Fire department reviews a year marked by significant incidents
**Voluntary Fire Brigade Dreieich-Sprendlingen Embraces Modernization and Community Engagement**
Last Friday, the Voluntary Fire Brigade Dreieich-Sprendlingen held its annual general meeting, where key future plans and new vehicle acquisitions were discussed in detail.
The fire brigade aims to continuously update and expand their firefighting and rescue equipment to keep pace with new technological advancements and enhanced safety standards. This modernization includes the acquisition of a state-of-the-art rescue vehicle, equipped with the latest firefighting and emergency response technology, and the replacement of aging vehicles to ensure reliability and safety.
There is a strong focus on recruiting new members and providing comprehensive training programs to ensure that all personnel are highly skilled and ready to respond efficiently to emergencies. In the past year, a total of 9,367 hours were spent on training by the fire brigade. Felix Dethmann, Christoffer Drath, and Julian Rainer Martin were appointed master firefighters, while Jonas Jürgens, Kevin Sehring, and Sven Vetter now hold the rank of senior master firefighter.
The fire brigade also plans to increase public outreach and awareness campaigns about fire safety and prevention in the Sprendlingen area. Discussions were held regarding improving and maintaining the fire station infrastructure to support operational efficiency and comfort for the firefighters.
Chief Christian Poriska called for cost coverage by the relevant service providers when the fire brigade is alerted due to delayed house alarm services. Faulty fire alarm systems often demanded the fire brigade's attention. In response to this, the fire brigade deployed 374 times in the past year, 16 more than the previous year.
Notable incidents included the fire at the Aviva guesthouse in July 2024 and numerous weather-related deployments after heavy rain. Valentin Maliqi, who stepped down as chairman of the fire brigade's board of directors after nearly ten years, announced his resignation as first deputy chief by March 31, 2025, citing personal and professional reasons.
Björn Schmitt was elected as the new first deputy chief, and Kevin Sehring took over as interim chairman of the fire brigade's board of directors. Martin Dubowy and Marcel Krüger were promoted to chief firefighters.
The annual general meeting reflected a forward-looking vision emphasizing modernization, enhanced operational readiness, and stronger community involvement for the voluntary fire brigade Dreieich-Sprendlingen. Christian Poriska thanked all members for their commitment, and no new promotions or awards were mentioned in this paragraph.
An extraordinary meeting will soon clarify the successor of the chairman of the fire brigade's board of directors. Meanwhile, Markus Oppermann, Pasquale Bonifer, and Stefan Heim were awarded the silver fire protection merit badge for 25 years of service, and Alexander Leonhardt was awarded for 20 years of service.
In other news, the fire brigade encourages residents to stay informed about news from the city and district of Offenbach by subscribing to a free newsletter.
The Voluntary Fire Brigade Dreieich-Sprendlingen is also considering the addition of more sports activities for firefighters as part of their training regimen, to enhance their physical fitness and teamwork.
To further engage the community, the fire brigade is planning to organize more recreational sports events, such as annual sports tournaments, to foster relationships between the firefighters and the residents of Sprendlingen.
