The Feuerwehr (German for "fire service", ) is the general term for German fire departments. Fire departements are operated and equipping by communities ("Gemeinden") and cities ("Städte") in Germany. 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 (Freiwillige Feuerwehr), a lesser number working in professional fire brigades and at least the drafted members of a Compulsory Fire Service (Pflichtfeuerwehr), established just in a few places nationwide.
Professional fire brigades are usually operated as Berufsfeuerwehr (professional fire station or brigade) of a municipal body counting over 100,000 citizens, such as the city of Berlin as a full-time city department Werkfeuerwehr (plant fire station or brigade) of a larger company, for the needs of the company operating them by law e.g. refineries or chemical industry production facilities Betriebsfeuerwehr (factory fire station or brigade) of a larger company, that does not need to run a Werkfeuerwehr by law, but if it is required for the insurance coverage Flughafenfeuerwehr (airport fire station or brigade) as airports have to meet the ICAO requirements, this includes airplane factories like that of Airbus in Hamburg Bundeswehr-Feuerwehr (armed forces fire station or brigade) with specialized divisions such as Fliegerhorstfeuerwehr Cologne-Wahn located at German air force bases, military bases, naval bases as well as on any ship of the German Navy By law, cities with a population of more than 80,000–100,000 people (depending on the state) are required to have a professional fire-fighting force ("Berufsfeuerwehr"). Others such as smaller cities and towns can set up a full-time force ("Hauptamtliche Wachbereitschaft"), 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 ("Freiwillige Feuerwehr"). If it is not possible to recruit enough personnel for this job, the mayor of a city is required to set up a "Pflichtfeuerwehr" (compulsory fire brigade), 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:Feuerwehr-Dienstvorschrift 3: "Einheiten im Lösch- und Hilfeleistungseinsatz , German Fire Service regulation 3: "units within fire and technical rescue missions" Unit Translation Number of personnel Leader Comments Trupp Troop (squad) 2 or 3 (as unit within other units) squad leader part of the crew of an engine Selbstständiger Trupp independent troop (squad) 3 (as own tactical unit, e.g. vehicle crew) "squad leader" (needs to have the training of a group leader) usually the crew of a ladder or other special vehicles Staffel squadron 2 squads + engine operator + squadron leader squadron leader most common unit of professional fire fighting forces; minimum standard for firefighting Gruppe group 3 squads + engine operator + message runner + group leader group leader most 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 (e.g. traffic regulation) Zug platoon; Strike Team (description changes from place to place) 2 groups + platoon squad platoon leader usually consisting of several vehicles, e.g. 1 command car, an engine, a tanker and a ladder depending on the platoon type (e.g. "Löschzug" for fire, "Rüstzug" for technical rescue or "Gefahrgutzug" for hazmats)
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 (group), since it is the smallest tactical unit to work independently. The also common Staffel (squadron) 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 (squad) 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 Self-contained breathing apparatus was not widespread. Thus, if SCBA is applied, the procedure has to be adapted.Feuerwehr-Dienstvorschrift 1: Grundtätigkeiten im Lösch- und Hilfeleistungseinsatz , German fire service regulation 1: "Standard procedures within fire and technical rescue missions"
Role Translation Tasks according to standard fire procedure Tasks according to standard technical aid/rescue procedure CommentsEinheitsführerunit 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" (group leader) and "Staffelführer" (squadron leader) depending on the unit's size were abandonedMaschinistengine operator/ engineer Appliance Operator (UK)drives 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 (e.g. generators, hydraulic pumps), assists other crew members unloading equipment from the enginewhile driving, the engine operator is responsible for safety of crew and vehicleMeldermessage runner / Incident Commander's Aidecarries out assigned tasks (e.g. assists the unit commander, provides assistance to a squad deploying a ladder, takes care of casualties, relays information)carries out assigned tasks (e.g. assists the unit commander, assists with deploying appliances, takes care of casualties, relays information)In a staffel (squadron) this position is not occupiedAngriffstruppEngine Companyrescues (especially from areas only accessible with SCBA); deploys the Wye (between main water supply line and attack lines); usually deploys the first nozzlerescues, provides first aid until ambulance arrives and EMTs take over, provides technical aidWassertruppwater squadrescues; builds up water supply for the engine; deploys portable ladders on command; becomes rescue squad, if SCBAs are in use (Two-in, two-out)secures the incident site against additional hazards using the necessary equipment, is free for other tasks after thatSchlauchtrupphose squadrescues; lays out attack lines for the other squads (due to SCBA and technical simplifications such as hose carrying baskets nowadays redundant; the squads lay out hoses on their own); 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 (squadron) this squad is missing, so the remaining two squads have to take over its tasks.
Personnel The hierararchy of the professional fire departments and volunteer fire departments is corresponding to other German institutions e.g. the police.
Volunteer fire fighters The volunteer firefighters ranks are as follows (with deviations depending on the federal state):
Firefighters Feuerwehrmannanwärter (FMA)/trainee fresh to the fire brigade, at least 18 years old (16 years in some German states). Feuerwehrmann (FM)/Firefighter after the first part of the basic training. Oberfeuerwehrmann (OFM) after the second part of the basic training and after at least two years as Feuerwehrmann (FM) Hauptfeuerwehrmann (HFM) after being Oberfeuerwehrmann (OFM) for five years.
Leaders Löschmeister (LM) after being Hauptfeuerwehrmann for ten years or/and qualification "group leader" (Gruppenführer). Oberlöschmeister (OLM) after being Löschmeister for ten years or/and qualification "platoon leader" (Zugführer). Unterbrandmeister (UBM)(does not exist in Baden-Wuerttemberg, in Bavaria it's called "Hauptlöschmeister", HLM) with completed training to leading a squad or platoon squad and at least one year being Oberfeuerwehrmann (OFM). Brandmeister (BM) after at least two years as Unterbrandmeister (UBM) and two weeks training at the county's fire school (F3). Allowed to command a squadron or group. Oberbrandmeister (OBM) at least two years as Brandmeister (BM) Hauptbrandmeister (HBM) at least five years as Oberbrandmeister (OBM) Brandinspektor (BI) after a training at the county's fire school (F4). Allowed to command a platoon. Must have been Oberbrandmeister (OBM) before. Brandoberinspektor (BOI) ( after a training at the countys fireschool (F/B5). Allowed to command several platoons. Must have been Brandinspektor (BI) before. Ranks differ between states because each state is responsible for providing and admitting its own fire services as Thuringia i.e. provides education and administration of all fire brigades in Thuringia and Saxony provides it for all brigades in Saxony and so on.
Employed fire fighters In Germany there are three career groups for fire fighters. They are governed by state laws for civil servants.
Overview
Medium grades
Brandmeister i.a. (in reversionary) in the most states this is the professional starting rank. This grade requires vocational training in a useful job (mostly craft or industrial) Brandmeister (in Baden-Wuerttemberg, this is the first grade) the same conditions as Brandmeister i.a. 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. Oberbrandmeister used as water squad (leader) and attack squad, engine operator Hauptbrandmeister (in bigger fire departments attack squad leader in smaller also unit leader) ladder operator
Executive grades
Brandinspektor i.A Condition to start directly in this grade is a college degree, starting with a 24-month training and end a test. Brandinspektor used mostly as unit leader (engine) Brandoberinspektor Brandamtmann, Brandamtsrat and Brandoberamtsrat, used mostly as platoon leaders.
Senior civil service Brandreferendar z.a/-assessor, a master's degree is required to start directly in this grade. Brandrat, Oberbrandrat (some states: Brandoberrat), Branddirektor and Leitender Branddirektor. These grades are use in the functions of division chief/deputy/deputy assistant oder chief/commissioner assistant chief/commissioner, chief/commissioner dependent of the size of the city they are working for.