Former Fire and Rescue Authority commander Aaron Godiner offered critical safety tips addressing the dangers of cluster munitions, missile shrapnel, and highway safety during a siren.
As part of Operation Roaring Lion and the ongoing conflict with Iran, Israel’s home front is facing multiple ballistic missile barrages every day, fired from Iran towards every part of the country. These barrages frequently include cluster munitions, which split in mid-air into smaller bombs and are considered extremely dangerous.
Former Fire and Rescue Authority commander Aaron Godiner offered critical safety tips during a Sunday interview with Maariv, addressing the dangers of cluster munitions, missile shrapnel, and highway safety during a rocket siren.
"Cluster bombs break up in the air at high altitudes and crash over kilometers in wide radii," warned Aaron Godiner, the former commander of the Fire and Rescue Authority of Ramat Gan-Givatayim, in a Sunday interview with Maariv.
"When the smaller bombs, each weighing between three and five kilograms, explode, they cause severe damage," he explained. "This damage can range from the destruction of residential apartments if they fall in populated areas, to the destruction of vehicles if they are hit directly, or significant damage from fires and craters on the roads."
"In single-story buildings," he added, "they can cause collapse and significant internal damage, but in residential buildings, the extent of the damage depends on where the cluster bomb falls and at what angle."
Godiner also warned that fragments from bombs exploding on the ground can scatter in unexpected trajectories. "This is one of the reasons the Home Front Command specifically urges the public not to approach or touch what looks like fragments or interception debris, to move other people away, and to call the police," he emphasized.
Rocket sirens while driving: How to avoid an accident
He then pointed out another potential danger, which applied to any kind of projectile, not just cluster munitions: "When drivers stop their cars on various roads after hearing a warning, they often pull over under the nearest bridge. Home Front Command has warned against this."
"Some bridges have construction standards that are not the strongest," he explained, referring to the quality of concrete and steel used to build the bridge, "and they may collapse onto the cars below. That’s why it’s crucial to leave your car and move to a safe area, lie on the dirt or the side of the road, and hold your hands over your head to protect them. Also, remember that there have been serious traffic accidents during rocket sirens when vehicles stopped and blocked traffic lanes."
Even inert shrapnel can be dangerous
Godiner also added that after missile launches, there can be interception shrapnel, such as Iron Dome fragments, that can cause significant damage. "Cluster bombs are relatively small, but Iron Dome interception fragments are much larger and heavier, and the fragments come in different sizes," he cautioned. "Do not approach them. It’s important to stay away and call the police."
He concluded, saying: "The danger doesn’t disappear after the interceptions and the reassurance that it’s safe to leave protected areas. It’s essential to check the surrounding area for suspicious objects, such as fragments, interception parts, and cluster bombs."
