City of Jena presents new fire protection requirements and development plan

The city of Jena has updated its fire protection requirements and development plan (BBEP) for the period 2025 to 2031 and will present it to the city council in November. The Finance Committee has already dealt with the contents in a first reading, and the concept forms the strategic basis for the future direction of defensive fire protection, general assistance and disaster control in the city. It describes how the Jena fire department must be set up in terms of personnel, technology and organization in order to reliably meet the statutory protection targets. The plan was drawn up on behalf of the city by the engineering firm antwortING. The analysis is based on legal requirements, current deployment data and future urban and demographic developments. Recommendations are derived on this basis in order to ensure the fire department's long-term performance.

Reliable basis for future decisions

Mayor and Head of Safety Benjamin Koppe emphasizes the importance of the update: "The new fire protection requirements plan creates a clear and reliable basis for the further development of the Jena fire department. It makes transparent which structural, personnel and technical steps are necessary and in which order they must be implemented. As a city, we have a responsibility to make decisions in a comprehensible and forward-looking manner. The plan enables us to do just that. It strengthens the operational conditions and at the same time supports the further development of disaster and civil protection. On this basis, Jena remains resilient and capable of acting in crisis situations as well as in day-to-day operations."

Focus on structures, locations and personnel

One focus of the plan is on the further development of existing locations, the adaptation of structures and processes and the continuous training of personnel. This also includes the close integration of professional and volunteer fire departments in order to ensure long-term operational capability and the recruitment of new personnel.

Nick Ludwig, Head of the Jena Fire Department, emphasizes the practical benefits of the analysis: "The fire protection requirements plan is a key management tool for us. It helps us to plan measures in a targeted manner and set priorities - from equipment and training to the organization of the emergency services."

First measures already implemented

Stellten gemeinsam den aktuellen Brandschutzbedarfs- und Entwicklungsplan der Stadt Jena vor (v.l.): Fachdienstleiter Feuerwehr Nick Ludwig und Bürgermeister Benjamin Koppe

© ©Stadt Jena

Some of the measures recommended in the new BBEP have already been initiated or implemented - particularly in the area of optimizing internal processes, such as a change to the management organization in the emergency services of the professional fire department. The next step is now to plan the concrete implementation. On this basis, the expected costs for the city of Jena can be determined and then included in the next budget planning. Furthermore, it will be checked in advance which measures can be supported with subsidies from the state or federal government. Overall, the plan provides for the replacement and new procurement of 18 vehicles as well as procurements to strengthen resilience. These include, for example, securing the fuel and energy supply for all vehicles and the respective locations, as well as procurements to maintain communication channels in the event of power outages and during periods of high demand.

Strengthening emergency response and disaster control structures

In addition to updating fire protection, the concept also includes aspects of civil protection. It describes how the city is further developing its emergency response structures in order to be prepared for different emergency situations and to ensure security of supply. To this end, various concepts must first be developed and evaluated. In particular, the training of helpers in disaster control must be redesigned and adapted to current requirements. There will also be new purchases of various items of equipment in this area. Furthermore, an information center is to be set up for citizens specifically for crisis situations.

The next step is to develop an implementation concept for the measures recommended in the fire protection requirements and development plan. On this basis, suitable projects can be planned and gradually implemented according to the available budget. Progress will be reviewed on a regular basis. "We will keep an eye on the tight budget situation of the city of Jena in the coming years and pay particular attention to this," concluded Koppe and Ludwig.