Mayor Frank Klingebiel emphasized at this ceremonial appointment: "The council of the city of Salzgitter, the members of the committee for fire departments and public order, I as mayor and the citizens are proud of our volunteer fire departments. Like the colleagues in our professional fire department, they all go through fire for their fellow human beings in the truest sense of the word. You make an outstanding commitment to your local community and your local fire brigade. You do this voluntarily and in your free time; you are ready for action 24 hours a day, 365 days a year! Voluntary service as a firefighter is, on the one hand, solidarity, comradeship and charity in action, but also the performance and safeguarding of the very important public task of "fire protection"! And you do much more. You take on the role of local fire chief or deputy local fire chief in your local fire brigade and with your appointment for the next 6 years you are in an honorary civil servant relationship, a voluntary service and loyalty relationship, with the city of Salzgitter. In doing so, you assume a special responsibility for your fellow firefighters in your local fire brigade, for the people in your district and throughout Salzgitter. This honorary position is not only very demanding, but also particularly important as a leadership position. You lead your local fire brigade and are the first point of contact for the local firefighters, have a wide range of organizational tasks and represent your local fire brigade to the public. I would like to thank all of you who have taken on this important honorary position for the first time or have been doing so for many years. You have every right to be proud of your appointment, as you have been elected to this honorary position by your local fire department colleagues and unanimously confirmed by the Salzgitter City Council. Thank you very much for your outstanding voluntary commitment."

A total of nine local fire chiefs and four deputy local fire chiefs were present at the appointment and swearing-in ceremony. Of these, eight are new in office and five have been confirmed in office. Four firefighters who were unable to attend are yet to be appointed and sworn in.

Formally speaking, the appointment as local fire chief or deputy local fire chief is an honorary civil servant position for a period of six years in the service of the city of Salzgitter. This appointment must first be approved by the Salzgitter City Council on the recommendation of the local fire brigades and the Lord Mayor.