 Municipalities, including both smaller communities ("Gemeinden") and cities ("Städte") are given responsibility by the State for equipping and operating fire departments ("Feuerwehr"), which can operate an EMS system by permission of the district (see below).German law mandates the provision of fire and rescue services, including EMS, staffing and equipping according to levels which correspond to local population.In independent cities, this is usually provided directly by the Fire Prevention Bureau ("Amt für Brand- und Katastrophenschutz", sometimes called "Amt 37"); one of the (standard) departments in a municipality.