The Fire Department in Germany: How the Feuerwehr Works and When to Call 112

The fire department in Germany does more than just put out fires. The German Feuerwehr responds to fires, accidents, technical assistance calls, rescues of people and animals, and the cleanup of storm damage; in many regions, it also participates in the Rettungsdienst—emergency medical services. For residents and visitors alike, the main rule is simple: in case of a fire, accident, or life-threatening situation, call 112.

Who is responsible for fire safety

Fire protection in Germany is organized at the state and municipal levels. Therefore, the details—such as the number of units, requirements for candidates, the process for joining a volunteer fire department, and shift schedules—vary from city to city. The general principle, however, is similar: local fire departments (Feuerwehr) are responsible for safety and work together with the police (), rescue services (), medical services (), emergency medical services (), and civil protection agencies.

There are three main types of fire departments in Germany:

• Berufsfeuerwehr — a professional fire department with full-time staff. It is usually found in large cities and operates around the clock.
• Freiwillige Feuerwehr — the volunteer fire department. It forms the backbone of fire protection in many small towns, suburbs, and rural areas.
• Werkfeuerwehr or Betriebsfeuerwehr — a company fire department, such as at a factory, airport, or industrial facility.

Professional and volunteer fire departments often complement rather than replace one another. A single city may have a Berufsfeuerwehr alongside several Freiwillige Feuerwehr units.

What Does the Feuerwehr Do?

The work of firefighters in Germany is broader than the name suggests. Typical tasks include:

• extinguishing fires and preventing the spread of fire;
• rescuing people from buildings, vehicles, water, or hard-to-reach places;
• technical assistance following traffic accidents, storms, flooding, or building collapses;
• responding to a fire alarm that has gone off;
• assistance with hazardous substances, smoke, leaks, and other risks;
• animal rescue;
• Support for the Rettungsdienst and Katastrophenschutz, if provided for by the local system.

According to the German Firefighters’ Association (Deutscher Feuerwehrverband), statistics for 2023 show that fires and explosions accounted for only a portion of calls. A large portion of their work consisted of technical assistance, false alarms, and the Rettungsdienst. Therefore, the Feuerwehr in Germany should be viewed as a service that responds to various emergencies, not just as a team for putting out fires.

Professional Fire Department: Berufsfeuerwehr

The Berufsfeuerwehr consists of professional firefighters, dispatchers, technical specialists, rescue workers, instructors, and management. In major cities such as Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt am Main, or Cologne, these are large organizations with multiple fire and rescue stations.

The duties of the Berufsfeuerwehr typically include:

• 24-hour on-call service;
• rapid response to fires, traffic accidents, and other emergencies;
• maintenance of equipment and protective gear;
• training and drills;
• preventive measures and participation in safety planning;
• coordination with volunteer fire departments and other emergency services.

The size of the team and the range of functions depend on the state, municipality, and level of risk in a specific area. For example, an industrial city, a port, an airport, or a densely populated area requires a different organizational structure than a small town.

Volunteer Firefighters: Freiwillige Feuerwehr

Freiwillige Feuerwehr—the volunteer fire department—is a vital part of the German fire safety system. In many places, it is the volunteers who are the first to respond to a call or who work alongside professional firefighters.

Volunteers undergo training and drills to be able to:

• what to do in case of a fire or smoke;
• use protective equipment;
• to provide basic first aid to victims;
• operate equipment and pumps;
• to provide assistance in the event of traffic accidents, storms, flooding, and other incidents.

Volunteers usually have an alert system: an app, a pager, or another communication channel. When an alarm is triggered, the volunteer goes to the fire station and follows their unit’s procedures.

If a volunteer responds to a call or attends training during work hours, most states have a principle of protection against financial loss: the employer cannot simply pass this loss on to the employee. The specific compensation procedures are governed by state law and local regulations, so it’s best to check the details with your municipality (Gemeinde) or fire department (Feuerwehr).

How to join a volunteer fire department

The process for joining varies by location, but the typical path looks like this:

1. Find your local volunteer fire department (Freiwillige Feuerwehr) through the city’s website, the municipality’s website, or the department’s own website.
2. Contact the responsible person and clarify the requirements.
3. Attend a meeting or a trial training session.
4. Pass a formal screening and meet any medical or physical requirements, if applicable.
5. Begin basic training and gradually start participating in on-call duties and operations.

Age requirements also vary by region. Many regions have a Jugendfeuerwehr (youth fire department) for teenagers, and full participation in emergency response operations is usually only possible after reaching the age of majority and completing training.

Can a foreigner become a firefighter in Germany?

Foreigners can join the fire department, but the requirements depend on the role and the state. For volunteer fire departments, the key requirements are usually place of residence, willingness to participate regularly in training, physical fitness, and the ability to understand commands in German. For the professional fire service, the requirements are stricter: education, good health, knowledge of German, a work permit, and sometimes citizenship or civil servant status, depending on the position and the state.

Before submitting your application, you should check:

• Does your residence permit allow you to work or volunteer in this capacity?
• What level of German is required for training and emergency responses;
• Are there any age, medical, or physical requirements?
• Is prior experience or education recognized?
• What documents does a specific fire department require?

You should check with your local fire department, city, or state for specific requirements. In Germany, there is no single set of guidelines that applies to everyone.

Fire Department Equipment

The fleet of vehicles depends on the unit’s specific tasks. In a small town, there may be several vehicles for firefighting, technical assistance, and transporting the crew. In large cities, specialized vehicles are added: ladder trucks, hazardous materials response vehicles, rescue vehicles, command vehicles, and equipment for divers or high-altitude operations.

A good example of local transparency is the websites of individual fire departments. Some departments publish their fleet of vehicles, news, incident reports, information about the youth fire brigade (Jugendfeuerwehr), and safety guidelines. For example, the Nußloch Fire Department showcases its equipment and a chronicle of its responses on its website: feuerwehr-nussloch.de.

These local pages are helpful for understanding how a specific area operates, but a single example shouldn’t be generalized to all of Germany: the structure and equipment vary by locality.

How to call the fire department in Germany

In the event of a fire, smoke, a traffic accident, a life-threatening situation, or any other emergency, call 112. This number is used to reach both the fire department and emergency medical services and works in Germany and other EU countries.

When calling, it’s important to report the following briefly and calmly:

• where the incident occurred: city, street, building, floor, landmarks;
• what happened: fire, smoke, accident, injury, person trapped;
• how many people have been injured or are in danger;
• what additional risks exist: gas, chemicals, children, the elderly, animals;
• Who should call and what number to call back.

Do not hang up until the operator tells you that you may end the call. If your German isn’t good enough, use simple words: Feuer, Rauch, Unfall, Adresse, Hilfe. Many dispatch centers can assist in English, but you shouldn’t count on it in every situation.

What to Do Before Help Arrives

The top priority is people’s safety, not property.

• Evacuate people from the danger zone if you can do so without putting yourself at risk.
• Close the doors behind you to slow the spread of smoke.
• Do not use the elevator during a fire.
• Do not go back into a smoke-filled room to retrieve belongings.
• Alert your neighbors if a fire could spread.
• Meet the firefighters outside and show them the way to the scene.

You can only extinguish a small fire on your own if you are not putting your life at risk and there is a clear escape route. In the event of heavy smoke, open flames, a risk of explosion, or an unknown source of danger, it is best to evacuate immediately and wait for the Feuerwehr.

In Brief

• In Germany, the fire department is called Feuerwehr.
• Main types: Berufsfeuerwehr, Freiwillige Feuerwehr, Werkfeuerwehr/Betriebsfeuerwehr.
• Volunteer fire departments play a huge role, especially outside major cities.
• Firefighters respond not only to fires, but also to accidents, storms, technical assistance requests, and rescue operations.
• In an emergency, call 112 and provide the address as precisely as possible.