Young team at the head of the Jena City Fire Brigade Association

The Jena City Fire Brigade Association elected a new board at its most recent general meeting and introduced itself and exchanged ideas with the mayor and head of security, Benjamin Koppe, as well as the management of the professional fire department during an inaugural visit. Maximilian Hausmann, Gina-Sophie Merkel and Dr. Tobias Kaaden will assume responsibility for the next five years in the association, which campaigns for the interests of members of the volunteer fire departments. The new chairman is the 30-year-old Hausmann, engineer and group leader at the Jena-Winzerla volunteer fire department. He is supported by Deputy Chairwoman Gina-Sophie Merkel, 25, a chemistry master's student and active in the Jena-Mitte volunteer fire department, and Treasurer Dr. Tobias Kaaden, a 35-year-old engineer and platoon leader, also in the Jena-Mitte volunteer fire department.

"I very much welcome the election of the new, committed and young team at the head of the city fire brigade association. After a long period of uncertainty and an intensive search for a successor to the board, we have succeeded in finding a new, motivated association management. This is not a matter of course, but deserves recognition and respect. Whether it's promoting young talent, strengthening camaraderie, supporting preventative fire protection or representing the interests of the volunteer fire departments - the association plays a central role here that goes far beyond pure operational practice",

emphasizes Mayor Koppe.

The new board has set itself clear goals: internal communication is to be improved and cooperation between the various units strengthened. Camaraderie and cohesion are to be further promoted through targeted events. The topic of digitalization is also high on the agenda.

Koppe also paid particular tribute to the work of the previous board:

"The previous board of the city firefighters' association deserves great thanks for its many years of dedication in challenging times. The association's work was maintained with a great deal of commitment and a sense of responsibility, even when personnel changes and unresolved succession issues made it difficult to continue."

The Jena City Fire Brigade Association is home to 14 volunteer fire department associations and plays a central role in the city's fire and disaster protection. It bundles the interests of the firefighters, promotes comradely solidarity across the individual fire departments and supports the youth fire departments in particular. Its tasks also include preventative measures to avert danger and the preservation of established fire department traditions.