The siren wails a sound that has echoed through Karlshorst for generations. This is the sound of Berufsfeuerwache Karlshorst. It stands as a testament to the area’s history. The Berufsfeuerwache Karlshorst has been a vital part of this community since its establishment.
Let’s delve into the history of this fire station. The Berufsfeuerwache Karlshorst has a rich history. Prior to 1900 the Freiwillige Feuerwehr of Friedrichsfelde handled fire protection for Karlshorst. On March 7 1900 eight Karlshorst residents founded their own fire department. They used a shed on Heiligenberger Straße for equipment storage.
In 1905 the impressive depot was inaugurated in the Brick Gothic style. Oscar Gregorovius provided land and a design for the fire station. He founded the Carlshorst colony. Johannes Ernst also built the chapel in the Karlshorst cemetery.
Initially the building housed more than just the fire department. A police station a registration office and an accident station were located here. The building also housed a finance office and apartments. By 1908 a registry office was added. In 1913 the street cleaning depot and in 1928 a branch of the Lichtenberg City Library followed. The building was considered the Karlshorst Town Hall. An electric siren was installed on the roof in 1910.
After the end of World War II the fire station was briefly part of a Soviet restricted area. It was returned to German authorities around 1947. Damage from the war was repaired and fire engines were fixed. The Karlshorst Fire Department was listed in the 1947 address book.
In 1957 the Berufsfeuerwehr Karlshorst was still in the building. The fire departments in East Berlin were under the Volkspolizei. Until 1970 a communications workshop of the fire department was maintained here. Several rooms were also used by the KWV of the Lichtenberg district.
After the Berlin Wall fell in 1990 the KWV and other East German offices were dissolved. The building underwent extensive renovation. Between 1993 and 1995 it was again available to the fire department. On January 6 1995 the fire station officially became the Berufsfeuerwache Karlshorst. The firefighters became civil servants of the city of Berlin.
The facade was renovated in 2014 and 2015. Today five special vehicles are ready for action. These include a HLF a RTW and a RTW-X. There is also a fire department trailer with a rescue boat. The Berufsfeuerwache Karlshorst is part of Einsatzbereich E 6. Its station number is 6500. It is ready for action 24 hours a day. It also supports the Freiwillige Feuerwehr Karlshorst.
The Berufsfeuerwache Karlshorst building has three remise. The words Freiwillige Feuerwehr Berlin-Karlshorst are written above in Fraktur. There are historic coats of arms. They symbolize the affiliation with Greater Berlin and Lichtenberg. A symbol for the fire department is also visible.
The Berufsfeuerwache Karlshorst is more than just a building. It’s a symbol of Karlshorst’s resilience. It has been protecting the community for over a century. Remember the dedication and bravery that define the Berufsfeuerwache Karlshorst.