100 years of progress separate these two emergency vehicles of the Herrsching Volunteer Fire Department. © FFW Herrsching
A turntable ladder is something special. The Herrsching fire brigade called one its own 119 years ago. It was brought out for the parade marking the 150th anniversary of the Herrsching and Breitbrunn fire brigades and, together with the old Breitbrunn fire engine, is one of the attractions on the festival weekend on 1/2 July.
Herrsching/Breitbrunn – Well packed, the old pull-out ladder of the Herrsching fire brigade slumbered for decades in a corner of a machine hall belonging to farmer Hermann Jäger. When the members of the volunteer fire brigade took them out last Saturday, they were amazed at the sophisticated technology that the fire brigade had 119 years ago. "It's fascinating," enthuses Commander Daniel Pleyer, full of anticipation to be able to demonstrate the emergency equipment on the festive weekend - on 1 and 2 July, when the two local fire brigades Herrsching and Breitbrunn celebrate 150 years together.
The ladder was worked on for hours, washed and carefully inspected. After all, who knows how to operate the emergency equipment with the wooden wheels with a diameter of 2.20 meters. The ladder can be extended about twelve meters. "I climbed up cautiously. But it creaks quite a bit," warns Pleyer. But it is also quite enough to simply look at the impressive historical device. After it was spruced up and the handling was tried out, there was a photo shoot to proudly present the pictures.
"When we first set it up in the machine hall, we set up hay bales so that nothing could happen if it fell over," says Pleyer. Yet the handling is not so difficult, he was then able to determine. The device is ready for use within five minutes and can even be operated by just one person alone – made possible by a heavy counterweight. Once set up, the ladder levels off on its own. A bell at the top sounds when the ladder is engaged. It is the details that are astonishing about the German Reich patent of the Nuremberg-based company "Feuerlöschgeräte und Maschinenfabrik A.G. vormals Justus Christian Braun".
Pleyer has chosen four strong men who will pull the ladder through Breitbrunn in a parade on 2 July. Anyone who knows the district knows why: it goes uphill and then downhill again. In the past, the emergency services at the ladder were called "Steiger", Pleyer knows. These were young, nimble fellows. On the Sunday of the festival, however, strength is required. If it were up to Pleyer, preferably in a historical felt uniform. "But that depends on the weather. It could get quite warm in the uniform under certain circumstances."
Commander Daniel Pleyer is fascinated by the sophisticated technology with bells, pendulums and weights. © Andrea Gräpel
Ladders will also play a role in the ceremony with invited guests on Saturday, 1 July, in Herrsching. The guests are the friendly comrades of the fire brigade from Herrsching's Italian twin town of Ravina, affectionately called "Ravinottis" by everyone. They will inspire with their acrobatics on plug-in ladders. On this occasion, the elaborate more than 250-page illustrated chronicle, which many firefighters and community archivist Dr. Friedrike Hellerer have been working on for months, will also be presented. Pleyer has not yet been able to hold it in his hands, but of course he has already carefully studied the content digitally. From the beginnings, when the local militias had to be founded by royal decree and anyone who stayed away from the exercises was threatened with a penalty of three Reichsmarks. Volunteering has adapted to the times. Fines for absenteeism from exercises – "you can't do that anymore. Then no one is there anymore," says Pleyer, laughing and thoughtful at the same time. Because without full-time equipment maintenance staff, it would no longer work in Herrsching today. He is proud of the fact that the two local fire brigades have managed to organize the festival together. "That works for us," says Pleyer. And this is not a matter of course among the 43 weirs in the district.
Program
Saturday, 1 July, Herrsching Fire Station:
Invited guests only.
Sunday, 2 July, Breitbrunn fire station:
8 a.m. reception of the clubs and guests with morning pint and opening of the festival office, 10 a.m. festive service at the lake with blessing of all new emergency vehicles and handover of the flag ribbons, 11 a.m. line-up for the parade, 11.15 a.m. parade through Breitbrunn, 12 noon entry into the fire station, 13 p.m. greetings, followed by a festive finale with atmospheric brass music.
