Waidhofen fire department outdoes itself: 307 missions in 2024!

Waidhofen fire department outdoes itself: 307 missions in 2024!

The Waidhofen/Thaya volunteer fire department recorded a record total of 307 missions in 2024. This corresponds to an increase that was primarily due to numerous storms, such as meinkreis.at reported. The operations included 39 fire operations, 244 technical operations, 8 pollution operations and 16 fire safety operations. The emergency services worked for over 3,542 hours and were able to rescue 15 people and four animals from emergencies. The majority of operations, around 80 percent, involved technical assistance, which makes it clear that the fire department has to do more than just put out fires.

Intensive training and further education

Another important aspect of fire service work is the training and further education of members. For 2024, 89 exercises were carried out and the firefighters took part in 44 different courses, most of which took place at the Lower Austrian Fire and Safety Center in Tulln. In total, the members of the Waidhofen/Thaya fire department did over 18,987 hours of voluntary work. Over 12,287 hours were also spent maintaining the emergency equipment and carrying out administrative tasks. To document the diverse activities, an annual review video was created to vividly represent the work of the fire department.

The roots of the Waidhofen Volunteer Fire Department go back to 1906, when members of the fire department associations were awarded the Medal of Honor for their commitment in the town hall, report the city chronicle and ffwaidhofen.at. Historical records show that the fire department has continued to grow since its inception and technical capabilities have continually expanded. In 1908, the municipality approved the “Basic Law of the Waidhofen ad Thaya Voluntary Fire Department,” which formed the official framework for the work of the fire department.