Imagine a fire truck racing down the street its siren wailing. It is heading to the Freiwillige Feuerwehr Wilhelmshagen. This fire station has a long history of service to the community.
Welcome to the Freiwillige Feuerwehr Wilhelmshagen. It is a vital part of Berlin’s emergency response network. Founded in 1895 this fire station has been protecting Wilhelmshagen for over a century.
The original building was erected as a Spritzenhaus in 1895. A new station in the Frankenbergstraße followed in 1921. This shows the growing importance of the Feuerwehr. A new vehicle hall was added in 1976. The main building was renovated between 1988 and 1990.
In 1998 the Jugendfeuerwehr Wilhemshagen was founded. It was Berlin’s 40th youth fire brigade. This highlights the Feuerwehr’s commitment to the next generation.
Today the Freiwillige Feuerwehr Wilhelmshagen has dedicated members. There are 14 men and one woman in the active unit. An additional seven members are in the honorary department.
The Feuerwehr is responsible for a large area. This includes Rahnsdorf Hessenwinkel Neu Venedig and Wilhelmshagen. They also assist in Berlin during storms or icy conditions. The Feuerwehr even supports Brandenburg with forest fires.
On average the Freiwillige Feuerwehr Wilhelmshagen responds to 300 to 400 calls a year. It is also part of the alarm response for the BER airport.
Currently the Feuerwehr has some challenges. The old firehouse is deteriorating. Space is limited making it hard to recruit new members. The Jugendfeuerwehr must change clothes in the vehicle hall. Drivers have little room to maneuver the trucks.
But there is good news. A new fire station is under construction. After over 30 years of planning construction started on the Fürstenwalder Allee. The old building from 1890 will be replaced. The new station is scheduled to be finished by 2026.
The new firehouse will be larger. It will have room for five vehicles and 54 firefighters. The Jugendfeuerwehr will have space for at least 20 members. The L-shaped building will have offices and social rooms. There will be a large vehicle hall.
The new location is not ideal. A more central location would have been better. However nature and other rules limited the options. The Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund rescue team will also be located in the new building.
The Berlin Senate approved funding for the project. Originally budgeted at 7.5 million euros costs increased to ten million euros. Construction began in January 2025.
The Freiwillige Feuerwehr Wilhelmshagen is looking forward to the future. The new station will provide better working conditions. It will allow them to better serve the community. As you stand here you can appreciate the dedication and history of this vital organization.