As a former TV cop, Henning Baum is used to hot assignments. The actor has become a firefighter for a new project.
They put out fires, fight floods, get cats out of trees or save people’s lives: firefighters often put their own lives aside for the well-being of others. Actor Henning Baum (“The Last Bull”) joined Hamburg’s professional fire department for 24 hours as part of a new TV documentary to understand what it means to be a firefighter.
In the documentary “Operation for Henning Baum: 112 Inside Fire Brigade”, which RTL is showing on May 16th (8:15 p.m.), the 51-year-old literally goes between fire and flame. He works in 24-hour shifts, takes part in various missions and, as a trainee, gets to know how people work together at the station.
Firefighters impress Henning Baum
Henning Baum’s entry ticket into the fire department family was primarily his previous experience as a paramedic. When working under respiratory protection, he quickly reaches his physical limits – then things get serious: his team is called to a fire in an underground car park. “I am impressed by how diverse the job description and operations are and how much knowledge and skills the firefighters have to combine. They ensure our safety and even risk their lives in the process. For this they deserve our appreciation and respect,” says Henning Baum later found out.
In conversations with colleagues and their relatives, the actor learns about the fears and worries that this dangerous job also brings with it for families. At the same time, resource and technology problems increase the risk of both firefighters and those seeking help. During a major fire in Thuringia in 2022, there was not enough water to extinguish the fire, so many families lost their homes.
Without the great commitment of the volunteer fire departments, the situation at many locations would be even worse. This makes it all the more important for fire departments to recruit young talent at an early age – as the Menden Volunteer Fire Department does with its children’s fire department. The deployment to the fire department is Henning Baum’s fourth since 2021. He has previously looked behind the scenes of the police, the Bundeswehr and the rescue service.
