28th German Firefighting Convention (7 to 13 June) to have strong European focus

Hannover/Leipzig. Many things will be different in the united Europe of the future. By the time the Treaty of Lisbon comes into force, majority decisions among the 27 member states will be responsible for determining EU policy. This throws a completely new light on the advocacy of national or particular interests. The German Firefighters Association (DFV) - which in January 2008 became the first national firefighters' association to open an office in Brussels - has taken up this challenge and is integrating INTERSCHUTZ 2010 into its European activities. "We are bringing Lisbon to Leipzig", asserts DFV President Hans-Peter Kröger.

Concurrent with INTERSCHUTZ 2010, DFV is also organizing the 28^th German Firefighting Convention in Leipzig. There it will play host to the world firefighting association CTIF, which unites government agencies and associations from 49 different nations under its umbrella. The main focus of CTIF is on Europe, where the majority of its members are located. CTIF maintains its headquarters in Paris and relies on the support of DFV to staff its branch office in Berlin. So, what could be more natural than to invite the world's firefighters to come to Leipzig?

For the more than 100,000 guests expected, an attractive program of numerous items is being put together for the local population, fire brigade fans and trade visitors. "Leipzig is the first venue in the east of Germany where a German Firefighting Convention will take place since reunification," comments Hans-Peter Kröger, President of the German Firefighters Association (DFV). "To us Leipzig represents Germany-wide normality and the momentum towards an expanding, united Europe," he adds.

Top-level meeting of firefighters in EU

The 28^th German Firefighting Convention is dedicated to the future viability of fire brigades, at the same time featuring youth involvement and honorary positions and building a bridge to Central Europe. "This will provide the firefighting convention with an array of new ideas and will offer a great opportunity for a high rate of international participation as well as generating a great deal of public interest," enthuses the firefighters' president.

There will also be networking events dedicated exclusively to fire brigade members, with a total of 700 guests expected for the nighttime party of the German Firefighters Association. And around 600 are expected for Saxony Night, staged by the Saxony State Firefighters Association. Delegates and managers of fire brigades as well as scores of prominent guests will be present in Leipzig. In keeping with the tradition of German firefighting conventions, an ecumenical service will be offered in St. Nicholas's Church (Nikolaikirche).

The delegates' conference of the world firefighting association CTIF is an event which further underscores the international character of the German Firefighting Convention. Congruently, the flagship fire prevention exhibition INTERSCHUTZ will be running at the Leipzig exhibition center. "An international flagship show and a strong international component for the Firefighters Association convention - this is a combination which can only benefit all parties involved," declares Kröger.

The German Firefighting Convention takes place every ten years as the main, central event for Germany's fire brigades. According to Kröger: "The ideals of our association founder Konrad Dietrich Magirus live on in the German Firefighting Convention: face-to-face knowledge sharing, active presentations of cutting-edge technology and political positioning of the fire brigades - these were the ideas on which the DFV was founded in1853."

Fire brigade "activity mile" in downtown Leipzig

A lively "activity mile", a classic fire truck parade and active encounters among youth and visitors from across Europe: The program of the 28^th German Firefighting Convention has countless highlights to offer. The German Firefighting Association (DFV), the German Youth Fire Brigade (DJF) and the world firefighting association CTIF are offering numerous attractive program items. Downtown Leipzig will be the site of activities allowing visitors to acquire first-hand information and even hands-on experience in potential hazards, the right reaction, fire prevention self-help and involvement in the fire brigades. The grand climax will come on Sunday, when a big parade of more than 200 classic fire trucks - from the "Roaring Twenties" till the present - will drive through downtown Leipzig.

Special highlights:

Monday, 7 June 2010
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Opening Ceremony for INTERSCHUTZ 2010

Tuesday, 8 June 2010
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. International Night at the DFV stand
(by invitation only)
3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Top-level meeting of firefighters in EU
Conference of national association presidents and government institutions
(by invitation only)

Wednesday, 9 June 2010
09:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Delegates' conference of CTIF (by invitation only)

Thursday, 10 June 2010
11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. Reception of Presidential Council (by invitation only)
12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Conference of Presidential Council (internal event)
7:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. Saxony Night of LFV (by invitation only)

Friday, 11 June 2010
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Delegates' conference of DFV (requires prior registration)
7:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. Party for German Firefighting Convention 2010 (by invitation only)

Saturday, 12 June 2010
Delegates' conference of DJF (by invitation only)
6:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. Fire brigades party in downtown Leipzig (open to the public)

Sunday, 13 June 2010
10:00 -11:00 a.m. Ecumenical service for the fire brigades (open to the public)
12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Classic fire truck parade by LFV through downtown Leipzig (open to the public)

General schedule of events

Monday, 7 June 2010
12:00 - 4:00 p.m. "Diversity in the Fire Brigade" Convention (requires prior registration)
1:00 - 6:00 p.m. Fire Brigade Activity Mile, downtown
Topic: Recruiting new members, self-help (open to the public)
5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Prayer service for peace at Nikolaikirche (open to the public)

Tuesday, 8 June 2010
All day Old-timer rally: "Nostalgia in Red" (open to the public)
09:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Executive Council of CTIF (internal event)
09:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. PSU Workshop: "Help for the Helpers" (requires prior registration)
1:00 - 6:00 p.m. Fire Brigade Activity Mile, downtown (open to the public)

Wednesday, 9 June 2010
All day Old-timer rally: "Nostalgia in Red" (open to the public)
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Specialist work in DFV (requires prior registration)
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Panel discussion on the future of honorary posts (open to the public)
1:00 - 6:00 p.m. Fire Brigade Activity Mile, downtown (open to the public)

Thursday, 10 June 2010
All day DJF National Youth Camp (requires prior registration)
All day Old-timer rally: "Nostalgia in Red" (open to the public)
All day Join-in activities for trade visitors (requires prior registration)
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Fire Brigade Conference for Central Europe (requires prior registration)
2:30 - 6:00 p.m. Future Conference of DFV and DJF (requires prior registration)
1:00 - 6:00 p.m. Fire Brigade Activity Mile, downtown (open to the public)
4:00 - 10:00 p.m. Fire brigade meeting at market square (open to the public)

Friday, 11 June 2010

All day National Youth Camp of DJF (requires prior registration)
All day Old-timer rally: "Nostalgia in Red" (open to the public)
All day Exhibition of fire brigade banners (open to the public)
All day Join-in activities for trade visitors (requires prior registration)
Time open Training for CTIF Youth Competition (open to the public)
1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Fire Brigade Activity Mile, downtown (open to the public)
2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Workshop on fire brigade music (requires prior registration)
3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Conference of German Youth Fire Brigade Committee (internal event)
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Youth Reception for DJF by the City of Leipzig (by invitation only)
4:00 - 10:00 p.m. Fire brigade meeting at market square (open to the public)

Saturday, 12 June 2010
All day National Youth Camp of DJF (requires prior registration)
All day Old-timer rally: "Nostalgia in Red" (open to the public)
All day Exhibition of fire brigade banners
12:00 - 5:00 p.m. 1^st International Fire Brigade Music Festival (open to the public)
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Youth Fire Brigade Activity Mile, downtown (open to the public)
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Fire Brigade Activity Mile, downtown (open to the public)
4:00 - 10:00 p.m. Fire brigade meeting at market square (open to the public)

Sunday, 13 June 2010
All day National decision on CTIF Youth Competition (open to the public)
Time open Fire Brigade History Convention (requires prior registration)
All day Exhibition of fire brigade banners (open to the public)
All day National Youth Camp of DJF (requires prior registration)
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Fire brigade meeting at market square (open to the public)

Information on the German Firefighting Convention:
German Firefighters Association (DFV)
Silvia Darmstädter
Press and PR Officer
Phone: +49 (0)30 28 88 48 823
Fax:     +49 (0)30 28 88 48 809
E-mail: darmstaedter@dfv.org