Voluntary heroes: 1190 hours for Gemünden Security!

Voluntary heroes: 1190 hours for Gemünden Security!

On July 12, 2025, the annual general meeting of the Gemünden fire brigades took place on the village square in Rülfenrod. Community fire inspector Patrick Schön delighted those present with a review of a busy year in which the fire brigade recorded 25 missions: among these there were 10 fires, 12 technical assistance and 3 false alarms. A total of an impressive 1190 volunteer hours were provided, which shows how committed the fire brigade is in the community. In particular, active support from the approximately 128 members, which include both active and former firefighters, illustrates the high importance of volunteering in this area.

The West Löschzug, consisting of the fire brigades Burg-Gemünden and Lower Gemünden, provided 59 emergency services in the missions, 17 of which are quickly available during the day. The challenges range from wearing aids for the emergency services to support in saving a horse to various burning and oil-track inserts. A particularly impressive commitment occurred on January 10th: Fast action was required for a house fire in Burg-Gemünden because human life was in danger. The immediate water supply and the active support of the fire brigades from Homberg and Mücke as well as the DRK could be prevented.

volunteering in disaster protection

Gimrung is part of a larger community that is considered indispensable in disaster protection. According to the Johannitern, over 1.7 million citizens are volunteering in disaster protection in Germany, with more than 90% of these committed people active in the context of voluntary fire brigades or the technical relief organization. However, the demographic change and the declining binding to organizations are a challenge for volunteering. Initiatives to strengthen volunteering, such as the volunteer card or the introduction of a volunteer award, are becoming increasingly important to increase appreciation for these committed helpers (Johanniter).

In the meeting, the role of volunteering in disaster protection was also discussed. According to a study by the Federal Office for Population Protection and Disaster Aid (BBK), around 1.76 million volunteers are active in civil and disaster protection. The study shows that the commitment quota has been constant in around three percent of the German resident population since 1999. The need for volunteer forces grows in view of the increasing number of extreme weather events, which are caused by climate change (bbk.

Future view

Back in Gemünden: Despite the pleasant developments in the fire brigade, there is still a need for action in order to ensure the operational readiness in the long term. Mayor Daniel Wittenberg and other speakers emphasized the need to continue to support fire service. This includes investments in new vehicles and devices as well as planning for the exchange of old portable pumps in order to continue to meet the requirements in the future.

Overall, the meeting reflected the high importance that the volunteering in Gemünden. Through the close cooperation with neighboring municipalities and the continuous training of the forces, the basis for a safe and well -networked fire brigade is created, which is always ready to help in an emergency. The support of the community and the appreciation of citizens are of central importance in order to continue to keep voluntary work.