Bornheim Fire Brigade - 1050 Years of Fire Protection in Bornheim

Volunteer Fire Brigade Bornheim – Protection through Community

The Bornheim fire brigade is more than an emergency response organization. It is an expression of lived solidarity and intergenerational commitment – from the leather bucket to modern equipment, carried by the shared will to help one another. For a long time, fire protection in Bornheim was the responsibility of the entire village community. Due to the dense development with a great deal of wood, straw, and open fire in the houses, fires represented the greatest existential threat to the inhabitants.

In the Middle Ages, the night watchman was an effective early warning system. In the event of a fire, he warned the population by loudly shouting “Feuer, Feuer” or by ringing an alarm bell. As early as the 18th century, the municipality possessed fire ladders, fire hooks, and numerous leather buckets, which were stored in the old town hall. Every household was obliged to provide assistance in the event of a fire. A fire regulation precisely defined who fetched water, who set up ladders, and who helped with rescue efforts.

With the acquisition of the first fire engine in the 19th century, the transition from pure neighborly assistance to organized firefighting began. The watch house was expanded to accommodate equipment and the fire engine – an early predecessor of the later fire station. Water reservoirs and wells also played an important role in supplying water during fires.

In 1881, the Volunteer Fire Brigade Bornheim was founded. Since then, dedicated volunteer men and women have taken responsibility for safety in the village. Over time, the tasks have changed: in addition to firefighting, technical assistance in accidents, severe weather, or hazardous situations is now naturally part of their duties.

An important milestone was the construction of the fire station in the 1970s. To this day, it forms the organizational center of the brigade. Equally important is the intensive youth work: since the 1980s, there has been a youth fire brigade, and in 2000 a children’s fire brigade was founded, introducing children at an early age to teamwork, responsibility, and safety.