Honor and support: Gera celebrates firefighter heroes in the town hall!

Honor and support: Gera celebrates firefighter heroes in the town hall!

On September 26, 2025, there was a celebratory event in the town hall of Gera: the honoring and promotion of numerous fire department members. Mayor Kurt Dannenberg and head of department Thilo Schütz were present at the event, who thanked the firefighters for their extraordinary achievements. The event not only offered space for recognition, but also for the importance that team spirit and reliability bring with it in the fire department, as Thilo Schütz emphasized.

Nine fire chief candidates were pleased to receive certificates after successfully completing their six-month basic training. Your training goes hand in hand with what defines a fire department in Germany: the commitment to the safety of citizens. Of the 23,297 volunteer fire departments in the country and the over 35,000 members of professional fire departments, this path is essential for maintaining our security system, which includes fires, rescue operations and technical assistance in emergencies, reports ndr.de.

Appointments and promotions

The highlight of the event was the appointment of ten probationary officers who had successfully completed 18 months of career training for the intermediate fire service. In addition, four relatives were promoted to higher positions and one colleague was even made a civil servant for life. This shows that the career paths within the fire service are very promising and that the commitment to the community is worthwhile.

As the reporting on studiogera.de shows, the training of a firefighter should not be underestimated. Four new candidates will start their intensive 18-month career training to become fire chiefs on October 1, 2024. Part of this training includes basic firefighting training as well as technical training and various internships that provide future helpers with all the necessary knowledge in an emergency situation.

The volunteer fire department

Firefighters do their part not only in uniform, but often also on a part-time basis. They have “normal” jobs and yet find themselves in operational challenges as soon as an alarm occurs. Commitment to the volunteer fire department enables a strong sense of community, a variety of responsibilities and the opportunity for personal development. However, participation also requires a certain degree of understanding from the family and employer, as they have to be released from work and courses, as the ndr.de guide explains.

The fire brigades are usually financed by the city or municipality, while the training and personal equipment are borne by the fire brigades themselves. These are important points to keep in mind when accessing the volunteer fire department. There are a variety of options for those interested, with a minimum age of 18 and physical and mental fitness being required.

All in all, honors, promotions and ongoing training make it clear: the fire department is and remains an indispensable part of our society. It connects people and saves lives. So if you're thinking about getting involved in the fire department, you have numerous options in Gera, be it in the professional fire department or as part of one of the many volunteer fire departments.