Havelland is urgently looking for a new district fire chief – who will it be?

Havelland is urgently looking for a new district fire chief – who will it be?

An important change in the fire service structure will soon be made in the Havelland district. Michael Koch (CDU), head of the district department, has taken charge of filling the position of district fire chief. Initially, a suitable candidate was found, but he canceled at short notice for personal reasons. This means that the position of district fire chief could remain vacant for several months until a new applicant is found. The position is being re-advertised, and the advertisement could be published in about one to two weeks, as Maz Online reports.

During the transition period, the deputies Sebastian Ax and Jörg Eichmann will take over the duties of the district fire chief. They receive support from former district fire chief Lothar Schneider, who is available to assist with on-call services. Michael Koch's goal is to fill the position this year so that the fire department leadership is back in firm hands as soon as possible.

Changes in the tender

The new appointment also brings with it changes: In the future, the position will no longer be awarded on a voluntary basis, but will instead be a full-time commitment. We are looking for a district fire chief in the senior fire service, no longer for senior civil servants as was previously the case. The changes are intended to ensure that the management of the fire department technical center in Friesack is professionally staffed and that fire brigade leadership consultations can be carried out competently.

Fire fighting and community

The fire department in Havelland has been heavily involved in promoting various projects and events in recent years. This is how the “Child Protection” quality seal was created for youth fire departments. The first training date was on November 29th, 2024. There was also the 2024 district championship on September 14th in Rhinow, and the senior and honor departments of the fire department celebrated their successes together on October 5th, 2024.

The fire brigade festival in October 2023, which took place in the Brandenburghalle of the MAFZ Paaren im Glien, once again showed how important the sense of community among fire brigade members is. The district fire brigade association is also working on other projects, such as the “First Responder in Havelland”, which has existed in collaboration with the Havelland clinics for over two years.

The tasks of the district fire chief, who plays a central role in the district's fire service, are diverse. He leads larger operations at the district level, handles fire-fighting tasks and is responsible for overseeing all municipal fire departments in the district. In North Rhine-Westphalia, where the position can be held both on a voluntary and full-time basis, the district fire chief is appointed for a period of six years and therefore has a high level of influence on local fire service policy (Wikipedia).

The coming weeks will be crucial in finding the new district fire chief and in continuing to strengthen the position of the fire department in Havelland. With the upcoming tenders and ongoing projects, the region remains lively and well positioned.