Great concern for Berlin’s fire chief

By Axel Lier

How difficult is it for the chief of the fire brigade to create the crisis in the emergency services?

His face looks sunken, the corners of his eyes droop. Not only since the appearance of Karsten Homrighausen (54) on Friday in the RBB “Abendschau” have employees been very concerned about his health.

The state fire director had an operation a long time ago and was on sick leave for weeks. In the past few months he has lost more than 20 kilos.

“It would be inhuman if the last few months hadn’t left any traces on him,” said Benjamin Jendro, spokesman for the police union (also representing firefighters). “He was partly unobjective and criticized far below the belt for grievances for which he is not responsible.”

Background: The fire brigade is in permanent crisis. A state of emergency has to be declared every day. Often there isn’t a single free ambulance left. Interior Senator Iris Spranger (61, SPD) had disempowered the fire brigade leadership in the summer and founded her own task force.

“Despite all the justified criticism of him as a state fire director, one should not confuse ‘function’ and ‘people’, let alone lose sight of them,” says Manuel Barth from the fire brigade union (DFeuG).

Even if this principle must apply in general, “it applies in particular in these difficult times,” emphasizes Barth.

Trade unionist Benjamin Jendro sees no alternative to Karsten Homrighausen: “Berlin can be happy to have such a person at the head of the largest professional fire brigade. Others would have thrown in the towel long ago.”

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