The Mainz Fire Department must not only meet today’s requirements but also be designed to withstand the demands of the next 10 to 15 years. This requires a clear basis:

• What risks exist in the urban area?
• Where are new operational priorities emerging?
• Which locations make sense?
• What personnel and vehicle requirements does this entail?
• And how can the professional fire department, volunteer fire department, and civil protection be effectively integrated?

Needs planning thus does not produce a ready-made wish list, but rather a technically sound basis for decision-making for administration, fire department leadership, and policymakers.

At the start of the project, the most important issues were identified and prioritized internally. These included protection objectives, response times, locations, volunteer work, digitalization, technology, organization, and crisis management.

Project structures were then established: there is a project group for operational tasks and a steering group for strategic decisions. The project group includes representatives from various departments of the Mainz Fire Department and the administration to ensure that as many professional perspectives as possible are incorporated.

Following the call for proposals, the firm antwortING Beratende Ingenieure was commissioned to provide expert support. In March and April 2026, the initial meetings regarding project organization, an assessment of the current situation, and the specification of content took place. Among other things, these meetings addressed contact persons, project committees, data provision, the project timeline, and the content of the individual modules. 

The first phase of the project—Module A, “General Section and Fundamental Issues”—is largely complete. This module examined the strategic foundations and future challenges.

These include, among other things:

• Performance and impact goals
• Climate change
• Critical infrastructure
• Digitalization
• Civil protection
• Risk and crisis communication, as well as
• Development trends in urban areas and the region

Final technical consultations on this are currently underway. It is important to note that Module A should not be viewed in isolation. It is intended to serve as the foundation for the subsequent modules and to clearly establish the strategic direction for needs assessment.

At the same time, the next major phase of work is beginning: the spatial and risk analysis. Here, the city of Mainz will be examined in greater detail. The goal is to obtain a realistic picture of the current state of hazard mitigation.

The current focus is on data collection, inventory analysis, and technical evaluation. This includes, in particular:

• Analysis of the volume of operations 
• Analysis of key areas of operation 
• Examination of response times and accessibility 
• Analysis of population trends and urban growth 
• Examination of specific risks and high-risk areas 
• Examination of the existing site structure 
• Assessment of the performance of existing structures 

This requires data from various areas, including operational records, the control center, personnel, technology, locations, organization, and specialized planning. Data collection is a critical step because subsequent assessments and recommendations are only as good as the underlying information.

Over the coming months, the spatial and risk analysis will be further developed. This will involve integrating operational data, risks, urban development, locations, and accessibility. The goal is to clearly identify where Mainz is currently well-positioned and where action is needed.

Building on this, various location and station models will be examined later. These models are intended to show how the urban area can be covered as effectively and realistically as possible in the future. This involves not only maps and travel times, but also personnel, vehicles, command structures, the volunteer fire department, and feasibility.

At the same time, other topics will be explored in greater depth:

• Organizational analysis 
• Personnel requirements and task structure
• Vehicle and equipment perspective 
• Volunteer concept 
• Municipal crisis management 
• Command and staff structures
• Implementation strategy

Interim results should not be developed behind closed doors, but rather discussed and evaluated by experts. Feedback from the fire department is therefore particularly important.

For many of our colleagues, the project will become more tangible in the coming months. There may be questions regarding procedures, data, technology, personnel, organization, or location-related issues. In addition, workshops, interviews, or technical coordination with individual departments may be necessary.

This is entirely intentional. Needs planning should not consist solely of tables, maps, and expert reports. It requires the knowledge of the people who work with these structures on a daily basis and who know the Mainz Fire Department from practical experience.
The project thrives on your experience and your knowledge. Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation.

Here you will find information on the project’s progress, next steps, opportunities to get involved, and key findings.

You can contact the project team at any time with questions, comments, or feedback: bedarfsplanung.feuerwehrstadt.mainzde