As of: March 28, 2024, 8:00 a.m
By: Dominik Bartl
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The fire station in Bad Bayersoien, a place of challenges and hopes while the community struggles with financial bottlenecks and construction projects. © Dominik Bartl
There is a fire in Bad Bayersoien. Not real, but under the skin. Rumors have been spreading for a long time and are fueling the fire.
Bad Bayersoien - “First of all, I have to acknowledge your tireless and selfless efforts during the hail disaster. “It’s crazy what you did there,” affirms district fire inspector Andreas Weiß. Then the look went to the first mayor Gisela Kieweg. Words followed. Kieweg, who took part in the service meeting as first mayor, already suspected what was to come. “We inspected the fire station of the Bad Bayersoien fire department in 2016. And even then, major concerns were expressed. The condition of the premises was classified as questionable. To date there are no solutions and I urge the municipality to take action,” said Weiß.
About the background
The damage and lack of modernization have been in trouble for a long time. As early as 2012, the fire brigade brought information about the desolate condition to the local council. “There should be no discussion about mandatory tasks of a municipality. First the obligation, then the free choice,” warns the district fire inspector, Andreas Weiß. He knows that the current budget situation is tense in all municipalities. Nevertheless, he sees an urgent need for action in Bad Bayersoien and supports the local fire department leadership.
Rumors are circulating
“Thank you for the invitation and now I have to clear up the rumors about the fire department. The architect was paid, but he had a lot to do and therefore no freedom for us. This caused a few months to pass. There are a lot of rumors circulating in the town, which is of no use to anyone,” explains the mayor. It is said locally that this architect will only continue working again if he gets paid. According to the municipal manager, this is wrong. The roof of the fire station is still covered in foil because it suffered enormous damage in last year's severe storm. Kieweg: “The roof will not be fixed at the moment because we don’t know what will happen next with the renovation or extension to the tool shed. But the insurance company approved the payment, which I had put on hold. It makes no sense to fix the roof now if it has to come down again in a year. I discussed this with 1st Commander Franz Niggl.”
Financial hurdles
The mayor appreciates her volunteers and thanked them again for their commitment to the health resort. Since she has been the head of the health resort, 1 million euros have already flowed into the fire service for new and replacement purchases of all kinds. However, the conversion or new building poses major problems for Kieweg. A new building cannot be financed, but the costs amount to four and a half to six million euros. An extension or conversion would be significantly cheaper at around two million euros. “The municipality’s finances are limited, a new building is too expensive,” says Kieweg.
The municipality commissioned a soil report and a structural investigation in order to have everything in detail for further measures. At the meeting it was announced that the reports have now been completed, but must first be presented to the local council. The fire brigade and the public must therefore continue to wait and see. Groundwater is also causing trouble. Water penetrates into the building through one or more cracks in the base plate of the structure and causes further damage. “According to the architect, the problem can be solved, even if the groundwater level is always slightly higher,” explained First Commander Franz Niggl.
Working group in action
To continue the construction project, a working group has been formed to advance the fire department equipment house project. Niggl is grateful that the working group is bringing more momentum to the stalled engine, but months and months still pass. “We have to plan and examine everything carefully so that there are no problems during the construction phase. We have drawn up a financial plan for 2024,” reports Gisela Kieweg.
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Niggl and his team are hoping for an early solution after 12 years of waiting. “If the conversion or extension is approved, then we have to plan construction phases that will last over years and depending on the financial situation,” explains Kieweg.
Time is running out
Kieweg also has to take care of other mandatory tasks in her community. Among other things, there are childcare places and lunchtime care for the kindergarten. “The money and the time have to be right. I would like to see construction begin in 2025. But whether the wish comes true depends on many factors,” concludes Kieweg. For the volunteers, the wait to see what happens to their 36-year-old fire station continues. The renovation of the village barn, where events take place, has now been completed.