Bodenteich Fire Department celebrates 100 years: A celebration full of honors!

Bodenteich Fire Department celebrates 100 years: A celebration full of honors!

On November 3, 2025, the 153rd Foundation Festival of the Volunteer Fire Department was celebrated in Bodenteich, a true highlight that honors the long tradition and commitment of the fire department community. The focus of the celebrations was the fire brigade's marching band, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. This unique association, consisting of 20 active members, including adults, young people and children, has earned a permanent place in the community over the years.

In his speech, local fire chief Thomas Flaak emphasized the outstanding role of the marching band. “The music of the marching band strengthens cohesion in the fire department and within society,” says Flaak. The current annual motto “More important than ever – your fire department!” highlights the efforts to promote sound training and modern equipment. A clear focus on up-to-date training and equipment for the fire brigade is crucial for the members.

Honors and promotions

During the celebrations, numerous members were honored for their many years of service. Six firefighters received awards for 25 years of loyal service: Anja Schwerin, Stefanie Schwerin, Stefanie Reinke, Annika Kämper, Niklas Oetzmann and Marcus Block. Additionally, significant promotions were made:

• Lewke Hübing zur Feuerwehrfrau
• Marcel von Prondzinski und Adrian Schröter zu Feuerwehrmännern
• Miroslaw von Prondzinski, Maik-Alexander Martin, Jonas Hilgemann zu Oberfeuerwehrmännern
• Katharina Kussin zur Hauptfeuerwehrfrau
• Dustin Krause, Björn Schulze, Jannik Herrmanns zu Hauptfeuerwehrmännern
• Gerd Otte zum Brandmeister

Numerous honors were also awarded for their services in firefighting. Particularly noteworthy are the awards for Volker Meyer (40 years), Andreas Eder and Bernd Stottmeister (50 years each), Heinrich Burmeister (60 years) and Arnold Hübing senior. and Günther Reese (70 years old). In addition, some firefighters received badges of honor for their tireless efforts in flood situations, including Annika Kämper and Jonas Hilgemann.

A look back at the history of the fire department

The roots of the fire department are deeply rooted in history and go back to Roman times. In ancient Rome, around 21 B.C. In the 1st century BC, the first fire department was founded with 600 slaves. Then as now, protection against fire was of great importance, which is also reflected in the first fire extinguishing regulations in the 13th and 14th centuries. The first volunteer fire departments emerged in the 18th century, and the first professional fire department was founded in Vienna in 1686. These developments marked the beginning of a long tradition in the fire department, which is still very relevant today, as the Bodenteich fire department's foundation festival impressively demonstrates.

At a time when safety requirements are increasing and the challenges are becoming more complex, the commitment of firefighters is more in demand than ever. The Bodenteich volunteer fire department and its marching band impressively show how important community and cohesion are - not only when extinguishing fires, but also in musical entertainment and in maintaining traditional values.