On April 13, 1942, Kewanee, Illinois, a city of 16,000, suffered a disastrous fire in its downtown area. Three business blocks were ablaze.

The Kewanee Fire Department reached out to 11 area fire departments for firefighting assistance. The Peoria (IL) Fire Department, one of the responding fire companies, sent a 1931 Ahrens-Fox 1,000-gallon-per-minute piston pumper and a crew of four to aid in the battle. When all the flames were extinguished, 20 buildings with 50 businesses were destroyed. The loss totaled $3 million ($60 million today).

Fast forward to Labor Day weekend 2025 and the Kewanee Hog Capital of the World Festival Parade. In the fall of 2024, Mark Mikenas, executive director of the Kewanee Illinois Chamber of Commerce, contacted me to arrange to have a fire truck in the 2025 parade. That parade would mark 50 years since the Chamber’s Ambassador Club had taken on running the annual parade to assist the Hog Capital Committee. For several years, the Ambassadors would use my 1931 International-Boyer pumper as their parade entry. Ambassadors would also travel to nearby parades to encourage participation in the Kewanee parade.

Coming up with a fire truck was not a problem as I am involved in the Wheels O’ Time Museum in Peoria. The museum has several pieces of fire apparatus on display, including a 1968 Pirsch pumper that is its parade rig. For sure, there would be a fire truck for the 2025 parade. As the museum started operations this spring, it was time to make formal arrangements to reserve a truck for the Kewanee event. Two rigs were offered: the 1968 Pirsch that was capable of driving the 50 miles to Kewanee or the 1931 Ahrens-Fox that would have to be trailered. The costs involved to trailer the Ahrens-Fox suggested the parade-ready Pirsch would be the best fit.

David Kronke
The Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Ind.
(TNS)

As Terre Haute Fire Department Chief Darrick Scott was thanking the city for providing the department with a new fourth ambulance on Wednesday, another city ambulance raced by Fire Station 9, its siren blaring.

Scott drolly noted that the EMS vehicle’s propitious timing underscored the need of the ambulance fleet.

The fourth ambulance, which nonetheless goes by the name MEDIC 5, was introduced and placed into service Wednesday at Station 9, 561 W. Margaret Ave., after a news conference.

Mayor Brandon Sakbun noted that the city has had only three ambulances over the past 34 years, a 28% jump in run calls in the past five years.

Deputy Chief of EMS Operations for the Terre Haute Fire Department Diana Luther said, “This investment is not just in equipment — it’s an investment in our people. It means our paramedics and EMTs will have the resources they need to do their jobs effectively, without being overextended.”

She promised the citizens of Terre Haute, “When you or your loved ones face an emergency, our EMS professionals will be there — faster, stronger and better equipped than ever before.”

After the press conference, Luther said, “This has been a long time coming. Our run volume has continued to increase over the last 30 years, but most definitely in the last five years, with a 4,000-run increase over the last five years. We’ve had the same amount of ambulances for 30 years. This is a huge asset.”

She added, “It’s going to decrease the run volume between our crews, splitting it up from three crews to four crews. Some of our ambulances were running 15, 16 runs a day. Hopefully, this takes it down to a more manageable number.

Luther continued, “Some of these runs take roughly an hour at a time to complete, and if they’re doing 15 or 16 runs a day, they are exhausted. This hopefully will keep them sharper and be able to provide a great service to our community.”

The new ambulance cost approximately $400,000 and was paid for with funds collected from those who have used EMS services. It joins the other three ambulances, which are dispersed throughout the city.

“Originally, with MEDIC 7, 8 and 9, they were at the outskirts of town so that everybody would have to come in,” Luther said. “With MEDIC 5, we decided to bring it [to Station 9 on Margaret Avenue] because it’s closer to 3rd Street or coming up on 63, but ideally it would be downtown, so it could disperse across [town].”

Though adding a fourth ambulance should have been done sooner, Luther is glad it has finally been accomplished.

“It’s a fantastic feeling to know that we are able to fund a fourth ambulance and help the community,” she said.

© 2025 The Tribune-Star (Terre Haute, Ind.). Visit tribstar.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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To escape boredom many moons ago, a few of the younger members in the fire company would purposely harass older members, including some deserving line officers. Asking questions they didn’t want to answer or broaching “sensitive” topics that could be detrimental in maintaining firehouse decorum would send them into a full-tilt mode. We were accused of stirring the pot that, in reality, meant making aggregate (gravel) by busting large stones into smaller ones. It was fun back then and still can be today.

Raisin Squad members have accused me of maintaining the stir-the-pot tradition because every four or five years I write about old people being in the fire department. My last column mentioned that old age is a contentious fact of life that many volunteer departments cannot or will not address. I really wasn’t trying to stir the pot—too much. Old age is a fire service concern.

One morning I said, “There might be a place for seasoned citizens in the fire department, but not on a fire truck.” Some Squad members who want to remain relevant were unmerciful in their rebuttals. My comments turned into self-immolation—I was making the ultimate sacrifice with my own words. Later, I brought the topic up with some out-of-town chiefs and some of them joined in the attack. The busted-up stones turned into dust.

My Opinion

It is problematic that an allowable advanced maturity level (old age) for active firefighters may affect the effectiveness of the fire service. It may have already happened and should be addressed before someone gets hurt. Old folks serving on the line may give a department a false sense of security and be a potential disservice to the taxpayers. Likewise, having too many past-their-prime players dictating policy, fireground tactics and strategy, and the kind of fire apparatus to purchase may also be detrimental. That last sentence should create a firestorm with active gray hairs.

Although my dissertation is directed at smaller volunteer fire departments, it could be applicable to small combination departments and very small career entities. Firefighters in career departments whose members are represented by professional organizations usually have well established rules and guidelines for their members’ health and safety. Included may be mandatory retirement ages and meeting yearly physical requirements—perhaps required by legal contract with the governing political subdivision. I am not qualified to comment on requiring volunteer departments to establish and follow similar protocols. That’s a bridge too far. It is each fire department’s decision, albeit a difficult one.  

Observations

My commentary is void of influence by any firefighter requirements of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards; staffing provisions established by the Insurance Services Organization, Incorporated (Verisk); or any entity’s established firefighter requirements. My service as an active volunteer ended in 2014. My pro and con comments are based on what I’ve experienced and what I think rather than what I would propose. There’re usually two sides to every story and I’ll try to show both.

Humiliating

Let’s get the embarrassing stuff out of the way. Humiliating is having past words and previous actions come back to haunt you. I always write about the Raisin Squad’s white hairs, old-timers, and geezers talking about the good old days. And, sometimes it’s hard to remember that I wasn’t always old. When I said I didn’t think old people should be riding the load, one Raisin asked me if I remember riding the officer’s seat of the LaFrance going down Main Street when I told the two guys in the jump seat (one sitting and one standing) behind the driver which hydrant we were going to hit. An older past chief in the jump seat behind me leaned over and tapped me on the shoulder and discreetly said the hydrant on the other side of the street w

The Hunt (TX) Volunteer Fire Department received a donated pumper Wednesday from the Jefferson County Emergency Services District No. 3. The district donated one of its engines to help the department recover from July’s deadly Hill Country floods, 12newsnow.com reported.

Hunt firefighters saved lives during the July 4 flooding while their own station and equipment were destroyed, according to the report.

The Jefferson district’s Engine 31, which has been in service for nearly 20 years, was replaced with a new rig July 1, the report said. The district saw an opportunity to give back by providing the older, but well-maintained engine to Hunt.

The donation also includes surplus items Hunt firefighters may need, such as bunker gear and other equipment.

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