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KINSMAN -- The Kinsman Fire Department is welcoming the public to a special open house starting at 10 a.m. Aug. 8 to celebrate its 100 years of service to the community.
Fire Chief Tyler Elser said he wants people to see all that the volunteer fire department does and its history in the community.
The fire department has 15 volunteers and averages 300 calls per year. Elser said while the department primarily covers Kinsman, it makes runs with mutual aid agreements for neighboring communities such as Gustavus.
"If we get a fire, they help us. If they have a fire, we go help them. It is a very good system we have in place,'' Elser said.
He is a fourth-generation firefighter and third-generation fire chief with his dad, Doug Elser, and great-uncle, Frank Carmichael, both being former chiefs.
"I have been very inspired by the hard work and dedication my dad has put toward everything. We have a business fixing fire trucks and being involved with him on that and following in his footsteps on the fire department makes me proud," Elser said.
He said he is a volunteer chief, with his full-time job being firetruck repair.
The fire department was established in 1926 and is younger than the Brookfield and Cortland fire departments, but older than Farmington, which was established in 1945.
"The fire department's future is the youth of the community. We want to get the interest from the youth. We accept people of all ages who want to volunteer. We have a spot for everyone,'' he said.
The department is an all-volunteer department who are dedicated to serving and protecting the township,
"If our pagers go off, we show up at the calls. We are fortunate to have a very dedicated group of volunteers who when they get a call at 2:30 a.m. they go out on the call,''Elser said,.
Elser said as chief, he works to get new and younger members to join the fire department.
"It is important to reach the younger generations about getting involved in firefighting. There are always ways to communicate with that younger generation,'' Elser said.
Doug Elser, who served as chief for six years, said what he has seen change the most is how hard it is to get volunteers.
"We are shorthanded, but appreciate the volunteers we have. We are more fortunate than many other departments who have no volunteers," he said.
Elser said he remembers a person who called one time saying he was interested in volunteering, but wanted to know how much he would get paid. Tyler Elser said most people want compensation for everything.
At the open house will be displays of historical documents such as fire call runs from the 1930s and fire vehicle and equipment display.
"We have the second fire truck that was ever purchased, a 1930 Model A. The original title for that truck has never left the association,'' Tyler Elser said.
Elser said at the open house, he will get inside the dunk tank and there are also plans for water battles with other fire departments.
The original first fire station, located on the northeast side of the state Route 7 bridge below the Town Square, was acquired and improvements made. This was the home of the fire department until the late 1960s when the current building was constructed on Ridge Road.
He said when the fire department first started, the original building was located on the center square. The next building was in 1946 behind the Market Square building by the bridge as people enter downtown.
The station at 8450 Ridge Road was constructed in 1971 and has seen some additions over the years, including remodeling in 1978 and an addition in 1979.
"That is our existing building we have now," Elser said.
The front of the building was added in 1971, providing a meeting room, office and additional truck bays to meet the needs of a growing community. Today, the fire department building continues to be owned and operated by the fire association. The township trustees contract to house the taxpayer funded emergency vehicles there.
Doug Elser said this year, the fire department took a back room of the building and added a door so the police department can store their cruisers inside.
"We have always had a good working relationship with the township.'' he said.
Tyler said vehicles and equipment have gotten larger and the department has been fortunate to receive grants over the years, including $18,000 for an extrication piece that helps cut into vehicles and spreads pieces apart.
"Our entire extrication tool platform on both our engine and our rescue are fully battery powered. With grants, we have been able to modernize without having to use budget money, which we do not have much of,'' he said.
Elser said in the past few years the department has been fortunate to get more than $50,000 in grants for needed equipment and training for staff.
In June, the public had the chance to see some fire department items at a community safety day at the park such as a burn trailer, and current and past fire trucks.
Township Trustee Chairman Greg Leonhard said a former trailer was turned into a smoke and fire safety truck that children can get inside and learn about not touching a hot stove and what to do if they see fire or smoke.
"The trailer helps us promote safety awareness for children. We have had that for about 30 years," Leonhard said
He said they were able to get the trailer and use it at many community events.
Leonhard said the volunteers are to be commended for always being willing to step up and help with fire and emergency calls.
HISTORY OF DEPARTMENT
The Kinsman Fire Truck Company, as it was originally named, came into being around 1926 with Lloyd Jones becoming its first chief. In 1929, John "Jack" Carkhuff became its second chief.
With a Model T Ford truck and a few tanks housed in the A.G. Birrell Garage, they were ready to serve the public.
In 1937, the township trustees bought a new truck and funds were solicited to finance the new organization.
During the 1940s, the women's auxiliary began. The members assist the firefighters where needed, and they continue to meet regularly at the fire hall.