A total of 42 new members of the volunteer fire department and twelve members of the professional fire department were invited to the awards ceremony. Mayor Nino Haase praised the firefighters’ dedication as an indispensable contribution to the city’s community and thanked them “for their great sense of community, their volunteer commitment, their courage, and their willingness to be there for others every day. You are the pillars of our society, and we are proud of you.”

Haase also emphasized the close cooperation between the professional and volunteer fire departments. “The people of Mainz can count on you to respond at any time of day or night when something happens. You save lives, protect property, and provide assistance during fires, accidents, severe weather, and disasters. On behalf of all the people of Mainz, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for this.”

Fire Department Chief Stefan Behrendt particularly highlighted the importance of commitment and recruiting new members: “Firefighting is teamwork, and it thrives on people who take responsibility and stand up for one another. Every new firefighter strengthens our operational capability and, with it, the safety of the entire city.”

Behrendt also thanked the long-serving members and their families: “15, 25, 35, or even 45 years of fire service: Behind these numbers lie countless hours, emergency responses, drills, sleepless nights, and moments when you put your own needs aside to help others. We cannot thank you enough for this. Your dedication has shaped our fire department and made our city safer.”

This was the third time the reception had been held in this format. In addition to the new members and honorees, the event also focused on the future of the fire department. After all, an effective fire department needs not only experienced firefighters but also dedicated young recruits. The youth fire departments play a key role in this: Currently, 229 young people are active in eleven units of the Mainz Volunteer Fire Department. More than 40 new young firefighters have joined this year.

The city is also creating new opportunities for entering full-time fire service. Starting in the summer of 2026, Mainz will be the first municipal professional fire department in Rhineland-Palatinate to offer an accredited training program for plant firefighting personnel. While completing vocational training was previously a prerequisite for joining the operational service, the new training program allows for direct entry into the fire department immediately after graduating from high school. Upon successful completion—and provided the technical and civil service requirements are met—the plan is to hire graduates as operational firefighters with the Mainz Professional Fire Department.

The importance of dedicated individuals for the fire department’s youth development efforts is also underscored by Christopher Baumert’s departure from his position as city youth fire chief. Baumert has helped shape the work of the youth fire departments in Mainz over many years and has thus rendered outstanding service to the fire department’s youth development efforts. For his dedication, he will be awarded the Mainzer Pfennig later this month.