Meritorious firefighters honored

Firefighters received awards in the town hall for their decades of commitment.

Auf dem Bild sind zwölf Feuerwehrmänner in Uniform und sieben weitere Personen vor einem Feuerwehrfahrzeug zu sehen. — Foto 2: (von links) Oberbürgermeisterin Eva Döhla, (oben) Christian Nützel, Gerd Schmidt, Kommandant Markus Ott, Markus Reichelt, Klaus Ehrenberg, (unten) Stephan Habicht, Vizepräsident des Deutschen Feuerwehrverbands Hermann Schreck, Markus Schmidt, Manfred Schnabel, Horst Herrmann, Wolfgang Schnabel, stv. Kommandant Florian Schewe, Stadträte Aytunc Kilincsoy, Renate Fuchs, Claudia Infante, Wolfgang Fleischer, Andrea Hering, Polizeidirektor Günter Greim

Auf dem Bild sind sechs Feuerwehrmänner in Uniform und eine Frau vor einem Feuerwehrfahrzeug zu sehen. — Foto (Stadt Hof): (von links) Vizepräsident des Deutschen Feuerwehrverbands Hermann Schreck, Kommandant Markus Ott, Horst Herrmann, Klaus Ehrenberg, Wolfgang Schnabel, stv. Kommandant Florian Schewe und Oberbürgermeisterin Eva Döhla

Nine long-standing and particularly dedicated members of the Hof fire department have been honored for their commitment and exemplary work.

During a ceremony, Mayor Eva Döhla presented six comrades with the Fire Brigade Medal of Honor from the State Minister of the Interior, Sport and Integration: Christian Nützel was honored for 25 years of active service in the fire department. Five firefighters were honored for 40 years of loyal membership: Markus Reichelt, Gerd Schmidt, Markus Schmidt, Markus Schmidt (there are two members of the fire department with the same name) and Manfred Schnabel.

Three deserving firefighters were presented with the German Fire Brigade Cross of Honor in Gold by Hermann Schreck, Vice President of the German Fire Brigade Association. Mayor Eva Döhla praised the achievements of the recipients: "Our fire department is more than just an organization - it is a promise to us residents of Hof: We help when it matters. People like Wolfgang Schnabel, Klaus Ehrenberg, Horst Herrmann and all those honored today stand for this promise. Their decades of dedication, often under great personal strain, deserve our respect and recognition."

German Fire Service Cross of Honor in Gold

Wolfgang Schnabel joined the Hof volunteer fire department on August 20, 1976. During his decades-long career, he has completed numerous training courses, including becoming an association leader. As an instructor for the district fire departments and later as training manager of the fire protection training group, he shaped the basic training of countless firefighter trainees for almost two decades. From 1999 to 2021, he was responsible for the Hof urban area as head of operations and fire chief on duty. His calm and level-headed manner was invaluable in many operations. Wolfgang Schnabel was also involved in club life for many years as a training manager and shop steward. His retirement from active service in 2024 marks the end of an impressive career spanning 48 years - characterized by professionalism, a sense of responsibility and passion.

Klaus Ehrenberg has been a member of the Hof volunteer fire department since August 20, 1976. Influenced by his childhood in the home of the Hof main fire station and inspired by his father, he developed a deep connection to the fire department at an early age. Between 1982 and 2017, he completed extensive training, including as a fire brigade leader and diver. He worked as a respiratory protection instructor for over 40 years and was responsible for this area until May 2024. During this time, he trained numerous firefighters and company employees to become respiratory protection equipment wearers. From 1993 to 2023, Klaus Ehrenberg worked as the head of operations and fire chief on duty and led numerous operations with his calm, level-headed manner. The Hof fire department's diving group also benefited from his commitment: he was instrumental in its reorganization and further development. His decades of passionate work are also reflected in his commitment to the Board of Directors. The fire department was always a matter close to his heart.

Horst Herrmann joined the volunteer fire department of the city of Hof in 1980. After numerous training and leadership courses, he was appointed deputy commander and city fire inspector in 2014. From 2018 to 2024, he played a key role in shaping the Hof fire department as the city fire chief. Under his leadership, important modernization projects were implemented: new emergency vehicles, expansion of the fire station and stronger networking with other aid organizations and disaster control. His level-headed actions proved their worth in countless operations, including the fire in a residential building in August 2022, where his efforts prevented a catastrophe. His work as an instructor in the field of hazardous materials and radiation protection, with which he shaped generations of firefighters, is particularly noteworthy. Horst Herrmann understood how to form full-time and volunteer firefighters into a powerful unit and how to further develop the fire department in Hof in the long term.