German fire services


The Feuerwehr is a number of German fire departments. The responsible bodies for operating and equipping fire departments are the German communities and cities. By law, they are required to operate fire-fighting forces. In cities, this is usually performed by the Fire Prevention Bureau, one of the higher-ranking authorities.
There are three kinds of recruiting firefighters in Germany: the predominant number of Germany's 1,383,730 firefighters are members of voluntary fire brigades ', a lesser number working in professional fire brigades and at least the drafted members of a Compulsory Fire Service ', established just in a few places nationwide.
Professional fire brigades are usually operated as
By law, cities with a population of more than 80,000–100,000 people are required to have a professional fire-fighting force. Others such as smaller cities and towns can set up a full-time force, which is basically a group or a squadron occupying one large fire station around the clock. This force deals with smaller incidents on its own and is supported by voluntary forces for larger incidents. Each community meets the need of fire-fighting personnel by setting up a voluntary force. A community or a city may also set up a professional fire fighting force without additional volunteer forces. In case it is not possible to recruit enough personnel for this job, the mayor of a city is required to set up a "Pflichtfeuerwehr", where he will draft the number of personnel required.

Organisation

Tactical units

Overview

Voluntary and professional fire brigades usually share the same basic layout when deploying. Firefighters are organized in tactical units as follows:
UnitTranslationMenLeaderComments
TruppTroop 2 or 3 squad leaderpart of the crew of an engine
Selbstständiger Truppindependent troop 3 "squad leader" usually the crew of a ladder or other special vehicles
Staffelsquadron2 squads + engine operator + squadron leadersquadron leadermost common unit of professional fire fighting forces; minimum standard for firefighting
Gruppegroup3 squads + engine operator + message runner + group leadergroup leadermost common unit of voluntary fire fighting forces; usually the crew of an engine; the term message runner was created before radio electronics came into use, today the message runner can also act as second engine operator, supports a squad or is in charge for security surveillance
Zugplatoon; Strike Team 2 groups + platoon squadplatoon leaderusually consisting of several vehicles, e.g. 1 command car, an engine, a tanker and a ladder depending on the platoon type

In contrast to the United States system, there is no division into engine and ladder companies.

Organization of a Gruppe (group) or Staffel (squadron)

Most standard procedures in German firefighting are based on the Gruppe, since it is the smallest tactical unit to work independently. The also common Staffel is basically a group stripped down to the absolutely necessary minimum, which can easily be extended to a Gruppe by joining with a three-firefighter Trupp from another vehicle. Due to the financial situation of most German cities, the squadron is the most common unit for professional fire-fighting forces, because it provides sufficient manpower but saves three firefighters in comparison to a group.
The standard procedures for fire and technical aid and rescue assign certain tasks to certain crew members. This helps keeping the orders the unit commander has to give short and simple, since those tasks don't need to be specifically assigned to anyone.
However, most of these guidelines date back to a time when SCBA was not widespread. Thus, if SCBA is applied, the procedure has to be adapted.
RoleTranslationTasks according to standard fire procedureTasks according to standard technical aid/rescue procedureComments
Einheitsführerunit leader/ captaincommands the unit, is responsible for the crew's safety, determines placement of vehicle and, if necessary, of portable fire pumpcommands the unit, is responsible for the crew's safety, determines placement of vehicle and, if necessary, of powered appliances like generators etc.The more specific terms "Gruppenführer" and "Staffelführer" depending on the unit's size were abandoned
Maschinistengine operator/ engineerdrives the engine, operates the pump and other machinery, assists other crew members unloading equipment from the engine and building up water supplydrives the engine, operates powered appliances, assists other crew members unloading equipment from the enginewhile driving, the engine operator is responsible for safety of crew and vehicle
Meldermessage runnercarries out assigned tasks carries out assigned tasks In a staffel this position is not occupied
Angriffstruppattack squad/ teamrescues ; deploys the Wye ; usually deploys the first nozzlerescues, provides first aid until ambulance arrives and EMTs take over, provides technical aid
Wassertruppwater squadrescues; builds up water supply for the engine; deploys portable ladders on command; becomes rescue squad, if SCBAs are in use secures the incident site against additional hazards using the necessary equipment, is free for other tasks after that
Schlauchtrupphose squadrescues; lays out attack lines for the other squads ; if SCBA is applied immediately after arrival, the hose squad instead of the water squad has to build up the water supply; deploys portable ladders on command; takes additional tasks like operating the Wye or deploying additional appliancesprepares the equipment for the attack squad, if necessary assists the attack squad and operates needed powered appliances; if the attack squad is busy providing first aid, the hose squad takes over deploying the ordered appliancesin a Staffel this squad is missing, so the remaining two squads have to take over its tasks.

Personnel

Members of the professional fire departments and volunteer fire departments serve in a hierarchy corresponding to other German institutions e.g. the police.

Volunteer fire fighters

The volunteer firefighters ranks are as follows :
;Firefighters
;Leaders
In Germany exist three career groups with different conditions. They are governed in a state law on civil servants.

Overview

;Medium grades
The firefighters start with an 18-month training time which ends with test. The use of Brandmeister is dependent of the size of the fire department they are working for. In bigger departments mostly as water squad in smaller departments also as attack squad or engine operator
;Executive grades
Condition to start directly in this grad is a college degree, starting with a 24-month training and end with an test.
; Senior civil service
In cities with more than 400 000 people the top position of Direktor der Feuerwehr, Landesbranddirektor, Oberbranddirektor, Direktor der Branddirektion or Stadtdirektor exists.

Rank insignia in [Rheinland-Pfalz]

; Medium grades
;Executive grades
;Senior civil service

Vehicles

Technically, there are eleven types of vehicles in service today. However, due to regional needs and availability, there are a vast number of different vehicles in use.
The eleven standardized types are: T5 used as :de:Einsatzleitwagen|ELW
truck serving as Turntable ladder
413 "Sprinter" used as an Ambulance
  1. Command car/Battalion Chief; the :de:Einsatzleitwagen|Einsatzleitwagen. This type has 3 subtypes, KdoW, ELW 1 and ELW 2 with the first one usually being a "normal" car and the last one having the size of a coach
  2. Small fire trucks; either the :de:Tragkraftspritzenfahrzeug|Tragkraftspritzenfahrzeug or, or the :de:Kleinlöschfahrzeug |Kleinlöschfahrzeug. Usually modified panel truck with basic means of firefighting. Those vehicles usually have a portable fire pump with an own engine instead of a fixed one that is powered by the vehicle's engine. The names of the TSF and TSF-W are actually derived from the German term :de:Feuerlöschpumpe#Tragbare Pumpen|"Tragkraftspritze" which roughly translates into "portable self powered pump". Those vehicles are crewed by a German Staffel, but the TSF and the TSF-W types provide enough equipment for a group.
  3. Engines / Pumpers; the :de:Löschgruppenfahrzeug|Löschgruppenfahrzeug. Typically a large truck manned by a group and carrying firefighting and rescue gear, nowadays usually with a small water and foam supply. Although the crew of the LF consists of a group, the larger types of this engine carry enough equipment for two groups, which often includes a second, portable fire pump.
  4. Rescue engines / pumpers, the :de:Hilfeleistungs-Löschgruppenfahrzeug|Hilfeleistungs-Löschgruppenfahrzeug. Similar to the engine but with far more rescue equipment on board.
  5. Tankers, the :de:Tanklöschfahrzeug|Tanklöschfahrzeug. Typically a large truck manned by one squad or a German Staffel. Very often they are equipped with water cannons on the roof and foam cannons.
  6. Rescue trucks, the :de:Rüstwagen|Rüstwagen. Usually either a larger panel truck or a smaller truck, they are equipped with a broad range of rescue gear i.e. Jaws of Life, a winch, saws, cutters or work platforms
  7. Equipment carriers, the :de:Gerätewagen|Gerätewagen. A vehicle that comes in all sizes, depending of the equipment stowed. Equipment might be specialized gear for water rescue operations or hazmat. Another variation is the :de:Wechselladerfahrzeug |Wechselladerfahrzeug which is a specialized, heavy-duty truck with a mounted hydraulic crane arm behind the truck's cabin designed to lift heavy containers or modules which contain specialized equipment
  8. Aerial ladders, like the :de:Drehleiter|Drehleiter. A large truck with a telescopic ladder, often with an attached bucket or platform at the end. The most common type is the DLK 23–12, a ladder truck with a platform that can extend to 23 metres height while positioned 12 metres away.
  9. Hose carriers, the :de:Schlauchwagen|Schlauchwagen. Typically large trucks with a supply of rolled or folded and pre-coupled hoses, in case longer distances have to be bridged.
  10. Crew carrier, the :de:Mannschaftstransportwagen|Mannschaftstransportwagen. Usually a minivan or a small bus, used for non-emergency rides, organisational tours or transfer of additional personnel.
  11. Ambulances, the :de:Rettungswagen|Rettungswagen. Typically based on a delivery-truck chassis with a special body, the RTW provides pre-hospital critical care for one patient. Crew consist of two EMT-I or EMT-P, sometimes augmented by an emergency physician.

    German airport firefighting vehicles

Specialized vehicles are used by German airport fire departments. These include crash engines. In German, these are called :de:Flugfeldlöschfahrzeug|Flugfeldlöschfahrzeuge. These normally have pumps with a large pumping capacity of 10,000 litres/min and have large supplies of either powder or foam in addition to a standard water tank ranging from 6,000 to 13,000 litres. German airports tend to use crash engines manufactured by . Other manufacturers include , Saval-Kronenburg, Amdac Carmichael International, Metz, , , Sides, .
German military bases are protected by the :de:Bundeswehr-Feuerwehr|Bundeswehr-Feuerwehr which currently have three generations of Feuerlösch-KFZ engines in use. These are specialized engines constructed in three different generations since 1958 and they use specialised military truck chassis. The first generation covers engines constructed between 1958 and 1978.
The second-generation engines FlKfz 1000, FlKfz 3000, FlKfz 3500/400/750 and FlKfz 8000/800, except the FlKfz 1000 were first put into service in 1979.
The third generation entered active service in 2005. Most of the older FlKfz 8000/800 were replaced by the new Ziegler Z8 ). Unlike the second-generation engines, this new series of 16 Z8 engines is no longer a military-specific design. The first generation of FlKfz 2400 was replaced by LF 16/12 with the design changes being incorporated into the Mercedes-Benz Atego chassis. Furthermore, the 3rd generation has been supplemented by the TLF 20-28 and the RW on MAN 18.280 chassis as well as the TLF 20–45 on the Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 5000 chassis. All of these vehicles were equipped by Ziegler.
More information on the military vehicles mentioned above are available below:
Standard ELW 1/command vehicle:
First generation:
Second generation:
Third generation:

Radios

German fire brigades all use two-way FM radio to coordinate their efforts. The German emergency currently use the so-called "BOS-Band", channels located in the 4-metre and 2-metre bands with a frequency range from 74.215 to 87.255 MHz and from 167.56 to 173.98 MHz. There were plans to implement digitally scrambled trunked radio systems located in many German cities by 2010. This process was delayed in many cities due to either financial constraints or legislative delays. The city of Aachen began testing a TETRA-based system in 2001 and has implemented it since 2003 after completion of the pilot project ,.
An enormous advantage of the German BOS Radio System is that virtually every helping organisation in Germany like police, Rescue Services, THW, life-guard and fire brigades are using the same system in different channels so they can easily switch and communicate.
Typically, 4-meter-radios ,, are used by dispatch centres and on vehicles, whereas 2-metre-radios are handheld Handie-Talkies ,,, for tactical communication on scene. Unlike in the US, 2-meter portable radios are normally only used for fireground/tactical communications and not for direct contact with the dispatch centre. If direct communication is required, the engineer of the first-in engine will relay all messages directly to the dispatch center via the 4-meter radio on the engine. However, a dispatch center can monitor and if necessary respond on a repeatered 2-metre tactical channel. In most cases, German tactical channels are not used with a repeater.
In bigger areas, there is usually a number of relay stations/repeaters in place which repeat the signal, giving it more range and quality.

Identification

Radio identification names consist of five parts:
  1. Name of the organisation, i.e. "FLORIAN" for the fire services
  2. Name of the city or county the brigade is based, e.g. "MAGDEBURG"
  3. Two digits referring to the specific area or station, e.g. "01"
  4. Two digits referring to the type of vehicle, e.g. "33" for a ladder
  5. Two digits referring to which one it is, e.g. "01" for the first vehicle of its type.
For example, the radio identification "Florian Magdeburg 01-33-01" would describe the first ladder of station 1, operated by the Fire department of the city of Magdeburg.
Although not in accordance with the respective service regulation, these identifications are sometimes shortened for the sake of fast radio contact and when there can be no doubt that the vehicle is unique. For example, the :de:Einsatzleitwagen|ELW currently on scene may simply refer to himself as "1-11" or "Florian 1-11", instead of using the whole sequence when the crew is certain that there are no other companies involved.
Because the German Fire Services are terms of the federal states like Bavaria, Hessen or Berlin this may vary from state to state. The radio identification name for the same ladder in Bavaria can be "Florian Geretsried 30/1" for example.

Alerting the fire stations

All fires or emergencies requiring assistance from the fire service can be reported using the toll-free European Emergency telephone number "112 ". The caller will be connected to the command centre responsible for their area and can report the emergency.
The dispatcher will then decide whom to alert. If professional fire brigades are at the station, they will be alerted by klaxon, announcement or display messages. During the night, the alarm circuits are often wired to turn on the lights in the crew quarters.
Voluntary fire brigades are almost everywhere equipped with pagers, some only informing the firefighters of an emergency, some even displaying short messages with the type of call, incident address, map coordinates, time and date of call and other important details. In some areas sirens are still in use, sometimes even as the primary means of alerting firefighters.
A few fire brigades are experimenting with a GSM-based alarm circuit. The firefighter will then get either a message on his mobile phone or a machine will call him. This method has proven successful in areas, where constant radio contact for pagers can not be guaranteed, e.g. in mountainous areas.

Sports

To create an incentive for sports, fitness and health the German firefighting fitness badge can be awarded to any member of the German fire services.