Interior Minister Roman Poseck presented the Hünfeld Volunteer Fire Department with the plaque of honor from the state of Hesse on its 100th anniversary.

Hünfeld – With a celebration event on Friday that is 100th anniversary of the Hünfeld Volunteer Fire Department been appreciated. Hesse's Interior Minister Roman Poseck (CDU) presented the state's plaque of honor to the armed forces. The award went to city fire inspector Thorsten Rübsam and other representatives of the fire department, as the Hessian Ministry of the Interior announced.

Mayor Benjamin Tschesnok, district administrator Bernd Woide (both CDU), members of the district fire inspection and the district fire brigade association as well as numerous comrades from the fire department took part in the celebration. In his speech, Poseck emphasized that the 100th anniversary was a clear commitment to responsibility, community and civic engagement. For a century, the comrades in Hünfeld have stood for reliability, courage and charity and are on duty around the clock for the people in the city and region – during fires, storms or other emergencies.

Hesse honors the Hünfeld fire department with a plaque of honor

The Interior Minister particularly emphasized the strength of the Hünfeld defense force in youth work. With around 350 active emergency services, 120 children in the children's fire department and 175 young people in the youth fire department, the Hünfeld volunteer fire department is considered a shining example of the promotion of young talent. According to him, in 2024 alone, the emergency services managed 341 missions and contributed more than 12,900 voluntary hours. Six fire departments in the city of Hünfeld have already been recognized as “Fire Department of the Month” in recent years, which was seen as evidence of the fire department’s commitment and professionalism.

As part of the anniversary celebration, Poseck placed the honor in the context of the state's extensive investments in fire and disaster protection. In recent years, the Hessian state government has invested massively in fire engines, fire stations, technology as well as in training and further education at the Hessian State Fire Brigade School. In the Fulda district alone, measures to strengthen the local fire department have been funded with more than 5.4 million euros in the past five years. The city of Hünfeld has received grants of over 668,000 euros for eight projects since 2019.

According to the ministry, around 135 vehicles and around 60 construction projects on fire stations were supported with more than 21 million euros across the country in 2025. Since 2016, funding for more than 1,770 emergency vehicles and around 600 structural measures has totaled over 200 million euros. The state also refers to initiatives such as the “state offensive to attract young talent”, the construction of a new youth fire brigade training center and the expansion of the Hessian state fire brigade school, with which modern framework conditions are to be created for the fire brigades in Hesse. According to the information, the state government also wants to continue to invest specifically in fire and disaster protection in 2026 and strengthen the units as needed.

At the event, the Hünfeld Volunteer Fire Department was presented as a role model for how tradition and modernity can be combined in volunteer work. Interior Minister Poseck thanked all active and former members of the armed forces and emphasized that they were “true everyday heroes” of whom the state of Hesse is proud.