Stefan Schrögler is the new fire inspector of the Saarpfalz district. District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo presented the 47-year-old firefighter from Ormesheim, Mandelbachtal municipality, with his certificate of appointment on 18 December last year during the district council meeting. Schrögler thus succeeds Uwe Wagner, who held the position for 18 years, for an initial period of eight years. The new fire inspector is also a volunteer member of the fire brigade and now works full-time in the civil protection department of the Saarpfalz district police authority.
Stefan Schrögler's life as a firefighter was instilled in him by his father. He really got started in this dangerous hobby in 1989 in the Ensheim youth fire brigade. It would go beyond the scope of this article to mention all the subsequent stages, including training and further education as well as honours. However, Stefan Schrögler was most recently deputy firefighting district commander in the Ormesheim firefighting district. And by obtaining the rank of "fire chief" in 2012, Schrögler already fulfilled the formal requirements to be appointed as a fire inspector.
"The time window you have to apply for this position is very small. You can't necessarily plan something like this purposefully. Many factors have to be right, including experience in the fire service as well as your professional or private life situation," emphasises the father of two and adds, "When the potential successor to our former fire inspector became serious, the momentum was there. And it was also important for me to reflect and weigh up the pros and cons. Of course I am glad that I took the path I did. I am particularly proud of the unanimous trust of the fire brigade leadership, with whom I will work closely, and of the state fire inspector, who was also consulted on this matter. I would also like to thank all the other committees, the district fire service association, who supported my request and, in the end, our district administrator also had to give his approval."
Stefan Schrögler experienced his proverbial baptism of fire as a fire inspector at a house fire on 22 January in Blieskastel-Breitfurt, where four people were slightly injured. "I'm informed first of all about major incidents of any kind. In the event of a fire, as was the case in Breitfurt, and especially when several fire-fighting districts are involved across municipalities or even districts, I arrive on site as a command and supervisory officer and support the incident command, which is usually the responsibility of the municipal fire brigade management. Sending a warning message via NINA and KATWARN via the Saarland Integrated Control Centre is the responsibility of the municipal associations. That was also necessary in Breitfurt," says Schrögler about one aspect of his work. When asked whether he would reach for the fire hose at any time, he promptly replies: "If there's an emergency - of course. I'm a firefighter, that hasn't changed."
The trained wholesale and foreign trade merchant and graduate in business administration is now facing new challenges following a career change to the civil service. "The public demands for fundamental improvements in civil defence and disaster control are nothing new and the authorities will still have to make some adjustments and investments. I want to play my part in the welfare and protection of the population. Of course, as a fire inspector and therefore the link between the fire services and the administration, I also want to represent and strengthen the interests of the fire services in the area of civil defence. The range of tasks is broad and I am looking forward to it, as well as to the future with the Saarpfalz district," says Stefan Schrögler.
District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo: "I am very pleased that we have been able to appoint Stefan Schrögler as Uwe Wagner's successor. He is a passionate, yet level-headed and prudent firefighter with a great deal of operational experience and a sense of responsibility. As a fire inspector, he is an indispensable advisor and a valuable support to the district administrator. I am convinced that he can and will soon achieve a great deal with my successor in office, Frank John, on a reliable basis. I sincerely wish him every success and all the best, both personally and on behalf of the Saarpfalz district."