Luxembourg Air Rescue suffers major fire damage

The fire, which started in the early hours of Tuesday 26 March, happened in a warehouse at Luxembourg Airport where LAR stored its medical materials and equipment.

Staff at the LAR alert centre at Luxembourg Airport were alerted to the blaze by an automatic fire alarm system, and immediately notified the airport fire brigade.

Although LAR stated that the firefighters were able to “quickly bring the fire under control … a large proportion of the medical equipment for the ambulance jets, and medical supplies for the rescue helicopters were destroyed or rendered unusable by the smoke”.

On a positive note, LAR stated that through its cooperation with the fire brigade, “the operational availability of the two rescue helicopters based at the airport was ensured”.

Significant damage to equipment

A preliminary assessment of the damage conducted by LAR experts has assessed the damage to amount to approximately €2 million (US$ 2.17 million). Items destroyed include defibrillators, ventilators, and electrocardiogram (ECG) equipment.

Additionally, LAR said that a number of baby incubators it had co-developed, “which are unique in the world and cost approximately €200,000 each, were exposed to the fire”.

LAR has appealed to the public for donations following the fire, stating that “in view of the enormous extent of the damage, it is more dependent than ever on donations”.

European Air Ambulance (EAA), a subsidiary of the LAR, acquired a new Airbus H145 D3 helicopter in July 2023.