History of the Volunteer Fire Brigade

The Slatina Volunteer Fire Brigade (SDH Slatina) has a centuries-old tradition. Already in 1755, Empress Maria Theresa issued a patent establishing regulations for firefighting in the lands of the Bohemian Crown. Among other provisions, these patents required villages that did not yet have them to build village ponds and to erect bell towers – today's wayside chapels – to be used for announcing fires. The beginnings of organised volunteer fire brigades date from after 1848. The first Czech brigade was established in 1864 in Velvary, and others followed in its wake.

Fire brigades began to be established in the vicinity of Slatina around 1880; for example, the brigade in Svéradice was founded in 1892. The brigade in Slatina was founded relatively late, not until 1905. The reason was probably the construction of the costly school building, which had considerably strained the finances of Slatina's taxpayers. Nonetheless, efforts to establish a fire brigade were growing, and the main driving force behind the idea was teacher Josef Drnek. On 22 January 1905, the young men of Slatina organised a dance in support of founding the brigade, donating the proceeds of 48 Kčs 68 haléřů. The municipal council took up the matter and at its meeting on 4 February 1905 resolved to provide financial support for the establishment of the brigade.

On the initiative of Josef Drnek and mayor Pavel Švec, a public meeting was convened on 5 February at the inn of Pavel Švec, where teacher Alois Vlk from Chanovice spoke about the importance of firefighting. At this meeting, 18 of those present enrolled as active members and 18 as contributing members. By resolution no. 32432 of the Imperial and Royal Lieutenancy of the Kingdom of Bohemia, dated 15 February 1905, the establishment of the brigade was approved. The association, under the name "Volunteer Fire Brigade of Slatina", was thus formally founded in February 1905. The first general assembly was convened on 12 March 1905, at which the first officers were elected. Antonín Češka, the headmaster in Slatina, was elected chairman of the brigade; František Vyšehrad was elected commander; Antonín Barák, deputy commander; Jan Krůta and Jan Valach were elected as committee members; Josef Vachuška and Josef Klepsa as alternates; and František Šilhavý and Hynek Sabath as auditors. The committee then elected teacher Josef Drnek as secretary and treasurer, and Václav Vachuška as equipment inspector.

The municipal council gave the volunteer fire brigade comprehensive support. Immediately after the founding assembly, it ordered and purchased from the Smekal company in Prague-Smíchov a four-wheeled horse-drawn pump and 80 metres of hoses with all accessories, two ladders and equipment for 20 active members, all for the price of 1,700 Kčs. In addition, the municipal committee ordered fabric for sewing 20 work uniforms, which were made by tailor Renč from Chanovice. At the meeting of 29 March 1905, the committee resolved that the brigade should join the "District Fire Association of the Czech South-West", headquartered in Horažďovice.

Consecration Ceremony for the New Pump

Few fire brigades founded earlier could boast of consecrating a new pump just weeks after their establishment. Slatina's could. The day for the solemn consecration of the gleaming new pump was Sunday 16 June 1905. Invitations were sent out, and the godmother of the new pump was unanimously proposed to be Mrs. Pavlína Schmiedlová, the lady of the Chanovice estate, who was accompanied at the ceremony by her daughter Anna, a noblewoman of the Goldeck family. The villagers were asked to decorate their buildings with flags in the national colours, to send as many bridesmaids as possible, and if at all possible to dress in traditional folk costumes. Two triumphal arches were erected – one towards the road from Kadov and Bezděkov, bearing the inscription "To protect our neighbours – to honour our homeland", and another at Baráks', bearing the inscription "Forward in unity – honour to the firefighters".

The consecration was performed by the Reverend Father Pavel Hille from Kadov. An eleven-piece band led by Mr. Adámek was also engaged. The afternoon celebrations were held in the garden of Mr. Vachuška (at the Hejtmáneks'), which he generously lent free of charge. The commander of the brigade provided the carriages to transport the officiating priest and the greenery. The only remaining concern was the weather.

On Sunday, 14 June, Slatina awoke to a sun-drenched day. The red pump, decorated with wreaths and bouquets, stood in front of the chapel on the village green. Hundreds of residents from Slatina and the surrounding area gathered for the celebration, along with firefighters from 11 neighbouring brigades and many invited guests. Local dignitaries, bridesmaids and a group of villagers in traditional costume welcomed the godmother, the noble Mrs. Schmiedlová and Baroness Goldecková from Chanovice, and Father Hille from Kadov. The procession formed in front of the "U Hvězdy" (At the Star) inn – this grand name for Mr. Švec's inn appears here for the first and last time – and proceeded to the chapel. After a welcome address by a young bridesmaid, Antonie Kohelová, and festive speeches, the pump was consecrated by Father Hill and a church service followed. The godmother, the noble Mrs. Schmiedlová, wished the brigade and all the firefighters every success; the national anthem "Kde domov můj" was played; and hundreds of participants set off, accompanied by a brisk march, to the garden party venue in the garden of Mr. Vachuška. When the head of the procession was approaching the garden, its tail was still in front of the chapel on the village green. Such a crowd had Slatina never seen before.

On 1 September 1905, the brigade chairman, teacher Antonín Češka, was placed on temporary leave and his colleague teacher Josef Drnek, the existing secretary and treasurer, was provisionally elected as the new chairman. At the general assembly on 7 January 1906, František Vyšehrad was elected as the new chairman and Karel Barák as director. At this assembly, a proposal was made to establish an amateur theatre group within the brigade, as theatre performances might also serve as a source of income. The proposal was indeed realised, and under the direction of teachers Josef Turek and Josef Drnek, the play "The Ward and the Foster Girl" was rehearsed and performed on Sunday 18 March at 7:30 p.m. at Mr. Švec's inn. The first theatrical performance in Slatina had taken place.

The brigade held its first public exercise on 22 July 1906, approaching it with real solemnity. In the morning the whole brigade attended mass in Kadov; in the afternoon they welcomed 16 fire brigades participating in the exercise. After a ceremonial welcome, drill exercises were demonstrated, ladder climbing exercises, pump operation and, in conclusion, a fire alarm drill at the farm of villager Václav Vachuška. Afterwards, in the garden of Mr. Josef Vachuška (Hejtmánek), there was dancing, refreshment, and after nightfall the celebration continued at Mr. Švec's inn.

The brigade's first real fire call was to the village of Pole, where a blaze broke out on 15 October; the firefighters went with their new pump and performed very well. Shortly afterwards they tested their skills at another fire, in which a barn belonging to Mr. Matěj Lomický and the dwelling of František Rodina in Chanovice burned. At both incidents – in Pole and in Chanovice – the spread of fire to neighbouring buildings was prevented.

In 1907 a new fire station was built, which still serves today as the "Fire Depot". Unfortunately, just as with the construction of the school, some villagers showed their opposition to the fire brigade and did not take part in the construction. The height of this ill will came when the firefighters planted 50 lime trees on the village green and in neighbouring streets – purchased by brigade secretary teacher Josef Pešek in Čekanice – and some villagers broke and uprooted the trees planted near their own buildings. Even this hostility did not deter Slatina's firefighters from continuing on the path of progress. They staged another theatrical performance and at the end of 1907 established the brigade library.

A New Fire Pump

Although the old hand pump was still serving well, it was decided to purchase a new motor-driven pump, which would be far better suited to the demands of rapid and effective firefighting. Various fundraising events were held, individuals and insurance companies contributed donations, and the municipal council waived its share of the hunting lease revenues in favour of purchasing the new pump. Offers were submitted by the manufacturers Vystrčil, Stratílek, Mára, Smekal, Erbert, Hrček and Neugebauer. The supplier was selected by a tendering process, and the offer from Hrček and Neugebauer was the most appealing. A purchase contract was drawn up with the company's representatives, under which the firm would supply a Tatra 33HP pump with accessories and 140 metres of hoses including electric lighting, all for the price of 20,900 Kčs. The pump was delivered on 19 February 1934 and tested by the inspector of the Czech Central Fire Association, Ing. Parma. It worked excellently; a practice fire was simulated at the barn at house no. 28, "U Hejtmánků". However, the new pump was first used in earnest on 16 April at a fire in the barn of Mr. Šilhavý in Dobrotice. The machine performed flawlessly, delivering water to a distance of 220 metres with two jets. During and after the fire it was the object of admiration for all the firefighters present.

On 27 May 1934, a ceremony was held to demonstrate the new motor pump of the Slatina Volunteer Fire Brigade. At 1 p.m., the home brigade welcomed 4 neighbouring brigades from the Blatná district and 9 brigades from the Mayer district. The Svéradice brigade was the most numerous, sending 35 uniformed firefighters to the ceremony. At the war memorial, participants were welcomed by brigade chairman Karel Barák and other speakers. After the national anthem was played, the new pump was demonstrated – to great effect. Three jets were operated: one aimed at house no. 29, the second at houses no. 30 and 31, and the third at house no. 49. The closing celebrations took place in the manor garden. The Slatina brigade became the first in the area to own a motor pump; the brigade in Chanovice was second, celebrating their acquisition a year later.

Chairmen and Commanders of the Brigade

Chairmen: Antonín Češka (1905), František Vyšehrad (1906), Václav Vachuška (1907–1921), Jan Švec (1922–1923), Václav Kandr (1924–1929), Karel Nováček (1930–1934), Karel Barák (1935–1936), František Švec (1937–1938), František Benedykt (1939–1957), František Malý (1958–1964), Josef Šolc (1964–1966), Josef Kohel (1966–1968), Karel Klepsa (1969–1971), Karel Jedlička (1972–1999), Jiří Renč (1999–present)

Commanders: František Vyšehrad (1905–1907), Karel Barák (1908–1922), Karel Nováček (1922–1924), Jan Vachuška (1924–1930), Josef Volmut (1930–1932), František Benedykt (1932–1937), František Malý (1937–1946), Vojtěch Vaněček (1946–1948), František Malý (1948–1958), Karel Benedykt (1958–1964), Vojtěch Vaněček (1964–1966), Eduard Renč (1966–1994), Roman Machovec (1995–present)

Fires Attended by the Slatina Volunteer Fire Brigade

Fires in the Village of Slatina

• 1865 – lightning struck the Ladman building at no. 37
• 1840 – the Bernad building burned down
• 1850 – two buildings at the Žump family burned down
• 1883 – on 13 June, lightning struck the manor farm, which burned to the ground
• 1890 – the Zedníček building burned down (fire caused by children)
• 1911 – on 16 July, a major fire broke out in the manor barn
• 1929 – on 21 June, fire at the Vyšehrad building
• 1931 – on 22 September, fire at the Vyšehrad building

Fires Attended by the Slatina Volunteer Fire Brigade

• 1906 – fire at the dwelling of František Rodina and the barn of M. Lomický in Chanovice
• 1907 – on 16 May, fire at the building of Augustin Ladman in Dobrotice
• 1907 – on 10 August, major fire in Svéradice (farms of the Korbel family at no. 55, the Fous family at no. 56 and the Rynd family at no. 58 burned down)
• 1907 – on 2 December, fire in Vrbno
• 1911 – on 16 July, a major fire broke out in the manor barn, threatening the adjacent new school building; it was contained in time – carts and machinery were destroyed; 12 brigades took part in fighting the fire
• 1917 – fire in a barn in Lnářský Málkov
• 1919 – on 1 June, fire in Holkovice
• 1929 – on 21 June, fire at the Vyšehrad building in Slatina
• 1929 – on 27 September, fire at the Zoubek property in Svéradice: the roof of the dwelling (inn) and the entire barn burned
• 1929 – on 7 October, fire at Mr. Antonín Klečka's in Holkovice
• 1931 – on 24 September, the third consecutive fire at the Vyšehrad property in Slatina
• 1932 – on 30 April, fire in Lnářský Málkov
• 1932 – on 14 September, fire in the Rach family's barn in Dobrotice
• 1934 – on 25 April, fire at the Kaplán dwelling in Velký Bor
• 1934 – fire at the small Klásek dwelling in Svéradice