The 22 volunteer members of Gallatin Fire and Rescue have given a total of over 200 years of service to their community.
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The 22 volunteer members of Gallatin Fire and Rescue have given a total of over 200 years of service to their community.
Volunteer firefighters are ordinary men with families and jobs that give of themselves freely to help friends, neighbors and strangers in times of need.
Gallatin Fire and Rescue covers approximately 90 square miles, including all of Union and part of Liberty, Sheridan, Monroe, Harrison and Jackson townships.
“With the mutual aid agreement, local fire departments go wherever they are called,” said Fire Chief Eric Kloepping.
Mr. Kloepping said Gallatin has not yet seen increased calls with the advent of winter.
The Gallatin Fire Department has answered 40 calls so far this year. Those calls included 28 fires (six vehicle, 12 structure, eight brush/grass, one smoke investigation, and one propane tank) 10 vehicle accidents; and two rescues (one farm extrication and one water rescue).
No previous training is required for a volunteer fireman, although it is helpful. Training is provided the firefighters once a month.
“No fire fighter is allowed to do anything they are not trained to do,” said Mr. Kloepping.
Chief Kloepping says the number of volunteers declines during the weekdays, while a percent of the firefighters are working, most outside of city limits.
Firefighters and their years of service are: Eric Kloepping, Fire Chief 18; David Hickey 3; Gary Hamilton 18; David Walker 8; Bob Gibson 9; Roger Loxterman 34; Brian Roe 1; Barron Gann 4; John Sullenger 10; Steve Reid 7; Wendell Gunzenhauser 4; Teddy Holcomb 1; Todd Holcomb 9; Eric Belshe 4; Larry Rhoades 7; Darrell Wilson 25; Scott Widner 5; John Wood Jr. 12; Doug Hamilton 7; Daniel Wilson 2; Jason Smith 1; Frank Dunnington 15.
Apparatus and equipment available to the Gallatin Fire Department includes full bunker gear and seven SCBA (Self-Contained-Breathing-Apparatus).
The bunker gear is about nine years old, according to Chief Kloepping. The SCBA costs about $2000 a piece and is in need of replacement.
Aboard the Gallatin fire trucks can be found a ventilation fan, brush/grass fire equipment, fire extinguishers, axes, pike poles, ladders, pry bars, and various sized hose and boosterlines.
In addition, Gallatin has three diver’s with full diving equipment, the Kinmann tool (Jaws-of-Life), air bags, and miscellaneous extrication equipment.
A 1993 International truck is the newest pumper truck. The other vehicles include a 71 Ford pumper and a 57 Chevy pumper, a 77 Ford van rescue squad and a 16 foot rescue boat.
“Fire districts are a must for the future of fire departments in order to maintain upgrading and maintenance of equipment with the rising replacement costs,” notes Chief Kloepping.
In the Nov. 7 election the Gallatin Fire & Rescue accrued a bill of $1,216.48 in pursuit of a Fire District. The bill has been paid by donations from the volunteers of the Fire Department.
“We hope to run the proposed district again soon,” said Chief Kloepping.