Since 2005, I am a member of the volunteer fire department of Rosenheim. The fire department operates more than 24 emergency vehicles and is active with about 700-800 emergency operations per year.
In 2008, I completed the basic training and am involved in the active operational service. Over the years, I have received further specialized training in addition to regular training.
During the basic training the theoretical basics, legal matters, as well as tactics for danger prevention and rescue of persons are acquired. This includes fire fighting as well as technical assistance (e.g. traffic accidents or height rescue).
The aim of respiratory protection training is to ensure that the emergency forces become accustomed to the difficult operating conditions associated with wearing respiratory protection equipment, behave correctly in accordance with the principles of operation and are able to handle the equipment without errors. For this purpose, exercises are to be scheduled that convey safety in handling the equipment in order to remain calm and level-headed even in dangerous situations.
Breathing protection is primarily used for indoor attacks in fire or smoke-filled rooms. It can also be used in environments contaminated with chemicals (nitrogen oxides or irritants).
In disaster response, prevention and control measures for nuclear, biological or chemical hazards must be trained. In particular, the handling of special protective equipment (e.g. chemical protection suit) and measuring equipment for the substances mentioned is practiced. The decontamination of emergency personnel and patients plays a decisive role and is practiced on a small scale up to a large scale decontamination including lying and walking patients.
As a group leader, you are responsible for a vehicle and a group of up to 9 emergency personnel. An essential part of the task of the group leader is to be able to quickly assess hazards, to explore the scene for possible tactics and to derive appropriate measures. During the training at a state fire department school, various operational scenarios – from classic fire operations to chemical accidents or traffic accidents – are practiced in addition to the theoretical basics.
During the complex, multi-year training as a rescue diver, human rescue measures as well as technical operations are trained. The basis for this is the safe handling of diving equipment including emergency procedures. Dives – as typical for operations – also take place in murky waters or at night. The tasks in human rescue include the structured screening of areas and the recovery of located persons. In the technical area, there is a wide range of operational scenarios, including the use of hydraulic rescue equipment underwater (e.g. rescue from a submerged vehicle).
As a boat driver, it is important to train and master not only the safe navigation of a boat, but also the specific tactics of operation. During the training at a state firefighting school, a special focus is placed on towing other boats, rescue maneuvers and operational specifics for extinguishing works carried out from a boat.
A fire engine operator is responsible for driving all of a fire department’s specialized trucks and also for operating their power units and specialized equipment. A sound mechanical understanding is essential and is trained in the training. Especially specifics of different fire fighting centrifugal pumps (including venting, cavitation, …) are trained. Special vehicles such as the turntable ladders or the telescopic loader require fine motor skills and a separate training (each several days) to master the regular operation as well as emergency operation.
Since the end of 2020, I am head of the 2nd firefighting unit with about 18 active members. Within this context, I am responsible for the regular training, administration and operational management of emergency services. As a member of the board of directors, I actively participate in the decisions concerning the fire department of the city of Rosenheim.
*pictures primarily taken during training