Kolekcionar vatrogasnog znakovlja

U prvoj polovici 1896. godine županijski perovođa Dragutin Vilfan u krugu malobrojnih uglednih općinara podržao je zamisao o osnivanju mjesnog dobrovoljnog vatrogasnog društva. Iako je narod u Brinju i okolici trpio veliko siromaštvo i plačao visoke državne poreze i lokalne namete, brinjska opčina izdvojila je 300 forinti za nabavu najnužnije vatrogasne opreme i obećala svake godine davati tu svotu do se ne isplati nabavljena oprema. Za početak je od tvrtke R.A.Smekala u Češkoj nabavljena kvalitetna vozna štrcaljka s cijevima, a zatim ljestve i penjačko oruđe. Trošak je iznosio 1.600 forinti. Čim su iz Češke stigle prve vatrogasne sprave , u Brinju 20.rujna 1896. održana je osnivačka skupština Dobrovoljnog vatrogasnog društva. Za nadvojvodu( predsjednika) izabran je trgovac Juraj Jelačić, za vojvodu (zapovjednika) izabran je šumar Ivan Donadini, za podvojvodu ( zamjenika zapovjednika) izabran je Ivan Prpić, za tajnika učitelj Josip Hetešy a za blagajnika Ilija Nečak. ( izvor: monografija DVD Brinje 1896.-2016.)

In the first half of 1896, county prefect Dragutin Vilfan, among a few prominent municipalities, supported the idea of ​​establishing a local voluntary fire brigade. Although the people in Brinje and its surroundings suffered great poverty and paid high state taxes and local levies, the Brinje municipality set aside 300 forints for the purchase of the most necessary firefighting equipment and promised to give that amount every year until the purchased equipment pays off. To begin with, a quality hose syringe was purchased from R.A.smekala in the Czech Republic, followed by a ladder and climbing tools. The cost was 1,600 forints. As soon as the first firefighting equipment arrived from the Czech lands, the founding assembly of the Voluntary Fire Brigade was held in Brinje on September 20, 1896. Merchant Juraj Jelačić was elected archduke (president), forester Ivan Donadini was elected duke (commander), Ivan Prpić was elected deputy archduke (deputy commander), Josip Hetešy a teacher secretary and Ilija Nečak treasurer. (source: monograph DVD Brinje 1896-2016)