The Unterbiberg volunteer fire brigade has not had it easy recently: Complaints about the loud siren, parked cars, the streets – Commander Andreas Baumann vented his displeasure at the citizens’ meeting in the Unterbiberg district of Neubiberg on Thursday. He had the support of at least those present: the 40 or so visitors applauded the commanding officer at the end of his report. And they clapped again when Mayor Thomas Pardeller (CSU) emphasized that the community’s action, in which free FFP2 masks were distributed to citizens, would not have been possible without the Unterbiberger fire brigade.
“Some people apparently believe that we’re just doing this for fun,” said Baumann, so use sirloin and flashing lights. Various unfriendly e-mails reached the fire department. One sender wrote: “Why do you have to constantly drive through the village with the siren at full volume?” You have children and you can’t cover everyone’s ears at the same time. Recent operations, one allegation, did not justify the sirens.
“Why am I doing this at all?” Commandant Andreas Baumann speaks plain language at the citizens’ meeting in Unterbiberg.
(Photo: Claus Schunk)
The commander protested against this: “There are legal requirements. If we were to go into action without flashing lights and a siren and cause an accident, there would be problems.” All members of the volunteer fire brigade work on a voluntary basis, says Baumann. If there were more such complaints, some asked themselves: “Why am I even doing this?” Especially since his people often take stressful pictures home with them from their missions.
Another annoyance is cars that are parked like obstacles. Often the 2.50 meter wide and up to twelve meter long emergency vehicles could hardly pass the narrow streets of Unterbiberg. It’s all about getting to the scene quickly. “It would be fair if they let us do our work,” said the commander.
Mayor Pardeller had less to deal with complaints, but instead had to deal with some inquiries from citizens. One visitor suggested inviting an expert on the subject of flood protection to whom citizens could ask questions. What happens if there is flood at the Hachinger Bach? How can you as a resident take care of yourself? Pardeller promised a citizen information.
A citizen had asked in writing whether the community would build a simple bridge over the Hachinger Bach as a way to school. Pardeller pointed out that the idea had already been rejected in the past for various reasons. It is possible, however, that a new approach will emerge in the cooperation with the state capital of Munich on the open spaces on the Hachinger Bach. Pardeller denied requests for a family center in Neubiberg and instead referred to existing offers, from birth preparation courses to the contact fair for young families. In the new building concept for the senior citizen center, cooperation with families is also considered in the sense of the “young and old” project.
In response to suggestions to equip public buildings with photovoltaic systems, the town hall chief informed that the municipality was examining this in the case of new buildings, which is what happened with the new fire station in Unterbiberg. In the case of existing buildings, the question should be examined in more depth within the framework of the “Climate-neutral municipality” master plan.