The Bad Ischl fire department is facing major investments

For the first time in the history of the 156-year-old Bad Ischl main fire station, the annual general meeting had to take place in the vehicle hall. The reason is the increased number of members. The 113 comrades managed 138 missions last year and worked 10,589 hours on a voluntary basis. The number of operations was significantly lower than usual due to the lockdowns in the previous year.

“We have two major projects on our minds,” said commander Jochen Eisl in his speech. “On the one hand, the heavy rescue vehicle is scheduled for replacement in 2024.” The vehicle has served well – for example in vehicle recovery and rescuing people. With its now 30 years, however, it no longer corresponds to the current requirement profile.

On the other hand, the main fire station had to be rebuilt for a variety of reasons. The entrance is too low for a new heavy rescue vehicle. The existing hall floor must be renovated. In addition, a flood-proof civil protection camp would be needed. Eisl reported on good preparatory work together with the municipality and also asked for support through talks between city politicians and the state government. “We know that this construction costs a lot of money,” says Eisl. “But I assure you that this money, which is helping to keep our city safe, is well spent.”