Following the success of the two previous years, the third edition of the "Fire Service of the Future" competition will be launched in 2013. The application deadline is 30 April.
With innovative projects, many voluntary fire brigades in the district of Giessen are attracting new recruits and informing the public about their tasks. This is demonstrated by the numerous entries in the "Fire brigade of the future" competition, which was organised by Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) together with the district fire brigade association (KFV) in 2011 and 2012. "The volunteer fire brigades make an enormously important contribution to the region - and they do it in their free time," emphasises Ina Weller, company spokesperson for Stadtwerke Gießen, adding: "That's why we have been supporting the volunteers for many years and want to promote creative ideas with the competition." According to the SWG company spokesperson, past years have shown that the "Fire Service of the Future" innovation award is exactly the right way to go. "It was not easy for us as a jury to choose the winners due to the numerous excellent entries," assures Stephanie Orlik from Stadtwerke Gießen. In 2012, for example, the Lollar and Staufenberg volunteer fire brigades took first place. Since the summer of last year, they have been jointly offering weekly lessons in a fire brigade club at the Clemens Brentano European School in Lollar.
Round three of the competition begins
"This year, we are once again calling on volunteers from the region to think about how they can equip themselves for the future and educate people in Central Hesse about the work of the fire service. Creativity is called for," explains Ina Weller. Once again this year, the jury has no strict requirements regarding the type of project. Stephanie Orlik explains: "The 2011 and 2012 competitions have shown that extraordinary ideas are created when the fire services have as much freedom as possible."
SWG provides information on how to take part in the "Fire brigade of the future" competition on its website at www.stadtwerke-giessen.de/innovationspreis. All registration documents and the flyer for the competition can be downloaded there. Fire brigades can then submit their entry documents by 30 April. Only then do they have to implement the project. They have until 30 September to do so. In December, a jury including district administrator Anita Schneider, Grünberg's mayor Frank Ide, district fire inspector Mario Binsch, the head of the professional fire brigade Martina Berger and Ina Weller and Stephanie Orlik from SWG will select the winners.