In the burned-out residential complex in Essen, experts are working with a four-legged robot.
The walking robot, which weighs around 35 kilograms, started work on Tuesday afternoon in the building that was in danger of collapsing after the end of the extinguishing work and explored the apartments destroyed by the fire.
"It should go where it is too dangerous for humans," said the deputy project manager from the State Office for Central Police Services (LZPD), Dominic Reese, shortly before the first use of the high-tech robot, which is equipped with a total of twelve cameras.
"He may be able to give the fire investigators valuable information.
First of all, he should give us an overview of what it looks like in the building.”
Officials brought the robot, which is painted blue and yellow like the police cars, to the scene of the fire in a van from Duisburg and lifted it out of the car.
The robot was then put into operation and walked to the building on its own – controlled by a specialist using a tablet.
The cause of the devastating band in Essen on Monday with three injured and 35 destroyed apartments is still unknown.
The robot, which is internally nicknamed "Herbie" but does not yet have a real name, was presented just a few weeks ago at an appointment with Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) in Duisburg.
According to the information given at the time, the robot could use cameras and sensors to explore disaster sites, for example.
In Essen, firefighters extinguished small embers in the residential complex on Tuesday night.
Around 7:00 a.m., the emergency services reported "fire out," said a spokesman for the fire brigade.
The site will then be handed over to the criminal police.