Günther Rapf (66) honored by the fire brigade association

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Günther Rapf from Petershausen was honored for half a century of active service in the fire department. Two of his granddaughters are also in the military today.

Petershausen/Ried – Some decisions in life are easy. For example, if you grow up 250 meters from a fire station. That was the case with Günther Rapf. “Together with two others my age, I said: Okay, let’s go to the fire department, let’s take a look,” remembers the now 66-year-old. In his case, he looked at the fire department for a damn long time. At the fire department honorary evening at the Doll inn in Ried, Rapf, now 66 years old, was honored for a whopping 50 years of active service. Half a century for fire protection, in which Rapf has experienced a lot.

Rapf was living in Vierkirchen when he knocked on the door of the Vierkirchen volunteer fire department at the age of 15. “Youth work didn’t exist at the time. You were there and were accepted into the group. And then you learned everything the adults did.” The range of applications was “many, many worlds” away from what it is today, says Rapf. The fire department had a Ford Transit. “There was room for five people in there – and sometimes ten,” laughs Rapf. Pump out a portable pump and a submersible pump to the basement. That’s it!

The daughters and granddaughters also went to the fire department

When Rapf was 18, he was asked if he wanted to wear a breathing apparatus. He wanted. He took the appropriate course in Regensburg. “Yes, and as life is, at 18 you are flexible. Then I came to Petershausen and that’s where I met my current wife.” And someone else: Alfred Spielberg, then commander of the FFW Petershausen. “He said to me: Come over, we need you. Then I went to the Petershausen fire department,” said Rapf. And stayed. Til today.

At the age of 20 he married his Katharina. Professionally, he entered into a liaison with MTU. Rapf became a cutting machine operator, master craftsman, production manager and father of two daughters who – you can guess – are now in the fire department: Susanna Peschel (44) in Weichs and Katharina Brandt (46) in Petershausen. The family grew to include five grandchildren. The Petershausen fire department added two more members: Rapf’s granddaughters Sophia and Annalena Brandt. The latter became a nurse and unfortunately no longer has time for the military today.

Günther Rapf cared not only about his own offspring, but also those of the fire department. So he became a youth officer. He later completed group leader training and was a member of the working group for the construction of the new fire station in Petershausen. Oh yes, the busy one also became a local councilor. He sat in meetings for the Free Voters for twelve years. Actually enough volunteer work for one person. But then today’s district fire chief Georg Reischl turned the corner.

The operation in the Ahr Valley was unforgettable

Like Rapf, Reischl comes from Vierkirchen. You know each other well. “He asked me: Yes, what about you, wouldn’t you like to become a district trainer?” Rapf remembers. Now the 66-year-old is the owner of a small forest. And what should a forest owner be able to handle well? Correct: with a chainsaw. “I became a member of the chainsaw training group for the district. I still do that today,” says Rapf.

When asked what the most important missions have been in the past 50 years, Rapf mentions, in addition to serious traffic accidents and dangerous major fires, the mission in the Ahr Valley. Exactly five years ago, on July 14, 2021, a tidal wave shot through the river valley in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. 135 people lost their lives. Rapf was part of the Dachau district’s disaster contingent that helped with the cleanup work. “If you remember the pictures, it was crazy. You can’t believe what a mass of water there must have been.”

Rapf has been retired for almost three years. As far as the fire department is concerned, he stopped with respiratory protection at the age of 50 and as a youth officer at the age of 55. But: “Thanks to the new fire station, the number of young people has increased. That’s why I still support the current youth warden.” Günther Rapf is still allowed to serve for nine months. Until he’s 67. That’s the law. But he is allowed to continue as an instructor. And that is set.

Günther Rapf will “definitely” continue his job with the chainsaw. But it also remains with the offspring. Because: “I enjoy all the youth work when you see that the boys implement what you explain to them.” Things were no different for him 50 years ago.