Check out the helmets...

While he said the language and culture differences were apparent, how they operate in the firehouse was identical.

“How we operate in the firehouse, how we share meals, train together, take pride in our department, our stations, and really like to have a little bit of fun with each other, as far as making fun of each other and having a great time [was the same],” he said.

One of the differences Holmes noticed, aside from the lack of air conditioning in the department, is that firefighters in Munich must be trained in another profession, like a mechanic or carpenter, before they can become firefighters. Holmes said he talked to someone who was an optometrist previously and another person who was in school to be a doctor.

Another difference he pointed out was that ambulances had paramedics on them, but some stations have ambulances with a doctor or pediatrician on them.

https://linknky.com/culture/2025/08/04/newport-cincinnati-firefighters-exchange-munich-germany/