Also 10 groups from Liechtenstein in the association
Bremen – In many cantons in Switzerland, adults are required to work in the fire brigade, which is based on the militia principle: Swiss citizens participate part-time and on a voluntary basis for the common good within the Confederation. For this shall die Youth fire brigade (JFW) provide the offspring. But not all 26 cantons have their own youth fire brigade. There are no children’s fire departments anywhere in the country. You can find out here which differences and which similarities exist with the German Youth Fire Brigade (DJF).
As a parent Swiss Fire Brigade Association (SFV) makes recommendations for the JFW, but does not give specifications for the cantons. Those responsible maintain contact with the JFW leaders of the individual regions, offer courses for further training and organize the Swiss championship (www.jfw-swiss-championship.ch). Around 30 teams take part in this every year – but for the last time in 2019 due to Covid-19. In addition to the regional competitions, in which the young people compete with the best from their own canton, there are also regular competitions.
Thomas Widmer, deputy director of the SFV and responsible for JFW, can report around 250 groups with 3,300 members for 2021. A special feature: the Swiss JFW also has ten groups from the Principality of Liechtenstein – these are affiliated with the Swiss association. About a quarter of JFW members are girls. The entry age again depends on the regulations of the canton: In some, young people can enter the JFW from the age of 10, in others only at the age of 14. The transition to the active department takes place at the age of 18, if the candidates have completed a special course with final examinations exist.
First aid, preventive fire protection, firefighting and technical assistance are taught. Members of the active fire services impart the knowledge for this. When it comes to the exercises, it also depends on whether the JFW is based in Aargau in the north of the country or in Ticino in the south: In some communities, the young people are allowed to take part in the exercises of the active fire brigades, in others special exercises are held specifically for the JFW . There, the future emergency services will be organized as a separate train.
Marcel Piron, JFW trainer in the Dielsdorf district, reports: “Here in the canton of Zurich, the young people carry out 10 to 15 exercises a year, two of them with the local or base fire brigade at their own place of residence. In this way they come into contact with the active people and the inhibition threshold is lower when it comes to converting at the age of 18. If the young people pass their courses, they can start as trained fire service soldiers. About 90 percent join the fire department after their time at JFW has ended.”
In the European Year of Youth 2022 and the resulting annual motto “Children and Youth in Europe” of the German Youth Fire Brigade (DJF), the fire brigade magazine presents interesting facts about the youth departments in our neighboring countries. In “Future Without Borders” you will find out more about the Swiss youth fire brigade on a total of 7 pages, as well as about the youth fire brigade in Liechtenstein, the Jeugdbrandweer Nederland and the youth fire brigade in South Tyrol. The current Fire Department Magazine 6/2022 is available since May 27th in newsagents or free of charge in the Fire Department Magazine Shop!