History of Auburn Volunteer Fire Department
- 1965 In addition to their fund raising efforts, members strung
an auxiliary line to the radio transmitter. The purchase of a new
engine was also arranged, replacing the first pumper the department
purchased.
- 1966 The new engine arrived and was placed into service, the old
pumper was auctioned off during a chicken barbeque held in the fall
and the donation of a rescue boat was arranged from a local marine
dealer.
- 1967 The sesquicentennial celebration of the founding of Auburn
Township was the high point of the year. Advanced fire training and
first aid classes took up a good amount of the members' time.
- 1968 The usual annual fund raising events were held this year.
The department members even agreed to paint the town hall for some
financial consideration from the township trustees, which was used
to purchase needed equipment.
- 1969 The big news of this year was the purchase of the seven
acres of land west of town hall (the site of the present day fire
station) by the township trustee board. A major storm interrupted
everyone's Forth-of-July festivities, with roads being blocked with
downed trees and a number of overturned boats on the reservoir.
- 1970 Basic fire fighting courses were held in the spring for the
newer members and all the personnel participated in advanced courses
in the fall. The records show that the county fire departments were
advised of possible terrorist threats against government buildings,
an interesting development when compared to the current time we live
in.
- 1971 This year found the members busy with a first aid course
while performing a number of maintenance chores inside the fire
station.
- 1972 The ranks of department were affected by the calling up of
some if its members for active duty in the military. Plans were also
made to switch over to the new countrywide fire department radio
frequency.
- 1973 In addition to their fund raising and training efforts the
members sandblasted and painted the outside of the fire station.
Work was also needed on the transmitter lines again, this time with
new telephone poles being required.
- 1974 New state regulations caused the ambulanced being operated
by area funeral homes to discontinue operations late in the year.
Quite a bit of time and effort were put into developing a countywide
ambulance service, unfortunately this never materialized.
- 1975 The township's eighteen hundred residences were now being
provided service from First Call Ambulance based in South Russell.
Plans were made to increase the level of first aid training for
department members. A large water tanker needed substantial
modifications to suit the department's need was acquired through the
Disaster Services Agency on a federal loan program.
- 1976 This was a notable year. In addition to the Bicentennial
wagon train heading to Philadelphia passing through Auburn Township,
the residents of the community voted to pass the first fire levy, of
which the proceeds would go towards building a new fire station. The
planning of alternatives for ambulance service continued.
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