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Fire brigade management in Neubrandenburg: Unexpected dismissals in December!
Neubrandenburg fire department says goodbye to community fire department leadership: dismissal without misconduct on December 11, 2025.
Fire brigade management in Neubrandenburg: Unexpected dismissals in December!
An upcoming but controversial vote is causing excitement in Neubrandenburg. The local council is currently discussing the removal of Danny Jacobs and Jessica Doll from their positions as community fire chief and deputy community fire chief. This decision will be made final at the city representatives meeting on December 11th. What is not very encouraging is the fact that the two firefighters are not accused of any wrongdoing. This is confirmed by both Björn Bromberger from the CDUplus parliamentary group and Mayor Nico Klose, who is non-party. However, the situation has to do with something completely different: it is about compliance with the law.
According to the Ministry of the Interior in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the current composition of the community fire department does not meet the applicable requirements of the federal state's fire protection law. Particularly in cities with a professional fire department, such as Neubrandenburg, there are no plans to form an independent community fire department. “It is necessary to create a legally compliant situation,” says the city administration. This legal requirement is now causing confusion within the fire department, which could affect both the safety of citizens and the order in the ranks of the helpers.
There have already been several attempts in the city of Neubrandenburg to avert the dismissal by sending various letters to the Ministry of the Interior, but these were unsuccessful. Jacobs and Doll will unfortunately have to resign from their honorary civil service positions at the end of the year.
Background of the discussion
The case of Jacobs and Doll is by no means isolated. Rather, it shows how important it is to take legal requirements and regional peculiarities in the area of fire protection into account. The law on fire protection and technical assistance in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania not only defines the structures and processes within the fire departments, but also underlines the responsibility of the city administrations to pursue a clear line in these matters ([brand-kats-mv] reports on this).
The issue runs throughout Germany, as numerous reports on fire brigade operations in recent weeks show. Be it the fire of a historic building in Hamburg or rescue operations in Dortmund, the work and coordination of the fire departments are of central importance and require the full support of the respective city government. The technical regulations and organizational framework are not just letters of the law, but vital for the safety of citizens ([fire brigade] shows current operations).
The city of Neubrandenburg's decision can be taken as an opportunity to rethink general standards and regulations in dealing with the fire department. Ultimately, not only the operational capability but also the acceptance of the fire department among the population depends on smooth, legally secure operations.
Overall, the question remains as to how cities and municipalities can keep an eye on the legal requirements without discriminating against committed volunteers. The pursuit of a fair balance between law and practical feasibility is and remains a challenge that will continue to face local politics in the future.