Kolekcionar vatrogasnog znakovlja

Nazočnost požara u selu bila je česta pojave jer su kuće bile građene od drveta, a krovovi pokriveni slamom. Požari su nastajali ljudskim nemarom. Tako se 1781. godine dogodio veliki požar koji su uzrokovala djeca. Jedno dijete bacilo je na slamnati krov ugarak koji se rasplamsao na krovu te se u roku od nekoliko sati zapalilo još 5 kuća. Puhao je snažan vjetar, a vatra je uništila 29 kuća. Domaćini su u to vrijeme bili na poljima i u vinogradima. Na Tijelovo 1870. godine pojavila se vatra nedaleko od župne crkve. U nekoliko sati stradalo je 13 gospodara. Izgorjele su kuće, hambari, štaglji, staje i kukuružnjaci. U gašenju požara pomogli su ljudi iz Virja, Đurđevca i Koprivnice. Požar nisu mogli ugasiti jer je te godine bila velika suša. U to vrijeme nije bilo vatrogasaca. Veliki požar buknuo je u jednom štaglju u vrijeme kad su ukućani večerali. Vatra je plamsala čitavu noć, a tinjala još 13 dana. Palmen je bio toliko snažan da se vidio čak od Drave. Požar je skoro zahvatio crkvu i školu. Stradalni od ovog požara dobili su drvo za obnovu iz Gabajeve Grede. Ljudi sa danima pričali o velikom požaru te o šteti koju je napravio ljudima. Tako se ukazala potreba za osnivanjem vatrogasnog društva. Dobrovoljno vatrogasno društvo osnovano je na prvoj redovnoj skupštini 28. travnja 1978. Privremeni odbor sastavio je određena pravila te je izabran i definitivni odbor koji su sačinjavali Fran Pevalek (nadvojvoda), Alfred barun Scholten (vojvoda), Slavan Vrančić (vođa vodonosaca) te Moses Deutsch (vođa čuvar).

Fran Pevalek bio je predsjednik, Marko Grivić učitelj, Goldschnidt i Deutsch trgovci te Alfred Scholten major. Prva pokazna vježba održana je 5. svibnja. Prvi tajnik bio je Ivan Matunci, a djelovođa Petar Gerić. Članovi vatrogasnog društva sudjelovali su u velikoj procesiji na Tijelovo. Godine 1879. podupirajući čalnovi plaćaju članarinu od 3 forinta. Svećeničku dužnost tada vrši Ignac Klemenčić dok je Antun Ottahal liječnik. Zemaljska vlada potvrdila je pravila društva 14. listopada 1878. Općinske vlasti redovno pomažu vatrogasno društvo, a ta je novčana potpora iznosila 100 forinti. Kraljevska vlada u Zagrebu pismeno je pohvalila članove vatrogasnog društva Novigrad za sudjelovanje u gašenju požara u Virju 1881. godine. Već 1884. društvo formira vatrogasnu glazbu, a voditelj postaje Mato Klauček. Tajničku dužnost vrši kapetan Petar Hirjan. Vatrogasci nabavljaju i svoju zastavu,a prvi barjaktar bio je Ivan Trnski. Iste godine Ivan Pevalek imenovan je počasnim nadvojvodom. Nakon prvog svjestkog rata društvo se obnavlja, a rad društva pokrenuli su: Mijo Peroš, Tomo Klauček i Ivan Helinger. Predsjednik društva bio je Franjo Vedriš, nadvojvoda Mijo Matunci dok tajničku dužnost vrši ljekarnik Vranić. Tada se rodila misao o gradnji vatrogasnog doma. Uz pomoćbanke iz Zagreba i Gospodarskog društva iz Bjelovara gradi se veliki vatrogasni dom. Vatrogasci Novigrada obavili su sve teže i važnije poslove. Godine 1929. društvo zamjenjuje svoju zastavu novom kojoj je kumovala Marija Vedriš. Iste godine u svibnju održana je posveta vatrogasnog doma. Predsjednik kasnije postaje Đuro Ljubić koji je dao izgraditi vatrogasni toranj.

Zaslugom Martina Lovričeka 1939. društvo kupuje novu štrcaljku na ručni pogon dok je 1949. nabavljena nova motorna štrcaljka. Jedan od izuzetno marljivih i požrtvovnih vatrogasaca bio je i Martin Šlabek. Vatrogasci su imali i svoju limenu glazbu. Novigradski vatrogasci prisutvovali su značajnim obljetnicama mnogih vatrogasnih društava; iz Koprivnice, Virja, Hlebina, Molvi, Sigeca, Bregi, Miholjanca, Kalinovca, Delova, Šemovaca, Plavšinca, Gabajeve Grede i mnogih drugih. Članovi društva često priređuju novogodišnje zabave. Godine 1952. nabavljene su kape za glazbenike koji djeluju pod vodstvom Franje Čoliga. Organiziraju se i pokazne vježbe za pučanstvo. Vatrogasci sudjeluju u proslavama u Medvedički i Novom Virju. Godine 1954. obilježena je 76. obljetnica postojanja vatrogasnog društva. Tom prigodom zlatnu medalju dobio je Martin Šlabek doksu srebrne medalje dobili Ivan Peroš i Ivan Rušak. Na proslavu su pozvana sva društva koja djeluju u okolici Novigrada. Na tečaj za vatrogasnog podoficira u Koprivnici upućuju se: Stjepan Honatinović i Franjo Trepotec. Pjevačko društvo „Ivan vitez Trnski" traži i dobiva novčanu potporu od 2000 dinara za nabavu glazbala. Na proslavu u Varaždin odlaze Lovriček, Šlabek Josip i Šlabek Martin. Na sjednici Upravnog odbora održanoj 5. veljače 1956. predlaže se prema naputku iz Koprivniceosnivanje općinskih vatrogasnih odbora. Pod Novigrad spadaju sljedeća društva: Hlebine, Plavšinac, Gabajeva Greda, Jeduševac i Borovljani. Na prvomajskoj zabavi društvo ostvaruje veću novčanu dobit, a sredstva su korištena z anabavu cijevi, za popravak agregata te za kupnju uniformi. Godine 1957. formiraju se 3 odjeljenja vatrogasne službe. Organiziraju se redovita dežurstva u kino dvorani Društvenog doma. U vatrogasno društvo uključani su uglavnom poljoprivrednici te manji broj obrtnika. Tijekom 1958. društvo ima 37 aktivnih članova. Vatrogasci su uključeni u zimskim mjesecima u raščiščavanju cesta i puteva u mjestu. Na vatrogasni toranj montirana je električna sirena te se donosi odluka da se svake nedjelje u podne oglasi jednoličnim zvukom od jedne minute.

The presence of fires in the village was a frequent occurrence because the houses were built of wood and the roofs were covered with straw. Fires were caused by human negligence. Thus, in 1781, there was a big fire caused by children. One child threw a stick onto the straw roof, which caught fire on the roof, and within a few hours, 5 more houses caught fire. A strong wind was blowing, and the fire destroyed 29 houses. At that time, the hosts were in the fields and vineyards. On Corpus Christi in 1870, a fire appeared not far from the parish church. In a few hours, 13 masters died. Houses, barns, stables, barns and cornfields burned down. People from Virje, Đurđevac and Koprivnica helped extinguish the fire. They couldn't put out the fire because there was a big drought that year. There were no firefighters at the time. A big fire broke out in one of the barns while the household was having dinner. The fire burned all night, and smoldered for another 13 days. Palmen was so strong that it could be seen even from the Drava. The fire almost engulfed the church and the school. Those who suffered from this fire received wood for reconstruction from Gabaje Greda. For days, people talked about the big fire and the damage it did to people. Thus, the need to establish a firefighting company arose. The volunteer firefighting society was founded at the first regular assembly on April 28, 1978. The temporary committee drew up certain rules and the definitive committee was elected, consisting of Fran Pevalek (archduke), Alfred baron Scholten (duke), Slavan Vrančić (leader of water carriers) and Moses Deutsch (guardian leader).

Fran Pevalek was the president, Marko Grivić the teacher, Goldschnidt and Deutsch the merchants and Alfred Scholten the major. The first demonstration exercise was held on May 5. The first secretary was Ivan Matunci, and the manager was Petar Gerić. Members of the fire brigade participated in a large procession to Tijelovo. In 1879, supporting members pay a membership fee of 3 forints. Ignac Klemenčić then performs the priestly duties while Antun Ottahal is the doctor. The national government confirmed the rules of the society on October 14, 1878. The municipal authorities regularly help the fire brigade, and this monetary support amounted to 100 forints. The royal government in Zagreb praised the members of the Novigrad fire brigade in writing for their participation in extinguishing the fire in Virje in 1881. As early as 1884, the company formed a fire brigade band, and Mato Klauček became the leader. Captain Petar Hirjan performs secretarial duties. The firefighters also procure their own flag, and the first flag bearer was Ivan Trnski. In the same year, Ivan Pevalek was appointed honorary archduke. After the first conscious war, the society was rebuilt, and the society's work was started by: Mijo Peroš, Tomo Klauček and Ivan Helinger. The president of the society was Franjo Vedriš, Archduke Mijo Matunci, while the secretary was the pharmacist Vranić. That's when the idea of building a fire station was born. A large fire station is being built with the help of the bank from Zagreb and the Economic Society from Bjelovar. Novigrad firefighters performed increasingly difficult and important tasks. In 1929, the society replaced its flag with a new one sponsored by Marija Vedriš. In May of the same year, the dedication of the fire station was held. The president later became Đuro Ljubić, who had the fire tower built.

Thanks to Martin Lovriček, in 1939 the company bought a new hand-operated syringe, while in 1949 a new motorized syringe was acquired. One of the extremely diligent and selfless firefighters was Martin Šlabek. The firefighters also had their own brass band. Novigrad firefighters were present at significant anniversaries of many fire brigades; from Koprivnica, Virje, Hlebin, Molva, Sigec, Brega, Miholjanac, Kalinovac, Delov, Šemovac, Plavšinac, Gabajevo Greda and many others. Society members often organize New Year's parties. In 1952, caps were purchased for musicians working under the leadership of Franjo Čolig. Demonstration exercises for the public are also organized. Firefighters take part in the celebrations in Medvedička and Novi Virje. In 1954, the 76th anniversary of the existence of the fire brigade was marked. On that occasion, the gold medal went to Martin Šlabek, while the silver medals went to Ivan Peroš and Ivan Rušak. All companies operating in the vicinity of Novigrad are invited to the celebration. Stjepan Honatinović and Franjo Trepotec are referred to the course for firefighting non-commissioned officers in Koprivnica. The "Ivan vitez Trnski" singing society asks for and receives financial support of 2,000 dinars for the purchase of musical instruments. Lovriček, Šlabek Josip and Šlabek Martin go to Varaždin for the celebration. At the meeting of the Board of Directors held on February 5, 1956, it is proposed, according to the instructions from Koprivnica, to establish a municipal fire brigade board. The following societies belong to Novigrad: Hlebine, Plavšinac, Gabajeva Greda, Jeduševac and Borovljani. At the May Day party, the society achieves a larger financial profit, and the funds were used for the purchase of pipes, for the repair of aggregates and for the purchase of uniforms. In 1957, 3 were formed department of the fire service. Regular duty hours are organized in the cinema hall of the Community Center. The fire brigade is mainly comprised of farmers and a small number of craftsmen. During 1958, the society has 37 active members. Firemen are involved in the winter months in clearing the roads and paths in the village. an electric siren was installed in the fire tower, and a decision was made to sound a monotonous sound for one minute every Sunday at noon.