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Fire brigade practices operations at the historic Jan Wind” windmill!
The Etelsen fire department practices firefighting and rescue at the “Jan Wind” windmill in Langwedel with a turntable ladder.
Fire brigade practices operations at the historic Jan Wind” windmill!
On November 3, 2025, a remarkable exercise by the Etelsen Volunteer Fire Department took place at the historic “Jan Wind” windmill. This landmark of the town of Langwedel, which was built in 1871, was not only an impressive sight, but also provided a perfect setting for targeted training in firefighting and rescuing people from great heights.
In cooperation with the village association, which has been looking after the mill since 1993, the fire department carried out a comprehensive inspection of the property. The chairwoman of the village association, Katrin Zubrägel, invited the fire department for this important exercise. The use of a turntable ladder from Verden was a central part of demonstrating the appropriate firefighting measures.
Technology and operational readiness
The emergency services first explored the area around the mill to avoid possible damage to paving and surrounding greenery. It was determined that access to the mill was challenging but doable. Some technical details about the turntable ladder: It reaches a nominal rescue height of 23 meters and a maximum working height of 32 meters, while it can transport up to five people in the basket. It also offers extensive lighting options, which are a great advantage in the dark.
Local fire chief Torsten Kohlmann emphasized the importance of an adequate supply of extinguishing water, as over 2,000 liters of water per minute are required for effective extinguishing measures. This exercise was highly relevant in order to optimally prepare the emergency services for possible real-life scenarios.
The role of the windmill in the village
The windmill itself is a living piece of history and is not only used for fire drills. It also serves as a venue for civil weddings, double head evenings and various social events organized by the village association. Despite its importance, the mill is not listed as the drive for the grinding cycle was changed from wind to engine power over 100 years ago.
The feedback from the fire department and the village association was consistently positive. Both Katrin Zubrägel and Torsten Kohlmann agreed that the exercise was not only educational, but also strengthened the solidarity and commitment of the fire department.
Training opportunities for firefighters
There is also an offer for all firefighters who would like to further their training Training Base Weeze, Europe's largest real fire training center. More than 100 realistic operational scenarios are used here to optimize skills in dealing with a wide variety of fire situations. This comprehensive training program is suitable for relays, groups, fire brigades and entire units.
Given the importance of training and ongoing improvements in firefighting, cooperation between the volunteer fire department, the village association and the community is of great importance for safety in the town of Langwedel.