100 years of firefighting tradition
The Rakytovce Volunteer Fire Brigade has been in operation since 1924. In 2024, it celebrated its centenary with its original fire engine from 1930.
The formation of a voluntary corps
The Rakytovce Volunteer Fire Brigade was founded in 1924. Jozef Riečan (born 1900) became its first commander, leading the brigade from 1924 to 1928. His deputy was Juraj Kvasna and the secretary was Pavel Kvasna — the Kvasna family, who had been settled in Rakytovce since the 18th century, became the backbone of the brigade for the entire following century.
Following Riečan, the leadership was successively held by Ondrej Kvasna (1928–1929), Ján Viazanica (1929–1932) and Ondrej Riečan (1932–1936). During these early years, the brigade built up its basic equipment and organisational structure. In 1930, the brigade acquired a hand-operated fire pump, which is still in working order today.
Through the war and the post-war years
Pavel Strečok led the choir for longer than any of the other early conductors — a full 18 years (1936–1954) — during which time he steered the choir through the difficult period of the Second World War and the post-war reconstruction. He was succeeded by Ján Kvasna (born 1926), who later became the choir’s longest-serving member — for a full 66 years until his death in 2012.
In 1950, the post of choir chairman was established. Jozef Malachovský became the first chairman, followed by Ondrej Sáder and Pavel Lešták. The choir gradually became more professional — its members undertook specialist training and were awarded performance grades.
The Ondrej Kvasna Era
Ondrej Kvasna (born 1938) took over command in 1970 and led the brigade for a full 20 years. He has been a member of the brigade for over 63 years and serves as Chief Fire Safety Inspector of the Slovak Republic — the highest honour awarded to members of the Slovak Volunteer Fire Brigade. Since 1982, he has also been a member of the plenary of the Banská Bystrica District Committee of the Slovak Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Under his leadership, the team achieved outstanding results in competitions. Among the best were: 1st place for the under-35s fire brigade team in Priechod (1977), 1st place for the junior men’s team in Dúbravica and Valaská (1980) and 1st place for the junior women’s team in Vlkanová (1998). Throughout its history, the brigade has achieved 41 performance grades in the individual championship.
"In Žilina, in May 2003, Ondrej Kvasna received the award for Distinguished Member of the Slovak Republic’s Volunteer Fire Service. This award is the highest honour bestowed upon members of the Slovak Republic’s Volunteer Fire Service."
Current status of the Volunteer Fire Brigade
The voluntary fire brigade currently has 41 members, who carry out emergency response, educational and preventative activities with professional competence. The chairman is Ing. Ján Kvasna, the commander is Ján Kvasna, and the treasurer and secretary is Ľuboš Kvasna. The committee meets at least four times a year.
New members must complete basic training, which consists of an induction phase and an advanced training phase, and concludes with theoretical and practical examinations. The brigade is subordinate to the organisational unit of the Voluntary Fire Service of the Slovak Republic.
The brigade’s assets at the end of 2016 were valued at €7,634 and include a PPS-R 12 motorised fire engine, a working hand-operated fire engine dating from 1930, and a ŠKODA motorised fire engine purchased in September 2017 for €4,540.
Real-world interventions
- December 2012 — A fire broke out near house no. 50; it was extinguished before the Fire and Rescue Service arrived
- June 2013 — a lightning strike on a family home on Klenová Street
- January 2014 — a flat fire and a gas leak
- February 2016 — extinguishing a fire in a plastic waste bin on Vrbová Street
- January 2017 — chimney fire, soot ignition
More than just firefighters
The parish organises a year-round programme of cultural and community events. These include the January pig-slaughtering festival, the Shrovetide parade with music in February, the raising of the maypole on the last day of April, the feast of St Florian, patron saint of firefighters, on 4 May, the organisation of St John’s Day celebrations, International Children’s Day celebrations and a sports afternoon, the Uprising Bonfire to mark the anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising, as well as social games and fire brigade competitions for children.
For many people, firefighting is also becoming a modern sport, and young people are increasingly taking an interest in it. The youngest members of the brigade organise sports afternoons to mark Children’s Day and social games using firefighting equipment during the Uprising Bonfire celebrations.
The Centenary of the Volunteer Fire Brigade
In 2024, the Rakytovce Volunteer Fire Brigade celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding. Back in 2014, on the occasion of its 90th anniversary, the highlight of the celebrations was a fire brigade parade, during which the Rakytovce and Badín firefighters demonstrated their skills to a large audience using an original fire pump dating from 1930. District officials honoured the local firefighters at the time for their outstanding service.
The flag of the Rakytovce Volunteer Fire Brigade, designed by Ing. Ján Kvasna and Ondrej Kvasna following consultations with the Slovak Fire and Rescue Service in Bratislava, was presented to the brigade on 21 January 2009. The invoice for the flag was paid by the City of Banská Bystrica.
A historic petrol pump from 1930
The original hand-operated fire engine from 1930 is still in working order and forms part of the brigade’s assets. It is regularly demonstrated in action during anniversary celebrations — living proof of Rakytovce’s fire-fighting tradition, which stretches back almost a century.
Corps commanders
Over the course of its hundred-year history, the corps has been led by 14 commanders. The Kvasnov family is the most frequently represented on the list — four times as commander and five times as chairman.
The Creed of a Volunteer Firefighter
Do not seek either profit or fame in the voluntary fire brigade, but only the brotherly duty to help in times of distress.
If you’re a volunteer firefighter, be one with all your heart and soul.
Be selfless and brave, but always act with caution, don’t take unnecessary risks, and look after your health.
Treat your brothers as if they were your own kin; if you are better educated, do not look down on them, but strive to lift them up.
In a fire service, one’s usefulness is better demonstrated by actions than by words.
If you are a member of a voluntary fire brigade, follow these ten commandments and you will be a good volunteer firefighter.
Fire station
Volunteer Fire Brigade Armoury
Rakytovce, Banská Bystrica
By the Classicist bell tower
Emergency numbers
150 Firefighters
112 Integrated Rescue System
Discover more of the village’s traditions
Detailed information about the fire brigade can be found in the monograph *Rakytovec: A Town with Seven Streets* by M. Pecník and V. Luptáková (2015).