The duty bearers are

• the municipalities for fire protection and general assistance,
• the counties for supralocal fire protection and supralocal general assistance as well as for the tasks of preventive hazard protection, and
• the state for the central tasks of fire protection and general assistance.

The fire departments are to be financed by the responsible authority. They receive financial assistance from the state for the procurement of firefighting vehicles and radio equipment and for the construction/conversion of fire stations.

Professional fire department: In cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants, the fire department must comprise units of full-time firefighters (professional fire department). Other municipalities may establish a professional fire department.

Volunteer fire department: In municipalities without a professional fire department, a volunteer fire department must be established. If there are not enough volunteers available, the necessary persons are to be called up for voluntary fire department service ("compulsory fire department").

Plant fire department: For plants or other facilities with increased fire or explosion hazards or other special hazards, the Thuringian State Administration Office, Department 230, can require the establishment of a plant fire department with full-time and/or part-time members. The companies or facilities bear the costs for the plant fire department.