Founding Station 40, the story of the "First and Fastest"
Ole (Pronounced O'-lay) County Fire and Rescue Station one was founded by some veterans from the Great War in October of 1915. Since that time we have grown to include all of Ole County and we have 4 stations. At the time of our founding we had two horse-drawn hose wagons, but in 1923 the department purchased one Model-T engine.
In 1936 the department purchased a 1930 Mack 1000 GPM pumper. This was the dawn of the modern fire department in Ole County. During World War II Ole County had problems running our department due to gas cuts. Because of this problem, the fire department resorted to "safety patrols," where firefighters walked or biked around the county looking for accidents or fires.
In 1954 the department renumbered the first station to number 40 and we purchased a 1950 Ford pumper and a 1956 Cadillac/Meteor ambulance. The department kept running these units until the early 1970s when we purchased a Dodge type II ambulance; a 1972 Mack CF ladder; a 1972 Mack CF rescue truck; and the pumper was replaced by a 1971 Maxim F-series pumper.
The department operated the ladder truck until 1988, but the ambulance was replaced in 1981 by a 1980 Ford Chateau ambulance. The Mack rescue truck remained in service until 1986, when it was replaced by a 1985 Ford F350 squad unit. Finally, in 1989 the old Mack CF ladder truck was replaced by a Pierce Arrow 75ft RMA.
In 1999 the department got a complete refit, and all the apparatus were sold and new ones were bought. The ladder truck was replaced by a 1999 E-one HM100 Aerial; the pumper was replaced by a 1999 Pierce quantum pumper; and a new 1995 Ford F-350 regular cab XL ambulance.
All of these units were operated until 2015, when the aerial was sold. Now, the department operates a 2004 Chevrolet 2400 ambulance, a 1990 Freightliner FL70 Commercial engine, and a Ford f-450 Brush unit. Plans to add a dive team have been put off until 2020 due to cost restrictions.
In 1936 the department purchased a 1930 Mack 1000 GPM pumper. This was the dawn of the modern fire department in Ole County. During World War II Ole County had problems running our department due to gas cuts. Because of this problem, the fire department resorted to "safety patrols," where firefighters walked or biked around the county looking for accidents or fires.
In 1954 the department renumbered the first station to number 40 and we purchased a 1950 Ford pumper and a 1956 Cadillac/Meteor ambulance. The department kept running these units until the early 1970s when we purchased a Dodge type II ambulance; a 1972 Mack CF ladder; a 1972 Mack CF rescue truck; and the pumper was replaced by a 1971 Maxim F-series pumper.
The department operated the ladder truck until 1988, but the ambulance was replaced in 1981 by a 1980 Ford Chateau ambulance. The Mack rescue truck remained in service until 1986, when it was replaced by a 1985 Ford F350 squad unit. Finally, in 1989 the old Mack CF ladder truck was replaced by a Pierce Arrow 75ft RMA.
In 1999 the department got a complete refit, and all the apparatus were sold and new ones were bought. The ladder truck was replaced by a 1999 E-one HM100 Aerial; the pumper was replaced by a 1999 Pierce quantum pumper; and a new 1995 Ford F-350 regular cab XL ambulance.
All of these units were operated until 2015, when the aerial was sold. Now, the department operates a 2004 Chevrolet 2400 ambulance, a 1990 Freightliner FL70 Commercial engine, and a Ford f-450 Brush unit. Plans to add a dive team have been put off until 2020 due to cost restrictions.