Wegscheid Fire Department: Focus on youth retention and financial pressure!

Wegscheid Fire Department: Focus on youth retention and financial pressure!

On June 18, 2025, State Parliament member Josef Heisl (CSU) visited the Wegscheid volunteer fire department to find out about the current situation and the challenges in fire protection at the municipal level. Heisl, who is a member of the Interior Committee of the Bavarian State Parliament, approached the committed firefighters with important issues, including the investments that should not be underestimated and the pressure caused by rising costs. The market town of Wegscheid covers an area of ​​around 80 square kilometers and is served by a total of eight fire departments.

District fire chief Klaus Schurm expressed concern about the strained budget situation. Despite more funding from the Free State, the costs for necessary equipment such as vehicles, protective clothing and equipment are still rising. A fire helmet with special features, for example, costs up to 500 euros. Mayor Christian Escherich emphasized the immense importance of the fire brigades for the community and pointed out that the volunteers are on duty around the clock, often with vehicles that are over 30 years old.

Investments and support for the fire departments

The planned investments were also discussed during the visit. Two new vehicles were commissioned: a modern turntable ladder and a portable pump vehicle (TSF). Delivery of these devices is planned by 2027, with investments of around 1 million euros for the turntable ladder and around 400,000 euros for the TSF-L. The municipality also plans to purchase 8 to 10 additional fire engines in the coming years to ensure operational suitability.

There is also an urgent need for the infrastructure of the fire departments. Urgent investments are required, for example in a hose care system and the renovation of the equipment sheds. Heisl emphasized the importance of internal security and civil and disaster protection, while positive developments such as the well-filled children's and youth fire department were also mentioned. Nevertheless, there is concern about the exodus of young people between the ages of 16 and 18 from the fire department, which Heisl identified as a need for action.

Training and further education in fire protection

The Märkisch-Oderland district not only operates volunteer fire departments, but also runs a fire service technical center (FTZ) with an integrated disaster control camp. This center provides important training that is crucial to the work of firefighters. These include, among other things, radio communication for authorities and organizations with security tasks and a variety of special training courses for respiratory protection equipment users and fire engine operators. A large part of the training takes place directly at the FTZ, which also includes facilities such as a respiratory protection workshop and a hose washing facility Märkisch-Oderland reports.

Overall, in both areas, in Wegscheid and Märkisch-Oderland, it is clear how important long-term support at the state level is for the fire departments. Heisl appealed to the importance of reliable framework conditions and practical support in order to master fire protection and the associated challenges in the long term. The fire brigade is not only an important pillar of internal security in Bavaria, but also requires increased support and practical support.