Bloomington Fire Department celebrates 100 years of bravery
This was the first fire truck purchased by the Bloomington Fire Department. The 1930 model was bought for $1,500 “new” in 1935.
The Bloomington Fire Department building was constructed in 2002-2003.
Commemorative ceramic plates have been created by Fire Department member Tim Senn of Taft’s Mill Pottery. The plates will be auctioned off as part of the 100th Anniversary celebration.
By Ted Pennekamp
The Bloomington Fire Department is celebrating “100 Years of Bravery” this year having officially been formed as a department in 1916.
In fact, everyone is invited to join the Bloomington Fire Department for a day of fun activities for the whole family on Saturday, July 23 in celebration of the department’s 100th Anniversary.
There will be a 5K run-walk at 8:30 a.m. at the Bloomington Village Park. Registration begins at 7:30. All participants will receive a free Bloomington Fire Department T-shirt.
The Fire Truck Parade will begin at 11 a.m. and will travel through Main Street in Bloomington.
In addition, there will be a Fire Truck Display and more at the Blake’s Prairie Fairground on Mill Street. Along with the trucks on display, there will be a drone demonstration, historians talking about the fire department, bounce houses for kids, face painting, concessions, and live music from 1 to 4 p.m.
Fire Chief Tom Hoffman said the Bloomington Fire Department is self-owned and has contracts with the municipalities and townships in the area.
He said there are 36 active volunteer members and six retirees. “We’re always looking for more members,” he said. For more information about becoming a member, prospective volunteers can contact an active member or call (608) 412-2524.
The current fire station was built in 2002-2003 because the department became too big for the old building. The new station was built on the same site as the former building at 722 First Street in Bloomington.
“We outgrew ourselves and had to build a new building,” said Hoffman. “It was quite a process when that happened. It took about a year.”
Hoffman noted that Langmeier Lumber of Bloomington did the construction. Hermsen’s Heating and Plumbing was part of the project and Schmidt Electrical of Platteville did the electrical work.
The current station houses six fire trucks, a UTV, a Jaws of Life, turnout gear, an equipment area, a meeting room, a kitchen and bathrooms.
“We apply for federal grants and have fundraisers to get as much new equipment as we can,” said Hoffman. Fund-raisers include a Chili Feed in February, a dance in April, and a Pancake Breakfast in September.
“We get a lot of community support,” said Hoffman. “Also, a member has to receive a lot of training and gives a lot of commitment in order to help the community out. We have a great bunch of guys.”
The station has a display case featuring numerous articles of antique fire fighting gear, several photos of old fire trucks, a painting of the former fire station painted by Mike Kabele and donated by Hoffman’s father and mother Doug and Marilyn Hoffman. Doug was chief from 1989 to 2003.
There is also a large plaque made from a tree that was taken down when the current station was constructed. The plaque lists all of the members, chiefs, assistant chiefs, captains, lieutenants, and many other members of the fire department throughout the years along with the year that they joined the department.
There have been 15 chiefs in the 100-year history of the fire department and five are still living. “Those five still come to monthly meetings,” said Hoffman, who joined the department in 1985 and was elected chief in 2013. All positions are elected every two years, he said. Hoffman also noted that there are six members of the Board of Directors who make the business decisions for the day to day operations.
In addition to the chief, there are two assistant chiefs, two captains, two lieutenants, two safety officers and a secretary treasurer.
Fire equipment continues to evolve in all areas, one of which is communication. Hoffman said the department used pagers in the past to alert volunteer firefighters. Today, they use Smart Phones with an “I Am Responding” app by which firefighters can inform other personnel if they are responding and whether or not they will be going directly to the scene from their current location.
Trucks continue to get bigger and better as well. The department bought its first truck in 1935 for $1,500. The truck was made in 1930 and an inscription on the photograph of it says it was “bought new.” Another noteworthy truck was a 1947 Studebaker that was put into service in 1948. It was purchased for $6,666. “It still exists and was a big truck in its day,” said Hoffman.
In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Bloomington Fire Department and to raise funds, commemorative plates made by fire department member Tim Senn, the owner of Taft’s Mill Pottery in Bloomington, will be auctioned off. Firefighter Jeff Struntz is making commemorative engraved plexiglass plates and clocks which are being sold.
