Fire department personnel from nine different countries are entered in the competition to win the international Conrad Dietrich Magirus Award and a trip to the Big Apple.
The conditions of their operations are as varied as the nations they come from. This year, the finalists for the international Conrad Dietrich Magirus Award represent Australia, Chile, France, Iran, Austria, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Hungary and from the 2014 title-holder, Brazil. But all eleven teams have provided the same high-level contribution to society with their valuable and essential work. They were selected by a high-calibre jury that has now passed on the choice of the “2015 International Fire Department Team” to the public for the final decision. From the land of the aboriginal people of Australia, to Africa and Europe, all the way to South America, everyone can vote for their favourite team between 10 November and 13 December at www.world-of-firefighters.com.
Magirus launched the prize in Germany in 2012; a year later, the company expanded it to include international teams as well, in order to honour the valuable missions of those around the globe – who are often volunteers – and to give society insights into the everyday work of fire-fighters. These men and women are on duty 365 days a year, 24 hours a day to rescue others, sometimes at the cost of their own lives. By voting, everyone around the world can express their appreciation for their invaluable commitment. At www.world-of-firefighters.com, you can find all important information about the competing teams’ missions, which range from disastrous conflagrations to complex rescue operations.
The jury was impressed by the high level of this year’s candidates. “The operations are becoming increasingly complex, and the competencies and skills required of fire-fighters are enormous. This is why we wish to heartily congratulate all the finalists,” said Tristan Reitz of Magirus, representing the jury. In addition to Reitz, Richard Berger from “Die Österreichische Feuerwehr”, Michel Bour, General Secretary of the World Fire Service Association CTIF, Ann Marie Knegt, Editor-in-Chief of the English magazine “Fire and Rescue” and Christoph Marchal, Deputy Secretary General of the National Federation of the Sapeurs Pompiers de France sat on the jury. In evaluating the entries, the experts relied on their long years of fire-fighting experience, even when this did not necessarily make their decision easier due to the high quality of the entries.
The fire department team with the most votes will travel to the headquarters of Magirus in Ulm for the awards ceremony on 22 January 2016. The winning team will then be announced live. Not only can the winning team take home the coveted Conrad Dietrich Magirus statue, the “Oscar of the Fire-Fighting Sector”, but also look forward to a unique journey to New York – flight and accommodation included. In the Big Apple, they will do more than just take a look over the shoulder of their comrades in the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). In addition to tours of various fire stations and to the Training Academy “The Rock”, they will also visit the most modern fireboats in the world. This is a trip that could lead to completely new dimensions even for very experienced fire-fighters.
The top 11 at a glance:
Australia
• Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Gold Coast, Queensland
Brazil
• Corpo de Bombeiros do Estado de São Paulo (CBMSP), São Paulo
• Second Group of Military Firefighters from the Fire Department of Rio de Janeiro
Chile
• Unit BX-5 – Talcahuano
France
• Union Départementale des Sapeurs Pompiers des Alpes de Haute-Provence
Iran
• Isfahan Firefighting Team
Austria
• Freiwillige Feuerwehr Braunau am Inn, Oberösterreich
• Freiwillige Feuerwehr Markt Wildon, Steiermark
Czech Republic
• Fire and Rescue Brigade of Prague – station 3 Holesovice
Turkey
• Basaksehir / Istanbul Fire Brigade
Hungary
• Fővárosi Katasztrófavédelmi Igazgatóság, Budapest
About the Conrad Dietrich Magirus Prize
The Conrad Dietrich Magirus Award was first announced in Germany in 2012 and has been organised on an international level since 2013. The competition is named for a pioneering firefighter who remains a role model for those in the profession, no matter where in the world they work: Conrad Dietrich Magirus. The Ulm-based fire-fighter made it his mission to make his job safer for himself and his peers. One of his many revolutionary inventions was the “Ulm turntable ladder”, which attracted worldwide attention. He founded Magirus 150 years ago, and the company continues to place the work of firefighters in the foreground and gives these professionals special recognition with the Conrad Dietrich Magirus Award.
About Magirus
Passion and precision, high-tech and craftsmanship. Since 1864, Magirus has stood for the combination between innovation and tradition – to assist fire-fighters throughout the world. With a comprehensive range of the most modern and reliable fire engines, turntable ladders, rescue and equipment vehicles, special solutions, pumps and portable pumps, Magirus is known throughout the world as one of the largest and technologically leading providers of fire-fighting and disaster control technology.
Click here to vote: http://world-of-firefighters.com/vote/
