Germany’s Top Firefighting Official Calls for Upgrades in the Face of a Changing World
Germany’s top firefighting official, Karl-Heinz Banse, has called for a modernization of the country’s fire brigades, citing the need to prepare for potential disasters and the evolving nature of threats. As the president of the German Fire Brigade Association, Banse emphasized the importance of strengthening the country’s civil defense, which includes the fire services.
In an interview with the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, Banse noted that while the current equipment is generally good, it may not be sufficient for the types of scenarios that could arise in the event of war or a large-scale natural disaster. He pointed to the need for better protection against chemical, biological and radiological hazards, which goes beyond the possibility of the use of such weapons in Germany.
Banse used the example of a potential nuclear disaster at one of the Ukrainian nuclear power plants, which could surpass the scale of the Chernobyl accident. He emphasized the need for the fire services to be better equipped to handle such scenarios, citing the fact that Germany was better prepared to deal with radioactive hazards after the Chernobyl disaster than it is today.
The fire brigade chief also advocated for the reintroduction of military service, including alternative service options for those who do not want to serve with a weapon. Banse proposed that those who opt out of military service could instead commit to serving with a volunteer fire brigade.