Firefightersfrom Žilina took part in a unique fire drill at the NORDCITY parking house, using robotic technology from Denmark capable of rescuing vehicles fromhazardous areas without endangering the lives of responders.
On Thursday,October 23, and Saturday, October 25, 2025, in cooperation with the RegionalDirectorate of HaZZ Žilina, a fire drill was conducted directly in the NORDCITYparking house and in the underground garage of the Obchodná 3D building. Thepurpose of the exercise was not to test the readiness of the building itselfbut to evaluate a new robotic assistant for firefighters — a device called FirstMover, which can remotely move multi-ton vehicles from a safe distance.
The robotoriginates from Denmark, where it is commonly used by towing services. InSlovakia, however, it has found a new and much more important purpose —assisting firefighters in removing vehicles from hard-to-reach areas withoutthe need to enter hot, smoky environments.
“Any burningspace is dangerous, but in closed garages, the risks multiply. Visibility,temperature, and smoke behave completely differently than outdoors,” said thehead of the Practical Department and Training.
The FirstMover robot can transport vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tons using aretractable platform built into its structure. It is controlled remotely,allowing the operator to remain outside the danger zone — all that’s requiredis visual contact with the vehicle as the platform slides underneath it.
The exerciseat NORDCITY was also attended by students from the Faculty of SecurityEngineering at the University of Žilina. For them, the training served as apractical demonstration of how modern technologies are increasingly integratedinto rescue operations. Similar robots are already used abroad — for example,in Paris, where a multipurpose intervention robot helped extinguish the fire atNotre-Dame Cathedral.
Firefightersagree that robotics represents the future of emergency response. There arecurrently ten such robots operating in Slovakia, two of them in Žilina. Eachnew intervention demonstrates that more of these robotic helpers will be neededin the future.
NORDCITY as a Space for Modern Solutions
For NORDCITY,this cooperation with the Žilina Fire and Rescue Corps was an opportunity tosupport innovations that directly enhance safety in parking facilities.Allowing the testing of new technology on our premises is both a sign of trustand proof that our buildings meet strict technical and safety standards.
“Safety andinnovation go hand in hand for us. We are proud that NORDCITY has become aplace to test solutions that may one day save lives,” said NORDCITY management.
The FirstMover robot can be used not only in underground garages but also inresidential areas or open parking lots, where it helps protect surroundingvehicles from spreading fires. Thanks to testing in real conditions, bothfirefighters and technicians were able to verify its efficiency and safetybenefits.
This exercisewas therefore not just a demonstration of new technology — it marked a realstep forward in how people and property can be protected in the future.
