Everyday hero: St. Pölten-Stadt fire department impresses with record operations!

Everyday hero: St. Pölten-Stadt fire department impresses with record operations!

In 2024, the St. Pölten-Stadt volunteer fire department experienced an unprecedented frequency of operations, fueled by the devastating floods in September, which alone resulted in 500 operations in just a few days. A total of 1,702 missions were managed, which put increasing operational pressure on the fire brigade members. This impressive number results from the tireless commitment of around 8,000 members who collectively contributed over 12,000 hours to keep citizens safe. “This is of course a corresponding additional burden for our emergency team,” explained Commander Didi Fahrafellner, while referring to the unprecedented increase in fire operations, which has increased by over 40% in the last four years fireworld.at reported.

The 158th general meeting, which took place on March 8, 2025, reflected on the challenging year. 86 people and 18 animals were saved through the operations, while the emergency team was regularly active in their free time in all weathers. 2023 was also a significant year for the St. Johann Fire Department, which presented an outstanding performance record at its 151st annual general meeting on March 16, 2024. This fire department also demonstrated its operational strength with 184 missions in which 4,318 hours were worked. “More hours were spent on the youth fire department in St. Johann than in many active fire departments in smaller towns,” emphasized the section commander, which underlines the importance of the boys for the future of the fire department, as reported ff-stjohann.at.

Particular challenges also included serious traffic accidents and the extensive preparation for the fire department's 150th anniversary, which was celebrated with a state performance competition for 1,600 participants. The members of the St. Johann fire department worked a total of over 22,922 hours for the safety of the community, a service that was recognized by the guests of honor, including the mayor. The city will continue to provide the necessary financial resources to optimally equip the fire department and thus ensure its effective operational readiness.