Wolfratshausen fire brigade: The anger about the dispute with Weidach has not yet subsided

Created: 01/17/2022, 06:00

By: Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss

Handshake and gift: Mayor Klaus Heilinglechner (right) said goodbye to outgoing commander Andreas Spohn (left).

© Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss

The annual meeting of the Wolfratshauser Wehr was marked by the recent quarrels.

It is clear to everyone that the relationship with the Weidacher Wehr must improve.

Wolfratshausen

– Clear words were spoken at the meeting of the Wolfratshausen volunteer fire brigade. "It wasn't the terrible epidemic that hit us the hardest," fire department chairman Florian Seitner summarized the past year, "but the fire from within our own ranks." With these words he alluded to the dispute between the Wolfratshausen and Weidach fire departments, which ultimately led to the resignation of the previous commander Andreas Spohn in October 2021.

"Never-ending hostilities, some publicly stated allegations that were approaching the limit of legal admissibility," the CEO continued. Weidach's commander, Robert Buxbaum, had accused his colleague of failing to deal with "fire brigade-specific issues". Among other things, the "inadequate involvement of the Weidacher in the initial alarm for time-critical operations" such as house fires or operations involving personal injury was an issue, as was the ten-minute assistance period between the emergency call and arrival at the scene. At the time, Spohn countered that "the alarm was always raised via the Oberland integrated control center in Weilheim," which called the forces into action according to the various accident situations.

Seitner showed respect and understanding for Spohn's decision to resign from office. "He always put his head down," said Seitner - and addressed Klaus Heilinglechner, mayor and himself a member of the Weidacher Wehr: "If then the at least morally appropriate backing from the employer fails to materialize, it's time to take consequences to pull."

Spohn is one of the "best firefighters we have," emphasized Heilinglechner in his welcoming speech. "I have respect for him and didn't want it to happen that way." Strengthening the community between the defense forces is important for the mayor. "But that didn't go as well as I would have liked." Heilinglechner's words, which were intended to be forgiving, were not really able to convince the team: the volunteers hardly applauded his speech.

District Fire Councilor Erich Zengerle also acknowledged the outgoing commander's "great expertise and competence" in his speech and thanked him for the ongoing constructive cooperation. "You were very much behind the fire brigade requirement plan being implemented." The deployment times used for the calculations were reduced and "the alarm plans are in order."

However, Seitner emphasized that not all bridges between the two local fire brigades have been torn down.

"Our offer to dialogue at any time remains in place, but the hostilities must stop," said the board.

He would like to see constructive cooperation with the comrades from Weidach, also at the administrative and organizational level.

"Just as good and comradely as we have always had on assignments and in training."

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The newly elected First Commander Andreas Bauer could only underline this offer.

As soon as he has been confirmed in office by the city council, he wants to seek talks with Weidach.

"It's only possible together." Spohn himself will remain a member of the Wolfratshausen fire brigade and will continue to do his best to get involved.

"We're very happy about that," said Seitner and Bauer in unison.

So that Spohn can also enjoy a little more free time, the comrades presented him with a fire bowl with a fire brigade logo (rescue, extinguish, recover, protect).

"And if something goes wrong during use," says Seitner with a wink, "you have our number."