentsteig’s fire brigade commander Franz Loidolt is relieved afterwards: “Fortunately it only broke off when the tree was already up and we had already anchored it firmly in the ground. Otherwise it would have been a very dangerous situation!” After the tip was broken, enough distance was ensured from the tree so that the six meter long tip could not hit anyone. The Florianis called on the Zwettl comrades with special equipment, who quickly removed the dangerously hanging tip on site using the aerial platform. And all this to applause from the festival guests.Austria flag as the new topIn order not to leave the tree without a “crown”, the Zwettler Florianis then mounted an Austrian flag, for which they once again received applause from the guests. The comrades gratefully entertained the “mountain rescuers” for their quick assistance and the celebrations continued. Loidolt says that we now have a unique maypole and that we have found a very good and, above all, quick solution out of necessity. The strong storm also led to several missions for the Waidhofen an der Thaya fire department on the national holiday. Among other things, the turntable ladder had to move to the neighboring district of Zwettl because the maypole in Breiteneich was also broken. At around 1 p.m., the fire department was asked to provide support by the comrades from Breiteneich. The strong wind had torn off the top of the maypole that had been erected just the day before. But the top was still hanging on to the tree – as in Allentsteig – and threatened to fall to the ground. The danger was quickly eliminated using a turntable ladder and the top was separated from the rest of the tree with the help of a motor chainsaw. Fire brigade still challenged by the storm After the danger in Breiteneich had been eliminated, the Waidhofen Florainis were called to a tree that had been knocked down by the storm at the level of the two Kibitz ponds – it blocked the B 36. Then they were alerted in the urban area of the district town: the storm smashed two windows there, and many shards of glass were scattered on the sidewalk and parking lot.
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