Imagine, it burns, and no one drives away: What sounds absurd, threatens to become a serious problem with volunteer fire departments in the country. In Winsen southeast of Hamburg, the fire brigade driver shortage threatens, reported recently the "Hamburger Abendblatt". And in Queis in Saxony-Anhalt there was already a case in which the fire brigade could not move out because nobody had the right truck driver's license.

This is also because the number of volunteer firefighters is falling. According to the German Fire Brigade Association, there are more than 22,000 volunteer fire departments in Germany. If in 2000 they still had 1,069,765 members, the number in 2016 was only 995,341. What this means in everyday life, explains Herrmann Schreck, vice president of the association

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Mr. Schreck, volunteer fire departments, which urgently need drivers for emergency vehicles - how big is the problem actually?

Hermann Schreck: At present it can still be handled. It is the exceptional case that a location does not find a driver for a mission. But it will be more difficult in the future.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Why?

Schreck: There are three reasons. First, many people have the necessary license earlier in the Bundeswehr. This is no longer the case today. Second, some idealists have acquired a driver's license at their own expense. This is completely eliminated today, because the driving license classes are very expensive. In addition, there are fewer and fewer people who need such a license professionally.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Do you know any cases in which the fire brigade could not move out because of a missing driver?

Schreck: There was a serious traffic accident on the highway in Bayreuth, for example, and no one with a corresponding driver's license was available for this job. I think something like that happens more than once or twice in Germany within a month.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: How does it continue in such cases?

Schreck: Another fire brigade jumps in, but that does not always work by default. It can unfavorably hit two sites side by side that have the same problem. Volunteers must earn money as normal and have a private life. Not everyone is waiting for the alarm.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: And what happens then?

Schreck: That nobody can, will not happen. Basically, the first available fire brigade should move out. If that is not available, then the next, which is logically farther away, is called into action. This is a chain reaction to a point where you can no longer hold the auxiliary period.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: How long is this deadline?

Fright: In Bavaria, the fire department must arrive ten minutes after receiving the emergency call to a public location.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: The number of firefighters is falling. How is the honorary position?

Schreck: It has a difficult time. Not everyone is ready to provide neighborhood help, let alone get involved. That's a pity because everyone relies on this voluntary system.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: What can fire brigades do to attract more people to volunteer?

Schreck: We already do a lot. For some time now, we have been taking care of children's fire brigades, so we playfully introduce children to the fire service. We train young people to be able to take them into active service later. In addition, we are very open to migrants, and the female quota has risen significantly.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Is commitment to the voluntary fire service compatible with a full-time job?

Schreck: That's a challenge. Some training courses take place daily or weekly. And the missions are unpredictable. It can happen that someone is taken away from work for the fifth time in a week. Although this is legally guaranteed, it must of course be compatible with the work colleagues and the company. There must also be understanding in the family. This works best if everyone participates in the fire service.