Fire brigade using posters to look for new firefighters

Without a pro-active approach, there would probably be no new recruits. The militia fire brigade are therefore advertising with posters.

"Imagine you press the alarm – and no-one answers." This saying (approximately ed.) currently adorns large posters of the militia fire brigade Cham at three locations in Cham, for example at the roundabout next to the Raiffeisen building. It refers to the fire alarm being pressed in the event of a fire and the subsequent lack of the hoped-for assistance in the shape of firefighters. The poster will also be used to attract potential new recruits at the information event on Friday, 23 October. But why is this big and prominent advertising needed? Are enough people interested in joining the Cham fire brigade?

"Recruiting new firefighters (male and female) is not an easy task. Citizens have to be motivated with good arguments," says Urs Baggenstos, fire commander of the Cham Fire Brigade. It’s rare that anyone joins the fire brigade without pro-active recruitment. "Many people tell us that they don't have the time," says Baggenstos, for example, due to the fact that professional pressures are increasing. But the wide range of alternative leisure activities is also a frequently mentioned point. "However, it is also likely that the younger generations in particular attach greater importance to organising their leisure time," adds Baggenstos. The general population is often not well informed about the fire brigade, with many people assumed that the fire brigade Cham is a professional fire brigade. "Another misconception is that you have to join the fire brigade at the young age of 18 to 25," the commander continued.

90 men and women are currently actively involved in the Cham militia fire brigade.

90 men and women are currently actively involved in the Cham Fire Brigade. The target figure is 100, however. "Our experience has shown that the best way to arouse interest in the fire brigade is to talk about it to friends and relatives, and share one’s own experiences," says the Cham fire commander.

Integrating the fire service into your own life
"During the information evening, we inform interested parties about our activities, how we are organised and what the training for aspiring firefighters looks like." In this way, the participants can get an idea of how they could integrate the fire service into their lives, which is not as difficult as some imagine. Interested parties also have to meet certain requirements: "For example, they must understand Swiss German. Depending on which specialist service they wish to perform, they must also have appropriate health and fitness."

Staffing targets are stable
A total of 976 men and women currently work in the fire brigades in the canton of Zug. "Over the last five years, we’ve had an average of six new members per fire brigade in the municipalities each year," says Roland Fässler, Fire Inspector of the canton of Zug. At the moment, the staffing targets of the fire brigades can be more or less met. Some municipalities are trying to obtain new recruits through advertising campaigns, however. The reasons for a lack of interest in the fire brigade are varied. "Many people, for example, are unaware that the fire brigade operates as a militia (volunteer) system, and is not made up of professional firefighters, while other people already have other engagements in clubs," says Fässler. The fire brigade would, however, appeal to people who would like to have an exciting activity in their free time.

Members of the Cham Fire Brigade can specialize in many areas. For example, the respiratory protection, motor driver, pioneer service, electrical service, traffic service and ambulance specialist services. "All the members of the fire brigade also take part in the operations of the general fire service, such as the rescue of humans and animals, firefighting and protecting the environment and property," continues Urs Baggenstos. For members with suitable capabilities, there are also many opportunities for additional  training, such as to become group leaders, corps chiefs, train drivers or specialist officers,. "This goes all the way to the cantonal instructor, vice-commander or commander," explains Baggenstos. As an officer in charge (Einsatzleiter), for example, you can learn how to assume the great responsibility for all the deployed firefighters and to take and carry out decisions quickly in extreme situations.

Going through the fire for each other
"In addition to the training opportunities, camaraderie is at the top of the fire brigade's list and goes beyond normal service. After all, we literally go through the fire for each other," concludes Baggenstos. That’s why it is necessary to know how someone is ticking in a particular situation or whether he or she is physically and psychologically up to it at the moment of deployment. "Our confidence in each other is high."