"Don't get me started on the small fire departments", warned district administrator eberhard irlinger (SPD) at the meeting of commanders. Well aware that mayors and municipal councils are always looking for "synergy effects" cross-eyed by merging small local fire brigades. Irlinger, on the other hand, sees many advantages in the system.
81 volunteer fire departments and one industrial fire department currently exist in the county, he informed. If you put some of them together, the number of active ones will probably decrease. The district administrator opened the floodgates to the commanders and managers of the fire departments who had gathered in the ebrachtal hall for the service meeting. In order to recruit more young people for the fire departments, irlinger wants to start campaigns at the schools.
3120 active firefighters according to statistics announced by district fire chief harald schattan. In addition, there are more than 10,000 passive and claiming members, including 388 honorary members. A whole row of them could welcome district fire inspector hubert johna at the event. But also many mayors and the police showed by their presence their solidarity with the defense forces.
Rescue with the turntable ladder
According to statistics presented by thomas birkner, there were a total of 2119 calls for service in the county in 2012, 480 fewer than the year before. Most of them, 1140 were technical assistance, 138 were firefighting and 319 so-called "first responder" missions, i.E. Operations before the rescue services were on site. 15 persons could be rescued with the turntable ladder, 64 with the technical rescue service. However, two firefighters were also injured during operations.
A concern of district fire chief harald schattan is the introduction of an honorary card for men and women who have been volunteers in the fire brigade for many years. In other cities, the honorary card has already proved its worth, he reported. It would allow volunteers, for example, concessionary admission to palaces, castles, museums and many other institutions.
In addition to the state awards, a separate award for special service in the fire department has been created together with the district. In addition, an honorary medal of the district fire department association was established for persons who have rendered outstanding services to the fire departments as special challengers and gonners.
Preparations for handling the new digital radio have now been completed, according to schattan. 800 endgerate have been ordered by rough order. As soon as these arrived, the lessons could be started. It is a misconception to assume that one can simply flip the switch and immediately use digital radio. Initially, it will be necessary to work with both analog and digital radio.
Schattan also drew attention to the new legislation on smoke detectors that came into force on 1. January came into force. Obligation to renew exists until the end of 2017. By then, all owners of dwellings had to have complied with this legal obligation. The district fire chief thanked all the instructors who – under the leadership of manfred schattan – were responsible for planning and conducting the courses.
"The topic of firefighter licenses is finally off the table", schattan was pleased to report. There is an agreement between the municipality and the driving school for the examination of applicants. The costs were borne by the municipalities. Mayor friedrich gleitsmann (CSU) explained that only a week ago the wachenroth fire department received a new vehicle of the type geratewagen logistik 2.