35th Birthday
Blue Township Fire Department Observed 35th Birthday
Last Month
Thursday, February 15, 2001 --
Appeared in Westmoreland Recorder
(Editor 's note: The following is a press release provided by Blue Township
Volunteer Fire and Rescue.)
Blue Township Volunteer Fire and Rescue silently celebrated its'
thirty-fifth year of service this past January.
The department was originally started by John Brooks Jr. because no
one but neighbors responded to his need January 20,1966. The building in which
K-Hill Automotive Supply was located was found on fire by local citizens. They
promptly
went to work with buckets and hand operated
fire extinguishers. Because of policy the Manhattan Fire Dept. could not make
the run that far from town, but they were able to send a city street
department truck. Several volunteer neighbors and caring citizens from St.
George pulled together and saved a large portion of the building and equipment
that night. On that night true friends were found and a community pulled
together as they did in the Flood of 93'. They cared enough to get involved.
It was after this unfortunate incident that John
Brooks showed his appreciation by starting the Blue Township Fire Department.
He served as a firefighter and Fire Chief for many years. It started with a
building big enough to hold three trucks.
Through the years the Department has grown as has our
community. Today the department consist of a fleet of seven fire apparatus and
a van that carries air tanks to refill air bottles on the scene. However, our
volunteers are still few in number. We have fifteen that work full time jobs,
most of them are day jobs. This limits the personnel that are available for
daytime calls. But, we haven't missed a call in many years, someone has been
there and as long as there are dedicated volunteers and employers that
understand, someone will be there.
There have been many changes just in the past five years. Because we
are active members of the State Fireman's Relief Fund, we have established an
insurance program. We are investigating the possibility of a Retirement
Program.
We want to thank John Brooks for his dedication and support to the
Department. Many businessman and residents too often take the availability of
Emergency Services, Ambulance and Fire, for granted. We take for granted the
little extra services they perform. But Blue Township Fire and Rescue is there
because we want to be there for our neighbors in need as well as those passing
through our area. We are there because we know how important it really is and
we hope there will be someone there for us in a time of need.
