With heart and soul, and a blue light

When a local fire brigade wanted to retire a 1986 vintage water tender from service, firefighter Henning simply bought it himself. Since then, he has been taking part in tours and drivers' meetings with his beloved classic vehicle.

Henning Pickert is a passionate firefighter. He has been a full-time firefighter with the German Armed Forces since 2019 – but the 34 year old has already been active in his local volunteer fire brigade in Wunstorf, Lower Saxony, for more than 20 years. For Henning, this commitment comes naturally – he was born there and also lives there.

He also holds the position of equipment manager here. Even as a child, he was fascinated by heavy vehicles and machines. No real surprise, as his father is a farmer – so Henning developed an interest in agricultural machinery at an early age. "And in the fire service, driving is part of the job", he explains.

When a VW MAN G 9.136FAE from 1986 was taken out of service at his station due to its age, the Großenheidorn volunteer fire brigade in the town of Wunstorf in the Hanover region, Henning seized the opportunity. The water tender was in operation until 2019. It is largely in its original condition. "I just had to replace the old tyres and choose a wider tyre size", explains Henning. "The original dimensions are almost impossible to find." The blue lights were also allowed to remain – albeit covered in opaque material as a legal requirement. "A friend sewed me some blue hoods for them out of HGV tarpaulin. This maintains the original flair."

The vehicle, a water tender, is primarily designed for firefighting. Henning is particularly proud of the built-in water tank and a functioning pump with a rapid intervention hose – a real piece of fire service history that he wants to preserve.

When he bought the classic vehicle, Henning was grateful for his girlfriend's understanding. They are currently renovating a house together, which will also feature a large garage. "It was always my desire to have the fire engine at home and to be able to use it more often." Until then, it will be stored in a friend's barn.

The fascination of fire engines

However, he has acquired not only a machine with a strong character, but also something he wants to preserve for posterity and demonstrate a piece of fire service history: "For the general public, I realise that fire engines are always fascinating to young and old", he reflects. He enjoys taking part in events and classic car meetings – occasionally with enthusiastic children in the vehicle. "Fire engines have a special appeal – the bright red colour, the sound of the engine and the equipment are simply impressive."

The vintage vehicle recently made a special appearance at the 100th anniversary of the Großenheidorn volunteer fire brigade. "We put it on display and it was a real draw for visitors." However, Henning is interested not only in the vehicle, but also in focussing on volunteering and the fire service.

All we can say is: thank you for your service!