Voluntary emergency response

The strong preparedness in Sønderborg Municipality is largely due to volunteer efforts, and we need you to become part of the community. 

The emergency services are a group of approximately 400 people, both employees and volunteers.

How do I become a firefighter?

In Sønderborg, it is primarily the volunteer fire department and employed firefighters who carry out firefighting, rescue, and environmental work.

To become a firefighter, you must complete a training program consisting of 74 hours of basic training, 12 hours of first aid, and 148 hours of functional training. The training is a mix of weekday and weekend activities.

When you have completed your education and have passed the functional training, you can, for example, provide first aid, free people from vehicles, do smoke diving, search for people in buildings and of course put out fires. After your education, there will be ongoing exercises to ensure that everyone remains up to date on the function as a firefighter/woman.

You must also:

• have a clean criminal record
• be able to speak and understand Danish
• be 18 years of age or older - and max. ca. 50 years, depending on physical shape and other competencies
• be in reasonable physical shape (there is a physical test that must be passed)
• be mentally strong - this means that you must be able to tolerate seeing blood and what is worse

You may not:

• have fear of heights, claustrophobia, fear of dark rooms etc.
• suffer from physical defects such as bad back, knees or hips

Interested in hearing more about how to become a firefighter?

Contact your local fire station to find out more. More hands are always needed, and you become part of a unique and inclusive community that solves an important societal task.

• Station Augustenborg
• Broager Station
• Station Own
• Station Egernsund
• Station Gråsten
• Station Hørup
• Kegnæs station
• Station Sydals
• Station Nordborg
• Station Svenstrup
• Station Ullerup
• Station Sønderborg

How do I become part of the volunteer unit?

You can become part of Sea Rescue, Catering, Drone, Staff Support, Climate and Logistics or a firefighter.

The volunteer unit helps in connection with larger and longer-term efforts. In recent years, the unit has also been needed during prolonged cloudbursts, storm surges and floods.

• Sea rescue: Sønderborg Municipality has a long coastline, and therefore sea rescue is an important part of the emergency response. Currently, we have boats in Havnbjerg, Sønderborg and Rinkenæs.
• Catering: for larger operations, catering is called in to service the groups in question during longer-term operations, including food, coffee and water.  
• Drone: our Drone Emergency Response Team is deployed, for example, in the event of major fires, flooding, searches, etc.
• Staff support: for larger and longer-term interventions, our staff support is called in to keep a log (to write down what, when and who).
• Climate and logistics: our Climate and logistics will typically be the ones responsible for the pumping tasks in Sønderborg Municipality. There are also those who deploy our "pure firefighter concept" for larger efforts.

As a volunteer, you will be trained in your tasks, which may include first aid, basic firefighting, hygiene courses, drone courses, radio communication courses, etc.

You will also be given a uniform.

As a volunteer, you become part of a community that is built on commitment, unity and the desire to make a difference.

Send an email to Michael Madsen at mcma@sonderborg.dk to hear more.

How do I become part of the Youth Fire Brigade Sønderborg (young people between 12-18 years old)?

Youth Fire Department Sønderborg is an offer for young people aged 12-18, where you get the opportunity to try your hand at working as a firefighter.

You get, among other things:

• an inclusive community
• self-confidence and resilience
• strengthened professional, social and personal competencies suitable for school life

The offer consists of a fire cadet training course of at least 65 hours of instruction, where you as a young person will be taught the following:

• Contingency organization and actors
• Use of compressed air apparatus and the work of the smoke diver
• Elemental fire fighting
• Hazardous Material
• Accident prevention
• Physical exercise and health
• First aid
• Basic rescue
• Knots and connectors
• Communication and navigation
• Hose laying
• Rising
• Uniforms, safety and lifting technician

You can be part of the youth fire department until you turn 18 and can then become part of the local emergency services and basic fire training.

Contact the head of the Youth Fire Department, Lars Krieg, at lake@sonderborg.dk or Phone +27 90 70 25 XNUMX.