Last Friday, the first “Plant Fire Department Training Week” in Bavaria successfully concluded at the SGL Carbon GmbH site in Meitingen. The VSU Fire Academy conducted the five-day pilot training course from March 9 to 13. A total of eleven firefighters from the plant fire departments of SGL Carbon Meitingen, BSH Hausgeräte Dillingen, and MVV Industriepark Gersthofen participated.
The group leader of a fire department holds one of the most critical roles during an emergency: As the first-arriving officer at the scene, they must make immediate decisions that significantly determine the success of the operation. For this reason, training in Bavaria is typically conducted at a state-run fire academy. On the initiative of the BSH plant fire department, the MVV Industriepark Gersthofen, and SGL Carbon from Meitingen, and with the support of the Bavarian Plant Fire Department Association (WFV), the squad leader training was now carried out independently for the first time as part of a pilot project.
The course was coordinated in advance with the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior, for Sport and Integration (StMI). The Fire Academy of VSU Brandschutz GmbH, a training institution for plant fire departments in Bavaria recognized by the StMI, was secured as a partner for the program. Upon successful completion, the participants received official training certificates for their future roles as squad leaders in the plant fire department.
During the training week, the emergency personnel trained daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. in the required theoretical and practical training sessions. The course was conducted by instructors from the VSU Fire Academy, supported by personnel and equipment from the participating plant fire departments. For example, BSH Dillingen contributed significantly to the course’s success by providing an industrial fire truck and a driver.
The innovative, business-friendly format generated great interest among the Bavarian plant fire departments. In addition to representatives from site management, Richard Kern, Chairman of the WFV Bayern, also visited the course on-site to learn about its schedule and content.
“The fact that this first-of-its-kind pilot training course in Bavaria is taking place here in Meitingen is a special honor for SGL Carbon,” says Alexander Miehling, site manager of SGL Carbon GmbH in Meitingen. “A well-trained plant fire department is a key component of safety, reliability, and sustainable operations in an industrial company. With this training week, we are making a concrete contribution, together with our partners, to strengthening civil protection in the region.”
SGL Carbon provided the infrastructure at the Meitingen site for the training week and supported the event’s organization. In doing so, the company underscores the importance of safety, professional development, and networked collaboration among plant fire departments across company boundaries.
Should you require additional press photos from the event, we will be pleased to provide them upon request.
