Rosdorf is planning a full-time fire department – ​​a sign of appreciation!

Rosdorf is planning a full-time fire department – ​​a sign of appreciation!

The municipality of Rosdorf is currently discussing whether a full-time employee should be hired for the volunteer fire department. If the local council agrees, this would be a novelty in the Göttingen district and could actually be a sign of appreciation for the volunteer firefighters. So far, full-time firefighters have only been available in cities like Hann. Münden, Osterode and Duderstadt are employed, while the remaining fire departments in the district, with the exception of Göttingen, rely exclusively on volunteer members. They carry out their important missions in their free time, which requires a lot of effort and commitment. According to the Göttinger Tageblatt, there have already been an average of two missions per day for the fire department in Rosdorf this year.

Municipal fire chief Martin Willing has submitted an application to hire an equipment supervisor. This measure is considered necessary because the fire department in Rosdorf is particularly challenged by the motorway sections. It also shows that the complexity of the operations is constantly increasing, due to modern challenges such as electric cars and special facade insulation. In order to meet the ever-growing demands, it is crucial to attract young people to volunteer work and to recognize their work accordingly.

The fire department in the Göttingen district

There are a total of 150 fire departments in the Göttingen district, which consist of around 5,443 active members (as of December 31, 2021). The municipalities are responsible for fire protection as well as the establishment and equipment of their fire departments. The district fire department, which includes all fire departments in the district, is not constantly present, but rather ensures regional operations, especially in the event of major incidents, catastrophes and accidents with dangerous goods. Good training and further education for emergency services is also seen as essential for the safety of the population. The Serviceportal Göttingen District offers numerous courses, including, for example, troop training or training to wear breathing apparatus.

The increasing number of missions represents a challenge. In 2022, the fire brigade responded to around 229,000 missions to fires and explosions across Germany. The main tasks of the fire brigades are rescue, extinguishing, recovery and protection, with the focus increasingly on rescuing people and providing technical assistance. Statista reports that around 333 people lost their lives due to smoke, fire and flames in 2022 alone. This is a clear sign of how important the work of the fire departments is, as they continually have to face new challenges.

Given these circumstances, it is essential to promote the voluntary work of firefighters everywhere and to express their appreciation. The Rosdorf region is a pioneer here and could become a role model for other communities with the planned full-time position and show how the valuable work of these committed women and men can be supported.