City fire inspector Thomas Fehst has been unanimously appointed head of the volunteer fire department (fire chief) by the council, succeeding Georg Metzelaers, whose term of office ends on April 10, 2025. Thomas Fehst is an experienced firefighter and was previously active as deputy fire chief. With the appointment of city fire inspectors Heinz-Josef Tepest and Fabian Daniels as deputy fire chiefs, the new leadership trio of the Kevelaer fire brigade is complete for the next six years.
The outgoing fire chief Georg Metzelaers was appointed honorary fire chief by the council.
Mayor Dr. Dominik Pichler wished the new management team every success, much joy and all the best for the task ahead, thanked the honorary fire chief for his many years of commitment and presented the four firefighters with a good drop of wine from their homeland.
On May 6, 2025, the official farewell ceremony for the head of the fire brigade, Georg Metzelaers, will be held with all members of the brigade. The certificates of appointment will also be presented to the new officers at this ceremony.
The head of the volunteer fire department and up to two deputies are appointed by the council for a period of six years as honorary civil servants on the recommendation of the district fire chief. Prior to the appointment, the city must hear the members of the fire department and the members of the youth fire department of the volunteer fire department. This hearing took place on 22.01.2025 under the direction of the mayor. The members each voted unanimously in favor of City Fire Inspector Thomas Fehst as his successor and new Fire Chief, as well as City Fire Inspector Heinz-Josef Tepest and City Fire Inspector Fabian Daniels as his deputies.