Stefling starts with a new children's fire department - Founder's Day in view!
The Stefling fire department is setting up a children's fire department to promote community spirit and willingness to help. Participation for children aged 6 to 12.

Stefling starts with a new children's fire department - Founder's Day in view!
In the tranquil village of Stefling, the volunteer fire department has now set up a children's fire department. The newly formed offspring awaits a suitable name, which should be chosen in the first group lesson in January. Loud Central Bavarian newspaper The founding event was a complete success and attracted around ten children and their parents. Commander Harald Ettl emphasized that there were numerous factors for the founding, such as frequent requests at the village festival. The initiative is also supported by Julia Feil and Sabrina Goß, both members of the fire department and mothers.
The goal of the children's fire department is to convey important values such as helpfulness, community and responsibility. “The fire department stands for trust,” said Ettl. Mayor Benjamin Boml actively involved the children in the event to show them that the fire department plays a central role in helping with accidents and fires. The last major fires have made this need clear.
Diverse offers and safe participation
But what can the children expect in the new group? The fire department will offer a colorful program that focuses on fun and games. In addition to teaching fire-fighting tasks, the program also includes exciting excursions, carnival parties and visits, as the Schwandorf fire department website informs here. The children's fire brigades are suitable for children aged 6 to 12 and are also open to girls. In addition, the safety of the members is ensured: they are insured against accidents and liability during all activities as well as on the way to the tool shed and back.
One of the children's parents must be a member of the fire department, which promotes close ties to the community. The Stefling fire department is already planning to get personalized T-shirts for the children. Group lessons should take place on the first Saturday of every month and last approximately one and a half hours.
A look into the future of children's fire departments
The founding of the children's fire department in Stefling is part of a trend that is becoming increasingly important in Germany. According to the German youth fire brigade There are now captivating developments: While in 2011 there were around 20,500 children in more than 1,000 groups, the number rose to almost 100,000 by 2024. The importance of children in the fire service is highly valued by both the German Fire Brigade Association and the German Youth Fire Brigade, which shows that a valuable contribution is being made to future fire service work.
It's an exciting time ahead in Stefling, and the volunteer fire department is looking forward to the new group of children and the many future activities. With a strong focus on community and support, the fire department not only does important work in emergencies, but also makes a valuable contribution to the development of the boys and girls in the village.