Huge memorial service

Schrems became the Lower Austrian fire department capital for a day

A host of fire department members paid their last respects to Erich Dangl in his Waldviertel hometown of Schrems.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/F.Feuerwehr Matthias Fischer)

An estimated 1500 people bid him farewell in person, and around 1000 attended the Holy Mass to pay their last respects. The popular provincial fire brigade councillor and Waldviertel district commander Erich Dangl passed away at the age of just 63. The center of the Waldviertel town of Schrems was cordoned off for the funeral service.

They bid farewell to a great man: Provincial fire brigade councillor and Waldviertel commander Erich Dangl died at the age of just 63. For the funeral service in the Schrems parish church in the district of Gmünd, only emergency vehicles were allowed on the main square and in the surrounding area.

Schrems became the fire department capital
An estimated 1500 people paid their last respects to Dangl, who was appreciated and loved for his comradeship, in the morning and afternoon. The deceased was laid out in the Schrems parish church in the morning and the main square and its surroundings were cordoned off. Only emergency vehicles were allowed to park there. 

Around 1000 people then attended the Holy Mass in the afternoon. The procession out of the church was accompanied by a guard of honor. Many leading provincial fire brigade officials were present. Stephan Pernkopf, Provincial Councillor for Fire Services and Vice-Chancellor, also joined the crowd of mourners. 

Selfless commitment honored
"Erich Dangl's guiding principle, which drove him day after day, has been fully expressed in the past few weeks during the flood disaster: Helping where people are in need and not asking what I get in return," Pernkopf also paid tribute to his selfless commitment to the common good.