Austria enhances fire service training with new national academy
Iain Hoey
Share this content
Image Credit – Philipp Fürst/OÖ LFV
Austrian Federal Fire Brigade Association establishes ÖFKAD
The Austrian Federal Fire Brigade Association has launched a new national training initiative with the establishment of the Austrian Fire and Disaster Management Academy (ÖFKAD).
CTIF reported that the academy was introduced on 24 January 2024, coinciding with International Education Day.
The programme aims to standardise and expand training across Austria, complementing existing regional fire schools.
In 2025, ÖFKAD will conduct 23 training sessions at approximately 70 locations.
Around 1,500 fire service members are expected to participate.
Unlike traditional academies, ÖFKAD will not have a central facility, with courses being held across different federal states.
Disaster management training to expand
Fire services in Austria operate under a federal structure, with training responsibilities assigned to nine regional fire brigade associations.
CTIF stated that the Austrian Federal Fire Brigade Association has provided cross-state training for years, but the introduction of ÖFKAD consolidates and expands these efforts.
Disaster management will be a priority, with training divided into seven sectors: leadership and operations, education, public relations, fire prevention, youth fire brigades, specialisations, and examinations.
Courses will cover topics such as wildfire suppression, crisis communication, tunnel operations, and airport fire brigade training.
The decentralised approach aims to make training accessible to a broader range of personnel.
Fire service leaders highlight the need for collaboration
Klaus Tschabuschnig, head of training at the Austrian Federal Fire Brigade Association, said: “It is clear that the fire service and its tasks are rapidly evolving. I see this in the area of technology, but also in disaster responses.
“This impacts the tasks and the necessary breadth of competence for our fire leadership, who must prepare accordingly.”
He added that demand is increasing, particularly in organisational competencies and inter-regional coordination: “We have found that there is a noticeable demand, particularly in organisational competencies that also encompass inter-regional tasks.
“Conversations with several fire commanders, even at higher levels, have clearly expressed this desire.”
Future plans for training expansion
Robert Mayer, president of the Austrian Federal Fire Brigade Association, stated: “Expanding and enhancing the offerings, as well as improving existing ones, is clearly a high demand that the Austrian Federal Fire Brigade Association can meet.”
He noted that following his election, discussions with fire service leaders across Austria highlighted the importance of joint training: “This is not just about professional content but also about exchanging experiences across borders and building networks.”
Further details, including the training programme and schedule, are available at Austrian Federal Fire Brigade Association’s website.
Austria enhances fire service training with new national academy: Summary
CTIF has reported that the Austrian Federal Fire Brigade Association has launched the Austrian Fire and Disaster Management Academy (ÖFKAD).
The initiative, introduced on 24 January 2024, will provide training across Austria without a central facility.
In 2025, 23 training sessions will be held at approximately 70 locations, with an estimated 1,500 participants.
The programme will focus on disaster management and be structured into seven sectors, covering leadership, education, fire prevention, and specialised areas such as airport fire brigade training.
Fire service leaders have highlighted the increasing complexity of their work and the need for more standardised, collaborative training.
They also emphasised the importance of knowledge-sharing and inter-regional cooperation.
More information, including the training programme and schedule, can be found on the Austrian Federal Fire Brigade Association’s website.
