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Volunteer fire department; fire department
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.
Responsible for you
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Procedure details
Description
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, but also people who are regularly employed or in training in a community, generally perform voluntary fire department from the age of 18 until they reach the standard retirement age (currently 67). 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. He also checks the physical and mental aptitude of the applicants.
The fire department commander is responsible for the operational readiness of the volunteer fire department. He is elected by secret ballot from among the members of the volunteer fire department, including full-time firefighters and trainee firefighters who have reached the age of 16, for a term of six years. The result of the election is confirmed by the municipality in consultation with the district fire officer.
Specific information about the fire department in the respective place of residence can be obtained from the responsible municipality.
Requirements
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 the statutory retirement age (currently 67)
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
Legal bases
Related issues
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Feuerwehr; Beantragung einer staatlichen Förderung für die Beschaffung von Feuerwehrfahrzeugen und -geräten sowie den Bau von Feuerwehrhäusern
Der Freistaat Bayern unterstützt die bayerischen Kommunen bei der Beschaffung von Feuerwehrfahrzeugen und -geräten sowie beim Bau von Feuerwehrhäusern mit staatlichen Zuwendungen.
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Fire department operations; charging of reimbursement of costsUnder certain conditions, the municipalities can demand compensation for the necessary expenses incurred as a result of call-outs, deployments and safety watches by municipal fire departments.
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Plant fire department; application for recognitionThe fire department of a company or facility can be recognized as a plant fire department at the request of the owner or sponsor.
Status: 10.09.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bayerisches Staatsministerium des Innern, für Sport und Integration
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