An honorary position on two wheels: Fire brigade Vespa

Johannes Gronau has been an active firefighter in Schondorf am Ammersee for more than two decades and has been the fire brigade's youth officer since 2018. With his commitment, the agricultural technology assistant and event technician specifically recruits young people for voluntary work - and for a while now, he has even been motorised. He has transformed a dilapidated Vespa PK 50 XL 2 (built in 1991) into a rolling advertising vehicle with a classic fire service look.

Florietta 17/0 - from scrap find to show bike

The "advertising Vespa" bears the radio call sign Florietta 17/0 and was completely restored in 2018. Plates straightened, technology overhauled, then a DIN-compliant two-colour paint job in RAL 3000 fire red and RAL 9010 pure white - this is how the scooter presents itself like a mini fire engine.

Electronics like the big ones

• Magnet battery-powered XR20 Eco blue light on the Handlebar

• Axixtech front, rear and rear warning flashers

• Hänsch 620 tone sequence system (electronic Martin horn)

• Sepura radio (show mode)

All components are neatly wired and are supplied from a separately fused on-board battery, so the original Vespa electrics remain untouched. Practical details such as tubeless Tyres and a top case for Helmet & information material also make the PK 50 ready for use at any city festival.

Together against the loss of members

Under the motto "Not without you!", Johannes tours with Florietta to schoolyards, village festivals and classic car meetings. The Vespa attracts curious glances - and opens the door to conversations about training, camaraderie and modern technology in the volunteer fire service. The aim is to inspire young people to join the service and introduce adults to this life-saving voluntary work.

Teamwork made in Ammersee

The project was made possible thanks to regional sponsors: from the Raster & Vogl paint shop to signalling equipment specialists such as BOS-Bedarf. The companies took care of Paint, foiling, sandblasting and blue light hardware - Johannes contributed spanners and countless hours of his heart and soul.

Florietta 17/0 shows how much passion there is in 50 cubic centimetres of Vespa Plate - and that creative ideas can put the volunteer fire service in the spotlight in a flash.