Women's power in the cycle path: own competition group founded for the first time!

Women's power in the cycle path: own competition group founded for the first time!

In Radweg, a small but lively town in Austria, women's power is flourishing in the volunteer fire department. The fire department recently founded its own women's competition group, a step that had been on the agenda for a long time. The first thought came in 2018, but it was not possible to put the idea into practice until 2025. A first attempt in 2020 had to be canceled due to departures and resignations. But anyone who knows the group knows that the ladies were tireless. On January 22, 2022, a WhatsApp group was created to better organize the training. The motivation was noticeable, so that the women often expressed the desire to practice every day. My district reports that in 2024 the team originally competed in the Cup out of competition and achieved a respectable time of 80 seconds.

Competition preparations and successes

In March 2025, the ten-member women's team began targeted training to prepare for the district competition. The age structure of the team ranges from 15 to over 40 years. Fire chief Katharina Schneider was appointed commander, and the group dynamics were further strengthened by the integration of two women from other fire departments. Three members already had titles from men's teams. The first steps in the competition showed promising results: in their first official appearance, the team achieved a time of 80 seconds, and in training they even achieved an impressive 70-second mark. In the long term, they plan to achieve a good position at the next state competition. The Lieboch fire department has also presented itself strongly in recent years and shows the relevance of such women's teams in the fire service.
This summer their competition groups achieved great performances in several district competitions.

Strong together and at the top

The two team members Jennifer Flath and Vanessa Novak emphasize the strong solidarity and mutual support. In fact, the sense of community is a cornerstone of the success of the Radweg fire department ladies. In order to improve the equipment for the competitions, the Radweg fire department invested in a lighter portable pump, affectionately called “Andy”. The mascot “Simba” symbolizes the team spirit and strength of the troops. The women's team's declared goal: to bring a Golden Helmet to Radweg!

Women in the fire service

The group's success reflects a trend that can also be observed in other regions, such as Bavaria. Around 330,000 people perform fire service there, with women increasingly being represented in active teams. Currently around 10% of fire brigade members in Bavaria are female, and initiatives aim to inspire more women and girls to take up this important voluntary position. Andrea Fürstberger, the state women's representative, says that many women often don't know that they can do this voluntary work. It takes courage, but this courage is often rewarded - this is also evident in Radweg, where the women overcome their challenges with passion and solidarity. LFV Bayern is an important voice promoting this development.