Berlin Fire Department

What Berlin Fire Department does

Berliner Feuerwehr is Germany's oldest professional fire department, founded in 1851 and headquartered at Voltairestraße 2, Berlin. It is a municipal government agency operating under Land Berlin, subordinate to the Senatsverwaltung für Inneres und Sport. The department provides 24/7 fire suppression (Brandbekämpfung), emergency medical rescue (Notfallrettung, accounting for approximately 90% of operations), technical rescue (Technische Hilfeleistung), and civil protection (Katastrophenschutz) to Berlin's roughly 3.8 million residents through a distributed network of 35+ fire and rescue stations. It is the largest fire department in Germany by personnel, with approximately 9,000 emergency personnel including professional firefighters (Berufsfeuerwehr), volunteers (Freiwillige Feuerwehr, ~1,500), and youth members (Jugendfeuerwehr, ~1,000+ aged 8–19). It executes approximately 500,000 operations per year with an average response time (Hilfsfrist) of 9 minutes.

The operational platform comprises a diverse vehicle fleet — fire engines, aerial ladder trucks (Drehleiter), rescue ambulances, command vehicles, boats, and specialized units — including an electric fire and rescue vehicle (E-LHF) and the dedicated Stroke-Einsatz-Mobil for rapid stroke treatment. Specialized capabilities include height rescue (Höhenrettungsdienst), pyrotechnics handling, and the Atemschutz-Notfall-Trainierte-Staffel (ANTS). The Berliner Feuerwehr- und Rettungsdienst-Akademie (BFRA), with campuses at Schulzendorf and TOP-Tegel and a planned facility at Tegel Airport (BFRA TXL), trains both internal personnel and external emergency responders. A public CPR program (KATRETTER), warning apps (KATWARN, NINA), and an active research portfolio (e.g., RESILIA, navisH2, eLHF, Hybrid-KriKom-D) round out the technology stack. Sub-brands include the Jugendfeuerwehr, Freiwillige Feuerwehr, KATRETTER, BFRA, and Feuerwehrmuseum Berlin.

The organization is funded entirely through the Land Berlin state budget; no commercial revenue is generated and emergency services are provided free of charge to citizens. Specialized training programs (Fortbildungen im Rettungsdienst) may carry fees for external participants. Recent capital allocation has been substantial: the new Feuerwache Hohenschönhausen (over €21 million, opened May 2026), the comprehensive renovation of Feuerwache Charlottenburg-Nord (~€13.1 million, reopened June 2026), and an increase in the annual renovation budget from €6.7 million to €10.2 million in 2026. Distribution occurs through the universal emergency number 112, a centralized Leitstelle (dispatch), and station-based response coverage.

Name

Berlin Fire Department

Legal name

Berliner Feuerwehr

Website

https://berliner-feuerwehr.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1851

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Berliner Feuerwehr is Germany's oldest and largest professional fire department, founded 1851, providing 24/7 fire suppression, emergency medical rescue, technical rescue, and disaster protection to Berlin's ~3.8 million residents via a network of stations and approximately 9,000 personnel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Safety / Fire and Rescue Services

NAICS

Ambulance Services (621910), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Operations & Dispatch (HLAJAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Medical Emergency Response & On-site First Aid/Paramedics (BPABANAG)

Keywords

• Emergency medical services
• Fire suppression services
• Technical rescue operations
• Disaster management services
• Public safety services

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Sector Government Funding: Berliner Feuerwehr is a government agency funded entirely by public tax revenue through the Land Berlin budget. Services are provided free of charge to citizens. Revenue comes from annual government allocations for operations, personnel, equipment, and infrastructure.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Berliner Feuerwehr provides 24/7 emergency response services for Berlin's approximately 3.8 million residents, encompassing Notfallrettung (emergency medical rescue, representing about 90% of operations), Brandbekämpfung (fire suppression for houses, vehicles, and structures), Technische Hilfeleistung (technical rescue including vehicle accident extraction and hazardous substance removal), and Katastrophenschutz (civil protection against severe weather, flooding, and mass casualty events). Operations are delivered free of charge via the 112 emergency number and dispatched from a network of fire and rescue stations through a central Leitstelle.

Product overview

The Berlin Fire Department (Berliner Feuerwehr) is Germany's oldest professional fire department and largest municipal fire service, founded in 1851. The organization operates as a unified emergency services provider offering firefighting (Brandbekämpfung), emergency medical rescue (Notfallrettung – approximately 90% of operations), technical rescue (Technische Hilfeleistung), and disaster protection (Katastrophenschutz). The core service portfolio is supplemented by the Berliner Feuerwehr- und Rettungsdienst-Akademie (BFRA) for training, a diverse fleet of specialized vehicles (Fahrzeuge) including the Stroke-Einsatz-Mobil, protective equipment (Schutzkleidung), public warning systems (Warndienste/KATWARN, NINA), public education programs (KATRETTER), research initiatives, open data services, a media library (Mediathek), a youth organization (Jugendfeuerwehr), and a fire museum (Feuerwehrmuseum Berlin).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 175 Jahre Berliner Feuerwehr: Special branding for the 175th anniversary celebration in 2026
• BFRA (Berliner Feuerwehr- und Rettungsdienst-Akademie)
• KATRETTER
• Jugendfeuerwehr Berlin
• Freiwillige Feuerwehr Berlin

Products and services

• Notfallrettung (Emergency Rescue Services) Emergency medical services including treatment of severely injured or ill persons and transport to hospitals. Represents approximately 90% of all Berliner Feuerwehr operations.
• Brandbekämpfung (Firefighting Services) Firefighting services for houses, vehicles, and other structures. Core function of the fire department delivered free of charge to Berlin citizens.
• Technische Hilfeleistung (Technical Rescue Services) Technical rescue operations including freeing persons trapped in vehicles after traffic accidents, removing dangerous substances such as fuel from roadways, and other non-fire emergency response operations.
• Katastrophenschutz (Disaster Protection) Civil protection services for severe weather events, flooding, and other mass casualty situations. Coordinates disaster response resources including Katastrophenschutzfahrzeuge (disaster protection vehicles) across Berlin.
• Berliner Feuerwehr- und Rettungsdienst-Akademie (BFRA) Training and continuing education academy for firefighters and emergency medical personnel. Located at Schulzendorf and TOP-Tegel campuses, with Project BFRA TXL developing a new facility at the former Tegel airport site. Also offers Rettungsdienstfortbildungen (rescue service continuing education) for external participants.
• Stroke-Einsatz-Mobil Specialized emergency vehicle for stroke patient response, stationed at Feuerwache Charlottenburg-Nord. Equipped for rapid stroke diagnosis and treatment initiation, providing time-critical neurological intervention in the field.
• Warndienste (Public Warning Services) Public warning systems including KATWARN and NINA that inform Berlin citizens about emergency situations in their area.
• KATRETTER CPR Training Program Public education program teaching CPR and emergency response skills, emphasizing that anyone can help when every second counts during cardiac arrest emergencies.
• Jugendfeuerwehr (Youth Fire Department) Youth organization with over 1,000 girls and boys aged 8 to 19, preparing young people for fire service involvement and providing early career exposure to the fire service.
• Feuerwehrmuseum Berlin (Berlin Fire Museum) Museum preserving and displaying historical firefighting equipment, vehicles, and artifacts documenting the history of the Berlin Fire Department since 1851.
• Veranstaltungssicherheit (Event Safety Services) Event safety services including provision of safety personnel and emergency response planning at public events in Berlin such as concerts, sports events, and large gatherings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 500,000 operations per year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ströer Deutsche Städte Medien GmbHminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 June 2026Partner in the Buddy Bär (Buddy Bear) public art installation at Berlin Hauptbahnhof. Ströer provided advertising space and support for the installation commemorating the 175th anniversary of Berliner Feuerwehr.
• Deutsche Bahn (Bahnhofsmanagement)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Host partner for Buddy Bär installation at Berlin Hauptbahnhof. Deutsche Bahn provided the location at one of Berlin's most central transportation hubs for the anniversary symbol.
• Stefan Weißenfeld (Streetgrafix)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Artist who designed the Buddy Bär for Berliner Feuerwehr's 175th anniversary, combining historical elements of the fire department with modern emergency service imagery.
• Feuersozietät Berlin Brandenburg Versicherung AGminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 May 2026Insurance company that provided prize money (1,000 euros per winning class) for the Schulwettbewerb 2026 school competition on climate change and civil protection.
• Senatsverwaltung für Bildung, Jugend und FamilieminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026State education authority whose State Secretary Christina Henke participated in prize ceremony for school competition.
• Senatsverwaltung für Inneres und SportcoreOthersParent government authority overseeing Berliner Feuerwehr as a subordinate agency.
• Landesfeuerwehrverband Berlin e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState fire service association for Berlin affiliated with Berliner Feuerwehr's volunteer fire brigades.
• BIM Berliner Immobilienmanagement GmbHminorOthersReal estate management company responsible for building management of fire stations, involved in renovation projects like Feuerwache Charlottenburg-Nord.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Hamburg Fire Department (Feuerwehr Hamburg): Municipal fire service for the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg with comparable professional, volunteer, and youth divisions. Regional peer as another German metropolitan fire department operating under similar federal/state regulatory framework.
• Vienna Professional Fire Department (Berufsfeuerwehr Wien): Professional fire department of the City of Vienna serving ~2M residents. Regional peer as another DACH-region metropolitan fire service with comparable fire/EMS mandate and public-sector operating model.
• Munich Fire Department (Münchner Feuerwehr): Professional municipal fire department serving Munich with combined fire and EMS mandate. Regional peer as a major German city fire service with similar organizational structure, training academy, and integrated emergency response.

Direct peers

• Tokyo Fire Department: Tokyo's municipal fire department serving ~14M residents with extensive EMS, fire suppression, and disaster response operations. Direct peer as one of the world's largest metropolitan fire services with similar integrated service model.
• Chicago Fire Department: Municipal fire department for the City of Chicago serving ~2.7M residents with fire suppression, EMS, and technical rescue. Direct peer as another major US city fire department with combined EMS/fire model and similar regulatory monopoly.
• Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY): Largest municipal fire department in the United States serving ~8M+ NYC residents with comparable EMS/firefighting mandate, ~17,000 personnel, and similar regulatory monopoly model. Direct peer as a major metropolitan fire authority with combined fire and EMS operations.
• Brigade de sapeurs-pompiers de Paris: Paris Fire Brigade — military-status fire service covering Paris and surrounding areas with ~8,500 personnel. Direct peer as a major European capital fire service with combined fire suppression, EMS, and technical rescue responsibilities.
• London Fire Brigade: Statutory fire and rescue service for Greater London serving ~9M residents. Direct peer as another major European capital fire authority providing integrated fire and rescue services with a similar public-sector monopoly model.
• Toronto Fire Services: Municipal fire service for the City of Toronto serving ~2.8M residents with fire suppression, rescue, and first-response medical services. Direct peer as another major North American metropolitan fire department with comparable integrated service scope.
• Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD): Municipal fire department serving ~4M residents of Los Angeles with combined fire and EMS mandate. Direct peer as a large American metropolitan fire authority with comparable scope of services and operational scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/berliner_fw
• YouTubeyoutube.com/berlinerfeuerwehrtv
• Facebookfacebook.com/Berliner.Fw
• Instagraminstagram.com/berliner_fw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berliner-feuerwehr

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Berlin Fire Department