With the 94th edition of the Monte Carlo Rally set to start on January 22, Monaco’s firefighters are stepping up final preparations to ensure rapid and safe intervention should an incident occur on the stages…
At the Condamine fire station this week, crews from the Monaco Fire Brigade trained alongside colleagues from the Alpes-Maritimes, rehearsing extraction procedures for rally drivers and co-drivers involved in accidents. While many competitors are able to exit their vehicles independently after an impact, emergency teams must be ready for every scenario, from minor incidents to complex rescues in difficult terrain.
Using a Skoda WRC2 rally car provided for training purposes, firefighters practised removing doors and steering wheels within seconds to create access points, as well as locating onboard fire-suppression systems and working around reinforced roll cages. Different extraction techniques were reviewed, ranging from emergency evacuations in the event of fire or cardiac arrest, to semi-urgent and delayed extractions depending on medical assessment and site conditions.
Rally stages often run through narrow mountain roads, embankments and remote locations, adding further complexity to rescue operations. Firefighters also familiarised themselves with the tight interiors, bucket seats and safety harnesses specific to competition vehicles, which require specialised handling and coordinated teamwork.
Throughout the rally, emergency services from both sides of the border will remain strategically deployed to provide rapid response coverage, reinforcing safety standards for one of the most iconic motorsport events on the international calendar.
Image: Monaco Info
