Great sadness in Lower Austria – “Erich’s death tears a huge hole in the fire service”

Black mourning flags at many fire stations, countless expressions of grief on social media: State Fire Service councilor Erich Dangl died last weekend at the age of 64. The Waldviertel native was not only a great Florian physically, but his smoky voice was known far beyond the country’s borders. In 2011, Dangla was diagnosed with cancer. After the surgeries and years later that finally gave him his distinctive voice, it was believed that the disease had been defeated. When he sought medical help for an injury a few weeks ago, he received bad news: advanced cancer. “With Erich, we lose not only a good friend, but also a committed comrade who worked tirelessly for the fire department. He was a role model in terms of camaraderie and sense of responsibility,” says Dietmar Fahrafellner, head of the provincial fire brigade, mourning the heavy loss. The retired police officer attended several hundred fire department meetings a year and always had a sympathetic ear as well as a loyal and cordial demeanor.