Fire protection hand in hand between Christian and Jewish community members
The involvement of Jewish citizens in fire protection and fire-fighting measures is illustrated below using the example of Wiesenbronn. There is evidence of the same or similar regulations in other villages in the Kitzingen region, including Kleinlangheim, Großlangheim, Hüttenheim, Mainstockheim and Segnitz.
The "fire inspection" as part of preventive fire protection was carried out twice a year with the involvement of experts, often local craftsmen such as bricklayers. All buildings with fireplaces were inspected for structural defects and great importance was attached to fireproof material in the hearth and fireplace area. No distinction was made between Jewish and Christian owners.
The first "fire regulations" on what to do in the event of a fire date back to 1725. Thirty citizens were assigned to the individual commands: "To the fire buckets, to the fire hooks, to the first new large ladder, the other new fire ladder, to the large old fire ladder and to three fire pumps." These fire regulations were referred to annually, together with any amendments or additions.
A list from around 1850, for example, names the Jewish citizens Moses Rosenbusch, Lämlein Rosenbusch, Jeslein Wißmann, Salomon Lehmann, Isaac Öttinger, Joseph Klugmann and Hirsch Eisenheimer among the 45 "water drawers and water carriers" mentioned. Nathan Klugmann, Eisig Strauß and Jakob Rosenbaum are named among the 24 men who were responsible for "clearing out the furniture and livestock". Lemlein Rosenbusch senior and Lemlein Rosenbusch junior acted as "pump men". Another list from 1849 assigns a specific function to each house number.
For many centuries, firefighting was the responsibility of all local residents. It was only the fire department associations, which emerged from the middle of the 19th century, that were able to ensure effective firefighting.
The Wiesenbronn volunteer fire department was founded in 1874. Citizens who did not take part in the regular exercises of the "voluntary fire department" had to take on certain auxiliary tasks in the "compulsory fire department". All Jewish residents joined the volunteer fire department - either as active or passive (paying) members.
The participation of all citizens in fire protection measures is an example of the functioning reality of life in villages with Christian and Jewish inhabitants in many areas of life.
Reinhard Hüßner
