When the hoofbeats fell silent – St. Johannes' fire brigade in Stockholm became motorized in 1916.
Johannes Fire Station was inaugurated on October 9, 1878 and quickly became the pride of Stockholm – a modern facility for a growing city. From here, for almost forty years, the horse-drawn fire engines rolled out, with their gleaming brass fittings, snorting fire engines and uniformed firefighters who faced the flames with courage and discipline.
The spring of 1916 marked the end of this era. In April, the last horses left the stables at Johannes for good. The old archive photo shows them being led out of the large gate – quietly, almost solemnly – after a long and faithful service. Shortly afterwards, the rumbling engines took over.
At the same time, a new era began: the Johannes fire department became motorized.
For decades, Stockholmers had rushed to their windows as fire alarms blared across the rooftops and the wagons roared through the night. The fire horses, not least the legendary Max and Dux, were the city's favorites – as appreciated as the firefighters they dragged to the fires.
But time caught up with them too. The fire chief, Captain A. Swinhufvud, saw the need for modernization. The city grew, the fires became more frequent, and the distances longer. The strength of the horses was no longer enough for the modern city.
Then came the first The Scania-Vabis automobiles – heavy, shiny and loaded with technology. Three vehicles now rolled out from Johannes at the alarm: a crew car, a motor sprayer and a ladder truck. An entire force could leave the station in under a minute, and with them they carried pumps, ladders and equipment that surpassed anything before.
For the firefighters at Johannes, the transition was both proud and sad. The horses, who had been their companions for decades, were taken to the country to enjoy their old age. When Max and Dux left the stable for the last time, many stood silent – they knew that something great was lost.
Stockholm had taken a step into the future. The snorting of horses had been replaced by the roar of engines, and a new kind of hero rolled out of the gates at Johannes – faster, stronger, more modern.
The fire department was now motorized. The fire had a new enemy.