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Immediately on the spot in an emergency

Our plant fire brigade.

When every second counts, they are on hand: The plant fire brigades at the Mercedes-Benz locations. Whether it's firefighting, providing technical assistance, or administering medical first aid, the plant fire brigade is ready around the clock to protect people and secure property. They are supported by their colleagues in the security dispatch centers, who coordinate emergency calls with practiced efficiency and take the appropriate action. Three firefighters, Rüdiger Lipp, Jürgen Moll and Lorenz Lessle, take us along in their versatile daily routine.

What are the tasks of the plant fire brigade?

Lorenz Lessle: The duties of the plant fire brigade are diverse and challenging, which is what makes them so special. We are not "just" a fire brigade – we are specifically tailored to the requirements and structures of Mercedes-Benz and our locations. A central element of our work is prevention. Preventive fire protection, regular training, and realistic deployment exercises ensure that we can act at lightning speed and in a targeted manner in an emergency. Our goal: to be prepared for anything that comes our way. That's why we regularly conduct realistic exercises and training sessions. Our work goes far beyond firefighting: We provide technical assistance, for example, in the event of machine accidents or hazardous material accidents, take over the fire watch service for fire-hazardous work, and provide the fire safety guards at events. In addition, we provide medical first aid to injured people until paramedics or emergency doctors arrive.

What does a typical day at the plant fire brigade look like?

Jürgen Moll: A typical fire brigade day? We don't really have one of those – and that's exactly what makes the job so fascinating. We work in 24-hour shifts, which are divided into working hours, on-call time, and rest periods. When we start our shift, we never know what the day will bring. That's why flexibility is key. In addition to operational readiness, the care and maintenance of our equipment are among the daily tasks. Team spirit, concentration, mental strength, and physical fitness are all essential. That's why we train almost daily, either in a group or individually, to keep ourselves at the top of our game. The great thing about it: Our on-duty sports program not only keeps us fit, but it is also a lot of fun.

How does the security dispatch center support the operations?

Rüdiger Lipp: Our main task is to respond to emergency calls. These range from simple calls to remove an oil spill to complex fire alarms that can result in production downtime. Therefore, it is important to initiate the appropriate measures quickly. We use these questions, among others, to guide us:

  • Where is the event?
  • Who is calling?
  • What happened?
  • How many are affected?

At the same time, we record operation-specific data such as the location and the operational keyword in the security dispatch system and then trigger the alarm for the fire brigade or rescue service. Thanks to our experience, we can often assess the situation accurately over the phone and provide initial guidance. As administrators, we work in the background to ensure that the right data and information are available in the system to optimally support the dispatchers.
Security dispatch center administrator Rüdiger Lipp, dispatcher Jürgen Moll and fire protection expert Lorenz Lessle provide an insight into the work of the firefighters (from left).
Security dispatch center administrator Rüdiger Lipp, dispatcher Jürgen Moll and fire protection expert Lorenz Lessle provide an insight into the work of the firefighters (from left).
Jürgen Moll during the maintenance and care of an emergency vehicle
Jürgen Moll during the maintenance and care of an emergency vehicle
Testing and maintenance of fire extinguishers
Testing and maintenance of fire extinguishers
Insight into the security dispatch center of the Untertürkheim plant
Insight into the security dispatch center of the Untertürkheim plant
Security dispatch center administrator Rüdiger Lipp, dispatcher Jürgen Moll and fire protection expert Lorenz Lessle provide an insight into the work of the firefighters (from left).
Jürgen Moll during the maintenance and care of an emergency vehicle
Testing and maintenance of fire extinguishers
Insight into the security dispatch center of the Untertürkheim plant

What training do dispatchers need?

Rüdiger Lipp: They are qualified firefighters who have received additional training to work in the dispatch center. Some of them are also trained plant security specialists. The complete training takes at least three years, and operational experience is also required. Those with prior knowledge can be deployed more quickly in the dispatch center.

What particularly appealed to you about the plant fire brigade at Mercedes-Benz?

Jürgen Moll: What impressed me most was the diverse work organization. I am an all-rounder: here I work both as a vehicle operator in defensive fire protection and as a dispatcher in the security dispatch center. I find this combination exciting and varied. Many of my colleagues in our team also take on both functions. This shows how flexible and versatile our work is here.

Is there an exchange between the plant fire brigades at the different locations?

Rüdiger Lipp: Absolutely. The administrators of the security dispatch centers are in regular contact with each other to share their knowledge and experience and to learn from each other. After all, the demands placed on the plant fire brigades are evolving just as much as our cars are. This is due to factors such as intelligent firefighting technology and new legal requirements, including occupational safety and environmental protection regulations. Knowledge transfer is essential here. Only by sharing our experiences can we learn from each other.

Learn more

If you would like to learn more about the work of our plant fire brigade at our German locations, take a look at the fire brigade brochure  for some fascinating insights (only available in German)

Rüdiger Lipp began his career at Mercedes-Benz in the field of passenger car maintenance at the Untertürkheim plant. One of his tasks was to repair damaged emergency vehicles of the plant fire brigade. After a few years, he took the opportunity to transfer to the plant fire brigade. That was more than 40 years ago, and to this day he remains passionate about his vocation.

Lorenz Lessle has been working in fire services for over three decades. Even as a young man, he was active in the volunteer fire brigade. Today, he works as a coordinator for defensive fire protection at the Mercedes-Benz plant fire brigade. His career has included various roles – from emergency medical services to instructor. In his free time, he is passionate about music, painting, and sports.

Jürgen Moll has been active in fire services for more than 20 years. During this time, he served with different fire brigades and completed his training as a control center dispatcher. Since 2019, he has been contributing his experience from both dispatch and operational services to the Mercedes-Benz plant fire brigade.

Employees of the plant fire brigade at the Untertürkheim site.

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