Brandenburg's fire department has a new boss: Sebastian Kalka is taking over!

Brandenburg's fire department has a new boss: Sebastian Kalka is taking over!

Today is an important day for the fire department in Brandenburg an der Havel: Sebastian Kalka is taking over the management of the professional fire department. Kalka, who was appointed firefighter in 2003, comes from the Oberhavel district administration, where he heads the security and order department. It was only at the beginning of 2023 that he appeared as the main fire chief of the volunteer fire department in Fehrbellin and has since then been intensively involved in the community of fire trainees and senior civil servants in the higher fire service. Thomas Barz, deputy and responsible for the fire department, confirmed that Kalka was selected from two applicants. Kalka is currently on vacation and cannot be reached for inquiries.

The change at the top of the fire department comes at a time that is characterized by challenges. Predecessor Mathias Bialek was released from duty in September 2023. The Neuruppin corruption public prosecutor's office is investigating him on suspicion of breach of trust and taking advantage, particularly in connection with the introduction of controversial personnel deployment planning software. This soon-to-be-retired software has already caused quite a stir as it has recently consumed inadequate training for fire department employees without any actual training being provided. As part of the investigation, searches were even carried out at the town hall and the fire station. Bialek himself was acquitted in the Brandenburg district court in the summer, but the public prosecutor's office has already filed an appeal.

Challenges for the fire department

With Kalka at the helm, the fire department in Brandenburg an der Havel faces numerous challenges. The Fire and Rescue Department currently has 187 full-time positions, of which more than two dozen are vacant. The interim head Uwe Hohn, who led the fire department during the transition period, has now reached the pension limit. In addition to addressing internal difficulties, Kalka will also be responsible for improving response to disasters and emergencies. At a recent meeting of the German Fire Brigade Association in Berlin, topics such as the ability of fire departments to respond to crisis scenarios were discussed. DFV President Karl-Heinz Banse emphasized the need to take current global challenges into account.

In addition to the internal restructuring, Kalka is required to deal with a growing threat situation, as is evident in crises such as the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine or the Gaza conflict. The suggestion of a paradigm shift in capability management could also be important for the fire service in order to better adapt resources to current requirements.

The path that lies ahead of Sebastian Kalka is anything but easy. However, if he manages to bring the necessary stability and efficiency to the fire department, he could make an important contribution to the safety of the citizens of Brandenburg an der Havel.