Articles

August 6, 1954

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of articles to be published in the Times Press on the history and development of fire-fighting facilities in the communities making up Streator-land. The articles will appear weekly.

FLANAGAN—Back some 60 years ago when the Flanagan water system was laid out and the water tower built, the citizens put aside their bucket brigades and invested in a two-wheeled hose cart which was pulled by hand to fires in the village and the hose attached to the nearest hydrant. It was at that time that the first volunteer fire department was organized and has continued to function ever since.

Volunteers still man the fire fighting equipment but there is little to compare between the two-wheeled hose cart and the big modern fire truck now in use. There also is little comparison between the responsibilities of the Flanagan fire department now and those of fourteen years ago.

Form Association
The change came about with the organization of the Flanagan-Graymont Fire Truck Association in 1940. Joining in a drive to form the association, residents of the two villages and the surrounding rural area canvassed for members, held a meeting and elected officers.
John H. Weichman was elected president and treasurer and Meino Franzen, secretary. The other members of the board of directors are Clifford Saxton, Albert Weichman, who with the officers represents the rural area: Clinton Reedy and Leo Roeschley from Graymont and Edward Ingold, Henry Voss and Henry Danekas from Flanagan. The only change in the membership of the board since the day the association was organized was caused by the death of John Wibben.

First Fire Truck
The association purchased a new Ford truck equipped by the Central Fire Equipment Company of St. Louis and entered into an agreement with the Flanagan fire department in which the association would purchase new equipment and replacements and pay major maintenance costs as well as provide workmen’s compensation insurance for the fire fighters.
The Flanagan fire department agreed to operate the truck and other fire fighting equipment, keep it in running order and frequently test it, purchase its own supplies and answer calls in the Association territory as well as Graymont and Flanagan villages. The rural territory includes the area south halfway to Gridley; west to the Livingston county line; east to one mile east of Graymont and north of Flanagan 5 miles including 2 ½ miles of Long Point township.
By mutual agreement with the members of the Woodford County Firemen’s Association, which reaches all the way to East Peoria, the Flanagan-Graymont truck is sent out of its territory to fires that are near, out of control for one department, or when there are several fires at the same time, usually when lightning strikes during a severe electrical storm.
Membership in the Flanagan-Graymont Community Fire Truck Association is listed at 328 homesteads outside the limits of the two corporations and contributions are on a voluntary basis, only three requests for funds having been made in 14 years. When money is needed a letter is sent to the members and the contributions are sent in. So far the plan has been thoroughly successful.
The association makes a service charge of $35 when the call is from a person who is not a member and when a fire occurs in Flanagan, the village trustees pay the community association just as rural non-members do. Of the $35, $15 is kept by the association to defray expenses and the balance of $20 turned over to the Flanagan Fire Department.

Flanagan Fire Department
Roy Haase is the new fire chief of the Flanagan department, succeeding George Slagel in the office in May. Mr. Slagel had been with the department for 20 years and the fire chief for about 15 years. Haase is a mechanic at the Stalter Allis-Chalmers garage.
The assistant chief is Delbert Augsburger and the captain is Dean Augsburger, both employed at Yordy Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Company. Richard Ingold, the secretary is associated with his father, Edward Ingold, in the Dodge garage in Flanagan. Mr. Ingold senior is the fireman with the longest term of service, having joined the Flanagan department in 1913 before he was 12 years old. Keeping the fire truck and other equipment in first class shape is his responsibility and he takes great pride in it. Two of his employees, Ed Koopman and John Zehr also are firemen.
Donald Zehr is the International farm implement dealer; Melvin Zehr runs the Standard Service station; Keith Van Dorn is a truck driver; Myron Durre drives the school bus and a produce truck; Glenn Vissering is a carpenter.
Gerald Slagel is a bridge contractor; Carl Meyer operates the Farmer’s elevator; John Obert is the road commissioner; Wayne Lehman is an undertaker and funeral director; Glen Garrison operates a dry goods store and Omar Attig, a restaurant. Alvin Ackerman runs the feed mill and Dale Rapp is a farmer.

Meet Twice Monthly
These 20 men are volunteers who are interested and concerned enough to give the second Monday evening of every month to fire drill and practice runs, testing every piece of equipment to see that it is in first class condition. Seven members of the force have had the same Red Cross First Aid training that is required for school bus drivers and George Slagel and A. H. Wisthuff, superintendent of schools, are Red Cross first aid instructors. Each year at least four men attend the State Fire School to keep up with the latest in equipment and methods.
Flanagan is one of the few old towns that has had no major fire in its business district and few really serious residential fires. Grass fires, sheds and small fires that could easily become serious are handled quickly and safely. Usually the fire call comes through the local telephone operator, although some have been discovered by the police on regular routine inspection. Frequently a passing motorist or a neighbor is the first to discover a farm fire and turn in the call.
The fire chief of course is the first person notified and then the other members of the department are called by the telephone operator and told where to go. The first person to reach the fire house sets off the fire siren and every available man reports as quickly as possible. Fast action is the secret of the small losses sustained in the Flanagan area. Calls have been answered in Gridley, in the Minonk area and as far west as Washburn in emergencies.
The tragic loss of all the building at farmstead seldom occurs now. Usually the first building to catch fire is lost but the rest of the buildings are saved or damage is slight. The efficiency of the fire department has been a contributing factor in the lowering of insurance rates for farms and has won letters of commendation from companies insuring fire victims and their property. Two types of fires are mentioned: Number 1 fires – those which are of combustible material that cannot be extinguished by water, and Number 2 fires – water extinguishable.

Modern Equipment
All of these accomplishments would be impossible without first rate equipment but the present system was the outgrowth of long years of inadequate makeshifts.
To the first two-wheeled hand propelled hose cart was added another just like it giving a total of 600 feet of hose to use on town water pressure. Later a four-wheeled hose cart was pulled to a fire behind an automobile and a two-wheeled chemical cart added.
Finally, an old Model T chassis was purchased in 1925 and fitted with metal runways for the wheels of the first two hose carts and a drop section dismounting them, as well as a simple hitch on the open bumper for pulling the chemical cart. This outfit still is in use and a very welcome addition in hose capacity, easily transported behind a truck and carts rolled free to the desired spot at a fire.
The modern fire truck purchase by the Flanagan-Graymont Community Fire Truck Association was delivered in July, 1940. It has given good service and the only major repair has been the rebuilding of the pump. Seven hundred fifty feet of hose is carried and is replaced every five years. The old hose is shifted to the hose carts and the older hose on the carts is discarded.
Carried on the fire truck are an inhaler or resuscitator with oxygen tank and two Scott Airpack compressed air chemical fire extinguishers with masks for the operators. An auxiliary 10-foot extension ladder of very light, strong construction is a recent addition to the truck. It is especially adaptable for use on stairways that may be badly damaged by fire or for quick ascent to a second floor apartment. The truck carries 425 gallons of water and will pump 500 gallons per minute. It is usually operated by Ed Ingold or his son, Richard.
The newest addition to the equipment made by the association is a 1000 gallon water tank mounted on a good used truck and carrying a pump that will deliver 400 gallons a minute.
A huge garage has been built as part of the new $25,000 village hall and the fire fighting equipment in kept there. The siren also is installed at the hall and easily reached.

Financing
The Flanagan-Graymont Community Fire Truck Association is one of very few supported strictly on a voluntary basis. There are no set membership dues and additional funds come from card parties, school affairs and a $100 yearly contribution from an insurance company. This in addition to the $35 charged for non-member service gives ample funds.
In the village of Flanagan the residents pay a fire tax which is used for improvements to the water system and new fire hydrants. Foreign insurance companies pay a percentage tax to the village.