He has been with the fire department for 70 years: his first use was with a shovel and wheelbarrow. Franz Maier, 92, was appointed district fire chief for the old district of Wolfratshausen in 1961.
“The 70s and 80s were tough,” he says today, laughing. In 1983 he was awarded the achievement badge in gold-red, followed in 1990 by the badge of honor in gold. Konrad Doll, Johann Gmeinwieser, Ludwig Zambelli and Josef Schmid (all 60 years of membership) were also honored.