Concept for the State Office for Fire and Disaster Protection in Rhineland-Palatinate

When the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of the Interior and Sport recognised the need to reorganise fire and disaster protection in the state, it commissioned CHE Consult to carry out the preliminary conceptual work. The aim was to develop a viable organisational structure for the new State Office for Fire and Disaster Protection (LfBK) that takes current and future challenges into account.

Jens Engelke, Principal Consultant, and Franziska Bröker, Consultant at CHE Consult at the time, began with an in-depth analysis of existing structures and processes. They worked closely with experts from the administration and specialist circles to determine the requirements for the new office. They conducted benchmark analyses to incorporate best practices from other institutions at national and international level and defined task clusters. These included strategic emergency planning, operational situation and crisis management as well as the infrastructural and technical equipment of the office. They identified the need for a modern situation centre that works around the clock and is closely networked with the integrated control centres and national and international partners as essential.

Based on the work carried out, the CHE Consult team produced a detailed report. In it, the consultants described clear options for the geographical distribution of the state office’s organisational units in order to ensure effective cooperation with the local authorities. They also defined specific space and infrastructure requirements up to 2030, including workplaces, accommodation, canteen space and specialised training facilities. In addition, they have recommended a gradual increase in personnel to continuously improve the performance of the office.

This well thought-out and scientifically sound work in 2023 enabled the creation of an efficient and forward-looking authority structure that enables smooth processes and optimised administration. The new state office was officially founded at the beginning of 2025 and is now well positioned to sustainably strengthen fire and disaster protection for the population of Rhineland-Palatinate.