At the Schloßbergmuseum was published on 1 November 2026 a special exhibition on the history of the Chemnitz professional fire service has opened. There are two anniversaries: professional fire protection began in Chemnitz 160 years ago, while the Schadestraße fire station is celebrating its 120th anniversary. According to the City of Chemnitz the exhibition features equipment, documents and photographs from every era, linking technological development with the realities of local emergency work.
Under the title “Fire and Passion for Chemnitz”, the exhibition traces the history from the early hand-operated pumps and horse-drawn engines through motorisation to today’s turntable ladders and protective equipment. Curated case studies from the city’s history illustrate how organisation, training and cooperation have changed over time. The period covered runs from the German Empire through the GDR to the present day; the selection is based on available collections and documented incident reports.
The historical starting point is October 1866: at that time, the city established a night fire station staffed by twelve permanent employees – the beginning of the professional fire service Chemnitz. Since 1906, the central station on Schadestraße has served as the hub of the city’s fire protection, and is now often referred to as the Schadestraße fire station. These two dates structure the exhibition and explain the double anniversary.
Guided tours and talks have been announced alongside the exhibition. Elements of the programme had already been outlined in the city’s plans in the spring. An open day featuring historic vehicles and tours of the workshops took place on 5 September 2026; the exhibition now brings together the historical exhibits and presents them in their museum context.
The city places the history of the fire service within the development of the industrial city of Chemnitz: expanding buildings, new materials and infrastructure, as well as the development of the ambulance service, civil defence and disaster management, have steadily increased the demands, it says. Today, the professional fire service and 15 volunteer fire brigades work together in a coordinated system. The exhibition explains this current structure in terms of roles and equipment, without making projections about future procurement or staffing plans.
Figures, dates and responsibilities are based on statements from the City of Chemnitz and reports by regional media; the exhibition supports them with exhibits and archival material. Forecasts are explicitly a matter for municipal decision-making and are not part of the exhibition.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).