On Saturday, 30 May, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Chemnitz fire brigade will be celebrating the 160th anniversary of the Chemnitz professional fire brigade. The anniversary will be celebrated with an open day at Fire and Rescue Station 2, Wilhelm-Weber-Straße 15, which will offer a look behind the scenes and many insights into the history of the fire service.
Historical fire service and vehicle technology such as an old hose reel, a portable pump and a historical turntable ladder will be on display. The vehicle hall with current fire service technology and rescue service vehicles will be open for viewing. Photographs from the past will provide an insight into the emergency services of the time, while current television reports will show the everyday life of Chemnitz firefighters.
There will also be an opportunity to take a realistic aptitude test with the fire brigade. Children can build a telephone at a craft centre. A hands-on first aid station will give visitors the opportunity to brush up on their own skills. Food and drinks will also be available.
Visitors will also be able to talk to firefighters about their day-to-day work and find out what requirements candidates need to fulfil to enter this profession today.
The history
The first professional fire brigade was founded in Chemnitz on 10 October 1866. The reason for this was the industrial growth and modernisation of the city. Fire protection was initially provided by twelve paid firefighters.
In the beginning, fire stations were still reached by pump truck and horse-drawn carriage. The first motorised fire engine was purchased in Chemnitz around 1904, a so-called automobile steam fire engine. The first petrol-powered turntable ladder was put into operation in 1906. Another electrically powered fire engine followed in 1910.
Among the largest operations for the Chemnitz fire brigade were the fire in the theatre in 1976 and numerous other major fires. The most recent major fire was recorded on 2 June 2023 in the foundry on Blankenburger Straße.
Today, according to the fire protection requirements plan, 44 functional positions are manned by men and women in three fire and rescue stations in 24-hour shifts around the clock. A total of 421 men and women work in all three fire and rescue stations, the integrated regional control centre and in the specialist departments. With the support of 15 volunteer fire brigades, the Chemnitz professional fire brigade completes an average of 3700 operations per year.
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