150 Years Volunteer Fire Brigade Rodenbach

A Spessart Brigade Celebrates 150 Years of History

On March 26th, 1876, Johann Welzenbach, Johann Völker, and Christian Heidenfelder gathered with some fellow campaigners and founded the Volunteer Fire Brigade Rodenbach – at that time still an independent Spessart village, today a district of the town of Lohr am Main in the Lower Franconian district of Main-Spessart. 150 years later, the traditional association is celebrating this milestone anniversary with a three-day festival from June 27th to 29th, 2026, around the fire station at Talstraße 7.

The Association and its Chronicle

The first fire engine house was built in 1906 at a village well – a technical quantum leap for the small brigade at the time. In 1957, a hose drying tower was added, followed in 1976 by the new construction of the current fire station, which was expanded with a training room in 1990/91. Step by step, the brigade equipped itself: a hydrant cart in 1930, the first portable pump in 1959, several converted crew vehicles from 1964 onwards, and finally the current operational vehicles from 2002 and 2017.

Active Association Life in Rodenbach

Behind the operations is a vibrant association: in 1961, they participated in performance tests with two groups for the first time, the youth fire brigade was founded in 1988, and a children's fire brigade was added in 2017. A memorial stele on the club grounds has commemorated the victims of the plane crash of May 11th, 1990, in the region since 1991 – a quiet place amidst the festival bustle.

Festival Weekend from June 27th to 29th, 2026

As is customary for Bavarian fire brigade anniversaries, the festival spans three days and follows a proven structure: an evening celebration with dancing and brass music on Saturday, a festive church service on Sunday morning with a subsequent early morning pint, a festive parade of friendly associations and fire brigades through the village center, and a friendly get-together on Monday. Catering will be provided in the festival tent with Franconian specialties and beers from regional Spessart breweries.

Rodenbach – A Spessart Village within Lohr's Municipal Area

Rodenbach is located in the heart of the wooded Spessart, nestled between beech forests and rolling hills. Since the administrative reform, the district has belonged to the town of Lohr am Main, but it has retained its village character. The fire brigade here is more than just an operational organization – it is the driving force behind association life and a co-organizer of the Kirchweih (church fair), Maibaumaufstellung (Maypole erection), and Faschingsumzug (Carnival parade). The 2026 anniversary is set to be Rodenbach's major event of the year.