Basic firefighting course successfully completed

Started as strangers, left as a strong team: After six months of intensive training, 20 participants in the basic firefighting course in Jena received their certificates today. The ceremonial handover took place in the presence of the team of instructors led by Chris Erdmann and Ralf Hertig, Head of Fire Service.

Die 20 frischgebackenen Absolventen des Grundlehrgangs Feuerwehr freuen sich über ihren erfolgreichen Abschluss – und sind bereit für zukünftige Einsätze. Zu den Gratulanten zählten Ralf Hertig, Fachdienstleiter Feuerwehr (ganz links) sowie das Ausbildert

© Stadt Jena

In his speech, Hertig emphasized the importance of team spirit: "The common goal of working as a firefighter welds us together. You have demonstrated this impressively. Never forget that as a firefighter you never work alone - teamwork is the be-all and end-all." With a wink, he added: "It's just a shame that the best of the year is once again from Berlin and not Jena."

The participants came from different parts of Germany: seven of them came from Jena (six from the middle and one from the senior civil service), three from Berlin, six from Weimar, one from the district of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, one from Baden-Württemberg and two from the city of Saalfeld. With a wide range of prior knowledge, they embarked on the training course, which in just six months provides them with the knowledge and skills they need to become firefighters.

Chris Erdmann, the training manager, praised the positive cooperation: "Strangers have become a real team. I am particularly pleased that three of the seven Jenens residents are now being taken on as firefighters." Two of them had already completed preliminary training as emergency paramedics, which made it easier for them to get started.

The participants were also enthusiastic: "The atmosphere in the team was great. We learned a lot and really grew together. It would be nice if the fire department had its own training grounds - that would be the icing on the cake."

The training enjoys an outstanding reputation that extends far beyond Jena. This is largely due to the realistic operational scenarios that prepare the participants for their future work as firefighters. In addition to legal and scientific basics, such as the behavior of fire under various conditions, the focus was on practical exercises. Highlights included training at the fire simulation facilities in Dresden and Bad Köstritz as well as exercises in a gas-fired solid fuel fire container, in which the participants had to learn how to fight fires effectively and understand their dynamics under realistic conditions and dense smoke.

This basic course shows once again how crucial sound and practical training is for the fire department - not only to save lives in an emergency, but also to protect property.

And the next generation is already waiting in the wings: The new basic training course begins on October 1. The seven-strong team of instructors is already looking forward to supporting the new participants just as actively - always with an open ear and the short official channels that have proven their worth.