Josef Ranz restaurant operator/barkeeper and mayor of Kalsdorf from 1870 to 1888, always stood for communtiy´s social, educational and church values. Together with the mill owner Franz Schreiter, they created the Kalsdorf Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1874. After official acceptance on Septembers 8, 1874 they, along with 26 men appeared at the inaugural meeting on September 13 and announced the beginning of the new organization. Subsequently, the following functions were assigned:

Captain: Josef Ranz, restaurant operator/barkeeper and municipality chief
Vice-Captain: Franz Schreiter, mill owner
Secretary: Johann Kink, teacher
Saeckelwart and first Steigerzugsfuehrer: Franz Matzer basic owner
Second Steigerugsführer: Alois Hütter Millowner
Spritzenzugsführer: Andreas Marchl, Landowner
Zeugwart: Johann Edler, Landowner

At the time, however Kalsdorf´s interest in the new fire brigade was lukewarm. Therefore, they only had the financial means to purchase two alarms on November 21, 1874!

Larger donations from the Steiermaerkische Sparkasse, Adria Insurance and Mutual Fire Indemnity Insurance, and/or a lottery organized by the brigade in 1875, allowed for lager acquisitions of equipment, among them hand-pump hose and a water car possible.
"In those days, the water had to be poured by means of buckets into the hose, so that the men who operate it could get the water under pressure, through a hose line, and to the fire . The first hoses were probably portable, because we find only late entries over the change to mobile syringes."
Fire Chief and Mayor Ranz personally invested his own savings into the brigade, which he only got back years later. Under its line one (as the place question also due the again purchased devices became acute) furnishes the fire brigade depot in the current Pradlhof.

For lager fires, Kalsdorf had to disengage the fire brigade for first time in 1886. On November 15, the barn of Josef Hoffmann stood in flames. On November 24, the grain chamber of owner and fire brigade employee Josef Brugger in Kalsdorf was destroyed by fire. It became custom that at that time to note area fires on message boards. These boards were publicly displayed, so that the population could informed of every detail about each deployment of the fire brigade.

After the death of the captain Josef Ranz in 1888 and the resettlement of Franz Schreiter in Graz, the Kalsdorf fire brigade again selected two well-deserved citizens for the guidance of the fir brigade. The captaincy was handed over to restaurant manager Vinzenz Grill, son of the mayor of the same name (1850 to 1857). His deputy, Andreas Marchel, was son of the last village judge and first Kalsdorf mayor (1849 to 1850). Andreas Marchel entered the mayoral office himself in 1891.

In 1889 a night watchman still exists , and held the important duty in Kalsdorf of making certain no fires developed as the village slept in peace. Nevertheless the fire brigade was called to action often curing the 19th century. Some examples include:

November 14, 1888: Extinguishing a fire at the Leeb Kulmi´s farm in Forst.
January 7, 1889: Franz Pojer´s barn in Großsulz burns down.
May 2, 1880: Michael Brunner´s farm in Goessendorf burns down.
September 19, 1892: Michael Klein´s barn in Kalsdorf burns down.
August 1, 1883: The Hütter barn in Großsulz burns.
September 23, 1894: Johann Mitteregger´s farmstead in Werndorf burns down.

Although most fires were tragic, some amazing stories were collected.

An unbelievable story arose from a fire on November 14, 1888: "a farmhand, who had fled after the outbreak of a fire, took refuse in a baking oven, and survived the blaze."
Probably the most demanding use of the young fire brigade occurred on Christmas Eve and Christmas day 1899; within these two days four trains Kalsdorf station collided. The Kalsdorf fire brigade performed so splendidly , that the Suedbahndirektion rewarded their devotion by transferring 100 guldens. The following January, Municipality Chief Andreas Marchel, the next in line at the fire brigade, took over the deceased Vinzenz Grill. The brigade at that time counted 45 members, five supporting and two honorary members. When they finally celebrated their 30th anniversary in 1904, the Kalsdorf Volunteer Fire brigade could look back at 58 calls for action inside and outside the village.

30th anniversary in 1904

From 1906 to 1908 the building of new equipment depot took place. The "Steigerturm", situated on square opposite the restaurant Pendl, was handed over the brigade by the mayor of Kalsdorf at that time, Dr. Julius Finze, on May 17, 1908. Also the equipment had to be renovated and renewed. The addition of the type of “Leitha” steam-hose spurred excitement. Minister Joherl made the solemn christening with the help of the population on June 11.

equipment depot finished in 1908

The outbreak of the World War I also affected the Kalsdorf Fire Brigade. In 1915, 54 firemen belonged to the army ranks, about which, however, 25 joined the front. Two of these were killed, two others went missing.
After re-organisation and the admission of workers from Lapp Finze AG, the factory further supported the fire brigade. They were confronted between 1925 to 1928 with a rise in arsons. The motives of the fire starters partly layed in political quarrels and financial disagreements.

Political upheaval also affected the fire brigade in 1936 and 1937. Although the connection of Austria to the German Reich brought no personnel consequences with it, the Kalsdorf volunteer fire brigade was integrated into the German Feuerschutzpolizei. The mayor appointed men already working in the brigade to the man the new positions. Until they received the new police uniforms all military men in the service had to carry a swastika band. The Kalsdorf rescue department separated from the fire brigade, and merged with the German Red Cross.

The fire brigades training exercises under the new German laws were called “Appeals”. It took place according to German regulations, which required a high level of discipline. According the new regulations, the fir brigade functioned as a support troop for the police, with appointments being made by the local government, with suggestions from the mayor himself. With a decree from the local government May 25, 1940 the former vice captain was promoted into leadership positions. The expansion of the war resulted in new tasks for the fire brigade. On April 24, 1940 the head of German Police, Heinrich Himmler, told Kalsdorfer fire brigade to assist the fire brigade on air base Thalerhof in an emergency . at the time, as well as from the removal of this, they were reequipped with most modern equipment of the time.

The number of the fires suddenly decreased during 1938, due to the strict nature of police searches at the time, as well as from the removal of clutter from residents attics. Special attention was put on the south railroad line, and the prevention of acts of sabotage within range of the line, particularly since it played an important role supplying the front at the beginning of Balkans campaign (April 6, 1941).

Power-hungry Heinrich Himmler (realm leader SS) also affected the fire brigade: Conditions of new regulations on September 1, 1942 put the brigade under military jurisdiction, as well as the police and SS. Each fireman had to personally sign this regulation to show knowledge of it. Because of this, the technical equipment dramatically improved.

Among the victims of the air raid on Kalsdorf on may 24, 1944 were upper troop leader Franz Uitz an Captain Michael Puschnigg. Troop man Franz Fessler suffered heavy injuries. During the air raid, some equipment as well as the equipment house was damaged.

Leading to the end of the war, the brigade was short supplies, which led to many problems. “After the air attack on Graz, the troops logged heavy hours. As the front moved closer the constant threat of air attacks kept the men on their toes. There was a lot of bureaucracy toward the rationing of gasoline. Due the attack of Kalsdorf, the troop relocated most equipment and some men to Großsulz, founding a new brigade there.

After the end of the war, the local council rapidly reorganized the Kalsdorfer fire brigade. On July 29th an August 31, 1945, the first men met in order to tackle the reconstruction of the brigade. The proofed difficult however, particularly since Soviet crews seized most equipment. Acquisition of new devises proved difficult because of the though economic situation of the time.

By December 31, the brigade already rose 66 men. The city, on January 31, 1949, held the first fire brigade ball after the war. It was considered by most as a harbinger of the economic upswing.

For the men of the brigade , a recurring problem again occurred with the Suedbahn. When the steam engines drove through the dry fields, particularly when starting from the Kalsdorf station, strong sparks developed under the trains. The fields would normally catch fire, and burn.

The new national fire brigade law defined the fire brigades as a body of public works. The rights and obligations of each fireman were defined exactly. The members of the works fire brigade Lapp Finze AG had to separate from the volunteer fire brigade Kalsdorf, because a double membership was not possible after the national fire brigade law. The extension of the force, equipment, training, district fire brigade days unfortunately numerous major fires, became milestones in young history of Kalsdorf fire brigade. 1964, the 90th year of their existence, the brigade had tank fire-truck, a light vehicle T 1500, two TS Rosenbauer, two Gugg (SR 3448, 360), a Volkswagen an for trailers for hoses.

1964, the 90th year of their existence, the brigade had tank fire-truck, a light vehicle T 1500, two TS Rosenbauer, two Gugg (SR 3448, 360), a Volkswagen an for trailers for hoses.

The brigade's fire-truck

Since the Markterhebungsfeier (started on September 21, 1968) they fulfilled many activities. It included retrieving drowned victims, assistance with car accidents, as well as fire fighting. With the 100-year anniversary in 1974, held at same time with the district fire brigade day, the youth could enjoy competitions.

Regardless of its jubilant times, the firemen remained unbroken in their will for the job. 56 active members and 46 young men carried 58 deployments in 1980. On September 12, 1981 the opening of the new Equipment House ended the bad state of their equipment from over the years. The old equipment depot, built in 1910, had only been built for two horse-driven cars!

The volunteer Kalsdorf fire brigade, which contains a rich and interesting tradition. Is able to do everything they are asked to. Numerous success in their deployment over their 100 years is proof.

Fire chiefs of ”Kalsdorf Volunteer Fire-Brigade”

1874-1888 Josef Ranz
1889-1898 Vinzenz Grill
1898-1909 Andreas Marchl
1909-1914 Georg Krenn
1914-1917 Franz Herzog
1917-1919 Andreas Marchl
1919-1934 Mathias Platzer
1934-1937 Johann Fedl
1937- 1940 Franz Uitz
1940-1945 Karl Hudelist
1945-1947 August Sailer
1947- 1959 Ferdinand Herunter
1959-1975 Franz Lackner
1975-1982 Josef Gartler
seit 1982 Karl Wolf

The works fire brigade of the Lapp Finze AG

This works fire brigade was created in 1940 by commander Hudelist and 18 of his comrades. Their, duty was, at the first time, mainly protecting against air raids. Because of the numerous attacks toward the end of the war, they were developed on many separate missions. Five initial members a so belonged to the local fire brigade at the time.

The brigade, in 1940, owned and used a portable Rosenbauer-pump Type R80, over seven B-hoses per 20 meters, over 20 C-hoses per 15 meters and 50 portable extinguishers. After commander Jelenz took over in 1942, the depot was moved to Karlhuette in 1943. A second TS 8 N 80, which was purchased in 1944, made fire fighting after bomb attacks substantially easier.

After the fire of the turbine house in 1947 commander Flixeder reorganized the brigade. It had 20 men at the time. In 1950 and 1954, they again began to fight fires and were able to fight them successfully. Due to this, they received the most modern equipment, so they were able to complete their duties as well as possible for their employer Roto Frank AG. The works fire brigade presently has around 20 members.

Kalsdorf volunteer Fire-Brigade in the 50's

The fire brigade youth Kalsdorf

First task of this institution is to secure a next generation for the volunteer fire brigade. The establishment of the fire brigade youth took place in 1973, after the acknowledgement of an aging fire brigade corps. With advertising material and films, those responsible for the fire brigade tried to win over school youth, while teaching about the goals and ideals of the fire brigade youth.

Local and regional places organized the first youth time camp of the district fire brigade because of the district fire-day in 1974. Due to a torrential downpour the event was cancelled this evening. The voluntary fire brigade had to evacuate their new generation of men.

The further development of the fire brigade youth, concerning members conditions and fitness, ran so well that they no longer worry about the numbers in the future of the brigade.