Freiwillige Feuerwehr; Feuerwehrdienst

In Bavaria, around 320,000 volunteer firefighters in around 7,500 volunteer fire departments in Bavarian towns and municipalities are responsible for fire protection. Seven professional fire departments and over 200 plant and company fire departments also fight against the red tap.

The fire department in Bavaria is the responsibility of the municipalities. The municipalities must set up, equip and maintain municipal fire departments (volunteer fire departments, compulsory fire departments and, under certain conditions, professional fire departments) within the limits of their capacity and provide the necessary extinguishing water supply systems.

The tasks of the fire departments include, in particular, defensive fire protection and numerous technical assistance services, such as car accidents, accidents involving hazardous substances and flooding. The fire departments can also carry out voluntary tasks if this does not impair their operational readiness.

In the volunteer fire departments, community residents, as well as people who are regularly employed or in training in a community, generally perform voluntary fire department between the ages of 18 and 65. Young people can join as trainee firefighters from the age of 12.

The commander of the local fire department decides on the admission of new firefighters and young people in each individual case. The commander also checks the physical and mental aptitude of the applicants. Specific information about the fire department in the respective place of residence can be obtained from the responsible municipality.

For voluntary fire department:

• All suitable persons may perform fire department in the municipality in which they have a home and in the municipality in which they have regular employment or training, in special cases also in the respective neighboring municipalities.
• Age: between the age of 18 and 65

For voluntary fire department as a fire department candidate:

• All suitable persons may perform fire department in the municipality in which they have a residence and in the municipality in which they pursue regular employment or training, in special cases also in the respective neighboring municipalities.
• Age: between the ages of 12 and 18