Fanfare and honors: 132nd Fire Brigade Day thrilled in Hopfgarten!

Fanfare and honors: 132nd Fire Brigade Day thrilled in Hopfgarten!

On May 25, 2025, the 132nd District Fire Brigade Day took place in Defereggental, organized by the Hopfgarten Volunteer Fire Department. The event, which took place in front of the cultural center in Hopfgarten, was attended by 35 flag delegations, various music bands and numerous guests of honor. Among those present were Federal Fire Brigade President Robert Mayer, State Fire Brigade Commander Jakob Unterladstätter and other high-ranking representatives such as District Governor Bettina Heinricher and State Councilor Astrid Mair.

As part of the ceremony, a new personnel transport vehicle from the Hopfgarten fire department was blessed by Pastor Damian Frysz. District fire brigade commander Harald Draxl and mayor Markus Tönig gave a speech and emphasized the indispensable role of the volunteer fire brigades in the district. It was particularly emphasized that over 2,000 members are active in the district, who carried out a total of 972 operations in 2024, including 165 fires and 232 technical assistance operations.

Awards and promotions

Another central point of the district fire brigade day was honoring deserving fire brigade members. In this context, several promotions were announced: Alexander Grimm from the FF St. Veit i. Def. became chief fire chief, Martin Unterweger from the FF Huben i. O. promoted to chief fire chief. In addition, Andreas Kofler (FF Panzendorf) and Paul Gstrein (FF Thurn) received the rank of fire inspector, while Florian Unterweger (FF Thurn) was appointed senior fire inspector.

In addition, exceptional achievements were recognized. The district fire brigade association's badge of merit in various levels was awarded to numerous members, including Raimund Brunner (bronze, FF Glanz) and Martin Unterweger (gold, FF Huben). Bronze awards for the Tyrol fire department were received, among others, by Leonhard Trojer (FF Ausservillgraten) and Herbert Putzhuber (FF Ainet).

A look at the fire department in Germany

Fire departments around the world play an essential role in disaster control. According to Statista, there were around 48,100 fire departments in Germany at the end of 2022, with volunteer fire departments making up the largest proportion and having over a million members. In 2022, around 229,000 deployments to fires and explosions were recorded, while the fire brigade was active in several million deployments in areas such as emergency rescue.

The deployment numbers illustrate the central role of fire departments in society. The range of applications ranges from firefighting to technical assistance. It should be noted, however, that the number of false alarms also increased, which led to an increased burden on emergency services. Numerous fire department members have reported attacks and violence in recent years, underscoring the challenges facing the organizations.

In summary, it can be said that the district fire brigade day in Defereggental not only represents a platform for honoring achievements, but also illustrates the urgency and relevance of fire brigade work in today's society. The event in the Hopfgarten was an impressive symbol of the community and the tireless efforts of the volunteer fire departments.