Fire brigade defies rain and celebrates anniversary

Wrapped in a transparent raincoat, Martha Rackl stands on Maximilianstrasse on Saturday morning, waiting for the start of the big parade to mark the 175th anniversary of the Augsburg Fire Department. She is part of a marching band and is used to unfavorable weather conditions at such events. “We play at the Leonhardiritt every year, and we were soaking wet.” And most recently at the Plärrer parade, water in the form of sweat ran down our front and back,” she said. It was just a shame this time that the rain probably prevented many citizens from attending the parade. In fact, the flow of spectators along the parade route was less pronounced than hoped. And the celebrations took about a year of planning. At least the weather gods took pity on her in the early afternoon and the rain let up. The first AUX Fire Competition, a competition for rescue workers, can then take place on the Plärrer grounds, where a large supporting program is being presented until Sunday.

Michael Böving, commander of the Pfersee volunteer fire department, is a little disappointed when he looks across Maxstrasse and sees the long-planned parade for the 175th anniversary of the Augsburg fire department sinking in the rain. “We planned for a year, blocked off the route to traffic with 35 vehicles and spent a total of four days setting up and dismantling the festival on the Plärrer.” “It’s a shame that it’s now in power,” he says. But they don’t want to let it spoil their good mood. “We’re on duty whatever the weather,” one of the participants in the parade calls out to the photographers a little later.

“Working with the fire service is an important service for the population”

At 12.30 p.m. sharp, the line, made up of more than 50 groups of professional and volunteer fire departments – including those from the surrounding area – starts moving and moves through the city center. At the town hall square, they are greeted by Mayor Eva Weber and Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder, who wave from the balcony. A few passers-by are also standing on the sidelines and applauding. Among them are Hildegard Wüst and her daughter Manuela Riedel: “Our family is there for the parade,” says Wüst. Her husband, who was commander of the volunteer fire department in Königsbrunn for 18 years, is the role model that the grandchildren would proudly emulate. “It is a voluntary position that demands a lot from you, but it is an important service for the population,” adds Manuela Riedel, while historic vehicles, groups on foot – with and without flags – and a group on an unusual bicycle pass by.

When we arrived at the Plärrer site, the rain let up. The area slowly filled up with more and more guests who were not part of the fire brigade family. Families with children in particular were out and about, spinning the wheel of fortune or admiring modern and historic vehicles. Most people were particularly excited about the first AUX Fire Competition, a course with several stations where participants could demonstrate their skills in fire brigade tasks.

The competition consists of six stations. In uniform and equipped with a twelve kilogram compressed air breathing apparatus and a ten kilogram hose package, the participants first climb several steps up a high tower. Once the hose is put down, they go back down to the next five stations – which include breaking open a door and then target shooting with the fire hose and pulling an 80 kilogram dummy to the finish. Markus Müller from the Langerringen fire department was one of the first starters to complete the course, fired at loud speed, in just over three minutes. At the finish, he is visibly exhausted, but happy with his choice of voluntary work. “I like working in a team, the fact that I can help others and the solidarity among my comrades,” he explains.

Even the little ones want to become real firefighters

All values ​​that Friedhelm Bechtel would probably also mention. He has been a professional firefighter since 1989. Dressed in an old uniform that probably wore his colleagues around 1900, he attracted attention in the festival tent on Saturday and said: “Firefighter is my dream job, I would choose it again and again.” Perhaps Finn, now eleven years old, would say the same thing. He is on the square with relatives and proudly tells us that he will soon be joining the youth fire brigade. “It is important to stand up for others.” “That’s why I’m in the fire brigade,” he says and disappears to the next stand.