Manufacturers are building ever larger fire trucks, but the entrances to the fire brigade equipment sheds are not growing with them. Construction workers expand it a little at best, but at some point they reach a limit. Decades ago, only men wore blue uniforms, but women have long since been unloading, recovering and rescuing them. The youth departments offer the same picture: changing rooms, showers and toilets for women and girls do not exist in many tool sheds. And then there are new requirements for fire protection and escape routes. In short, a new home for the volunteers is needed.
Thorsten Winter
Correspondent of the Rhein-Main-Zeitung for Central Hesse and the Wetterau.
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Benjamin Harris, like other mayors, can tell such a story. The CDU man at the head of the administration of Büdingen would, however, be happy if it remained with a new building. But the city has to build five tool sheds – and within a short time.
Harris found this task soon after taking office. For 14 months, he has been sitting in the mayor's chair as successor to the Free Voter, Erich Spamer. The city administration is aware of the necessity of the investments – but not just since March last year. Rather, experts from the city's technical inspection service listed defects in the fire brigade equipment sheds as early as 2009. "That's how long the need for action has been known," says Harris.
Six firefighting districts instead of 16 district fire brigades
However, the administration has not been completely idle since then. The 16 district fire brigades were merged into six extinguishing districts. On the one hand, the volunteers now have to adapt, because in addition to their usual circle, bluecoats from other parts of Büdingen are also part of it. This requires, for example, retraining well-rehearsed processes for emergencies. On the other hand, the extinguishing districts relieve the burden on the municipality. If they did not exist, significantly more new fire brigade equipment sheds would be needed than they already are, the mayor points out. In addition, he can be happy about the well-developed fire protection center on Orleshäuser Straße, as it makes a sixth new building superfluous. Harris nevertheless speaks of a difficult legacy that he has taken on in this case.
Since 2009, a lot has changed in the banking system and in construction. Higher loan interest rates are also due for municipalities, and inflation in construction, which has skyrocketed since the beginning of the Ukraine war, is not only a concern for private individuals. Municipalities are also struggling with it. For example, the construction and expansion of the fibre-optic network in Nidda is being delayed for this reason, among other things. Harris is therefore pleased with the greater construction progress in this area in his city compared to Nidda. With regard to the fire brigade equipment sheds, however, this is of no use to him: "Years ago, everything would have been much cheaper," he sighs.
What that means can be summed up in numbers. Five years ago, the city drew up a cost plan. With twelve million euros, the new buildings should burden the municipal budget. 2.4 million euros per shed, that was the calculation. In the meantime, however, the mayor assumes at least four million euros per building. The plans have been adjusted accordingly. Whether it stays that way remains to be seen. Rarely does a new public property cost as much as estimated – in many cases it becomes more expensive.
20 million euros – how does Büdingen intend to raise this sum? Especially since other major projects are still waiting - such as flood protection on the wall to the castle park and on the streams in front of the city. "Of course, we won't be building all the fire brigade equipment sheds this year," says the head of the town hall. "That would not be financially feasible or in terms of personnel." But every two years, the city wants to get two buildings off the ground, number five should be clear by the end of the decade. Diebach am Haag from the southern extinguishing district and Wolferborn from the northern district make the start. There, as at the other locations, the city is hoping for subsidies – i.e. money from the state.
"Reserves are something else"
Hesse supports equipment sheds and fire engines with around 20 million euros annually. However, the state administration distributes this sum throughout Hesse. In 2021, for example, funds flowed for 190 vehicles and almost 50 construction projects. Last year, the state co-financed 175 cars and 60 buildings. "The subsidy rate is usually 30 percent, but since the financial capacity of the municipalities is also taken into account, this rate can be increased by ten percent for low-performing municipalities and reduced by ten percent for high-performing municipalities," says the state government.
It remains to be seen how many percentage points Büdingen can hope for. Measured against the requirements of the state, in case of doubt, probably more: Because after the assumption of municipal cash loans by the state as part of the Hessenkasse project, whereby a large part of the funds for interest and repayment came from municipal or federal funds, Büdingen has no minus in the account. "But reserves are something else," Harris says candidly.
The new buildings require thought about the future of the tool sheds. They are well maintained, says the mayor, and should continue to be used. According to Harris, he has in mind to bring other clubs at the respective location into the building. Choral societies, for example, or skat clubs. Ultimately, the local community should benefit. However, the old buildings will not only serve as meeting places for firefighters. Because the city cannot erect five additional buildings and leave the old ones in their usual operation, as the otherwise reserved-looking head of the town hall says emphatically.