Merger of the fire departments in Rosche: Stronger protection for everyone!

Merger of the fire departments in Rosche: Stronger protection for everyone!

On November 2nd, 2025, exciting changes are coming to the Rosche community. One topic that concerns people here is the upcoming merger of the fire departments in Jarlitz, Stöcken and Süttorf-Dörmte. These three local fire departments will operate together under the name Wipperau Volunteer Fire Department on January 1, 2026. The municipality's fire department committee has already voted unanimously for this decision az online reported.

Why the merger? The local fire chiefs of the three fire departments have shown a good hand and brought in the desire for cohesion. One main reason is the lack of young talent in the leadership of the armed forces. The membership numbers of the Rosche joint community are considerable, with a total of 517 members in the operations department, but the operations show that there is an urgent need for action. Between January and October 2025, the fire departments responded to 149 missions, including 55 fires and 46 rescue operations. False alarms in particular, many of them at night, are cause for concern - poorly maintained fire alarm systems may be responsible for this.

A new home for the fire department

The merger will not only offer the firefighters new perspectives, but also a new home: the fire station in Stöcken will in future be the location of the Wipperau Volunteer Fire Department. The youth fire department is also getting a breath of fresh air with the new name Wipperau. In a total of three extraordinary meetings, the members voted by a large majority in favor of the merger. Jarlitz and Stöcken gave the green light without any dissenting votes, while in Süttorf-Dörmte three members expressed their concerns. However, the Oetzen fire department remains independent and belongs to the north-west section of the joint municipality.

The realignment of the fire department is not only of organizational importance, but is also supported by the municipality and the municipal command. It can be assumed that the women and men in uniform will soon be strengthened and stand together for the safety of local citizens.

Community activities in the collective community

But the news in Rosche is not limited to the fire department. The Rosche elementary school also has positive news to report: It received a check for 2,000 euros from the Community Foundation for the Uelzen District. This money will be used to convert part of the schoolyard into an “outdoor classroom”. School principal Susanne Prehm was grateful and emphasized the importance of the support for the realization of the project. The planned benches made of recycled plastic and the outdoor planting show that sustainability is becoming more and more important here. It is already the third school in the Uelzen district to be recognized in the ideas competition, which could trigger further initiatives in this direction. District Administrator Dr. Heiko Blume, the chairman of the community foundation Andreas Richter and the joint mayor Michael Widdecke congratulated at the ceremonial check handover.

There is strong community commitment in the Rosche community – both in the fire departments and in the schools. It remains to be seen what further measures and ideas will emerge from this positive dynamic.